The Bitcoin Standard Podcast

Latest Episodes:

101. Fiat markets with Lyn Alden Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

In this epsisode Saifedean talks to economist and investor Lyn Alden about her views on the global macroeconomy. They start by discussing recent market turbulence in light of the Federal Reserve’s plans to tighten monetary policy, whether these plans are realisable, and what this will mean for consumer price inflation and the stock market. They then move on to a discussion of Lyn’s portfolio, her reasons for allocation across particular industries, and why she holds shares in silver mining companies. In the Q&A Lyn answers questions about whether we can trust the Federal Reserve and how she uses the Austrian School economic framework to inform her thinking on investment.
Resources:

Lyn on Twitter
Lyn’s 2020 article 3 Reasons I’m Investing in Bitcoin
Lyn’s January 2022 Newsletter The Capital Sponge for a discussion of recent developments in the US stock market with historical context (includes a breakdown of her model portfolio).
A Tiger by the Tail by F.A. Hayek for a discussion of the Keynesian legacy of inflation
Gold Wars by Ferdinand Lips for an account of Switerland’s abandonment of the gold standard.
The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy by William Strauss and Neil Howe
America’s Great Depression by Murray N. Rothbard. See pages 3-80 for Rothbard’s explanation of Austrian Business Cycle Theory.
Lyn’s last appearance on The Bitcoin Standard Podcast in May 2022
Lyn’s critique of Nassim Taleb’s Bitcoin Black Paper
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard

100: Explaining Bitcoin with Parker Lewis Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

In this episode Saifedean talks to writer and head of business development at Unchained Capital Parker Lewis about his Gradually, Then Suddenly series. They start by discussing Parker’s career in traditional finance during the 2008 financial crisis, and how discovering Austrian economics and bitcoin helped him to truly understand the workings of global finance. They then talk about the arguments of some of Parker’s well-known articles on topics ranging from why bitcoin can’t be copied to why bitcoin isn’t too volatile to why bitcoin can’t be banned. In the Q&A Parker discusses rumours that he will run for mayor of Austin and whether hyperbitcoinization will lead to US dollar inflation.

Resources

· A full list of Parker’s articles on the Nakamoto Institute website.

· Bitcoin can’t be copied

· Bitcoin is Not Too Volatile

· Bitcoin Cannot be Banned

· Vijay Boyapati’s article The Bullish Case For Bitcoin for discussion of bitcoin’s volatility.

· Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard

· Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard

· Parker on Twitter.

Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.

99. How Fiat Money Works with Preston Pysh Jan 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode investor Preston Pysh and Saifedean do a deep dive in Saifedean’s new book The Fiat Standard. They discuss why analysing the fiat monetary system through the lens of bitcoin can help readers understand the advantages, and numerous disadvantages, of the fiat system. They talk about how fiat partially solved the age-old problem of gold’s lack of saleability across space, and how this eventually led to gold’s capture by governments and its ultimate demonetization. They explain how the fiat monetary system we live under today was created, and how it is controlled by the US and US-controlled institutions such as the IMF: to the detriment of the rest of the world. They talk through the disastrous consequences of the fiat system including its destruction of wealth through inflation, its disruption of economic calculation, the unprecedented power it has provided to governments, and its propensity to lead to conflict. They then move on to discuss the broader societal consequences on areas of life ranging from academia to medicine to diet. Finally, they discuss how a bitcoinized world, absent of inflation, would solve the problems fiat has created.

98. Sound economics in an age of hysteria with Tom Woods Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

In this episode Saifedean talks to author and Mises Institute fellow Tom Woods about the importance of sound economics in an age of Covid hysteria. They discuss their experiences studying at Columbia University, and the different paths they took to discovering Austrian Economics. They then move on to discussing how they became independent academics, operating outside of traditional institutions and how this gave them more of freedom of speech and allowed them to reach a larger audience. They also talk about Tom’s work promoting rational thinking on masks and coronavirus lockdowns, the influence of “fiat” academics like Dr Fauci, and the censorship Tom has had to overcome on popular social media platforms.

97. Bitcoin Strategy with Michael Saylor Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

This seminar hosts Microstrategy CEO and bitcoin mega-bull Michael Saylor to discuss the correct strategies for buying, holding, and promoting bitcoin. Michael explains what he sees as increasing regulatory clarity around bitcoin and increasing risk around altcoins, which it is becoming clear are digital securities, while bitcoin is digital property. We discuss his views on the adoption of bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, and whether it presents bitcoin as more of a currency than a property, and what the global ramifications of this move are. Michael then explains the correct strategy and execution for acquiring bitcoin on debt without getting ruined; he also explains the correct bitcoin strategy for small businesses, and whether individual investors are better off buying bitcoin or mining it. Michael also discusses his views on whether we should think of bitcoin as digital property, digital gold, digital money, or digital energy. We also try to convince Michael to write a book with his ideas!
Do not miss this fantastic, hugely informative, and wide-ranging discussion!

