ZacG

financial freedom @hrf | host @learningbitcoin

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nprofile1qqszvwvcmwhas4rvwrwgj8gqddg3kmr5nn9tf6gta7xl6glvu6aeq4qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dszm65xl

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Last Notes

2025-08-21 21:38:41 UTC

Vancouver's @nprofile…2k4m conference makes Global News for a panel proposal of heating Kitsilano Pool with #Bitcoin miners, allowing the pool to stay open year round while also generating new revenue for the city.
https://blossom.primal.net/706fa416ce970bd76e3271b845c2e5197fbb091ba6db0115a2924bf7b8fb2a77.mp4

2025-08-18 17:26:54 UTC

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Epic. Thank you for all your support Jarrett👏

2025-08-17 21:07:00 UTC

Nostr onboarding at @nprofile…2k4m led by @nprofile…k6al from @nprofile…sq8x
Freedom is only a workshop away!
#learningbitcoin
https://blossom.primal.net/e1ef294bdac0066ee35a08fff981cbbdbcb134d05e353c249218ade789f982fe.jpg

2025-08-15 21:38:21 UTC

Bitchatting in Vancouver, BC 🇨🇦 during the My First Bitcoin Unconference and @nprofile…2k4m!
https://blossom.primal.net/8c399279905d42b69e4db354f23a8eaec54ffd0ea0828e3ecb3f3cd967c31ba1.jpg

2025-06-26 15:42:15 UTC

2 years into my econ degree I discovered #Bitcoin.
I pulled the thread and everything unraveled. Learning about Bitcoin teaches you to ask the right questions. And along the way, it reveals how the world really works.
This is a big inspiration behind @nprofile…2k4m: to help others have that very same awakening.
https://bitcoinnews.com/interviews/canada-learning-bitcoin-zac-guignard/

2025-06-26 15:37:03 UTC

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Arsshh🔥

2025-06-13 23:59:18 UTC

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Thank you, Frank!

2025-06-13 20:30:36 UTC

A true pinch me moment: my first ever article for #Bitcoin Magazine.
Returning from Oslo too inspired to not put pen to paper. The result is a reflection on brave dissidents, harsh repression, and the tools defending freedom at the Oslo Freedom Forum.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/featured/the-30000-foot-view-of-the-oslo-freedom-forum

2025-06-13 16:14:34 UTC

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If you took the time to actually read the report, you would realize Israel is literally in it.

2025-05-30 15:47:46 UTC

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Sounds like you need to join us in Oslo 🇳🇴 next year!

2025-05-30 15:42:49 UTC

As I stepped onto the plane leaving Oslo 🇳🇴 the weight and warmth of the last few days settled into my chest.
The Oslo Freedom Forum is not a conference. It's not a summit. It’s something harder to name. A convergence of courage, truth, and defiance that burns through the noise of the modern world and gives you no choice but to listen, feel, and act.
For the second time, I’ve walked away from OFF more convinced than ever that the tide is turning. That amid the censorship, surveillance, and state repression, something unstoppable is rising.
The Forum doesn’t trade in empty optimism. It delivers a different kind of hope: forged from lived experience, stitched together by people who have been in the dark and still chose to build the light.
The stories shared were hard. At times, devastating. But they weren’t offered for pity. They were calls to action.
You don’t leave Oslo feeling defeated. You leave reminded that truth is more powerful than propaganda, that code can protect life, and that resistance isn’t just possible, it’s already happening.
This year, there was a noticeable pulse of momentum around freedom tech. Human rights defenders from the front lines spoke not only about the oppression they face, but about the tools they’re using to push back. #Bitcoin, nostr, privacy protocols, open source AI models, and uncensorable VPNs.
These are the instruments keeping movements alive, getting money to dissidents, and protecting voices at risk. And behind every tool is a quiet builder, a pseudonymous contributor, or an open-source developer who may never take the stage but is just as much a part of the story.
Being part of the financial freedom team at HRF only deepens this sense of purpose. I couldn’t ask for a more principled, talented group of allies.
@nprofile…lwjj @nprofile…xsde @nprofile…6hga @nprofile…cd98
@nprofile…fh3z @nprofile…ostr:nprofile1qqsgpq7lvzqajx6zhncsggs4ujlu39903y7dql4ywt5qr0q8jndrjdqpzamhxw309a6k6cnjv4kzumr0vdskcw358q6rstcpz9mhxw309a6k6cnjv4kr5dpcxsuz7j9w6wc @nprofile…pk4j
These are people who care deeply, work quietly, and show up every day to make sure those fighting for their rights and freedoms aren’t left alone.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, but being in this team reminds me that change starts by standing with those who share a vision and mission for a more free and just world.
I’m leaving with a head full of names and projects, and a heart that feels cracked open in the best way. I’m grateful for the conversations, the hard questions, the laughter over dinners, and the moments of silence that said more than any speech could.
Above all, I’m reminded that no authoritarian regime, no matter how brutal or well-funded, has ever succeeded in stamping out the human desire to be free.
Oslo is proof of that. And if you're paying attention, it's also a glimpse into what comes next.
Onwards and upwards, my friends 🧡
https://blossom.primal.net/e2e24e409f01e9df825219e73bdb9a30eb5126aba220664602d69ba547c76d74.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/2aedb45826af13f1547d37478159b4494462fee0ebd81fdf118eda943fcc2553.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/f48506413553d12950b79db83076e0c53f9478ea3633d15e1c835ed712092728.jpg
https://blossom.primal.net/f6d87136c4e087cb0039ff9ae67d86788f3bd91db6650a8d88604984a0b0080b.jpg

