Bitcoin Policy Institute

Bitcoin Policy Institute

The BPI team comprises experts in economics, law, philosophy, energy, and environmental science, working together to explore the impacts of new technology on existing US public policy interests. Below you'll find a variety of shows featuring BPI fellows, staff and guests, all of which explore the intersection of Bitcoin and United States policy.

  1. Oct 19

    Travis Fisher, Marty Bent and Thomas Pacchia: Powering It All

    Can the power grid keep up with AI without leaving ratepayers with the bill? Marty Bent and Travis Fisher join Thomas Pacchia to discuss grid capacity, private power, permitting and what AI infrastructure can learn from Bitcoin mining. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:45 Lessons from Bitcoin mining02:24 The strongest critiques of rapid grid growth04:24 Private grids and off-grid experimentation06:46 Who pays if demand falls short?07:21 Moving compute toward available power09:17 Flexibility, storage, and permitting reform12:20 Political risk and AI’s economic role Session: Powering It AllRecorded during Day 2 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 23, 2026, in Washington, DC.Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERSThomas Pacchia — Co-Founder, PubKey; moderatorTravis Fisher — Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, Cato InstituteMarty Bent — Managing Partner, Ten31 LEARN MOREFreedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summitBitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/PubKey DC: https://dc.pubkey.com/pressTravis Fisher — Cato Institute: https://www.cato.org/people/travis-fisherTen31: https://ten31.vc/Marty Bent — TFTC: https://www.tftc.io/author/marty FOLLOW ON XThomas Pacchia: @tpacchia — https://x.com/tpacchiaPubKey: @pubkey — https://x.com/pubkeyMarty Bent: @MartyBent — https://x.com/MartyBentBitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBEBitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPIThe Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #Energy #BitcoinMining

    Travis Fisher, Marty Bent and Thomas Pacchia: Powering It All

  2. Oct 19

    Seb Sheng, Brian Morgenstern and AJ Scalia: Recapturing the Data Center Narrative

    What do AI data centers mean for your electricity bill—and how should the industry respond to public concerns? Seb Sheng, Brian Morgenstern and AJ Scalia examine power demand, efficiency, local benefits and the case for earning community trust. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:44 Taking community concerns seriously05:05 Making the case for shared prosperity06:46 Challenging water and power narratives09:11 Turning efficiency into capacity12:48 Building lasting local relationships16:13 AI, jobs, and public trust19:23 Rural communities and more affordable services Session: Recapturing the Data Center NarrativeRecorded during Day 2 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 23, 2026, in Washington, DC.Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERSAJ Scalia — Head of Operations, Bitcoin Policy Institute; moderatorSeb Sheng — CEO and Founder, Brick AIBrian Morgenstern — Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Riot Platforms LEARN MOREFreedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summitBitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/AJ Scalia — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/aj-scaliaBrick AI: https://www.brick-data.com/Riot Platforms: https://www.riotplatforms.com/ FOLLOW ON XAJ Scalia: @ajscalia — https://x.com/ajscaliaBrian Morgenstern: @MorgensternNJ — https://x.com/MorgensternNJRiot Platforms: @RiotPlatforms — https://x.com/RiotPlatformsBitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBEBitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPIThe Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #DataCenters #Energy

    Seb Sheng, Brian Morgenstern and AJ Scalia: Recapturing the Data Center Narrative

  3. Oct 11

    Paul Hanson and Sam Lyman: Beyond Power and Permits: Community Engagement in Data Center Development

    Can AI data centers deliver benefits that local communities actually want? Paul Hanson joins Sam Lyman to discuss community engagement, industrial redevelopment, local jobs, electricity costs and the lessons Bitcoin miners bring to AI infrastructure. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:36 Why communities push back02:35 Making the case for local benefits05:30 Designing around neighborhood concerns08:00 Reindustrializing Rockdale10:38 Ratepayer protection and grid investment15:36 Data centers and national security Session: Beyond Power and Permits: Community Engagement in Data Center DevelopmentRecorded during Day 2 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 23, 2026, in Washington, DC.Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERSSam Lyman — Head of Research, Bitcoin Policy Institute; moderatorPaul Hanson — Chairman, Bitdeer HPCAI LEARN MOREFreedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summitBitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/Sam Lyman — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/sam-lymanBitdeer: https://bitdeer.com/ FOLLOW ON XSam Lyman: @SamLyman33 — https://x.com/SamLyman33Bitdeer HPCAI: @Bitdeer — https://x.com/BitdeerBitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBEBitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPIThe Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #DataCenters #AI

    Paul Hanson and Sam Lyman: Beyond Power and Permits: Community Engagement in Data Center Development

  4. Oct 11

    Sam Lyman: A Policy Platform for Cypherpunk Humanism

    Who should control the technology that shapes your speech, privacy and digital life? Sam Lyman connects cypherpunk humanism with self-government and outlines a policy platform for free speech, privacy and the right to compute. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:42 Freedom tech and self-government02:51 A policy platform for digital rights03:38 Free speech and the right to compute Session: A Policy Platform for Cypherpunk HumanismRecorded during Day 2 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 23, 2026, in Washington, DC.Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERSSam Lyman — Head of Research, Bitcoin Policy Institute LEARN MOREFreedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summitBitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/Sam Lyman — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/sam-lyman FOLLOW ON XSam Lyman: @SamLyman33 — https://x.com/SamLyman33Bitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBEBitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPIThe Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #DigitalRights #AIPolicy

