Chat_145 – Trust Scales Where Bitcoin Can’t with John Carvalho
“The atomic economy and Synonym’s mission is to research, design and ship a working free market society. So not just a free market economy, but a free market society. /CUT/ So it replaces government, it replaces big tech, it replaces big banks, it replaces Visa, MasterCard, you know, everything. Everything you would want to do in a network is represented here as part of the economy.”~ John Carvalho
What happens when the drive to “scale Bitcoin” collides with the reality that trust itself may be the one thing that actually scales? In this conversation with John Carvalho, we dig into Synonym’s vision for the “atomic economy” — a rethinking of how identity, payments, and data flow across the web. We talk about PubKey, PayKit, and the hard lessons of building and scrapping projects until they actually work. We pull apart the hype around Nostr, BlueSky, and Holepunch, and ask whether decentralization is enough or if we really just end up with new kinds of trusted hubs. Along the way, John shares candid thoughts on running a business, managing culture inside a startup, and the frustrations of navigating Bitcoin scaling debates.
Is Bitcoin about removing trust — or about enabling us to place it more wisely? How do we build tools for coordination without creating new silos? And what does it really take to design a free-market society from the ground up?
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
Host Links
Guy on Nostr (Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)
Guy on X (Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann)
Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.in…
2Sats – Why is Bitcoin Mining Even a Thing?
Bitcoin mining is both one of the coolest and most unique aspects of the Bitcoin system, and it’s also one of the most deeply misunderstood parts of it.
In my effort to make this crazy thing make some amount of sense, I toss my hat into the ring to explaining why mining is actually one of the most profound, and fascinating parts of Bitcoin, that make it a truly revolutionary discovery. So… Why is Bitcoin mining even a thing?
Check out the BitKit wallet if you want a simple and intuitive wallet with on-chain and lightning built in, where you are in control of your own keys. If you are in the US, do NOT use a VPN set to Europe to make lightning work without any friction. That would not be advised to get a service like NordVPN, or Mullvad, and get around that very easily. But you should get a VPN anyway because it will help protect your privacy, but will also protect you from man-in-middle attacks and wifi spoofing attacks. (Link: Bitkit.to)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)
Read_904 – The Op_Return Wars of 2014
“All of the above did have an impact, however their impact is often overstated in our view. The most significant factor is culture. Some Bitcoiners and Bitcoin developers simply did not want this type of activity on the Bitcoin blockchain and they successfully discouraged it.”~ BitMEX ResearchDid Bitcoin’s culture – not its code – push DApps to Ethereum? I read the “OP_RETURN wars” history and then dig into incentives, mempool policy, and filters: are we defending sound money or just inviting smarter spam under a new label?
Check out the original article The OP_Return Wars of 2014 – Dapps Vs Bitcoin Transactions by BitMEX Research (Link: https://blog.bitmex.com/dapps-or-only-bitcoin-transactions-the-2014-debate/)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)…
Chat_144 – Accelerating into the Dollar Endgame with Peruvian Bull
“It’s that old saying, right? It’s that meme. It’s like, however bad you think it is, it’s going to get worse, right? But at the same time, it’s also going to get better.So be very bearish on fiat. Be very bullish on Bitcoin. This system, it’s going to get worse. The collateral problem and the fail to deliver problem is going to get worse. Your shares that you own in brokerage aren’t really yours. They’re held by the broker. They’re held at the DTCC. They can freeze them whenever they want. They can create fake shares whenever they want. They can fail to deliver. They can naked short. They can manipulate with derivatives, all these sorts of things. And really the only financial asset that you can truly own is Bitcoin.”~ Peruvian Bull
In this episode, I sit down with Peruvian Bull for a deep dive into the fragility of our financial system. From Japan’s zombified economy to the slow-motion collapse of the U.S. dollar, we peel back the illusions of stability that most people take for granted. Why does the debt machine always accelerate? What if your stocks aren’t really yours? And how does Bitcoin fit as the inevitable escape hatch?We dig into the GameStop saga, the “great taking” of securities, stealth QE, the carry trade, and why debt — not retail payments — may be the problem Bitcoin is destined to solve first. Along the way, we explore what happens when central banks kick the can “up the stairs,” why Japan’s story is a glimpse of our own future, and how individuals can prepare themselves before the next inning begins.This one is a rich discussion for anyone trying to make sense of late-stage fiat, the dollar endgame, and the hope that Bitcoin offers.
