Bitcoin hit $125,000 this week, and it felt like nobody cared.
In this episode, I’m joined by three-time guest Michael Dunworth. He’s a longtime Bitcoiner and builder who helped roll licensing, on-ramps, off-ramps, and banking partners into an API for others to use.
We dig into how Bitcoin treasury companies turned a smart idea into a dangerous illusion. Big promises, confusing language, and off-chain trades have investors thinking they’re buying Bitcoin when they’re really buying risk. Custodians hold too much power. Analysts still use the wrong metrics. And the people trying to shortcut their way to gains keep getting wrecked.
You’ll Learn:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:06] Why Bitcoin treasury companies copied the Saylor playbook, and why it backfired
[03:18] The reason “acquired” is used intentionally as opposed to “bought” when companies announce Bitcoin buys
[04:49] What happens when investors chase Bitcoin exposure through stocks instead of self-custody
[06:32] How traditional analysts miss the point by measuring treasuries in dollars, not SATs per share
[14:11] The risk no one’s talking about when custodians hold a fifth of all Bitcoin
[37:52] What OTC net settlement reveals about “price suppression” myths
[44:09] How off-chain trading hides real Bitcoin demand from the charts
[57:58] Why centralization could turn Bitcoin’s strength into its biggest weakness
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Dao of Bitcoin by Scott Dedels | Book or Audiobook
The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook
Learn more from Michael by following him on X.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca
Bitcoin solves a critical problem that touches everyone. What happens when Canada faces that head-on?
In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Carlin, founder of the Canadian Bitcoin Conference, just a week before it returns to Montreal. This is the third run of the event, which started in Toronto in 2023 before moving to Montreal last year.
We get into what it takes to build a lineup of about 70 Bitcoin-focused speakers across two stages, and how the conference has become a place where you can actually connect with the people. Daniel also talks about the new business workshop designed for owners who want to learn how to bring Bitcoin into their operations.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[06:42] Why the conference moved to October in Montreal
[10:05] Building a lineup and what’s new with speakers this year
[13:57] The launch of a corporate workshop for business owners
[16:41] Adding hockey and social events to the conference culture
[19:12] What running a Bitcoin conference really feels like
[23:34] How ticket sales and turnout shift with Bitcoin’s price
[26:52] The Canadian economy’s drag on attendance and travel
[29:07] Looking ahead to Bitcoin adoption in Canada and beyond
[36:14] Conference details, workshops, and speakers
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Canadian Bitcoin Conference | Website
Learn more from Daniel on LinkedIn.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca
What if the single biggest mistake people make about Bitcoin is assuming it has to pay a yield to be real?
Welcome to episode 100 where I sit down with the one and only Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard. We strip Bitcoin back to its core: money that holds value because it can’t be easily made. We dig into why no yield doesn’t equal a Ponzi Scheme, how fiat currencies are designed to rob savers, and why houses became saving accounts instead of homes. Saifedean breaks down Bitcoin’s fixed supply, the way halving works, and why that scarcity keeps driving demand. We explore what happens when governments keep printing, why high time preference thinking blinds them to Bitcoin, and how this all adds up to a slow-motion debt jubilee as fiat fades into irrelevance.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[05:12] Why calling Bitcoin a Ponzi Scheme misses the point of money
[09:02] How fiat money robs savers and forces speculation
[12:11] Housing as a savings account and why Bitcoin fixes it
[15:07] Bitcoin’s fixed supply and the halving schedule
[19:14] Why scarcity pushes Bitcoin toward becoming global money
[23:41] The tipping point where Bitcoin overtakes other monies
[29:04] Governments, short-term thinking, and why they can’t grasp Bitcoin
[33:52] Bitcoin as a slow-motion debt jubilee replacing fiat debt
[36:44] Why expanding the money supply is a lie and divisibility matters
[38:59] Imagining the 20th century if the world had stayed on a gold standard
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook
The Fiat Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook
The Bitcoin Standard Podcast by Saifedean Ammous | Apple or Spotify
Find more From Saifedean:
Saifedean Ammous | Website
Saifedean Ammous | Instagram
Saifedean Ammous | X
Saifedean Ammous | Facebook
The Saifhouse | Website
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca
What if the real theft isn’t of your money, but of your time?
This episode was sparked by George Woodcock’s 1944 essay The Tyranny of the Clock. Woodcock, an economist, argued that the invention of the mechanical clock in 1657 fundamentally changed how humans related to time, making it possible to measure, schedule, and commodify life itself.
