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The Bitcoin Standard Podcast

324. Apolar Money: Lecture at the Global Economy & Finance Conference in Seoul

By Dr. Saifedean Ammous

Aired May 5, 2026 · 1h 24m · Last boosted May 5, 2026

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Show Notes

Saifedean makes the case for bitcoin as apolar money, the only workable alternative to a government global reserve currency and a unipolar world order, and how geopolitical developments underscore this role.

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Other Episodes/Songs This Community Boosts Other show's episodes boosted by people who boosted this episode
Nov 24, 2025
Nostr Interactions:50k
sawzallNov 25, 2025
50k
Great rip, always appreciate the Citadel Dispatch Freedom Tech signal
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Nostr Interactions:10k
jgbtcJul 14, 2026
10k
Awesome episode!
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May 27, 2026
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jgbtcMay 29, 2026
10k
I quit drinking years ago, over a decade, and the thing that helped the most was to think of my desire to drink as this little person inside me, and me beating the shit out of him every time he tried to talk me into cheating. I can say from this experience that everything you said about appetite in this episode was spot on and high signal. I appreciate it.
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sawzallAug 19, 2025
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Having only listened to the intro, know it's gonna be a fucking banger! Be the change you want to see in the world 🫡
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sawzallJul 23, 2025
5.6k
Keeper using the freedom tech, freaks
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jgbtcDec 8, 2025
5k
"distributed authoritarianiam" Wow, what a 🚩by Greg Maxwell, who is perfectly fine with centralized authoritarianism by Core. Such a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue, and what it means to run your own node, is a serious problem considering who it's coming from. Turns out "the experts" aren't the experts we thought they were. The way core proponents twist the meaning of censorship and authoritarianism is alarming. Another great discussion. Thanks guys!
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jgbtcNov 27, 2025
5k
Great episode, thanks! Core's main argument (repeated ad nauseum) is filters don't work 100% of the time. It doesn't need to be perfect, it needs to be as good as possible. Maximum friction for spammers and anyone else who wants to use Bitcoin for non-monetary uses. Of course miners will do anything for money, that's exactly why an op_return limit and other policies are needed, but certain core devs have twisted this around to justify removing one of the few tools available to pleb node operators (the absurdly high v30 default is effectively the same as removal). The point Luke makes at 1:36:40 is particularly good. Core supporters focus on one side of the equation, the spam that gets mined, and ignore what isn't. The thing about deterrents is we can't know how many attacks aren't even attempted at all because a deterrent exists. In the firewall example, at least intrusion attempts can be detected, but the attacks that never happen can't be measured and so are easy to ignore and dismiss. This is one of many flaws in Core's arguments. Thanks again guys!
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jgbtcNov 24, 2025
5k
Really good discussion. The spam issue is still worth talking about and will remain so indefinitely because it's really about fundamental rifts between bitcoin stakeholders. So I'm sympathetic to Tomer's weariness of the topic, but thank you both for slogging through it anyway. The discussion should continue. More battles are on the horizon I think that will fall along the same fault line.
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jgbtcNov 21, 2025
5k
The best example of core going woke was the blackist change in 2020. It's a particularly good example because the PR author explicitly did it for woke reasons: to use a "more appropriate" word and "make everyone happy". Contrary to Murch's claim that core tries to keep conversations technical (around 1:39:00), this PR had no technical justification at all. This was a good conversation, but if anything it made me even more anti-core. A lot of nitpicky weak arguments from Murch, and dismissive hand waving of valid concerns. We know there is more than one core dev, we have read the core arguments and we are still unconvinced. For all Murch's appeals for understanding the core position (I did make it to the end) he seems to have made very little effort to understand the position against this change. I read the "experts" letter, did he read the rebuttals? https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/19227
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jgbtcOct 22, 2025
5k
Great episode.
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jgbtcOct 13, 2025
5k
Great episode!
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jgbtcSep 10, 2025
5k
Great episode!
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jgbtcMay 13, 2025
5k
Another awesome episode. Thanks Guy!
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jgbtcMay 6, 2025
5k
