You're The Voice | by Efrat Fenigson

My guest today is Nick Anthony, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a fellow at HRF, and one of the clearest voices dissecting CBDCs, financial privacy, and government overreach. He authored the book “digital currency or digital control?” and advocates for freedom and privacy. In this episode, we explore how governments use propaganda to sell CBDCs as “digital cash,” despite public resistance, and how pilots in China and The Bahamas reveal low adoption and rising coercion. Nick explains why control is a universal temptation across democracies and autocracies, and how the Bank Secrecy Act created 55 years of normalized financial monitoring in the United States. We discuss the distinction between stablecoins and CBDCs, the slow global rollout of digital currencies, and why Bitcoin’s censorship resistance remains essential, alongside other freedom tech tools. He also shares insights from his work maintaining HRF’s CBDC Tracker, his visit to the European Parliament, and his warning that even if CBDCs fail, today’s financial system already operates as a surveillance regime.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn→ Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://AbundantMines.com/Efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Nick’s Twitter: https://x.com/EconWithNick Cato Institute Twitter: https://x.com/CatoInstitute HRF’s CBDC Tracker: https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/home Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up…01:39 - Meet Nick Anthony: Policy Analyst & CBDC Critic03:03 - What Problems CBDC Pretends to Solve?04:48 - CBDCs: Problems and Propaganda08:03 - Real-World Examples: China & The Bahamas13:59 - Ad Break: Trezor, BitVault & Abundant Mines16:39 - Stablecoins vs. CBDCs: A Critical Comparison21:56 - The Future of CBDCs, And Bitcoin's Role24:13 - Financial Privacy, Bitcoin and Cash31:54 - Message to CBDC Legislators33:08 - Nick’s Visit to the EU Parliament35:08 - How To Explain Why We Need An Exit36:53 - Wholesale vs. Retail CBDCs

My guest today is Diana, she is the co-founder of Bitcoin House Bali and organizer of the Bitcoin Indonesia Conference. She left a corporate life in Germany in 2022, sold her belongings for Bitcoin, moved to Bali, and began rebuilding local Bitcoin adoption through practical education and community infrastructure. In this episode, we look at the realities in Indonesia: bank accounts closed after short inactivity, constant transaction monitoring, restrictions on moving money across islands, and limited financial agency for women. Bitcoin offers sovereignty in that environment. We discuss the role of women in integrating Bitcoin socially, the expansion to 38 meetups across Indonesia, and the aim of decentralizing leadership. We also cover lessons from running a national conference under bureaucratic pressure, and what it means to work in a place where censorship and instability are already visible. ► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://AbundantMines.com/Efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Diana’s Twitter: https://x.com/bulebitcoin Bitcoin House Bali Twitter: https://x.com/btchousebali Bitcoin Indonesia Website: https://bitcoinindonesia.xyz/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up…01:10 - Introduction to Diana03:40 - Starting Bitcoin House Bali10:10 - Ad Break:  Trezor & BitVault11:34 - How Diana Educates Locals14:14 - How Bitcoin Helps Protect People & Human Rights 20:00 - Encourage Women to Join Bitcoin25:29 - Ad Break: Abundant Mines & Expat Money27:42 - Lessons from Organizing a Conference32:00 - Future Vision for Bitcoin in Indonesia36:00 - Personal Lessons From Diana’s Journey39:20 - Efrat on the Changing Financial System41:20 - Quickfire Questions & Closing Thoughts

