Location: El Salvador
Date: Monday 10th May
Project: Independent
Role: Bitcoin Writer

Growing food, gunpowder and the printing press, while these don't appear to have much in common, they have been the catalyst for some of the most fundamental shifts ever seen in human history.

The agricultural revolution led man from small groups of hunter-gatherers to relatively large settled communities; this provided the basis for centralised political structures.

The gunpowder revolution changed warfare. It removed the ultimate power of a knight on horseback and rebalanced power back towards the people.

With the advent of the printing press, the spread of ideas became possible on a previously unimaginable scale; this, in turn, turbocharged the Renaissance and removed power from the church.

Each one has been responsible for revolutionising how society operates and transformed people's lives.

With Bitcoin, are we now amidst the next significant revolution that will change the course of history?

In this interview, I talk to Bitcoin writer Robert Breedlove. We discuss the mega-political variables that shape society, the role of technology, and the logic of violence.

The What Bitcoin Did Podcast

The Sovereign Individual Pt 2 - The Logic of Violence with Robert Breedlove

Location: El Salvador
Date: Friday 18th June
Project: El Salvador
Role: President

Twenty years ago, El Salvador became a dollarised nation, bringing economic stability to the country and improving the country's potential for investment. However, it did so at the cost of giving up its monetary policy to the US Federal bank.

Two decades later, following the COVID-19, the global economic outlook has changed significantly. As a result, the Fed has taken extreme measures to combat the economic impact of the pandemic and is printing money at previously unseen levels. 

The stimulus packages that help American's do not make their way to dollarised El Salvador, but the people of Salvadorans do suffer the adverse effects of the US debasing the dollar.

Two years ago, Nayib Bukele won a landslide presidential election in El Salvador, becoming the first President since the Salvadoran Civil War who did not represent either of the two major parties.

As the founder of the political party Nuevas Ideas, President Bukele lived up to his reputation when on the 8th of June 2021, El Salvador enacted its Bitcoin Law, making it the first country to adopt bitcoin as a legal tender. The decision has been met with excitement and scepticism. 

Could this bold move be a catalyst for prosperity in El Salvador? And will other nations follow suit, potentially helping billions?

In his first interview since the Bitcoin law was passed, I talked to El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. We discuss the decision to make bitcoin legal tender, education & infrastructure, volcano mining, and why he believes bitcoin is a ‘no-brainer’.

Why El Salvador Made Bitcoin Legal Tender with President Nayib Bukele

Location: Miami
Date: Wednesday 1st December
Organization: City of Miami
Role: Mayor of Miami

It is a common refrain that politics is in crisis. Polarization is producing deadlock. Election cycles mean big decisions are kicked down the road. A lack of term limits in congress results in a generation of out of touch leaders.

But there is hope. A new cohort of energised and informed political leaders willing to tackle systemic issues are coming to the fore. Emblematic of this shift is the Mayor for the City of Miami Francis X. Suarez.

Galvanised by dealing with the impact of the 2007 financial crisis on municipal government, Mayor Suarez recognized that executive power means creating the conditions for prosperity: sound fiscal discipline, attractive tax codes, and a government that supports entrepreneurship.

Mayor Suarez also knows that leadership is key in an uncertain and changing world. He understands how Bitcoin is leading a change to resolve broken human systems through code. Providing a vision of a Bitcoin led future aims to give Miami’s citizens a new sense of economic hope and trust, both for themselves and the generations to follow.

In this interview, I talk with Mayor Francis Suarez about leading the City of Miami. We discuss the political system, the role of a Mayor, and running a successful city. Further we talk about how Bitcoin re-energises capitalist systems, the benefits of Bitcoin mining, and MiamiCoin.

Miami: The Bitcoin City with Mayor Francis Suarez

Darin Feinstein, an early investor in Bitcoin, co-founded Core Scientific, one of the largest Bitcoin mining operations. In this interview, we discuss the revolution of triple-entry accounting, providing 8 billion people property rights and banking, combating FUD, and rapid advances in mining chips.

