The Government Is Not Your Friend

Bitcoiners need to stop begging the government for permission to exercise their rights. They are not our friends.

Yesterday’s guilty verdict for Roman Storm on the count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money service business is absolutely insane.

FinCEN, the regulator responsible for licensing, monitoring, and enforcement actions concerning criminal activity in money transmission has itself explicitly stated that self-custodial tooling that facilitates the transmission of value using cryptocurrencies are not money transmitters and are not subject to the relevant regulations.

So, how did we get here? Eight months after the election of a president who describes himself as a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency advocate, after the Department of Justice themselves have explicitly stated that they are not going to engage in regulation by prosecution, or prosecute mixing services, how was Roman Storm found guilty? [Read More]

Was Bitcoin a Government Operation & Can it Still be Used to Fight Back? - Mark Goodwin

Joining today Mark Goodwin, former editor of Bitcoin Magazine, author, and current writer for Unlimited Hangout, here to discuss what has become a very contentious topic, Bitcoin. Long has the origin of Bitcoin been a topic of discussion, debate, and even drawing lines in the sand. The reason for this is largely due to the justifiable concern that the enigmatic "Satoshi Nakomoto" -- the pseudonym that we associate with the founding of Bitcoin - might be nothing more than a thin veneer hiding a long-planned government operation. That debate alone has caused major shifts in the blockchain/cryptocurrency communities. Then there is the next important question to ask: Even if this was started as a government operation (similar to many tools we use to fight back today, such as the internet itself) can it still be used or possibly altered in order to fight back? We cover this and much more today as we dive through the history of Bitcoin, the many ways that it is currently being used by the incoming Trump administration, and what the future may hold down that path.

Co-Opting Freedom? The Bitcoin Sleight Of Hand & The New AI Control Structure

Today the Independent Media Alliance brings you a panel focusing on the overlap of three main topics; the incoming Trump administration, Bitcoin as a potential strategic reserve, and artificial intelligence. Catherine Austin Fitts, Jason Bermas, Steve Poikonen and Ryan Cristian discuss the intersection of these three topics and what they mean for the future of Bitcoin, as well as the future of the United States and your individual freedom.