Loaning $1M to His Campaign, Then Putting It All in Bitcoin with Michael Carbonara

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with entrepreneur and now congressional candidate Michael Carbonara, committed to serving the people of Florida’s 25th District. Known for building fintech and blockchain companies that processed over $20 billion a year, Michael made headlines when he left it all behind, loaned his campaign a million dollars, and put it entirely into Bitcoin.

Michael shares how growing up in a single-parent household shaped his hunger for success, what it took to become a pioneer in crypto banking, and why he believes the American dream is fading unless people like him step up. From building global infrastructure in blockchain to running for office against a 20-year incumbent, this episode covers business, politics, family, and legacy in a way few founders ever do.

Chapters:
 01:46 – Where His Entrepreneurial Spirit Started
 03:19 – Dropping Out Before It Was Cool
 04:47 – The Turning Point From School to Self-Education
 06:14 – How Rich Dad, Poor Dad Changed His Worldview
08:16 – Starting a Payment Gateway While Holding a Day Job
09:43 – Why Working With Older Partners Changed Everything
11:13 – Becoming a Blockchain Pioneer Before the Hype
13:05 – Why He Still Believes 50% of the World Will Use Blockchain
14:38 – Web3 Is Coming Whether You Understand It or Not
16:31 – The Reality of Building in an Unproven Industry
17:42 – Pivoting Without Quitting: His Approach to "Failure"
18:41 – The Mentors Who Shaped His Entrepreneurial Mindset
20:14 – Why We All Thrive in Different Systems
22:28 – Childhood Lessons That Still Shape His Drive
24:19 – Why He Decided to Run for Office
26:09 – How a Documentary Sparked His Political Awakening
28:28 – Going Up Against a 20-Year Incumbent
30:35 – Restoring Safety, Slashing Waste, and Defunding
32:17 – What He’d Ask Under Oath
34:05 – Family, Risk, and Running With No Fear
35:16 – Why He Invested Campaign Funds Into Bitcoin
37:06 – Making Bitcoin Accessible for Real Wealth Creation
38:35 – Solving the Security and Simplicity Gap in Crypto
40:56 – Taking a Pay Cut to Serve the Country
42:44 – What Happens Without Police and Structure
44:25 – School Choice, Indoctrination, and Fixing Education
47:03 – His Vision for the Next 24 Months
48:30 – Why He Had to Become a Reluctant Social Media Influencer
50:04 – How 7 Million Views Landed Him in the White House
52:57 – How the Dream Is Still Possible, but Not Guaranteed
54:33 – Advice to His 12-Year-Old Self
56:56 – How His Wife Became His Most Trusted Advisor
59:25 – Why He Believes the Time to Act Is Now

Guest Links:
Website: https://michaelcarbonara.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mcarbonarafl
X (Twitter): https://x.com/MCarbonaraFL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarbonara/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578435752040

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