

The Bitcoin Standard Podcast
Dr. Saifedean Ammous
Saifedean's The Bitcoin Standard Podcast is the place to discuss Bitcoin and economics from the Austrian school's perspective. Listen to the weekly saifedean.com discussion seminar, where a group of learners from all over the world discuss the website's online courses, as well as a wide variety of economic, political, and social issues, and occasionally host special guests for the discussion. The podcast also includes the most interesting interviews conducted with Saifedean on other shows.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 7min
296. The Fiat Standard Lecture 15: Bitcoin Banking
The discussion centers on the evolving role of banks in a Bitcoin-driven world. It explores why custodial services remain vital, even with cryptocurrency. Bitcoin banking is shown to prioritize equity over credit, reshaping capital allocation. The podcast highlights how Bitcoin simplifies savings and reduces systemic fragility. It argues that Bitcoin could eliminate the bond market by removing inflation-driven incentives. Lastly, it draws intriguing parallels between Bitcoin finance and the principles of Islamic finance.

6 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 56min
295. The Fiat Standard Lecture 14: Bitcoin Scaling
Delve into the world of Bitcoin scaling with insights on why on-chain transactions face hard limits. Explore the necessity of keeping block space scarce for immutability. Discover how economic incentives shift smaller payments to second-layer solutions, particularly the Lightning Network, which facilitates rapid, inexpensive transactions. Learn about the contrasting roles of on-chain versus non-cash payments and the future of Bitcoin as it evolves with specialized routing businesses and managed liquidity services, balancing decentralization with usability.

Oct 7, 2025 • 37min
294. The Fiat Standard Lecture 13: Why Bitcoin Fixes This
Explore how Bitcoin outshines fiat and gold in salability and efficiency. Discover its role as a final settlement layer and how it lowers international transfer costs. Learn about Bitcoin’s unique properties that separate money from debt and empower multiple settlement providers. Understand the contrast between liquid money and risky credit representations. Finally, see why Bitcoin is a catalyst for economic freedom, despite its limits in eradicating poverty. This discussion is a deep dive into the transformative potential of Bitcoin.

9 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 33min
293. The Fiat Standard Lecture 12: Fiat Cost-Benefit Analysis
Explore the sharp contrast between the minor benefits of fiat money and its immense costs, like wealth erosion and societal decay. Discover how inflation drives inequality, enriching the elites while impoverishing the poor. Learn about the destructive effects of fiat on saving, capital accumulation, and technological progress. The discussion also highlights how fiat systems distort economic behavior and enable state power, making war easier. Ultimately, a staggering $15 trillion annual cost is outlined, proving the overwhelming damage fiat does to civilization.

10 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 5min
292. The Fiat Standard Lecture 11: Fiat States
Dive into the pitfalls of fiat money and its global impact. Discover how reserve currencies export inflation and entrench countries in debt traps. Explore the disastrous legacy of the IMF and World Bank, which reinforce dependence on unreliable financial systems. Learn about the historical link between fiat-driven inflation and protectionism, sparking conflicts throughout the 20th century. Finally, uncover how genuine growth relies on freedom and sound money, not on failed debt-driven solutions.

12 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 15min
291. The Fiat Standard Lecture 10: Fiat Fuels
This discussion dives into the impact of the fiat monetary system on energy markets, arguing that hydrocarbons are irreplaceable in modern economies. It critiques reliance on subsidized and unreliable energy sources, exposing the myths surrounding climate narratives. The conversation also highlights the inflating costs of energy linked to monetary policy and emphasizes the economic consequences of shifting away from fossil fuels. Ultimately, it challenges prevalent climate criticisms while stressing the importance of hydrocarbons for progress and infrastructure.

14 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 23min
290. The Fiat Standard Lecture 9: Fiat Science
Explore how fiat money centralizes education and distorts scientific research. Delve into the pitfalls of government funding that leads to inefficiency and lack of accountability. Discover the challenges in Egypt's educational system and the transformation of universities into indoctrination centers. Hear a critique of humanities education that prioritizes politics over real skills, and the flaws of the current academic publishing system. Finally, analyze the alarming influence of financial interests on scientific innovation and health guidelines.

27 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 51min
289. The Fiat Standard Lecture 8: Fiat Food
Discover how fiat money has reshaped the food landscape, leading to disastrous dietary shifts. Learn about the decline of family farms and the rise of industrial agriculture, driven by government policies. Delve into the dangers of processed foods and their links to obesity, reframing it as a sign of malnutrition rather than affluence. Explore the paradox of rising food spending against deteriorating nutrition quality. Uncover the health implications of modern agricultural practices and the vital connection between soil health and our diet.

18 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 50min
288. The Fiat Standard Lecture 7: Fiat Life
The discussion unveils how fiat money elevates immediate gratification over savings, distorting economic behavior. It explores the evolution of money, revealing how gold fosters long-term planning, unlike unstable fiat currencies. The erosion of property security and moral standards under government control is examined, alongside the detrimental societal impacts of inflation on quality and value. Furthermore, the podcast highlights how a welfare state can weaken family structures, emphasizing the importance of personal incentives and family bonds.

52 snips
Aug 19, 2025 • 54min
287. The Fiat Standard Lecture 6: What Is Fiat Good For?
The discussion reveals fiat currency's ability to facilitate global adoption and government financing. It contrasts fiat with gold, highlighting the risks of fractional-reserve banking fostered by the Federal Reserve. The critique of money-printing illustrates how it contributes to dollar devaluation and the illusion of economic growth. Additionally, the podcast delves into the intricacies of banking systems, examining how low interest rates and shadow banking shape modern money creation, raising questions about sustainability and true financial stability.


