Sovereignty vs. Swipe Fees
The Jacob Shapiro Podcast
Intro
Jacob and Rob introduce the episode topic: PIX in Brazil and its geopolitical and economic implications across the Americas.
When a Brazilian payment system threatens U.S. credit-card profits, it exposes a deeper fracture in the global economy: sovereignty versus rent-seeking, innovation versus control. Jacob and Rob trace the fight over PIX from Brasília to Washington and beyond -into currency wars, trade tantrums, and the strange new politics of the Western Hemisphere. What does it mean when the world’s “rules-based order” starts punishing countries for building better systems?
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Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview
(00:50) - Halloween in Paris vs. New Orleans
(01:40) - Current Events and Volatility
(02:36) - Introduction to Pix Payment System
(03:25) - How Pix Works and Its Impact
(05:58) - US Investigation into Pix
(08:35) - Geopolitical Implications and US-Brazil Relations
(13:30) - Privacy Concerns and Central Bank Control
(17:23) - Credit Card Companies vs. Pix
(22:25) - Brazil's Political Landscape and Economic Outlook
(28:08) - US-Argentina Relations and Economic Policies
(30:25) - Discussing Currency Strategies
(31:16) - Argentina's Currency Swap and US Involvement
(32:49) - US Banks and Argentina's Financial Crisis
(35:55) - US Military Buildup in the Caribbean
(36:48) - US-Colombia Relations and Regional Tensions
(42:22) - Impact of Cocaine Production on Latin America
(48:35) - Currency Discipline and Global Financial Stability
(54:27) - The Future of Global Currencies
(01:00:19) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com
Jacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416
Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap
Jacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe
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The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com
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Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.
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