I trace that idea forward into the world of central banking, fiat money, and Bitcoin. From the Federal Reserve’s creation in 1913, to Nixon cutting gold from the dollar in 1971, to today’s endless money printing, the value of time has been systematically degraded. Bitcoin, with its fixed supply and transparent schedule, offers a way to break free of this trap and restore time as the most valuable asset we have.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[09:00] The mechanical clock’s invention in 1657 and how it redefined time
[11:47] Factories, schools, and armies turning human life into scheduled labor
[14:32] Central banking, fixed time, and why money keeps losing value
[18:15] Bitcoin as a clock built on blocks, epochs, and difficulty adjustments
[21:57] High time preference and disposable culture in food, buildings, and media
[24:38] Low time preference and how Bitcoin lets you store time securely
[28:51] Civilization cycles, history, and Bitcoin as the next major shift
[31:42] Why Bitcoin is as significant as the printing press or the wheel
[34:12] How Block Rewards reshape saving, work, and the future of value
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Tyranny of the Clock by George Woodcock | Essay
The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin | Book
The Price of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth | Book or Audiobook
Bitcoin Is Time | Essay
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
👉🏻 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://www.blockrewards.ca
What if the smartest move your company could make right now isn’t launching a new product, but changing what sits on your balance sheet?
In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Burnett, Director of Bitcoin Strategy at Semler Scientific, the second American public company to adopt a Bitcoin standard.
We get into what it actually means to operate on a Bitcoin standard, how corporate treasury strategies for Bitcoin are emerging, and why adoption has moved from individuals to companies. Joe shares what his role involves day to day, how public and private companies think differently about Bitcoin, and the specific factors a small business owner might weigh before starting their own Bitcoin treasury.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[05:00] Why companies might choose to hold Bitcoin as an asset
[06:58] What it means to operate on a Bitcoin standard
[08:57] Key metrics for evaluating corporate Bitcoin treasuries
[11:55] How intelligent leverage can amplify Bitcoin returns
[15:00] The long-term outlook for Bitcoin treasury companies
[21:00] Inside the role of a director of Bitcoin strategy
[27:02] How small businesses can approach a Bitcoin treasury
[31:00] The challenges and trade-offs of proof of reserves
[37:58] Why Bitcoin remains the foundation beneath treasury strategies
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Semler Scientific | Website
If you want to learn more about Joe, follow him on LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
What happens when cheap money builds entire industries on debt?
In this episode I sit down with Dave Bradley. He was very early to Bitcoin and ran the first brick‑and‑mortar Bitcoin store in Canada.
We start with his “Bitcoin fixes things” lens on the car industry, financing bubbles, add‑on features, regulations, and union dynamics, and why he says Bitcoin would change those incentives. Then we get into how money printing shapes government power, the “sovereign individual” idea and the end of the mega‑state, plus what a Bitcoin reserve or commodity‑backed currency could mean for Alberta and why he predicts Alberta could leave Canada by the end of 2026.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[06:18] How Bitcoin could fix the car industry
[10:47] The shift in spending when money gains value over time
[15:00] Why Bitcoin changes the buyer’s relationship with government power
[18:23] How government intervention distorts markets
[24:00] The sovereign individual theory and the decline of the mega state
[34:00] How a strategic Bitcoin reserve could protect Alberta
[38:00] The idea of a currency backed by gold, Bitcoin, and oil
[42:00] Why Alberta could thrive with low taxes and unleashed oil production
[45:00] Dave’s prediction for Alberta’s separation from Canada
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg | Book or Audiobook
If you want to learn more from Dave, visit his website and follow him on LinkedIn and X.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
How safe is your Bitcoin, really?
In this episode, I sit down with George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO of Balance, Canada’s oldest and largest digital asset custodian. Balance has been operating since 2017, holds roughly $3 billion in client assets (depending on market prices), and is regulated under a trust charter from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance.
We talk about why self-custody isn’t always practical, how most retail investors end up with “paper Bitcoin” instead of actual Bitcoin, and how Balance creates wallets with full legal title for clients while keeping assets secured offline in military-grade hardware inside bank-grade vaults. George also explains what it takes to protect assets against hackers and physical threats, and why he believes building and keeping crypto infrastructure in Canada is critical for the country’s financial future.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[05:00] Why custodians matter alongside self-custody for Bitcoin
[09:00] How Balance secures assets against hackers and physical threats
[13:00] The difference between legal title and “paper Bitcoin”
[17:00] Why custody is the biggest roadblock for Bitcoin payroll adoption
[19:00] How Canadian law protects client assets in a custodian insolvency
[21:00] Using Bitcoin as collateral for mortgages and loans
[24:00] Why quantum computing is a real future risk for custody systems
[28:00] The regulatory challenges pushing Canadian crypto assets to the US
[34:00] How Alberta enabled Balance to become a regulated custodian
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Balance | Website
Block Rewards Bitcoin Savings Plan | Website
Learn more about George on his website and follow him on LinkedIn.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
What if money doesn’t just buy things but actually changes how we think?
