In this episode, Nik Bhatia is joined by Demian Schatt to break down one of the most volatile 48-hour stretches in recent bond market history. As Treasury yields spiked 60 basis points and the MOVE Index surged, Nik unpacks the hidden mechanics behind the dislocation—explaining how a highly leveraged basis trade began to unwind, triggering forced selling and market-wide panic. He walks through the role of China’s currency devaluation, the impact of new 125% tariffs, and how synthetic credit in the swaps market amplified the chaos. With bond volatility ripping, Nik explores what it means for the Fed’s reaction function, financial stability, and bitcoin’s surprising strength. Holding steady at $80,000 through it all, bitcoin is beginning to look like the safe haven asset markets weren’t expecting.

📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H

📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm.

▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.

📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe

🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.

📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer

📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial

🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch

⛓️ ₿lock Height 891,705

⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.gg

Nik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtc

Creative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball

Researcher Demian Schatt's Twitter: https://x.com/demianschatt

The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.

Episode 253: The Ministry of Fun

The Mockingcast

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts