No US Bitcoin reserve, no Epstein list, but a new war in Syria. This week, Simon Dixon breaks down the explosive headlines, connecting the dots between the US government's mysteriously disappearing Bitcoin, the geopolitical chess game behind the Epstein cover-up, and the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

🚀 In this Episode: 

This Week in Bitcoin, Crypto & CBDCs

Bitcoin surged to fresh all-time highs of $122.484 this week whilst BlackRock prepares to tighten its grip on Ethereum by expanding its ETH ETF to staking. 

Meanwhile, Capitol Hill was busy—all three major crypto bills passed in the House: the Genius Act, Clarify Act, and Anti-CBDC Act. 

But amid the policy shifts, a bombshell dropped: the U.S. Marshals Service disclosed that the U.S. government’s Bitcoin strategic reserve has dwindled to just 28,000 BTC, down from over 200,000.

Where did the Bitcoin go? We’ll unpack it all.

This Week in Macro

Nvidia’s stock rocketed, following the Trump administration’s surprising approval of H20 chip exports to China. Inflation ticked upward again as CPI reversed course, and Jerome Powell faced political heat in the form of a letter requesting his retirement. 

Meanwhile, Russia received high tariff threats, Japan continued its economic tailspin, and China quietly built up an oil reserve that could soon rival—or surpass—OPEC+ in strategic importance.

This Week in Geopolitics

Domestic U.S. politics grew more fractured as the Epstein List remained sealed and details of Trump’s involvement with Epstein fueled speculation and distrust among his base. 

But the real powder keg this week was the Middle East, where escalating conflict drew global condemnation and furthered the controversial territorial gains of the Greater Israel project in Syria that erupted into violent conflict again. Tensions are rising—and the fallout is significant in global geopolitical power dynamics

Disclaimer

This content is based on the views, commentary, and live analysis delivered by Simon Dixon in Bitcoin HardTalk Episode 90. The purpose of this podcast is to distill complex global developments into an accessible format for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, tax, investment, or political advice. Bitcoin and other digital assets are volatile, high-risk instruments. Perform your own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making financial decisions.