The Bitcoin Standard analyzes the historical context to the rise of Bitcoin, the economic properties that have allowed it to grow quickly, and its likely economic, political, and social implications. The book takes the reader on an engaging journey through the history of technologies performing the functions of money, from primitive systems to modern government debt. It explains the operation of Bitcoin as a decentralized, distributed piece of software that converts electricity and processing power into indisputably accurate records, allowing users to perform traditional monetary functions without relying on authorities or physical infrastructure. The book also explores common questions surrounding Bitcoin and its potential as a store of value and a network for final settlement of large payments, challenging government monopolies and offering a vision of money extricated from politics and borders.
In 'The Fiat Standard', Saifedean Ammous delves into the world's transition from the gold standard to the current system of government-backed fiat money. He explains the fiat standard as a feat of engineering and technology, similar to his analysis of bitcoin in 'The Bitcoin Standard'. Ammous outlines the purposes and failures of the fiat standard, deriving its wider economic, political, and social implications. He also examines how bitcoin could affect the fiat system over time, highlighting issues such as inflation, government intervention, and the potential for bitcoin to provide a more stable and salable alternative across space. The book critiques the distortions caused by fiat money in various global markets and suggests that bitcoin could lead to an orderly upgrade of the world's monetary operating system.
Matthew Lysiak is an acclaimed journalist, author, and investigative reporter. He has spent decades uncovering systemic corruption, and his latest book, Fiat Food: Why Inflation Destroyed Our Health and How Bitcoin Fixes It, Matthew explores how fiat currency and inflation have degraded public health by reshaping the modern diet.
› Follow Matthew: https://x.com/matthewlysiak
› “Fiat Food” book: https://thesaifhouse.com/ffsample
PARTNERS
🧘♂️ Gain peace of mind with Onramp’s Multi-Institution Custody solution. Sign up with code BRAM to receive $150 in Bitcoin after your first deposit: https://onrampbitcoin.com/bram
💸 Borrow against your Bitcoin with Debifi. Unlock liquidity without selling a single sat via https://debifi.com/bram
🔐 Blockstream Jade Plus: The simplest and most secure hardware wallet on the planet - Get 10% off your entire order with code BRAM at https://store.blockstream.com
🔨 Stamp Seed: The safest way to backup your hardware wallet - Get 15% off with code BRAM at https://stampseed.com
🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO GET NOTIFIED
› YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bramk
› Follow Bram on https://x.com/bramk
🕑 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to Fiat Food and Its Inspirations
01:15 - The Journey of an Investigative Reporter
03:43 - The Impact of COVID on Perspectives
06:49 - Uncovering the Food Conspiracy
11:16 - The Shift in Modern Food Policy
20:35 - The Consequences of Fiat Food
22:09 - The Illusion of Food Abundance
30:12 - The Degradation of Quality in Everyday Life
32:31 - Monetary Distortion and Its Impact
34:46 - The Role of Bitcoin in Food Supply
38:40 - Processed Foods and Health Consequences
42:30 - Loss of Autonomy and Personal Responsibility
47:43 - Hope for Change and Awakening
51:47 - The Power of Information and Truth
ℹ️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Bram Kanstein speaks with journalist and author Matthew Lysiak about his book Fiat Food, diving into the hidden connection between fiat currency, corporate influence, and the collapse of the American diet. Lysiak traces how decades of money printing, government subsidies, and shifting economic incentives led to the rise of ultra-processed foods, declining nutrition, and widespread chronic illness. The conversation reveals how our food system was quietly engineered to serve economic agendas — not public health — and why understanding the role of money is key to reclaiming real food and personal autonomy.
Bitcoin for Millennials 