- - - - 

Bitcoin is causing tectonic shifts in global financial and political systems that have companies, authorities, and nations reeling. This creates a lot of noise. But, has this resulted in the community easing off on extolling Bitcoin’s principal revolutionary characteristic - the consensus protocol? And, does that open it up to attack?

Triple entry accounting, the trustless verification of peer to peer transactions, is an innovation that is arguably in the same league as the wheel or printing press. For Bitcoiners, this understanding is implicit; discussions have moved on to other more immediate concerns. However, because we’re still so early there is widespread ignorance of why Bitcoin has such transformative power.

Has this created a space for those wanting to undermine Bitcoin? The industry has had to contend with FUD since the early days. The constant risk is that those in positions of great power don’t have the necessary knowledge to separate fact from fiction. Is this why there are serious considerations being given at the highest levels to banning proof of work consensus?

The unavoidable issue is that challenging the status quo is hard. And, the status quo will always exploit weakness. As such, is it possible to have a decentralized community without a centralized voice? Would we fail without the efforts of the likes of the Bitcoin Mining Council and the Bitcoin Policy Institute?

These questions are becoming increasingly important: the greater the scale of adoption, the more severe the response. China banned Bitcoin because it was a great idea that threatened their top-down ideology. The US benefited from this, but there are still voices who would see a ban on this side of the Pacific. New York is already considering its own ban on mining.

Our enduring advantage is that we have truth on our side - Bitcoin is the greatest money system invented. Will that be enough?

Bitcoin, The Greatest Money System with Darin Feinstein

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.

- - - - 

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 3/3 - How to Buy & Hold Bitcoin with Dan Held

Michael Saylor is the CEO of MicroStrategy. In this interview, we discuss his 10 tips for young adults, the opportunities and threats of AI, the importance of Bitcoin in an automated world, the strength of ossification compared to accelerating change, and the criticality of Bitcoin miners to the Bitcoin network. We also talk about Michael’s navigation of the bear market.   

- - - - 

Chat GPT was released a little over 6 months ago. It is arguably the most significant tech innovation since the internet. People are now routinely using chatbots to interact with technology and access information tailored to very specific needs. Whilst the impacts of this are yet to be fully understood, it is widely accepted that we have entered a new exciting and equally frightening paradigm.

The issue at hand is that the world is becoming increasingly automated. As a result, human beings are being viewed as a constraint on productivity, which AI technology can mitigate. Where does this leave humans? In a world predicated on code and efficiency and automation, what controls are in place to ensure these systems are secure such that they can not be centralised and exploited such that the general population suffers rather than flourishes? 

Michael Saylor is of the opinion we need an automated tool that is secure and outside of any centralised control. Bitcoin, in this scenario, is the tool that can compete with new digital advances, but, enable humans to retain some control of their lives. As such, it is imperative that we protect the integrity of the innovation such that its utility remains available for both existing and future generations.

The question then becomes how do we best protect Bitcoin? Saylor argues that it is the Bitcoin miners that are Bitcoin’s “fortresses”: they provide brute force security, a cryptographic defence, and the means to marshall the means to advocate effectively for Bitcoin within the corridors of power. Bitcoin miners, therefore, need protection to ensure they continue to act as Bitcoin’s standing army. We do this by ensuring stability: ossifying Bitcoin’s base layer protocol.

WBD Michael Saylor

Linda Parker is CEO and Maddison Clyne is an Associate Director for Women in Distress. In this interview, we discuss their work aiding survivors of domestic violence and their interest in Bitcoin as a means of financial empowerment. They talk about the rise in domestic violence during the pandemic, the challenges faced by survivors, and the importance of education. 

- - - - 

According to a CDC survey, around 41% of women and 26% of men in the U.S. have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. It affects millions or people every year. It is a significant public health issue that has devastating physical, emotional, and psychological effects on individuals and families. U.S. crime reports suggest that about 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. 

