Bitcoin Magazine Podcast

In this episode, Dave Hollerith talks with Kiara Bickers, author of Bitcoin Clarity: A Guide To Understanding Bitcoin. Bitcoin Clarity is different from other Bitcoin guides because it takes uses "systems thinking" by explaining how and why each part of Bitcoin's system evolved into what it is today.  Topics included in the discussion: Independent publishing Approximating decentralization Bitcoin as a trustless time chain The value and limits of information Why Bitcoin Clarity does not dig into privacy How science and art should not be separated  Links: Bitcoin Clarity Kiara Bickers on Twitter Dave Hollerith on Twitter Bitcoin Magazine on Twitter Sponsors: Etoro DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this presentation constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by BTC Media, The Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network, or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.  

For almost a decade, Bitcoiners from all across the world have celebrated January 3 as Bitcoin’s bonafide birthday. It was on that date in 2009 that Satoshi Nakamoto mined Bitcoin’s genesis block and it was this first successful hash computation that defined the political purpose of Bitcoin with the embedded message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on Brink of Second Bailout for Banks.” Simply put, Bitcoin is an instrument that is specifically designed to resist the inflationary urges of monetary politics, and its qualities empower individuals to become sovereign. However, the business sector that developed and blossomed around Bitcoin has not always remained true to the cypherpunk origins that created it; Often times, exchanges and lending services impose withdrawal limits, freeze accounts and find other ways to arbitrarily restrict users’ access to their funds. In this episode, Bitcoin Magazine's Vlad Costea interviews long-time Bitcoiner Trace Mayer. They discuss how some cryptocurrency businesses tend to restrict the concept of sovereignty that the technology was meant to protect, and Mayer's response to the phenomenon, the Proof of Keys event, held every year on January 3. Proof of Keys [Jan/3➞₿] Twitter: Trace Mayer (@TraceMayer) Vlad Costea (@TheVladCostea) Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) Sponsors: Celsius Network - Enter "BITCOINMAG" to get $10 off any deposit over $200 Etoro DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this presentation constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by BTC Media, The Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network, or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.

Colin and Christian are joined by Andrew Yang (no, not that one) of River Financial to discuss how the newly launched bitcoin exchange plans offer a clean, buttoned-up onramp for newcomers and old-coiners alike--and why they're opting to focus solely on bitcoin. Twitter Colin Harper - @AsILayHodling Christian Keroles - @ck_SNARKs Andrew Yang - @ecurrencyhodler

The best of Bitcoin tends to come from projects that leave wealth accumulation and personal agendas aside to focus on building on behalf of the community. For an example, look no further than open-source payment portal BTCPay Server. In this episode of the Weekly Bits podcast, Colin Harper joins Peter Chawaga to discuss his latest cover story on the project, the developers behind it and its status as Bitcoin's open-source unicorn. Resources BTCPay Server Is Bitcoin’s Open-Source Unicorn Twitter Bitcoin Magazine Peter Chawaga Colin Harper

"In Bitcoin, some of the best ideas occur when somebody has just taken the time to sit down and just really break down each concept in writing, and articulated it in a 15 to 20-minute article." -Guy Swann In this episode, Dave Hollerith talks with Guy Swann, host of the Cryptoconomy podcast. Guy's show has become a staple in the Bitcoin community for curating and recording some of the best long-form articles about Bitcoin.  Dave and Guy discuss Guy's curation process, what makes a compelling Bitcoin read, Bitcoin maximalism as a reaction to the 2017 ICO boom, some of the historical metaphors used to explain Bitcoin and how technology like Bitcoin and the internet are changing sovereignty.  Resources mentioned in the episode: A Most Peaceful Revolution Bitcoin Reformation Cryptoconomy website Bitcoin Time Traveller (Updated 2019) Bitcoin Is Worse Is Better (CryptoQuikRead)  The Sovereign Individual Twitter: Guy Swann (@TheCryptoconomy) Dave Hollerith (@DsHollers) Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) Sponsors: Celsius Network - Enter "BITCOINMAG" to get $10 off any deposit over $200 Etoro DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this presentation constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by BTC Media, The Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network, or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.

In this week’s episode, Colin, Christian, Brandon and Michael discuss the current state of mining as we approach the new year, a provocative op-ed on the crypto’s utility and the role of journalism in the space.

The work of blockchain analysis companies such as Chainalysis isn’t always welcomed by privacy advocates. However, if you're a Bitcoiner who cares about the future of the industry, this work is always worth watching.  And there tend to be two great narratives that we hear about how these companies affect Bitcoin. One is that they bring more transparency and in turn increase Bitcoin’s adoption and legitimacy. The other is that they are leveraging data from the Bitcoin blockchain to provide better surveillance for corporate entities and nation-states at the expense of financial privacy.  Coming to the end of what appears to be a successful year of growth, Chainalysis cut 20 percent of its workforce back in November.  Today I’ve got an interview with Philip Gradwell, he’s the Chief Economist at Chainalysis. We talk about what exactly is gleaned from blockchain analysis products, why they are seeing so much growth in Asia Pacific, why they cut 39 employees and whether they are putting resources into tracking off-chain transactions (final question). Resources: Darknet Markets Can't Live With—Or Without—Bitcoin The Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2019 List Chainalysis Report: Two Groups Responsible for Most Publicly Reported Hacks Twitter: Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) Dave Hollerith (@DsHollers) Philip Gradwell (@philip_gradwell) Sponsors: Celsius Network - Enter "BITCOINMAG" to get $10 off any deposit over $200 Etoro DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this presentation constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by BTC Media, The Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network, or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.

The bitcoin mining industry has always been dominated by China, but a growing trend of operations opening up in North America raises interesting questions about the decentralization of the practice. Listen to this week's episode as Cassie Clifton, host of the What's Halvening? Podcast and all-around mining expert, talks to Peter about the future of Bitcoin's most critical sector. Resources Bitcoin Mining in North America: A New Gold Rush in the New World Twitter @PeterChawaga @bitcoincass @BitcoinMagazine @TheLTBNetwork

Colin, Michael and Brandon gauge the ethical and political ramifications of Virgil Griffith's talk at the Pyongyang blockchain conference--with a surprise drop in by BTC Inc's CEO, David Bailey, on why his arrest sets a dangerous precedent for anyone working in crypto. On a more positive political note, the team also discusses Bakkt CEO, Kelly Loeffler, and her sudden appointment to the U.S. senate. And they round out the happy hour by touching on why (if at all) Bitfinex's recent Lightning Network integration is a milestone for the Bitcoin industry.

To celebrate the holiday season, this episode of the Weekly Bits podcast covers two programs focused on accelerating bitcoin-based giving. Peter is joined by Bitcoin Magazine associate editor Colin Harper to discuss two of his recent stories — the first dedicated to GiveBitcoin and its effort to help Bitcoiners evangelize the technology by sharing BTC with others, and the second to The Giving Block and its mission to focus Giving Tuesday on #GivingBitcoin to charity. Resources: GiveBitcoin Wants You to Give Bitcoin This Holiday Season The Nonprofit Push to Make Giving Tuesday About Giving Bitcoin Twitter: Peter Chawaga Colin Harper Bitcoin Magazine The LTB Network