The Mustard Seed—a bitcoin and long-term thinking podcast

Wall Street is being reshaped as bitcoin ETFs smash records and force traditional investors to pay attention. In this episode, James Seyffart explains why demand has blown past even BlackRock’s expectations, who is really buying these ETFs, and how trillions in advisor-controlled assets could soon flow into bitcoin. We examine Michael Saylor’s bold strategy, why treasury companies trade at premiums, and the growing debate over whether ETFs suppress volatility or create “paper bitcoin.” The conversation also explores passive investing’s hidden distortions, the fight for S&P 500 inclusion, and how corporate finance is quietly accelerating bitcoin’s march into the global system.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:00 - Why bitcoin ETFs shocked even BlackRock2:15 - How trad fi views bitcoin today4:35 - Who is really buying the bitcoin ETFs6:00 - Advisors vs hedge funds and retail9:10 - UAE sovereign wealth fund steps in10:13 - How big can bitcoin ETFs get12:00 - Why advisors still face restrictions14:23 - Could bitcoin ETFs reach $1 trillion16:00 - bitcoin vs gold ETFs explained18:43 - Michael Saylor’s reputation in trad fi21:00 - Why people are fascinated by Saylor’s strategy23:04 - Have ETFs reduced bitcoin’s volatility26:44 - Are ETFs creating “paper bitcoin”30:07 - Inside the bitcoin ETF options market32:29 - bitcoin treasury companies explained38:25 - Why strategy wasn’t added to the S&P 50045:03 - Passive vs active investing explained51:37 - The bull market subsidy in asset management1:00:06 - Closing thoughts

Join investor Jesse Myers as he dives into the shifting landscape of Bitcoin. He shares insights on why traditional boom-and-bust cycles may be fading and emphasizes the critical need for smart positioning to weather market downturns. Jesse explores the influence of treasury companies on investor psychology and Bitcoin's trajectory, along with the surprising strength of gold as a competing asset. He also discusses global wealth trends and the unexpected factors that will shape Bitcoin adoption over the next decade.

Pierre Rochard, a Bitcoin entrepreneur and podcaster, dives deep into Bitcoin's growing role in global finance. He discusses the emergence of Bitcoin treasury companies and the immense potential for S&P 500 inclusion, which could accelerate worldwide adoption. Rochard also tackles the intricate dynamics of miner incentives, the debate over security budgets, and the ongoing challenge of transaction filtering. His insights shed light on the speculative attack and the future of Bitcoin amidst evolving market strategies. Tune in for a riveting exploration of Bitcoin's future!

What if corporations began treating bitcoin as their benchmark for capital allocation? In this episode, Nick Colletta, Treasurer at Semler Scientific, shares his journey from Deloitte Digital Assets to leading one of the first public bitcoin treasury companies, explaining why bitcoin per share is the key metric, how to manage volatility, and why security is paramount. He also discusses the early stage of corporate adoption, future treasury innovations, and his advice for professionals looking to build a career in bitcoin.Timestamps:0:00 - Nick’s background in accounting and Deloitte digital assets2:38 - Inside Deloitte’s crypto work and becoming bitcoin only5:02 - Why Nick joined Semler Scientific as treasurer5:40 - First encounter with bitcoin and early lessons7:07 - Why bitcoin is the best money8:37 - Why bitcoin matters for corporations10:20 - How bitcoin fortifies corporate balance sheets11:25 - Explaining Semler’s bitcoin treasury strategy12:56 - Key metrics for evaluating bitcoin treasury companies15:03 - Intelligent leverage and long duration financing16:08 - How to think about NAV premiums17:05 - Bitcoin as the hurdle rate for capital allocation18:32 - How early we are in bitcoin corporate adoption19:38 - What really drives bitcoin adoption22:12 - Tools for managing a bitcoin treasury23:36 - Saylor’s playbook and future treasury innovations25:15 - How Semler manages bitcoin’s volatility28:16 - Why securing bitcoin is the top priority30:07 - Proof of reserves, audits, and bitcoin treasuries32:17 - Bitcoin’s path: from individuals to corporations to governments33:21 - Is Wall Street co-opting bitcoin, or vice versa?35:05 - Why Saylor shares his entire strategy with competitors37:23 - Why more companies haven’t copied Saylor yet38:09 - The future of bitcoin treasury companies39:09 - Will bitcoin ever see another brutal bear market?40:35 - Is the bull market over?40:58 - What excites Nick most about the future42:43 - Advice for young professionals entering the bitcoin industry44:05 - Closing thoughts and where to follow Nick

