Episode 111 - Five Currency Wars, Bitcoin’s Role & the Real Fight Behind the Clarity Act | SimonDixonHardTalk | 16 January 2026

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Jan 16, 2026

A tour of five global currency wars reshaping power in Iran, Venezuela, Ukraine, China and the United States. The show examines stablecoins being used to freeze assets and why self-custody matters. It explores reports of nuclear-linked Bitcoin mining and the fierce political fight over the Clarity Act’s surveillance and self-custody tradeoffs.

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INSIGHT

Follow The Money, Not The Headlines

Following the money reveals who benefits from geopolitical theater and who actually drives currency conflicts.
Simon Dixon argues mainstream narratives mislead; track capital flows to understand regime-change dynamics.

ANECDOTE

Listeners From Sanctioned Countries Reached Out

Iranians and Venezuelans messaged Simon Dixon saying Bitcoin self-custody saved them during currency collapses.
He reports that node operators and self-custody holders could still transact when exchanges and banks were cut off.

INSIGHT

Sanctions As Financial Weapons

Sanctions act as financial weapons that collapse currency demand and trigger inflation cycles that punish ordinary savers.
Dixon explains how low-liquidity FX and media amplification enable engineered currency shocks.

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Welcome to 2026. In the first livestream of the year, Simon Dixon returns to deconstruct the 5 Currency Wars reshaping the global order and the internal civil war taking place within the United States over the future of money.

As the world shifts to a multipolar system, Simon explains why we must look past the media "theater" to follow the real money flows driving conflict and regime change. From the freezing of assets in Venezuela to the nuclear mining negotiations in Ukraine, this episode exposes how Bitcoin and stablecoins are being weaponized and where your only true protection lies.

In this episode (Part 1 - This Week in Bitcoin):

The 5 Currency Wars: A deep dive into the financial warfare unfolding across Iran, Venezuela, Ukraine, China, and the United States , .

The Tether Freeze: Following the kidnapping of Maduro, Tether froze $182 million in Venezuelan wallets without a court order—proving stablecoins are tools for the surveillance state while self-custody remains the only exit , .

Nuclear Mining in Ukraine: Reports that the US and Russia are negotiating the use of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (Zaporizhzhia) for Bitcoin mining as part of a geopolitical settlement , .

The Clarity Act Civil War: Inside the ruthless power struggle between the Bank Lobby (JP Morgan, Citi) and the Crypto/Asset Manager Lobby (BlackRock, Coinbase) , .

The Verdict on Clarity: Good news and bad news—while the Act expands surveillance on intermediaries and stablecoins, it explicitly protects your right to hold private keys and transact peer-to-peer , .

The Rebrand: Why Bitcoin Hard Talk is now Simon Dixon Hard Talk—expanding the mission to help sovereign wealth builders navigate the macro, geopolitical, and tech trends of the next 5 years , .

"Bitcoin is the tool. Money is the issue."

Watch the full episode: Currency Wars & Regime Change Explained | SimonDixonHardTalk LIVE | 16 Jan 2026 https://youtube.com/live/jFXJHeI9W7k

Read the blog: The Real Fight Behind the Clarity Act, 5 Currency Wars & Bitcoin’s Role

Disclaimer

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and represents the commentary of Simon Dixon. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice.

Strict Adherence to Sanctions & Laws: This content is NOT advice on how to avoid or circumvent sanctions . Simon Dixon makes it crystal clear that all Bitcoin and digital assets must be acquired and used legally and in full compliance with all applicable laws and sanctions regulations , .

Any discussion regarding the use of Bitcoin, stablecoins, or self-custody in relation to sanctioned jurisdictions is provided solely as analysis of global macro trends and historical events , . It must not be interpreted as a guide for evading international sanctions, which carries severe criminal and civil consequences . You are solely responsible for ensuring that your actions comply fully with the laws of your jurisdiction.