Having access to resources and support can can be life-changing for victims. However, there is a critical lack of provision. One organisation providing this much-needed support is Women In Distress of Broward County: it is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and services to individuals experiencing domestic violence in Broward County, Florida. Their mission is to empower and advocate for victims while promoting a violence-free community.

Women In Distress seeks to mitigate the cycle of abuse, power and control dynamics within relationships, societal stigma and shame surrounding domestic violence, and the huge barriers survivors can face when trying to leave an abusive relationship. By offering an array of services, education, and community collaboration, Women In Distress strives to create a society where domestic violence is not tolerated and survivors can rebuild their lives.

The organization offers a range of comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, which include a 24-hour crisis hotline, counselling and therapy, support groups, legal advocacy, and assistance with obtaining restraining orders. Women In Distress also provides specialized programs for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence, as well as outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness. If you are able to donate please do so.

Bitcoin as a Tool to Escape Abuse with Linda Parker & Maddison Clyne

Tuur Demeester is a Bitcoin investor and economist. In this interview, we discuss the significance of Bitcoin as a sound and auditable form of money, the impact of BlackRock embracing Bitcoin, and the importance of understanding the financial system. Tuur shares his insights as an early adopter of Bitcoin and reflects on its progress over the years. We also discuss addiction treatment.

- - - - 

Given that Bitcoin is now being promoted by the world’s largest asset manager, it is easy to forget how nascent the innovation still is. In the early days of Bitcoin, just over a decade ago,   understanding Bitcoin was a challenge. And yet, despite the uncertainties, such as how Bitcoin would scale and the potential attack vectors, the signal was clear - Bitcoin was driven by engineers, not money. 

The role of cypherpunks should not be underestimated: it was their diligent work in seeking to protect privacy and human rights in the digital space that provided the solid basis for Bitcoin. Fast forward to today, and we see increased adoption and improved understanding of Bitcoin's vulnerabilities. It's exciting to witness this combination of increased adoption and improved understanding.

In this podcast, Tuur Demeester discusses the resistance and challenges that Bitcoin faces, especially from those who have built wealth and status within traditional financial systems. Further, we discuss Bitcoin’s evolving narrative, particularly in relation to environmental concerns, and how the changing narrative will be assisted by BlackRock’s endorsement of Bitcoin which could force mainstream media outlets to reconsider their negative stance.

Tuur outlines the importance of asking simple questions to understand the financial system, such as where money comes from and what determines the price of money. Through this lens, one is better able to appreciate Bitcoin’s role as an insurance policy. Tuur also discusses the threats to Bitcoin's expansion, highlighting the importance of not losing track of the principles and values that got us here. We also have a fascinating discussion about addiction treatment.

From Psychedelics to the Bitcoin Boom with Tuur Demeester

On September 9th What Bitcoin Did hosted a live show in Sydney. In this first of two podcasts, the guests were the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Iris Energy Dan Roberts, Glassnode’s Lead On-chain Analyst Checkmate, & the Open Software & Lightning Network developer Rusty Russell. Across these interviews, we discussed various topics related to Bitcoin, including its meaning, its impact on people's thinking, and its potential to reshape the financial system.

- - - - 

What Bitcoin Did’s live events are a growing part of our work. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to host shows across the US and in the UK. Now, we’ve had the huge honour of hosting a show in Sydney Australia. It is important to extend our reach into new geographies, as the number of talented people working in Bitcoin obviously extends to all corners of the world. But importantly, each geography has invaluable perspectives.

This show, as with all the live shows, covered a huge amount of ground. The conversation commenced with Checkmate providing his views on the meaning of Bitcoin. He described money as time and saw Bitcoin as a source of hope and an opportunity to think differently. Further, Checkmate believes that Bitcoin can reshape our understanding of money and its role in society.

Rusty Russell, a civil engineer turned Bitcoin advocate, shared his journey from scepticism about finance to working in the field. He explained that as an engineer, he views the world from a problem-solving perspective, which differs from the traditional economic viewpoint. He believes that Bitcoin defies logic for traditional economists because it is too simple and elegant for them to understand.

Dan Roberts and I talked about Iris Energy, a Bitcoin mining company that supports What Bitcoin Did. Dan explained Bitcoin mining’s opportunity in the context of the energy market, and how Bitcoin mining acts as a demand-side battery allowing miners to adjust their energy consumption based on market pricing. We addressed the misconception that Bitcoin miners are exploiting the energy grid, emphasising that they are part of a functioning market and contribute to grid stability.

The show also covered many other important topics, including the value of data to trading Bitcoin, patterns of behaviour in the Bitcoin market, the Potential of next-generation computing and AI for Bitcoin mining, the different stages of Bitcoin's development, and the potential risks and uncertainties associated with stablecoins. Watch out for the second show which has the discussion with the equally awesome pairing of Nik Bhatia and Willy Woo.

WBD Live in Sydney Pt 1 with Checkmate, Dan Roberts & Rusty Russell

Nik Bhatia is the founder of ‘The Bitcoin Layer’ & author of ‘Layered Money’. This interview delves into Nik's work in the Bitcoin industry and his background in trading interest rates. We discuss the impact of low-interest rates on the economy, the relationship between inflation and interest rates, and the impact of central bank actions on markets. The conversation expands to include global recessions, the Chinese economy, and the future of Bitcoin. 

- - - - 

The unprecedented period of low-interest rates that followed the 2008-09 financial crisis was deemed a golden opportunity for those leveraging debt. However, this environment hid many significant dangers. Chief among them was the encouragement of irrational investments.  The problem comes, as we have seen, when this period of low interest ends. A reasonable cost of capital provides a check on such behaviour.

Interest rates are influenced by both the market and central banks, with central banks often lagging behind market movements. When the central bank raises rates, they are adjusting the target rates for various lending markets. There is therefore an interplay between central bank actions and market forces in determining interest rates. In addition, there is feedback as investors anticipate interest rate hikes and adjust their investments accordingly. 

As we have seen, central banks have used interest rates to temper inflation. This is a crude tool and can risk tipping economies into recession. Purchasing Managers' Indexes (PMIs) can be used to analyse economic activity at the nation-state level; the PMIs in Europe are all in contractionary territory, indicating a deteriorating economy. The issue is, that in our globalised economy, such problems leak into other economies, such as China. 

The underlying issue in such a situation is the significant risks associated with the traditional financial instruments of the fiat economy. Financial institutions' liabilities are approaching concerning levels. The problem is that such liabilities are essentially infinite. This is why Bitcoin’s value tends to rise when central banks implement easing measures, as many can see the eventual unwinding of the fiat system. The question is how close are we to this unwinding?

The Breaking of the Global Economy with Nik Bhatia

Jeff Booth is the Author of The Price of Tomorrow & CEO/Chairman of Ego Death Capital. George Gammon is an investor, macroeconomics expert & host of The Rebel Capitalist Show. We discuss Bitcoin’s role in the world: its role as a hedge against the tradfi system, its disruptive potential & ability to reprice everything, & the challenges & consequences of a Bitcoin-dominated world.

- - - - 

Jeff Booth, an entrepreneur, technologist, & author of the book ‘The Price of Tomorrow’, is a visionary in the Bitcoin field & a regular guest on this show. But, it’s been nearly 3 years since I interviewed the amazing George Gammon, renowned for his ‘The Rebel Capitalist Show’ podcast. This conversation was born out of a Twitter exchange, and it quickly became apparent that they share more common ground than many might have initially assumed.

