The Bitcoin Frontier

Seth Hertlein is the Global Head of Policy at Ledger and one of the earliest, most persistent advocates for bitcoin self-custody in Washington. Known for his “lone ranger” years as the only lobbyist focused on protecting non-custodial rights, he brings a rare combination of securities law expertise, political insight, and deep conviction about individual property rights. In this episode, Seth joins The Last Free Americans to share how he fell down the bitcoin rabbit hole, why self-custody is a return to humanity’s oldest property norms, and how today’s policy battles will define digital freedom for generations. We dig into the evolution of financial intermediaries, the history of natural rights from Aristotle to the framers, and the real political forces lining up for and against self-custody. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro to The Last Free Americans & Seth’s unique role in policy 2:20 – How a securities regulator became an “accidental crypto lobbyist” 5:03 – Early bitcoin reading, monetary policy, and recognizing its political nature 7:43 – The aha moment of self-custody: from Ledger device to first withdrawal 12:58 – Ownership vs. possession: how financial markets drifted into full intermediation 16:40 – Why self-custody is not new: property as a natural human right 22:45 – How centralization overtook markets: certificates, DTCC, and efficiency tradeoffs 27:58 – 2021: the year Washington and the industry “woke up” to each other 33:10 – Keep Your Coins Act, Canadian truckers, and why lawful peer-to-peer matters 38:40 – Property rights, natural law, and the framers’ blind spots on privacy 45:55 – Executive Order 6102, takings law, and lessons for bitcoin 52:03 – How the Bank Secrecy Act and third-party doctrine became digital surveillance 59:42 – The three camps opposing self-custody: nats-ec hawks, socialists, and bureaucracies 1:05:40 – The IRS broker rule, CRA repeal, and precedents for stopping overreach 1:11:22 – House vs. Senate language: what “retain the right” really means 1:17:14 – Odds of passage in 2024 and why Senate floor time is everything 1:22:44 – The global landscape: why America is still the last best hope 1:27:50 – What comes next: privacy as the next digital freedom frontier 1:32:10 – Closing thoughts on restoring founding principles through Bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Kelly’s Twitter: https://x.com/josephkelly → Seth Hertlein’s Twitter: https://x.com/SethHertlein

Kent is the CEO of Sazmining and a longtime bitcoiner who previously led large-scale solar operations before building a non-custodial bitcoin mining platform. Recently, he became the victim of a sophisticated in-person scam that resulted in the loss of $220,000 worth of bitcoin. In this episode, Kent joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share exactly what happened during the scam, what red flags he missed, and why he decided to go public. We dig into the psychology of social engineering, how attackers exploit self-interest, and why even experienced bitcoiners remain vulnerable. We also cover how to build operational security inside a business to mitigate social engineering attacks, how families can prepare for deepfake attacks, and why bitcoin’s immutability still strengthens personal responsibility even in difficult moments. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & Kent’s disclosure of a $220k bitcoin scam 3:20 – Why he chose to go public: PSA, law-enforcement pressure, and justice 7:10 – Kent’s background in solar, bitcoin, and building Sazmining 10:05 – The setup: a “family office” deal, travel, and early yellow flags 14:40 – The first meeting in Amsterdam & unusual trust-building exercises 19:00 – How the attackers built credibility and portrayed ultra-wealth 23:15 – The second meeting, Atomic Wallet, and how the sweep unfolded 28:40 – The psychological trap: self-interest, exhaustion, and urgency 34:00 – Why immutability didn’t shake his conviction in bitcoin 37:25 – Internal policy changes: whitelisting, diligence, and cooling-off periods 41:50 – Distinguishing roles: CEO instincts vs. bitcoiner instincts 45:05 – Scam evolution, social engineering, and the danger of urgency 49:20 – Efforts to recover funds & the limits of both private and public options 54:10 – How AI deepfakes raise the stakes for family safety 57:20 – Why code words, local trust, and multisig can protect loved ones 59:40 – Closing thoughts, personal accountability & Sazmining’s mission WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Kent Halliburton’s Twitter: https://x.com/khalliburton → Timot Lamarre’s Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre

Zack Shapiro is the head of legal and policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and a key architect behind the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund. He’s spent years on the frontlines where law, technology, and human freedom intersect—helping lawmakers and judges understand what it means to hold value in the digital age. In this episode, Zack joins The Bitcoin Frontier to break down why self-custody is foundational to bitcoin’s value, how the Clarity Act could define financial freedom for a generation, and why the right to hold your own money might be the most American right of all. We dig into the constitutional roots of property rights, how U.S. law is being stretched to fit a peer-to-peer world, and why the fight for non-custodial software developers will determine the future of bitcoin in America. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & the mission behind The Last Free Americans series 2:00 – What self-custody really means and why it’s the foundation of bitcoin’s value 3:45 – ETFs, financialization, and the fading connection to real bitcoin 5:00 – Why self-custody matters more than ever in 2025 6:15 – How outdated laws are clashing with a peer-to-peer world 7:40 – The Clarity Act and the battle for non-custodial rights 9:00 – Would bitcoin even be valuable without self-custody? 10:00 – How self-custody connects to America’s founding values 12:00 – The Constitution’s protections for holding bitcoin: 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th Amendments 16:00 – The history lesson: Executive Order 6102 and gold confiscation 18:30 – Enumerated powers, the 9th Amendment, and the people’s retained rights 21:00 – Why protecting non-custodial developers is critical to freedom 23:30 – Tornado Cash, Samurai Wallet, and the dangerous new legal precedents 27:30 – Knowledge vs. intent: how the DOJ’s theories stretch the law 31:00 – The risk of calling developers “money transmitters” 33:30 – Steelmanning the other side: why regulators see a loophole 37:00 – How the Bank Secrecy Act evolved from mob busting to digital dragnet 40:30 – From halawa networks to bitcoin: applying old laws to new rails 42:30 – The real ideological divide: state control vs. individual liberty 46:00 – Why self-custody embodies the American idea of limited government 47:30 – If Bitcoin existed in 1776, would the framers have protected self-custody? 49:00 – Strategy going forward: the Clarity Act, education, and vigilance 52:00 – The political battle ahead: Elizabeth Warren, ICOs, and what’s really at stake 54:00 – How bitcoin helps the least powerful—and why that matters most WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter:

Tim Hite is the director of policy at Exodus and a former congressional staffer for Rep. Warren Davidson. He helped shape early self-custody legislation—including the Keep Your Coins Act (a playful nod to “KYC”)—and bridges law, technology, and individual rights. In this episode, Tim’s discussion kicks off The Last Free Americans miniseries to share the origin story of self-custody protections on Capitol Hill, how “keep your coins” language differs from the Clarity Act’s approach, and what meaningful safeguards against CBDCs could look like. We dig into the evolution of property rights in a digital world, why illicit-finance fears are often overstated, and how social media has changed the legislative battlefield. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro, disclaimers & why self-custody matters now 0:51 – “The Last Free Americans”: series premise 1:16 – Tim’s path: 2017 bull run, law school, FINRA, and meeting Rep. Davidson 3:34 – From Hill staffer to crypto policy: Token Taxonomy Act & early frameworks 6:51 – The spark for the Keep Your Coins Act and naming the bill 11:12 – Two legislative styles: affirming a right vs. restricting regulators 16:24 – Digital ownership as a new chapter in American property rights 19:05 – CBDCs vs. self-custody: opposite ends of the spectrum 22:30 – Social media’s role: sunlight, mobilization, and changing the odds 30:34 – The 2020 “unhosted wallet” rule & why KYCs on self-hosted wallets don’t fit 39:00 – Bank Secrecy Act’s $10k threshold, report overload, and diminishing returns 41:37 – House passage, Senate path, and realistic timelines for the Clarity Act 47:26 – What’s next: tokenized securities and the future of self-custody 52:58 – Peer-to-peer (with an asterisk): whitelists, accounts, and true control 55:01 – Closing thoughts: momentum, vigilance, and “nature finds a way” WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Kelly’s Twitter: https://x.com/josephkelly → Tim Hite’s Twitter: https://x.com/TimHite → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production): https://x.com/DeFBeD

