Using Bitcoin for Everyday Payments in South Africa

"When you hold the Bitcoin yourself, you already have the control over it that you don't get with any other custodial financial instrument. And I think that people need to think about that more because you can come to Bitcoin... because... it sounds good, I'm going to invest my dollars, and I'm going to get the Bitcoin, the Bitcoin is going to become worth more than the dollars over time, that's usually what gets them in.
But I would say what makes them stay is the permissionlessness of it. Is the fact that you can have this money, and it's your money. And the bank can't decide "We're not going to bank with you anymore, you gotta go and find someone else". The exchange can't get hacked. If you want to go somewhere else in the world, it's not like they're just going to say, "Well, I'm sorry, we don't allow our money to go to that part of the world".
It's not really your money in that sense."
~ Craig Raw

What's it really like to build essential tools in Bitcoin when the world keeps changing around you? And how do you keep pushing for true self-sovereignty when everything feels so complicated?

In this chat, I'm stoked to sit down with Craig Raw, the legendary developer behind Sparrow Wallet. We get into his journey, why he built Sparrow out of pure passion, and how his own path to financial freedom led to such a powerful tool. We'll also dig into other topics like how the Patriot Act might affect Bitcoin privacy, and the technical magic of PSBTs and Miniscript.

Craig also drops some really cool insights into how Bitcoin is actually being used for everyday payments in South Africa with apps like Money Badger. Plus, we chew on the bigger ideas of personal sovereignty and why holding your own keys is more important than ever in today's wild financial climate. If you're curious about the real grit and genius behind the tools that empower us, you won't want to miss this one.

Check out our awesome sponsors!

• Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
• HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter)
• OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/)
• Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don't forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
• Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)

Guest Links

• Craig Raw on X (https://x.com/craigraw)
• Craig Raw on Nostr (https://tinyurl.com/dp8swb9b)

Host Links

• ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)
• ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann)
• Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann)
• Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann)
• Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann)
• ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible)
• The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)