My guest today is Alan Miller, co-founder of the Together Association, a nationwide civil-liberties movement ensuring the public—not technocrats—remain at the heart of politics. Alan’s career spans four decades of creative and civic entrepreneurship: from pioneering acid-house parties and co-creating London’s cultural hub The Old Truman Brewery, to co-founding the Night-Time Industries Association and leading the #OpenForAll campaign during lockdowns. In this conversation, we discuss UK’s policy on free speech, protest rights, Digital ID, Net Zero, Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods, and more. We examine how COVID-era controls became a template for centralization, why free speech and privacy form the core of democratic accountability, and how technology can either entrench surveillance or empower autonomy through open protocols like Nostr and Bitcoin. Alan makes the case for an active citizenry, analog-digital parity of rights, and a future where liberty is defended not by elites, but by the public itself.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://AbundantMines.com/Efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Alan's Twitter: https://x.com/alanvibe Open letter petition: https://together.eaction.org.uk/directorsAll Digital ID related activities: https://togetherdeclaration.org/campaigns/no-to-digital-id/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:38 - Alan Miller's Background03:11 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Life05:40 - Vaccine Passports The History of ID’s 12:09 - Ad Break: Trezor & BitVault13:31 - UK: Current Status & Digital ID Concerns19:30 - Global Technocratic Influences22:15 - Ad Break: Abundant Mines & Expat Money24:27 - The Risks of Digital ID & Centralized Systems35:00 - Public Resistance 37:40 - Freedom Tech Innovations: Nostr & Bitcoin44:00 - 12K Arrests in UK for “Non-Crime Hate Incidents” 55:00 - Actions You Can Take & Upcoming Events1:04:00 - Finding Hope in Collective Action

My guest today is Richard Byworth, Managing Partner at Syz Capital, bridging traditional finance with Bitcoin. With over 25 years in global investment banking and asset management, Richard now spearheads Syz’s $300m digital asset strategies and hosts the *Syz the Future* podcast. He’s also a Board Member at Relai, and an advisor to JAN3. In this conversation, he unpacks the moment the 2008 crisis revealed the flaws in fiat money, his early dismissal of Bitcoin, and how conviction finally took hold in 2018. We discuss the launch of Syz’s Bitcoin-denominated fund, the internal resistance it faced, and how it became the firm’s most successful product launch. Richard explains why “one Bitcoin equals one Bitcoin” and why he believes Bitcoin treasury companies act as the release valve for a mispriced financial system. We explore his views on ego in finance, intuition in decision-making, spiritual dimensions of Bitcoin, and his conviction that Bitcoin represents not just an investment—but hope, and a benevolent force for human progress.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://AbundantMines.com/Efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Richard’s Twitter: https://x.com/RichardByworth Richard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbyworth/ Syz’s Website: https://www.syzcapital.com/en Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:32 - Episode 100 Milestone & Intro to Richard05:05 - Realizing the Money System is Broken09:56 - Ego in Traditional Finance13:03 - Ad Break: Trezor & BitVault14:24 - Ego & Learning in Finance16:51 - Intuition vs. Rational Analysis in Career Decisions20:58 - Launching a Bitcoin Denominated Fund29:36 - Ad Break: Abundant Mines & Expat Money31:50 - Bitcoin Treasury Companies & Financial System Mispricing41:58 - How Richard Sees Bitcoin & Defunding Fiat47:18 - Bitcoin Allocation & Adoption Growth51:48 - What Matters In Life - Personal Growth, Empathy, Introspecting56:28 - Who Is a Great Manager59:18 - Bitcoin as a Spiritual Tool1:02:08 - Rapid Fire Questions

My guest today is Knut Svanholm, author, educator, and philosopher focused on Bitcoin. Drawing on ethics, praxeology, and monetary history, Knut argues that sound money reduces conflict by aligning human action with natural law and voluntary exchange. In this episode, he explains why fiat banking already functions like a CBDC system in practice, why cash preserves privacy but not liberty, and why real freedom requires self custody and non-KYC Bitcoin. We explore his critique of custodial “paper Bitcoin,” the case for non-custodial adoption over treasury companies, and his view of Bitcoin as intellectual armor that raises the cost of violence. Knut outlines a practical path away from banks, explains why stablecoins can be a bridge yet remain fiat, and why a low-time-preference culture of quality over quantity matters.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://AbundantMines.com/Efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Knut’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/knutsvanholmKnut’s Nostr: https://primal.net/knutKnut’s Website (10% off with code EFRAT): https://www.bitcoininfinity.com/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:23 - Introduction to Knut03:40 - Current Affairs: Stablecoins & CBDCs06:55 - Cash & Fiat vs. Bitcoin08:20 - Ethics of Money, Natural Law, First Principles 10:00 - Conflict Resolution via Violence Or Communications13:12 - Ad Break: Trezor & BitVault15:30 - Bitcoin as Intellectual Armor20:30 - Knut’s Take on Bitcoin Treasury Companies23:11 - Ad Break: Abundant Mines & Expat Money27:39 - Mass Adoption & Future Outlook29:46 - Transitioning to a Bitcoin-Only Reality34:44 - The Psychological Manipulation of Obedience39:05 - Hope & the Shawshank Redemption Metaphor42:43 - Bitcoin as a Tool for Human Freedom & Hope48:12 - Closing Thoughts & Acknowledgements

