Shows
The Bitcoin LayerThe Global Refugee Crisis & The Bitcoin SolutionIn this episode, Nik is joined again by Daniel Batten to explore Bitcoin’s role as a humanitarian tool. They unpack a new report showing that over 329,000 refugees have used Bitcoin to escape war, persecution, and financial repression. Daniel explains why traditional tools like cash, gold, and stablecoins often fail during crisis events, and how Bitcoin works where others do not. They highlight stories from Ukraine, Venezuela, and Somalia, and explain how Bitcoin enables borderless money, personal sovereignty, and financial dignity. The episode also covers how this data is being used to change minds in policy circles, the rise of...
2025-08-1534 min
The Bitcoin LayerWhat If the Dollar Ran on Bitcoin?In this episode, Nik is joined by Ian Major, co-founder of Joltz, to break down the rise of stablecoins on Bitcoin. Ian explains the new infrastructure making it possible, including Lightspark’s SDK, Bitmatrix’s liquidity model, and programmable tools on Bitcoin’s Layer 2. He also covers how this unlocks dollar-denominated smart contracts, real commerce use cases, and a true Bitcoin-native stablecoin experience. The episode includes a look at Tether’s early role proving global demand for on-chain dollars and how Lightning is evolving into a multi-asset layer for users around the world.📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours...
2025-08-1448 min
The Bitcoin Layer$1 Million Bitcoin: A Scientific Prediction ExplainedIn this episode, Nik is joined by astrophysicist and mathematician Stephen Perrenod to unpack the scientific framework behind a potential $1 million Bitcoin. Stephen introduces the Bitcoin Power Law thesis and explains how mathematical modeling, fractals, and historical price patterns point to Bitcoin’s long-term exponential growth. They discuss how this theory differs from stock-to-flow, the role of volatility in Bitcoin’s maturity, and how timeframes like 2031–2033 align with past cycles. The episode offers a data-driven lens into why $1 million per coin may be less speculation and more inevitability.📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau...
2025-08-121h 02
The Bitcoin LayerIs It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin in 2025?In this episode, Nik breaks down whether it’s too late to buy Bitcoin in 2025 now that it trades above $100,000 with a $2 trillion market cap. He walks through Bitcoin’s journey from a niche internet money to a globally recognized monetary asset and explains why this is still the early innings. Nik analyzes Bitcoin’s evolving role as it moves from digital gold to a trade settlement tool capable of replacing U.S. Treasuries, and what that means for its long-term valuation potential. The episode zooms out to explore Bitcoin’s path to global reserve status, generational wealth shifts, and why...
2025-08-0526 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Drops as Yields Crash: What the Fed Will Do NextIn this episode, Nik breaks down the sharp drop in U.S. Treasury yields following weaker employment data and explains why the bond market is now pricing in imminent Fed rate cuts. He walks through the two-year yield signal, the Fed’s neutral rate dilemma, and why inflation normalization is shifting the policy conversation. Nik also unpacks the latest moves in the dollar, recession signals from ISM data, and how these macro shifts are impacting Bitcoin’s consolidation around $108,000. The update includes a deep dive on the TBL Liquidity Index and the volatility components now driving risk asset repricing.
2025-08-0216 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Collateral & GSE Reform: A $40 Trillion Credit RevolutionIn this episode, Nik welcomes back Matt Dines Chief Investment Officer at Build. They discuss the newly enacted GENIUS Act how U.S. dollar stablecoin regulation is tied to Bitcoin collateral usage and what GSE reform could mean for private credit expansion. Matt explains why using Bitcoin holdings as mortgage collateral could unlock Gen Z access to homeownership drive $40 trillion in private credit growth and anchor the monetary system around Bitcoin rails to keep the dollar system alive.🔗 Links & Sources:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXblPDvsJs📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a...
2025-07-301h 13
The Bitcoin LayerWhy $1 Million Bitcoin Is Closer Than You ThinkIn this episode, Nik breaks down one of the largest Bitcoin transactions in history: the $9 billion sale of 80,000 BTC by a Satoshi-era wallet through Galaxy Digital. Nik explains how the market absorbed this massive transfer without collapsing, what it says about Bitcoin’s maturity, and why this moment signals growing institutional and OG participation. He also explores the math behind Bitcoin’s path to $1 million, projecting how compounding growth between 30 to 50 percent annually could get us there by 2031 to 2033.🔗 Links & Sources:• https://investor.galaxy.com/news/news-details/2025/Galaxy-Executes-One-of-the-Largest-Notional-Bitcoin-Transactions-Ever/default.aspx📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours...
