The Bitcoin Matrix

Latest Episodes:

Tad Smith - Why This Billion-Dollar CEO Went ALL-IN on Bitcoin May 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Bitcoin Matrix Podcast, I chat with Tad Smith, the former CEO of Sotheby’s and Madison Square Garden, and the current CEO of Durable Money. We also dig deep into investing, valuation frameworks, AI, tariffs, and the future of American labor.

Meet the man who’s led billion-dollar companies and still chose to go down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest –––

• Tad Smith on X: https://x.com/tadtweets

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:10 – Meet Tad Smith: Ex-CEO Turned Bitcoiner

02:30 – Childhood in Denver & Ivy League Choice

04:00 – JP Morgan, HBS & Rockefeller Days

07:00 – Music & Media Career: BMG to McKinsey

09:00 – Corporate Climb: Starwood, Elsevier, MSG

14:00 – Sotheby’s CEO & Bitcoin Rabbit Hole

17:00 – Teaching Finance & Discovering Bitcoin

21:30 – Fiat Illusion: Markets vs. Money Supply

25:00 – Kubler-Ross Model of Bitcoin Adoption

28:00 – Tech Patterns: Yahoo, Google, Amazon

33:00 – Collectibles, Scarcity & Emotional Investing

36:00 – Tad’s Personal Stock Bets

39:00 – Indexing & Monopoly Dynamics

43:00 – Bitcoin as the Benchmark

48:00 – Portfolio Moves: Strategy, Options, Art

52:00 – The Maxi Mindset

54:00 – Tariffs & AI’s Economic Impact

59:00 – Robots & Reshoring Risks

1:03:00 – Purpose Beyond Work

1:06:00 – AI & Post-Work Societies

1:09:00 – America’s Economic Reckoning

1:12:00 – Fixing Education & National Confidence

1:15:00 – Long-Term Optimism Despite Chaos

1:18:00 – The Battle for Bitcoin Narrative

1:21:00 – Bitcoin’s Role in the Next Economy

1:24:00 – What TradFi Still Misses About Bitcoin

1:28:00 – Advice to Young Investors

1:31:00 – Thoughts on Bitcoin ETFs & Regulation

1:35:00 – Why Bitcoin Is Undervalued

1:38:00 – Bitcoin in a Multipolar World

1:41:00 – Preparing for Hyperbitcoinization

1:44:00 – Final Thoughts on Freedom & Legacy

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Preston Pysh: Bitcoin’s Global Takeover - The Warning Everyone Missed May 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Bitcoin Matrix, I chat with Preston Pysh who brings clarity as we explore the unraveling of the petrodollar system and the seismic shift toward a Bitcoin-centric financial future.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

🚨 SCAN THE QR CODE on the screen to enter our contest and get a chance to win a Blockhunters board game! 🚨 ⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest –––

• Preston Pysh on X: https://x.com/PrestonPysh

• Preston Pysh on Nostr: npub1s5yq6wadwrxde4lhfs56gn64hwzuhnfa6r9mj476r5s4hkunzgzqrs6q7z

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:26 - Meet Preston Pysh

04:02 - Inflation & Petrodollar Collapse

06:33 - Bitcoin as a System & Unit of Account

08:17 - Stablecoins, Debt & Taproot Assets

11:03 - Gold vs Bitcoin Post-COVID

13:56 - Fake Gold & Verification

16:04 - Nodes, Proof & Self-Custody

19:06 - Tariffs & Onshoring Risks

24:02 - Currency Wars & Strategy

25:48 - Can Bitcoin Prevent War?

28:02 - Bretton Woods 2.0

30:21 - Nationalism vs Humanity

32:58 - Tariffs & Automation

37:22 - Volatility & Derivatives

39:55 - Fiat vs Real Money

42:48 - Bond Market Mayhem

45:42 - Jack Mallers & BTC Treasuries

47:30 - FDIC & Fiat Limits

52:36 - BTC Treasuries & Corporates

54:38 - 2025 Predictions

56:49 - Ross Ulbricht & Support

57:36 - Preston’s Links & Wrap-Up

59:13 - Reading & Prep Secrets

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Matthew Lysiak - Fiat Food May 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Lysiak, a nationally recognized investigative journalist and author of Fiat Food: Why Inflation Destroyed Our Health and How Bitcoin Fixes It. Together, we unpack how inflation has silently undermined our health.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

🚨 SCAN THE QR CODE on the screen to enter our contest and get a chance to win a Blockhunters board game!

