Bitcoin Audible

Guy Swann

The Best in Bitcoin made Audible. Guy Swann makes the knowledge of Bitcoin, the world's most secure, independent money, accessible to everyone. Exploring Bitcoin from an investment perspective, economic analysis, its philosophical foundations, & technological primitives. Reading and distilling thousands of hours of others' works on Bitcoin, Guy explains everything you need to know.

  1. Chat_164 - Skating To Where The Puck Will Be with Matt Hill

    12H AGO

    Chat_164 - Skating To Where The Puck Will Be with Matt Hill

    "We are trying to make it possible for people to use computers as simple of a statement as this: use computers, without intermediaries and custodians. The more they do, the more the lines will diverge. Until there's a chasm between the centralised model and the decentralised model with a clear line between them. And we will force either a reconciliation at the natural, technical level, let the best product in the market win, or we will force the hand of the authoritarians to say that our model is illegal. And then we have a different reconciliatory approach. Which is, okay, it's revolution time." ~ Matt Hill Big tech platforms have spent years trapping us behind their gates. And honestly, I am sick of it. The "cloud" is just someone else's computer, and companies are skimming our data at every single turn. CEO of Start9, Matt Hill, is my guest today, and is actually doing something about it. We sat down to talk about how bad the institutional theft of our privacy has gotten, and why building your own digital escape hatch is no longer just for hardcore nerds. Matt brought the fire in this one. He walks me through the absolute beast that is StartOS 0.4.0 -- the OS they spent the last three years rebuilding from absolute scratch. He also gave us the rundown on their upcoming StartWRT router, and breaks down how they finally made complex networking feel like putting together simple Ikea furniture. But the conversation goes way deeper than just hardware and updates. We get into the existential threat of AI, what happens when people get automated away, and why you desperately need to run your agents locally. Matt sees the current systems sinking like the Titanic, and we spend a lot of time trying to figure out exactly how to scramble for the higher decks. If you have been procrastinating on taking control of your own computing, this conversation will give you the push you need. Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models (00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines (00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing (00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure (00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose (01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology (01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny (01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control (01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI (01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly (02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles (02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy (02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers Guest Links Matt on X (Link: https://twitter.com/_MattHill_) Start9's Website (Link: https://start9.com/) Affiliate Links Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/) Get ⁠10% off the COLDCARD⁠ with code BITCOINAUDIBLE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/coldcard) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Li... Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models(00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines(00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing(00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure(00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose(01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology(01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny(01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control(01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI(01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly(02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles(02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy(02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers

    2h 53m
  2. Read_937 - When the Withdraws Start [FFR 115]

    3D AGO

    Read_937 - When the Withdraws Start [FFR 115]

    "Residents withdrew over 1.6 trillion rubles, or $19.7 billion in January, desperately turning to cash amid increased state controls." As governments push CBDCs to clamp down on dissent and capital flight, is Bitcoin our last line of defense for true sovereignty? Today with the Financial Freedom Report we dive into global news - from Hong Kong's surveillance crackdowns to offline AI-Bitcoin kits like BlackBox - plus my take on why Lightning could make digital cash frictionless. Will these innovations outpace authoritarian overreach, or is the cashless trap closing in? Check out the original article from the Financial Freedom Report: Financial Freedom Report #115 (Link: https://hrf.org/latest/hrfs-weekly-financial-freedom-report-115/) References from the episode Nostr VPN: A tool released by early Bitcoin developer Martti Malmi (Link: https://github.com/mmalmi/nostr-vpn) BlackBox: An Experimental Kit for Offline AI, Messaging, and Bitcoin. Still experimental, but super intriguing. (Link: https://blackbox.host/) Check out the MIT Bitcoin Expo 2026 details: this year's edition is titled "Freedom for All". (Link: https://mitbitcoinexpo.org/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839) Check out our awesome partners! Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/) Get ⁠10% off the COLDCARD⁠ with code BITCOINAUDIBLE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/coldcard) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Link: https://www.freemarketkids.com/collections/games-1) (Under construction) Check out the list of products and services I use and recommend on BitcoinAudible.com (Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/)

