September 03, 2024

49: Roger Huang ON: The State of Bitcoin in China

1 hour

In this episode, Scott interviews Roger Huang, an accomplished author and Bitcoin expert. Roger's book, "Would Mao Hold Bitcoin?" delves deep into China’s unique relationship with Bitcoin amidst strict government regulations and cultural nuances. He sheds light on the historical, economical, and societal factors influencing Bitcoin's role in China, the rise of digital currency exchanges, and the nation's evolving economic landscape. This insightful conversation unpacks how Bitcoin could force broader discussions around freedom and political reform in China.

Roger Huang was born in China, but raised in Canada. He became fascinated with Bitcoin as early as 2013 – He couldn’t quite find his way around describing exactly why, so he started diving into it by meeting Bitcoin supporters and writing about the topic. As a longtime observer, Mandarin speaker, and regular contributor to Forbes and other platforms on the subject of Bitcoin in China, Huang is uniquely positioned to evaluate the implications for the future.

Roger Huang’s "Would Mao Hold Bitcoin?" is the authoritative resource exploring Bitcoin’s disruptive intersection with Chinese history. Huang not only pulls back the curtain on the characters and events driving that story, but on the larger questions that arise from the clash between state-driven Chinese tech and the open source development that is Bitcoin.

Timestamps:

4:28 China's monetary history and inflation management.

7:21 The role of Bitcoin in circumventing China's capital controls.

14:35 The rise of Bitcoin mining and exchanges in China.

19:51 The evolution of China's Bitcoin ecosystem.

27:26 How China attempted to ban Bitcoin but failed.

32:48 Bitcoin as a tool for capital flight in China.

45:46 The future role of Bitcoin in China's economy.

Resources Mentioned:

Would Mao Hold Bitcoin? | Book

Bitcoin Magazine: Would Mao Hold Bitcoin? | Book

BTCC | Website