This week Dan gets into:

• Yes, more ETF news!
• Current leaderboard
• Another new ETF - but this time in Hong Kong?
  • Just 2.5 years after China Mining Ban
  • Now China embracing Bitcoin ETFs and hashrate at all-time highs
• Good news from FTX brankruptcy
  • Creditors being made (kinda) whole
• Recent Bitcoin transaction show how unstoppable the Bitcoin protocol is
• New challenge: 100 pushups a day until Bitcoin above $100k
  • Not gonna lie, this is going to be tough but I'm going to give it a shot.  LFG

(We had audio issues so this one is late)

Dan and Greg on the night the ETFs are finally approved!

• Mild disbelief
• BlackRock and JPMorgan's involvement
• Still on the flat part of the curve 
• Cycle theory - will returns increase or decrease vs previous cycles
  • As likely we miss to the upside as the downside
• Where we go from here
• All you have to do is hold
• Clever ETF ticker symbols 
• Changing people's minds 
• ESG layoffs at BlackRock
• Leave your ego behind

Dan and Trent look at ETF launch and other current events.

• Road Trips
• ETF launch
• Huge milestone - the bridge to crossing the chasm to mainstream adoption
• Lack of mainstream awareness
• Parallels to collapse of FTX
• Rock Opera of day:  Gamehendge by Phish

A little late this week.  Dan gets into:

• ETF race is off
• Leaderboard
• Recent price action
• How Bitcoin miners helped Texas deal with cold snap

Bitcoin news week of Jan 12 2023.

Today Dan breaks down the big big news of ETF launch:

• All 11 ETFs approved and started trading Thursday Jan 11
• The race is on!
• The amount of buying pressure will increase dramatically.
• The world is going to learn what happens when exponentially increasing demand meets exponentially decreasing supply
• But it will take years to play out.
• Think long term

Trent and Dan kick off the new year:

• New Year vibes
• Florida Man
• Idea of starting before you are ready.  You are never too late to do something important
• Taking risks and living outside of one’s comfort zone
• Looking back at 2023 and reflect on impact of Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX
• BlackRock filing for ETF turning point of year
• Price up almost 3x this year and now at precipice of ETF launch
• Lessons learned on starting the pod and sticking to it
• New year’s resolution: no resolutions.  Just focus on what matters most
• Excited for the year and pods to come
• Song of day: Us v. Them by LCD Soundsystem

Dan kicks off the new year:

• Happy new year
• ETF approval imminent
• Impact on price?  We don’t know.  DCA and chill
• Wealth advisor survey
  • Only 39% expect an ETF approval this year
  • 88% saw ETF approval as a major catalyst
  • Only 19% currently have ability to buy BTC on behalf of clients
  • Takeaway: Still. So. Early.
• US debt now over $34 trillion dollars and it is not stopping
• Means continued money printing so stack BTC and chill

This week Dan wraps up the last Weekly Ratchet of 2023:

• ETFs look ready to be approved by Jan 10
• MicroStrategy buys another 14,600 Bitcoin
  • They are close to owning 1% of all of the Bitcoin that will ever exist
• New pro-crypto PAC called Fair Shake
  • The Bitcoin lobby will become an incredibly powerful voting block going forward, and it crosses party lines
• Nigeria reverses ban on Bitcoin and crypto
  • Another example of how unstoppable Bitcoin is
• Quick look ahead to 2024 - its going to be an exciting year!

Normally we (ok, Dan) writes the show notes after each episode, but our pod recording platform just added automated AI-generated show notes.  Holy crap.  It took the AI about 30 seconds to scan the entire episode and compose this summary and notes.  To think we are just at the very beginning of AI.

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Summary

In this conversation, Trent and Dan discuss various topics related to art, politics, and the potential for conflict. They explore the absurdity of modern art and the celebration of fiat at events like Art Basel. They also discuss the movie 'Civil War' and the potential for a civil war in the United States. The conversation touches on the role of Bitcoin as an insurance policy and a unifying issue in a divided political landscape. They also highlight Bitcoin's ability to thrive in chaotic times and its potential as a hedge against financial instability. In this episode, Dan and Trent explore the various topics that intersect with Bitcoin, making it a fascinating subject. They discuss the stability of Bitcoin and how it remains a constant presence amidst upheaval and change. Trent shares his excitement for reading during the upcoming vacation time, emphasizing the joy and benefits of immersing oneself in a book. They also touch on the wisdom passed down by elders and the importance of listening to their advice. The episode concludes with a discussion about the freedom and liberating experience of going off script in their conversations.

Takeaways

* Bitcoin is a topic that intersects with various other subjects, making it an interesting and multidimensional subject of discussion.

* Bitcoin provides stability and acts as a constant presence amidst upheaval and change.

* Reading is a valuable and enjoyable activity that allows for relaxation and personal growth.

* Listening to the wisdom of elders can provide valuable insights and guidance.

* Going off script in conversations can lead to liberating and engaging discussions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

03:02 Art Basel and the Celebration of Fiat

08:13 The Absurdity of Modern Art

12:28 Miami's Opulence and the End of Empire

16:22 The Movie 'Civil War' and the Potential for Conflict

21:08 Bitcoin as an Insurance Policy

23:19 Bitcoin as a Unifying Issue

25:53 The Political Divide and Bitcoin

28:31 Bitcoin Thriving in Chaos

31:08 Bitcoin as a Hedge in Chaotic Times

35:14 Philip Roth and Bitcoin

37:47 Bitcoin's Ability to Send Value Anywhere

38:34 Bitcoin as a Nexus of Topics

39:26 The Stability of Bitcoin

40:03 Upheaval and Change

40:42 What's on Your Radar?

41:33 The Joy of Reading

42:54 Wisdom from Elders

44:26 The Freedom of Going Off Script

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(We recorded the song separately.)  

Today’s song: Life Ain’t Fair and the World Is Mean by Sturgill Simpson  

This week Dan gets into:

• the Most Interesting Man in the World supports Bitcoin
• Senator Warren’s anti-crypto crusade introduces bill written by banking lobby trying to keep out competition
• They are coming after self-custody = all the more reason to learn about self custody.  It has never been more important
  • Thankfully its very very unlikely bill will pass in this Congress, but something to keep our eyes on
• Merry Christmas everyone!