Many believe that George is anti-Bitcoin, but that’s not the case. His stance on Bitcoin is pragmatic. George believes in the importance of owning Bitcoin for purchasing power outside of the traditional system, especially with the rise of central bank digital currencies. And yet, he emphasizes the importance of probabilities and trade-offs in discussions about Bitcoin and he doesn't necessarily see it as a guaranteed path to wealth. 

Jeff's views align with George's on many fronts: they both expressed their belief in the potential of Bitcoin. The differences between the 2 guests lie in the perceived probabilities of hyperbitcoinisation. Jeff sees Bitcoin's potential to reprice the existing system if it remains decentralized and secure. In this event, one needs to imagine a world where value is priced in Bitcoin, not where Bitcoin is priced in dollars. 

Jeff promotes a future where prices will fall forever against a fixed number of units of currency, a stark contrast to the current system. This will affect the appreciation of Bitcoin in different economic scenarios. While Bitcoin may currently be seen as a high-risk asset with the potential for significant returns, in a world where goods and services experience deflation, Bitcoin's appreciation may be less pronounced.

This show was another inspirational war cry for Bitcoin from two esteemed guests. Jeff couldn't imagine putting his time & money anywhere else due to the high returns he expects. George believes that even if Bitcoin doesn't become a global currency or faces challenges like fractional reserve usage and inflation, there is still massive value in its ability to enable transactions outside of the existing system. It highlights that everyone should consider the potential benefits of Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin Debate with Jeff Booth & George Gammon

Whitney Webb is an independent investigative journalist who founded Unlimited Hangout, which covers intelligence, tech, surveillance and civil liberties. In this interview, we discuss the importance of independent journalism, the challenges of media manipulation and the rise of tyranny. We also talk about the risks of AI, the influence of powerful figures like Elon Musk and the need for public scrutiny, and the potential co-opting of Bitcoin by powerful institutions.

- - - - 

Whitney Webb left mainstream media to pursue independent investigative journalism, a decision driven by her commitment to sharing accurate information and encouraging readers to do their own research. In this interview, she highlighted the lack of coverage on certain topics by both mainstream and independent media. Whitney also emphasized the need to question the actions of those in power who have never been held accountable.

We discussed the current state of the world, including the potential for global conflict and the rise of tyranny. Many people questioned the motives behind certain decisions made during the pandemic and raised concerns about the manipulation of information and the control exerted by those in power. We delved into the potential dangers of AI controlling and curating online content, as well as the cognitive impact of relying too heavily on AI. 

Our conversation shifted to the topic of Elon Musk and his mixed reputation. We questioned his true motivations and the extent of his influence, raising concerns about his ties to the government and his involvement in censorship on Twitter. Whitney highlighted the need to scrutinize the actions of powerful figures like Musk and not blindly trust their words.

Finally, we talked about the potential co-opting of Bitcoin by powerful institutions and the need for people in the Bitcoin space to be aware of this. Whitney focused on the importance of personal responsibility and being aware of the push to regulate the internet and the destruction of the existing financial system. Powerful interests take advantage of events to grab more power, but their power grab can only succeed if we consent and give in to fear and panic.

The End of the World as We Know It with Whitney Webb

Whitney Webb is an independent investigative journalist and founder of Unlimited Hangout & Mark Goodwin is Editor in Chief at Bitcoin Magazine. In this interview, we discuss the BlackRock ETF, their plans for a new financial system, media psy-ops & tokenizing everything.

Why We Shouldn’t Trust BlackRock with Whitney Webb & Mark Goodwin

Junseth is an OG Bitcoiner and the former co-host of Bitcoin Uncensored. In this show we dissect what started as a scam phishing call to Junseth and turned into an interview of the scammer, how people are vulnerable to scams, and how to protect yourself.

The Bitcoin Scammer Uncensored with Junseth

Michael Saylor is the CEO of MicroStrategy. In this interview, we discuss ossification, user rights, sovereignty, funding Bitcoin development, the political war over digital asset regulation, and the sly roundabout revolution.

