What Bitcoin Did

Joe Carlasare is a Commercial Litigator, a long time Bitcoiner, and macro commentator. In this episode, we discuss the U.S. sovereign debt debate, why the doom loop narrative might be missing the bigger picture, and how rapid advances in AI and automation could unleash a wave of productivity strong enough to reshape the fiscal outlook. Joe argues that the real risk isn’t a collapsing dollar, but instability in the Treasury market - the backbone of the global financial system. We also get into why growth, not austerity, is the most likely political path forward, why the Fed’s power lies more in perception than action, and how Bitcoin wins. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Joe Carlasare: https://x.com/JoeCarlasare   THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ COINKITE: https://store.coinkite.com/promo/WBD  BLOCKWARE: https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/wbd 

Matt Corallo is an Open Source Engineer at Spiral, a long time Bitcoin Core contributor and Lightning dev. In this episode, we discuss the current state of Lightning: what's finally working, what UX breakthroughs are coming, and why 2024 might be the year lightning delivers. We also get into the risks of U.S. policy treating non-custodial services like custodians, the threat of regulatory capture through KYC mandates, why developers are walking away from the U.S. market, and why the “Save Our Wallets” campaign may be Bitcoin’s last chance to protect non-custodial tools. Plus: how OP_RETURN wars are distracting from real issues, whether Bitcoin Core needs a comms team, and if Bitcoin has already ossified. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Matt Corallo: https://x.com/TheBlueMatt  Save Our Wallets: https://saveourwallets.org/  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ COINKITE: https://store.coinkite.com/promo/WBD  BLOCKWARE: https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/wbd 

American HODL is an OG Bitcoiner. In this episode, we explore how the state may co-opt Bitcoin not by banning it, but by absorbing it into public markets, enabling control through financial instruments like ETFs and convertible bonds. We also get into the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies, why Michael Saylor’s strategy is just the beginning, and the threat of an Executive Order 6102 style attack. We also discuss the moral tradeoffs of financialising Bitcoin and whether self-custody will be punished through regulation. As well as the Trojan horse theory of Bitcoin adoption, whether it's better to fight or subvert the state, and why the next phase of Bitcoin’s revolution might not be rebellion—but infiltration. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny American HODL: https://x.com/americanhodl8 or https://primal.net/hodl  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ COINKITE: https://store.coinkite.com/promo/WBD  BLOCKWARE: https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/wbd 

James Lavish is a macro investor, former hedge fund manager, and managing partner at the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund. In this episode, we explore the fragility of the U.S. bond market, how sovereign credit ratings work, and why the U.S. is now priced by markets as a default risk on par with Greece. We discuss the structural privilege of the dollar as the world reserve currency, why that privilege is under threat, and how the Triffin Dilemma is playing out in real time. We also get into institutional adoption of Bitcoin, the operational hurdles that ETFs have now removed, and what it would take for companies like Apple or Meta to trigger a wave of corporate Bitcoin treasury adoption. Finally, we look at the macro setup heading into 2026, the risk of stagflation, and why expanding global liquidity could mean Bitcoin peaks sometime next year. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny James Lavish: https://x.com/jameslavish  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ COINKITE: https://store.coinkite.com/promo/WBD  BLOCKWARE: https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/wbd 

Jack Mallers is the Founder and CEO of Strike, and the Co-Founder and CEO of 21. In this episode, we discuss the breakdown of the post-WWII monetary order, the consequences of the U.S. exporting dollars, and why the dollar’s global reserve status is becoming a liability rather than a strength. We also get into 21’s plan to take Bitcoin-native principles into the heart of Wall Street, how companies like MicroStrategy and Metaplanet are paving the way for sovereign-grade Bitcoin exposure, and why proof-of-reserves and Bitcoin per share may become the new standard for corporate treasuries. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Jack Mallers: https://x.com/jackmallers or https://primal.net/jackmallers  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/ 

Harry Sudock is SVP at CleanSpark, one of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies in the world. In this episode, we explore why Bitcoin mining is reshaping America’s energy landscape, the evolution of corporate Bitcoin strategy, and the game theory behind early adoption by individuals, companies, and nation states. We also get into how companies like MicroStrategy and Metaplanet are unlocking powerful financial leverage through Bitcoin balance sheets, the risks of derivatives-based exposure, and whether institutions pose a threat to Bitcoin’s long-term consensus. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Harry Sudock: https://x.com/harry_sudock  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/ 

Matthew Mezinskis is a macroeconomic researcher, host of the Crypto Voices podcast and creator of Porkopolis Economics. In this episode, we discuss fractional reserve banking, why it's controversial among Bitcoiners, the historical precedent for banking practices, and whether fractional reserve banking inherently poses systemic risks.  We also get into the dangers and instabilities introduced by central banking, and why Bitcoin uniquely offers a pathway to financial sovereignty, the plumbing of the global financial system, breaking down money supply metrics, foreign holdings of US treasuries, and how all these elements indicate growing instability in the dollar system. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Matthew Mezinskis: https://x.com/1basemoney THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/ 

Lyn Alden is a macro analyst, investment strategist and the author of Broken Money. In this episode, we discuss the structural imbalances underpinning the U.S. trade deficit and its link to the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency. We get into the mechanics of capital surpluses, why U.S. treasuries are at the heart of global liquidity, and how foreign ownership of American assets introduces systemic fragility. We also discuss Bitcoin as a neutral reserve asset,, gold and tariffs, Bitcoin’s market structure, and why $150k might be in sight. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Lyn Alden: https://x.com/LynAldenContact or https://primal.net/lyn  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/   

Bitcoin Mechanic is the Chief Boiling Officer at OCEAN. In this episode, we dive deep into the battle over OP_RETURN and Bitcoin node policy. Mechanic explains why arbitrary data like inscriptions and JPEGs represent an attack vector, how Core developers have responded, and why he believes filters are essential to protecting Bitcoin’s monetary use case. We also cover the risks of miner centralisation, the tension between Bitcoin’s ideological roots and its current developer politics, and what’s really at stake in the “OP_RETURN war.” Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Mechanic: https://x.com/GrassFedBitcoin  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/ 

Checkmate is an on-chain analyst and founder of Checkonchain. In this episode, we get into Bitcoin’s breakout back above $100k and what on-chain data reveals about who’s buying, who’s selling, and whether retail is finally showing up. We also discuss whether the Bitcoin cycles are over, how the global macro shift is influencing hard asset flows, and why gold might be the early signal for a longer Bitcoin run. Finally, we get into the OP_RETURN war. Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Checkmate: https://x.com/_Checkmatey_ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN: https://www.iren.com/   RIVER: https://river.com/wbd  ANCHORWATCH: https://www.anchorwatch.com/ LEDGER: https://www.ledger.com/  CASA: https://casa.io/