My guest today is Giacomo Zucco, Director of Plan B Network and a well-known Bitcoin maximalist. He's also an advisor/investor for OCEAN, Relai, Ark Labs, Twentytwo, Geyser, Lightning Ventures, Breez and more. He spends his time supporting projects that he feels might be relevant for the future of Bitcoin, be it as an educator, consultant, entrepreneur, maximalist, or troll. In this episode, we dive deep into Bitcoin’s ideological and technological battles, from the early days of monetary activism to today’s regulatory and institutional challenges. Giacomo unpacks the role of stablecoins and specifically USDT, explaining why it has become both a “useful scam” and a financial bridge for millions. We also touch on CBDCs, the future of financial decentralization, transhumanism and why Bitcoiners should remain cautious as institutions get involved. Please note Giacomo’s views do not represent Tether’s official views in any way.

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-- LINKS –

Giacomo’s Twitter: https://x.com/giacomozucco 

Giacomo’s Nostr npub: npub1au23c73cpaq2whtazjf6cdrmvam6nkd4lg928nwmgl78374kn29sq9t53j

Plan B Network Twitter: https://x.com/planb_network 

Plan B Website: https://planb.network/

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-- CHAPTERS –

00:00 Coming Up…

00:57 Introduction

01:25 Giacomo’s Story and Background

09:35 The Story Behind “Plan B Network”

16:34 Tether - A Happy Accident or a Useful Scam? 

26:51 Tether’s Audits & Conspiracy Theories of Pumping Bitcoin Price

30:58 Tether’s Bet On Gold with XAUt

32:26 Tether’s Tech & Investments Diversification

32:58 Transhumanism & its Risks 

37:04 The New Monetary Order: CBDCs,Stablecoins & Bitcoin

43:22 The Evolution of Bitcoin's Ideological Landscape

47:38 Giacomo’s Message of Hope