Harry Sudock is Chief Strategy Officer at Griid. In this interview, we discuss a range of narratives evolving in 2023: how Bitcoin’s value is to be explained to newbs, making sense of the general paranoia in society, the critical importance of nuclear energy, and making sense of 2022’s financial contagion within crypto. 

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2022 was a heck of a year, the impact of which is still being felt into the early part of 2023. However, as January turns to February, the focus is turning to what 2023 holds for Bitcoin and wider society. And who better to review the year to come than Harry Sudock. 

We discuss the evolving narratives used to explain and advocate for Bitcoin. As the fatigue of dealing with 2022 diminishes, how are re-energised Bitcoiners to educate those who are financially and/or technically literate but lack a grounding in Bitcoin? What are the best arguments to use to explain Bitcoin in the US, where there is a less immediate need for its utility?

Further, how do we navigate the world around us? The social discourse is increasingly beset by paranoia and distrust. At the same time, there is a lot to distrust: lies and spin have become so ubiquitous and brazen that we are effectively being told to believe up is actually down. Is it any wonder that people see conspiracies where there are none?

Beyond creating a noisy and chaotic public square, the real problem is we’re unable to properly address society's most pressing issues. Take energy for example. The last few podcasts have shone a light on the myths and realities of nuclear energy. It is quite clear the obvious path to providing sustainable and abundant energy lies in supporting the development of nuclear infrastructure. 

So, the path forward seems clear. 2023 needs an unrelenting focus on giving exposure to the truth, whilst calling out vested interests and virtue signalling. Nuance, pragmatism and veracity are the vital principles that have and will underpin all of What Bitcoin Did’s content. 2022 was about lies being exposed throughout crypto. Bitcoin in 2023 about its inherent truth.

The Evolution of Bitcoin Narratives with Harry Sudock

Harry Sudock is Chief Strategy Officer at Griid. In this interview, we discuss what Bitcoin is: specifically, on what ideological foundation was it developed, what problem was it designed to solve, how it solves that problem, and why is it the best technical solution for solving that problem. It’s a tl;dr of the basic technical features underpinning Bitcoin.

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This is the second in a series of special What Bitcoin Did shows aimed at opening people up to Bitcoin. In the first episode, we learnt that Bitcoin is a new form of money. In this episode, we discuss what functions Bitcoin performs, which differentiates it from other forms of money. We then discuss the technical innovations that enable it to achieve these functions. In essence, this show focuses on what Bitcoin is.

Bitcoin is rooted in the cypherpunk movement that developed in the late 1980s centred on the US. As digital technology started to proliferate, its capacity to track and record digital activity became readily apparent. Concerned computer scientists, mathematicians and cryptographers acted to develop systems aimed at protecting individual privacy, despite a concerted government that sought to control the development of privacy-providing technology. 

The cypherpunks movement included extensive work by many to develop anonymous digital cash. But, despite some incredible breakthroughs, none of these efforts had any material success. It was not until the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto brought numerous strands of all this work together that a viable anonymous and uncensorable digital currency was born.

The innovation centres on four key pillars: a clear and immutable monetary policy ensuing both scarcity and transparency; a proof of work consensus mechanism that provides decentralised security to the system; a difficulty adjustment, which ensures the issuance rate is highly predictable; and finally, its design considerations aimed at prioritising decentralisation. 

To the uninitiated, these four key pillars may seem as merely interesting innovations. But, once comprehended, the effectiveness and elegance of Bitcoin’s design is truly breathtaking. The software has worked, day in and day out, for over 14 years, without being hacked. And, it’s all without a leader, or a clearing house, or a central committee dictating policy. Quick, uncensorable and private global settlement. By open-source code. Satoshi Nakamoto is the genius of our times.

