Introduction

Since inception, ARK has researched and published thoughts on the cryptocurrency ecosystem within Big Ideas and through articles, whitepapers, monthly Bitcoin reports and podcasts. Now, in coordination with Bitcoin Park, ARK is pleased to introduce a monthly conversation with leaders in the Bitcoin space, to discuss everything happening in the rapidly-changing and still nascent Bitcoin ecosystem. Published through the For Your innovation podcast channels, this monthly series aims to be informative and enlightening, including experts with diverse viewpoints.

Guests on this month’s Bitcoin Brainstorm include:

Senator Cynthia Lummis: Senator, Wyoming

Perianne Boring: CEO and Founder, Chamber of Digital Commerce

Eric Balchunas: Senior ETF Analyst, Bloomberg

Alex Thorn: Head of Research, Galaxy Digital

Ophelia Snyder: Co-Founder and President, 21Shares

Yassine Elmandjra: Director of Digital Assets, ARK Invest 

Cathie Wood: Founder, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest

Rod Roudi: Co-Founder, Bitcoin Park

Key Points From This Episode:

00:00:00 Rod introduces the Bitcoin Brainstorm and hands over the floor to each of our fantastic guests

00:05:01 Cathie sets the stage for what led to the eventual approval of the bitcoin ETF

00:10:34 Why a bitcoin ETF can be a bridge between the traditional financial world and the world of innovation and digital assets

00:17:30 What made the launch of bitcoin ETFs different from any other ETF launch in history

00:19:59 Will the launch of bitcoin ETFs lead to fast tracking policy around digital assets in general?

00:29:11 Senator Lummis outlines the impact Sam Bankman-Fried is still having on digital asset legislation in the Senate

00:38:51 The impact education makes on the cryptocurrency industry as a whole

00:45:20 Why did so many assets flow to bitcoin ETFs in the first few weeks, when bitcoin has existed since 2008

00:55:32 What are some of the trade-offs of using a bitcoin ETF to gain exposure to the asset rather than bitcoin itself

00:57:03 Comparing the impact the Federal Reserve can have on the equity market to how decentralized bitcoin and the Bitcoin network is

01:06:00 Why has bitcoin been so resilient in the face of controversy

01:10:30 How popular will bitcoin ETFs end up being?

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Learn more about Bitcoin Park: bitcoinpark.com

Parker Lewis book, Gradually Then Suddenly: https://academy.saifedean.com/product/gradually-then-suddenly-hardcover/

Learn more about Senator Cynthia Lummis: https://www.lummis.senate.gov/