My guest today is Max Kei, former private banker and founder of Debifi, the world’s largest non-custodial Bitcoin-backed lending platform for institutions. With over a decade in private banking and deep experience building peer-to-peer Bitcoin infrastructure at Hodl Hodl and launching the Baltic Honeybadger conference, Max has become a leading voice on how Bitcoin will reshape global finance. In this episode, he explains why banks will adapt to Bitcoin rather than be destroyed by it, how Switzerland is quietly becoming the prototype for Bitcoin-banking integration, and why non-custodial finance is essential to prevent the next FTX-style collapse. We explore the tradeoffs between custodial and non-custodial systems, the security advantages of three-of-four multisig for institutional loans, and why stablecoins act as both a lifeline in emerging markets and a gateway to a full Bitcoin standard. ► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat → Have you tried mining bitcoin? Stack sats directly to your wallet while saving on taxes with Abundant Mines: https://abundantmines.com/efrat/ – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Max’s Twitter: https://x.com/keidunm Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:20 - Introduction to Max Kai: Bitcoin Pioneer04:50 - Baltic Honey Badger Conference Origins10:27 - Ad Break: Trezor & BitVault11:50 - Bitcoin’s Community Ethos, Mission & Conferences19:00 - Max’ Intro to Bitcoin Through A Client 20:50 - Gradually Moving From Fiat To Bitcoin30:40 - When Will Banking Join Bitcoin?32:53 - Switzerland's Role in Bitcoin Banking38:03 - Rehypothication, Non-Custodial, Multisig Solutions42:01 - Flexible Lending Platforms & Security Measures56:13 - Max’s Take On Stablecoins: A Bridge to Bitcoin1:08:18 - Max Motivations, Aspiration & Hope

My guest today is Allen Farrington, writer, investor, and co-founder of Axiom, a Bitcoin-focused venture capital firm backing companies that use Bitcoin as real infrastructure rather than speculation. Allen co-authored “Bitcoin is Venice” and “Only the Strong Survive” and draws on a background in math, philosophy, Austrian economics, and long-term equity investing to explain why Bitcoin is both a technological breakthrough and a venture opportunity hiding in plain sight. In this episode, he shares why he believes the most valuable startups will use Bitcoin as invisible plumbing for payments, energy, and financial services rather than marketing themselves as “Bitcoin companies.” We explore why current stablecoin systems break under real demand, how Lightning and Taproot Assets enable issuer competition and scalable payments, and why the long arc ends with e-cash and Bitcoin-native money. Allen frames Axiom’s edge as “temporal arbitrage”: investing early where technical understanding and adoption are low, anticipating that in a decade the market will recognize the value created by Bitcoin-based infrastructure.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://bit.ly/bitvault_efrat – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Allen’s X: https://x.com/allenf32Axiom Website: https://www.axiombtc.capital/about Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:12 - Introduction to Allen03:20 - Discovering Bitcoin & Career Trajectory 12:03 - Ad Break - Trezor & BitVault15:22 - Investment Philosophy & Lightning as Inspiration17:52 - Company and Investment Selection for Axiom VC30:12 - Stablecoins & Regulations37:32 - Why Most Stablecoin Systems Fail At Scale?44:50 - The Importance of Stablecoin Issuers51:16 - Stablecoins on Lightning & Taproot Assets: A New Approach1:01:23 - The Future of Digital Money: E-Cash1:05:47 - Steps to Migrate From Fiat To Bitcoin1:10:28 - Companies to Watch in the Bitcoin & Lightning Space1:16:43 - Allen Loves What He Does & Why He Does It