Beginners Guide Part 2/3 - What is Bitcoin? With Harry Sudock

Troy Cross is a Professor of Philosopher and Fellow at BPI, and Harry Sudock is Chief Strategy Officer at Griid. This interview was a live recording made at the Bitcoin 2023 Conference in Miami, where we discussed Bitcoin mining: the industry’s rapid evolution, how it’s optimising other markets, and why its relentless search for cheap energy will facilitate human flourishing. 

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Bitcoin mining has been the subject of much controversy and debate in mainstream media. The infamous New York Times (NYT) article in April still casts a shadow over the industry: the piece characterised Bitcoin mining as an exploitative parasite feeding off cheap energy at the expense of local users and the environment. And yet, Bitcoin mining is the exact opposite. 

As Troy Cross states in this live interview, when people get to hear the truth about Bitcoin mining's impact on energy systems it “blows their minds!” Harry Sudock adds more colour by explaining how Bitcoin mining is a black hole that sucks in economic utility and spits it out in its most efficient form, making it a revolutionary tool for human flourishing. 

Both speakers criticize the media for pushing a biased agenda and cherry-picking data to fit a preconceived narrative. They argue that the truth about Bitcoin mining's impact on energy systems is more complex than the media portrays, but, this doesn’t provide the clickbait media outlets are after. The irony is that the NYT’s mission is “to seek the truth and help people understand the world.”

However, we are optimistic that the tide will soon turn. With this show, both Harry and Troy have been on What Bitcoin Did now a combined 13 times (lucky for us!), and they continue to blow our minds with their tales of the possible worlds opened up by the race for cheap and abundant energy. The other side just doesn’t have the calibre of persuasive, authentic and enthusiastic voices we have.

WBD Live in Miami - Bitcoin Mining with Troy Cross and Harry Sudock

Marty Bent is a Venture Partner at Ten31 and founder of the Bitcoin-focused media company TFTC.io, Harry Sudock is Chief Strategy Officer at Griid and Parker Lewis is a Bitcoin writer and educator and Head of Business Development at Zaprite. In this interview, we discussed bitcoin mining, regulations, ETFs and Bitcoin culture wars.

Live in Nashville with Marty Bent, Harry Sudock & Parker Lewis

Harry Sudock is the Chief Strategy Officer at Griid. In this interview, we discuss the importance of Bitcoin third places, censorship, ETFs & adoption, bitcoin mining and whether Bitcoin has just crossed the Chasm.

Is Bitcoin Crossing the Chasm? with Harry Sudock

In this interview, American HODL, Preston Pysh, Harry Sudock and Jeff Booth join us from the recent CheatCode conference. We discuss why bitcoin matters, the paradigm shift in money and the transition to a new system.

A Paradigm Shift in Money with American HODL, Preston Pysh, Harry Sudock & Jeff Booth

Harry Sudock is the Chief Strategy Officer at Griid, Will Roberts is the Co-CEO at IREN, Erik Hersman is the CEO of Gridless, Thomas Pacchia is a Board Member of Stronghold, & Dennis Porter is the CEO of Satoshi Action Fund. In this interview, they discuss bitcoin mining sustainability, accessing stranded energy and the halving.

Bitcoin Mining: A Paradigm Shift in Energy (Sudock, Roberts, Hersman, Pacchia, & Porter)

Harry Sudock is the Chief Strategy Officer at Griid. In this interview, we discuss Bitcoin mining in the US, how the mining industry has been on easy mode, what changed after the recent halving and businesses now have to adapt and level up to survive.

Bitcoin Level 2 with Harry Sudock

That’s a wrap! What Bitcoin Did is over, and what better way to close out the podcast than an episode with three of our favourite Bitcoiners, Jack Mallers, Matt Odell and Harry Sudock. In this one we did a little bit of reminiscing, discussed Bitcoin as hope, how the space is evolving and why we decided to end the podcast.

What Bitcoin Did with Jack Mallers, Matt Odell, & Harry Sudock

The media lies, governments mismanage, and our financial systems are failing us. In Mr Obnoxious, Peter McCormack explores the new frontier of tech, money and governance.

New tracks tagged #Harry Sudock