🚨 ⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest –––

• Matthew Lysiak on X: https://x.com/matthewlysiak

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:24 - Matthew Lysiak Joins the Bitcoin Matrix

02:48 - From Mainstream Media to Fiat Food

05:07 - Discovering the Fiat Standard and Digging Deeper

08:26 - The Government’s Role in Shaping Our Diet

10:04 - A Personal Dedication

11:20 - Edward Bernays and Public Influence

11:44 - The Ancel Keys Cholesterol Conspiracy

17:24 - The Rise of Fake Food and Cereal Culture

23:02 - Crisco, Seed Oils, and Industrial Waste as Food

27:18 - Nixon, Inflation, and Food Supply Manipulation

30:21 - Plant-Based Diets and Fiat Economics

32:38 - John Harvey Kellogg and Cereal as Control

36:30 - The Graham Cracker Origins

37:01 - Butter-Legging and Margarine Riots

40:27 - The Phillips Curve and Keynesian Economics

45:03 - Fiat, Inflation, and the Money Printer

47:17 - Earth Day, Population Control, and Fiat Funding

50:40 - Nixon’s Philosopher’s Stone

53:35 - The Apple Economy Analogy

58:34 - Ozempic, Obesity, and the Medical Complex

01:03:16 - Nutrient Poverty and Obesity

01:04:44 - Diets, Gorillas, and Brain Size

01:06:21 - School Lunches and Metabolic Collapse

01:10:51 - How Bitcoin Changed Matthew Lysiak

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Uncle Rockstar Developer - Do You Own Real Bitcoin? May 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I chat with Rockstar Dev, a legendary shadowy super coder, core contributor, and cypherpunk. We explore what Lightning and eCash mean for Bitcoin’s future, what it’s like to live a masked identity, and how to build better systems that empower individuals.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

🚨 SCAN THE QR CODE on the screen to enter our contest and get a chance to win a Blockhunters board game! 🚨

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest –––

• Uncle Rockstar Dev on X: https://x.com/r0ckstardev

• Uncle Rockstar Dev on Nostr: npub1j8y6tcdfw3q3f3h794s6un0gyc5742s0k5h5s2yqj0r70cpklqeqjavrvg

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Rockstar’s Origin Story & BTCPay Genesis

05:31- - Discovering Bitcoin’s Ideological Core

08:22 - Community, Collaboration & BTC’s Cultural Impact

11:00 - BTCPay as a Platform and Alternative to BitPay

14:38 - The Block Size Wars & Ongoing Cultural Conflicts

20:38 - Camaraderie Among Core Contributors

22:48 - Privacy, Identity & Living Behind the Mask

25:54 - Ego, Recognition & Stories of Gigi

33:00 - Satoshi as a Coder & Mythic Figure

35:10 - Information Madness & Cypherpunk Prophecy

38:40 - Compliance vs Building Better Systems

42:05 - Bitcoin for Personal & Collective Freedom

46:09 - Rockstar on Realizing Financial Independence

48:20 - Lessons from Working in Bitcoin Startups

52:58 - Why Lightning Thrills Rockstar

57:42 - Stablecoins on Lightning & Their Bitcoin Impact

01:00:00 - Bitcoin is for Anyone—but Not for Everyone

01:04:45 - Can We Have Privacy Without KYC-Free Bitcoin?

01:14:00 - Is Rockstar Planning on Disappearing?

01:19:00 - Keeping Satoshi Unknown

01:25:45 - Reflecting on Corporate Jobs & Finding Meaning in your Work

01:38:45 - How Bitcoin Has Changed Rockstar

01:41:45 - Hope for a Sovereign Future

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing. Thank you for listening!

The Fourth Turning Panel: Prepare Now with American Hodl, Lawrence Lepard, Professor David B. Collum, and Brandon Quittem May 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode , I chat with Brandon Quittem, Lawrence Lepard, Dave Collum, and American HODL in an all-star fourth turning roundtable. We dive deep into generational cycles, societal shifts, economic collapses, and what the peak of this fourth turning might look like.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guests –––

• Brandon Quittem on X: https://x.com/Bquittem

• Lawrence Lepard on X: https://x.com/LawrenceLepard

• Lawrence Lepard on Nostr: npub1d3f4m9dgvkdjxn26pqzsxn6lpfn78sxwllxyt8mp76q0a9zyyjlswhr4xv

• American Hodl on X: https://x.com/americanhodl8

• American Hodl on Nostr: npub1rtlqca8r6auyaw5n5h3l5422dm4sry5dzfee4696fqe8s6qgudks7djtfs

• Dave Collum on X: https://x.com/DavidBCollum

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

02:11 - Fourth Turning Basics

04:50 - Reaction vs Trigger

06:12 - Start of the Current Fourth Turning

09:17 - Past Fourth Turnings: Civil War, Witches, More

10:52 - Peak Predictions: Collapse or Revolution?