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinA…
Read_903 – Vibe Capital Accumulating
“Technology is always and everywhere a tool, not an autonomous agent. It requires humans to operate, which they will do in order to satisfy human desires.” When we say “technology” saves labor, what we really mean is it leverages labor. It gives to labor powers that were previously impossible, inconceivable even. Only in the aftermath of witnessing its novel capabilities do we articulate that a car gives to a man the literal physical power of 200 horses. We do not start by imagining squishing 200 horses into a metal box.”~ Allen Farrington
What if AI isn’t replacing us – but multiplying us? In this read and my take, we dig into the fear of job-killing machines, from the steam engine to LLMs, and why every “this time is different” panic always misses the point. Is AI just the next bicycle for the mind—or something even bigger?
Check out the original article Vibe Capital Accumulating by Allen Farrington (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2h555x39)
Mentions & Resources from the Episode
Bitcoin is Venice: Essays on the Past and Future of Capitalism Audiobook (Link: https://tinyurl.com/mruuspj5)
Read_901 – 6 Weeks of Claude Code on Fountain (Link: https://fountain.fm/episode/ZZdBRuVw3FvpTb3YmXLO)
Margaret Jacob’s Scientific Culture and the Making of the Industrial West (https://a.co/d/ahpm1B1)
Scientific Culture and the Making of the Industrial West by Margaret C. Jacob (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3sj8x5mt)
The 1982 British TV documentary on Japanese robots (Link: https://youtu.be/LMuI1-2SlGk)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://…
2Sats – Bitcoin’s First 100 Trillion
In this episode, I break down the ticking time bomb of global debt and why it’s unsustainable. The exponential growth of debt, fueled by central banks artificially manipulating interest rates, is suffocating economies and eroding living standards. Bitcoin emerges as the only sound solution to this crisis, offering a perfect form of collateral that can’t be manipulated or inflated away. This isn’t just about the future of money—it’s about survival. The debt train is careening out of control, and Bitcoin is the only immovable object in its path. The collision is inevitable. Are you prepared?
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)
Chat_143 – Rise and Fall of BTC Treasuries and the Stablecoin Dilemma with Allen Farrington
“The whole MNav trade, it has as much implied leverage on the way down as it does on the way up.I have a lot of sympathy for the idea that actually this is what triggers the next bear market, that there’s so much leverage introduced via this mechanism that not only do a lot of the treasury companies themselves get wiped out, but the sell pressure is so severe that it impacts Bitcoin as a whole.”~ Allen Farrington
In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with the always insightful Allen Farrington to dive into some of the most fascinating topics in the Bitcoin space. We explore the intersection of Bitcoin and Islamic finance, where Allen shares his latest research and the potential for Bitcoin to align with ancient principles of financial justice. We also tackle the wild world of stablecoins, discussing how they’re changing the game for both better and worse. Allen breaks down the MNAV trade and why it might be the next big risk in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Plus, we dive into the future of work and how AI is reshaping the way we think about productivity and value. As always, Allen brings his sharp wit and deep understanding of Bitcoin’s role in the world. This one’s a great conversation that spans Bitcoin’s intersections with finance, philosophy, and the future of money.
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
Guest Links
Allen Farrington on X (Link: https://x.com/allenf32)
Host Links
Guy on Nostr (Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)
Guy o…
Read_902 – Nostr Unpopular Opinions
What happens when our obsession with building the “perfect protocol” blinds us to the real problems users want solved? It’s time to slay some sacred cows. In this conversation, we unpack the hype around Nostr, the pitfalls of developer-first thinking, and the lessons Bitcoiners should learn if we want adoption that truly matters.
Check out the original article Nostr Unpopular Opinions by Aleks Svetski (Link: https://primal.net/svetski/Nostr-Unpopular-Opinions-p53tc9)
Mentions & Resources from the Episode
Book: The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen (Link: https://tinyurl.com/52y98f3f)
(Link: https://fountain.fm/episode/nRow0tTL5G5sh9VJtvjx)
As Nostr As Possible (ANAP) by Aleks Svetski (Link: https://blog.satlantis.io/as-nostr-as-possible-anap/)
satlantis.io (Link: https://www.satlantis.io/place)
CryptoQuikRead_219 – Why BitTorrent Mattered: Lesson 1 [Simon Morris] (Link: https://fountain.fm/episode/nRow0tTL5G5sh9VJtvjx)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)
Read_901 – 6 Weeks of Claude Code
“Up until a few months ago, the best developers played the violin. Today, they play the orchestra.”~ Justin Searls
Is AI rewriting what it means to code? In this episode, I dive into “Six Weeks of Claude Code” and reflect on how LLMs are changing the experience of building apps, troubleshooting problems, and exploring ideas. Are these tools just fancy autocomplete, or the start of a “photography moment” for programming?
