new renaissance capital

Frank Corva
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Society & Culture

We cover Bitcoin adoption around the globe.

  1. Sep 16

    Building Mantra and Returning to Development Principles w/ Kgothatso Ngako

    In this episode, Frank sits down with Kgothatso Ngako (KG), founder of Machankura, Exonomia, and now Mantra — a tool that can be used to translate Bitcoin texts. In the first part of the discussion — which is for the more technical-minded out there — KG provides an overview of how Mantra works, who it's for and why he employed tech like Nostr, Frost, and the Marmot Protocol in its design. He also shares how his work on Mantra will ultimately inform upcoming development for Machankura. In the latter half of the interview, Frank and KG discussion what it's been like to stay alive during this era of Bitcoin-related tech vulnerability exploits, why it's important to keep building despite setbacks, and how everything is essentially open-source now, which means that almost all software is susceptible to hacks. In listening, we think you'll see what we see in KG in that he's one of the most creative and thoughtful developers in the Bitcoin and freedom tech space. Enjoy! Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:20 A Word from Frank 3:39 Introduction 5:58 Building Exonomia and Mantra 18:35 Who Mantra Is for 20:14 How Mantra Works 37:18 Why KG Created Mantra 45:24 Why KG Used Nostr for Mantra 49:01 Who Exonomia Has Reached 53:20 Open-sourcing Translation 55:17 Mantra as an Experimental Project 1:00:11 How Proposed South African Bitcoin Regulations Affect Machankura 1:04:34 How Mantra Informs Machankura 1:06:57 Surviving This Era of Bitcoin Software Hacks 1:13:35 We're Not Going Anywhere 1:15:34 A Return to Principles 1:21:30 Taking a Step Back 1:23:35 Everything Is Open-source / Reverse Engineering 1:30:04 Social Engineering 1:31:55 Final Thoughts bitcoin #africa #translation #language #nostr #southafrica #machankura #opensource #zulu #xhosa #sotho #swazi #lightning #lightningnetwork #mantra #money #developer #developers #developerlife #principles #engineering

    Building Mantra and Returning to Development Principles w/ Kgothatso Ngako

  2. Sep 4

    Bitcoin as a Catalyst for a New Kenya w/ Robert Kirubi

    On this episode of new renaissance capital, Frank sits down with TALO Africa Chairman and Kenyan Bitcoin advocate Robert Kirubi to discuss the work that is still to be done to get Kenya, its government, and its businesses to embrace Bitcoin. Frank and Robert touch on the many incredible Bitcoin programs and initiatives that already exist in Kenya — including Gridless, Bitcoin Dada, Afribit Kibera — and how, in the wake of Kenya's National Treasury gazetting Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) regulations, the country is now primed for broader adoption. They also discuss how Bitcoin mining can catalyze infrastructure development in Kenya and how much work still needs to be done behind the scenes for bigger businesses and institutions in Kenya to begin utilizing Bitcoin. With people like Robert working behind the scenes to facilitate greater Bitcoin adoption in Kenya — which has already established itself as a 'Bitcoin country' — one can only believe that the future for Kenya is bright. Follow Robert on X: https://x.com/rkirubi Follow Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kirubi-222b801/ Follow Frank on X: https://x.com/frankcorva Follow Frank on Nostr: https://primal.net/frank Follow Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/ Follow new renaissance capital on X: https://x.com/newrencap Follow new renaissance capital on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newrenaissancecapital/ Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:34 Introduction 3:02 VASP Regulation in Kenya 10:10 Did M-Pesa Prime Kenyans for Bitcoin? 12:02 The Afribit Kibera Impact 18:12 How Bitcoin Mining Catalyzes Infrastructure Development 27:45 How Everyday People Benefit from Bitcoin 31:40 Coordinating for Broader Bitcoin Adoption among Kenyan Businesses 36:14 Bitcoin Mining and Infrastructure 41:59 Reducing Dependence on Loans from Abroad 46:57 A Deeper Understanding of Bitcoin Is Still Necessary bitcoin #btc #bitcoinmining #kenya #africa #eastafrica #money #finance #economics #empowerment #education #opportunity

  3. Aug 21

    The Fight Against Chat Control in the EU w/ Lyudmyla Kozlovska

    On this episode, Frank sites down with Lyudmyla Kozlovska, president of the Open Dialogue Foundation, to discuss why Chat Control must be stopped in the EU and how to stop it. Kozlovska watched up close last month as the European Parliament pushed Chat Control 1.0 through via a last-minute vote, and now she's determined to stop something like this from happening again with the Chat Control 2.0 vote, which is scheduled for next month. That said, she can't stop Chat Control 2.0 on her own. She needs your help! In this conversation, Lyudmyla lays out what's at stake with chat control (as well as with current financial repression measures and AI data sharing practices), and shares ways that you can help in this fight. Please listen and then act. Below are the resources she mentions in the video: Follow Lyudmyla on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyudakozlovska/ X: https://x.com/LyudaKozlovska Nostr: npub13ajk3hhvqys2ev4y68jwxywgs8fsdsuk4y5gkzs874jdyrccvf5qak2yd9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyudmylakozlovska/ Fight Chat Control: https://fightchatcontrol.eu/ Donate to the Open Dialogue Foundation: https://en.odfoundation.eu/how-can-you-help/ The Rise of Transnational Financial Repression Report: https://www.thefreedomfrequency.org/p/the-rise-of-transnational-financial Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:39 Introduction 4:18 Chat Control 1.0 9:50 Chat Control 2.0 15:45 How Chat Control 1.0 Was Pushed Through 20:13 The Vote for Chat Control 2.0 in September 24:23 What You Can Do to Help 28:18 Transnational Financial Repression Report 36:45 The FATF 42:48 AI and Property Rights 50:53 Making Sure the Good Guys Have access to Frontier AI Models 55:36 Final Thoughts / Call to Action privacy #data #surveillance #chatcontrol #eu #europeanunion #europeanparliament #advocacy #policy #politics #regulation #money #finance #nostr #signal #freedomtech #freedom #repression #financialfreedom #transnationalrepression #nationalsecurity #bitcoin #research

  4. Aug 12

    South Africa's Rocky Balboa: Bitcoin Ekasi Community Leader Aims to Complete in Ironman World Champs

    On this episode of new renaissance capital, Frank sits down with Akhona Mabuto Livingstone, better known as "The Orange Rocket" in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Akhona is a part of both the Bitcoin Ekasi (https://bitcoinekasi.com/) and The Surfer Kids (https://www.thesurferkids.com/) communities. With the Surfer Kids project, he teaches children how to swim and surf in an after school program. For his work, he's paid in bitcoin. In 2018, he became interested in triathlon after completing the swim leg of a triathlon for a three-person team with whom he entered the race. It wasn't until 2024, though, that he cleaned up his life and prepared to compete in his first half Ironman (Ironman 70.3), which took place in his home town of Mossel Bay. Now, with the support of the Bitcoin community, Akhona aims to compete in an Ironman 70.3 World Championship race within two years before competing the full Ironman World Championships within the years after that. Akhona's story is deeply compelling given he was born into apartheid and doesn't come from much means. However, he's chosen to make notable changes in his life (e.g., giving up drinking alcohol) to focus on the mission at hand: becoming a world-class Ironman racer. Because this process won't be easy, we're asking for your help. Please be sure to follow Akhona on the following platforms: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orange.rocket.btc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingstoneakhona/ X: https://x.com/OrangeRocketBTC Nostr: npub1xf3277ggqr6umj0pe25chd3s5vga8cjdhr4us8kfeqhpv9huxkxsjnhv7d Please tag these companies to help Akhona get sponsored by them: Ironman: https://x.com/IRONMANtri https://www.facebook.com/IRONMANtri https://www.instagram.com/ironmantri/ Sailish: https://www.facebook.com/people/sailfish/100064569614958/ Specialized: https://x.com/iamspecialized https://www.facebook.com/specializedbicycles/ https://www.instagram.com/iamspecialized/ Felt: https://x.com/feltbicycles https://www.facebook.com/feltbicycles/ https://www.instagram.com/feltbicycles/ Brooks: https://x.com/brooksrunning https://www.facebook.com/brooksrunning https://www.instagram.com/brooksrunning/ On: https://x.com/on_running https://www.facebook.com/On# https://www.instagram.com/on/ Adidas: https://x.com/adidas https://www.facebook.com/adidasUS/ https://www.instagram.com/adidas/ Garmin: https://x.com/Garmin https://www.facebook.com/Garmin/ https://www.instagram.com/garmin/ 32Gi: https://x.com/32Gi https://www.facebook.com/32GiSportsNutrition https://www.instagram.com/32gi/ World Triathlon: https://x.com/worldtriathlon https://www.facebook.com/worldtriathlon https://www.instagram.com/worldtriathlon/ Frank's piece on Bitcoin Ekasi for Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankcorva/2025/03/29/south-african-bitcoin-circular-economy-project-deepens-community-ties/ Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:40 Introduction 2:39 Akhona Introduces Himself 4:54 How Akhona Got Involved with Bitcoin Ekasi 6:07 Akhona's Work with The Surfer Kids Project 7:01 How Akhona Started Racing Triathlons 10:41 How the Bitcoin Ekasi Community Changed Akhona's Life 13:28 The Orange Rocket 14:21 The Importance of Challenging Oneself 15:13 Akhona's Daily Routine 17:39 Training during the Winter 20:33 The Support of the Bitcoin Ekasi Community 23:04 Akhona's Upcoming Races 28:29 Akhona's Ultimate Goal 31:08 Members of the Surfer Kids Compete at National Champs 32:12 Akhona On Being a Role Model 36:19 Preparing to Qualify for Half Ironman World Champs 38:18 Akhona's Diet 40:32 Final Thoughts bitcoin #btc #triathlon #ironman #halfironman #halfironmantraining #kona #africa #southafrica #mosselbay #mindset #mindsetshift #motivation #empowerment #rockybalboa #rocky #machankura