12:56 - Monetary Breakdown & Inflationary Depression

14:51 - Controlled Demolition of the Economy

20:56 - Nuclear Risks and Cold War 2.0

24:51 - Mass Mobilization Catalysts

28:51 - Global Trade Divorce: U.S. vs China

32:08 - Reviving U.S. Manufacturing

35:14 - Dollar Weaponization & Trust Collapse

36:06 - Wealth Transfer: Fiat to Bitcoin

39:00 - Bitcoin as an Elite Revolution

42:51 - Fort Knox: Missing Gold?

44:51 - Bretton Woods 2.0 & Bitcoin Standard

54:51 - Bitcoin in a Post-Fiat World

01:00:51 - Energy, AI, and Decentralization

01:12:51 - BRICS and Global Power Shifts

01:20:51 - Innovation Amidst Collapse

01:24:51 - Bitcoin vs The State

01:30:51 - Preparing for Sovereignty

01:36:51 - Final Fourth Turning Reflections

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Peruvian Bull: Bitcoin Is Taking Over The World Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I chat with Peruvian Bull, a well-known Bitcoin researcher and educator. We also unpack the central bank manipulation, the coming currency wars, and why Bitcoin might be the only way out.

If you’re looking to understand what the next phase of the dollar endgame might look like, this episode is for you.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

🚨 SCAN THE QR CODE on the screen to enter our contest and get a chance to win a Blockhunters board game! 🚨

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest–––

• Peruvian Bull on X: https://x.com/peruvian_bull

• Peruvian Bull on Nostr: npub1xwmyzp64xx03kw9ecd7fzsj3e9dgwah6an0rdng0cc6ux4dswwjs28pyyc

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:14 - Welcome Back Peruvian Bull

14:23 - Japan’s Monetary Experiment & MetaPlanet’s Rise

16:01 - Carry Trades, QE, and Japan’s Debt Spiral

21:55 - Japan’s Cultural Rigidity & Frozen Economy

23:55 - BOJ’s “Print Yen, Buy Yen” Chaos Explained

30:03 - The BOJ Owns the Market: Bonds & Stocks

34:34 - GameStop, Bitcoin Treasuries & Retail Rebellion

40:14 - Naked Shorting: Burry, Phantom Shares & GME

47:49 - High-Frequency Trading & Market Manipulation

51:34 - Ryan Cohen’s Vision: GameStop as a Bitcoin Powerhouse

59:02 - Global Gold Liquidity Crunch & ETF Drains

01:04:08 - The Dollar Paradox: Weakness as System Strength

01:11:01 - Global Fiat Collapse or Coordinated Currency Reset?

01:15:40 - Bitcoin as the Final Endgame to Kill the Dollar

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

American Hodl - More Bullish Than Ever Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I chat with American HODL, a legendary voice in the Bitcoin space. He opens up about how Bitcoin helped secure his family’s financial future, and why most of us underestimate the radical transformation $100 million Bitcoin will bring.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest–––

• HODL on X: https://x.com/americanhodl8

• HODL on X: npub1rtlqca8r6auyaw5n5h3l5422dm4sry5dzfee4696fqe8s6qgudks7djtfs

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:18 – Welcome Back, HODL

03:30 – Bear Market Conviction

04:40 – Trade Wars & Uncertainty

07:16 – Bitcoin as an Infinite Game

09:57 – From Speculating to Saving

11:56 – Orange-Pilling Family

15:37 – Leading with Self-Custody

21:03 – Security & Simple Living

23:47 – Resentment from the Fiat World

26:02 – Emotional Toll of Volatility

29:27 – Spartan Class Bitcoiners

32:37 – Capital Allocation Strategy

35:17 – Rise of the Bitcoin Mafia

37:47 – $100M BTC & Global Shifts

40:59 – ETFs, Self-Custody & Citizenship

45:02 – Governments Want Your Keys

47:52 – Fourth Turning Vibes

50:58 – Bretton Woods 2.0

55:39 – Helping Others with Bitcoin

58:22 – Bitcoin’s Emotional Rollercoaster

01:05:02 – Lessons from Past Cycles

01:11:32 – Long-Term Wealth Tactics

01:14:57 – Bitcoin & Relationships

01:18:12 – Prepping for the Bull Run

01:21:27 – Final Wisdom

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Jeff Booth - The Greatest Game Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Booth to dive deep into the mathematics behind a $43M Bitcoin, the economic contradictions of inflation, and much more.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout!

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest–––

• Jeff Booth on X: https://x.com/JeffBooth

• Jeff Booth on Nostr: npub1s05p3ha7en49dv8429tkk07nnfa9pcwczkf5x5qrdraqshxdje9sq6eyhe

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

02:38 - What’s Going On With the Economy

04:16 - How the Current System Creates Insecurity

11:36 - Are We in a Breakdown Phase?