96. Sound Economics in a Confused World with Jeff Deist Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

In this episode Saifedean talks to Jeff Deist, president of the Mises Institute: the leading think tank dedicated to spreading the ideas of the Austrian School of Economics. They discuss the mission of the Mises Institute, its origins, and how its approach to economics differs from other think tanks such as the Cato Institute. They also talk about the problems of modern empirical economics and how most mainstream economists have failed to articulate the “unseen” costs of government interventions such as Covid lockdowns and climate change mitigation policies. Jeff also talks about some timeless books and essays that accurately explain economic phenomena, and makes the case that it is more important than ever to read the originals.

95. Q&A: is money debt? Can monopolists control bitcoin? How time preference fixes you Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Saifedean invites his newsletter subscribers to join a Q&A seminar normally only available to Saifedean.com members. He answers questions on whether money and debt are the same, whether bitcoin whales or “monopolists” will gain too much power on the free market, the impact of energy trends on bitcoin mining, and the risks of holding bitcoin on an exchange. Participants also share their personal stories about how reading The Bitcoin Standard changed their life by lowering their time preference and allowing them to save for the future.
Resources

The Myth of the Myth of Barter by George Selgin
Have Anthropologists Overturned Menger? By Bob Murphy
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels by Alex Epstein for discussion of our inability to run society with unreliable energy
The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg
Mises Institute article about The Myth of Natural Monopoly
Against Intellectual Property by Stephan Kinsella
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard

Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.

THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS

NYDIG - https://nydig.com

Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/

OKCoin - https://okcoin.com/

Nodl - https://www.nodl.it/

Coldcard - https://coldcardwallet.com/

CoinBits App - https://coinbitsapp.com/

94. Plan B Passports with Katie The Russian Nov 25, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Saifedean talks to Katie The Russian (Katie Ananina) about Plan B passports and how to navigate a world of Covid hysteria. Saifedean and Katie talk about “Flag Theory” and how obtaining multiple passports and residences can help sovereign individuals respond to restrictive government policies. They also talk about the arguments laid out in the book The Sovereign Individual and whether the rise of the microprocessor has led to a strengthening or weakening of government power. In the Q&A, Katie answers questions about tax strategies, asylum seekers and obtaining residences for dependents.

Resources

Katie on Twitter
Katie on YouTube
Katie’s Website: www.PlanBpassport.com
The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg
Saifedean’s tweet on Bill Gates Oreo cake clip.
Saifedean’s Twitter thread on Coronavirus policies in Belarus.
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard

Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.

THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS

NYDIG - https://nydig.com

Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/

OKCoin - https://okcoin.com/

Nodl - https://www.nodl.it/

Coldcard - https://coldcardwallet.com/

CoinBits App - https://coinbitsapp.com/

93. The resilience of stock-to-flow with PlanB Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Saifedean invites back PlanB to back discuss the resilience of his stock-to-flow bitcoin pricing model in the face of global economic changes. They talk about the range of events that have impacted the bitcoin price since the model’s inception – Covid lockdowns, MicroStrategy, Elon Musk, China mining ban, El Salvador – and why the price has largely stayed within one standard deviation of the model’s baseline throughout. They also discuss institutional interest in bitcoin, which countries might follow El Salvador in adopting bitcoin as legal tender, and how QE and lockdown-created supply chain issues are causing global price inflation. In the Q&A, PlanB answers questions about money printing, whether S2F should be used to trade, and bitcoin’s short-term price outlook.

Resources

PlanB on Twitter.
Bitstein’s S2F multiple account on Twitter.
March 2019 Medium post marking launch of the S2F model.
April 2020 Medium post marking launch of the S2Fx model.
PlanB’s article Efficient Market Hypothesis and Bitcoin Stock-to-Flow Model.
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard

Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean’s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS

NYDIG - https://nydig.com

Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/

OKCoin - https://okcoin.com/

Nodl - https://www.nodl.it/

Coldcard - https://coldcardwallet.com/

CoinBits App - https://coinbitsapp.com/

92. The Fiat Standard book launch Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

In this Twitter Spaces discussion, Saifedean introduces his new book The Fiat Standard. Working through the chapters of the book, he discusses how the fiat monetary system works, why the Federal Reserve constitutes its “single node”, and how fiat is “mined” into existence through bank lending. He also talks about how the fiat monetary system impacts society in areas ranging from diet to energy to education. Saifedean then takes questions from Twitter users on The Sovereign Individual thesis, CBDCs and whether bitcoin miners are the “central banks” of bitcoin.

Resources

Bitcoin Maximalist Giacomo Zucco makes the case for altcoins
Robert Kiyosaki’s book Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz, for a discussion of the flawed dietary studies of Ancel Keys
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels by Alex Epstein
The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg
Saifedean’s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
Saifedean’s second book, The Fiat Standard