It’s Friday—and that means it’s time to decode this week's shifts in Bitcoin, macroeconomics, and geopolitics.

It’s time for Episode 91 of BitcoinHardTalk.

The Genius Act has now officially passed, and after reviewing the fine print, it’s clear: banks can now issue stablecoins backed by $3.5T in Fed deposits with on-chain yield. It’s the closest we’ve seen to a covert U.S. CBDC, likely to be led by JPMorgan Chase. I break down what this means for Bitcoin’s role as the last monetary escape hatch. Meanwhile, the IMF sparked controversy by claiming El Salvador isn’t building Bitcoin reserves—just as Trump reportedly added $2B in Bitcoin to Trump Media’s balance sheet. And finally, an analysis showed that 74% of Bitcoin is now held by long-term holders, hitting a 15-year high and signaling deep conviction.

Markets recalibrated as Trump’s trade tariffs are expected to hit closer to 25%, on average not the 10% currently floated. Trump also made headlines with a dramatic visit to Jerome Powell at the Fed’s new HQ—another symbolic power move in his campaign to dominate U.S. monetary policy. I also created a new blog to explore the latest in the Proof-of-Weapons network war economy: how the Israel Stock Exchange is reacting to the Gaza crisis, and how global boycott and divestment efforts are now shaping capital flows.

The Epstein list remains sealed, fueling growing distrust—even within Trump’s base—and deepening the fracture lines in US politics. But beyond the domestic drama, I take a closer look at the escalating arms economy: from Ukraine to the looming flashpoint between China and Taiwan, the proof-of-weapons network is thriving, with new arms deals and ballooning budgets revealing who’s really profiting from global instability.

Finally, I also dropped a new blog exploring how religion is being weaponized to distract from the real story—war profiteering. As uncomfortable truths emerge, old conspiracies like “Jews rule the world” are being recycled to deflect attention. In this episode, I follow the money with cold, hard data to expose how wealth and power are actually shifting—and why the facts dismantle the fiction.

This episode of Bitcoin HardTalk features in-depth analysis and opinions from Simon Dixon on topics across Bitcoin, Macroeconomics, and Geopolitics. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this video should be considered financial, investment, legal, tax, or political advice. Viewers should not treat any opinion expressed by Simon as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion at the time of recording. Bitcoin and other digital assets are volatile, high-risk instruments. Always perform your own due diligence and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. Please note: This disclaimer was written with the assistance of AI.