2025-05-27 10:55:23 UTC

The Oslo Freedom Forum 🇳🇴 is a powerful reminder that #Bitcoin remains the single best tool we have at our disposal to uplift and free the billions of people still living under authoritarian rule.

2025-05-26 06:37:13 UTC

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Reposts drive reach. Can save your sats for future zaps, but can never go wrong with a donation to Gaza either.

2025-05-26 06:34:08 UTC

Good morning, Oslo! 🇳🇴
Always great to be back for the Oslo Freedom Forum.
https://blossom.primal.net/18d3d098e2d8891638166cc1bbb7f06febe59589a28e565eef08718f06cf965e.jpg

2025-05-15 22:27:06 UTC

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I think you mean Hockey 🏒

2025-04-14 19:10:01 UTC

A Syrian economist is proposing the central bank removes two zeros from the Syrian pound to solve their economic crisis and remedy ongoing hyperinflation.
If the rules of your money can be changed overnight, opt out with #Bitcoin
https://image.nostr.build/d8951c8d2199ab6cdfe864cdbc7224c03f6ca0c5bca84ee92b370d87550f3de8.jpg

2025-04-11 17:17:44 UTC

#Bitcoin is the emancipatory revolution of our time.
https://image.nostr.build/db7dcdce9c695c8a88c7edf967e67740f215e507395a9cf6acf86270e1642a9d.jpg

2025-04-01 14:43:08 UTC

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HRF's first grants of 2025!
Onwards and upwards🚀👏
#naddr1qp…njc7

2025-03-27 14:01:43 UTC

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And thank you, for reading it!

