Ben Wehrman Podcast #128 Saifedean Ammous - How Bitcoin Disincentivizes Violence and Defunds the Israeli Land-Theft Machine
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Jun 15, 2025 
Saifedean Ammous, an economist and author renowned for his work on Bitcoin and Austrian economics, dives into the interplay between cryptocurrency and global politics. He reveals how Bitcoin can undermine traditional funding methods for war, critiques central banking as a catalyst for societal issues, and discusses the moral implications of property rights. Saifedean also explores how U.S. foreign policy serves specific interests, particularly in the context of Israel, and highlights the historical roots linking fiat currency to current geopolitical conflicts.
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Bitcoin As Hard, Permissionless Money
- Saifedean Ammous defines Bitcoin as permissionless peer-to-peer software with an inflation-resistant currency enabling global final settlement without trusted third parties.
- He emphasizes Bitcoin's fixed supply makes it the hardest money and the fastest form of money for final settlement.
Central Banking Creates Monopoly Theft
- Central banking creates a money-and-banking monopoly that prevents alternatives like gold-based banks from competing.
- This monopoly enables continual theft via inflation and concentrates power in governments and banks.
Why Fixed Supply Raises Civilization's Horizon
- Fixed supply money like Bitcoin raises purchasing power over time instead of requiring more units as the economy grows.
- Saifedean argues rising money value encourages savings, long-term planning, and civilization-building.
