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“Everyone is short Bitcoin, and only 1% of us realise it.”— Brandon QuittemLocation: RemotelyDate: Thursday 19th NovemberCompany: Swan BitcoinRole: Director of Marketing2020 has been a year like no other. With the outbreak of the coronavirus, large parts of the world went into lockdown in an attempt to contain its spread. The virus has been hugely politicised, and government responses have been polarising.Amid the outbreak, the death of George Floyd while in police custody sparked one of the most massive protests in history. What started as a peaceful protest escalated and caused looting and violence. Cities across America implemented curfews, and President Trump threatened to use the military to put an end to the unrest.Most recently, the US election has been marred by controversy. After initially falling behind in the race Joe Biden was declared the winner. However, Trump has so far refused to concede defeat and claims a fraud has been committed on the American people as he attempts to retain power.While the events of 2020 are unexpected, some predicted this unravelling of the world order. In 1996 Neil Howe and William Strauss released their book The Fourth Turning which suggests that every 80-90 years a crisis recurs known as the Fourth Turning.With the Great Depression in the ’30s followed by the Second World War marking the previous crisis period, some think we may be witnessing the next one. In this interview, I talk to Brandon Quittem, a writer and advisor for Swan Bitcoin. We discuss the Fourth Turning, each 90-year cycle, individualism vs collectivism and the role that Bitcoin plays.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD282 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“It’s just becoming clear to the smartest investors in the room, that denying Bitcoin is like denying the internet 20 years ago and it’s a mistake and you’re going to get left in the dust.”— Nik BhatiaLocation: RemotelyDate: Wednesday 18th NovemberCompany: USC Marshall School of BusinessRole: Adjunct Professor of FinanceAfter dropping to lows of ~$4000 when markets went into freefall following the coronavirus outbreak, Bitcoin has bounced back to a near to all-time high of ~$18,500.The impact of the pandemic on the economy has been a massive increase in government borrowing and money printing. This response has highlighted the importance of scarce assets which can't be debased. Gold has historically been the safe-haven asset that money flows into during times of uncertainty. However, many are now turning to Bitcoin, and it is quickly eating into gold's market share.In a world of fiat currencies, gold and the impending rise of central bank digital currencies, where does Bitcoin fit?Nik Bhatia has written Layered Money a book looking into this that will be released early in 2021. We discuss his book, where Bitcoin fits in the monetary system, the history of government control over money and central bank digital currencies.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD281 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“Bitcoin was born in the great financial crisis but was just a toy. Now, we have another crisis with similar monetary outcomes, and it’s not a toy anymore, it is the escape valve now.”— Dan McArdleLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 12th NovemberCompany: Messari CryptoRole: Co-FounderWith the Bitcoin pricing sitting at around $17.5K, up from $4k in March, Bitcoin has had an incredible year. With institutional investors starting to take note, unprecedented monetary and fiscal policy highlighting the importance of sound money and corporations adding Bitcoin to their treasuries, the outlook is very bullish.With such a rapidly evolving market, it is hard to keep track of everything that is happening. To help with this Dan McArdle has created CaseBitcoin; a website that compiles information and resources on the different value propositions of Bitcoin, its price history in comparison to critical markets & traditional assets and provides a library of some of the best articles and literature on Bitcoin.In this interview, I am joined by the creator of casebitcoin.com, Dan McArdle. We discuss the current bull market, comparisons to 2017, the current economic climate and how newcomers to Bitcoin can navigate the space.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD280 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“We’re just still in the really, really early innings in this thing. 