Bitcoin is Forever Money with Michael Saylor

The Rational Root is a Bitcoin on-chain & cycle analyst. In this interview, we discuss the Bitcoin ETF flows and how this cycle compares to previous ones, where we are on Root’s spiral chart, the supply dynamics at play and how liquid supply is dropping rapidly.

Is the Bitcoin Cycle Broken? With The Rational Root

Whitney Webb is an independent investigative journalist and founder of Unlimited Hangout & Mark Goodwin is the author of The Bitcoin Dollar. In this interview, we discuss the Bitcoin dollar system, corruption & compromised elites and proliferating the US dollar hegemony.

The Bitcoin US Dollar Hegemony with Whitney Webb & Mark Goodwin

Winston Marshall is a musician, cultural commentator, and former member of the band Mumford & Sons. 

In this episode, we discuss his journey from rock star to cultural commentator, the challenges of holding conservative opinions in the entertainment industry, and his exit from Mumford & Sons. We also get into the failures of corporate media, the rise of alternative media through podcasts, and the impact of political realignment in the U.S. and the UK. We also cover the ongoing struggle for free speech, the role of populism, and the future of liberty in a world increasingly dominated by censorship and ideological conformity.

Winston Marshall on Free Speech, Censorship, Cancel Culture and UK Politics - MOB013

Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and a leading advocate for Bitcoin's role in promoting freedom.
In this episode, we discuss his work empowering activists under authoritarian regimes, the structural issues facing human rights funding, and how technology like Bitcoin are transforming the fight for liberty. We also get into the impact of peer-to-peer networks like Nostr, the evolution of Ecash, and the digital arms race between oppressive governments and freedom technologies. We cover forgotten global conflicts, the role of Western democracies, and how Bitcoin helps people survive hyperinflation and financial oppression.

Technology Powered Freedom with Alex Gladstein - MOB014

Mike Brock is a political commentator, writer, and former executive.

In this episode, we explore the dynamics of power politics versus distributive politics, the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump, and the struggle to uphold liberal values in a rapidly changing political climate. We dive into the role of economic incentives in shaping political actions, examine government corruption, and analyze the escalating U.S.-China economic rivalry. Additionally, we discuss how media influences public perception and why Mike sees the centre-left as perhaps the last hope for sustaining capitalism.

Trump vs Kamala with Mike Brock - MOB016

Peter St Onge is an Economist at the Heritage Foundation and a Fellow at the Mises Institute.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges posed by government overreach, and the intricacies of the bureaucracy-politician dynamic. We get into how historical developments have influenced current political structures and the role of debt and its impact on economic growth. Peter also shares his thoughts on the possibility of reforming the current system, from central banking to taxation, and the path to a more efficient government.

Peter St Onge: Liberty, Central Banks, Sound Money & Free Speech - MOB017

Joseph Robertson is a political commentator and advocate focused on free-market economics and personal sovereignty.

In this episode, we discuss the shifting political landscape in the UK, examining the impact of recent budgets on various social classes and the ideological shift from conservatism to socialism. Joseph and I explore the role of debt, inflation, and economic illiteracy among voters in shaping current policies, as well as the influence of career politicians who lack real-world experience. We also discuss the potential for Bitcoin as a hedge against financial overreach and the implications of regulation on self-sovereignty.

Joseph Robertson: Debt, Inflation, Culture, Cost of Living & Regulations - MOB018

Dr. Tarik Sammour is a colorectal surgeon specialising in advanced bowel cancer and has worked across various healthcare systems, including in Australia, New Zealand, and the US.

In this episode, we explore the complexities of modern healthcare systems and the impact of healthcare inflation on patient outcomes and accessibility. We get into the differences between public and private healthcare models, discussing the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid systems and the unique challenges of funding healthcare sustainably. Tarik shares his experiences with administrative burdens, rising costs, and the ethical dilemmas posed by pharmaceutical influence. We also discuss the broader societal issues, from obesity trends to the role of sound money, and the potential for a more balanced approach to healthcare.

