Supply Shock The $13,000 Book Preserving Bitcoin's History | Jimmy from Smashtoshi
Dec 11, 2025
Jimmy, co-founder of Smashtoshi and creator of the History of Bitcoin project, dives into his multi-year mission to document Bitcoin’s origins. He shares anecdotes from early community pioneers and highlights how social movements shaped the cryptocurrency’s narrative. The conversation touches on the potential risks posed by institutional involvement overshadowing Bitcoin’s foundational ideals. Jimmy also emphasizes the importance of self-custody in navigating today’s evolving financial landscape, while optimistically pondering Bitcoin's long-term future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Two-Pronged History Project
- History of Bitcoin combines a free timeline website with a luxury coffee-table book and a single ultra-rare first edition.
- The project aims to both educate broadly and fund Bitcoin education via auction proceeds to My First Bitcoin.
From Stockbroker To Bitcoin Historian
- Jimmy started as a stockbroker and dove deeper into Bitcoin after being blocked from discussing it at his firm.
- He transitioned to full-time Bitcoin work during COVID and began collecting early community stories.
Social Networks Built Bitcoin
- Early Bitcoin's growth was driven by social channels like IRC and Bitcointalk and small conferences, not just technical merit.
- Small, obscure events and passionate individuals seeded infrastructure that scaled into mass adoption.