2025-07-2917 min
The Bitcoin LayerGlobal Macro Update: Liquidity Cycles Higher While Bitcoin ConsolidatesIn this Global Macro Update, Nik explains how the end of QT is reshaping liquidity across markets and supporting bitcoin’s foundation. He breaks down the rise in Treasury bill issuance, steady reserves, and the Fed’s smooth exit from reverse repo, all fueling stronger banking system liquidity. Nik also unpacks the breakdown in the DXY and its connection to U.S. industrial policy. On the bitcoin side, he covers six-figure consolidation, compressing volatility, rising funding rates, and stable on-chain signals like MVRV, framing the macro conditions behind bitcoin’s current strength.📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours tod...
2025-07-2626 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Grows as Stablecoins Absorb U.S. DebtIn this episode, Nik is joined by TBL researcher Demian Schatt to break down the Genius Act, stablecoins, and their impact on Bitcoin and the U.S. dollar system. Nik explains how declining foreign demand for Treasuries is being offset by domestic buyers, and why stablecoin growth, especially Tether, now plays a key role in global dollar infrastructure. He introduces the idea of Tether as an emergent world reserve asset, outlines why Washington sees it as a threat, and connects the Genius Act to national security concerns rather than just crypto regulation. The conversation finishes with Bitcoin’s role in...
2025-07-2327 min
The Bitcoin LayerThis CEO Just Raised $750 Million to Buy Bitcoin With ZERO DebtIn this episode, Nik welcomes Strive CEO Matt Cole to unpack the $750 million raise that positions Strive as one of the largest corporate bitcoin holders. Matt explains why the firm rejected convertible debt, chose a reverse merger over a SPAC, and is building a long-term bitcoin strategy rooted in institutional discipline. Drawing on his experience managing $70 billion at CalPERS, he shares how direct exposure to Fed operations and quiet debt monetization shaped his conviction in bitcoin. They discuss why fiat currencies are in slow-motion default, how stablecoin regulation could backfire, and what sets Strive apart in the next evolution...
2025-07-2232 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Price Floor Just Hit $100,000, and It’s Still EarlyIn this episode, Nik analyzes bitcoin’s historic climb as its 200-day moving average and short-term holder price both cross $100,000, setting a new price floor. He explains why this milestone reflects deep structural strength, not just market momentum. Nik walks through bitcoin’s $1 trillion realized market cap, rising on-chain activity, and the growing influence of institutional buyers like Strategy. He shows how usage is outpacing speculation, supported by a steady MVRV Z-score, and sets a near-term target of $138,000 to $139,000 with $200,000 on the horizon. While seven figures remain years away, this bull market is grounded in real demand and lasting adop...
2025-07-1918 min
The Bitcoin LayerCan the U.S. Lead in AI Without Killing Innovation?In this episode, Demian Schatt welcomes back Yaël Ossowski of the Consumer Choice Center and Bitcoin Policy Institute to break down the growing fight over AI regulation in the U.S. Yaël explains why a federal moratorium on state-level AI laws was proposed, how it fell out of Trump’s tech bill, and what it means for developers facing a patchwork of conflicting rules. He highlights the threat of the “California spillover,” compares it to Europe’s AI Act, and argues that decentralized innovation needs clear federal standards, not 1,000 competing laws. From copyright lawsuits to energy restrictions on data ce...
2025-07-1730 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Bull Run Is Absorbing MASSIVE Selling w/ James CheckIn this episode, Demian Schatt is joined by James Check (Checkmate) from Checkonchain to unpack Bitcoin’s recent breakout and the mystery behind the 80,000 BTC that moved for the first time since 2011. They explore the possible explanations behind the Galaxy Digital transfer, what it reveals about long-dormant supply, and the broader implications for key security assumptions in Bitcoin. James breaks down what made this a “quiet all-time high,” with low spot volume, high-stakes on-chain movement, and surging options activity signaling a shift in market structure. The conversation also covers short liquidations, the rise of institutional accumulation, and why confluence across...
