Bitcoin Magazine Podcast

The UK's Orwellian Future: Bitcoin as the Escape Hatch w/ Freddie New | Bitcoin Politics Ep. 5

Aug 14, 2025
Guest
Freddie New
Freddie New, Chief Policy Officer & Co-Founder at Bitcoin Policy UK, tackles the implications of the UK's Online Safety Act on privacy and freedom. He critiques political hypocrisy surrounding VPN use while advocating for individual rights. The discussion emphasizes the intersection of Bitcoin and privacy tools, exploring legal challenges and the need for self-custody. New inspires action through grassroots political engagement, urging listeners to defend their freedoms and embrace the transformative power of Bitcoin amid increasing governmental oversight.
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INSIGHT

Protocols Resist Regulatory Grasp

  • Protocols like Nostr resist regulation because they are not companies and have no CEOs to subpoena.
  • Freddie New sees moving from companies to protocols as a critical path to preserving speech and privacy.
ADVICE

Start Small To Improve Privacy

  • Take incremental steps to improve your privacy like using a VPN, Proton mail, learning Tor, and creating a Nostr key pair.
  • Freddie New urges manageable, progressive actions rather than seeking perfect privacy immediately.
INSIGHT

Builders Aren't Automatically Criminals

  • Legally, builders of infrastructure (like mixing tools) resemble road builders and shouldn't be criminally liable for users' misuse.
  • Freddie New highlights mens rea and actus reus distinctions and FinCEN guidance supporting that view.
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