  5. May 16

    The Fight For Bitcoin Rights In South Africa w/ Hermann Vivier

    In this episode, host Frank Corva sits down with Hermann Vivier, a prominent South African Bitcoiner and the founder of Bitcoin Ekasi and The Surfer Kids non-profit. They dive deep into the recent draft regulations proposed by the South African government that threaten to essentially ban peer-to-peer Bitcoin usage through aggressive updates to the country's 1961 Capital Controls Act. Hermann breaks down how these vague new rules could force citizens to turn over assets to the state treasury or mandate holding funds in highly regulated, KYC-walled gardens, effectively outlawing local circular economies. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Hermann Vivier Follow Hermann on X: https://x.com/vryfokkenou Follow Bitcoin Ekasi on X: https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi Follow the Property Rights Defense Group on X: https://x.com/PRDG_ZA/ Learn more about Bitcoin Ekasi: https://bitcoinekasi.com/ Learn more about the Property Rights Defense Group: https://propertyrightsdefense.org/ Timestamps: 0:00 Highlights 0:32 Introduction 3:52 Overview of the Proposed Capital Control Regulations in South Africa 10:30 Why are these controls being proposed now? 15:58 Communist Ideology in South Africa 22:32 Stopping South Africa from Becoming a 'Bitcoin Country' 27:44 Issues with the South African Bureaucracy and Administrative State 32:42 Why Hermann Is Optimistic 36:24 What can Bitcoiners do to help? 40:32 Why Some Non-White South Africans Support Communist Ideology 48:12 Why South Africans Aren't Leaving 53:34 Final Thoughts bitcoin #btc #africa #southafrica #regulation #law #laws #bitcoinekasi #politics #government #money #capital #capitalcontrols #finance #p2p #p2prights

  6. May 9

    Mostro: Building Censorship-Resistant P2P Bitcoin Trading on Nostr w/ Francisco Calderón