My guest today is Max Hillebrand, praxeologist, cypherpunk, and open-source advocate dedicated to building freedom tech that empowers individuals through economic and technological sovereignty. As a contributor to projects like Bitcoin Core, Wasabi Wallet, BTCPay Server, JoinMarket, Lightning Network, Bisq, Angor, White Noise, and Amethyst. In this episode, Max shares his journey from Austrian economics into Bitcoin privacy, recounting how tools like CoinJoins, Wasabi, and the Taproot upgrade push Bitcoin closer to true anonymity. We explore the battle between fiat and freedom, the broken incentives of inflation and war, and why opting into Bitcoin is both a moral imperative and a form of resistance. Max also introduces Nostr as the communications layer for a censorship-resistant future, explains the axioms of human action, argumentation ethics, and resistance, and highlights why he believes we now have the technological weapons to end modern financial slavery in our lifetime.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://www.bitvault.sv/ – AFFILIATES –→ Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Max’s Website: https://towardsliberty.com Max’s Nostr: npub1klkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qulx3vtEfrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 – Coming Up01:23 – Intro to Max05:56 – Max Passion for Austrian Economics06:56 – Bitcoin: Bridging Economics with Computer Science11:16 – Building Freedom Tech14:16 – CoinJoin and Bitcoin Privacy18:56 – Legal & Regulatory Challenges for Privacy Tech – Samurai, Tornado, Wasabi Wallet26:36 – Why Is Privacy Important?29:06 – Economics of Wars & The Broken Window Fallacy41:23 – The Value of Cash and Fiat Currency45:38 – Moving to a Bitcoin Standard & Influence on Businesses50:03 – Max’s Take on Bitcoin Treasury Companies52:03 – Nostr & Decentralized Protocols1:00:03 – “White Noise” - Building Nostr Private Encrypted Messaging1:04:48 – Austrian Economics Axioms: Human Action, Argumentation, Resistance1:13:10 – Max’s Book Recommendations & Reasons to Stay Hopeful

My guest today is Alena Vránová, entrepreneur, author, and builder of freedom tech who has spent over a decade pioneering tools that defend both digital and physical sovereignty. She co-founded SatoshiLabs (Trezor’s mother company), which launched  the world’s first commercially available hardware wallet, joined the Casa Node team to make running Bitcoin and Lightning easy, and co-authored The Little Bitcoin Book, a global bestseller introducing why Bitcoin matters for freedom and finance. Today, she is building GLOK, a project dedicated to protecting Bitcoiners against kidnapping, extortion, and physical threats. In this episode, Alena shares her journey from legacy finance into Bitcoin, recounting how she helped establish an entirely new market for hardware wallets. We discuss the ongoing attempts to co-opt Bitcoin through regulation and confiscation, the dangers of KYC and data leaks, and why physical security is the next frontier for Bitcoiners worldwide. Alena also reflects on the role of women in Bitcoin, the growth of a truly global community, and why she believes building tools for self-defense—digital and physical—is essential for human freedom► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: https://www.bitvault.sv/ → Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Alena’s Twitter: https://x.com/alenasatoshi Alena’s Nostr: https://bit.ly/4msttRb Glok’s Website: https://glok.me/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigson Watch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up01:40 - Intro to Alena & Her Background08:27 - Alena’s Journey Into Bitcoin11:08 - Building Trezor: Pioneering Hardware Wallets & Their Importance19:17 - Bitcoin Nodes: From Fringe to Mainstream22:37 - The Little Bitcoin Book29:08 - The Inevitable Evolution of Bitcoin: Regulation, Co-opting, Confiscation36:27 - Tech Innovation in Bitcoin40:02 - Kidnapping, Extortion & “Glok” - Alena’s New Security Project45:07 - Operational Security Checklist48:07 - Kidnapping Use Case & Glok’s Deterrent Solution59:17 - Women’s Safety in Europe1:00:17 - Empowering Women Generally & in Bitcoin1:11:27 - A Pronoic Mindset: Alena’s Hope for the Future