2025-07-1630 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Soars Past $113,000 as Liquidity Surges and Stablecoins BoomIn this episode, Nik breaks down Bitcoin’s latest breakout to all-time highs and what’s driving price action under the hood. He covers the Golden Cross formation, historical performance following technical breakouts, and how TBL’s proprietary liquidity index offers a signal-rich view of current market conditions. Nik also explores the role of stablecoin growth, Treasury auctions, dollar moves, and credit market calm as contributing factors to Bitcoin strength. The update finishes with a look at on-chain momentum, real yields, and why the combination of stable rates and rising liquidity points to continued upside for risk assets.🔗 Li...
2025-07-1016 min
The Bitcoin LayerMysterious $8 Billion Bitcoin Move: Quantum Theft, Legal Seizure, or Hoax?In this episode, Nik breaks down the mysterious on-chain movement of 80,000 dormant Bitcoin that last moved in 2011. He walks through the implications of this $8 billion transaction, the legal-sounding op codes attached to it, and the suspicious BCH test transactions that accompanied the event. Nik explores what this means for assumptions about lost coins, private key security, and even the possibility of quantum theft. With analysis from Checkmate at Checkonchain and Cyphertux, this episode unpacks one of the most intriguing Bitcoin stories of the year—and why the price hasn’t yet reacted.🔗 Links & Sources:• Checkmate’s Write-up on...
2025-07-0817 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Real Link Between M2, Bank Assets & Bitcoin’s $110,000 StrengthIn this episode, Nik is joined by TBL researcher Demian Schatt to unpack why Bitcoin is trading so strongly near all-time highs and what the current liquidity setup tells us about where things are headed. They explore the long-debated link between Bitcoin and M2, examine how banking system assets play into TBL’s liquidity model, and walk through the balance sheet mechanics behind Treasury issuance, stimulus, and deposit creation. Nik explains why both M2 and asset-based liquidity matter, and how understanding the plumbing gives investors an edge. The update ends with a technical look at Bitcoin’s recent breakout and...
2025-07-0327 min
The Bitcoin LayerMainstream Media Has FLIPPED on Bitcoin MiningIn this episode, Nik highlights the work of Daniel Batten and walks through 17 examples of mainstream media outlets covering Bitcoin mining in a dramatically more positive light. From Iceland’s renewable-powered farms to flared gas in Texas and hydro-powered villages in Africa, the headlines signal a major shift in narrative. Nik explores how governments like Bhutan are using Bitcoin mining to support economic development, how miners are contributing to energy grids, and how the sector is increasingly seen as a catalyst for sustainability and electrification. This update reflects growing global recognition of Bitcoin’s potential as a public good.
2025-07-0122 min
The Bitcoin LayerGlobal Macro Update: Bitcoin Holds Steady as Trade and Treasury Regs ShiftIn this episode, Nik breaks down the latest global macro developments driving Bitcoin’s price action and Treasury market conditions. He explores major trade news out of Europe and China, the U.S. agenda to rebalance global trade through weapons exports, and what a new regulatory change means for U.S. bank demand for Treasuries. Nik explains the Fed’s SLR update, Treasury repo mechanics, and why regulatory shifts are designed to reduce foreign reliance on U.S. debt. The update also covers the U.S.–China AI race, Bitcoin mining competitiveness, and a detailed technical look at Bitcoin’s curren...
2025-06-2823 min
The Bitcoin LayerU.S. Bitcoin Boom: 50M Users, $30B Mining & Bipartisan MomentumIn this episode, Nik is joined by River’s head of research Sam Baker to discuss “The American Bitcoin Advantage,” a report outlining the United States’ strategic position in Bitcoin adoption. They explore how 40% of Bitcoin’s supply is held by Americans, the growing wave of business adoption, and why Bitcoin is emerging as a preferred treasury asset for companies nationwide. The conversation covers mining investment, bipartisan support in Congress, state-level Bitcoin policies, and how the U.S. can harness Bitcoin as both a technological and monetary advantage in a changing global order.Find the report here: https://bl...