    Sam Lyman: A Policy Platform for Cypherpunk Humanism

  5. Oct 10

    Patrick Witt and Ken Egan: After Clarity: Lessons for AI Policy

    What can the fight over crypto legislation teach policymakers about AI? Patrick Witt joins Ken Egan to discuss the CLARITY effort, durable regulation, open-source developer protections, AI payments and future digital-asset policy proposals. CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:08 What comes after the CLARITY setback?02:17 AI agents, payments and regulatory durability03:56 Lessons from educating Congress06:54 How AI companies engage with policymakers08:54 Open-source developers and civil liberties11:47 Reserve, crypto tax and reconciliation prospects Session: After Clarity: Lessons for AI PolicyRecorded during Day 2 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 23, 2026, in Washington, DC.Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERSKen Egan — Head of Government Affairs, Bitcoin Policy Institute; moderatorPatrick Witt — Executive Director, President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets LEARN MOREFreedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summitBitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/Ken Egan — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/ken-eganThe White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ FOLLOW ON XKen Egan: @Bayman11771 — https://x.com/Bayman11771Bitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBEBitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPIThe Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #AIPolicy #DigitalAssets

    Patrick Witt and Ken Egan: After Clarity: Lessons for AI Policy

  6. Oct 9

    Ramez Naam: Plural AI as a Freedom Technology

    Ramez Naam examines how widely available AI could support individual liberty, drawing comparisons with earlier information technologies. He discusses competition among AI models, open weights, safety and security, and the challenges facing the open source AI community. Recorded during Day 1 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 22, 2026, in Washington, DC. Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERS Ramez Naam — Author, The Nexus Trilogy LEARN MORE Freedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summit Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/ Ramez Naam: https://www.rameznaam.com/ The Nexus Trilogy — publisher: https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/nexus-ramez-naam/ FOLLOW ON X Ramez Naam: @ramez — https://x.com/ramez Bitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Bitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPI The Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #BitcoinPolicyInstitute #RamezNaam #OpenSource #AI

    Ramez Naam: Plural AI as a Freedom Technology

  7. Oct 8

    Conner Brown, David Zell and Janessa Lopez: Future of BPI

    Janessa Lopez joins Conner Brown and David Zell to discuss the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s origins, growth, and future direction. They explain the Freedom Tech DC name, connections between Bitcoin and AI policy, and their goals for research and advocacy supporting individual liberty. Recorded during Day 1 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 22, 2026, in Washington, DC. Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERS Conner Brown — Executive Director, Bitcoin Policy Institute David Zell — President, Bitcoin Policy Institute Janessa Lopez — Head of Digital Assets Policy, Block LEARN MORE Freedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summit Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/ Conner Brown — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/conner-brown David Zell — BPI: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/david-zell Block: https://block.xyz/ FOLLOW ON X Conner Brown: @BitcoinConner — https://x.com/BitcoinConner David Zell: @DavidZell_ — https://x.com/DavidZell_ Block: @blocks — https://x.com/blocks Bitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Bitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPI The Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #BitcoinPolicyInstitute #Bitcoin #AI #CivilLiberties

    Conner Brown, David Zell and Janessa Lopez: Future of BPI

  8. Oct 7

    Anna Chekhovich and Arsh Molu: Freedom Tech in the Hands of Activists

    Anna Chekhovich joins Arsh Molu to discuss how activists use Bitcoin when governments block bank accounts and restrict cross-border support. They describe the Anti-Corruption Foundation’s experience, practical education for nonprofits, and the opportunities and privacy concerns surrounding AI tools for human rights work. Recorded during Day 1 of Freedom Tech DC 2026, September 22, 2026, in Washington, DC. Presented by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. SPEAKERS Arsh Molu — Freedom Tech Strategy & Operations Lead, Human Rights Foundation; moderator Anna Chekhovich — Financial Director, Anti-Corruption Foundation LEARN MORE Freedom Tech DC: https://www.btcpolicy.org/summit Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/ Human Rights Foundation: https://hrf.org/ Arsh Molu — Oslo Freedom Forum: https://oslofreedomforum.com/speaker/arsh-molu/ Anti-Corruption Foundation: https://fbk.info/en FOLLOW ON X Arsh Molu: @arshmolu — https://x.com/arshmolu Anna Chekhovich: @AnyaChekhovich — https://x.com/AnyaChekhovich Anti-Corruption Foundation: @ACF_int — https://x.com/ACF_int Bitcoin Policy Institute: @bitcoinpolicy — https://x.com/bitcoinpolicy SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Bitcoin Policy Institute: @btcpolicyorg — https://www.youtube.com/@btcpolicyorg ABOUT BPI The Bitcoin Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit advancing Bitcoin policy through research, education, and engagement with policymakers. #FreedomTechDC #BitcoinPolicyInstitute #Bitcoin #HumanRights #FreedomTech

    Anna Chekhovich and Arsh Molu: Freedom Tech in the Hands of Activists
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About

The BPI team comprises experts in economics, law, philosophy, energy, and environmental science, working together to explore the impacts of new technology on existing US public policy interests. Below you'll find a variety of shows featuring BPI fellows, staff and guests, all of which explore the intersection of Bitcoin and United States policy.

Information

  • Creator
    Bitcoin Policy Institute
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bitcoin Policy Institute
  • Show Website
    Bitcoin Policy Institute

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