What Bitcoin Did

Danny Knowles

What Bitcoin Did unpacks Bitcoin’s role in reshaping money, freedom, and the future of finance.

  1. From Wall Street to Bitcoin & The Separation of Money & State | Vijay Selvam

    1 DAY AGO

    From Wall Street to Bitcoin & The Separation of Money & State | Vijay Selvam

    Vijay Selvam digs into the first principles of Bitcoin, why it matters, how it works, and what makes it the greatest tool against authoritarian states. From his background on Wall Street during the 2008 financial crisis to writing Principles of Bitcoin, Vijay explains why digital scarcity is a paradigm-shifting invention and why separating money from the state may be one of the most important moments in human history. We explore why narratives like “digital gold” are both useful and limiting, how Bitcoin embodies Enlightenment values of decentralization, and why its real political and philosophical implications go far beyond finance. Vijay also shares why the greatest threats to Bitcoin come from within, and how Bitcoin serves as both a mirror and a peaceful revolution for humanity. In this episode: - The 2008 financial crisis and discovering Bitcoin - Digital scarcity and the core innovation of Bitcoin - Separation of money and state vs. church and state - Narratives: digital gold, freedom money, and beyond - Bitcoin’s political and philosophical ramifications - Why Bitcoin is a mirror that forces self-reflection THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Vijay Selvam: https://x.com/VijaySelvamXO

    1h 2m
  2. The Real Bitcoin Revolution Is Grassroots | Rod Roudi

    5 DAYS AGO

    The Real Bitcoin Revolution Is Grassroots | Rod Roudi

    Rod Roudi gets into the convergence of Bitcoin, AI, energy, and freedom tech — and why grassroots adoption matters just as much as corporate treasury plays. From the rise of Bitcoin meetups and physical hubs like Bitcoin Park to the explosive growth of mining innovation, Rod makes the case that open-source tools and community-driven education are the foundations of Bitcoin’s future. We discuss how Bitcoin Park solo-mined a block against one-in-a-thousand odds, and why home-grown projects like BitAxe and miner-powered heating systems are reshaping the mining landscape. Rod also shares how he uses AI in his own workflows, what the future of education might look like for his kids, and why entrepreneurial grit will matter more than credentials in the age of automation. In this episode: - The rise of grassroots Bitcoin communities and meetups - Solo-mining a block live - Mining decentralisation - The convergence of Bitcoin, AI, and energy THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Rod Roudi: https://x.com/bitkite Imagine IF: https://bitcoinpark.com/imagineif Bitcoin Park: https://bitcoinpark.com/

    1h 7m
  3. Paper Bitcoin Summer | American HODL & Steven Lubka

    28 AUG

    Paper Bitcoin Summer | American HODL & Steven Lubka

    American HODL & Steven Lubka get into the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies, unpacking how securitisation, jurisdictional arbitrage, and corporate leverage are shaping the next phase of Bitcoin’s financialisation. We discuss whether this new wave of Bitcoin-wrapped equities is a healthy Bitcoin on-ramp or just a speculative bubble, and what happens to these companies in a bear market. Steven breaks down Nakamoto’s strategy, from running higher leverage to building a global network of local vehicles and using M&A to accumulate Bitcoin at scale. We get into the “Paper Bitcoin Summer” thesis, the morality of treasury cos, if they are just another form of shitcoining, or a necessary step to embed Bitcoin into public markets and give millions passive exposure? In this episode: - The playbook for Bitcoin treasury companies - Why size, leverage, and jurisdiction matter for survival - MNAVs, premiums, and the risk in a bear market - The morality of treasury companies THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny American HODL: https://primal.net/hodl Steven Lubka: https://x.com/dzambhalahodl

    1h 26m
  4. The Bull Market, Institutional Adoption & 2026 Recession? | Willy Woo

    26 AUG

    The Bull Market, Institutional Adoption & 2026 Recession? | Willy Woo

    Willy Woo gets into Bitcoin’s evolving market structure, breaking down how institutional flows, ETFs, and treasury companies are reshaping the bull market. He explains why Bitcoin has never faced a true business cycle downturn, why 2026 could be the first real test, and how liquidity waves set the rhythm for both blow-off tops and brutal bear markets. He unpacks the mechanics of Strategy's debt model versus MetaPlanet’s synthetic leverage, how ETFs are smoothing inflows and dampening volatility, and why premiums to NAV create both opportunity and risk. Willy also zooms out to the thousand-year arc of money, showing why fiat is a short-lived social consensus ledger and Bitcoin is destined to be the next energy-secured system of value. In this episode: - How ETFs are changing Bitcoin’s price dynamics - Premiums to NAV, synthetic leverage, and liquidation risk - Why treasury companies could amplify the next bear market - Liquidity cycles and business downturns - ESG, BlackRock, and the shift in institutional adoption - The transition from gold and fiat to Bitcoin THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/\\\\\\\_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Willy Woo: https://x.com/woonomic