2025-06-2533 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Hidden Signals REVEALED in the TBL Chart PackIn this episode, Nik is joined by TBL's lead statistician Augustine Carrasco for a walkthrough of the latest TBL chart pack, covering the key macro and on-chain dynamics shaping Bitcoin’s current structure. They explore long-term holding returns through the lens of Unchained’s HODL Cave, analyze ETF flows and realized cap trends, and introduce quarterly cycles in the TBL Liquidity Index that may offer timing signals. The discussion also touches on dealer behavior in money markets, financial conditions, and the relationship between macro volatility, inflation expectations, and Bitcoin’s path forward.📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours tod...
2025-06-2453 min
The Bitcoin LayerWhy Bitcoin EMERGES from Global ChaosIn this episode, Nik welcomes back Matt Pines, executive director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, for a sweeping analysis of today’s geopolitical storm—and what it means for Bitcoin, global power, and monetary realignment. From Israel–Iran brinkmanship to China’s Belt and Road, Pines explains how great-power conflict is redrawing trade routes, testing U.S. strategy, and accelerating the search for neutral assets. As the world fragments, Bitcoin is emerging as the reserve hedge for a new monetary era—one not built by consensus, but by necessity.📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08...
2025-06-191h 01
The Bitcoin LayerCorporations Just Surpassed ETFs in Bitcoin Buying—Here’s What It Means with Matthew SigelIn this episode, Nik welcomes Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, to unpack Bitcoin’s shifting ownership landscape. Corporations have now surpassed ETFs as the largest buyers of Bitcoin, adding over 350,000 BTC in the past year, including 21 new treasury firms in just the last month. Matthew explains how this new wave of adoption is transforming capital markets and creating both upside and risk for shareholders. They dive into BitBonds, a proposal to fund a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through Treasury issuance, and explore how sovereign Bitcoin mining—from El Salvador to Pakistan—is becoming a powerf...
2025-06-1627 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Physics Behind Bitcoin’s $10 Million FutureIn this episode, Nik is joined by astrophysicist Giovanni Santostasi to unpack the Bitcoin Power Law Theory—a scientific framework explaining Bitcoin’s price through natural scaling laws. Giovanni argues that Bitcoin doesn’t follow an exponential curve but a power law, just like cities, living organisms, and networks in nature. He walks through six power laws driving Bitcoin’s growth, including the relationship between price, users, and time—pointing to a mathematically grounded path toward $10 million. Backed by physics and real-world data, Giovanni presents a bold theory: Bitcoin is not just an asset—it’s a living, evolving system....
2025-06-121h 11
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Bull Market Is Being Built—One Credit Tranche at a TimeDescription: In this episode, Nik answers questions from Demian about the structural drivers behind Bitcoin’s strength near all-time highs. He explains how tightening credit spreads on Strategy’s Bitcoin-backed debt reflect growing investor confidence, and why capital is flowing into Bitcoin through corporate capital structures and yield-bearing instruments. The discussion covers index inclusion, passive portfolio flows, and how Bitcoin exposure is increasingly being built into traditional financial products. Nik also examines Treasury market conditions, real yields, and why Bitcoin depends on credit stability—not chaos—for its next leg higher. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours...
2025-06-1138 min
The Bitcoin LayerTrump vs. Musk: A Public Breakup, A Deeper Economic StoryIn this episode, Nik answers questions from Demian about the Trump–Musk fallout and what it reveals about the trajectory of U.S. economic policy. He unpacks the politics behind Trump’s budget bill, Musk’s frustration with runaway spending, and how credit expansion continues to power the system. Nik explains why fiscal dominance now drives markets, and how Bitcoin and gold are rising as Treasuries face growing challenges to their role atop the global monetary hierarchy. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H 📊 The Bitcoin Layer...
2025-06-0737 min
The Bitcoin LayerGlobal Macro Update: The Fed Isn’t Easing—And Bitcoin Doesn’t CareIn this episode, Nik breaks down the current macro landscape through the lens of Bitcoin, interest rates, and market liquidity. He shares new insights from TBL’s proprietary liquidity index, revealing how quarterly cycles in the Treasury market are shaping Bitcoin’s price behavior. Nik also unpacks key valuation metrics like the Mayer Multiple and MVRV, and explains why Bitcoin’s current range suggests a stable foundation. The update covers bond volatility, yield curve dynamics, Fed expectations, gold, oil, and the dollar—placing it all within the broader context of a global monetary reset. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here...