2025-03-20 14:44:05 UTC

Spent last week in Austin for SXSW where HRF’s Financial Freedom team came to raise awareness about CBDCs—through our CBDC Tracker booth and a panel featuring experts @nprofile…atyn, Charlene Fadirepo, and @nprofile…5dur
I left the conference with surprising insights after hundreds of conversations🧵
The Public Remains Dangerously Unaware
This was the theme of our CBDC Tracker booth, and it couldn’t have rung truer. Over 130 jurisdictions are exploring CBDCs. 3.6 billion people live under authoritarian regimes working on their own CBDCs. Yet, most people have no idea this is happening.
Out of 100 people I conversed with, I estimate less than five were familiar with CBDCs.
People generally don’t understand what CBDCs are.
Many thought CBDCs are just another form of cryptocurrency. Memecoins, Bitcoin, CBDCs. They lump them all together as some kind of “digital money.” Once we explained that CBDCs are a direct liability of a central bank — meaning you are banking directly with your central bank and by extension your government, it clicked.
Lack of understanding of the risks CBDCs pose.
A few people had heard of CBDCs but hadn’t yet fully grasped the full extent of their capabilities—such as state surveillance, programmability, censorship, and seizure—and the implications these have for transactional freedom, financial privacy, and civil liberties around the world.
Right now, people are overwhelmingly against CBDCs once they understand them.
But that could change fast. What happens when their politician of choice starts pushing CBDCs as “progress” or for “financial inclusion”? We’re on borrowed time before they get repackaged and sold to the public, at home and abroad.
Even in countries where CBDCs already exist, people are unaware.
Met a young man from Nigeria whose family back home is living under the eNaira—Nigeria’s struggling and state-controlled CBDC. He had no idea it even existed. Again, people remain dangerously unaware of CBDCs and the threats they pose, even when they’re already living under them.
The conversation would inevitably move to Bitcoin.
At first, when people asked, “What’s the alternative?” or “What’s the solution?”— I hesitated. I didn’t want to scare them off by promptly answering Bitcoin, causing them to disregard anything I had previously said. Instead, I leaned into terms like “awareness,” “open-source alternatives,” and “decentralized money.”
But as the conversation deepened, it became clear that people were hungry for more than vague responses. They wanted solutions. And Bitcoin was the answer they sought.
What surprised me was how quickly people became receptive to Bitcoin after learning about the dangers of CBDCs. With their newly equipped understanding of the risks, Bitcoin no longer felt like an abstract concept—it became a real solution, especially for those in authoritarian regimes that constantly strip away basic human rights and financial freedom.
A small, but growing group gets it.
We met some folks who already understood Bitcoin is fundamentally different from state-controlled money like CBDCs and speculative tokens that dominate the rest of the crypto space.
In fact, we probably met more “bitcoiners” than we did people who understood and were aware of CBDCs . This suggests that CBDCs remain even less understood than Bitcoin, at least in the sample we observed.
Overall, it was a successful and eye-opening week.
The conversations were enlightening, and it’s clear that while many are unaware of CBDCs, once they understand them, they see the risks. While this may sound grim, I’ve come to accept that CBDCs are effectively inevitable under most authoritarian regimes.
That means our best defense is to educate and equip individuals with the tools and resources to circumvent the top-down economic control CBDCs offer governments.
That means #Bitcoin. That means grassroots education.
This is our zero-to-one moment and the time to act is now.
https://image.nostr.build/a2144cf47cb30ecf5d2cb1569bf5b063e84e55291b4e3f26e356e1dcb1e3176f.jpg https://image.nostr.build/cb4a916eb8ae1861c7a35412c8549d5810cb056ba23f8018e1de7ebb41e6cc49.jpg https://image.nostr.build/02b4ac11e337d97cad9a96836bc46bb256157d4b078c9ab781419dd2c712f313.jpg https://image.nostr.build/8dcf66d5b0a4a724ef88ffcced43e81bfdb41550bc986797134a33a13262676f.jpg

2025-03-09 20:52:49 UTC

HRF's CBDC Booth at #SXSW, Austin📍
THE PUBLIC REMAINS DANGEROUSLY UNAWARE.
https://image.nostr.build/ebbac73a9b33a80fa464ec3bbb6ccf6e08bfd5d7b166cb1ceef6c604d86b0f0e.jpg

2025-03-06 15:02:04 UTC

GM Nostr!
Here's a deep dive into the absurdity of Cuba's monetary system I did while writing HRF's financialfreedomreport.org
In 2021, the Communist Party of Cuba forced thousands of Cubans to convert their savings into "Certificates of Deposit" (CDs).
Four years later, they still can't access a cent.
Here’s what happened🧵
For decades, Cuba had two currencies:
1. The CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) – Used for buying essential goods and pegged to the USD.
2. The CUP (Cuban Peso) – What most Cubans were paid in, nearly worthless.
The result? Cubans were paid in a currency with no value but forced to use a currency that was pegged to the dollar for basic purchases.
This created an economic divide, with wages falling far behind the prices of even basic necessities.
The CUC first came to be in 2004 when the Cuban government forbade the use of dollars (previously legal tender), forcing both Cubans and tourists alike to exchange them (and other foreign currencies) for Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUCs).
For years, Cubans who had foreign currency—whether through remittances, salaries, or savings—had to convert it into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC), which was promised as pegged 1:1 with the US dollar.
In 2021, however, Cuba’s government eliminated the CUC under the “Tarea Ordenamiento” reforms in what was dubbed “Day Zero.” The government claimed this would 'unify' the monetary system and simplify the economy.
In reality, it was a desperate move to cover up years of mismanagement and foreign currency shortages.
In other words, the regime printed way more CUCs than it had dollars to back them up.
So, instead of receiving their dollars back, Cubans with CUCs were forced to choose between two options:
1. Convert to Cuban Pesos (CUP) at a 24:1 rate (black market rate was much higher).
2. Lock money in CDs, with the promise of getting USD back later when "liquidity allows."
Many Cubans chose CDs, hoping to get their dollars back. But unbeknownst to Cubans, the details made them effectively worthless:
❌ No clear repayment timeline
📉 Near-zero interest (0.15%)
🚫 Non-transferable, except by inheritance
Since the monetary union of the CUC and CUP in 2021, the peso (CUP) has gone into freefall:
📉 2021: Gov’t set exchange rate: 24 CUP per USD
📉 2022 Black market rate: 50 CUP per USD
📉 2023: 300 CUP per USD
📉 2024: 400+ CUP per USD
Meanwhile, Cubans who chose to lock their savings in CDs still can’t access their increasingly devalued money.
Banks refuse requests. The regime ignores complaints. And those who dissent—online or in person—risk government censorship or frozen accounts.
Cubans are not happy:
"They took our dollars and gave us a piece of paper. In any other country, this would be a crime."
“No matter how you look at it, it’s nonsensical. What’s the point of having an account if you can’t touch even a dollar of the money deposited there?"
The Cuban regime didn’t just mismanage the economy and currency, it robbed its own people under the guise of policy.
By trapping citizens’ hard-earned savings, they made sure ordinary Cubans—not the government—paid the price of regime-induced financial devastation.
If you enjoyed these insights, consider subscribing to HRF's Financial Freedom Report for more news and learn how #Bitcoin is helping alleviate the monetary struggles of citizens under authoritarian regimes.👇

2025-02-27 21:47:50 UTC

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Mance Rayder cause he literally opted out of a centralized system (the Night’s Watch) to live freely beyond the Wall believing in self-sovereignty, uniting people outside traditional power structures, and resisting oppressive rulers.
... And maybe Petyr Baelish only cause he was Master of Coin. And Tyrion because he's likely the most intelligent.

2025-02-24 18:54:53 UTC

The financial freedom #Bitcoin provides is the overarching reason why once a Bitcoiner, you never go back.
It's fundamentally impossible to do so after understanding the superior alternative.
It would be like trying email and opting to write letters delivered by raven instead.

2025-02-23 17:02:29 UTC

Many people approach #Bitcoin as an investment, which can lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of its nature.
You're not investing in Bitcoin, you’re using a better form of money.
-Your money isn’t someone else’s liability.
-Your money has no intermediaries.
-Your money doesn’t require permission to use.
-Your money can’t be censored.
-Your money is fully under your control.
-Your money is always accessible.
-Your money can be sent anywhere, anytime.
-Your money is borderless.
-Your money travels with you.
-Your money works for any purchase, big or small.
-Your money can’t be debased.
-Your money appreciates over time.
-Your money is harder to track or surveil.
-Your money can’t be taken from you.
Bitcoin isn’t an investment. It’s financial freedom.

2025-02-18 16:00:43 UTC

With world leaders launching meme coins becoming a trend, here’s what I discovered while researching the Central African Republic’s government-backed meme coin $CAR for HRF’s financialfreedomreport.org🧵
On February 10th, CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra announced on X the launch of a government backed meme coin called $CAR claiming it will “unite people” and “support national development.”
The reality is actually more simple: meme coins are largely speculative assets, prone to pump-and-dump cycles, and often serving as vehicles for insiders to profit at the expense of those who buy in.
CAR’s 1 billion token supply was carved up predictably: 35% to ‘country development,’ 25% to ‘creators & company,’ 20.7% for liquidity, 10% for charity, and just 9.3% for public distribution. In short, insiders controlled the vast majority.
Within a day of its launch, $CAR shot to a market cap of $900 million before crashing spectacularly, plunging 97% from its peak and leaving the vast majority of investors holding worthless tokens.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because President Toudéra pulled a similar stunt only a couple years earlier.
In 2022, they launched Sango Coin, a token that promised citizenship and land to its investors. The reality? Only 7.5% of the supply was sold, and those who did “buy in” did not receive what was promised. The official Sango Coin website is also non functional.
They even convinced people to donate their Bitcoin to “back” Sango Coin, then took all the donated funds.
Even before Sango, CAR made global headlines by adopting Bitcoin as “legal tender.” Unfortunately this was less about freedom and individual sovereignty and more about optics. In other words, a marketing ploy to propel the Sango Coin scam.
Regardless of the intentions, Bitcoin as legal tender didn't last long as CAR bowed to pressure from the regional monetary union, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, and walked back Bitcoin’s legal tender status and their paper promises.
The recurring theme in CAR is that the government continues to pedal schemes they claim will benefit the public, but instead repeatedly benefits regime insiders. This came at the opportunity cost of instead advancing decentralized, open, and censorship-resistant money that can actually benefit such an impoverished population.
The $CAR meme coin is just the latest gimmick and reports are already surfacing that regime insiders cashed out $40M.
With a second scam in just as many years, this clearly isn’t about financial innovation: it’s about power and profit for the few.
The real tragedy? CAR’s people deserve financial freedom.
#Bitcoin could provide a way to escape the CFA system that is deeply rooted in monetary colonialism, but instead, the government has chosen speculative tokens that enrich elites at the expense of the public.
Until then, its citizens remain trapped in a system where politicians experiment with money, and the people pay the price.

