Bitcoin Policy Institute

In this episode, Renee Sorchik, VP of Research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, sits down with Brent Buchanan, CEO of Cygnal, America’s leading polling firm, and Troy Cross, professor at Reed College and co-founder of the Nakamoto Project. Together they dive deeper into new polling data and survey findings on Bitcoin adoption, ownership, and public perception.The conversation explores who really owns Bitcoin, how those demographics compare to common assumptions, and what Cygnal’s nationally recognized polling reveals about Bitcoin’s role in American politics. With elections approaching, the guests discuss how Bitcoin intersects with voter trends, public policy, and broader cultural narratives.From the Nakamoto Project’s mission to close gaps in Bitcoin education to Cygnal’s insights as the top-ranked private pollster, this discussion sheds light on Bitcoin’s growing influence both in the marketplace and at the ballot box.Read the Cygnal Poll: https://www.cygn.al/poll-bitcoin-owners-lean-republican-emerging-as-sought-after-voting-bloc-in-2026-elections/Read the Nakamoto Project Poll: https://www.thenakamotoproject.org/report Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Bitcoin Landscape04:17 The Nakamoto Project and Bitcoin Ownership Insights08:38 Survey Insights: Political Leanings and Bitcoin Ownership12:54 Demographics of Bitcoin Owners and Their Values17:06 The Impact of Bitcoin on Political Engagement21:59 The Future of Bitcoin and Political Influence28:15 Understanding Bitcoin's Political Impact30:55 The Disconnect Between Bitcoin Holders and Policymakers32:50 Mobilizing Bitcoin Holders for Political Action36:11 Targeting the Bitcoin Demographic in Politics38:47 Building Wealth and Understanding Bitcoin44:11 The Political Advantage of Supporting Bitcoin48:42 Long-Term Strategies for Engaging Bitcoin Voters

What future risk does quantum computing pose to Bitcoin, and how can we think of those risks in terms of their potential geopolitical outcomes?In this episode of Bitcoin Policy Hour, Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen recap the "Crypto Week" legislative wins, followed by a deep dive on the "Q-Day" threat—the moment quantum computers become powerful enough to threaten Bitcoin’s core cryptographic security.This leads to the question: with the ability to undermine Satoshi’s coins, could a quantum breakthrough trigger a global monetary crisis, and ignite a new geopolitical arms race between the U.S., China, and tech giants?Chapters:00:00 - Introduction and Crypto Legislation Update07:45 - Political Dynamics and Future of Crypto Bills12:15 - White House Crypto Report and Strategic Bitcoin Reserve16:42 - Order of Operations for Market Structure and BRCA18:34 - Quantum Computing Summit and Bitcoin Implications25:17 - Technical Progress and Timelines in Quantum Computing30:21 - Quantum Threats to Bitcoin and Migration Strategies41:39 - Political Economy and Strategic Importance of Quantum Risk for Bitcoin43:26 - BPI's Role and Government Interest in Quantum and Bitcoin47:03 - Risk Assessment and Market Perception of Quantum Threat52:00 - Policy Implications and Institutional Considerations for Quantum Migration53:47 - Closing Remarks and Teaser for Next Episode on Quantum Opportunities

In this episode of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, the Bitcoin Policy Institute's Zack Cohen and Zack Shapiro are joined by special guest David Zell, (BPI Co-founder) to break down Crypto Week in DC, including the Genius Act, anti-CBDC legislation, and the Clarity Act.The team analyzes the recent surge in Bitcoin price action, the growing role of institutional capital, and how partisan politics are shaping the current outlook for digital asset policy in the United States. They also dive into the Roman Storm/Tornado Cash trial and the legal threat to open-source development represented therein. (Recorded 7/15/2025)Chapters:00:00 - Intro + Market Moves Breakdown 02:30 - Institutional vs. Retail: Who’s Buying Bitcoin Now? 06:00 - Policy Shift: Why Institutions Are Finally Allocating 12:00 - Crypto Week in DC: Bills and Political Maneuvering 17:00 - Bitcoin vs. Crypto: Political Spending and Influence 21:00 - Genius Act + Stablecoin Politics 34:00 - CBDCs vs. Stablecoins: Privacy, Control, and the Future of Money 43:00 - Tornado Cash Case and Open Source Legal Risk

Elon Musk’s newly-stated alignment with the so-called “America Party” might mark a turning point in Bitcoin politics—but could it also polarize Trump against BTC? In this episode of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, BPI’s Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro, and Zack Cohen unpack the political chessboard as Elon steps closer to Bitcoin.Chapters:00:00 – Elon’s Political Power & Bitcoin Alignment01:04 – Mysterious 80,000 BTC Movement: Quantum or OG?06:00 – Legal Ownership vs Possession of Bitcoin13:00 – Adverse Possession, White Hat vs Black Hat19:00 – National Security Risks if North Korea Brute-Forces Bitcoin22:00 – Elon, Trump, and the Politicization of Bitcoin26:40 – Why the “Bitcoin Unifier” Narrative Still Struggles in DC30:00 – Sidelines in Legislation: Crypto vs Bitcoin in Congress33:00 – The Van Hollen Bill: Bitcoin Punishment via El Salvador35:00 – Bitcoin as Anti-Authoritarian Tech vs State Control38:00 – Stablecoins, Tether, and U.S. Digital Dollar Statecraft42:00 – Geopolitical Stakes in Monetary Technology Wars

The U.S. government's fiscal strategies are creating significant challenges for Bitcoin's future. The discussion highlights the recent failures of vital tax reforms, including the de minimis exemption, and the essential Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. There's a deep dive into the political landscape, addressing conflicts within the Republican party and the implications for cryptocurrency legislation. Bitcoin emerges as a potential hedge against inflation, while stablecoins are seen as crucial players in the evolving financial ecosystem.