Joe Kelly is the co-founder and CEO of Unchained. In this latest episode, Joe shares his story and Alaskan roots that shaped a deep respect for self-sufficiency—an experience he now applies to the digital frontier. In this episode, Joe joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share why Unchained is launching a new miniseries, The Last Free Americans, how self-custody became his life’s work, and why the conservation movement offers a powerful analogy for protecting financial freedom. We dig into the frontier phases of new assets and ideas, the role of ETFs as a bridge (not the destination), and how policies like developer protections and “keep your coins” language can ring-fence essential rights. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro: The Last Free Americans and what’s at stake with self-custody 1:06 – Alaska, boats, and learning self-sufficiency 2:54 – Conservation mindset: preserving wilderness and preserving peer-to-peer money 4:03 – From accounts to keys: the “aha” of sending bitcoin yourself 5:39 – Seeing the water we swim in: intermediaries, fees, and privacy tradeoffs 8:03 – Frontiers and phases: from prospectors to politics—how new assets mature 10:57 – Gold rush parallels: excess, scams, and integration into the mainstream 12:55 – National parks as a model: ring-fencing what matters for future generations 15:00 – “The last free Americans”: a proud warning about peer-to-peer rights 17:02 – Building Unchained on bitcoin’s assumptions, not fiat rails 19:16 – ETFs as a useful bridge vs. living the peer-to-peer experience 21:03 – Who are today’s “John Muirs”? Gear, guidance, and making self-custody approachable 23:42 – Beyond one bill: culture, developer protections, and keep-your-coins language 26:34 – Free speech, code, and the very American fight for financial privacy 27:34 – Short memories: SVB, protests, and why self-custody matters before the next shock 29:16 – What to expect from the series and the intellectual adventure of bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Kelly’s Twitter: https://x.com/josephkelly → Timot Lamarre’s Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre

Pierre Rochard is one of the original bitcoin thinkers, builders, and educators — now serving as CEO of The Bitcoin Bond Company. Known for popularizing the term “speculative attack” in the bitcoin space, Pierre has long explored how bitcoin can replace legacy finance from the inside out. In this episode, Pierre joins The Bitcoin Frontier to discuss how banks adopting bitcoin could strengthen global stability, how fractional reserve banking might evolve on a bitcoin standard, and why he believes governments buying bitcoin is inevitable. We dig into the rise of bitcoin treasury companies, the idea behind bitcoin bonds, and whether bitcoin’s decentralization can withstand institutional adoption. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & bitcoin’s ideological roots in libertarianism 3:00 – Why banks holding bitcoin could prevent future financial crises 7:20 – Can fractional reserve banking exist on a bitcoin standard? 10:50 – MicroStrategy and the rise of bitcoin treasury companies 12:40 – Why collapsing banks would be dangerous for society 16:00 – Financial intermediation, savings culture, and a soft landing to a bitcoin economy 18:00 – “Money for enemies”: Why state adoption isn’t betrayal 20:00 – Bitcoin in U.S. and state reserves: From Texas to Trump 23:00 – Can governments or corporations co-opt bitcoin? 25:00 – What bitcoin bonds are and how the Bitcoin Bond Company works 29:30 – Bringing bitcoin into institutional portfolios through structured credit 35:00 – Comparing bitcoin bonds to MicroStrategy’s convertibles 37:00 – Why treasury companies are undervalued and what investors are missing 40:00 – Hyperbitcoinization, speculative attacks, and soft landings 45:00 – How adoption is accelerating asymmetrically across nations 50:00 – The ETF era: Collaborative custody and the path from convenience to sovereignty 55:00 – Have we peaked in self-custody? UX, education, and generational change 58:00 – Is bitcoin’s freedom money inevitable — and what are the real threats ahead? 1:02:00 – Quantum computing, Satoshi’s coins, and the future of protocol resilience 1:03:00 – Where to find Pierre online and closing thoughts WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Pierre Rochard’s Twitter: https://x.com/BitcoinPierre → Timot Lamarre’s Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre

Marty Bent is a bitcoin investor, media founder, and host of TFTC — one of the longest-running bitcoin podcasts. He’s also a managing partner at Ten31, supporting companies building critical bitcoin infrastructure. Marty is uniquely positioned at the intersection of bitcoin, energy, and now artificial intelligence. In this episode, Marty joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share how AI is transforming the bitcoin ecosystem, how his team at TFTC is leveraging it to streamline media production, and how it’s fueling his latest creative projects. We dig into how he built Opportunity Cost, why AI drives decentralization in mining, and how bitcoiners can use these tools to stay ahead of the curve. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & why bitcoin and AI are converging faster than anyone expected 2:00 – Marty’s projects: TFTC, Ten31, and bitcoin mining 5:00 – The evolution of TFTC and what the rebrand to “Truth for the Commoner” means 8:30 – How the team integrates AI tools across research, writing, and production 12:00 – From Perplexity to Claude: learning to use AI as a research assistant 15:00 – Automating TFTC’s backend workflows with AI and no-code tools 18:00 – Clipping, editing, and distribution: using AI for speed and quality 23:00 – Building Opportunity Cost: turning fiat prices into sats in your browser 27:00 – Why open-source and privacy-preserving design still matter 30:00 – The birth of AI-generated storytelling 33:00 – Storyboarding, JSON prompts, and producing viral AI bitcoin videos 38:00 – The Trojan horse approach: spreading bitcoin ideas through culture 46:00 – Bitcoin and AI’s overlap: how energy demand is driving decentralization 50:00 – Paying for compute with bitcoin and why eCash may win 55:00 – AI, energy, and the physical limits of growth 58:00 – How bitcoin founders are using AI to build faster and cheaper 1:00:00 – Practical advice: using AI without compromising your craft or security 1:01:30 – Where to follow Marty and watch his latest creations WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Marty Bent’s Twitter: https://x.com/MartyBent → Trey Seller’s Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl

James Check (aka Checkmate) is the co-founder of Checkonchain and one of the leading voices making onchain data accessible for everyday bitcoiners. Known for his ability to turn complex charts into compelling stories, James blends his engineering background with market analysis to help people see human behavior imprinted in bitcoin’s ledger. In this episode, James joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share why realized cap is one of the most powerful adoption metrics, how to interpret profit and loss across holders, and what onchain data is saying about the current cycle. We dig into the role of ETFs and treasury companies, the impact of derivatives on market structure, and why the future of onchain analytics remains deeply human. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & why onchain data matters for bitcoin 1:30 – Buying the 2017 top, engineering background & finding bitcoin 4:50 – Realized cap, cost basis, and why it just crossed $1T 7:30 – From civil engineering to onchain analysis 10:00 – Orange pill moments, macro influences, and early metrics 12:40 – Human behavior, fear & greed mapped onchain 15:00 – Turning raw data into stories people understand 18:00 – State of the market in 2025: leverage, ETFs, and demand 22:00 – Cycles, late-stage dynamics & institutional flows 26:00 – Rethinking market cycles: the three-cycle structure 31:00 – Sell-side pressure, hodlers, and ETF dynamics 35:00 – Are ETFs and treasury companies changing onchain analysis? 40:00 – Profit, loss, and building decision frameworks for different price scenarios 46:00 – Key support zones: 110K, 90K, and Sailor’s liquidation line 49:00 – Derivatives, ETFs, and how flows shape volatility 54:00 – Risks of leverage, banks entering, and future fireworks 58:00 – Rapid fire: desert island metrics, entry point for retail, and data wish list 1:02:00 – The Australian bitcoin community & grassroots conferences 1:05:30 – The future of onchain analytics, AI, and Checkonchain’s next report WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → James Check’s Twitter: https://x.com/_Checkmatey_ → Connor Dolan’s Twitter:

Rob Warren is Head of Research and Education at Bitcoin Park and the author of The Bitcoin Miners Almanac. He brings a unique ability to explain the economic incentives of bitcoin mining in a way that makes sense across industries and expertise. In this episode, Rob joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share how bitcoin’s incentive structure creates resilience, why mining is misunderstood but critical, and how energy markets and bitcoin naturally align. We dig into the history of mining and the difficulty adjustment, the realities of mining pools and decentralization, and the surprising ways bitcoin miners are accelerating global electrification. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & Rob’s role at Bitcoin Park 2:30 – From home mining experiments to Riot Platforms and Bitcoin Park 5:00 – Why Rob wrote The Bitcoin Miners Almanac 8:10 – The three essentials of mining: energy, cooling, and connectivity 9:30 – The brilliance of the difficulty adjustment 13:00 – Satoshi’s hard cap and why it broke economic orthodoxy 20:30 – How incentives keep miners aligned, even without ideology 24:00 – The “security budget” debate and what it misses 29:00 – Mining economics: liabilities, waste energy, and heat as an asset 31:00 – Flare gas, hydro, and turning liabilities into profitable inputs 37:00 – Gridless and bitcoin’s role in electrifying rural Africa 43:00 – AI superclusters and their overlap with bitcoin mining 49:00 – The history of mining pools and how Slush solved variance 56:00 – Difficulty, shares, and how pools account for work 1:02:00 – Centralization risks, hidden white-labeling, and Ocean’s model 1:11:00 – Bitcoin’s anti-fragility and the long-tail theory 1:18:00 – Adoption as a 140-year game, not a 5-year scheme 1:21:40 – Where to find Rob and upcoming Bitcoin Park summits WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: / unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Rob Warren’s Twitter: https://x.com/BikesandBitcoin → Timot Lamarre’s Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre

In this episode, Tuur joins The Bitcoin Frontier to talk about his latest report, How to Position for the Bitcoin Boom (2025 Edition). He share why he believes the 2025 bitcoin cycle will be longer than past cycles, why confiscation risk should be taken seriously, and how bitcoin treasury companies could reshape global adoption. We dig into stagflation, institutional adoption, and how to approach investing not only in bitcoin but also in bitcoin-native companies. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Disclaimer & intro 1:00 – Why Tuur released his latest report mid-cycle 3:00 – Longer bitcoin cycles and why 2021 was an anomaly 5:00 – The institutional cycle and bitcoin as an escape hatch 6:30 – Long-term holders, conviction, and whale behavior 8:00 – Risks to bitcoin: liquidations, hacks, confiscation, and more 10:00 – Government stakes, Intel, and parallels to ETFs and MicroStrategy 15:00 – Custody risk, avoiding low-hanging fruit, and the importance of self-custody 18:00 – Politics, legitimacy, and bitcoin as a reserve asset 19:30 – Macro outlook: dollar weakness, stagflation, and commodities 23:00 – Why money printing is inevitable and lessons from Latin America 29:00 – The “gradually, then suddenly” moment in markets 31:00 – Bitcoin treasury companies, ETFs, and adoption dynamics 35:00 – Consolidation, risks, and differences between ETFs and strategy companies 40:00 – Investing in bitcoin companies vs bitcoin itself: diligence, timing, geography 47:00 – Example: Anchorwatch and the importance of insurance for bitcoin custody 49:00 – Philosophy: bitcoin as a side quest and avoiding idolatry 53:00 – Swords into plowshares: virtue, stewardship, and technology for good WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: / unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Tuur Demeester's Twitter: https://x.com/TuurDemeester → Connor Dolan’s Twitter: https://x.com/conhodlan

Roberto Rios, known online as Peruvian Bull, is a macro researcher and writer. He’s best known for his Dollar Endgame series, where he explores global debt dynamics, reserve currency shifts, and the future of money. In this episode, Roberto joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share his insights on inflation mechanics, the breakdown of the yen carry trade, and how bitcoin fits into the global monetary reset. We dig into debt spirals, Triffin’s dilemma, and why liquidity is the ultimate driver of financial markets. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – How QE, deficits, and government spending really drive inflation 4:00 – Roberto’s background, macro research journey, and Dollar Endgame series 7:30 – Separating truth from propaganda in economics education 12:00 – QE in 2010 vs. 2020: why one caused inflation and the other didn’t 16:00 – The 2022 rate hike cycle, liquidity drains, and banking crises 20:30 – Reverse repo, TGA, and creative liquidity injections 25:00 – Why global liquidity is the best barometer for bitcoin’s price 31:00 – Triffin’s dilemma and the birth of the dollar system 37:00 – Foreigners owning US assets and the long-term risk to Americans 43:00 – The simulacrum of markets: why asset prices detach from reality 46:00 – The US debt spiral and foreign demand for Treasuries 52:00 – Long-term debt risks, short-term bills, and emerging market dynamics 57:00 – Breakdown of the yen carry trade and why it matters globally 1:03:00 – Japan as a testing ground for future Federal Reserve policies 1:06:00 – How bitcoin solves Triffin’s dilemma and fits into the new order 1:09:00 – Where to follow Roberto and his Dollar Endgame research WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Trey Sellers’ Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl

Brian Harrington is a long-time bitcoiner, educator, and the gift card product lead at Fold. He’s spent years helping people integrate bitcoin into their personal finance habits, while building deep local roots in his community in Temecula, California. In this episode, Brian joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share why bitcoin is uniquely important for both the individual and society, how “compounding” your geography and network can expand your influence, and why purposeful consumption can be as strategic as stacking sats. We dig into his journey from politics to bitcoin startups, the 10,000 people who could tip U.S. adoption, and how everyday purchases send powerful market signals for bitcoin companies. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & why bitcoin matters for both the individual and society 3:00 – Compounding geography and network for long-term influence 7:00 – Homeownership, perception, and credibility in your community 12:30 – Growing up as bitcoiners and recognizing “the payoff” 16:00 – Local politics, planning committees, and building influence 24:00 – The 10,000 people who could tip U.S. bitcoin adoption 29:00 – The best argument against bitcoin and why incentives matter 33:00 – Balancing stacking sats with purposeful consumption 40:00 – How Fold integrates bitcoin into everyday spending & market signals 53:00 – Fold going public, future plans, and closing thoughts WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: / unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Trey Sellers’ Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl

Isabella Santos is a content creator, educator, and bitcoiner. She runs BTC Isla on Isla Mujeres, where she’s planting seeds of financial literacy, self-custody, and sovereign empowerment—starting with Bitcoin education for locals. In this episode, Isabella joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share how she’s turning a sleepy island into a vibrant circular economy, what she’s learned documenting bitcoin adoption across Latin America, and why saving in sats is changing lives in Mexico. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro 1:18 – From journalism to bitcoin advocacy 3:02 – Why she moved to Isla Mujeres 4:38 – Building BTC Isla and teaching bitcoin to locals 6:01 – Financial literacy, circular economies, and bottom-up adoption 9:10 – Saving in sats vs. fiat: real stories from her students 11:00 – Why Western bitcoin narratives don’t always resonate globally 13:02 – Documenting bitcoin in Peru, El Salvador, and beyond 15:03 – Adapting messaging to different cultures and education levels 17:03 – Launching Get Based TV for sovereign storytelling 20:41 – What “awakening the sovereign individual” really means 25:33 – Cultural hurdles to long-term thinking—and how Bitcoin helps 27:04 – Escaping abusive systems via bitcoin circular economies 29:34 – Lightning vs. on-chain: what matters on the ground 31:04 – How self-custody education meets infrastructure limits 34:18 – BitFit Games: gamified bitcoin education + community fitness 36:07 – Building her own bitcoin citadel, gym, and villas 39:02 – Accepting bitcoin at the gym and beyond 40:05 – What’s next: villas, education reform, and new docs 42:13 – How to support BTC Isla WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: / unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Trey Sellers’ Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl

In this episode, we speak with Jeff Booth—entrepreneur, author of The Price of Tomorrow, and founding partner at Ego Death Capital—about what happens when deflation meets a free market for the first time. Jeff unpacks how AI and robotics are accelerating exponential productivity, and why only bitcoin can encode that abundance into the economy without extraction. We talk about what it means to denominate your life in bitcoin, why the future is being built by people who have already opted out of the legacy system, and how venture capital looks different when the benchmark is no longer 8%—but 45%. Jeff offers a deeply moral take on progress, pricing, and why building on bitcoin is no longer risky—it’s necessary. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro 1:10 – Why Jeff started Ego Death Capital 5:22 – Bitcoin vs crypto: protocol vs casino 8:35 – 45% risk-free rate: why Jeff invests in bitcoin companies 13:40 – How deflation changes the game 17:12 – The new benchmark: outcompete bitcoin 20:44 – Why exponential tech and fiat money can’t coexist 24:20 – How Jeff thinks about AI and marginal cost 29:05 – Productivity, value creation, and economic first principles 33:40 – The myth of capitalism under fiat 36:59 – AI, robotics, and what the merge looks like 41:10 – Bitcoin as mirror and map: get out of the dying system 43:37 – Hope, energy, and building for others WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: /unchained → Unchained LinkedIn: /unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Connor Dolan's Twitter: /conhodlan

Ben Justman is a winemaker, entrepreneur, and bitcoiner. He founded Peony Lane in western Colorado with a bet on long-term thinking: plant grapes, make wine, and stack bitcoin. In this episode, Ben joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share how he built a handcrafted wine business from the ground up—during a drawdown—and how his best customers turned out to be bitcoiners. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro 1:14 – Bitcoin bull run and building a business on conviction 7:10 – Wine, frost, and learning the hard way in two industries 13:45 – Why winemaking and bitcoin both reward patience 21:15 – What’s really in your wine—and why bitcoiners care 27:00 – Selling wine for sats: accepting bitcoin and adapting systems 33:00 – Borrowing at the top, stacking through the drawdown 40:00 – How bitcoiners became his core customer base 46:30 – Fighting industry headwinds with niche alignment 49:40 – The downside of leverage and the value of conviction 59:25 – What’s next for Peony Lane WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Trey Sellers' Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl

What if orange-pilling isn’t persuasion—but marketing, ethics, and timing? In this episode, we sit down with Tad Smith—partner at One Roundtable Partners, former CEO of Madison Square Garden and Sotheby’s, and one of bitcoin’s most articulate educators—to explore the moral case for orange-pilling, and why it’s not a right but a responsibility. Tad shares hard-won lessons from orange-pilling family members across generations and wealth brackets, and explains why alignment—not argument—is the key. We break down how different cohorts—from boomers to creatives—encounter bitcoin, and why effective orange-pilling starts with listening, not preaching. From bitcoin vs. college and homeownership, to AI’s threat to knowledge workers, Tad lays out how bitcoin becomes not speculation, but protection—not rebellion, but insurance—not utopia, but sovereignty. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=you... → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?ut... TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro 1:10 – The moral case for orange-pilling 5:47 – Why persuasion fails and alignment works 10:08 – Mistakes made orange-pilling family and friends 15:02 – You need an invitation to orange-pill 18:48 – Cohort-based messaging: it’s not religion, it’s marketing 23:27 – Orange-pilling high-net-worth individuals 28:12 – Retirees, boomers, and fear of complexity 31:40 – Tech-savvy, libertarian, and progressive angles 35:20 – Why creatives matter: expression, ownership, and ordinals 38:47 – College vs bitcoin: a post-AI investment dilemma 44:02 – Should you buy a house or stack more bitcoin? 49:55 – Narrative shapes price: the Marian Antoinette necklace lesson 53:10 – What bitcoin really is: protection, insurance, sovereignty 57:35 – How to orange-pill with respect and precision WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: / unchained → Unchained Linkedin: / unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter

What if the future of credit markets is built on bitcoin? In this episode, we sit down with Jon Melton, Head of Lending at Unchained and a veteran of Morgan Stanley, Silvergate, and Xapo. Jon shares his journey from Wall Street to building a bitcoin-backed credit business, helping institutions safely borrow dollars against their bitcoin without losing control. We explore why bitcoin is pristine collateral, how interest rates in this market may evolve, and why re-hypothecation risk matters. Jon explains how collaborative custody transforms the borrowing experience and outlines the future of institutional credit on a bitcoin standard. We also discuss why the regulatory tide in America has turned—and what that unlocks for bitcoin’s next wave. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 4:45 - Conviction through doing the work 10:07 - Managing $1.5b in bitcoin loans with zero losses 16:08 - What Wall Street still doesn’t understand about bitcoin 20:11 - Why bitcoin embodies American values 26:27 - How interest rates might evolve in bitcoin lending 30:12 - Why Unchained never rehypothecates your bitcoin 36:22 - How big will bitcoin lending get in 10 years 41:10 - What unlocks the next wave of bitcoin credit markets 46:25 - The biggest risk to bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Jon Melton’s Twitter: https://x.com/jmelton21mm

What if you were introduced to digital scarcity before bitcoin even existed? In this episode, we sit down with Anil Patel, author of The Bitcoin Handbook and creator of widely shared bitcoin graphics featured in Michael Saylor keynotes. Anil shares how selling concert tickets sparked his early understanding of scarcity, and how that insight shaped his approach to bitcoin. We discuss his take on bitcoin’s future as a store of value, treasury asset, and sovereign protection tool, and why he believes bitcoin’s price will rise forever. Anil unpacks his journey from pitching bitcoin to MBA classmates in 2013 to now building educational content that simplifies complex ideas. We explore the rise of bitcoin treasury companies, how centralized platforms differ from bitcoin’s ethos, and the enduring value of reading and low time preference in a distracted world. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - Anil’s early digital scarcity insight from concert ticketing 5:12 - Why bitcoin will go up forever, according to Anil 12:07 - Building a personal and family bitcoin reserve 14:18 - Bitcoin treasury companies vacuuming up supply 16:17 - Pitching bitcoin to his MBA class in 2013 23:32 - Evolving bitcoin education and content creation 29:22 - Why early bitcoiners understood digital scarcity 32:16 - Sovereignty vs number go up—why both matter 40:16 - Mental models and heuristics to cut through noise 43:08 - Innovation is accelerating—so is bitcoin’s upside WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Anil Patel’s Twitter: https://x.com/anilsaidso

What if bitcoin treasury companies become the most powerful corporations of the next decade? In this episode, we’re joined by Sam Callahan to explore how lightning adoption, corporate strategy, and macro uncertainty are reshaping the global economy. Sam explains why companies like Strategy are pioneering a new capital structure based on bitcoin, how BTC-native yield on the Lightning Network could disrupt traditional finance, and why institutions are finally waking up to sound money. We cover everything from regulatory arbitrage and ETF flows to lightning yield flywheels, safe haven behavior, and the future of corporate balance sheets. Sam also breaks down how tether and stablecoin adoption could drive a new phase of economic activity on lightning—and what it means for investors looking to outperform. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:21 - How bitcoin treasury companies are revolutionizing finance 5:20 - Bitcoin treasury companies vs real estate leverage 10:01 - Why this cycle could mimic 2017’s parabolic run 12:46 - Why bitcoin adoption is at a major inflection point 16:36 - Who’s next to buy bitcoin: corporates or governments? 22:31 - If bitcoin hits 50% of gold, price hits $1 million 28:06 - Bitcoin is starting to show safe haven behavior 34:39 - How lightning and tether could explode BTC-native yield 46:16 - Spend fiat or spend and replace bitcoin? 52:30 - Why DOGE can’t stop the era of fiscal dominance WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Sam Callahan’s Twitter: https://x.com/samcallah

Bitcoin’s volatility is falling—and Trace Mayer thinks that may signal the end of its wealth creation era. In this episode, we sit down with early bitcoin investor and proof of keys holiday founder Trace Mayer to unpack where we are in bitcoin’s lifecycle and what comes next. Trace breaks down his recent debate with Peter Schiff, explaining why subjective value theory and entrepreneurship are at the heart of bitcoin’s superiority over gold. We explore bitcoin’s declining volatility, why Strategy’s strategy may be riskier than it looks, and how bitcoin financialization is accelerating faster than expected. Trace also shares why proof of reserves matters, the long-term risk of custodial centralization, and how legal frameworks might evolve to protect against contentious forks. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:24 - Debating Peter Schiff on sound money and bitcoin 5:44 - Why Satoshi was a monetary entrepreneur 10:07 - Bitcoin vs gold: scarcity, portability, and use cases 20:36 - The light side vs dark side of investing with bitcoin 23:18 - Saylor’s strategy: capital gains vs cash flow 28:01 - Bitcoin volatility is declining—is the wealth creation phase over? 33:45 - The financialization of bitcoin is accelerating 40:01 - Global instability, geopolitics, and bitcoin 49:46 - Capital controls: bitcoin’s role WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Trace Mayer’s Twitter: https://x.com/TraceMayer

Bitcoin might still be wildly undervalued—and Adam Back explains why. In this episode, we sit down with Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, early cypherpunk, and inventor of hashcash, the proof-of-work system that inspired bitcoin mining. Adam shares the story of receiving the first known email from Satoshi Nakamoto, why he didn’t buy bitcoin until it hit $100, and how early ideas like b-money and bit gold shaped Satoshi’s breakthrough. We explore the importance of a fixed supply, why halvings still move the market, and how doubt keeps bitcoin underpriced. Adam weighs in on treasury adoption, supply shocks, and whether this cycle could break the diminishing returns theory. We also discuss volatility, long-term thinking, and the $100 trillion opportunity bitcoin is unlocking. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Why selling bitcoin is like playing against a rigged casino 7:38 - Why Adam didn’t buy bitcoin until it hit $100 10:11 - Realizing bitcoin had bootstrapped into something real 13:35 - The underrated role of Nick Szabo, Wei Dai, and Hal Finney 19:24 - Why the 2008 financial crisis was perfect timing for bitcoin 22:32 - Is bitcoin drifting from its cypherpunk roots? 26:01 - How doubt keeps bitcoin undervalued 27:52 - Why $10 million bitcoin is still possible 31:19 - Why volatility makes bitcoin hard to sell 36:36 - Why halvings still impact the price despite being predictable 42:35 - Why this cycle could invalidate the diminishing returns theory 46:14 - The global unbanked: a $100 trillion bitcoin market 48:12 - The 200-week moving average as a price floor 50:10 - Price reflexivity: why people buy because it’s going up 53:07 - The shrinking tradable supply and why halvings still matter WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Adam Back’s Twitter: https://x.com/adam3us

In this episode, we sit down with Vijay Boyapati, author of The Bullish Case for Bitcoin, to explore where we really are in the current market cycle and what comes next. Vijay breaks down four frameworks for valuing bitcoin, explains why gold parity is almost inevitable, and outlines how ETFs and corporate treasury strategies are reshaping adoption. We talk through HODL waves, why the current price action still feels boring, and what it might take to push bitcoin to $10mm+ per coin. Vijay also discusses quantum computing and AI as emerging risks, the importance of ossification, and how a future of abundance may still require sound money. Finally, he shares what he’d update in his original thesis and why the story of Satoshi may become one of the defining legends of the next thousand years SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Read Joe Burnett’s new report, Repricing the Economy in Bitcoin: https://www.unchained.com/go/repricing-the-economy-in-bitcoin?utm_campaign=strivereport&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=tbf&utm_content=youtube TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 2:08 - Valuing bitcoin at $1M and $10M 4:01 - HODL waves and the psychology of selling 5:49 - Four frameworks for bitcoin valuation 10:06 - Why bitcoin surpassing gold is nearly certain 12:27 - How early we still are in global adoption 14:38 - Why ETFs changed the bitcoin game 17:32 - How MicroStrategy tapped the bond market 20:36 - What’s holding bitcoin back today 22:41 - Why hyperbitcoinization is unlikely this cycle 23:18 - How bitcoin cycles crash and reset 27:11 - What could break the MicroStrategy model 29:34 - How long-term investors may soften future crashes 30:27 - Would you change anything in the bullish case? 35:06 - Quantum computing and bitcoin’s biggest risk 38:02 - Will AI abundance make money obsolete? 41:29 - Why time guarantees bitcoin’s role in the future 46:00 - Bitcoin ossification vs. protocol changes 49:27 - Will self-custody or custodians win long term? 51:40 - What would Satoshi think today? 54:19 - Is bitcoin a digital organism? 56:05 - Outside of bitcoin, what excites Vijay most? 57:09 - Where to find Vijay and his work WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Vijay Boyapoti’s Twitter: https://x.com/real_vijay