2025-06-0427 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin 2025 Recap: What the Crowd Proved, What the Price ShowsIn this episode, Nik recaps Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas—where the energy wasn’t about price hype, but real-world adoption, corporate treasury interest, and global legitimacy. He shares conversations with readers, the emergence of institutional presence, and what the crowd revealed about Bitcoin’s next phase. Nik closes with a quick technical breakdown of the recent weekly candle and what it may signal for Bitcoin’s near-term price action. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm.
2025-05-3119 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Financial War Has Begun: Bitcoin, Stablecoins & the End of EurodollarsIn this episode, Nik is joined by Kane McGukin, a traditional wealth manager and longtime Bitcoin writer. They break down the global financial war unfolding through treasuries, stablecoins, and Bitcoin. From the collapse of Eurodollar dominance to the rise of SOFR and secured collateral systems, the U.S. is reshaping liquidity—and weaponizing financial plumbing to defend its position. Kane explains how Bitcoin fits into this new system as a reserve asset, how stablecoins function as Eurodollar 2.0, and why treasuries and gold are being repositioned for strategic leverage. The rules of global money are changing—and this conversation maps the...
2025-05-2452 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Blows Past $110,000—This Is the Candlestick Masterclass You Asked ForIn this episode, Nik breaks down Bitcoin’s explosive move past $110,000 through the lens of candlestick analysis. From foundational concepts to advanced signals, this full lesson in candle behavior uses Bitcoin’s current bull market as a live case study. Nik covers higher lows, resistance breakouts, the Three White Soldiers pattern, and the critical role of weekly shadows in revealing market conviction. The chart comes first, the narrative follows—and the candles have been signaling strength for months. With seven straight green candles and momentum building, price is leading—and the bull market is unfolding candle by candle.
2025-05-221h 01
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Bull Run Is Built on Liquidity—As Long as Treasuries Stay CalmIn this episode, Nik breaks down the quiet force powering Bitcoin’s 2025 bull market: calm in the Treasury market. As bond volatility unwinds, risk assets are thriving. Nik explains how Bitcoin, as a liquidity asset, is tied to Treasury stability through credit creation, term premiums, and the pace of government debt relative to GDP. He covers Bitcoin’s institutional FOMO, the mechanics of the yield curve, and the rising pressure across global markets—highlighted by a growing gold story out of Europe. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H ...
2025-05-2022 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin’s Financialized Bull Market: What’s Driving the Price in 2025In this episode, Nik answers Demian’s questions about what’s driving Bitcoin’s price in 2025, as ETFs, options, and structured products reshape the bull market. With new pipes built for institutional capital to flow into Bitcoin, financialization is transforming how price behaves—suppressing volatility, changing breakout dynamics, and introducing both long and short positioning at scale. Nik breaks down what this means for on-chain signals, how MVRV still reveals conviction, and why Bitcoin may no longer follow the boom-and-bust cycles of the past. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H
2025-05-1647 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Is Now a Macro Asset—James Check Explains Why $150,000 Is ComingIn this episode, Nik Bhatia sits down with James Check (Checkmate) to break down the latest shifts in Bitcoin market structure, sentiment, and investor behavior. They explore how the macro landscape and price action are shaping this phase of the bull market, with an emphasis on derivatives, MVRV, and the psychology of unrealized losses. The conversation highlights the transition from mining-driven cycles to behavior-driven dynamics and how corporate treasury strategies are now influencing Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory. Nik and James discuss what recent price ranges reveal about investor confidence and why patience remains key in navigating evolving market conditions....
2025-05-1545 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Is Opting Out. The Fed Is Just Holding the System Together.In this episode, Nik Bhatia and TBL Research Associate Demian Schatt unpack how the Federal Reserve actually influences the financial system—and who it serves. They discuss what happens mechanically when the Fed changes rates, why bond market expectations matter more than policy statements, and how the entire credit system is structured to resist deflation. Nik shares insights on the origins of the 2% inflation target, the fragility of the banking system, and how Bitcoin fits into a world built on rolling debt and central bank intervention. The conversation also touches on Larry Lepard’s The Big Print and the grow...
2025-05-0933 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Mining Is Cleaning the Grid — Here’s the TruthIn this episode, Nik is joined by Bitcoin researcher Daniel Batten to unpack the latest Cambridge report on Bitcoin mining and energy. They reveal how years of misinformation—driven by central banks and amplified by the media—have distorted public perception of Bitcoin’s environmental impact. Drawing on new data, Daniel explains how miners are increasingly using off-grid and stranded energy, stabilizing power grids and accelerating renewable adoption. From landfill methane in Latin America to hydropower in Ethiopia, this conversation highlights Bitcoin’s growing role in global energy innovation. Link to article: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk...
2025-05-0736 min
The Bitcoin LayerI Went Down a Eurodollar Rabbit Hole with AIIn this video, Nik Bhatia explores the Eurodollar system through an unexpected lens—a conversation with Grok. Drawing from his own research in Layered Money and Bitcoin Age, Nik traces the origins of offshore dollar finance, explains how Regulation Q and Cold War politics fueled the rise of the Eurodollar market, and examines China’s role in expanding this shadow system through the Belt and Road Initiative. As global capital flows collide with U.S. trade policy and economic reordering, this episode uncovers how the Eurodollar system fits into the broader financial war unfolding today. 📚 Bitcoin...
2025-05-0632 min
The Bitcoin LayerBitcoin Holds STRONG Amid Falling Treasury YieldsIn this episode, Nik Bhatia sits down with TBL Research Associate Demian Schott to break down Bitcoin’s strong price action despite signs of macroeconomic slowdown. They explore how falling bond volatility, shifting interest rate expectations, and the Fed’s potential rate cuts are boosting risk assets through the TBL Liquidity lens. Nik explains how market certainty affects dealer activity, why lower yields matter for Bitcoin and stocks, and what the two-year Treasury yield is signaling about future Fed policy. The conversation also touches on global trade, Eurodollar flows, and the political dynamics influencing inflation and long-term interest rates.
2025-05-0350 min
The Bitcoin LayerChina Grabs Gold As The U.S. Shuts Off Dollar LiquidityIn this episode, Nik Bhatia and Matt Dines unpack the evolving dynamics of global finance, focusing on gold’s renewed monetary role, the effects of China’s gold market activity, and the broader trend of de-dollarization. They explore how tariffs and shifting trade flows are reshaping global dollar circulation, and examine the interplay between gold, bitcoin, and dollar strength. The conversation also covers the Eurodollar system, Ukraine war financing, and how changes in labor and capital are shaping the current macro landscape. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H
2025-05-011h 04
The Bitcoin LayerAmerica’s New War on Offshore Dollar PowerIn this video, Nik dives into America’s new financial war on offshore dollar power. He outlines how the Trump administration’s tariffs are just the opening move in a broader strategy to dismantle the Eurodollar system, drain shadow banking liquidity, and force a return to Treasury-backed money. Nik charts the end of 30 years of globalization, the reshaping of global trade, and the early signs of a new monetary world order taking shape right now. 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H 📊 The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin...
2025-04-2923 min
The Bitcoin LayerNEW WORLD ORDER: Inside the U.S. Plan to Reset Trade, Currency, and AlliancesIn this episode, Nik is joined by Tanvi Ratna, founder of Policy 4.0, to break down the Trump administration’s sweeping new strategy: a global trade, currency, and security reordering. Tanvi brings her unique expertise across geopolitics, supply chains, finance, and emerging tech to explain how the U.S. is shifting from a consumer-driven economy to an industrial powerhouse—while reimagining alliances, shipping lanes, and even the future of the dollar system. They discuss the multipolar world taking shape, the BRICS challenge, de-dollarization, and the rising roles of gold and Bitcoin in a new monetary era. Links...
2025-04-261h 08
The Bitcoin LayerRepricing EVERYTHING — Gold, Bitcoin, and the DollarIn this Global Macro Update, Nik walks through a massive chart pack to help decode today’s volatile macro landscape. Gold is leading the way, outpacing Bitcoin over the past 12 months and signaling a global monetary reset in motion. Nik connects the dots between soaring gold prices, weakening demand for U.S. Treasuries, and a shift away from dollar recycling as trade relationships are restructured. He analyzes Bitcoin’s technical setup, MVRV valuation, and ETF inflows, and explores how rising bond volatility and term premia are draining liquidity. Plus, new insights on the U.S. energy boom, unemployment pressures, and...