100 million people have it, and we think that’s awesome, but there will be 6 billion people with it in 20 years”— Dan MoreheadLocation: SquadcastDate: Wednesday 11th NovemberCompany: Pantera Capital & Galaxy DigitalRole: Co-Founder, CEO & Founder, CEO2020 has been a year, unlike any other. With the coronavirus pandemic bringing the world to a standstill, the global economy is under significant pressure. Governments have needed to take action, and we have seen unprecedented levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus.The current economic outlook highlights the bullish case for Bitcoin, and large institutions are beginning to take action. Microstrategy made the bold first move and put $425million of their treasury into Bitcoin. Michael Saylor's bold move sent a message to CEOs all over the world and shortly after Square followed suit with a $50million Bitcoin purchase.So how seriously are institutions taking Bitcoin? And will we see a wave of institutional investment?In this interview, I talk to veteran investors Dan Morehead, co-founder & CEO of Pantera Capital and Mike Novogratz, founder & CEO of Galaxy Digital. We discuss their first Bitcoin purchase, institutional interest & what they expect from Bitcoin in the coming years.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD279 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“Paypal de-platform people, MasterCard, which is the processing behind a lot of these systems de-platform people… and the only thing left is Bitcoin.”— Adam CurryLocation: SquadcastDate: Tuesday 3rd NovemberProject: No Agenda PodcastRole: Co-HostAdam Curry, along with Dave Winer are credited as the creators of podcasting in the early 2000s. The idea of allowing anyone to broadcast over the internet in an unfiltered and uncensored manner was revolutionary.For nearly two decades, podcasting has grown into an industry, which Business Insider predicts will be worth $1billion by 2021. With the meteoric rise in podcasting, some podcasts are attracting more followers than mainstream TV shows, for example, Joe Rogan regularly receives more than 10 million listeners per show. Advertisers wanting exposure to these audiences is the most common way to monetise podcasting. Adam Curry wants to move away from revenue driven by advertising which he believes is a form of censorship. Again Adam is attempting to revolutionise podcasting with Podcast Index that will, optionally, allow micropayments via Lightning Network to reward podcasters for their content.In this interview, I talk to the podfather Adam Curry. We discuss the origins of podcasting, COVID-19 & vaccinations, de-platforming & cancel culture and utilising the Lightning Network for podcast micropayments.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD278 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“I want to see a world that is optimised for freedom, not for safety.”— Aleks SvetskiLocation: SquadcastDate: Tuesday 3rd NovemberProject: AmberRole: CEOThe sound money properties of Bitcoin attract those interested in Austrian Economics and Libertarianism; in fact, Libertarians were one of the earliest groups of people to adopt Bitcoin and truly understand its importance and value.Since I've gone down the Bitcoin rabbit hole, Libertarianism has been something that I have paid close attention to on the show. The arguments for an anarchist society are compelling; however, one thing that I have always struggled with is how an anarchist society would work and how we would transition to this from a democratic society.In this interview, I talk to Aleks Svetski, a Libertarian who has written several articles outlining how he thinks an anarchist society would work. We discuss libertarianism, democratic v anarchist societies and the erosion of individual freedoms.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD277 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“I think this election was Trump vs the media, Biden was just a placeholder.”— American HODLLocation: SquadcastDate: Tuesday 3rd NovemberIn July, I tweeted that I would bet anyone $5,000 that Trump would lose the 2020 election. American Hodl took me up on the bet, and with the help of Phil Geiger we each deposited 0.5 BTC into a multisig.With the election this week, I caught up with American HODL three times, before, during and after the election to discuss everything that is happening.While Joe Biden went into the election as the clear favourite, according to the polls, it wasn’t long before the narrative switched and by the early hours of election day UK time, Trump looked sure to win.The following morning, as the results of mail-in ballots hit the counts, the election swung back in favour of Biden. With Wisconsin and Michigan flipping democrat and Pennsylvania threatening to do the same, Biden looks like he may win the race to the Whitehouse. The election has not been without drama, with accusations from Donald Trump and his supporters of fraud. Now legal challenges are being submitted, and the path to a decision is unclear.In this interview, American HODL and I catch up before, during & after the US Election. We follow the ups and downs of election night, Trump threatening legal action in various states, demanding recounts and what happens between now and the inauguration. This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.-----WBD276 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“If what they’re telling you is they want to do a Bretton Woods, where we can all agree to stabilise our currencies and do massive printing… christ, if you’re after a better case for Bitcoin, I’ve never heard of one.”