What if bitcoin could spark a nuclear renaissance? In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan, better known as Nuclear Bitcoiner, to explore the intersection of nuclear energy and bitcoin. Ryan shares how bitcoin aligns with long-term infrastructure like small modular reactors and how it may reshape the economics of power generation. We walk through the advantages of nuclear over wind and solar, the implications of AI and data center demand, and how microgrids could decentralize the future energy landscape. Ryan also breaks down fusion vs. fission, the role of hash rate flexibility, and why nation-states will inevitably compete for mining dominance. From financing nuclear with bitcoin bonds to rethinking scarcity itself, this episode offers a forward-looking view of energy, incentives, and acceleration. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Learn why every business will buy bitcoin: https://unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:01 - Why Ryan became the nuclear bitcoin 03:03 - How bitcoin mining fits perfectly with nuclear microgrids 06:36 - Why nuclear beats wind and solar on resilience 11:32 - Can small nuclear reactors decentralize the grid? 14:11 - The AI and data center energy boom is bullish for nuclear 16:24 - Why Microsoft wants to own a nuclear plant 20:02 - Bitcoin may fix nuclear financing 22:43 - How radiation is misunderstood—and actually saves lives 25:14 - What’s the difference between nuclear fusion and fission? 27:33 - The myth of “cheap” wind and solar energy 30:09 - Bitcoin mining adds unmatched flexibility to the grid 36:25 - Could bitcoin mining one day use more energy than the world does today? 41:05 - Why perfect scarcity is so hard to understand 44:51 - How bitcoin bonds could revolutionize nuclear financing 52:30 - Final thoughts on bitcoin, nation-states, and the future of energy WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Nuclear Bitcoiner’s Twitter: https://x.com/NuclearBitcoinr

What happens when a former underground miner and Navy fighter pilot goes all in on bitcoin? In this episode, we sit down with George Bodine to find out. George shares his unique journey—from hauling rock beneath the earth to flying jets—and how it led him to see bitcoin as the only escape from a broken monetary system. We explore his view on inflation, the collapse of the American dream, and why he believes bitcoin could reach $2.4 million by 2030. George breaks down the risks of yield products, the role of ETFs and MicroStrategy, and the repeal of SAB 121. He shares his thoughts on Tether and 21 Capital, the rise of the national strategic bitcoin reserve, and the possibility of sovereign accumulation. We close with a thoughtful discussion on whether bitcoin is ultimately for optimists or pessimists—and his message to the next generation. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Watch the video premiere of Bitcoin, Not Crypto: https://unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - From underground miner to Navy pilot to Delta captain 4:17 - Realizing you can’t outrun fiat money after the GFC 6:57 - Living through Nixon’s gold shock and the petrodollar pivot 9:06 - Why gold bugs are future bitcoiners 12:51 - Will young people be locked out of owning meaningful bitcoin? 16:49 - A volatile but hopeful transfer of wealth to ethical builders 18:59 - Coinbase yield product and the future of bitcoin financial services 27:52 - Tether, 21 Capital, and Strategy 30:19 - SAB 121, stablecoin legislation, and the national strategic reserve 46:51 - Bitcoiners will inherit the world 50:11 - TradFi anger, denial, and inability to accept yield-less assets 01:05:28 - Will art improve on a bitcoin standard? WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → George Bodine’s Twitter: https://x.com/Jethroe111

What if bitcoin really is decoupling from the stock market? In this episode, we’re joined by Rational Root, creator of the Bitcoin Strategy Platform and one of the top on-chain cycle analysts in the space. We explore whether macro chaos and rising gold prices are setting the stage for bitcoin to chart its own path. Root breaks down how the 4-year cycle could break, what historical data says about the current inflection point, and why he believes institutional flows are quietly limiting downside volatility. He also shares his custom spiral and 3D valuation charts, how to track hype in the market, and why 100k bitcoin might be harder to break than most think. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier → Watch the video premiere of Bitcoin, Not Crypto: https://unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:06 - Why bitcoin’s fundamentals have never looked better 4:20 - Could macro chaos trigger bitcoin’s decoupling? 10:06 - Bitcoin trades on optimism, gold trades on fear 17:09 - Is gold’s rise setting up bitcoin’s breakout? 22:01 - Will the next recession break the 4-year cycle? 30:23 - Why 100k bitcoin may face resistance 36:09 - The 3D chart that could predict the cycle top 44:10 - Bitcoin’s floor price keeps rising 50:23 - Will bitcoin crack 100k or break down? WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Rational Root’s Twitter: https://x.com/therationalroot

Energy production is broken—and rebuilding it could unlock a new era of abundance. In this episode, we sit down with Isaiah Taylor, founder of Valor Atomics, to explore how cheap energy can reshape the world. Isaiah shares his family’s history with the Manhattan Project, why nuclear innovation stalled in the West, and how Valor is building modular giga-sites to produce cleaner, cheaper energy at scale. We discuss how robotics, AI, and manufacturing are shifting cost curves, the future of energy demand, and why decentralization is key to national resilience. Isaiah also shares his thoughts on bitcoin, the dangers of regulatory bloat, and how restoring antifragility to America’s legal system could unleash a new industrial boom. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier → Watch the video premiere of Bitcoin, Not Crypto: https://unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - Isaiah Taylor’s Manhattan Project family history 3:18 - Secrecy inside America’s Secret City 5:37 - Why America needs new Manhattan Projects today 7:39 - How Valor Atomics is rethinking nuclear reactors 10:01 - How a nuclear reactor really works 13:38 - Why building reactors became a legal and talent problem 16:59 - How AI is pushing investors toward hard tech 18:59 - The future of energy: exponential demand and production 21:46 - Why energy prices have been broken since the 1970s 26:06 - Valor’s giga-site model to transform energy markets 30:27 - Could machines create an infinite energy feedback loop? 33:57 - Humanity’s mission: garden the universe 36:19 - Will money still matter in a post-scarcity world? 40:34 - How regulatory bloat crushed American industry 48:10 - Why Isaiah Taylor is suing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://twitter.com/unchained → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Isaiah Taylor’s Twitter: https://x.com/isaiah_p_taylor

What if bitcoin development stopped tomorrow? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Schmidt, Executive Director at Brink, and Buck Perley, Director of Product Engineering at Unchained, to explore the state of open source development and why it matters more than ever. Mike shares his path from software engineer to funding bitcoin core developers, while Buck recounts his early bitcoin experiences in China. We cover what bitcoin core developers actually do, how brink evaluates contributors, and why maintenance, security, and review are essential—even without major protocol changes. The conversation also touches on ossification, governance, and the future of soft forks. If you’ve ever wondered who maintains bitcoin’s foundation and why it matters, this episode pulls back the curtain. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier → What is bitcoin: A tech stock? An inflation hedge? A ponzi scheme? Can DOGE Fix The Dollar? Come listen to Professor Peter St. Onge give a keynote presentation on April 16th: https://unchained.com/doge TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - Why open source matters for bitcoin 6:20 - How Buck discovered bitcoin in China 11:12 - What bitcoin core developers actually do 16:57 - How brink evaluates developers before funding 22:15 - What brink would do with unlimited funding 27:34 - Why bitcoin needs more reviewers, not just coders 32:10 - Should bitcoin ossify or stay flexible? 36:36 - The messy politics of soft forks and consensus 42:18 - What is bitcoin governance really? 47:18 - Unpopular opinions from Mike and Buck 51:25 - The biggest long-term risk to bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Mike Schmidt’s Twitter: https://x.com/bitschmidty → Buck Perley’s Twitter: https://x.com/puckberley

In this episode, we dive into bitcoin's impact on the future global monetary order with Natalie Smolenski, an anthropologist and bitcoiner. We discuss her thoughts on how bitcoin challenges the state's monopoly on currency, invoking Karl Marx's unexpected agreement that gold, a commodity, originally embodied money—not the state-minted currencies. Natalie explains her fascination with the concept of the invaluable—elements of culture and society that transcend monetary value—and how bitcoin fits in today’s culture. We also tackle bitcoin's role as a deflationary currency in contrast to fiat's inflationary tendencies, highlighting its potential to redefine economic and social hierarchies. Join us as we explore bitcoin's potential to reshape not just economies but cultural identities. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier → Meet Natalie in Austin on April 16th: https://www.meetup.com/bitcoin-park-austin/events/306342336/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Natalie's journey into bitcoin 02:19 - Anthropology and the concept of value 06:06 - Modern monetary theory and social power 10:09 - Central banking and national economic performance 15:12 - The challenge of physical currencies and the role of central banks 20:27 - Money as the most salable good: Carl Menger's insights 26:17 - Debunking the myth: Bitcoin and collective hallucination 30:01 - Bitcoin as a protocol for new societal frameworks 34:10 - Bitcoin's potential impact on societal structures 38:23 - The state's interest in bitcoin and potential risks 42:27 - Legal challenges and the future of bitcoin ownership 45:24 - The future of privacy, property, and political action in the bitcoin era WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Natalie Smolenski’s Twitter: https://x.com/NSmolenski

What happens when a certified financial planner sells two homes to buy bitcoin? In this episode, we sit down with Jessy Gilger, Senior Advisor at Sound Advisory, to explore the radical shift happening inside the financial advisory industry. Jessy shares how he went from flipping houses to building multi-generational wealth on a bitcoin standard, and why more clients—and even advisors—are quietly making the leap. We cover how ETFs are changing incentives, how to navigate capital allocation between real estate and bitcoin, and the risks of high bitcoin exposure in retirement. Jessy explains why volatility planning matters, how to survive bitcoin drawdowns, and how to protect your family with proper inheritance planning. We also get into his take on the national bitcoin reserve and potential tax changes. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier → If you can’t talk about your bitcoin wealth with your financial advisor, it might be time to find a new advisor. Check out Sound Advisory at thesoundadvisory.com. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:18 - Why Jessy sold two houses for bitcoin 02:35 - Jessy’s thesis for bitcoin as internet-native money 04:13 - How financial advisors react to buying bitcoin 05:34 - Why ETFs changed the game for advisors 07:26 - When to buy a house vs. buy more bitcoin 09:17 - Using long-term mortgages as low-cost leverage 12:03 - How Jessy thinks about portfolio allocation 13:15 - What 90% bitcoin portfolios look like in real life 15:09 - Why retirees need a bitcoin bear market survival plan 20:01 - Bitcoin’s volatility and the four-year cash barbell 24:37 - Could the next 80% bitcoin drawdown be the last? 27:06 - The return of austerity and why it matters for bitcoiners 30:04 - Tax changes coming in 2025 and what to do now 43:37 - When it’s time to fire your financial advisor WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Jessy Gilger’s Twitter: https://x.com/idahohodl

What happens when corporations and nations wake up to bitcoin’s dominance? In this episode, we sit down with Matt Cole, former CalPERS portfolio manager, to discuss why every public company will eventually hold bitcoin and how the U.S. is already falling behind in the global bitcoin race. Matt shares his journey from managing $70 billion in fixed income to realizing bitcoin’s role as the ultimate savings vehicle. We explore his viral letter urging GameStop to adopt bitcoin, the concept of bitcoin as a corporate hurdle rate, and the growing pressure for businesses to rethink treasury strategies. Matt breaks down the risks and misconceptions around MicroStrategy’s leverage, how AI could reshape business moats, and why a higher hurdle rate could force a more productive economy. We also discuss why he believes regulatory risks for bitcoin have dropped to near zero and what this means for the future. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:32 - From Wall Street to bitcoin: Matt Cole’s journey 03:45 - Managing $70 billion at CalPERS and the pension crisis 05:34 - Buying US treasuries and questioning the system 07:22 - The moment Matt first heard about bitcoin (on a bodybuilding forum!) 10:17 - Why institutions are always late to bitcoin 12:19 - The fight between bitcoin and CBDCs 15:36 - Why the US must buy bitcoin before it's too late 16:05 - The viral letter urging GameStop to adopt bitcoin 20:06 - Could GameStop become the next MicroStrategy? 23:25 - Why every public company will hold bitcoin 27:02 - Bitcoin as the new corporate hurdle rate 35:36 - Why most businesses are losing to bitcoin’s hurdle rate 39:59 - Does MicroStrategy have too much leverage? 46:56 - Will bitcoin force a more productive economy? WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Matt Cole’s Twitter: https://x.com/ColeMacro

What happens when a small AI company moves its entire treasury into bitcoin? In this episode, we sit down with Drew D’Agostino, founder of Crystal, to unpack his bold decision to adopt a bitcoin standard. Drew shares how the 2022 bear market forced him to rethink his company’s financial strategy, the challenges of onboarding employees to bitcoin, and how he uses bitcoin as a hurdle rate for business spending. We compare his approach to Microstrategy’s aggressive accumulation, explore AI’s role in disrupting traditional business models, and discuss whether AI and bitcoin together could decentralize the world. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Why drew moved his company to a bitcoin standard 3:46 - The bear market forced a critical decision 5:28 - How bitcoin saved the company from collapse 7:11 - Using bitcoin as a hurdle rate for business spending 9:05 - How employees reacted to the bitcoin strategy 12:42 - How bitcoin aligns with long-term company culture 18:17 - Comparing microstrategy’s strategy to a private business 23:15 - Will more businesses adopt a bitcoin-first strategy? 25:30 - AI is accelerating faster than expected 29:56 - Why AI gives small companies an edge over big corporations 32:35 - Can bitcoin and AI decentralize the world? 35:41 - Will AI accelerate hyperbitcoinization? 45:00 - The biggest risk to bitcoin’s future 57:15 - Where to find Drew WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Drew D’Agoostino’s Twitter: https://x.com/DrewDAgostino

This episode was recorded moments before the U.S. made its biggest financial decision since 1971. In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Jacoutot, attorney and bitcoin policy expert, to break down the push for a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve. We explore the 20-year HODL mandate in Senator Lummis' bill, Trump's policy shift, and why nation-states could face bitcoin FOMO. Bryan explains how the U.S. could acquire 1 million bitcoin, the debate over funding it with gold revaluation, and the risks of waiting too long. We also discuss whether altcoins should be included, shifting banking regulations, and how a sovereign wealth fund could reshape global finance. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 2:12 - The 20-year bitcoin HODL mandate in Senator Lummis' bill 4:29 - Trump's surprising shift on bitcoin policy 5:31 - EO vs legislative strategic reserve 10:14 - How the U.S. could acquire 1 million bitcoin 12:14 - The genius idea to fund bitcoin purchases with gold revaluation 15:02 - How the crypto summit could influence bitcoin policy 20:35 - Is the U.S. front-running the world on bitcoin? 23:50 - The case against a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve 29:28 - Why the U.S. must hedge against not buying bitcoin 31:58 - Sovereign wealth fund vs. strategic bitcoin reserve 35:38 - Why Texas and Georgia may lead the state-level bitcoin reserves 42:10 - SAB 121 repeal: A game-changer for bitcoin banking? 51:51 - Why only bitcoin belongs in a U.S. strategic reserve WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Bryan Jacoutot’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/BryanJacoutot

How did a simple golf tournament turn into one of the most unique bitcoin events in the world? In this episode, we sit down with the key organizers and participants of the Max & Stacy Bitcoin Golf Invitational in El Salvador to unpack how this event came to life. We explore the surprising connection between bitcoin and golf, the challenges of organizing a major bitcoin event from scratch, and why the tournament attracted bitcoiners from around the world. The conversation covers El Salvador’s rapid transformation, its growing role in the bitcoin community, and the inspiring story of the country’s top golfer. We also discuss bitcoin’s long-term adoption, the power of a strong network, and the future of bitcoin sports events. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - How the bitcoin golf tournament started 3:46 - From article to international event 8:20 - Why bitcoin and golf share the same mindset 12:32 - The rise of bitcoin sports events 18:25 - Inside the Max & Stacy Invitational 22:05 - El Salvador’s top golfer and his bitcoin connection 25:41 - The unique culture of bitcoiners 31:10 - El Salvador’s transformation and first impressions 34:09 - The best food in El Salvador 39:32 - Why hash rate signals bitcoin’s strength 42:18 - Executing a flawless bitcoin event 45:42 - How bitcoin reshapes time and wealth 50:06 - The power of taking action 52:35 - The future of bitcoin sports and elite events 55:00 - Final thoughts on bitcoin, El Salvador, and the tournament WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Max Keiser on Twitter: https://x.com/maxkeiser → Stacy Herbert on Twitter: https://x.com/stacyherbert → Bitcoin Sports Network on Twitter: https://x.com/BSN_Events → Trey Sellers on Twitter: https://x.com/ts_hodl → Rocky Wold on Twitter: https://x.com/rkywld