In this episode, I talk with Helena Andrejko, an Australian psychotherapist who works with individuals and couples, as well as a psychedelic-assisted therapist trained to use psilocybin and MDMA for trauma and depression treatment in regulated medical settings. She splits her time between her therapy practice and her work in the Bitcoin space.
We discuss how money can shape human consciousness, the overlap Helena sees between therapy and decentralization, and how trust functions differently in fiat and Bitcoin systems. Helena also shares why she believes Bitcoin challenges old power dynamics and what that could mean for how people relate to truth, pain, and authenticity.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[06:40] How Helena connects therapy and Bitcoin through decentralization
[08:55] The link between the invention of coinage and abstract thought
[15:10] Why fiat money mirrors a parent-child trust dynamic
[23:40] The hero, villain, and victim roles in money systems
[29:00] How CBDCs and centralized decisions place people in the victim role
[30:20] Why Bitcoin liberates authenticity by breaking old power structures
[37:00] What history teaches about dissent and the cost of truth
[39:10] How Bitcoin changes our relationship with pain and self-reliance
[44:30] Why Bitcoin’s rules create boundaries without central authorities
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Dao of Bitcoin by Scott Dedels | Book or Audiobook
Richard Seaford | About
Yuval Noah Harari | Website
Byung-Chul Han | About
Learn more about Helena on her website and follow her on LinkedIn.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
What if Bitcoin didn’t come to disrupt the system… but to save it?
In this episode, I’m joined by Cedric Youngelman, the host of the Bitcoin Matrix podcast. Cedric’s been immersed in the Bitcoin space since 2017, and over the years he’s built a reputation for digging into the deeper philosophical and political implications of money, sovereignty, and how we organize society.
We get into Cedric’s personal Bitcoin journey, from Facebook burnout and “heavily armed clowns” on Twitter to realizing that Bitcoin might be one of humanity’s few true paradigm shifts. We also talk about the rise of corporate and government accumulation, the dangers of centralization, and what happens when people confuse price action with understanding. Cedric doesn’t hold back.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[06:01] Cedric’s first exposure to Bitcoin and early confusion around altcoins
[10:37] The moment he realized Bitcoin isn’t about tech, it’s about money
[14:55] Why Bitcoin changes the rules of entrepreneurship and property ownership
[19:03] The myth of store of value first, medium of exchange second
[22:45] How ETFs and custodians give the old system leverage over Bitcoin
[29:14] The risk of financialized Bitcoin companies during market crashes
[33:45] Why state and corporate adoption might backfire
[39:59] The problem with passing down Bitcoin values to the next generation
[43:00] Cedric’s take on the Lightning Network and remaining skeptical
[45:50] Why some Bitcoiners are ignoring valid critiques of the system
[47:40] Could Bitcoin have been created by the state?
[56:25] Cedric’s theory on Ross Ulbricht’s release and strange public reappearance
[01:04:55] Reframing fiat life as a prison and Bitcoin as an escape hatch
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Bitcoin Matrix Podcast with Cedric Youngelman | Website
Your Wealth Is Melting by Joe Burnett | Article
Lex Fridman Interview with Jack Dorsey | YouTube
Learn more about Cedric by following him on X and LinkedIn.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
What happens when AI agents get paid in Bitcoin?
In this episode, I sit down with John Ely, our Chief Innovation Officer at Block Rewards, for his second appearance on the podcast. John is a technologist with a sharp eye for where Bitcoin, AI, and the future of work intersect.
We get into the explosion of AI agents and what it means to embed reasoning, logic, and even payments into software. John shares how AI is already reshaping our own company, his thoughts on why Bitcoin is the ultimate money for autonomous agents, and why he believes we’re on the verge of seeing AI create timeless works of art.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[04:45] How Tesla’s autonomous car shows where AI is headed
[07:01] What AI agents are and how they’re already used in business
[11:00] Michael Saylor’s use of deep research to create new financial products
[13:55] Reflections on early tech and how AI feels like the next big shift
[16:00] How coding agents plan, reason, and evaluate their own work
[18:20] Why every company is becoming an AI company
[23:00] Alpha Go, the God move, and what it revealed about AI creativity
[26:00] What an agentic workforce could look like and how agents might be paid
[31:00] The synergy between AI productivity and Bitcoin as sound money
[35:00] Why white collar work is more vulnerable to AI than blue collar work
[37:00] Bold prediction that AI will create a timeless work of art soon
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
The Price of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth | Book or Audiobook
Deep Research | Website
Claude (Anthropic AI Tool) | Website
Y Combinator | Website
Coinbase’s C402 Protocol | Website
Lightning Labs' L402 Protocol | Website
Movie: AlphaGo
Learn more from John by following him on X.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
“You thought you were free—until your bank froze your money.”