— Raoul PalLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 29th OctoberCompany: Real VisionRole: Co-Founder & CEOThe Bretton Woods agreement was created in 1944, following the end of the Second World War. The agreement pegged the US Dollar to gold, with other nations pegging their currencies to the dollar. The agreement was an attempt to stabilise economies after the devastation of the war.The IMF recently released an article in which they called the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic a “new Bretton Woods moment.” Suggesting that the pandemic’s effect on the economy and the substantial fiscal stimulus required may be too hard to come back from without change.The IMF announcement happened in the shadow of central banks around the world looking more and more at issuing their digital currencies. These Central Bank Digital Currencies, known as CBDCs, will give more power to the state over the control and flow of money. While this control does offer some benefits, they do also increase surveillance and reduce monetary freedoms.Are we in the midst of a revolution in money? And what does it mean for Bitcoin?In this interview, I am joined by Raoul Pal, macroeconomist and co-founder & CEO of Real Vision. We discuss the IMF considering a new Bretton Woods type system, central banks issuing digital currencies and what this means for Bitcoin.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD275 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“It’s not even about the financial gain; sure maybe it’ll 10x, maybe it’ll 100x, maybe it’ll 2x. I don’t really care. It’s about the freedom.”— Kevin LehtiniittyLocation: SquadcastDate: Wednesday 14th OctoberCompany: Prime Trust Role: Chief Product OfficerOver the last few years, neobanks and fintech companies such as Cash App, Revolut, Venmo (amongst others) have grown hugely in popularity, with many choosing to step away from traditional banking and jump on this new wave in finance.Neobanks offer features that you cannot access in the traditional finance world. Along with quick and more effortless transactions, many services allow you to invest in stocks, commodities and Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies), from within their apps.So, what impact will exposing hundreds of millions of people to Bitcoin have?Prime Trust is one of the companies behind that help these fintech businesses operate, and in this interview, I talk to Kevin Lehtiniitty, their Chief Product Officer. We discuss financial censorship, the outdated legacy infrastructure in the US, neobanking and the role of bitcoin in the future of financial applications.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD274 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“This irrational exuberance is where I’m like you know what… calm the fuck down, this stuff is not promised to you, number will not always go up, it is not guaranteed to hit $100k, $288k or whatever fucking number you want and even if it does hit $1 million, you wonder what $1million will be worth at the time.”- Rusty RussellLocation: SquadcastDate: Friday 25rd SeptemberCompany: Blockstream Role: Lightning Network DeveloperBitcoiners can be firm in their views and are often called toxic by outsiders; however, this toxicity plays an important role. Bitcoin is a threat to the legacy financial system. It is therefore open to a broad range of attacks from technical to social and Bitcoin's immune system defends against these attacks to protect the protocol.In previous episodes, I have looked at the pros and cons of toxicity and how it acts as an immune system for Bitcoiner. Does this immune system lead to silly narratives going unchallenged? Can Bitcoin fix everything or are we missing critical nuanced debates regarding its potential?Rusty Russell is somewhat of a contrarian in the Bitcoin space. He is a lightning network developer for Blockstream but also runs the Shit Bitcoiners Say Twitter account which regularly calls out some of the more overzealous and outlandish claims by Bitcoiners.In this interview, Rusty and I discuss the lightning network, open-source development, narratives and overzealous Bitcoiners.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD273 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“The question in our mind is not so much does it get to $500K, but how quickly.”— Cameron WinklevossLocation: SquadcastDate: Tuesday 20th OctoberCompany: GeminiRole: Co-FoundersIn August, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss released The Case for $500K Bitcoin. A paper that outlines the value proposition of Bitcoin, why it is a superior store of value and hedge against inflation than either gold, oil and the US dollar.In the paper, they describe the world as ‘drowning in debt’, even before the coronavirus outbreak, and predict that the pandemic may cause everyone to come face to face with the reality of debt spiralling out of control.While the impact on the world may be scary for the broader economy, the twins outline Bitcoin as a major winner in this scenario and predict Bitcoin’s market cap to grow from its current market capitalisation (approx. $225 billion) to that of gold (approx. $9 trillion). With the price of a Bitcoin at around $550K.We discuss their paper, why Bitcoin is the best hedge against inflation, the debt reckoning and Wall Street investing in Bitcoin.