Tarik Sammour: Healthcare, Big Pharma, Inflation & Outcomes - MOB019

The What Bitcoin Did Podcast - Intro

Interview location: SkypeInterview date: Monday 29th OctoberProject: Debunking Economics

Steve Keen is challenging modern economic theory which led us into the 2008 crisis. With his two books: Debunking Economics and Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis, Steve outlines the inherent flaws in the capitalist system which are required to make them work.

Bitcoin is often praised by proponents of Austrian Economics, but Steve believes that Bitcoin will fail due to flaws in the protocol design. In this interview I talk to Steve about why the 2008 financial crisis happens, the flaws in the current capitalist model and what Steve like and dislikes about cryptocurrencies.

Debunking Economics and Why Bitcoin Will Fail With Steve Keen

Interview location: Skype
Interview date: Tuesday 22nd Jan, 2019
Company: Zcash
Role: Founder and CEO

One of the significant failings of Digicash, the David Chaum pre-Bitcoin digital currency was centralisation. Decentralisation has become one of the core components of what has made Bitcoin work and a success; shutting it down is only possible under extreme circumstances and no single person can exert control over its future direction.

How decentralised a cryptocurrency is often a measure of its strength or weakness. Maximalists often challenge Zcash as being centralised, and some refer to it as the corporate privacy coin but how much of a risk is this to the future of the currency?

I sat down with the Zcash Founder and CEO, Zooko Wilcox to discuss the intrinsic link between Zcash the company and Zcash the protocol, what risks this presents and how the bear market has affected operations. We also look into Zooko’s past working on Digicash, his discovery of Bitcoin and user adoption in crypto.

Privacy and Zcash with Zooko Wilcox

Interview location: San Francisco
Interview date: Wednesday 30th Jan, 2019
Company: Stellar
Role: Cofounder

In February 2014 Mt. Gox suspended trading and filed for bankruptcy after approximately 850,000 Bitcoins were stolen, at the time, valued at more than $450m. At the time of its demise it was being run by Mark Karpelès who had acquired the site from Jed McCaleb in 2011.

In this interview I talk to Jed about the creation of Mt. Gox, the handover to Mark Karpelès and what responsibility he shares for its collapse.

Jed McCaleb on the Creation of Mt. Gox

Interview location: Tokyo
Interview date: Saturday 16th Feb, 2019
Company: Mt. Gox
Role: CEO

The shadow of Mt. Gox still hangs over Bitcoin some five years after it collapsed. At the time it held 7% of all Bitcoin in circulation and was the primary exchange for Bitcoin traders. It was reported that 850,000 Bitcoins had been stolen, of which 750,000 were customer coins and 100,000 were owned by Mt. Gox, though 200,000 were later found.

In the five years since, more and more information, research and analysis has pointed at a chaotic operation with poor security procedures, yet opinions range. Some label Mark anything from incompetent to a straight up fraudster while others sympathise with the challenges faced by running the worlds first Bitcoin exchange.

In this interview, I talk to Mark about the collapse of Mt. Gox, how he acquired it from Jed McCaleb, the process of civil rehabilitation and how Brock Pierce and Coinlab are holding up the distribution of funds to the creditors.

Mark Karpelès on the Collapse of Mt. Gox

Interview location: Skype
Interview date: Wednesday 20th Feb, 2019
Company: WizSec
Role: Chief Engineer

Mark Karpeles has had many accusations thrown at his since the collapse of Mt. Gox, including being the architect of the theft himself. Many people were angry with him at the time, and many still are, but as more information surfaces about the history of the exchange, a different picture has emerged.

Indeed, Mark made mistakes which cost users of the website hundreds of millions of dollars but is everything attributable to him. Kim Nilsson’s investigation into the chain of events surrounding the collapse of Mt. Gox highlights that Mark likely inherited an insolvent exchange and was unable to cope with the challenges of a rapidly expanding business under constant attack.