    40 min
  3. Roundtable_019 - Bitcoin's In-House Stress Test

    APR 2

    Roundtable_019 - Bitcoin's In-House Stress Test

    This week, the whole crew is back for another Roundtable. I sat down with Mechanic, Steve, and Jeff to talk about the painful reality of Bitcoin mining today, the chaos of global politics, and some wild stories about corporate power plays. We started by looking at why mining is under so much pressure right now. The industry is getting a brutal and much-needed reality check. Fiat-fueled operations are feeling the squeeze, and it’s a reminder that if you aren't building on a foundation of hard money and efficiency, the market will eventually push you out. We also couldn't avoid the latest controversy surrounding Swan Bitcoin and the bizarre, high-stakes fallout involving Tether and Cantor Fitzgerald. Was this a calculated rug pull or just the ugly reality of trying to scale in a corporate world that’s already been bought and paid for? We break down what this really means for the future of Bitcoin. Guest Links Steve Simple Nostr (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3s6a8yn8) Steve Simple on X (Link: https://x.com/stevesimple) Bitcoin Mechanic Nostr (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2tm827ut) Bitcoin Mechanic on X (Link: https://x.com/GrassFedBitcoin) Jeff Swann Nostr (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3sjc3bcp) Jeff Swann on X (Link: https://x.com/agoristview) Affiliate Links Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/) Get ⁠10% off the COLDCARD⁠ with code BITCOINAUDIBLE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/coldcard) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Link: https://www.freemarketkids.com/collections/games-1) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    2h 21m
  4. Read_936 - Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login

    MAR 31

    Read_936 - Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login

    “The seed phrase has been a barrier to self-custody since day one. It’s what scares normies away from keeping their own bitcoin, and it’s a legitimate reason why people accept the counterparty risk of exchanges and custodial apps.” ~ Breez What if Bitcoin adoption is stuck not because of the tech but because we are obsessed with "perfect" security? I just read Juan Galt’s thoughts on Breeze SDK’s seedless wallets using Passkey Login, and it hit home. We have to lower the barriers for normies if we actually want them to use this. Is it finally possible to balance self-custody with real-world ease? This might be the bridge we need to move away from custodial risks toward actual everyday freedom. Check out the original article: Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login by Juan Galt (Link: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/breez-sdk-launches-passkey-login-for-seedless-bitcoin-wallets) References from the episode Check out the new Roundtable episode dropping this Thursday: it's packed with mining insights, price action updates, and corporate drama. If you're into the latest Bitcoin developments and cool upcoming projects, keep an eye out for the next two Chat episodes with Matt Hill and Svetski. If you're around, join me at Bit Block Boom in Dallas-Fort Worth from April 9th to 12th - I'll be sharing some fun stuff on what I'm currently building. (Link: https://bitblockboom.com/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    31 min
  5. Read_935 - AI Will Eat Application Software

    MAR 26

    Read_935 - AI Will Eat Application Software

    "Yes, AI is a big deal, but the conclusion that AI is going to kill the vertical and functional software business model simply makes no sense. The truth is that AI simply isn't going to kill software companies. After all this panic has passed, we'll see that AI is the best thing that ever happened to the software industry." ~ Alex Immerman and Santiago Rodriguez Ever wonder if AI is really going to wipe out software companies and leave us all jobless in a post-human economy? Listen in this episode where I read a A16Z article dismantling the doom and gloom, then rant on why AI amplifies human judgment, process power, and relative value - turning creative destruction into the ultimate boon for innovation. Could this be the take that flips your fears into excitement? Check out the original article: AI Will Eat Application Software by Alex Immerman and Santiago Rodriguez (Link: https://www.a16z.news/p/good-news-ai-will-eat-application) References from the episode Peter Steinberg's article on managing AI agents and process engineering, which sparked my thoughts on judgment and memory in AI. (Link: https://steipete.me/posts/just-talk-to-it) Dig into my feed for those recent episodes on AI coding and vibe coding; they're full of practical takes on agents and processes. Check out our awesome sponsors! HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter) OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    54 min
  6. Guy's Take_105 - Did Epstein Hijack Bitcoin?

    MAR 26

    Guy's Take_105 - Did Epstein Hijack Bitcoin?

    Did Jeffrey Epstein secretly hijack Bitcoin during the block size war? Was is all a covert operation by Jeffrey Epstein and shadowy government actors to permanently handicap Bitcoin? The big blockers want you to think so. In this Take, I tear apart the narrative piece by piece - following the money, reading the emails, and exposing why this conspiracy exists in the first place, and what it says about the people still pushing it. References from the episode Joy Ito's article on the block size debate is still up and worth reading if you want his actual stated position (Link: https://joi.ito.com/weblog/2016/02/22/my-view-on-the-.html) The DOJ Epstein email dump is publicly available if you want to dig through it yourself - fair warning, it's a lot. (Link: https://jmail.world/) The full video version of this breakdown will be shared shortly on my YouTube. I combined all seven parts into one, so it's way easier to watch straight through. (Link: https://youtu.be/OHT7pG-gZfU) Check out our awesome sponsors! HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter) OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    30 min
  7. Chat_163 - Mining in Real Life with Bitcoin Mechanic & HODLTarantula [Plan-B El Salvador]

    MAR 19

    Chat_163 - Mining in Real Life with Bitcoin Mechanic & HODLTarantula [Plan-B El Salvador]

    "When it comes to building in the approach, you have to be taking the approach as utilising the fundamental principles that we see in Bitcoin itself. So having a standard rule set that you apply to yourself every day with discipline and developing standard operating procedures that force us to hold ourselves accountable to higher standards. It's a daily grind, like you have to be always doing preventative maintenance, inspections and things like that so that you can kind of foresee issues before they happen and keep this infrastructure going because it's not just for self, this is bigger than us and it requires a great sacrifice sometimes to achieve greatness." ~ HODLTarantula While down at Plan B El Salvador, I managed to pull together a last-minute mining panel with two of the absolute best in the space. Bitcoin Mechanic from Ocean and the off-grid mining legend HODLTarantula join me to get into the weeds of physical infrastructure on the ground. We discuss the critical distinction between simply hashing and actually mining, and why that gap poses a massive centralization risk to the network. From the importance of constructing your own block templates to the "wild horse" philosophy of scavenging energy sources, we cover what it really takes to be unstoppable. If you aren't building the block, are you really a miner? Check out our awesome sponsors! HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter) OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/) Guest Links HT on X (Link: https://twitter.com/HodlTarantula) HT's Website (Link: https://sovereignhybridcompute.com/) Mechanic on X (Link: https://twitter.com/GrassFedBitcoin) Ocean's Website (Link: https://ocean.xyz/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    26 min
  8. Chat_162 - Plan-B El Salvador with Giacomo Zucco

    MAR 12

    Chat_162 - Plan-B El Salvador with Giacomo Zucco

    "If people are not ready for Bitcoin, just go use USDT as long as you can before dollar hyperinflation. It's like Noah's Ark: it's going to rain, we build the ark. We don't have to force people on board. Just wait there, and when you feel ready to swim, come aboard." ~ Giacomo Zucco Earlier this year at the Plan B conference in El Salvador, I managed to pull Giacomo Zucco aside to take a pulse on the current state of the Bitcoin world. In this Chat, we debate whether the classic four-year cycle is dead, or if we are simply stuck in the bargaining phase of grief where the world tries to fit old fiat models onto new money. We then discuss whether stablecoins constitute a necessary bridge - like methadone for a fiat junkie - or if they are just delaying the inevitable. Giacomo also breaks down his new Cypher Tank initiative and why he is funding the next generation of cypherpunk projects. At last, we pivot to the creeping dangers of the surveillance state and why KYC is fundamentally a regression to pre-civilization barter systems. Check out our awesome sponsors! HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter) OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/) Guest Links Giacomo on X (Link: https://twitter.com/giacomozucco) Giacomo's Website (Link: https://www.giacomozucco.com/) Plan B Network Website (Link: https://planb.network/) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

    36 min
4.9
out of 5
423 Ratings

About

The Best in Bitcoin made Audible. Guy Swann makes the knowledge of Bitcoin, the world's most secure, independent money, accessible to everyone. Exploring Bitcoin from an investment perspective, economic analysis, its philosophical foundations, & technological primitives. Reading and distilling thousands of hours of others' works on Bitcoin, Guy explains everything you need to know.

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