This week on The Block Reward, Scott sits down with Jordi Llonch, a former airline pilot turned Bitcoin advocate and digital freedom strategist. Jordi’s not just talking tech—he’s living the life of a global citizen, traveling the world as a true digital nomad and helping others do the same. With a sharp eye for how broken financial systems restrict our autonomy, Jordi brings a unique and urgent perspective on why Bitcoin matters far beyond investment portfolios.
In this episode, you’ll explore the rising tension between geographical freedom and financial dependence, and how Bitcoin is quietly becoming the tool that unlocks both. Jordi shares stories from his travels, explains how Bitcoin empowers remote workers and nomads, and introduces ideas like geoarbitrage, circular economies, and financial self-sovereignty. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Barcelona’s thriving Bitcoin community, what’s really happening in places like El Salvador and Costa Rica, and why most people won’t care about Bitcoin—until they’re forced to. If you’re curious about building a life outside the system, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[03:10] What defines a digital nomad
[05:05] Why freedom is the central value for nomads
[06:45] The financial limitations of geographic freedom
[08:00] The role of Bitcoin in solving financial friction
[09:15] How Bitcoin becomes a tool for survival, not speculation
[11:26] The mindset shift from settling to mobility
[14:02] How capital controls broke the social contract
[15:32] How Bitcoin flips the power dynamic between people and states
[16:12] Why the global South may rise while the West declines
[18:07] A comparison of Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador vs Costa Rica
[20:49] The “frog in the jacuzzi” metaphor for passive decline
[22:47] Why Bitcoin provides a mobile, uncensorable bank account
[24:12] How a pizza shop was on boarded through real demand
[25:01] Inside Barcelona’s thriving Bitcoin-only community
[27:06] Examples of technical workshops offered in Barcelona
[29:45] Behind the scenes of Barcelona’s Bitcoin-only conference
[33:04] Why Jordi built a global Bitcoin event map
[35:37] The power of Bitcoin meetups when traveling
[37:20] Why nationalism and politics create division
[39:51] Creating a culture of global citizenship
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
BTC Map | Website
BTC Events Map | Website
Nostr | Website
Learn more about Jordi by following him on X and LinkedIn
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
"Bitcoin isn’t digital gold—it’s something far more powerful."
In this episode, Scott is joined by two of the most respected names in on-chain analytics and Bitcoin macro strategy: Willy Woo, legendary data analyst and market commentator, and Yann Alleman, co-founder of Swissblock and architect of institutional-grade Bitcoin strategy. Together, they break down why Bitcoin’s trajectory isn’t just about price—it’s about fundamentally redefining value on a global scale.
You’ll gain insider insight into Bitcoin’s path to 50%+ of global GDP, the rise of sovereign and corporate treasury adoption, and why volatility is not a bug—but a feature—of an evolving macro asset class. The trio explores how Bitcoin stacks up against fiat, gold, and altcoins, the role of liquidity flows, and why traditional portfolio management is being forced to adapt. You’ll also hear about the tools behind Bitcoin Vector, their new initiative aimed at professionalizing Bitcoin analytics and educating the next wave of institutional adoption.
This is not your typical Bitcoin hype conversation—it's a masterclass in understanding the next evolution of money.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:24] Bitcoin as a percentage of global GDP
[03:16] Measuring Bitcoin by GDP instead of USD
[04:22] Liquidity dynamics between real estate and Bitcoin
[07:05] Bitcoin as a complex macro system
[09:32] Why Bitcoin isn’t just digital gold
[11:08] Coexistence of fiat and Bitcoin
[14:35] How smaller nations lead Bitcoin adoption
[18:09] Corporate treasury adoption trends
[20:38] Market-neutral Bitcoin strategies explained
[22:24] Risks of over-leveraged Bitcoin treasury firms
[28:07] Sovereign Bitcoin adoption behind the scenes
[32:19] Bitcoin dominance and the altcoin decline
[36:25] Why altcoins continue to underperform
[41:02] When altcoins actually outperform Bitcoin
[45:00] Bitcoin’s cycles tied to global liquidity
[49:06] Why most crypto trading strategies fail
[53:05] Bitcoin as a check on fiat systems
[56:03] Swissblock and Bitcoin Vector overview
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Swiss Block | Website
Glass Node | Website
BlackRock | Website
CME | Website
Starlink | Website
Bitcoin Vector | X
Learn more from Willy by following him on X and LinkedIn. Learn more from Yann by following him on LinkedIn.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
Why the Ultra-Wealthy Never Sell—and What Bitcoin Has to Do with It
This episode features Hunter Albright, systems engineer, AI expert, and traditional finance veteran turned Bitcoin educator and executive at Salt Lending. With decades of experience managing credit portfolios and building financial models, Hunter brings a rare combination of institutional insight and future-focused innovation to the conversation.