When market sentiment turns sour even as bitcoin trades above $100k, how should investors think about the future of bitcoin treasury companies? In this episode, we sit down with Adrian Morris to unpack the dynamics behind mNAV guidance, ATM usage, and the broader psychology shaping these equities.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro0:50 - Bitcoin hits new all time high, sentiment turns bearish2:23 - Why the market is still strong above $100k3:40 - Bitcoin treasuries as leveraged plays4:21 - Strategy’s mNAV guidance explained6:09 - Did Strategy walk back its guidance?10:27 - Why issuing mNAV guidance was a mistake13:22 - The danger of listening to Twitter noise15:24 - Does this misstep change the long term thesis?18:05 - Strategy as one of the best performing stocks of the decade19:25 - Cooperative dynamics of Bitcoin treasury companies21:21 - Adversarial investors and market psychology23:01 - Bitcoin as signal, treasury companies as amplitude26:25 - How to think about high versus low mNAV multiples29:30 - Is the ATM really driving share price down?33:00 - How management will likely use the ATM going forward35:27 - What could reverse market sentiment38:47 - Why other Bitcoin treasuries may copy preferred equity43:42 - Risks of paying preferred dividends in a bear market47:03 - Strategy’s survival through past bear markets50:23 - Why preferred equity may strengthen resilience51:04 - The key KPI for Bitcoin treasury companies53:51 - Long term outlook for Bitcoin and treasury companies59:19 - Closing thoughts and where to follow Adrian

What if a company could turn Wall Street’s incentives toward accelerating bitcoin adoption? In this episode, we sit down with CJ from Strategy’s bitcoin treasury team to break down how the world’s largest bitcoin treasury company is innovating in capital markets. CJ shares his path from Harvard Business School to Strategy, the key KPI that matters most for bitcoin treasury companies, and why outperforming bitcoin over the long term is the true benchmark.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro0:31 - Harvard to Strategy: CJ’s bitcoin treasury role2:24 - The most important KPI for bitcoin treasury companies5:14 - Why outperforming bitcoin is the ultimate benchmark6:59 - Short-term price dislocations vs long-term performance9:24 - Saylor’s forever time horizon11:00 - Why volatility and volume matter for capital markets strategy13:08 - The ideal bitcoin strategy for emerging treasury companies16:04 - Why preferred equity is replacing convertible notes19:03 - How Strategy designs its preferred equity products21:02 - Should other companies copy Strategy’s preferred equity playbook?23:17 - How leverage supports accretive dilution26:58 - Who’s buying Strategy’s preferred equity products?30:28 - The “iPhone moment” for bitcoin-backed securities33:22 - How Strategy manages price stability for preferred equity35:57 - Could stablecoin issuers adopt bitcoin-backed preferred equity?38:03 - Credit amplification vs “speculative attack”40:41 - Harvard’s $100M bitcoin buy44:19 - Bitcoin’s terminal growth rate and the S&P 50047:07 - Why bitcoin treasury companies trade at a NAV premium49:18 - Strategy’s new mNAV issuance guidance53:39 - The digital transformation of investor relations56:17 - Why bitcoin is now Wall Street’s biggest fee generator58:51 - Closing thoughts and where to find CJ

What happens when a Wall Street quant abandons the fiat casino to chase the hardest money on earth? We unpack Matt McDonagh’s journey from machine-read value screens to an AI-driven venture thesis, tracing how warped price signals, momentum trading, and excess money printing pushed him toward bitcoin’s decentralized rails and a future where technological abundance meets absolute scarcity.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:55 - Investment banker beginnings02:15 - Building a machine-read hedge fund04:10 - First brush with bitcoin at Princeton Club06:45 - Hedge fund collapses, tech pivots09:30 - Counting missed satoshis and opportunity cost11:12 - Ai and bitcoin: dueling singularities17:45 - Peering around the technological corner22:07 - Centralization versus decentralization26:21 - Fiat distortions and the asset owner advantage30:17 - Real estate as a leaky store of value35:14 - Technology deflation meets absolute scarcity39:56 - Robots, bio-ceramics, and cheaper housing46:06 - Suppressed tech, electrification, and AI parallels49:15 - Infinite abundance paired with bitcoin scarcity50:52 - Satoshi theories: AI or state project?52:34 - Closing thoughts and thanks