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD272 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“I think that having a global currency is inevitable at some point, whether in our lifetime or another, and I think Bitcoin is the kind of global currency I’d like to see.”— Amiti UttarwarLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 17th September Role: Bitcoin Core DeveloperDue to the decentralised nature of Bitcoin, committing to becoming a full-time core developer comes with challenges. While the Bitcoin network is worth over $200 billion, there is no central development fund to ensure that developers are working full time on the protocol.While there are numerous independent contributors, many developers rely on support from a growing number of companies such as Chaincode Labs, Blockstream, Lightning Labs and a handful of others who fund work on the protocol.In this interview, I talk to Bitcoin Core Developer Amiti Uttarwar. We discuss her residency at Chaincode Labs, contributing to Bitcoin Core, working on open source projects and the blacklist controversy.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD271 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“It’s important to us to support Bitcoin and to show respect to the coin that made all of this possible.”— Paolo ArdoinoLocation: SquadcastDate: Monday 7th September Company: BitfinexRole: CTOBitfinex is one of the oldest and largest Bitcoin exchanges. Since 2014, the exchange has had to endure multiple hacks, including at $60 million theft in 2016.iFinex, the parent company of Bitfinex, also oversees Tether. Tether is the largest stablecoin, regularly facilitating over $50 billion in daily trading volume and is supported by close to 150 exchanges. It too isn't without its controversies, there have been calls to audit Tether to prove that it is fully reserved and there are claims ether printing has been used to manipulate the markets.Despite the controversies, the Bitfinex and Tether teams have been instrumental in supporting the growth of Bitcoin.In this interview, I talk to Paolo Ardoino the CTO of Bitfinex. We discuss how Bitfinex dealt with the exchange hacks, protecting against future attacks, Tether, the Lightning Network and funding Bitcoin projects.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD270 - Show Notes-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

““I think that Bitcoin is the best hope that people have to make the world a better place, by providing this sovereign empowerment.”— Michael SaylorLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 8th October Company: MicroStrategyRole: CEOIn August, MicroStrategy made the bold move of purchasing 21,454 Bitcoin to add to their treasury, spending $250 million. In doing so, CEO Michael Saylor stated that he views Bitcoin as a "dependable store of value and an attractive investment asset with more long-term appreciation potential than holding cash".The next month MicroStrategy announced that they had doubled down on their conviction in Bitcoin and acquired an additional 16,796 Bitcoin, taking their total spend to $425 million. This move sent a clear message to businesses everywhere that Bitcoin is a valuable asset and can be a key part of a company's treasury.Following in the footsteps of Microstrategy, last week Square announced that they too had added Bitcoin to their treasury with the purchase of 4,709 Bitcoin for ~$50 million.In the second part of my interview with Michael Saylor, the CEO of Microstrategy, we discuss his Bitcoin value proposition, his view on maximalism and alts, privacy, decentralisation and the Bitcoin circular economy.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD269 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/the-bitcoin-bull-bull-bull-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“I realised I’m on a melting ice cube of $500 million worth of money, the purchasing power is dwindling at 10% to 20% a year, I have to do something.”