You’ll learn why Bitcoin isn’t just digital gold—it’s becoming the foundational asset of a new financial paradigm. Hunter breaks down how Bitcoin enables everyday people to use wealth-building strategies once reserved for the elite: leveraging appreciating assets, avoiding taxable events, and gaining financial mobility across borders. You’ll also hear what’s brewing in the world of Bitcoin-backed loans, how businesses (from governments to mom-and-pops) are waking up to the power of holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets, and what the rise of global Bitcoin treasuries means for the future of real estate, debt, and sovereignty. Whether you're a curious investor or a serious builder, this conversation will change how you think about money, freedom, and what comes next.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[02:00] How Bitcoin enables global, peer-to-peer wealth transfer
[03:00] Using Bitcoin as a collateralized, appreciating asset
[05:07] How the wealthy avoid taxes by borrowing against assets
[07:00] Why Bitcoin could replace real estate as preferred collateral
[09:00] Bitcoin loan interest rates vs expected appreciation
[10:00] Institutional lenders entering Bitcoin-backed loan markets
[12:00] The rise of Bitcoin treasury reserves in companies and governments
[14:00] Why businesses underperform without Bitcoin on the balance sheet
[17:00] How Bitcoin reserves support small and rural businesses
[20:00] Global wealth preservation in failing fiat systems
[22:00] Bitcoin as a portable Swiss bank account
[25:00] Comparing Visa’s payment network to Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer model
[27:00] Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt credit card fees and chargebacks
[30:00] Why Bitcoin users need self-custody and financial literacy
[32:00] What Salt Lending offers for Bitcoin-backed borrowing
[34:00] Three key reasons people use Bitcoin loans
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Salt Lending | Website
Certified Bitcoin Professional (C4) | Website
Bitcoin 2026 Conference (Las Vegas) | Website
Follow Hunter on LinkedIn and X.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
If you want a competitive edge, stop trying to out-AI everyone—and start doing things only humans can.
This week on The Block Reward, Scott sits down with returning guest Aleks Svetski—entrepreneur, author of The Bushido of Bitcoin, and the visionary founder behind Satlantis, a decentralized, Nostr-powered travel and social app reshaping how sovereign individuals connect in the real world. With a track record of challenging the status quo, Aleks brings sharp insight into the future of technology, identity, and human connection.
In this thought-provoking conversation, you’ll discover how Satlantis merges real-life exploration with digital sovereignty, why mainstream social media is devolving into algorithmic sludge, and how decentralized protocols like Nostr could reshape the internet as we know it. Aleks also drops bold takes on AI hype, Bitcoin’s inevitable dominance, and why your competitive edge lies in not outsourcing your life to tech. Whether you’re a Bitcoiner, builder, or freedom-seeking nomad, this episode offers a roadmap for staying human in an increasingly automated world.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[05:00] Why existing tools like Nomad List fall short
[07:15] How building on Nostr expanded the project beyond Bitcoin
[09:57] What Nostr is and how identity works on it
[13:03] Why Nostr offers the power of email with social reach
[15:32] Building Satlantis fully on Nostr initially failed
[18:15] Why the new version blends native features with protocol integration
[19:45] Why the mobile and web apps are intentionally different
[21:45] How the collections feature helps travelers plan ahead
[23:14] How Satlantis combines events, merchants, and content
[25:12] Why traditional travel and review apps feel outdated
[26:57] How Satlantis blends social discovery with structured content
[28:10] How social and interest graphs drive personalization
[30:03] Why Instagram changed what people share and search for
[31:59] Satlantis aims to replace TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Meetup
[32:31] How Nostr-based identity enables a new kind of platform
[33:49] How listeners can invest in Satlantis via Timestamp
[35:02] Why slop content is killing social media
[36:44] Why people are craving real-world connection again
[39:10] Where humans have the edge in an AI-dominated future
[41:05] Why capital is shifting toward Bitcoin and real value
[43:31] How Satlantis plans to onboard merchants into Bitcoin at scale
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
The Bushido of Bitcoin by Aleks Svetski | Book
The UnCommunist Manifesto by Aleks Svetski and Mark Moss | Book or Audiobook
Satlantis | Website
The Bitcoin Times | Website
Spirit of Satoshi | Website
Learn more about Aleks on his website. You can also follow him on X and Instagram
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
I didn’t lose faith in crypto—I lost faith in lies.
This week on The Block Reward, Scott sits down with author and sociologist Suman Kumar, whose new book Reclaiming Sovereignty explores the gritty personal journey from crypto disillusionment to Bitcoin conviction. With no background in finance or tech, Suman brings a rare lens: one rooted in global stories, community resilience, and a fierce demand for choice. Her insights are especially vital in a world waking up to the reality of broken money.