This episode is a recording of the great panel I moderated at Baltic Honeybadger 2025. Willy Woo, Max Kei & Preston Pysh break down ETFs, treasury strategies, custody risks, CBDCs, and why self-custody still matters most.-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --→ Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn → Shield your bitcoin with time-delayed transactions over multisig with BitVault: bitvault.sv → Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)→ Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat → Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat → Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Channels: https://linktr.ee/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson

My guest today is Francis Pouliot, long-time Bitcoin advocate, cypherpunk entrepreneur, and CEO of Bull Bitcoin, Canada’s leading Bitcoin-only exchange. Known for his uncompromising stance on self-custody, privacy, and resistance to state overreach, Francis has been a vocal defender of Bitcoin’s founding ethos for over a decade. He is also a key figure in Bitcoin Jungle, a circular economy in Costa Rica where hundreds of merchants transact daily in Bitcoin. In this episode, Francis shares how his background in Austrian economics and libertarian politics, combined with the wake-up call of COVID, led him to relocate from Canada to Costa Rica. We explore the creation and growth of Bitcoin Jungle, why farmers markets are fertile ground for adoption, and how his “scale versus compromise” framework guides strategic decisions in building Bitcoin infrastructure. Francis opens up about the tension of running a regulated exchange while opposing KYC, his mission to make self-custody as seamless as custodial services, and why Bitcoin’s payments layer is as critical as its store-of-value function. He dismantles the “Bitcoin is hijacked” myth spread by Roger Ver & others, addresses skepticism from the red-pilled community, and explains why barter and cash cannot scale for true financial freedom. → If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn ►► Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)►► Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat ►► Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Francis’ Twitter: https://x.com/francispouliot_ Bull Bitcoin Website: https://www.bullbitcoin.com/ Francis’ Nostr: francis@nostrplebs.com Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Telegram: https://t.me/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up…01:18 - Intro to Francis & His Covid Wakeup Call05:38 - Costa Rica During Covid06:38 - Francis Interest in Austrian Economics & Libertarianism09:08 - Francis Journey Into Bitcoin & Bull Bitcoin13:08 - Private Property & Self-Custody17:18 - Efrat’s Revelation of the Fiat Scam20:58 - The Birth of Bitcoin Jungle Circular Economy30:38 - Custodial vs. Non-Custodial Bitcoin Solutions35:18 - The New Revolution: Build Tech That Creates New Reality40:48 - The Circular Community in Costa Rica & Globally45:48 - Bull Bitcoin: Freedom vs. Compliance & Regulation53:38 - Struggle Between Scale & Compromise - Cypherpunk Values1:00:38 - Understanding Bitcoin: Overcoming Skepticism & Claims Against It1:04:08 - Shortcomings of Cash, Barter, Gold1:07:48 - Roger Ver Attempt To Hijack Bitcoin and Damage to Bitcoin & Freedom Community1:18:08 - Can Bitcoin Be Coopted By Those Who Hold The Most Bitcoin?1:21:08 - Resist By Minimize Interface With Fiat/Matrix/Institutions

My guest today is Bob Burnett, veteran technologist, former Gateway CTO, and now CEO of Barefoot Mining. From consumer tech pioneer with eight U.S. patents to leader in sovereign Bitcoin mining, Bob shares his vision for “wild mining,” where miners own their energy using innovative energy sources. He challenges the myth that mining is only for massive corporations, showing how small, strategically placed operations can be both profitable and decentralizing. We discuss adoption curves, block template decentralization, why nation-states should build mining infrastructure before buying Bitcoin reserves, lessons from the early PC revolution, and the coming energy race with AI and High-Performance Computing.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn ►► Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)►► Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat ►► Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Bob’s Twitter: https://x.com/boomer_btc Barefoot Mining: barefootmining.com Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Telegram: https://t.me/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 – Coming Up01:29 – Bob’s Background & His Long Tech Career05:15 – Bob’s Patents & Innovations, Early Adopter Mindset10:00 – Leap Frog Into New Tech Frontiers - AI & Bitcoin14:00 – PC As Prerequisite For The Internet Revolution17:00 – Good & Bad Actors19:00 – Why Bob Chose Bitcoin Mining21:10 – Bob’s Bitcoin Mining 101 Explanation25:00 – Why Bitcoin & Barefoot Mining?34:20 – Smaller Scale 0.5-5MW “Wild” Mining Sites Can Be As Cost Effective As Larger 50-200MW Sites39:40 – Barefoot Mining Expansion41:40 – The Energy Landscape and Bitcoin Mining43:44 – Opportunities for Small-Scale Mining46:39 – Meaning of HODL & Role of Citizens in Bitcoin48:24 – Key Trends in Bitcoin, Inc. Template Creation54:54 – Political Implications & Weaponization of Bitcoin Mining1:00:54 – Economic Sovereignty through Mining1:04:36 – The OP_Return Debate & Facilitating Change1:12:06 – Bob’s Hope for the Future

