Tales of a Bitcoin veteran in crypto’s wild west

With the help of confidential informants, freedom of information requests and a nail-biting trip to North Korea, Journalism alum Ethan Lou (‘15) recounts the rise to riches and complex scandals involving bitcoin in his newest narrative style nonfiction, Once a Bitcoin Miner: Scandal and Turmoil in the Cryptocurrency Wild West. (external link, opens in new window)  What makes this book so compelling is that Lou takes a human-centred approach to understanding the world of cryptocurrency.

Once a Bitcoin Miner is Lou’s second published book and delves into the volatility of decentralized cryptocurrency, starting with its inception after the 2008 financial housing crisis. What follows next is an adventure-like saga of a nascent crypto world, full of the promise of wealth, but also ripe for deceit, with storylines that offer powerful pull for readers.

The book is also unique because it takes a human-centred approach to understanding the world of cryptocurrency. Conversations around bitcoin and other digital assets are often full of technical jargon, dissuading curious newcomers from learning more. But Lou presents the essential information about bitcoin and the crypto world in a digestible way. All while stoking the imagination with text that reads like an adventure novel. Lou documents his entire journey from his first time accessing the dark web in university, purchasing his first mining rig and briefly holding over a million dollars in the digital asset.

Pivotal experiences and star-studded success

Since graduating from the Journalism program in 2015, Lou has made a name for himself internationally, from working as a reporter for Reuters to writing for the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, the Washington Post, and the South China Morning Post. His first book, Field Notes from a Pandemic (external link, opens in new window) , was awarded among CBC’s best Canadian nonfiction books of 2020. He attributes his career success, in part, to the foundational skills and experiences he had while at The Creative School.

“The Journalism program was very hands-on,” asserts Lou. “I remember on the first day we had to interview the person sitting beside us and write a profile of that person. Within a week or two, we were going to court and observing proceedings.” This sort of hands-on experience was pivotal to Lou’s subsequent success.

A passion for unearthing inequalities

Notably, Lou has excelled in his journalistic and authoring endeavours, but his primary passion falls within the realm of investigative work. From unearthing the Canadian spy agency's secret briefing to parliament (external link, opens in new window)  to the snubbing of Sri Lanka by Justin Trudeau (external link, opens in new window) , Lou has the journalistic rigour and passion for unearthing injustices pervasive throughout our society. This is evident in Once a Bitcoin Miner, too, as Lou digs for the (sometimes) uncomfortable truth and confronts reticent antagonists along the way. 

Whether you're a long-time crypto-nerd or know nothing about the subject, Once a Bitcoin Miner is an essential book for any bitcoin enthusiast. And while Lou can't fully divulge his forthcoming projects, if it's anything like his newest book, it's sure to be captivating. 

Interested in reading Once a Bitcoin Miner? Purchase his book and learn more about Lou's journalistic endeavours at his website (external link, opens in new window) .

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