Awesome discussion. Mechanic's summary at the start was more convincing than anything I've heard in favor of this retarded change. The beginning of the core woke infestation was the PR to remove the word "blacklist" from some test code because, somehow, this word is offensive. All the devs cried "it's no big deal" but I knew at the time it was a bad sign. Now core is a woke cesspool. I will not be running their software anymore.
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Jun 11, 2026
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sawzallJun 12, 2026
2.1k
🔥
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sawzallDec 12, 2025
2.1k
Glad to hear the message of this terrible injustice is being spread by so many voices
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Jul 30, 2026
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jgbtcJul 30, 2026
1k
Well said. As someone who's more anti-core than pro-110, but also a 110 supporter, I agree with Guy's take on this. One thing worth mentioning is that some of the biggest names in Bitcoin development, like @npub1qg8j6gdwp… and sipa, are the worst offenders when it comes to misrepresenting 110 as censorship. It's particularly disappointing these heavy weights can be so wrong about this, and it's impossible not to read bad intentions when they keep pushing the same flawed logic. It definitely works on the midwits though, so not surprised they do it.
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jgbtcJul 20, 2026
1k
The term "sound money" has nothing to do with the noise gold coins make. It comes from the Old English "gesund" meaning strong or healthy. This is why we say "Gesundheit" when someone sneezes. And also why the word is frequently applied to things besides money like "sound reasoning". Robert (and Peter Schiff) uses the incorrect gold coin origin frequently, and it grinds my gears every time. See the adjective section in this link: https://www.etymonline.com/word/sound
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jgbtcMay 1, 2026
1k
A lot of bitcoiners forget we live in meat space where government violence can be used against us. Our courage will be tested.
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Nostr Interactions:1k
jgbtcApr 20, 2026
1k
Lopp, Todd, and Blue Hair Matt, anyone associated with Bitcoin Magazine or Brink, are bad actors. There is zero doubt. They want to enable spam, they want to freeze Satoshi's coins. Enough is enough. If Satoshi's coins are spent by a quantum hacker, then this is what he wants. Who are these clowns to second guess his intentions?
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jgbtcApr 7, 2026
1k
Great rip!
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jgbtcMar 20, 2026
1k
I'd love to see a core fork that is completely developed and maintained by nyms. Satoshi showed us the way, and it's a shame we didn't follow his example and make pseudonymity the defining characteristic of Bitcoin development culture. Any dev who's legal identity is known can be assumed to be compromised at this point.
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jgbtcMar 16, 2026
1k
This was hands down the best pro vs con conversion on bip110 I've heard. It's amazing how productive and informative it can be when both participants debate honestly, attempt to understand each other, and don't resort to cheap shots, insults and straw manning. Thank you gentlemen!
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jgbtcMar 5, 2026
1k
Great episode!
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Nostr Interactions:1k
jgbtcMar 5, 2026
1k
Thanks guys, I look forward to the roundtable every month. Always high signal.
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jgbtcFeb 17, 2026
1k
Great conversation. I'm a believer in "strong opinions loosely held'. There's nothing wrong with reassessment and changing your mind at any time, although it doesn't seem like there's any major disagreement with hodlonaut's views and those of BIP-110 supporters. Regardless, I respect his choice to withdraw support. Taking a non-committal view while assessing is always wise. An episode with Giacomo on the topic next would be awesome.
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jgbtcDec 19, 2025
1k
Thanks guys, I really enjoyed this series.
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sawzallDec 12, 2024
1k
Great rip, it's all bullshit
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Nov 6, 2025
Nostr Interactions:210
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jgbtcDec 3, 2025
100
The future of Bitcoin development, and the direction the reference client is being taken, will always be worth discussing. I understand the fatigue but your voice is still very much needed and appreciated Knut. Glad you're on the right side of this issue.
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Everyone who has boosted 324. Apolar Money: Lecture at the Global Economy & Finance Conference in Seoul on Nostr, ranked by sats sent, all time.

  1. sawzall 2.1k sats
  2. jgbtc 1k sats

Episode Boosts

Every boost sent to this episode, as published to Nostr, newest first.

  • 2,100
    Great lecture and FUD busting Q&A session. Make war unaffordable again
  • 1,000
    I don't know how Saif never gets tired of answering the same five questions. Thank you for your patience and perseverance Saifedean!