In this episode of the Bitcoin Journeys Podcast, I am joined by Eric Yakes, a CFA charterholder, former corporate restructuring expert, author of "The 7th Property: Bitcoin and the Monetary Revolution," and founder of Epoch VC—a Bitcoin-focused venture capital firm dedicated to building the future of decentralized finance.

Eric shares his transformation from a fiat system insider betting on economic failures to a Bitcoin advocate, drawing on his deep economic background and experiences in distressed investing. He explores Bitcoin's role as a revolutionary digital commodity, critiques the flaws of central banking, and outlines a vision for Bitcoin's layered architecture and global adoption cycles, offering profound insights for both newcomers and seasoned investors.

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction and Eric's Bitcoin journey beginnings02:00 - Economic priming: From Milton Friedman to Keynesian education06:00 - Experiences in distressed investing and fiat system flaws10:00 - Rethinking value: Bitcoin as a commodity, not a security14:00 - Discovering Bitcoin as an alternative to central banking17:00 - Why Bitcoin over altcoins: Trade-offs in speed and complexity20:00 - Layered architecture for Bitcoin's future financial system25:00 - Bitcoin's market potential and adoption cycles31:00 - Education and technology in driving Bitcoin adoption39:00 - Parallel systems: Centralized vs. Bitcoin-native44:00 - Incentives for migrating to a decentralized future50:00 - Advice for newcomers and closing thoughts

Resources mentioned:Capitalism and Freedom by Milton FriedmanThe 7th Property: Bitcoin and the Monetary Revolution by Eric YakesHuman Rights Foundation (in context of Bitcoin use cases)Paper: "Banks Without Bankers" by Eric Yakes

Follow Eric Yakes:X: @ericyakesWebsite: epochvc.ioBook: Available on major platforms or via his website

Follow Me:X: @stephan_zimmInstagram: @bitcoinadvisory