— Michael SaylorLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 8th October Company: MicroStrategyRole: CEOIn August, MicroStrategy made the bold move of purchasing 21,454 Bitcoin to add to their treasury, spending $250 million. In doing so, CEO Michael Saylor stated that he views Bitcoin as a "dependable store of value and an attractive investment asset with more long-term appreciation potential than holding cash".The next month MicroStrategy announced that they had doubled down on their conviction in Bitcoin and acquired an additional 16,796 Bitcoin, taking their total spend to $425 million. This move sent a clear message to businesses everywhere that Bitcoin is a valuable asset and can be a key part of a company's treasury.Following in the footsteps of Microstrategy, last week Square announced that they too had added Bitcoin to their treasury with the purchase of 4,709 Bitcoin for ~$50 million.In this interview, I talk to Michael Saylor, the CEO of Microstrategy. We discuss their Bitcoin purchase, where his conviction in Bitcoin came from, Square buying Bitcoin and the process of adding Bitcoin to a public companies treasury.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD268 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/bitcoin-in-the-boardroom-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“It may be one shot, it’s important, the consequences on civilisation are huge, so we want to be over-cautious about not compromising the culture or the technical features of Bitcoin.”— Giacomo ZuccoLocation: SquadcastDate: Thursday 24th September Company: BHB Network & BlockstreamRole: Director & Marketing DirectorBitcoin can be a toxic place. Ask the wrong question or fall on the wrong side of an argument; the community can be vicious in its response. It is a daunting place with Bitcoiners not only clashing with altcoin projects but with each other regarding Bitcoin ideas too. Rarely a day passes without a fight of some kind exploding on Twitter.However, toxicity plays an important role. Bitcoin is a threat to the legacy financial system, and being decentralised; anyone can contribute. Bitcoin is therefore open to a broad range of attacks from technical to social and Bitcoin's immune system defends against these attacks to protect the protocol.Segwit2x highlighted how a group might choose to co opt Bitcoin with dangerous consequences. Radical scepticism is levelled against other projects, people and companies to ensure that no outside party can have a negative influence on the future of the best money we have ever had.So, what are the positives and negatives of toxicity in Bitcoin? When does toxicity cross the line and are there any unintended consequences?In this interview, I am joined by Bitcoin consultant and educator Giacomo Zucco and Neil Woodfine, Marketing Director for Blockstream. We discuss toxic Bitcoin maximalism, unintended consequences and politics within Bitcoin.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD267 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/bitcoin-toxicity-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“I’ve never been a crypto enthusiast, I never believed in it… until this summer.”— Jaraslau LikhachevskiLocation: SquadcastDate: Wednesday 30th September Company: Human Rights Foundation & BYSOLRole: Chief Strategy OfficerBelarus is in the midst of massive protests, sparked in August by an election win for the long time leader of the country, Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has been in power since the first presidential election in Belarus in 1994 when the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. The constitution following independence limited presidents to two terms but Lukashenko fought to change this and has remained in power since.Following the disputed election on August 9th hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets claiming Lukashenko rigged the election results. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is claiming that she is the rightful president with reports that she had won 60-70% of the votes.These marches have become violent with Lukashenko's state security forces using rubber bullets, tear gas and extreme brutality against the protesters.Protestors are targeting state infrastructure by striking. To support those standing up to the regime, the Human Rights Foundation has set up a Belarus Solidarity Fund. They are using Bitcoin as a censorship-resistant way of getting money to those striking to supplement their lost wages.In this interview, I talk to Alex Gladstein the Chief Strategy Officer at The Human Rights Foundation and Jaraslau Likhachevski from BYSOL We discuss the political situation in Belarus, the protests and how Bitcoin is helping activists.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD266 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/how-bitcoin-is-helping-protesters-in-belarus-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“Of anything I have ever looked at in my life, I would put Bitcoin as nearest to inevitable as I could.”