    In this episode, we sit down with Francisco Calderon, a veteran developer and a central figure in the Latin American Bitcoin scene. Francisco shares his journey from experiencing the economic collapse in Venezuela to building Mostro, a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) trading protocol. We discuss how Mostro leverages the Nostr protocol to remove single points of failure, providing a lifeline for users in regions like Cuba and Bolivia where financial censorship and slow internet are daily realities. Beyond P2P trading, Francisco dives into the philosophical importance of open-source technology and his vision for the future. From using Bitcoin as a tool for remittances to his experimental work on decentralized voting systems, this conversation explores how sovereign technology can empower individuals globally. Whether you are interested in the technical mechanics of the Lightning Network or the humanitarian impact of Bitcoin, this episode offers a deep dive into the tech that is actually changing lives on the ground. Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:38 Introduction 2:38 Discovering Bitcoin 6:00 Francisco Starts Working on Bitcoin/Lightning 8:41 Building LNP2P Bot 12:59 Building Mostro 17:25 Where Mostro Is Used 19:19 How Mostro Utilizes Nostr 21:42 Who Mostro Was Built For 25:20 Can Mostro work with Ecash? 27:29 How big can Mostro get? 34:29 Perspective on Countries in Crisis 37:38 Maduro's Capture and the Current State of Venezuela 43:39 The Open-Source Future Is Bright 49:23 Closing Bitcoin #P2P #Mostro #Nostr #LightningNetwork #OpenSource #Venezuela #Cuba #SovereignTech #FinancialFreedom #CensorshipResistant #Crypto #Decentralized #BitcoinTrading #TechForGood #LatinAmerica #SovereignLiving #Remittances #BitcoinDev #Blockchain

  7. Apr 24

    The Fight For Real Bitcoin Freedom w/ Hannah Rosenberg

    Hannah Rosenberg of Lightning Labs joins Frank for a philosophical deep dive into the state of Bitcoin in 2026. This episode explores the "human being problem" behind Bitcoin's growing pains, specifically focusing on how authoritarianism and elitism have infiltrated American Bitcoin circles. Hannah shares personal experiences of how the space has changed and why she maintains respect for the "diamonds in the rough" who uphold their principles despite the pressure to chase power or clout. Beyond the cultural critiques, we look at the practical future of Bitcoin as a global currency. From the importance of de minimis tax exemptions to the rise of inclusive economies over extractive ones, we cover the logistics of a Bitcoin-fueled renaissance. We also discuss why the most interesting Bitcoin stories are currently happening outside of the West, where the technology is a literal lifeline rather than just a financial asset. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Hannah Rosenberg Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:10 Intro 1:50 Authoritarianism and Elitism in Bitcoin 13:06 Are human beings unavoidably hierarchical? 20:28 Upholding the Bitcoin Ethos 27:58 Is the circle of high-integrity people expanding? 29:27 Human Psychology and the Fear State 36:05 The Difficult of Serving Bitcoin 41:58 Can Bitcoin help us to be better? 49:04 What Keeps Hannah Motivated 53:19 Will better regulation help with Bitcoin adoption? 1:02:04 Final Thoughts Bitcoin #LightningNetwork #Crypto #Decentralization #FinancialFreedom #Blockchain #BitcoinCulture #LightningLabs #GlobalSouth #EconomicFreedom #Bitcoin2026 #TechEthics #Psychology #HumanRights #DigitalCurrency

  8. Apr 10

    On the Iran Conflict and Bitcoin in the Middle East w/ Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

    Faisal Saeed Al Mutar joins us to discuss the reality of the situation in Iran, including how people from the region view at the conflict. He debunks common misconceptions about Iran's ethnic makeup and discusses how local populations really feel about the regime and foreign intervention. We also discuss the multiple layers on which Bitcoin has been adopted in the Middle East. Please note that this episode was recorded before the two-week ceasefire agreement, which was announced on April 7, 2026. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Faisal Saeed Al Mutar Link to Faisal's newsletter, Middle East Uncovered: https://www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/ Link to Faisal's organization, Ideas Beyond Borders: https://ideasbeyondborders.org/ Video Timestamps: 0:00 Highlights 0:30 Introduction 3:33 An Overview of the Iran Conflict 10:02 Best and Worst Possible Outcomes 15:53 Opening the Straight of Hormuz 22:50 An Ethnic and Religious Breakdown of Iran's Population 24:40 Iran Isn't Venezuela 30:15 How many Iranians want regime change? 38:15 Iran and Freedom 42:47 Different Perspectives of Iranians 48:35 Bitcoin in the Middle East 58:02 Shelly Kittleson 1:03:38 Outro MiddleEast #IranWar #Bitcoin #Geopolitics #IranIsrael #StraitOfHormuz #Iraq #HumanRights #SovereignTech #RegimeChange #IdeasBeyond Borders #Lebanon #Afghanistan #GlobalEnergy #USForeignPolicy #Freedom #TheDayAfter #Journalism #MiddleEastUncovered

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4.9
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We cover Bitcoin adoption around the globe.

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