The Cost of Compute: Economics 101 on Time, Money, and Energy Tradeoffs
From Digital Currents by Morgan Creek Capital Management, LLC
April 3, 2026 · 51 min
About this episode
The episode discusses Bitcoin's recent performance, macroeconomic influences, AI funding developments, and regulatory challenges facing major platforms.
In this episode, we cover Bitcoin's first positive monthly performance since September 2025, unpacking what may be driving momentum and how macro factors, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, could influence inflation expectations and interest rate policy moving forward. Further, we discuss OpenAI's landmark $122 billion raise at an $852 billion valuation, and what this may signal about capital formation, infrastructure demand, and the path toward a potential IPO. We also examine Oracle's launch of its AI Data Platform for the U.S. federal government. Finally, we discuss the growing regulatory and legal scrutiny facing major platforms, including a recent court ruling affecting Meta and YouTube that could have long-term implications for digital advertising models and platform accountability. The Chart of the Week is an analysis of the cost of computing and what it takes to lead the race for speed (tokens per second). Remember to Stay Current! To learn more, visit us on the web at https://www.morgancreekcap.com/morgan-creek-digital/. To speak to a team member or sign up for additional content, please email mcdigital@morgancreekcap.com Legal Disclaimer This podcast is…
People in this episode
Host: Morgan Creek Capital Management, LLC
Topics covered
- Bitcoin performance
- macroeconomic factors
- AI funding
- regulatory scrutiny
- cost of computing
Keywords
- Bitcoin
- inflation
- OpenAI
- Oracle
- regulation
- digital advertising
- cost of computing
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Bitcoin, OpenAI, Oracle, Meta, YouTube
Places: Middle East
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