— Robert BreedloveLocation: SquadcastDate: Tuesday 22nd September Company: Unchained Capital, Parallax Digital & Senior Software EngineerRole: Head of Business Development, Founder & PeachIf you ask 100 people what Bitcoin is, you will likely get 100 different answers. Whether it is a medium of exchange, gold 2.0, a hedge against inflation or purely as a speculative asset, all of these answers are valid.The decentralised nature of Bitcoin means that it has no owner and no single leader who decides what it is or how to use it. Bitcoin is an entirely personal experience based on the needs of the individual. As such, since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has had many narratives.Championed initially as being a tool for digital commerce, with the advent of the Silk Road and other dark markets it's censorship-resistant property grew in popularity. More recently, Bitcoin is widely considered as gold 2.0 and a must-have asset to protect your wealth against inflation.With the absence of a central narrative, infighting is typical in Bitcoin, most notably in 2017 with the contentious Bitcoin Cash fork over what some believed the purpose that Bitcoin should serve. However, central to Bitcoin is its permissionless nature and therefore any Bitcoiner can choose to use it however they wish.In this interview, I am joined by Parker Lewis, Robert Breedlove and Vijay Boyapati to answer the question: what is Bitcoin? We discuss the use cases, what money is, institutional investors and the path to hyperbitcoinisation.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD265 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/what-is-bitcoin-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“Bitcoin is not going away… whether or not you like it, whether or not you have qualms with it, whether or not your government has banned it or you know of a government has banned it. It lives and breaths on the internet and is effectively unstoppable.”— Yassine ElmandjraLocation: SquadcastDate: Wednesday 23rd September Company: Ark Investment ManagementRole: Thematic AnalystBefore the advent Bitcoin, financial systems operated based on trust. Central banks, government-issued fiat money and payment processors all rely on trusted third parties. Relying on trust-based systems leaves the user vulnerable to decisions that do not necessarily benefit them, from inflation of the money to supply to the censoring of transactions.Bitcoin changes this.With Bitcoin, there is a fixed supply and rigid monetary policy, and the rules of the system can't be changed at the whim of a small group of people. Add to this the ability to truly custody your wealth; it is clear to see why Bitcoin is so revolutionary.Not everyone has been quick to pick up on Bitcoin. Many institutional investors are still sceptical for many reasons, from the old defunct arguments that Bitcoin is for criminals and terrorists to concerns around price volatility. However, there are signs that institutions are beginning to shift their thinking, highlighted by MicroStrategy's recent decision to move $425 million of their treasury into Bitcoin.In this interview, I talk to Yassine Elmandjra, a Thematic Analyst at Ark Investment, who recently published two whitepapers on Bitcoin. We discuss trust-based v trust minimised systems, property rights and institutional investment in Bitcoin.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD264 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/a-novel-economic-institution-with-yassine-elmandjra-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.

“The bottom line is that a bank is a big deal… banking is the granddaddy of it all, it’s the bottom of the financial services stack.”— David KinitskyLocation: SquadcastDate: Wednesday 23rd September Company: Kraken Financial & KrakenRole: CEO & Chief Legal OfficerLast week Kraken announced that the Wyoming Banking Board had voted in favour of the exchange's application for a banking charter under Wyoming's Special Purpose Depository Institution statute. This charter makes Kraken the first cryptocurrency company to gain banking status.Receiving the banking charter opens traditional rails in the finance world that had previously been unavailable to the exchange, and in turn, will lead to the development of a range of innovative new banking services.In this interview, I talk to Kraken Financial CEO David Kinitsky and Kraken's Chief Legal Officer Marco Santori. We discuss the creation of a crypto bank, what it will mean to both the industry and Kraken customers and why they chose Wyoming.This episode’s sponsors:Kraken - The best place to buy, sell & trade BitcoinBlockFi - The future of Bitcoin financial services Sportsbet.io - Online sportsbook & casino that accepts BitcoinCasa - The leading provider of Bitcoin multisig key security.Least Authority - Helping projects improve their security and build secure technology.-----WBD263 Show Notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/the-worlds-first-crypto-bank-----If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show my doing the following:Become a Patron and get access to shows early or help contributeMake a tip:Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2SQR Codes: BitcoinIf you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank youSubscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer | TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and familySubscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium | YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.