15:39 - Bitcoin, Lightning, and Stablecoins

17:46 - The Inescapable Nature of the Credit System

25:52 - Why Medium of Exchange Use Matters

30:41 - Stablecoins as “Guaranteed Loss Coins”

33:57 - The Role of Self-Custody in Bitcoin Adoption

38:21 - Polling Bitcoiners: Self-Custody, Nodes, and Spending

43:51 - Will Robots Want Money?

47:07 - Building the Decentralized Counterbalance

47:12 - Is Inflation the Greatest Lie Ever Told?

51:34 - One Bitcoin = $43 Million?

55:39 - Will Bitcoin Have a Bigger Impact Than the Internet?

57:51 - What Could Stop Bitcoin?

59:30 - Ross Ulbricht’s Release

1:00:36 - Josh Mandell, Price Predictions & Shared Wisdom

1:04:49 - Compassion for Precoiners and Everyone Else

1:07:37 - Final Thoughts

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Eric V Stacks - He Fought Big Pharma With Cannabis, Then Everything Changed... Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I chat with Eric V. Stacks, a cannabis producer, consultant, and proud Bitcoin Maxi, about his incredible journey from the underground cannabis scene in to embracing Bitcoin as a form of hard money.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest–––

• Eric V Stacks on X: https://x.com/EricVStacks

• Eric V Stacks on Nostr: npub1h4397xuvfxne7p6l867j6ygl7cj4qn8j45fygt7hp5v3m5h5543qhms70f

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 – Intro

01:12 - Eric V. Stacks Background

06:20 - Eric’s upbringing and distrust of pharmaceuticals

08:38 - Becoming a legal cannabis producer in California

09:38 - The economic rabbit hole and discovering Bitcoin

14:29 - Building a cannabis business in the gray market

17:41 - The state’s attempt to regulate an existing billion-dollar industry

20:04 - Regulatory hurdles and corporate takeover

20:57 - How legalization changed the risk dynamics

25:15 - Early spiritual influences and outside-the-box thinking

26:14 - Dropping Out & Rejecting Credentialism

31:33 - From Trimming to Growing: Building a Cannabis Career

36:45 - Corruption, Compliance & the 280E Trap

41:50 - The Broken Incentives Behind Cannabis Regulation

47:16 - Bitcoin as a Tool for Sovereignty and Economic Freedom

52:04 - Final Reflections on Decentralization and Freedom

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

Why Everyone’s Wrong About the Lightning Network with Graham Krizek Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I chat with Graham Krizek, the founder and CEO of Voltage Cloud. We break down the Lightning Network’s speed, scalability, capital efficiency, and the groundbreaking Fidelity Digital Assets report created in collaboration with Voltage.

––– Offers & Discounts –––

Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025

Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric

Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix

The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order.

Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/

––– Get To Know Today's Guest–––

• Graham Krizek on X: https://x.com/gkrizek

• Voltage Cloud on X: https://x.com/voltage_cloud

• Voltage Cloud on Nostr: npub15klkdfx9sh3y096a5jf895rcvkmkzvly2fm9dgxq6huqhp9576jsav4m73

––– Socials –––

• Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman

• Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix

• Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs

––– Chapters –––

00:00 - Intro

01:00 - Introduction to Graham Krizek & Voltage

01:51 - What is the Lightning Network?

04:15 - How Voltage Powers the Lightning Ecosystem

05:45 - Graham’s Background

07:56 - The Fidelity & Voltage Lightning Report

10:06 - How Lightning Channels & Hops Work

12:54 - Routing Payments and Non-Custodial Yield

14:58 - Channel Structures & Capital Efficiency Trends

16:30 - Public vs. Private Channels & Total Network Capacity

18:25 - Transaction Value vs. Transacted Capital

20:38 - Adoption Trends in Lightning

21:32 - Payment Speed, Hops & Network Efficiency

23:31 - Lightning vs. Blockchain Scalability

24:43 - Success Rates on the Lightning Network

26:03 - State of the Lightning Ecosystem

27:33 - New Verticals: Nostr, Podcasting 2.0 & AI Agents

30:22 - The Convergence of Stablecoins & Lightning

32:49 - Lightning’s Resilience & Long-Term Vision

35:01 - What Will Drive Lightning’s Mass Adoption?

36:33 - Advice for Bitcoin-Focused Small Businesses

37:56 - Is Lightning Delivering on Its Promise?

38:08 - B2B Integrations & Lightning as an Infrastructure Layer

39:00 - Why Lightning Doesn’t Get the Spotlight (Yet)

40:35 - What Graham is Most Excited About in 2025

42:00 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Voltage

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for tuning in, supporting the show, and contributing.

Thank you for listening!

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