You’ll hear how surviving the collapse of Luna and the FTX fallout led Suman not to retreat—but to lean in. She unpacks Bitcoin not as tech or trend, but as a social movement—a worldwide experiment in autonomy, hope, and human empowerment. We explore the emotional and existential stakes of financial sovereignty, how Gen Z and the Global South are shaping Bitcoin’s future, and why real freedom always comes with responsibility. If you’ve ever felt like the system wasn’t built for you, this conversation is your call to reconsider what’s possible.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:45] The emotional fallout of Luna and FTX
[03:10] What sets Bitcoin apart from altcoins
[04:26] Turning financial loss into purpose
[05:38] How personal stories shape the Bitcoin narrative
[06:57] The power of the global Bitcoin community
[08:19] Bitcoin as a vehicle for personal choice
[09:36] Why sovereignty starts with money
[10:42] Bitcoin’s role in transcending identity and borders
[12:01] The deeper emotional impact of broken money
[13:30] Bitcoin as a tool for reclaiming personal freedom
[14:27] How Bitcoin transforms lives in the Global South
[15:42] Breaking away from financial systems of control
[17:00] Why sovereignty means more than just independence
[18:23] The cultural layers of sovereignty on Indigenous land
[19:41] Why freedom must be fought for
[20:55] Compliance vs responsibility in financial systems
[22:14] How Bitcoin fosters active, engaged communities
[23:33] Bitcoin’s optimism and life-changing potential
[24:11] El Salvador’s shift from fear to hope
[25:18] Gen Z’s role in shaping Bitcoin’s future
[26:22] What freedom feels like after finding Bitcoin
[27:29] Writing as a personal sovereignty practice
[28:24] Bitcoin mining and Indigenous energy strategy
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Reclaiming Sovereignty by Suman Kumar | Book
The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook
Consensus Conference | Website
“With Bitcoin, we don’t have to earn our wealth twice” - Ella Hough | YouTube
Learn more about Suman Kumar by following her on X
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
The Fed Wants to Be a Hedge Fund—Here’s What That Means for Bitcoin
James Lavish—managing partner of the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund and author of The Informationist—returns for a sharp, high-stakes conversation about markets, monetary policy, and the future of Bitcoin. With a background in hedge funds and Wall Street, James brings deep insight into how liquidity, debt, and geopolitical shifts are shaping the investment landscape.
In this episode, you’ll hear James break down the trillion-dollar “basis trade” threat looming over global finance—and why the Brookings Institution is floating the idea of the Federal Reserve taking it on directly. You’ll learn how institutions like BlackRock are quietly stacking Bitcoin, why MicroStrategy’s playbook is nearly impossible to replicate, and what SAB 121’s repeal means for Bitcoin’s integration into traditional banking. We also unpack volatility, risk signals, and why all eyes are on liquidity as the true driver of price action. If you care about macro shifts, asymmetric bets, and the collision of old and new finance, this one’s unmissable.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[03:10] What the Fed watches when making rate decisions
[05:35] How global liquidity ties into Bitcoin’s price
[06:45] Why the US relies on foreign treasury buyers
[08:05] The problem with holding US treasuries during inflation
[10:30] How the “basis trade” works and why it’s dangerous
[13:20] The scale and leverage behind today’s basis trade
[15:45] What it means if the Fed takes hedge fund positions
[18:05] How Bitcoin reacts to macro uncertainty
[20:14] What a Bitcoin sell-off on weekends signals
[22:52] The role of haircut changes during market stress
[25:25] What makes liquidity broader than just money supply
[27:38] Why Bitcoin may peak after liquidity peaks
[29:38] How multiple macro factors shape Bitcoin price
[31:12] How convertible bonds helped MicroStrategy scale
[35:20] Why new Bitcoin companies can’t mimic MSTR returns
[37:18] What 21.co and Jack Mallers are building
[40:02] The impact of SAB 121 on banking and Bitcoin custody
[42:10] How Chokepoint 2.0 disrupted Bitcoin funds
[45:05] How banks will integrate Bitcoin into lending
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Bitcoin Opportunity Fund | Website
Brookings Institution | Website
Strategy | Website
Metaplanet | Website
21 | Website
Learn more about James through The Informationalist newsletter. You can also follow him on Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
Bitcoin is replacing real estate—and it’s happening faster than you think.