2025-04-2544 min
The Bitcoin LayerGlobal Macro Update: Bitcoin Rebounds as Gold Screams Monetary ResetIn this Global Macro Update, Nik highlights bitcoin’s breakout above a key descending trendline and a textbook bullish divergence on the RSI—two technical signals suggesting the recent downtrend may be losing steam. But the bigger story is gold, which is exploding higher in what looks like the early stages of a full-scale monetary reset. With the dollar breaking multi-year support and massive gold inflows hitting the U.S., Nik explores the possibility of a global repricing, driven by collapsing commercial shorts and currency pressure abroad. He connects the dots between price action, trade war policy, capital charge reli...
2025-04-2232 min
The Bitcoin LayerWhat’s REALLY Holding Up the Treasury MarketIn this episode, Nik Bhatia is joined by Demian Schatt to examine why the US Treasury market is fundamentally strengthening despite recent volatility. Nik explains key concepts including SLR reform, Treasury buybacks of off-the-run securities, and current repo market dynamics that are supporting market stability. The conversation also explores how deregulation and fiscal discipline will be crucial for long-term Treasury strength and economic growth. Matt Pines Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTotxDkCvyY 📚 Bitcoin Age is here, order yours today: https://a.co/d/5gau08H 📊 The Bitco...
2025-04-1750 min
The Bitcoin LayerAmerica’s BIG MOVE: How Tariffs and Treasuries Are Changing EverythingIn this episode, Nik is joined by Matt Pines, executive director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to unpack what could be the biggest shift in U.S. geoeconomic strategy in decades. Together, they explore the vision behind a potential “Bretton Woods 2.0”—a new system emerging from reciprocal tariffs, capital wars, and a shrinking global dollar zone. They dive deep into how the U.S. is building a trade and monetary alliance to isolate China, restructure global capital flows, and re-anchor demand for U.S. Treasuries. With gold, stablecoins, and possibly bitcoin playing growing roles in global settlements, this conversation lays o...
2025-04-1655 min
The Bitcoin Layer60 Basis Point Treasury Shock, MOVE Panic—Bitcoin Holds $80,000In this episode, Nik Bhatia is joined by Demian Schatt to break down one of the most volatile 48-hour stretches in recent bond market history. As Treasury yields spiked 60 basis points and the MOVE Index surged, Nik unpacks the hidden mechanics behind the dislocation—explaining how a highly leveraged basis trade began to unwind, triggering forced selling and market-wide panic. He walks through the role of China’s currency devaluation, the impact of new 125% tariffs, and how synthetic credit in the swaps market amplified the chaos. With bond volatility ripping, Nik explores what it means for the Fed’s reacti...
2025-04-1049 min
The Bitcoin LayerTariffs as Strategy: How Trump Wields U.S. PowerIn this episode, Nik is joined by PhD economist Peter St. Onge for a masterclass on the strategic use of tariffs in Trump’s economic agenda. Peter explains how tariffs serve as strategic tools, not protectionist measures, to reshape global trade, revive U.S. manufacturing, and drive domestic deregulation. He breaks down America’s asymmetric trade relationships with Europe, China, and Mexico, and outlines why Trump’s approach is grounded in realpolitik. Peter also explores the Fed’s role in enabling crisis-driven spending and how Bitcoin offers a way out of fiat dysfunction. Closing with the global stakes of shifting...
2025-04-0835 min
The Bitcoin LayerGlobal Macro Update: Stocks Break Down, Bitcoin Teeters Near SupportIn this Global Macro Update, Nik Bhatia breaks down one of the most chaotic weeks in markets this year, using price action to explain the forces driving volatility across treasuries, stocks, Bitcoin, and the dollar. He outlines how the recent collapse in 2-year yields to 3.5% confirms that the Fed's hiking cycle is over, with rate cuts still expected even amid a strong labor market. Nik zooms out on the steepening yield curve to show how forward inflation expectations are reentering the market, while bond volatility—measured by the MOVE index—spikes to levels that are now dragging down risk asse...
2025-04-0850 min
The Bitcoin LayerBIG Shifts in U.S. Bitcoin Policy: IRS Rollbacks and Strategic Reserve PlanIn this episode, Demian Schott welcomes Yaël Ossowski of the Consumer Choice Center and Bitcoin Policy Institute to break down major shifts in U.S. Bitcoin policy. Yaël explains how Congress’s repeal of the IRS’s DeFi broker rule is a win for privacy and innovation, and why a de minimis tax exemption is key to using Bitcoin as real money. He outlines budget-neutral strategies to grow the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and highlights the need for stablecoin legislation, money transmission reform, and the Keep Your Coins Act. With real momentum in Congress and agencies, Yaël shares...