In this interview, I talk to Kim about his report, his opinions on the numerous hacks during the history of Mt. Gox and his views on Mark, Jed McCaleb, Brock Pierce and Peter Vessenes.

Kim Nilsson on His Investigation Into Mt. Gox

Interview location: Skype
Interview date: Wednesday 13th Feb, 2019

Brock Pierce…hmmm…

A man with a questionable history in Bitcoin and wrapped up in the Mt. Gox story. With Gox Rising Brock has a plan to help creditors but what are his incentives? The creditors I have spoken to universally think he isn’t helping yet Brock claims to only want to help the creditors receive their civil rehabilitation and ensure Mark Karpelès gets nothing.

I’ll leave this interview out there for others to judge…

Brock Pierce on Reviving Mt. Gox

Interview location: Florida
Interview date: Wednesday 8th May, 2019
Company: Bitcoin Uncensored
Role: Co-hosts

Coming into Bitcoin in late 2016 comes with a range of challenges in respecting and understanding the history of the space. Not only understanding the tech but the various people and projects which have come and gone.

There is also a long history of scams and/or poorly thought out projects promising riches from the mythical properties of the blockchain. With Bitcoin Uncensored, Chris DeRose and Junseth actively regularly dissected these projects, exposing the false promises and scams prevalent in the space but they acrimoniously split in 2017 as their visions and personal objectives were no longer aligned.

The podcast was very popular with many Bitcoiners but also created them enemies with their no holds barred content. Chris and Junseth agreed to come on the What Bitcoin Podcast to discuss the history of the show, their current view on the space, scams, changing narratives and the pressures of running a podcast.

Bitcoin Uncensored with Chris DeRose and Junseth

Location: Squadcast
Date: Wednesday 9th September   
Company: FFTT, LLC 
Role: Founder

In 1971 Nixon announced that the US would sever all ties between the dollar and gold and would no longer convert dollars to gold at a fixed value of $35/oz, putting an end to any remnants of a gold standard and ushering in a new era in finance.

This new system led to decades of excessive risk-taking, cheap credit and questionable incentive structures. In 2008, the new system came crashing down when the US housing bubble burst and in turn, sent the entire world into the worst financial crisis since the great depression.

To manage the economic crash, central banks pushed quantitative easing to stimulate the economy, but now, 12 years later, the world's economy is again teetering on the edge.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of the global economy. With decades of currency debasement, investors are turning to scarce assets such as gold and Bitcoin to hedge the risk of inflation.

In this interview, I talk to macroeconomist and founder of FFTT, LLC Luke Gromen. We discuss the current macroeconomic climate, how the system that has been in place for the last 50 years is coming to an end and why we need Bitcoin.

Bitcoin: The Great Disruption with Luke Gromen

Location: Squadcast
Date: Thursday 8th October   
Company: MicroStrategy
Role: CEO

In August, MicroStrategy made the bold move of purchasing 21,454 Bitcoin to add to their treasury, spending $250 million. In doing so, CEO Michael Saylor stated that he views Bitcoin as a "dependable store of value and an attractive investment asset with more long-term appreciation potential than holding cash".

The next month MicroStrategy announced that they had doubled down on their conviction in Bitcoin and acquired an additional 16,796 Bitcoin, taking their total spend to $425 million. This move sent a clear message to businesses everywhere that Bitcoin is a valuable asset and can be a key part of a company's treasury.

Following in the footsteps of Microstrategy, last week Square announced that they too had added Bitcoin to their treasury with the purchase of 4,709 Bitcoin for ~$50 million.

In the second part of my interview with Michael Saylor, the CEO of Microstrategy, we discuss his Bitcoin value proposition, his view on maximalism and alts, privacy, decentralisation and the Bitcoin circular economy.

The Bitcoin Bull Bull Bull with Michael Saylor

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.

Mr Obnoxious

Popular tracks