    1h 12m
  5. The Bitcoin Treasury Playbook | Preston Pysh

    21 AUG

    The Bitcoin Treasury Playbook | Preston Pysh

    Preston Pysh gives us a masterclass on Bitcoin treasury companies, unpacking the mechanics behind Michael Saylor’s strategy and why it has outperformed Bitcoin since 2020. He explains how preferred stock and convertible debt are being engineered to funnel Bitcoin onto balance sheets, why the unraveling of the fixed-income market is the hidden fuel behind this model, and the risks investors face in treating treasury companies as a proxy for holding Bitcoin. Preston gets into the accounting controversies around MicroStrategy, the looming threat of government nationalisation, and why self-custody Bitcoin is the ultimate safeguard. In this episode: - Why self-custody Bitcoin is important - How preferred stock and convertible debt power treasury growth - The collapse of the 40-year fixed-income bull market - Understanding premiums to NAV and dilution risks - “Ponzi-adjacent” Bitcoin treasuries - Nationalisation and centralisation risks for Bitcoin - Why the STRC issuance may be one of the most brilliant financial products ever designed THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/\\\_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Preston Pysh: https://x.com/prestonpysh or https://primal.net/preston

    1h 7m
  6. Saving Bedford with Bitcoin | Peter McCormack

    19 AUG

    Saving Bedford with Bitcoin | Peter McCormack

    In this episode, Peter breaks down his five-year legal battle with Craig Wright, how UK libel laws were weaponised against him, and the moment the case finally turned in his favour. We also get into his fight to save Bedford, and why running businesses there changed his political view, how government policy makes entrepreneurship harder, and turning to private solutions because of the failure of the state. In this episode: - Craig Wright’s lawsuits and the UK libel system - The real impact of government policy - The mission to save Bedford THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/\\\_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Peter McCormack: https://x.com/PeterMcCormack

    1h 47m
  7. The War on Bitcoin Privacy | Calle

    14 AUG

    The War on Bitcoin Privacy | Calle

    Calle gets into into the future of financial and communication privacy, exploring how tools like Cashu and BitChat could help Bitcoiners survive in an increasingly hostile regulatory environment. He breaks down why privacy is essential for democracy, the lessons from the original Crypto Wars, and how eCash can offer near-perfect transaction privacy. Calle explains the history behind David Chaum’s invention, the trade-offs Bitcoin made for auditability, and why eCash mints could be run by communities for both Lightning payments and private internet services. As well as BitChat as a censorship-resistant messenger and the growing legal risks faced by privacy developers. In this episode: - Why financial privacy is as important as free speech - Lessons from the Crypto Wars 1.0 - How Chaumian eCash works and why it’s unmatched for privacy - Offline payments and tap-to-pay Bitcoin - The risks and pressures facing privacy developers today THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/\\\_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Calle: https://x.com/callebtc or https://primal.net/calle

    1h 33m
  8. Is MSTR a Ponzi? | Lyn Alden & Andy Constan

    11 AUG

    Is MSTR a Ponzi? | Lyn Alden & Andy Constan

    Lyn Alden and Andy Constan go deep on Bitcoin treasury companies like Strategy, debating whether they’re outright Ponzi schemes or legitimate vehicles for leveraged Bitcoin exposure. We dig into how these companies actually generate returns, why premiums to NAV exist, and the conditions that could cause the model to unravel. Lyn lays out her cautiously bullish case for well-run treasuries, while Andy argues the structure depends on new capital in ways that can’t last forever. In this episode: - What makes a Bitcoin treasury company different from an ETF - Why premiums to NAV exist - How Strategy’s capital structure works - Whether treasury companies can generate income without selling Bitcoin - The “Ponzi-adjacent” problem THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: IREN RIVER ANCHORWATCH BLOCKWARE LEDN BITKEY Follow: Danny Knowles: https://x.com/\_DannyKnowles or https://primal.net/danny Lyn Alden: https://x.com/LynAldenContact Andy Constan: https://x.com/dampedspring

    1h 46m
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Hosts & Guests

About

What Bitcoin Did unpacks Bitcoin’s role in reshaping money, freedom, and the future of finance.

Information

  • Creator
    Danny Knowles
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    What Bitcoin Did

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