Could bitcoin mining reshape the global energy grid? In this episode, we sit down with Zach Bradford, CEO and President of CleanSpark, to uncover how mining and energy industries are converging. Zach shares how stoicism influences his leadership, why CleanSpark navigated past bull and bear cycles so effectively, and his take on whether bitcoin will ever see another 80% drawdown. We discuss the risks of market euphoria, how SAB 121 could open the floodgates for institutional adoption, and why nation-states may begin accumulating serious amounts of bitcoin. Zach also explains CleanSpark’s distributed mining strategy, the future of energy integration, and how bitcoin could ultimately transform global trade and finance. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - How stoicism shapes bitcoin mining leadership 5:09 - Will bitcoin ever see another 80% drawdown? 7:29 - Strategy over ideology in bitcoin mining 9:34 - How CleanSpark capitalized on the bull and bear cycles 13:39 - Is the market too euphoric right now? 16:20 - How SAB 121 could change the financial system 18:10 - Will bitcoin mining and energy industries fully converge? 21:44 - Could bitcoin mining fundamentally disrupt the power industry? 25:36 - Bitcoin as digital gold or digital capital? 30:40 - Why nation-states are accumulating bitcoin 32:26 - Will the United States adopt a strategic bitcoin reserve? 37:34 - How CleanSpark balances short-term execution with long-term vision 42:31 - Why CleanSpark focuses on efficiency over size 46:00 - The unexpected second-order effects of bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Zach Bradford on Twitter: https://x.com/ZachKBradford

Is the U.S. on the brink of creating a national strategic bitcoin reserve or will Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM) buy bitcoin first? In this episode, we sit down with Eric Semler, Chairman of Semler Scientific, seasoned investor, and founder of TCS Capital, to discuss why he believes bitcoin will not only match gold’s valuation but far exceed it. Eric shares his early exposure to bitcoin, the pivotal moments that shaped his conviction, and the strategy behind his firm’s aggressive accumulation. We break down BTC Yield, the real hurdles stopping corporations from adopting bitcoin, and why institutional investors are still skeptical. Eric also gives his take on the evolving role of banks in bitcoin custody and how global trade shifts could accelerate bitcoin’s rise. We wrap up with insights on bitcoin’s long-term trajectory, the risks it still faces, and why even skeptics may soon become bitcoin savers. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - How Eric first heard about bitcoin 3:06 - The debate among top investors in bitcoin’s early days 5:14 - Why Eric didn’t buy bitcoin immediately 6:48 - How Eric values publicly traded bitcoin companies 10:16 - The significance of BTC yield and its impact on valuations 14:10 - Why institutional adoption of bitcoin is still lagging 17:35 - The biggest hurdles stopping companies from putting bitcoin on their balance sheets 20:25 - Will banks start custodying bitcoin soon? 24:58 - Should bitcoiners be concerned about banks lending bitcoin? 27:59 - How tariffs, trade wars, and inflation impact bitcoin’s future 29:52 - Could the U.S. create a national strategic bitcoin reserve? 33:20 - Why Eric believes bitcoin will far exceed gold’s valuation 36:52 - What happens once bitcoin reaches full adoption? 38:06 - Thoughts on MicroStrategy’s rebrand to Strategy 43:55 - Are any CEOs actually considering putting bitcoin on their balance sheet? 46:22 - The biggest risk to bitcoin’s future WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Eric Semler on Twitter: https://x.com/SemlerEric

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, to discuss his journey from trading derivatives at Morgan Stanley to becoming a leading voice in bitcoin. Jeff shares his perspective on the nature of money, why he sees bitcoin as speech rather than currency, and how its volatility is both a challenge and an opportunity. We break down the implications of the US dollar’s structural weaknesses, the potential for a Plaza Accord 2.0, and the role of tariffs in reshaping global trade. Jeff explains why he believes bitcoin will surpass gold, how corporations are beginning to embrace bitcoin on their balance sheets, and whether a major tech company like Meta could be next. We also explore the impact of SAB 121’s repeal, the future of bitcoin custody in traditional finance, and the biggest risks to bitcoin’s long-term adoption. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - What is money? Jeff Park’s take 3:13 - Bitcoin is not money—it's speech 5:13 - Is bitcoin more like gold or a commodity? 8:43 - How Jeff Park went from Wall Street to bitcoin 10:56 - Why is bitcoin so volatile? 13:56 - The US dollar’s hidden dilemma and the role of tariffs 16:26 - How the Plaza Accord 2.0 could change everything 21:27 - Bitcoin vs. gold: competition or complementary? 25:12 - Could bitcoin surpass gold's market cap? 32:17 - Will foreign nations pivot to bitcoin instead of treasuries? 39:50 - The US sovereign wealth fund and bitcoin’s role 44:03 - Could Mark Zuckerberg put bitcoin on Meta’s balance sheet? 46:41 - What does SAB 121’s repeal mean for banks and ETFs? 52:37 - The biggest risk to bitcoin’s long-term future WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Jeff Park on Twitter: https://x.com/dgt10011

In this episode, we sit down with Radu, an engineer at Amazon and deep thinker in the bitcoin space. Radu shares his journey from discovering bitcoin in 2015 to developing a unique thermodynamic perspective on its inevitability. We discuss how he ties bitcoin to the laws of energy, his insights into bitcoin as perfected digital energy, and the role of proof of work in anchoring its value. Radu explains bitcoin’s function as an energy conduit and how it drives perpetual innovation in mining and energy efficiency. We explore his views on bitcoin as a singularity, its potential to reshape global capital flows, and the long-term impact on nation-states and human consciousness. Radu also touches on the philosophical implications of a bitcoin standard and how technology, like AI, accelerates this transformation. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - Radu’s journey from engineering to bitcoin 03:14 - The first bitcoin opportunity missed at $400 04:02 - How a coworker sparked Radu’s bitcoin curiosity 05:19 - Riding bitcoin from $20K to $3K and back 06:46 - Discovering bitcoin's inevitability through thermodynamics 08:20 - The Michael Saylor moment that changed everything 10:03 - Why bitcoin is perfected digital energy 13:05 - Bitcoin as the ultimate energy conduit 21:00 - Bitcoin’s perpetual flywheel: the gradient minimization engine 27:20 - How bitcoin is pulling global capital like a waterfall 31:47 - The future: from digital capital to digital energy 32:07 - Bitcoin and the path to universal consciousness 38:52 - Can humanity handle the coming singularity? WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Radu on Twitter: https://x.com/LizardWizardBTC

In this episode, we sit down with Skot, electrical engineer and creator of Bitaxe, the first open-source ASIC bitcoin miner. Skot shares his journey from IoT hardware development to designing hardware for bitcoin mining, including his early experiments with FPGAs in a university lab. We discuss the significance of open-source mining for bitcoin’s future, the challenges of hardware and firmware development, and how Bitaxe compares to industry giants like Bitmain. Skot explains the potential for decentralized mining, the risks of centralization in mining hardware and pools, and why making mining accessible and transparent is critical. We also touch on the concept of incorporating miners into household devices and the role of small-scale miners in bitcoin’s long-term resilience. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Meet Skot, the mind behind Bitaxe 02:34 - From IoT projects to bitcoin mining innovation 05:20 - Skot’s bitcoin origin story and the PayPal saga 09:35 - Mining bitcoin with university lab FPGAs 12:11 - Why Skot started the first open-source ASIC miner 14:55 - The challenges of open-source bitcoin mining hardware 19:59 - Bitaxe vs. Bitmain: efficiency showdown 21:25 - Who’s building Bitaxes and why? 25:01 - The importance of open-source mining for bitcoin’s future 28:26 - Can Bitaxe become a significant part of bitcoin’s hash rate? 33:39 - The dream of decentralized mining in household devices 41:02 - The future of bitcoin mining: big grids vs. home miners 47:06 - Skot’s take on mining centralization risks 53:37 - How open-source mining could save bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Skot on Twitter: https://x.com/skot9000

In this episode, we sit down with Tad Smith, founder of Durable Money, partner at One Roundtable Partners, and former CEO of Sotheby’s and Madison Square Garden. Tad reflects on his journey from leading global companies to teaching strategy and finance at NYU Stern. We discuss his teaching methods, including the Amazon case study that captivated students, and how it applies to understanding bitcoin and MicroStrategy today. Tad shares insights on risk versus volatility, the challenges of valuing bitcoin and MicroStrategy, and the role of patterns in investment decisions. We also explore the concept of a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve, the biggest risks to bitcoin, and why Tad believes bitcoin is reshaping capital allocation worldwide. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - From Sotheby’s to Madison Square Garden 3:00 - Teaching at NYU Stern: Lessons from students 5:30 - The Amazon case study that wowed students 9:00 - Patterns in history: Bitcoin's historical rhymes 12:30 - MicroStrategy’s bold bitcoin bet 17:00 - Volatility vs. risk: What investors get wrong 22:00 - Why is bitcoin so volatile? 33:00 - Should the U.S. create a strategic bitcoin reserve? 48:30 - The biggest risks to bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett (Host) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos (Director of Media Production) on Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD → Tad Smith on Twitter: https://x.com/tadtweets