Check out the original article 6 Weeks of Claude Code on the Puzzmo Blog (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2v8d4kvt)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)
Roundtable_012 – Lightning UX, Miniscript Magic, and the Mempool Mess
The boys are back for another Roundtable, and as usual, it’s part tech talk, part therapy session, and a little bit of news thrown in. Steve rants about Lightning, Mechanic goes to war with Core devs, Jeff wrestles with immigration paperwork, and I try to keep the whole circus on the rails.
We cover everything from spam filters and node drama to modular mining rigs that might finally make Bitmain look like amateurs. There’s talk of moth-spraying planes, yellow jackets, and whether AI is making us all dumber or just lazier.
It’s Bitcoin, it’s banter, it’s a little bit ridiculous… just the way a Roundtable should be.
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
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)
Host Links
Guy on Nostr (Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)
Guy on X (Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann)
Read_900 – A Flood of Censorship, Inflation & CBDCs, and an Ark [FFR 80-86]
Around the world, Bitcoin is colliding with power. Russia tracks miners, Pakistan builds a digital rupee, and activists quietly test new tools for freedom. In this episode I unpack the latest Financial Freedom Report, explore breakthroughs like Block’s modular “Proto Rig” and the ARK protocol, and ask: can these innovations keep Bitcoin uncensorable?
Check out the original articles over at HRF’s Financial Freedom Report blog page (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2v8d4kvt)
Links Mentioned
Chat_135 – Do One Thing and Do it Right with Mauricio Di Bartolomeo (Link: https://tinyurl.com/2xhvrk7d)
Block Unveils Proto Rig and Proto Fleet, Marking a New Era in Bitcoin Mining (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3kvj7swc)
Floresta full node implementation (Link: https://docs.getfloresta.sh/floresta/)
Eric 17192799 on X (developer behind Florista) (Link: https://x.com/Erik17192799)
Ginger Wallet with CoinJoin integration (Link: https://docs.gingerwallet.io/using-ginger/coinjoin/)
Everything Powered by Ark – Behind the Bitcoin Scenes at The Baltic Honey Badger 2025 (Link: https://tinyurl.com/bdeyxfzk)
ARK Labs Riga rewind Twitter thread (Link: https://tinyurl.com/yzh8fvr2)
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mis…
Chat_142 – Ai, Bitcoin and 5th Generation Warfare with Jordan and Average Gary
“There have never been more tools available to the individual than there have been today.And it’s like cryptography is like the thing. If cryptography is like the wheel, like we invented the wheel. Okay, cool. We have a wheelbarrow and we have a cart and stuff like that. Bitcoin is now like this engine that is enabling these wheels to turn at a rate that a lot of people are sleeping on.”~ Average Gary
In this episode, I sit down with Average Gary and Jordan from Bitcoin Veterans for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from military life to Bitcoin, from raising kids to the future of AI. We dig into their backgrounds in the service, the moments that shifted their perspectives, and how those experiences now shape their work in the Bitcoin space.
What does it mean to be “peaceful, not harmless”? How do you balance the weight of family legacy with the urgency of building tools for freedom? And in a world of information warfare, how do we discern truth from deception?
We also explore the rise of vibe coding, the promise and pitfalls of AI, and why open-source collaboration matters more than ever. Along the way, we touch on the upcoming Bitcoin Veterans Summit, the role of mining in sovereignty, and the deeper question of what it means to leave behind a lasting impact.
Check out our awesome sponsors!
Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)
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/)
Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don’t forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)
Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)
Guest Links
Bitcoin Veterans Website (Link: https://x.com/real_vijay)
Bitcoin Veterans on X (Link: https://x.com/BitcoinVeterans/)
Bitcoin Veterans Summit 2025 (Link: https://bitcoinveterans.org/summit2025/)
