The Block Reward | Real Stories. Real Impact. All Powered by Real Money - Bitcoin

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:The mechanics of Dave Bradley’s “Bitcoin fixes the car industry” exampleHow cheap credit fuels vehicle financing bubbles and distorted car designThe real reason modern cars are loaded with costly, breakable featuresWhat changes when money appreciates instead of melts awayThe connection between money printing and government overreachWhy Dave believes Bitcoin could strip governments of their covert taxing powerThe “sovereign individual” case for the end of the large-scale nation stateHow Alberta could use a Bitcoin reserve to protect against federal controlThe potential of a currency backed by gold, Bitcoin, and oilTimestamps: [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 CanadaWant 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 AudiobookIf you want to learn more from Dave, visit his website and follow him on LinkedIn and X.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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:The surprising link between money and human consciousnessWhat it feels like to balance psychotherapy with being a BitcoinerThe real reason trust can’t be mandated in money systemsWhy fiat money mirrors a parent-child dynamicWhat happens when centralized authorities decide what truth isThe quiet damage of relying on monetary “heroes” for protectionHow Bitcoin shifts trust from institutions to math and codeThe role pain plays in growth and authenticity within decentralized systemsWhat history shows us about dissent, truth, and the cost of challenging powerTimestamps:[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 authoritiesWant 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 AudiobookRichard Seaford | AboutYuval Noah Harari | WebsiteByung-Chul Han | AboutLearn more about Helena on her website and follow her on LinkedIn.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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 soonWant 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 AudiobookDeep Research | WebsiteClaude (Anthropic AI Tool) | WebsiteY Combinator | WebsiteCoinbase’s C402 Protocol | WebsiteLightning Labs' L402 Protocol | WebsiteMovie: AlphaGoLearn more from John by following him on X.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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:How Bitcoin could realistically capture 50% of global GDP and what that means for investorsWhy measuring Bitcoin in fiat terms distorts long-term value projectionsHow on-chain data reveals Bitcoin's unique position as a macro asset, not just digital goldWhat liquidity trends tell us about Bitcoin’s sensitivity to global monetary policyHow to interpret Bitcoin’s volatility compression as a sign of market maturityWhy corporate and sovereign treasury adoption is accelerating—and what to watch forHow to assess the real risk behind Bitcoin-holding companies using convertibility metricsWhy altcoin dominance is likely to shrink as Bitcoin consolidates its role as the anchor assetHow stablecoins and Bitcoin together reshape the foundation of global financeWhat top funds get wrong about portfolio allocation in a high-liquidity Bitcoin worldTimestamps: [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 overviewWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Swiss Block | WebsiteGlass Node | WebsiteBlackRock | WebsiteCME | WebsiteStarlink | WebsiteBitcoin Vector | XLearn 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 | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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:How building on Nostr changes what’s possible for decentralized appsWhy identity as a protocol beats identity as a featureHow social graphs drive personalized travel recommendationsWhy “real-world experience” is the next competitive edge after AI saturationHow to blend directory, social, and review systems into one seamless platformWhat Satlantis reveals about the future of network-driven communitiesWhy traditional social media is collapsing under its own algorithmsHow deflationary pressure from AI will reshape pricing and productivityWhy Bitcoin adoption and digital sovereignty go hand in handHow to position yourself where AI can’t compete—and humans thrive 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 scaleWant 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 AudiobookSatlantis | WebsiteThe Bitcoin Times | WebsiteSpirit of Satoshi | WebsiteLearn more about Aleks on his website. You can also follow him on X and InstagramFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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:How the trillion-dollar “basis trade” threatens market stabilityWhy the Fed might start behaving like a hedge fundHow volatility forces institutions to liquidate Bitcoin firstWhat liquidity cycles reveal about Bitcoin price movementWhy MicroStrategy’s model can’t easily be copiedHow policy shifts like SAB 121 impact Bitcoin custody and lendingWhy institutional Bitcoin buys don’t always move the priceWhat global treasury markets signal about U.S. economic fragilityHow margin rules and volatility drive systemic riskWhy long-term Bitcoin conviction hinges on liquidity, not hypeTimestamps: [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 lendingWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Bitcoin Opportunity Fund | WebsiteBrookings Institution | WebsiteStrategy | WebsiteMetaplanet | Website21 | WebsiteLearn more about James through The Informationalist newsletter. You can also follow him on Instagram, X, and YouTube.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock 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:How self-publishing unlocks creative control and competitive reach in the Bitcoin spaceWhy using a non-Bitcoiner editor can strengthen your arguments and expose blind spotsHow pricing in Bitcoin turns small book sales into high-leverage assets over timeWhat note-taking over 10 years reveals about building a citation powerhouseHow separating writing and editing accelerates creative output and clarityWhy emotionally charged writing often leads to sharper, more resonant workWhat poor cover design signals about credibility—and how to avoid itHow evergreen content challenges traditional marketing tacticsWhy structure-first writing reduces wasted effort and kills fewer “darlings”What print-on-demand technology reveals about the democratization of publishingTimestamps:[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 ChinaResources Mentioned:Would Mao Hold Bitcoin? by Roger Huang | BookThe Hidden Cost of Money by Seb Bunney | BookB is for Bitcoin by Seb Bunney and Daz Bea | BookOn Writing by Stephen King | BookReedsy | WebsiteBitcoin Magazine Publisher | WebsiteFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedInWant 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 revivalResources Mentioned:Bitcoin is Time | Website"The Tyranny of the Clock" by George Woodcock | ReadSeeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith | BookFiat Food by Matthew Lysiak and Saifedean Ammous | Book or AudiobookTribe by Sebastian Junger | Book or AudiobookMovies: Ready Player One and The AnimatrixGive Seb a follow on X, Instagram and LinkedInFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedInWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.