What Bitcoin Did

“The worst thing is to not own any of it.”

Eric Yakes returns to discuss why he believes Bitcoin’s four-year cycle is breaking, why diminishing returns may not be inevitable, and how institutional and nation-state demand could change the next rally. He explains why Bitcoin needs to become bigger and more liquid before its largest potential buyers can make meaningful allocations.

We also get into Bitcoin’s role as a hedge against debasement, the debate over money versus digital gold, and why Eric rejects the “private Bitcoin” pitch around Zcash. We finish with how AI could make Bitcoin’s scarcity more valuable, the security risks that concern him most, and why he still believes the biggest mistake is owning none.

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“Bitcoin feels alive, but not intelligent. And AI feels intelligent, but not alive.”

Dhruv Bansal joins to discuss why AI may need Bitcoin to survive, why autonomous agents could choose Bitcoin over dollars and stablecoins, and how earning Bitcoin to pay for their own resources could align them with human needs.

We also get into how Bitcoin could help rebuild a free and open internet, the problems with advertising and surveillance, and whether AI could accelerate hyperbitcoinization. Dhruv explores how Bitcoin and AI could give rise to a new form of digital life and why he sees an optimistic path for both.

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BITGO - Secure your Bitcoin with institutional grade security.

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ANCHORWATCH - Insured Bitcoin custody, security & inheritance. Book a consultation: https://www.anchorwatch.com/wbd

BITKEY - Get 10% off the new Bitkey wallet with code WBD.

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“We experienced, as a percentage of deposits, the biggest bank run in history.”

Alan Lane joins to discuss the fall of Silvergate, the bank run that followed FTX’s collapse, and how his team kept meeting withdrawals as 70% of deposits left. He explains why he believed the bank could rebuild and what changed between surviving the run and deciding to close.

We also get into Operation Choke Point 2.0, why Alan believes Washington wanted the industry cut off from banking, and the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature just days after Silvergate’s wind-down announcement.

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LEDN - Explore Bitcoin-backed loans and get 0.25% off your first loan.

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BITGO - Secure your Bitcoin with institutional grade security.

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ANCHORWATCH - Insured Bitcoin custody, security & inheritance. Book a consultation: https://www.anchorwatch.com/wbd

BITKEY - Get 10% off the new Bitkey wallet with code WBD.

https://bitkey.world/wbd

EXPAT MONEY - Build your Plan B. Explore second residencies, citizenship and offshore wealth protection.

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“You actually have the president and the Treasury working for Bitcoin because they’re working for a weaker dollar.”

Matt Cole joins to discuss why he believes America’s debt crisis leaves the government with few good options, how rising bond yields could force the Treasury and Fed to intervene, and why a weaker dollar could fuel Bitcoin’s next bull market.

We also get into why AI could create abundance without generating enough tax revenue to fix the debt problem, his case for $500K Bitcoin by 2030, and whether Bitcoin is entering a supercycle.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

LEDN - Explore Bitcoin-backed loans and get 0.25% off your first loan.

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ANCHORWATCH - Insured Bitcoin custody, security & inheritance. Book a consultation: https://www.anchorwatch.com/wbd

BITKEY - Get 10% off the new Bitkey wallet with code WBD.

https://bitkey.world/wbd

EXPAT MONEY - Build your Plan B. Explore second residencies, citizenship and offshore wealth protection.

https://expatmoney.com/wbd

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“I think everyone is underestimating the speed of AI.”

Jordi Visser joins the show to discuss why he believes AI could trigger a major shift in global wealth, weaken the investment appeal of stocks and real estate, and create a new bull case for Bitcoin. He explains why wealthy investors haven’t needed Bitcoin yet, and how AI’s deflationary effects could change that.

We also get into whether AI is a bubble, how agents and tokenization could transform finance, and why Big Tech may struggle to maintain its dominance.

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