THE Bitcoin Podcast

David Marcus, a fintech pioneer and CEO of Lightspark, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of Bitcoin as a global settlement layer. He discusses how Bitcoin's neutrality positions it as the essential architecture for future money movement. The conversation delves into the challenges with Lightning and the significance of self-custody in wallets. Marcus emphasizes the role of stablecoins in encouraging Bitcoin adoption, while also detailing LightSpark's innovative solutions for low-cost, real-time cross-border payments and the integration of various payment rails.

Marty Bent, co-founder of TFTC and host of Rabbit Hole Recap, dives deep into the future of Bitcoin, expressing his bullish outlook amid market volatility. The conversation touches on live streaming trends via Nostr, community-building strategies, and the cultural shift toward open protocols. They also discuss the impact of family values on Bitcoin adoption, contrasting modern societal issues with the importance of legacy. Marty highlights immigration debates, the Overton window, and how Bitcoin stands as a beacon of hope in these changing times.

Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, shares his harrowing journey after a militarized FBI raid in April 2024 led to serious charges against him and his partner. He explains the intentions behind Samourai's non-custodial wallet design and criticizes the government's legal overreach affecting privacy-focused developers. Keonne details the pressures of plea deals and highlights the unfair treatment of code creators versus big banks. With a looming prison sentence, he appeals for a pardon from President Trump, arguing against the overreach of the DOJ.

Preston Pysh, an investor and Bitcoin educator known for his macro insights, discusses the complexities of the current economic landscape. He dives into the Fed's potential pivot away from quantitative tightening and how political dynamics might influence monetary policy. The conversation shifts to the impact of AI on liquidity and Bitcoin's four-year cycles, revealing how macro forces dominate price movements today. Additionally, Preston shares thoughts on MicroStrategy's aggressive accumulation strategy and the future of firms adopting a Bitcoin standard.

The hosts dive into the current market dip, viewing it as a prime opportunity to stack Bitcoin through dollar-cost averaging. They critique altcoin trading, emphasizing self-custody and the immutable math behind Bitcoin. A conversation with Nathan sheds light on the cultural shifts in Bitcoin adoption, the role of institutions, and the importance of community engagement. They discuss how AI will impact the economy and why Bitcoin remains a vital monetary solution. The dialogue inspires listeners to focus on value creation and resilient long-term strategies.

In this conversation with Alex McShane, a Bitcoin builder and events producer, listeners explore the intricacies of self-custody and the pitfalls of deceptive hardware wallet marketing. Alex discusses the challenges faced by Nostr in achieving product-market fit and the importance of honest messaging over slick designs in the crypto space. He reflects on his experience organizing Bitcoin conferences, critiques grant-funded models, and emphasizes the need for market-driven solutions. The chat wraps up with thoughts on community engagement and prioritizing real-world Bitcoin adoption.

In this engaging discussion, Jeff Booth, author and entrepreneur, dives deep into the implications of Bitcoin as a deflationary force and its contrast with traditional fiat systems. He shares insights on why perception is skewed by liquidity crises and emphasizes the unchanged fundamentals of Bitcoin. Booth highlights significant geopolitical movements, especially in El Salvador, and advocates for teaching self-custody as a means of empowerment. He also discusses the necessity of privacy tools like Fedi in the face of rising surveillance, reinforcing the idea that Bitcoin supports a freer future.

Angela McArdle, Chair of the Libertarian Party Mises Caucus and advocate for crypto-related prisoners, shares her transformative journey from local activism to national influence. She discusses her pivotal role in campaigning for Ross Ulbricht's pardon and her strategy to make the Libertarian Party a 'kingmaker' in political negotiations. McArdle tackles the lawfare facing Bitcoin developers and emphasizes the vital role of Bitcoin in preserving free speech and privacy. She urges listeners to engage in local politics to reclaim freedoms.

In this engaging discussion, Max Hillebrand, a long-time advocate for freedom tech, delves into why privacy is essential for personal liberty. He argues for building resilient, ethical companies and exploring seasteading for autonomy on the high seas. The duo highlights the need for privacy-focused tools and emphasizes the importance of decentralized messaging against state surveillance. They also discuss the social implications of hidden Bitcoin wealth and encourage contributions to Freedom Tech to secure a decentralized future. Get ready to rethink freedom!

"I actually view Bitcoin as a way to keep the crown jewels of our civilization, the West, shining… If that goes out, then the whole world goes dark. And so that's what I think is the most important thing. I think Bitcoin is going to help save Western civilization." What happens when you build a Bitcoin-only bank inside the belly of the U.S. financial system? River CEO/CTO Alex Leishman breaks down what it's like to build a Bitcoin bank, why Bitcoin saves western civilization, and what Bitcoin means for America. PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS: BLOCKWARE: Mine Bitcoin, lower your tax bill, and stack sats hands-free with Blockware — get started today at https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/titcoin and use code “titcoin” to get $100 off your first miner on the Blockware Marketplace. LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin. Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America sits down with Alex Leishman, CEO/CTO of River, to talk about: • Why River refuses to sell shitcoins and won’t run a “casino” • How their proof-of-reserves system works (and why most exchanges still won’t do it) • Paying 3.5% on dollar deposits, in Bitcoin, and why they’re fine eating the banks’ lunch • What River sees behind the scenes during the “Bitcoin crashed to $100K” panic • The rise of Main Street Bitcoin treasuries (restaurants, plumbers, hot dog stands, churches & more) • Why Alex thinks Bitcoin is a lifeboat for America and the West • Culture, demographics, and why “fix the money” isn’t the whole story Alex also shares River’s long-term vision to become the most trusted financial institution built on Bitcoin – a true Bitcoin-native bank that can eventually replace your legacy checking and savings account. FOLLOW ALEX: https://x.com/Leishman JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/ If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following: FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE