#763 What Is Going On With Bitcoin This Week? w/ Dylan LeClair
12/23/2021 · 32 min · transcript via mlx
Tags
Key topics
— Bitcoin functions simultaneously as store of value, medium of exchange, and unit of account, supported by on-chain metrics and network growth data.
— Bitcoin's hash rate has grown 70x since 2017, demonstrating massive investment in network security and physical resources backing the protocol.
— Bitcoin settlement volume reached approximately $22.6 trillion cumulatively, with roughly half occurring in 2021 alone, nearing Visa's annual transaction volume.
— Lightning Network public channel capacity shows exponential growth, enabling near-instantaneous, low-cost Bitcoin payments at scale without layer-one changes.
— S&P 500 and traditional assets appear to gain value only due to monetary expansion; when adjusted for M2 money supply, equities remain essentially flat since 2020.
— Bitcoin as a unit of account outperforms the dollar for valuing long-term returns and real asset appreciation in a deflationary monetary environment.
Market & price signals
— Bitcoin is currently 31% down from all-time highs, described as a normal drawdown in an exponential growth asset and an opportunity to accumulate. MicroStrategy holds 110,000 Bitcoin; its dollar-denominated share price is up 282% but flat when priced in Bitcoin (Satoshis), demonstrating parity with Bitcoin's growth. The timeline for reaching anticipated price targets in late 2021 has shifted slightly, but the underlying thesis remains unchanged. Bitcoin's store-of-value and settlement properties continue strengthening despite near-term volatility.
Actionable insights
— Denominate investment returns and asset values in Bitcoin rather than dollars to avoid the illusion of gains from currency debasement; this approach has outperformed traditional metrics over the past decade.
— Home mining opportunities may emerge, particularly in cold climates where excess heat from ASICs can provide dual utility for heating and Bitcoin mining, creating a viable path for retail participation beyond institutional operations.
— Educate family and peers on sound money and low time preference during the holidays; emphasize that monetary expansion—not corporate greed—drives inflation in housing, food, and energy, planting seeds for long-term Bitcoin adoption.
Episode sponsorships
Paid placements mentioned in this episode. BTC Pods is not sponsored by or affiliated with these advertisers. Links are included so you can find offers mentioned on the show.
— Matrixport is Asia's fastest-growing digital asset platform with $10 billion in assets under management and custody, offering one-stop crypto financial solutions including fixed income, DeFi in one click, structured products, Cactus Custody, spot OTC, and lending. New users can earn up to 30% annualized yields on USDC. Download the Matrixport app and enjoy the welcome offer at https://invest.matrixport.com/en.
— Gemini is a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, wallet, and custodian that makes it simple and secure to buy Bitcoin, Ether, and other cryptocurrencies. Visit Gemini.com to open an account.