In this episode, Leon Wankum, financial economist and real estate developer breaks down why Bitcoin is rapidly outcompeting real estate as a store of value, investment vehicle, and source of cashflow. With over 15 years in real estate and a background in financial economics, Leon brings unmatched insight into how the rules of wealth-building are being rewritten. From leveraging Bitcoin as pristine collateral to MicroStrategy’s game-changing financial products, this conversation challenges the long-held dominance of physical assets—and makes a compelling case that Bitcoin isn’t just an alternative investment, it’s becoming the benchmark. Whether you're a seasoned investor, real estate pro, or Bitcoin skeptic, this episode will shift how you think about capital, yield, and the future of money.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:45] How Bitcoin flips the time value of money
[03:10] Bitcoin vs real estate as yield-generating assets
[05:30] Inflation benchmarks and real estate performance
[06:55] Why Bitcoin’s growth outpaces even leveraged real estate
[08:10] Bitcoin as superior collateral and digital real estate
[09:35] MicroStrategy’s bond and preferred stock offerings explained
[12:00] Real estate investor motivations and the shift to Bitcoin
[14:20] Bitcoin’s threat to the $300 trillion real estate market
[16:00] Declining commercial real estate value in a new economy
[18:35] Central banking errors and rising interest rate impact
[20:15] Real estate struggles while Bitcoin rises
[22:00] Paradigm shift in storing and exchanging value
[24:05] Clear math: Bitcoin vs real estate returns over time
[26:20] Institutional capital shifting through MicroStrategy
[28:00] Why Bitcoin is now the true investment benchmark
[30:10] Will Bitcoin’s volatility decline or persist
[32:20] Volatility as a resilience mechanism in Bitcoin
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Resources Mentioned:
Bitcoin As Real Estate by Surfer Jim | Article
Learn more about Leon’s work on his Website. You can also subscribe to his Substack and follow him on LinkedIn and X.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
You won’t change the system by shouting at it—try writing a book instead.
What happens when two Bitcoiners become authors—and decide to peel back the curtain on the writing, publishing, and marketing grind behind their books? In this refreshingly honest and unexpectedly hilarious episode, Roger Wang (Senior Marketing Director at Block Rewards and author of Would Mao Hold Bitcoin?) and Seb Bunney (author of The Hidden Cost of Money) go deep on what it really takes to write a Bitcoin book that resonates.
From self-doubt to publishing politics, research rabbit holes to accidental financial wins from Bitcoin appreciation, this is a no-BS conversation about the pain, strategy, and joy of building something that lasts. Whether you’re a curious reader, aspiring writer, or freedom-maxi who wants to orange-pill through storytelling—this episode will shift how you think about content, craft, and conviction.
You’ll Learn:
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:27] Selling books in bitcoin during a bull run
[03:42] Roger’s process blending Bitcoin and China
[05:18] The challenge of citations and deep research
[06:41] Roger’s structured writing habits
[08:34] Seb’s three-part writing framework
[10:32] Learning from Stephen King's writing process
[12:12] First drafts vs editing efficiency
[13:01] Using notes to support citations
[14:47] Tone and voice in Bitcoin writing
[16:26] Writing emotionally vs analytically
[22:32] Early activism and censorship in diaspora communities
[23:02] Power of personal storytelling in nonfiction
[26:00] Real cost of self-publishing a book
[27:33] Importance of good cover design and layout
[30:11] Missing the chance to narrate the audiobook
[31:06] Roger’s experience with Bitcoin Magazine publishing
[33:21] Tradeoffs between author control and publisher support
[35:11] Why most publishers don’t help with marketing
[36:12] How a non-Bitcoiner editor strengthened Seb’s book
[37:22] How Amazon and print-on-demand changed publishing
[38:44] Challenges of marketing evergreen content
[39:51] Social media tradeoffs for indie authors
[41:00] Three main hooks Roger uses to market his book
[42:07] Hosting meetups to drive in-person sales
[44:47] Selling in Bitcoin as a long-term advantage
[47:11] Seb’s advice to podcast hosts
[48:26] Roger’s wish to talk about more than Bitcoin and China
Resources Mentioned:
Would Mao Hold Bitcoin? by Roger Huang | Book
The Hidden Cost of Money by Seb Bunney | Book
B is for Bitcoin by Seb Bunney and Daz Bea | Book
On Writing by Stephen King | Book
Reedsy | Website
Bitcoin Magazine Publisher | Website
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Peruvian Bull is a macro analyst, author of Dollar End Game, and creator focused on the long-term consequences of fiat monetary policy and Bitcoin's role in the global economy.