My guest today is the internationally renowned chef Pete Evans, bestselling author, and outspoken advocate for regenerative health and personal sovereignty. He built a successful career in the culinary world with over 30 cookbooks and award-winning restaurants, and after shifting to regenerative health and holistic wellness, he became one of the first high-profile figures to be widely deplatformed. In this episode, Pete shares how his journey from celebrity chef to wellness crusader began with a shift to ancestral eating that radically transformed his health. We dive into his clash with mainstream media, his exploration of psychedelics and spiritual growth, and how Bitcoin became the missing link in his pursuit of holistic sovereignty. Pete explains why Bitcoiners might hold the key to a global health revolution, and how financial freedom and health are deeply intertwined. From detoxing modern life to building vitality through conscious choices, Pete calls for radical accountability and curiosity.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn ►► Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)►► Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat ►► Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Pete’s Twitter: https://x.com/peteevanschefx Pete’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefpeteevans/ Pete’s new book - “The Primal Code”, Amazon - hard cover: https://www.amazon.com/Primal-Code-Peter-Evans/dp/1764057902 Pete’s new book - “The Primal Code”, Apple - digital version: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-primal-code/id6747148044 Pete’s Website: https://peteevans.com/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Telegram: https://t.me/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson-- CHAPTERS –00:00 - Coming Up…01:20 - Introduction to Chef Pete Evans06:08 - The Impact Pete Made Using Ancestral Diets12:58 - Pete Becoming Public Enemy No. 1 In Australia & Facing Media Backlash15:05 - The Health-Media-Money Incentive Structure18:05 - Media’s Role During Covid Hysteria21:15 - Impact of Cancel-Culture on Pete: Personal Growth34:55 - Bitcoin Entering Pete’s Life40:44 - Health, Vitality & Bitcoin: Insights & Reflections45:44 - The Intersection of Regenerative Health & Wealth51:44 - “Sprayed”, Geo-engineered Food & Health Impacts1:01:32 - Thoughts, Beliefs & Leaning In To Uncertainty1:13:54 - Interested In A Retreat in Australia?1:16:54 - Living in the Present & Celebrating Uniqueness

My guest today is Preston Pysh, engineer, Apache helicopter pilot, partner at Ego Death Capital VC, and co-founder of The Investor’s Podcast Network. Known for co-hosting “Bitcoin Fundamentals” podcast and authoring several books on investing, Preston is one of the most influential voices in the Bitcoin space. In this episode, Preston shares how his systems-thinking mindset and background in military aviation led him to identify Bitcoin early as a superior store of value. We explore the emergence of Bitcoin treasury companies, how public markets are being rewired from within, and why financial engineering inspired by MicroStrategy’s playbook could unlock asymmetric returns for institutions and retail alike. Preston unpacks the mechanics behind mNAV models, risk-adjusted performance, and why stablecoins could be a threat but also a necessary step in Bitcoin’s adoption curve. He reflects on the spiritual and psychological shifts required to truly “get” Bitcoin, the importance of hope, and the dangers of institutional inertia. This is a conversation about clarity, conviction, and how Bitcoin is remapping the future of capital allocation, gear by gear, company by company.► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn ►► Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)►► Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat ►► Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Preston’s Twitter: https://x.com/PrestonPysh Preston’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@PrestonPysh Preston’s nPub: npub1s5yq6wadwrxde4lhfs56gn64hwzuhnfa6r9mj476r5s4hkunzgzqrs6q7z Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Telegram: https://t.me/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson– CHAPTERS –00:00 Coming Up…01:33 Intro to Preston & His Influence on Bitcoiners05:05 Hope & Freedom For Younger Audience07:58 The Superspreader Phenomena - Bitcoin’s Treasury Companies09:44 Risk Management & Complex Systems Experience16:25 Understanding Value in a Financial Landscape25:48 Corporate Adoption of Bitcoin & Treasury Companies31:42 How Saylor Built a “Transmission” with Strategy37:34 The Product: High Yield Income47:34 Public Markets: The Perfect Landscape51:26 Treasury Companies: Target for Governments56:51 The Transitioning Financial Systems: From Fiat to Bitcoin, Via Stablecoins & CBDCs1:04:32 The Fiat System's Impact: Doom & Gloom Outlook1:06:21 The Future of Monetary Order by 20301:11:05 Will KYC Fade Out? And Link to Taxation1:14:35 Short Fireside Questions - Books, Focus Areas1:20:05 The Nature of Good and Evil Forces1:24:34 What’s Preston’s Role Today & In The Future

