The Mustard Seed Bitcoin Podcast Basel Held Bitcoin Back. AI Could Unleash It | Conner Brown
Mar 12, 2026
Conner Brown, researcher at the Bitcoin Policy Institute who wrote 'Basel's 1,250% mistake', unpacks how Basel rules stifled bank adoption of bitcoin. He explores digital credit and how repackaging bitcoin could reach traditional finance. He also discusses why AI agents might prefer bitcoin and how that could reshape money and capabilities.
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Update U.S. Bank Guidance On Bitcoin
- Change U.S. adoption of Basel guidance so banks aren't deterred from offering Bitcoin services by punitive capital locks.
- Conner recommends regulators issue U.S.-specific guidance and handle operational risks like gold to free capital markets.
Options Markets Make Bitcoin Less Risky
- Growing Bitcoin options markets reduce volatility risk, strengthening the case for lower bank risk weightings.
- Conner notes hedging instruments are maturing in the U.S., narrowing gold's remaining advantage.
Digital Credit Refines Bitcoin For Finance
- Digital credit repackages Bitcoin into familiar financial language to unlock broader adoption among institutions and retail.
- Brown compares Bitcoin to crude oil and digital credit to refined products that meet different user needs.