In this episode, you're going to learn how the U.S. dollar became the dominant global reserve currency and why that system is now under strain, what the Triffin dilemma is and how it forces the U.S. to make impossible economic trade-offs, why central banks are trapped in a cycle of endless debt and money printing, what caused the post-2020 inflation spike and why it's different from 2008, and how Bitcoin fits into this system as a neutral, non-sovereign monetary asset with potential game-theoretic consequences at a global level.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:38] Why exponential debt systems always break
[03:01] The origins of the global dollar system
[04:18] The Triffin dilemma explained
[05:47] France calls the U.S. bluff on gold
[07:30] Why reserve currencies must become net importers
[09:12] Why capital flows toward higher-yield currencies
[10:36] The policy trilemma explained
[12:08] Global synchronized monetary policy
[14:27] Brent Johnson’s dollar milkshake theory
[15:36] How foreign selling triggers U.S. stock crashes
[17:32] Why the Fed always steps in to rescue markets
[18:52] Why inflation isn’t a one-time problem
[20:22] How the Fed evolved into a power center
[22:15] Why QE flows into financial assets, not groceries
[25:00] When reserves become real, spendable money
[26:48] How deficits + QE = money printing
[28:13] How 2% inflation quietly robs your savings
[29:46] The Fed balance sheet now drives markets
[31:22] Cantillon effects and unfair gains
[32:23] Recession avoidance creates bigger problems
[34:07] Zombie companies and bad capital allocation
[35:39] The exponential nature of debt and money
[36:50] Bitcoin as a solution to fiat collapse
[38:28] Game theory and Bitcoin nation state adoption
[40:36] The race to accumulate Bitcoin
[42:05] Bitcoin vs global capital markets
[43:27] Why Satoshis could become expensive
[44:56] Why Bitcoin’s simplicity is a feature
[46:35] Only universal upgrades succeed in Bitcoin
[47:31] Exponential debt means exponential inflation
Resources Mentioned:
The Dollar Endgame by Peruvian Bull | Book
Triffin Dilemma Concept by Robert Triffin | Framework
Dollar Milkshake Theory by Brent Johnson | Website
Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin | Book
ShadowStats – Alternative Inflation Data | Statistics
The Peter Schiff Show Podcast | Spotify or Apple
Get Peruvian Bull’s latest analysis, charts, and longform commentary on his Substack.
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.
Scott and Seb Bunny are long-time friends and thinkers in the Bitcoin space who focus on the philosophical, societal, and spiritual implications of sound money.
In this episode, you're going to learn how fiat money distorts our perception of time and value, why Bitcoin could be the antidote to rising anxiety and survival-driven living, how inflation and state-controlled money affect everything from relationships to food quality, what the future might look like with AI, simulation theory, and Bitcoin intersecting, and why smaller, tighter communities might be the key to a more meaningful life.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:40] The spiritual side of Bitcoin
[02:18] How Bitcoin relates to time
[03:01] Money as a measurement of time
[04:03] Energy, time, and the Bitcoin standard
[05:56] How government intervention distorts value
[06:39] The tyranny of the clock explained
[08:02] TikTok and shortened attention spans
[09:04] State-controlled money as a modern parasite
[09:56] How Bitcoin breaks the survival mindset
[10:41] Consciousness model: past, present, future
[12:57] Money working better in the past
[13:50] TikTok, dopamine, and attention collapse
[15:46] Financial stress and lack of meaning
[16:32] Masculine and feminine energy imbalance
[17:56] Fiat food and declining food quality
[18:34] Why beauty in architecture is disappearing
[20:00] Government subsidies and the grain boom
[21:45] Why our diets no longer match evolution
[22:31] Fiscal responsibility under a Bitcoin standard
[23:10] Why endless money printing kills innovation
[24:29] Nestlé and the World Economic Forum
[25:01] How legal tender laws protect bad money
[25:39] Capital gains tax and Bitcoin adoption
[26:20] Sea’s law and merchants choosing Bitcoin
[27:04] Nation states conflicted over Bitcoin
[28:04] Trump, Bitcoin, and US debt
[28:44] The dollar milkshake theory explained
[29:57] Ignoring hard money has real consequences
[30:22] Why universal basic income doesn’t work
[31:45] Technological progress and job displacement
[32:27] Simulation theory and discovered AI
[34:06] A renaissance through alignment with Bitcoin
[35:33] How realistic video games support simulation theory
[36:12] Predictive programming in media
[37:51] Is the world happening to us or for us?
[40:00] Could Bitcoin be created by AI
[42:01] The myth of needing to spend Bitcoin
[43:30] Why mass Bitcoin adoption will take time
[47:39] Bitcoin as a spiritual tool
[51:02] The second renaissance and cultural revival
Resources Mentioned:
Bitcoin is Time | Website
"The Tyranny of the Clock" by George Woodcock | Read
Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith | Book
Fiat Food by Matthew Lysiak and Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook
Tribe by Sebastian Junger | Book or Audiobook
Movies: Ready Player One and The Animatrix
Give Seb a follow on X, Instagram and LinkedIn
Find more from Scott:
Scott Dedels | X
Block Rewards | Instagram
Block Rewards | YouTube
Block Rewards | TikTok
Block Rewards | Website
Block Rewards | LinkedIn
Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.