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The Bitcoin Layer

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Feb 13, 2025 • 14min

Will U.S. States Buy Bitcoin? $23 Billion in Proposed Bills Say Yes

In this episode, Nik explores the growing movement among U.S. states to establish strategic Bitcoin reserves, with 20 proposed bills representing up to $23 billion in potential Bitcoin purchases. He breaks down the states pushing these initiatives, the legislative progress of key bills, and the impact of these reserves on state budgets and pension funds. The discussion moves to the broader implications of government Bitcoin adoption, the limited daily supply available, and how these purchases could drive significant price pressure. Closing with insights on global adoption, Nik examines how Bitcoin reserve strategies are spreading beyond the U.S., with signs of interest from Japan, Russia, and other nations. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 883491 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Feb 12, 2025 • 38min

America’s Big Reset: Kill the IRS, Split the Dollar, and Fund It All with Sovereign Wealth

In this episode, Nik unveils a bold idea to split the U.S. dollar, separating the eurodollar system from a new national currency. Before diving in, he breaks down key economic shifts shaping Bitcoin, including the administration’s focus on productivity, deregulation, and credit expansion. The discussion moves to government efficiency, Elon Musk’s audit of federal spending, and how cutting waste could strengthen the Treasury market. Nik then examines the push to eliminate the IRS, the sovereign wealth fund as a potential revenue source, and Bitcoin’s role in this new framework. Closing with his dollar split concept, he explores how a new national currency could break free from the Fed’s global banking system, redefining America’s financial future. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 883376 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Feb 8, 2025 • 48min

Bitcoin, Treasuries & Sovereign Wealth: The U.S Economy's Fate Under Trump

In this episode, Nik answers questions from Augustine Carrasco, TBL’s own researcher, on U.S. Treasuries, sovereign wealth, and Bitcoin’s role in government reserves. Nik breaks down the Treasury market’s size, liquidity, and the need for continuous debt issuance, explaining how deficits, interest rates, and market demand shape economic policy. The discussion moves to tariffs, their impact on inflation, and whether ISM manufacturing’s rise signals inflationary pressures. Augustine asks if tariffs are meant to restore U.S. manufacturing, while Nik argues they are driven by geopolitical strategy. Turning to the sovereign wealth fund, Nik examines its ties to China, the risks of moral hazard, and whether Bitcoin could play a role as a strategic reserve in a rapidly shifting global financial order. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 882497 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Feb 5, 2025 • 21min

USA Creates a SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND—Will Bitcoin Fuel America's Economic Takeover?

In this episode, Nik unpacks one of the most seismic shifts in U.S. economic history—the creation of America’s first sovereign wealth fund. He analyzes what this means for national investment strategy, why it represents a fundamental break from past economic policy, and how it could serve as the ultimate vehicle for Bitcoin accumulation and infrastructure investment. With policymakers already exploring a strategic Bitcoin reserve, Nik examines whether this fund could be the mechanism to bring Bitcoin onto the U.S. balance sheet, following the playbook of energy-rich sovereign wealth funds like Norway and the UAE. He also explores the broader economic and geopolitical implications, from trade war tensions to a potential restructuring of the U.S. financial system—and what this means for markets, investors, and Bitcoin’s future. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 882234 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 31, 2025 • 27min

Bitcoin Mining and Circular Economies Are Changing Africa’s Future

In this episode, Nik Bhatia sits down with TBL’s correspondent in Africa, Noelyne Sumba, for an in-depth look at Bitcoin adoption across Africa, from thriving circular economies to major mining developments. Noelyne shares insights from her trip to South Africa, where Bitcoin-friendly communities are boosting local economies and major retailers are adopting BTC. The discussion moves to Ethiopia’s expanding hydro-powered mining sector and Kenya’s shifting stance on digital assets, setting the stage for a broader look at Tether’s role as a financial lifeline, Bitcoin’s impact on energy infrastructure, and the growing influence of U.S. policy on African adoption. As adoption and regulation evolve, Bitcoin’s influence across the continent continues to grow. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 881688 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 30, 2025 • 5min

Bitcoin & Stocks SURGE as Fed Keeps Markets Hot

In this episode, Nik Bhatia and Eric Wallerstein analyze the complexities of the current US economy, examining key factors shaping market trends, monetary policy, and Bitcoin's evolving role. They break down stock market dynamics, the Federal Reserve's potential path for interest rates, and treasury yields. The discussion also highlights the transformative ® and its implications for equity markets. Additionally, they examine the dollar's position in global trade, assess China’s economic struggles, and consider how potential US-China trade negotiations might unfold in this shifting macroeconomic environment. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 881551 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 30, 2025 • 25min

Bitcoin Rallies as Fed Greenlights Crypto Banking

In this episode, Nik breaks down the latest Fed meeting and Jerome Powell’s statement that banks are free to serve crypto customers—sending Bitcoin higher and fueling a major shift in policy. With the Fed holding rates steady and signaling no appetite for further hikes, markets are taking note. Nik explains why stable bond volatility, a cooling dollar, and the broader liquidity picture are creating a strong setup for Bitcoin. As regulatory barriers ease and discussions around a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve escalate, Bitcoin is becoming impossible to ignore in U.S. financial policy. Read Caitlin's latest piece: https://caitlin-long.com/how-to-keep-bitcoin-strategic-reserve-from-morphing-into-a-bailout-fund/ 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 881423 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 29, 2025 • 34min

RIPPLE VS BITCOIN: Will XRP Undermine Strategic Bitcoin Reserve?

In this episode, Nik sits back down with David Zell, co-founder of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to discuss the latest developments in Bitcoin’s intersection with U.S. policy and global influence. They begin with Ross Ulbricht’s release, a victory that highlights the political momentum of Bitcoin advocates, and the recent executive order that acknowledges Bitcoin as freedom technology. David dives into the challenges posed by Ripple’s lobbying efforts and why securing an SBR is critical for America to support innovation, signal leadership in freedom technology, and remain competitive on the global stage. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 881267 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 23, 2025 • 37min

Vancouver Mayor: CITY MUST BUY BITCOIN

In this episode, Nik and Augustine sit down with Ken Sim, the mayor of Vancouver, to discuss his transformation from a Bitcoin skeptic to a passionate advocate. Ken shares his vision for making Vancouver a Bitcoin-friendly city, highlighting Bitcoin's role in addressing economic challenges like affordability and currency debasement. The conversation explores the motion to integrate Bitcoin into the city’s framework, the importance of community engagement and education, and how Bitcoin's finite nature can stabilize Vancouver's financial future. Ken also touches on the vibrant Bitcoin community in Vancouver and the potential for Bitcoin to attract businesses, driving economic growth and innovation. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 880549 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.
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Jan 23, 2025 • 35min

Bitcoin’s 100x Growth Explained Through Time

In this episode, Nik critiques BlackRock’s recent recommendation of a 2% Bitcoin allocation and explains why this approach undermines the potential of Bitcoin as a transformative asset. He explores traditional portfolio management concepts like the 60/40 allocation and how they fall short in today’s economic landscape. Nik dives into Bitcoin’s historical performance, highlighting how long-term holders have seen exponential returns, while emphasizing the critical role of volatility in determining allocation strategies. By connecting these ideas to broader macroeconomic themes like inflation, bond volatility, and institutional adoption, Nik outlines why Bitcoin is reshaping the rules of portfolio management in an era of financial innovation. 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm. ▶️ Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube.📚 Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe🎧 Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform.📱 Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer📩 Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficial🧢 Use code TBLYT10 for 10% off all The Bitcoin Layer Merch at http://TheBitcoinLayer.com/merch ⛓️ ₿lock Height 880435 ⚡ Contribute to The Bitcoin Layer via Lightning Network: thebitcoinlayer@zbd.ggNik Bhatia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/timevalueofbtcCreative Director Matthew Ball's Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewrball The Bitcoin Layer and its guests do not provide investment advice.

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