Making Markets Charlie Shrem: The Journey of Bitcoin - [Making Markets, REPLAY]
Aug 15, 2025
Charlie Shrem, a pioneering figure in the Bitcoin world and early member of the Bitcoin Foundation, shares his remarkable journey from a strict Orthodox upbringing to becoming a crypto trailblazer. He discusses Bitcoin's evolution from a niche hobby to a recognized store of value. Shrem opens up about his role in BitInstant and the legal challenges he faced, even recounting his unique meeting with Justin Trudeau through a robot. His experiences reflect the tumultuous yet transformative path of Bitcoin itself.
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Leaving The Old Life For Bitcoin
- Charlie left his Orthodox life and lived openly in the Bitcoin community for eight months, traveling and speaking at conferences.
- He built BitInstant and the Bitcoin Foundation before being arrested returning from Amsterdam.
Seeing Decentralization Locally
- Charlie learned Bitcoin's ledger by running the software and watching the file grow with everyone else's transactions.
- He realized decentralization meant no single party could reverse transactions without massive consensus.
Bitcoin As A Play Token
- Early Bitcoin was treated as bulk utility and priced like game tokens rather than a mature asset.
- Participants cared more about access and use than precise dollar pricing.