The Bitcoin Standard Podcast

Saifedean Ammous, an economist and author known for his insights on money and Bitcoin, joins Danny Knowles to discuss the pitfalls of fiat currency. They explore how fiat funding enabled war and inflation, while contrasting the failures of gold against Bitcoin's potential for stability. Saifedean argues that a return to sound money could reshape civilization, highlighting grassroots Bitcoin adoption in Africa, and imagines a world where inflation is absent, leading to peace and prosperity.

In this intriguing discussion, economist Saifedean Ammous, known for his influential works on money and Bitcoin, dives into his latest book, The Gold Standard. He explores the detrimental effects of fiat money, how it distorts housing affordability, and the historical implications of a gold-based system. Saifedean proposes a decentralized approach to monetary systems and highlights how sound money fosters savings and stability. He also critiques inflation's broader societal impacts, emphasizing the need for monetary reform and its foundational role in civilization.

Tony Yazbeck, founder of The Bitcoin Way, shares insights on Bitcoin custody, emphasizing the path from personal experiences with banking collapse to creating his services. He teaches self-custody to non-technical users, highlighting Bitcoin as a true form of savings rather than speculation. Yazbeck dismisses third-party custodians in favor of self-custody techniques with trusted circles. He advocates for real adoption through everyday usage and offers advanced best practices for secure holdings and inheritance planning, all while promoting the importance of Bitcoin in developing sovereign living.

Join Juan Ramón Rallo, a Spanish economist steeped in the Austrian tradition, as he explores the dynamic landscape of monetary theory. Rallo critiques macroeconomic frameworks like the Phillips curve and Keynesianism, offering insights on market failures and the nature of value. He eloquently describes money's role, emphasizing Bitcoin as a borderless solution to gold's limitations. Delve into the implications of a Bitcoin standard on debt and interest rates, and consider the impact of government involvement in the cryptocurrency space!

Tristan Scott, Head of Operations at Daylight Computer Company, shares his vision for distraction-free technology. He reveals how modern devices and artificial light disrupt our biology and focus. Tristan introduces Daylight's innovative displays designed to reduce distractions while enhancing mental clarity. He discusses the upcoming Daylight Kids product, aimed at protecting young eyes. The conversation explores creating a simpler design philosophy to combat digital addiction and enhance creativity in a tech-saturated world.

Balaji Srinivasan, an entrepreneur and author of The Network State, shares his visionary ideas on how technology can redefine governance and community. He introduces the concept of 'network states,' decentralized countries emerging from online platforms. The discussion also covers the implications of hard money, comparing U.S. and Chinese economic strategies, and the future role of Bitcoin in a collapsing dollar scenario. Balaji's insights on startup cities and asset sales reveal innovative responses to financial crises.

The lecture dives into how Bitcoin's fixed supply challenges the traditional fiat monetary system. Points of discussion include Bitcoin's potential to capture cash balances and its resilience against government bans. Comparisons between Bitcoin and gold highlight the unique benefits of digital scarcity. The risks posed by Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are examined, along with their implications for monetary control. The conversation wraps up with intriguing scenarios of coexistence and market dynamics between Bitcoin and fiat money.

Dive into the lost world of hard money as Saifedean explores how fiat emerged from the chaos of World War I. He reveals the historical dominance of gold and its critical role in civilization’s progress. Expect thought-provoking questions on how a hard-money century could alter our history. With a hint of fiction blending into economics, he imagines alternative timelines shaped by gold-backed innovations. Finally, he warns how bank centralization and credit expansion led to financial instability, paving the way for today’s fiat system.

Saifedean Ammous, an economist and author renowned for his works on Bitcoin and monetary theory, dives deep into his latest book, The Gold Standard. He explores how a technologically evolving gold standard could compete with fiat currencies. Discussing historical events like World War I, he argues that central banking led to detrimental economic outcomes. Saifedean also connects hard money to lower time preference, envisioning a future where society benefits from greater savings and innovation. His thoughts on governance and the pitfalls of fiat provide intriguing insights into the evolution of money.

The lecture explores how the denial of property rights is the fundamental cause of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It dissects historical land ownership statistics and the impact of 1948 expulsions. The discussion highlights the dual legal systems in the region, the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes, and overall restrictions on mobility. It emphasizes that a lack of property rights leads to conflict, challenging the narrative of ethnic hatred. Historical examples of coexistence underscore the importance of property rights as a foundation for civil society.