Episodes
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jack Kruse, a neurosurgeon with over 30 years of experience, to explore his transformative journey from centralized medicine to decentralized health and his discovery of bitcoin as a tool for freedom and time preservation. Jack discusses the flaws in traditional medicine, the significance of circadian biology, and why sunlight and sleep are critical for optimal health. He explains his perspective on bitcoin as a “time machine” and the parallels between...
Published 11/19/24
In this episode, we sit down with Joe Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Unchained, to discuss his journey from his first ‘aha’ moment with bitcoin to building a company that prioritizes long term bitcoin security and self-custody. Joe reflects on Unchained’s evolution into a bitcoin-only company, his personal donation to the University of Austin’s bitcoin endowment, and Unchained’s new bitcoin donor-advised fund product. We explore the critical importance of self-custody, why new bitcoiners should...
Published 11/12/24
In this episode, we sit down with Marty Bent, founder of TFTC, Managing Partner at Ten31 VC, and Director at Cathedra Bitcoin. Marty shares his journey, from starting his newsletter and TFTC podcast to recording at Barstool Sports and now recently being cited by the European Central Bank in an academic paper. We explore his take on the ECB's paper, bitcoin’s adoption speed, and the risks of mining centralization. Marty dives into vulnerabilities in bitcoin core, the future of mining, and...
Published 11/05/24
In this episode, we sit down with Dennis Porter, CEO and Co-Founder of the Satoshi Action Fund, for an in-depth look at bitcoin’s place in U.S. politics. Dennis opens with an overview of how each political party approaches bitcoin and discusses the importance of bipartisan support. He examines bitcoin's resonance with American values, its appeal across political lines, and how policies can balance innovation and openness with consumer protection. Dennis reflects on the role of single-issue...
Published 10/31/24
In this episode, we sit down with Pierre Rochard, VP of Research at Riot Platforms, and Bitstein, co-founder of the Nakamoto Institute, to discuss hyperbitcoinization and more. Pierre and Michael open by reflecting on its price history, historical cycles, and long-term outlook. They explore bitcoin’s progression onto the global stage, considering how central banks view it and where we are in the context of hyperbitcoinization. They address the critical balance between self-custody and bitcoin...
Published 10/29/24
In this episode, we sit down with Chaitanya Jain (CJ), an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School and strategist at MicroStrategy, who worked closely with Michael Saylor on the recent open source Bitcoin24 model. CJ shares his experience talking about bitcoin at HBS, detailing efforts to distinguish it from broader crypto discussions. We explore Michael Saylor’s perspective on whether bitcoin is money or just another asset. CJ offers insights into building the Bitcoin24 model and...
Published 10/22/24
In this episode, we sit down with Luke Gromen to unpack the U.S. fiscal landscape, exploring the growing strain of true interest expense and why the world may be entering a liquidity acceleration phase. Luke highlights some of the most crowded and least crowded trades in the market today and explains why gold miners are taking on a new role, while commodity stocks resemble bonds. We also discuss the potential release valves of gold, oil, and bitcoin. Luke provides insights into the shifting...
Published 10/15/24
In this episode, we sit down with James Check to tackle common misconceptions in bitcoin, from misunderstood on-chain metrics to the real impact of long-term holders. We break down key market indicators, discuss risks of audience capture, and explore whether bitcoin is set for slow, steady growth or another 80% drop. We also dive into the relevance of entity-adjusted metrics, the potential impact of ETFs, and how Checkmate optimizes bitcoin allocation strategies. Looking ahead, we speculate...
Published 10/08/24
In this episode, we sit down with Troy Cross to examine the environmental impact of bitcoin mining and its potential role in stabilizing energy grids. Troy shares his journey into bitcoin and peer-to-peer systems, addressing early concerns about energy consumption and how his views have evolved. We explore key data from bitcoin miners on energy usage and discuss the challenges of gathering accurate information. Troy highlights bitcoin mining’s unique flexibility in reducing emissions and...
Published 10/01/24
In this episode, we sit down with Rational Root to explore whether bitcoin is on the verge of entering a parabolic growth phase. We discuss key indicators, including on-chain data, market cycles, and global liquidity trends, to assess the current state of bitcoin and its potential for rapid price acceleration. Root breaks down the importance of short-term holder behavior, ETF flows, and the psychology of the market. We also consider external factors, such as macroeconomic conditions and...
Published 09/24/24
In this episode, former FBI agent Ren McEachern breaks down financial crime and fraud in the digital age. We cover how criminals use different monetary tools for money laundering, whether the FBI can reverse wire transfers, and their work on the dark web. Ren explains asset seizures, including high-value items like yachts, and the unique challenges of seizing and liquidating bitcoin. We also discuss the FBI’s evolving stance on bitcoin, tracing crypto transactions, and using off-chain data to...
Published 09/17/24
In this episode, Joe Consorti joins us to explore the impacts of trillion-dollar deficits on the fiscal landscape and what it means for bitcoin’s future. We start with a look at the current liquidity environment and how asset prices are responding, followed by a discussion on rate cuts and capital deployment strategies. Joe shares his outlook on bitcoin’s trajectory through 2025 and the central bank actions we should be keeping a close eye on. We then examine key models like the power law and...
Published 09/10/24
In this episode, Dylan LeClair joins us to discuss positive feedback loops around bitcoin’s extreme volatility and a collapsing crypto industry. We kick off with Vitalik's questions about the sustainability of yield in the crypto space and whether ethereum and other cryptocurrencies are at risk of fading away. Dylan offers his insights on the VIX spike in early August and what it might mean for the broader market. We then shift to the success of bitcoin ETFs and dive into how companies like...
Published 09/03/24
In this episode, Sean Buckley, former professional baseball player and scout, shares his journey from college baseball to being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He reflects on the challenges of transitioning from the minors to the majors and the mental toll of playing the game at a high level. Sean discusses his shift from player to scout, offering insights into player dynamics, scouting's impact on his view of baseball, and how it influenced his approach to investing. He explores the...
Published 08/27/24
In this episode, Nazar Khan, COO of Terawulf, discusses his entry into power and bitcoin mining, weighing the importance of inexpensive energy versus more efficient machines. He shares his thoughts on the growth of mining capacity, the competition between AI and mining for power, and the possibility of utilities acquiring bitcoin miners. Nazar also explores Terawulf's dual exposure to AI and mining, strategies for managing bitcoin's volatility, and the challenges of operating in a hyper...
Published 08/20/24
In this episode, Alyse Killeen discusses bitcoin's presence at the Bloomberg Invest Summit and its connection to AI, including insights from Jeff Booth’s thesis. She examines the positive feedback loop between AI and the Lightning Network, comparing it to other bitcoin Layer 2 solutions. Alyse also touches on Fold’s SPAC, her motivation for founding Stillmark, and the regulatory challenges facing bitcoin and bitcoin startups. She shares her thoughts on educating politicians about bitcoin, the...
Published 08/13/24
In this episode, James Lavish discusses the potential of bitcoin against the current fragile financial system. He starts by explaining why bitcoin is short the current world and long a new world. James examines how weak leadership can create challenging times and its impact on financial cycles. He explores the next wave of institutional adoption and whether Wall Street still laughs at bitcoin. Emphasizing the need for critical thinking, James questions if excessive economic stimulus actually...
Published 08/06/24
In this episode, Caitlin Long analyzes bitcoin businesses under the Biden Administration. She begins with her reasons for building Custodia and the importance of opening banking to all industries. Caitlin critiques the SEC's recent court losses and explores Custodia's efforts to obtain a master account at the Federal Reserve, contrasting Custodia's approach with the Federal Reserve's stance. The discussion moves to Operation Choke Point 2.0, the future of banking, and whether de-banking is a...
Published 07/30/24
In this episode, Brian Brookshire provides a comprehensive analysis of MicroStrategy’s bitcoin acquisition strategy. He begins with his background in fintech product marketing, including experiences at Stanford and in Asia. Brian explores MicroStrategy's use of convertible debt to accumulate more bitcoin per share, evaluating the marginal returns and looking back at the NAV discount in 2022. He discusses the risks of MicroStrategy as a bitcoin yield vehicle, potential new products, and future...
Published 07/23/24
In this episode, Nik Bhatia provides a comprehensive analysis of current market conditions, starting with an overview of the macroeconomic landscape and its implications for various assets, including bitcoin. He explores bitcoin's potential performance under different macro scenarios and examines whether broken monetary systems actually hinder bitcoin adoption. The discussion extends to global liquidity trends and their impact on bitcoin, insights into the efficiency of markets, log bitcoin...
Published 07/16/24
In this episode, Andrew Bailey, author of Resistance Money, explores the philosophical foundations of bitcoin and its role as resistance money. He discusses the need for resistance in today's socio-economic landscape, who benefits from it, and why he wrote another bitcoin book. Andrew argues for bitcoin's adoption based on more widely held beliefs and examines its value in a censorship-free world. He addresses the role of privacy, bitcoin's future, and the importance of self-custody versus...
Published 07/09/24
In this episode, former 12x USA national mountain bike champion and Olympian Jeremy HK Nova shares his journey from the trails to bitcoin. He reflects on life lessons, proud achievements, and the evolution of mountain biking globally and in the US. Jeremy discusses his transition from professional racing, discovering bitcoin, and his interest in macroeconomics. He explains why he sold his rental properties for bitcoin and why extreme sports athletes should start embracing bitcoin. The...
Published 07/02/24
In this episode, Ray Kamrath, Chief Commercial Officer of Bakkt, shares his journey from Wall Street to embracing bitcoin. Starting with a light-hearted recount of riding scooters and breaking his arm in Austin, Ray narrates his first encounter with bitcoin and the concept of sound money. He contrasts gold and bitcoin, explains his decision to join Bakkt, and he explores the potential for an institutional driven bull market. Ray offers insights into political interactions with bitcoin,...
Published 06/25/24
In this episode, David Marcus, CEO and co-founder of Lightspark, discusses his journey from Facebook to bitcoin and the challenges of integrating Lightning at Coinbase. He explores the pace of bitcoin adoption, differentiates between custodial and non-custodial Lightning services, and addresses the market for goods transactable only over the Lightning network. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on financial services, the future of Visa and Mastercard with bitcoin, and issues...
Published 06/18/24