At the nexus of AI, international relations and monetary policy, Bitcoin’s rise is poised to change the distribution and consolidation of power across the political stack.00:00 - Intro: From the Bitcoin Policy Summit in DC04:00 - Why Bitcoin touches every policy domain06:00 - National security and dual-use tech with Patrick Witt09:00 - Government’s evolving view on Bitcoin10:30 - Balancing privacy, surveillance & freedom12:00 - Private intel conversations on Bitcoin geopolitics16:50 - Stablecoins, Clarity Act, and legislative strategy18:30 - Strategic outlook: quantum, AI & China22:00 - Lightning, AGI, and machine-to-machine paymentsWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D2B6Svxjgew

In this conversation, Renee Sorchik and Yaël Ossowski discuss the concept of Bitcoin-based mortgages, exploring how Bitcoin can be integrated into the traditional mortgage system. They delve into the potential market for such mortgages, the regulatory landscape, and the role of institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The conversation concludes with thoughts on the broader economic impact of Bitcoin mortgages and the potential for future innovations in the financial sector.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin-Based Mortgages01:18 The Intersection of Bitcoin and Lending04:06 Understanding the Market Potential07:04 How Bitcoin Mortgages Would Function09:09 Regulatory Landscape and Challenges13:27 The Role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac16:09 Potential Impact of Regulatory Changes18:40 The Future of Bitcoin in Banking21:21 Political Implications and Future Administrations24:16 The Need for Legislative Support29:21 The Broader Economic Impact of Bitcoin Mortgages32:03 Final Thoughts and Future OpportunitiesRegister for the Bitcoin Policy Summit using code "SORCHIK21" using this link: https://lu.ma/btcpolicysummit?coupon=SORCHIK21

In Episode 6 The Bitcoin Policy Hour, our team unpacks the emerging “Riyadh Accord,” a sweeping geopolitical realignment where the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations are bundling AI, Bitcoin, and techno-industrial leverage into a new framework of global influence.As Blackwell chips begin to replace F-35s as diplomatic bargaining tools, and sovereign wealth funds quietly accumulate Bitcoin, Riyadh is fast becoming the epicenter of digital energy, intelligence infrastructure, and monetary power. The conversation explores how U.S. foreign policy is shifting from military entanglements toward high-tech trade agreements and capital co-investments — with AI and Bitcoin at the core.PLUS, we explore the recent slew of BTC treasury companies amping up activity and how they fit into the picture of jurisdictional and memetic arbitrage.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:45 - What Is the “Riyadh Accord”?07:30 - Blackwell Chips Replace F-35s in Middle East Bargains13:30 - AGI Infrastructure: Will the AI Run Happen in Riyadh?17:00 - A New Multipolar World Centered on Energy and Compute21:00 - Samourai Wallet, Legal Overreach, and Bitcoin’s Core Ethos26:30 - Policy Hypocrisy: Bitcoin Freedom vs. Surveillance State31:00 - AI Feudalism and the Fight for Decentralized Money36:00 - The Open Source AI vs. Corporate Subscription Future41:00 - Bearer Assets: Bitcoin, GPUs, and Energy as Sovereign Tools46:00 - Global Reflexivity and Bitcoin Treasury Companies51:00 - Metaplanet, Nakamoto, and the Meme Wrapped in Arbitrage56:00 - Bitcoin’s Geopolitical Moment: What Comes Next?01:01:00 - Closing Thoughts: Bitcoin Banks, Policy Risks, and Meme Economics⭐ Join top policymakers, technologists, and Bitcoin industry leaders at the 2025 Bitcoin Policy Summit, June 25–26 in Washington, DC🎟️ Get 21% off with code "BTCPOLICYHOUR" → https://www.btcpolicysummit.org/

Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen tackle three pivotal issues shaping Bitcoin’s trajectory in episode 5 of the Bitcoin Policy Hour. They explore the rapid expansion of stablecoins into the energy and commodity sectors, the legal showdown over Samourai Wallet and its implications for Bitcoin software developers, and the GENIUS Act’s bid to redefine stablecoin regulation and US dollar hegemony. As these dynamics unfold, Bitcoin’s role in the evolving financial landscape faces critical tests. Tune in for a compelling analysis of how these developments could reshape decentralized finance and regulatory frameworks.

In this urgent and wide-ranging conversation, Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro, and Zack Cohen explain why the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) must be the top legislative priority — not market structure bills or stablecoin regulations. As China and the Middle East move faster on sovereign Bitcoin adoption, the U.S. risks losing its monetary edge in a geopolitical arms race. Drawing on national security strategy, economic tail-risk analysis, and the realpolitik of crypto lobbying, the hosts argue that falling behind could be catastrophic for open networks and freedom technology globally.Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Game Theory - Faster Than You Think01:30 – What is the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve? 05:15 – The Real Goal of the 2025 Bitcoin Policy Summit 09:50 – Why Market Structure and Stablecoin Bills Are Winning 14:20 – Hidden Risks of Rushing Non-Bitcoin Crypto Legislation 20:30 – Why Bitcoin Lacks Lobbying Power — and Why It Matters 25:45 – The Case for Bitcoin as a U.S. Strategic Asset 30:40 – Bitcoin vs. Gold: The Sovereign Play for Asymmetric Leverage 36:00 – If China Buys First, It’s Already Too Late 39:30 – Can the U.S. Still Win the Bitcoin Space Race? 43:00 – What Comes Next for Bitcoin Policy on Capitol Hill