What if Strategy’s bitcoin strategy is just the beginning? In this episode, we sit down with Tad Smith, former CEO of Sotheby’s and Madison Square Garden, to explore why bitcoin is resonating with a generation priced out of the system. Tad explains how liquidity drives asset markets, how bitcoin is quietly demonetizing art and education, and why he believes consolidation is coming for bitcoin treasury companies. We discuss Michael Saylor’s latest innovations like Stretch, what makes a credible mNAV premium, and why bitcoin may be transforming into the foundation for a new financial system. Tad also shares his personal investing framework, what he would do if he were running Semler Scientific, and how his generation failed the next one.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:00 - How Tad thinks about macro cycles and investing03:22 - Why liquidity is the key macro signal05:20 - When Tad takes profits and how he does it06:30 - Where he parks cash short term and why07:42 - Why gold is useful—but only short term08:10 - Are we near the end of the current bitcoin bull market?10:07 - Why Tad thinks we may be in the final minutes of this cycle11:20 - Long-term vs short-term bitcoin investment mindset12:34 - Could bitcoin ever crash like 2022 again?13:05 - Black swans and the evolution of bitcoin’s investor base14:37 - What happens to money market funds if rates are cut?16:11 - Interest rates and bitcoin-linked preferred stocks17:17 - Why Tad prefers common shares over preferreds18:35 - Stretch, bitcoin, and the birth of a stablecoin?20:19 - Is MicroStrategy becoming the new JP Morgan?22:09 - Why bitcoin resonates with younger generations25:22 - How money printing punishes the working class28:26 - The case for a new monetary system32:35 - Why bitcoin treasury companies are booming34:35 - What Tad would prioritize at Semler Scientific35:46 - Would Sotheby’s or MSG have adopted bitcoin?39:20 - Why every investment must outperform bitcoin’s hurdle rate41:09 - The future of bitcoin treasury companies42:53 - Why consolidation is inevitable44:09 - How Tad thinks about MNAV premiums47:41 - Is bitcoin demonetizing art and education?50:45 - Tad sold his wine collection for bitcoin51:18 - Final thoughts and closing remarks

Michael Saylor, Chairman of MicroStrategy, is a passionate advocate for Bitcoin as a treasury asset. In this discussion, he reveals how companies can unlock trillions in passive capital with preferred equity while arguing Bitcoin's potential to outperform the S&P 500 long-term. Saylor explains strategic methods for Bitcoin treasury management, including the use of BTC-backed credit for market defense and the overall reshaping of capital markets around digital scarcity. He urges corporations to rethink traditional finance principles to fully harness Bitcoin's advantages.

Hello everyone! I’m excited to relaunch my podcast under a new name:The Mustard Seed—a bitcoin and contrarian long-term thinking podcast.My first real job out of graduate school was in technology consulting at Ernst & Young. After gaining a little experience there, I made the decision to jump full-time into bitcoin. One of the most valuable things I did early on was host a bitcoin podcast. It allowed me to learn directly from some of the most intelligent minds in the space and build lasting relationships.The podcast is my way of staying connected to the most thoughtful people in bitcoin. It helps me better understand how capital is flowing into bitcoin and how the smartest leaders are positioning themselves as bitcoin continues to reshape global capital markets.In my role as Director of Bitcoin Strategy at Semler Scientific, my top priorities are strategic execution of bitcoin acquisitions and generating stockholder value. These conversations sharpen my thinking, surface new ideas, and help educate a broader audience about both bitcoin and Semler Scientific.I believe we’re still incredibly early in global bitcoin adoption. I think thoughtful dialogue and deeper understanding can help accelerate hyperbitcoinization, and this podcast is one way I plan to contribute. The first episode is coming soon, and it will be with Michael Saylor. If you have specific questions you’d like me to ask, let me know.Please subscribe if you enjoy my work.