My guest today is Eric Weiss, founder of Blockchain Investment Group and one of the earliest institutional investors in Bitcoin. In this episode, Eric shares how his background as a proprietary bond trader and early internet VC led him to Bitcoin in 2013, and how he eventually played a key role in orange-pilling Michael Saylor. We explore the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies, the structural tax advantages driving public Bitcoin adoption across countries like Brazil and Japan, and the global capital shift from legacy equities to Bitcoin-backed firms. Eric offers a grounded take on Bitcoin’s role as a store of value, argues against the need for it to replace fiat currencies, and explains why stablecoins could reinforce U.S. monetary dominance. He reflects on Stoic philosophy, personal responsibility, and the ethics of building something that benefits everyone. This is a conversation about conviction, sovereignty, and why the future of finance is being quietly rewritten, one balance sheet at a time.00:00 Coming Up…01:10 Meet Eric Weiss: Early Bitcoin Institutional Investor02:25 Eric’s Role in The Bitcoin Ecosystem06:02 The Impact of Bitcoin Treasury Companies On Bitcoin Adoption?08:00 Eric’s Path: From Wall Street to Bitcoin13:00 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Early Bitcoin Investing16:40 People Get Bitcoin in The Right Time For Them 19:04 What Does Success Mean to Eric?21:46 The Musical Chairs of the Monetary Order26:00 Bitcoin + Stablecoins: A Future Financial Operating System?28:53 Will the U.S. Face Global Pushback Over Dollar Dominance?34:00 CBDCs Will Accelerate Bitcoin Adoption37:56 Why Bitcoin? A Moral and Ethical Mission39:16 Michael Saylor, Friendship, and Shared Vision47:00 Life Beyond Bitcoin: Travel, Chess & Meditation49:00 Eric’s Advice to New Bitcoiners► If you got value, please like, comment, share, follow and support my work. Thank you!-- SPONSORS & AFFILIATES --►► Get your TREZOR wallet & accessories, with a 5% discount, using my code at checkout (get my discount code from the episode - yep, you’ll have to watch it): https://affil.trezor.io/SHUn ►► Get 10% off on Augmented NAC, with the code YCXKQDK2 via this link: https://store.augmentednac.com/?via=efrat (Note, this is not medical advice and you should consult your MD)►► Watch “New Totalitarian Order” conference with Prof. Mattias Desmet & Efrat - code EFRAT for 10% off: https://efenigson.gumroad.com/l/desmet_efrat ►► Get a second citizenship and a plan B to relocate to another country with Expat Money, leave your details for a follow up: https://expatmoney.com/efrat ►► Join me in any of these upcoming events: https://www.efrat.blog/p/upcoming-events -- LINKS –Eric’s Twitter: https://x.com/Eric_BIGfund Blockchain Investment Group Website: https://big.fund/about/ Efrat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/efenigsonEfrat's Telegram: https://t.me/efenigsonWatch/listen on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/yourethevoiceSupport Efrat's work: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/efenigson   ⁠Support Efrat with Bitcoin: https://geyser.fund/project/efenigson