In this episode, we sit down with Kenny Florian, former UFC fighter, broadcaster, and co-host of the Anik & Florian Podcast, to discuss his journey from martial arts to bitcoin. Kenny reflects on his fighting career, the lessons learned from competition, and how his mindset shifted when he discovered bitcoin in 2017. We explore the parallels between the discipline of fighting and the principles of bitcoin, misconceptions about volatility, and its role as a defensive asset. Kenny shares his thoughts on bitcoin’s potential as a global reserve, the growing race for adoption among nations, and the unique advantages it offers over traditional assets like real estate. We also discuss self-custody, the importance of educating newcomers, and how tools like Unchained’s bitcoin retirement calculator can help individuals better understand bitcoin's long term potential. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:06 - Introducing Kenny Florian 00:02:30 - From law school dreams to the UFC 00:05:15 - What it's like training as a professional fighter 00:07:35 - The mental and physical challenges of weight cutting 00:10:17 - Discovering bitcoin: first impressions and early doubts 00:13:55 - Going all in on bitcoin in 2017 00:15:35 - Why bitcoin is the ultimate underdog 00:18:12 - Bitcoin's defensive qualities and wealth preservation 00:22:03 - Misconceptions about bitcoin: volatility and risk 00:24:18 - Bitcoin vs. traditional investments like real estate 00:26:50 - Lessons from Michael Saylor's bitcoin advocacy 00:29:45 - Bitcoin's role in geopolitical and financial systems 00:33:02 - The race for bitcoin adoption among nations 00:36:12 - How bitcoin changes personal finance and wealth strategy 00:40:02 - The importance of self-custody in bitcoin ownership 00:42:15 - The power of bitcoin as a tool for individuals and nations 00:45:25 - The future of bitcoin: 10 to 20 years from now 00:48:05 - Advice for beginners: understanding bitcoin's potential 00:50:50 - Reflections on bitcoin's journey and its role in global change WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Kenny Florian’s Twitter: https://x.com/kennyflorian

In this episode, we sit down with George Selgin, Director Emeritus at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, to explore his views on money, markets, and bitcoin’s role in the global economy. George shares his journey from studying marine biology to becoming a leading voice in monetary economics and discusses how definitions of money have evolved. We examine bitcoin’s classification as a synthetic commodity, its potential as a store of value, and whether it could ever replace the US dollar. George also analyzes the proposed bitcoin strategic reserve, highlighting its costs, risks, and implications for government debt. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:11 - Introducing George Selgin's background and career 00:07:42 - Moving from Hong Kong to the University of Georgia 00:09:50 - Defining money and its role in economics 00:12:12 - Explaining why bitcoin doesn’t meet the definition of money 00:13:31 - Defining the dollar and its place in the economy 00:15:52 - Understanding gold’s history and modern role 00:19:11 - Analyzing bitcoin as a synthetic commodity 00:21:51 - Evaluating bitcoin as a store of value vs. medium of exchange 00:24:52 - Discussing bitcoin’s long-term price potential 00:29:21 - Examining markets, prices, and bitcoin’s future 00:36:13 - Questioning if the US dollar could be replaced 00:42:36 - Evaluating the bitcoin strategic reserve proposal 00:49:11 - Breaking down the costs and risks of a bitcoin reserve 00:55:00 - Closing thoughts and where to follow George Selgin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → George Selgin’s Twitter: https://x.com/GeorgeSelgin

In this episode, we recap the top 5 episodes of 2024 on The Bitcoin Frontier, reflecting on the show’s growth, standout moments, and what’s ahead in 2025. We’re joined by Jose, Director of Media Production at Unchained, to discuss the podcast’s journey, including hitting 1.5 million views and 17 years of watch time this year. We highlight key episodes featuring expert guests who tackled topics like bitcoin ETFs, mining, macroeconomic trends, health, science, AI, and the philosophical debates shaping bitcoin’s future. From bitcoin’s role as a reserve asset to its vulnerabilities and the risks of quantum threats, this countdown captures the most important conversations of the year while setting the stage for what’s next. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - Jose, Director of Media Production 3:07 - 2024 growth and podcast milestones 5:25 - Unchained hits 1.5M views and 17 years watched in 2024 11:22 - Honorable mention 13:42 - Episode #5 16:56 - Episode #4 21:32 - Episode #3 27:04 - Episode #2 30:27 - Episode #1 34:55 - 2025 podcast plans and bitcoin growth outlook 37:55 - Is bitcoin just digital gold or the best form of money? 43:30 - Bitcoin risks from fiat dominance to quantum threats WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Jose Burgos’ Twitter: https://x.com/DeFBeD

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Batten to explore the six megatrends shaping bitcoin this cycle, from sovereign wealth funds and pension funds entering the market to miners becoming net buyers instead of sellers. Daniel shares his take on bitcoin ETFs as a game-changer for traditional finance and the growing potential for national bitcoin reserves. We discuss whether this cycle will break the pattern of diminishing returns, why volatility isn’t the risk many think it is, and how bitcoin’s adoption could accelerate at unprecedented levels. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 — Why sovereign wealth funds are the next big bitcoin adopters 00:01:22 — The six megatrends shaping bitcoin this cycle 00:05:06 — How pension funds are allocating to bitcoin 00:11:42 — Why miners are buying, not selling, bitcoin this cycle 00:15:19 — Will this cycle break bitcoin’s diminishing returns trend? 00:27:33 — Blow-off tops vs. steady growth: what to expect this cycle 00:30:47 — Why the bitcoin ETF success is just beginning 00:35:14 — The rise of bitcoin strategic reserves among nations 00:40:54 — Addressing the “too late for bitcoin” mindset 00:49:57 — The biggest risks to bitcoin’s future WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Daniel Batten’s Twitter: https://x.com/DSBatten

In this episode, we sit down with Hunter Beast, a developer focused on making bitcoin quantum resistant. Hunter shares his journey from discovering bitcoin in 2017 to working on a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) aimed at securing the protocol against future quantum threats. We explore how quantum computers could compromise elliptic curve cryptography, why P2PK coins are at risk, how address reuse poses risks, and Hunter's proposed pay-to-quantum-resistant hash solution. He explains the challenges of implementing post-quantum cryptography, the trade-offs between security and efficiency, and the timeline for potential quantum threats. Hunter also discusses the importance of community collaboration on upgrades and how bitcoin can prepare for a secure future while maintaining its core values. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:02 - Meet Hunter: Bitcoin and quantum focus 00:01:51 - Fixing money: Bitcoin's potential to fix the world 00:03:06 - Real risks vs myths 00:04:41 - Elliptic curve cryptography: Bitcoin’s security backbone 00:06:08 - Why bitcoin matters: Grounding the digital world 00:07:07 - Quantum risks: Shor's algorithm and private keys 00:10:33 - Quantum threat: An existential risk to bitcoin 00:11:44 - Resilience: Lessons from Carrington event 00:12:57 - Quantum resistance 00:14:26 - Hunter’s proposal: Pay-to-quantum-resistant hash 00:17:04 - Public key risks: Old coins, mempool, reuse, taproot 00:20:22 - Quantum solutions: SegWit v3 and new algorithms 00:26:21 - Resistant addresses: Naming conventions and tips 00:31:06 - Securing bitcoin with new cryptography 00:34:06 - Signature challenges: Balancing security and block space 00:37:07 - Future cryptography: Preparing for quantum security 00:43:27 - Trade-offs of quantum-proof cryptography 00:50:00 - Quantum risk timeline: Predictions and unknowns 00:55:27 - Satoshi’s coins: Why not burn vulnerable addresses 01:00:18 - Soft fork challenges: Consensus and activation risks 01:03:10 - Closing thoughts: Hunter’s work and resources WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Hunter Beast’s Twitter: https://x.com/cryptoquick

In this episode, we sit down with Junseth, a long-time bitcoiner and co-host of the legendary Bitcoin Uncensored podcast. Junseth shares how he got started in bitcoin, his views on the evolution of the bitcoin community, and his take on the cycles of bitcoin podcasts and companies. He provides insights into the rise of social engineering scams, his experience confronting phishing attackers, and the mentality behind young scammers. We also discuss the challenges of self-custody, the risks of bitcoin centralization, and the potential implications of a national bitcoin reserve. Junseth offers a unique perspective on the future of bitcoin, libertarian ideals, and the lessons learned from his years in the space. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description → Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:06 – How Junseth got involved in bitcoin 00:04:42 – Libertarianism and bitcoin's evolution 00:09:04 – Background of Junseth’s scammer calls 00:15:21 – Why young scammers do what they do 00:17:16 – Protecting yourself from phishing scams 00:24:45 – Self-custody 00:31:02 – Evolution of bitcoin podcasts 00:36:22 – Michael Saylor’s infinite money glitch 00:42:30 – Current bitcoin cycle and price movements 00:46:46 – Reflections on bitcoin's rapid adoption 00:51:16 – Bitcoin strategic reserve: pros and cons 00:54:14 – Unique perspectives and risks to bitcoin WHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained Twitter: https://twitter.com/unchainedcom → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Burnett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IIICapital → Junseth’s Twitter: https://x.com/verysmallclaims