Blockspace: AI & Bitcoin

We discuss the bombshell report from the House Committee on Financial Services that confirms the existence of **Operation Chokepoint 2.0**—a coordinated, extralegal effort by the Biden Administration to push the crypto industry out of the US banking system. Review Nic Carter's original exposes, how the "conspiracy" became formal documentation, and the shift from an existential threat to a clearer path for conducting business in the United States. We also discuss the political "reckoning" ahead for the industry's single-issue campaign spending.Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com](https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com)**Notes:*** House report confirms debanking conspiracy.* Extralegal effort to cut crypto banking.* Nick Carter published OCP 2.0 exposes.* Existential risk to US crypto is not near-term.* Crypto actively supported Trump's campaign.* "Single issue PAC" raised biggest money ever.Timestamps:00:00 Start01:25 Chokepoint 1.004:08 Regulation as maze07:14 FDIC letter11:06 Charlie gets de-banked13:12 Fed letter SR226-👋The Blockspace Pod is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech!Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here.Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We analyze Bitcoin's historical holiday performance from 2012-2024, revealing that Thanksgiving-to-Christmas returns are a perfect 50/50 coin toss. We break down why 2017's spectacular bull run spoiled expectations, how the COVID-era 2020 produced the GOAT Thanksgiving shill with 69% gains, and why dollar cost averaging is the only advice worth giving your skeptical relatives. Plus: practical strategies for orange pilling family without ruining dinner. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Bitcoin 50/50 up or down Thanksgiving to Christmas • 2020 had 69% gain, best holiday performance ever • 2017 bull run was 50% gains in one month • 1 in 7 Americans now own Bitcoin • Dollar cost averaging recommended strategy • ETFs make onboarding boomers easier now Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:25 It's all about family 03:34 Past holiday returns 06:24 2017 & 2020 holiday markets 07:52 FTX 12:52 Akshually, the returns average 6% - 👋Blockspace Pod is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colin and Charlie break down the brutal November 2025 Bitcoin selloff. With BTC trading at $87K, the average ETF holder is now underwater, hash prices are at all-time lows, and treasury companies like MicroStrategy and Nokia are facing serious headwinds. We discuss whether this is just typical Bitcoin volatility or something more concerning, analyze the dangers of leverage in crypto, and examine what happens when treasury companies can no longer access capital markets.  Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Bitcoin trading at $86-87K (red for the year) • Average BTC ETF holder now underwater • Hash price at all-time low for miners • MicroStrategy convertible notes taking haircuts • 30% drawdown within historic BTC range • Treasury companies face capital access issues Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:34 Number Go Down WTF! 04:15 Bitcoin is volatile, strap in! 09:02 But why go down? 16:50 NAKA 20:20 Treasury company bubble 21:50 Metaplanet 25:09 Leverage will break you 28:32 Hashprice - 👋Blockspace Podcast is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allen Farrington and Harris Irfa explain their seminal paper "Bitcoin, Fiat and Islamic Finance." They dive into why Islamic banking is an oxymoron, how riba (interest/usury) connects to fractional reserve banking, and why Bitcoin naturally produces Islamic-compliant financial systems. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com **NOTES:** - Global South spends half GDP on debt interest - Islamic finance industry worth $3+ trillion - Dinar used for 1000+ years in Islamic world - Fractional reserve creates money via lending - Sukuk are asset-backed Islamic bonds - Bitcoin enables prophetic economics principles 00:00 Start 01:56 Allen's backstory 03:13 Harris' background 05:09 Islamic banking is an oxymoron 08:10 Islamic finance will emerge on top of Bitcoin 12:46 Basics of Islamic finance 15:20 Riba (interest) 18:08 BTC mining in Islamic nations 24:07 managers & risk sharing 27:55 Flux 33:00 Is Bitcoin halal? 38:58 Islamic finance & a Bitcoin Standrd 41:42 Research response Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We break down Jack Dorsey's massive Bitcoin rollout across Cash App and Square—4M merchants can now accept BTC payments via Lightning and mainnet. We explore how Bitcoin rails are undercutting Visa/Amex fees, the Strike-style settlement strategy, and the controversial BIP 177 denomination debate. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • 4M Square merchants now accept Bitcoin payments • Credit card fees range from 2-6% per transaction • Cash App uses Lightning Network for settlements • BIP 177 proposes renaming Satoshis to Bitcoins • 100M Satoshis equal one Bitcoin • Jack Dorsey owns Block, Square, and Cash App - 👋The Blockspace Podcast is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, joins us to talk about why Galaxy revised their Bitcoin end-of-year target from $185K to $120K, the competitive headwinds from gold (up 57% vs Bitcoin's 12%), AI investments, and stablecoins, the October 10th leverage wipeout, Bitcoin's maturation into a lower-volatility asset, whale distribution patterns, the stalled momentum of ordinals and runes, Bitcoin Layer 2 developments, and the ongoing arbitrary data filters debate affecting projects like Citrea and Botanix. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Galaxy revised BTC target: $185K down to $120K • Gold outperformed Bitcoin: 57% vs 12% YTD • October 10th leverage wipeout major catalyst • Bitcoin Season 2 momentum has stalled out • Stablecoins creating major market competition • Layer 2s like Citrea, Botanix still early stage Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:49 Gov shutdown? Oh no!!! 03:03 Revising EOY price prediction 07:55 Next price catalyst? 10:50 Longer term price predictions 14:01 Crashing to $100k 16:34 Stablecoins 22:38 Tether & competition 30:11 Backing 33:58 Did we lose the plot? 37:37 Enthusiasm for BTC development - 👋The Blockspace Podcast is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive deep into Coinglass's Bull Market Peak Indicators showing zero out of 30 signals flashing bear market warnings. Despite recent price drops and worst jobs data in 22 years, Bitcoin dominance sits at 59% (65% triggers peak warnings), Pi cycle top indicator remains green, and long-term holders absorbed $52.2B in sell pressure. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • 0 out of 30 indicators show bear market • Bitcoin dominance currently at 59% • 65% dominance historically signals cycle top • Jobs data showed 100K+ losses last month • Long-term holders absorbed $52.2B sell pressure Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:36 BTC puking on jobs data 01:39 Bitcoin Dominance 07:19 Institutional Allocations 09:09 Long Term Holder Supply 11:57 Mayer Multiple 13:26 Peull Multiple 19:42 Pi Cycle Top Indicator - 👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Baydakova, Senior Reporter at CoinDesk joins us to talk about Russia's complex relationship with Bitcoin. From Putin's surprising embrace of crypto mining to the grey market of mining rig distribution, Anna reveals how sanctions transformed Russia's crypto landscape. We explore Siberian mining operations and why Russians increasingly turn to Bitcoin as both protest and preservation against an authoritarian regime. Link to the full report: https://blockspace.media/insight/in-between-worlds-the-state-of-bitcoin-mining-in-russia/ Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Russia legalized Bitcoin mining in November 2024 • Hash rate dropped 10-15% after Ukraine invasion • Electricity costs $0.02-0.04/kWh in Siberia • Putin shifted from anti-crypto to pro-mining • Telegram channels became primary crypto platform Timestamps: 00:00 Start 01:16 Russia mining overview 02:56 Past 3 years of growth 08:30 Top Russian Miners 09:11 Mining "ban" is complicated 13:30 Who owns these miners? 17:31 Sanctions & War 23:23 Grey ASIC market 26:36 Wrap up - 👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? hello@blockspace.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gold Investors Are Taking A Victory Lap! Colin explains how Boomer goldbugs finally get to take a victory lap as Bitcoin gets beaten out by gold in 2025. Were Bitcoiners wrong about the debasement trade? Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Gold beats Bitcoin in 2025 • Gold is winning the debasement trade • It’s a geopolitical game • China, US, and Rare Earth Metals Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:40 Goldbug victory lap 03:55 Gold soars as BTC crabs 06:19 China buying gold 09:28 The dollar is cooked 14:10 Rare earth minerals 17:24 Narratives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Hamilton from AnchorWatch joins us to talk about the explosive BIP 444 proposal that could fork Bitcoin. We break down PortlandHodl's original 520-byte output limit idea, LukeDashjr's controversial technique to ban inscriptions, and the legal pressure being applied to mining pools. Rob explains why this fork will likely fail, what happens to your Bitcoin if it succeeds, and why opponents finally admitted a consensus change was needed all along. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • BIP 444 limits outputs to 520 bytes max • OP_RETURN reduced from current to 84 bytes • F2Pool controls 12% hash rate, opposes fork • Mining pool switching costs nearly nothing • Fork creates 2 coins: pure vs unholy Bitcoin • Legal pressure applied to multiple pools Timestamps: 00:00 Start 01:55 Portland HODL's proposal 04:48 PR 444 (is dumb) 08:22 Author of the PR: Dathon Ohm 09:45 Knots & Ocean inner circle 10:45 LEGAL & MORAL authorities! Oh my! 14:52 Assume 444 was merged, wat do? 21:55 Stamps maximalism! One jpg to rule them all! 28:47 Possible paths forward31:09 What happens next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices