October 20, 2025

Read_908 - The Utility of Bitcoin

57 minutes

"Payments are the camcorders of our age, the next technology whose time has passed. The new age that is just beginning will feel qualitatively different, like the moment Dorothy steps out of her black-and-white world into the vibrant colors of Oz. When value flows as freely as information, the economy changes, and society changes with it."
~ Roy Sheinfeld

What happens when money moves as freely as a text message? This episode dives into Roy Sheinfeld’s vision of Bitcoin not just as an asset - but as the network that commoditizes value transfer itself. I explore how this shift could dissolve borders, upend the legacy payments stack, and unlock a new creator economy built directly on Lightning.

Check out the original article The Utility of Bitcoin: Moving Value Like Information by Roy Sheinfeld (Link: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/the-utility-of-bitcoin-moving-value-like-information)

Links Referenced:

Breez (Link: Breez.tech)

Breez SDK (Link: https://breez.technology/sdk/)

Alby + NWC [Start9 integration] (Link: https://tinyurl.com/yzhwf6t6)

PearDrive Core (Link: https://github.com/peardrive/PearDriveCore)

PearDrive CLI (Link: https://github.com/peardrive/PearDriveCLI)

Zero to One by Peter Thiel [PDF] (Link: https://morfene.com/021.pdf)

Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get it by Scott Kupor (Link: https://a16z.com/books/secrets-of-sand-hill-road/)

Arc / Spark / Fedi / Botanix / Cashu

Check out our awesome sponsors!

Ledn: Need fiat but don’t want to sell your Bitcoin? Ledn offers secure, Bitcoin-backed loans with no credit checks, flexible repayment, and fast turnaround—often within 24 hours. With $10B+ in loans across 100+ countries and transparent Proof of Reserves, Ledn is a trusted option for unlocking liquidity without giving up your Bitcoin. (Link: https://learn.ledn.io/audible)

HRF: The Human Rights Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Subscribe to HRF's Financial Freedom Newsletter today. (Link: https://mailchi.mp/hrf.org/financial-freedom-newsletter)

OFF: The Oslo Freedom Forum is a global human rights event by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), uniting voices from activism, journalism, tech, and beyond. Through powerful stories and collaboration, OFF advances freedom and human potential worldwide. Join us next June. (Link: https://oslofreedomforum.com/)

Pubky: Pubky is building the next web, a decentralized system designed to put control back in your hands. Escape censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and walled gardens by owning your identity and data. Explore the Pubky web and become the algorithm today. Don't forget to find me on my Pubky ID here: pk:5d7thwzkxx5mz6gk1f19wfyykr6nrwzaxri3io7ahejg1z74qngo. (Link: https://pubky.org)

Chroma: Chroma is dedicated to advancing human performance and well-being through cutting-edge light therapy devices and performance eyewear. Their mission is to enhance physical and mental health, unlocking peak human health, cognitive function, and physical performance. Get 10% off your order with the code BITCOINAUDIBLE. (Link: https://getchroma.co/?ref=BitcoinAudible)

Host Links

⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)

⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann)

Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann)

Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann)

Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann)

⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible)

The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)

...more