2025-04-0238 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 3: Bitcoin’s Scarcity and Global ImpactIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia builds on his conversation with economics student Demian Schatt, addressing new questions about Bitcoin’s hard cap, credit systems, and global accessibility. Demian asks whether the fixed supply of 21 million coins limits Bitcoin’s adoption and how it fits into a world reliant on credit. Nik explains the dynamics of lending in a Bitcoin-based system, explores the role of stablecoins like Tether in volatile economies, and discusses Bitcoin’s potential to empower individuals in inflationary environments. They close by exploring whether Bitcoin could reduce inequality and how its adoption might impact wealth distri...
2024-11-2723 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 3: Bitcoin’s Scarcity and Global ImpactIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia builds on his conversation with economics student Demian Schatt, addressing new questions about Bitcoin’s hard cap, credit systems, and global accessibility. Demian asks whether the fixed supply of 21 million coins limits Bitcoin’s adoption and how it fits into a world reliant on credit. Nik explains the dynamics of lending in a Bitcoin-based system, explores the role of stablecoins like Tether in volatile economies, and discusses Bitcoin’s potential to empower individuals in inflationary environments. They close by exploring whether Bitcoin could reduce inequality and how its adoption might impact wealth distribution over t...
2024-11-2723 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 2: Bitcoin’s Intrinsic ValueIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia continues answering questions from economics student Demian Schatt, diving deeper into the challenges and opportunities of integrating Bitcoin into modern economic systems. Demian asks about Bitcoin's impact on savings, its intrinsic value, and the feasibility of a Bitcoin-backed system. Nik explains how mining and hashing create Bitcoin’s value, reflects on lessons from historical bank runs, and explores Bitcoin’s coexistence with fiat as an alternative asset. Wrapping up, they consider the potential future of banking in a Bitcoin-centric world and the importance of understanding Bitcoin’s technical and economic foundations for shapin...
2024-11-2629 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 2: Bitcoin’s Intrinsic ValueIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia continues answering questions from economics student Demian Schatt, diving deeper into the challenges and opportunities of integrating Bitcoin into modern economic systems. Demian asks about Bitcoin's impact on savings, its intrinsic value, and the feasibility of a Bitcoin-backed system. Nik explains how mining and hashing create Bitcoin’s value, reflects on lessons from historical bank runs, and explores Bitcoin’s coexistence with fiat as an alternative asset. Wrapping up, they consider the potential future of banking in a Bitcoin-centric world and the importance of understanding Bitcoin’s technical and economic foundations for shaping sustai...
2024-11-2629 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 1: Challenging a Bitcoin Professor on Monetary PolicyIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia answers questions from economics student Demian Schatt, exploring how Bitcoin could fit within modern fiscal and monetary policy frameworks. Demian asks thought-provoking questions about operating under a Bitcoin standard during recessions, such as how governments could stimulate the economy without increasing the money supply. Nik explains the role of fiscal policy, free markets, and Bitcoin’s deflationary nature in supporting sustainable growth, while contrasting it with traditional monetary systems. He also addresses inflation, quantitative easing, liquidity, and Bitcoin’s potential as a reserve currency, demonstrating how Bitcoin could transform the future of fina...
2024-11-1943 min
The Bitcoin LayerThe Bitcoin Classroom Part 1: Challenging a Bitcoin Professor on Monetary PolicyIn this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia answers questions from economics student Demian Schatt, exploring how Bitcoin could fit within modern fiscal and monetary policy frameworks. Demian asks thought-provoking questions about operating under a Bitcoin standard during recessions, such as how governments could stimulate the economy without increasing the money supply. Nik explains the role of fiscal policy, free markets, and Bitcoin’s deflationary nature in supporting sustainable growth, while contrasting it with traditional monetary systems. He also addresses inflation, quantitative easing, liquidity, and Bitcoin’s potential as a reserve currency, demonstrating how Bitcoin could transform the future of finance.
The...
2024-11-1943 min