2025-02-17 20:43:03 UTC

The fact that the entire crypto space has devolved into nothing but repeated meme coin launches is proof that it has absolutely no future.
It was always just #Bitcoin.

2025-02-10 22:40:26 UTC

A little research I did on India's central bank digital currency (CBDC) while writing HRF's financialfreedomreport.org
🧵👇
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently partnered with fintech firms MobiKwik and Cred to expand the digital rupee (India’s CBDC) using existing payment infrastructure and financial institutions. This includes UPI (Unified Payments Interface), India’s government-owned real-time payment system, which already dominates the country's digital payment sector.
With a combined user base of 180 million, Mobikwik and Cred, both integrated with UPI, will act as entry points for public access to the CBDC through the new “e₹ wallet” CBDC app.
Why does this matter?
Unlike Bitcoin, CBDCs aren’t neutral money — they are programmable, surveilled, and fully controlled by the state, allowing for transactions to be tracked, censored, frozen, or even confiscated at will.
The new e₹ wallet mandates KYC video verification to transact — and while these requirements may seem routine, in a CBDC system, they remove the option of financial anonymity altogether.
The new e₹ wallet imposes strict limits on citizens:
💠₹10,000 per transaction ($115)
💠₹50,000 daily cap ($577)
💠Mandatory video KYC
💠Integration with UPI for tracking every payment
India is already the global leader in digital transactions. In 2022, 46% of all real-time global digital payments happened in India. Further, the digital rupee CBDC peaked at 1 million retail transactions in 2023. Luckily, it has tapered off since.
It's critical to understand that the RBI isn’t just rolling out a CBDC — it’s embedding it into the country's dominant payments infrastructure (UPI), easing in new users and making opting out increasingly difficult.
This all comes as part of India’s stated goal of achieving a cashless economy. Exemplifying this, in 2016, India tried to reduce the use of cash in its economy by demonetizing, overnight, two of its most widely used bank notes.
Further, India plans to export its digital payments model to 20 countries by 2028, integrating UPI internationally. A government-controlled payments network with built-in surveillance powers is a blueprint for financial repression on a global scale.
It has become abundantly clear that CBDCs give governments unprecedented control over individuals' financial activity, such as the ability to freeze or restrict funds instantly, the imposition of negative interest rates, expiry dates on savings, and selective access based on political or social behavior.
Already, India has demonstrated its willingness to take financially repressive measures to suppress political opposition. In the lead up to the 2024 election, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, froze the bank accounts of its largest political opposition, the Indian National Congress (INC), citing alleged tax violations and leaving the party financially paralyzed mere weeks before the upcoming election.
India has a population of over 1.4 billion, and while the CBDC is still in its pilot phase, its rollout is accelerating dramatically.
Do you want to live in a world where access to your own money depends on government approval?
The writing is on the wall: If India continues this trajectory, financial freedom will be increasingly under threat for billions of people.
#Bitcoin remains one of the few tools left for true financial freedom. The question remains — will Indians be able to use it freely?

2025-02-06 15:11:45 UTC

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For those of you wondering why I didn't post this on Nostr, it's because folks over here already get it. It's the people on Twitter who need to hear this and have it called out.
#nevent1q…83tz

2025-02-06 14:44:13 UTC

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Don't worry — I'm on Nostr too.

2025-02-04 18:58:45 UTC

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Posting @nprofile…t5ph's Financial Freedom Report natively on Nostr has been one of my favourite newsletter initiaves.
The state of global financial freedom enshrined weekly on an uncensorable and globally accessible protocol.
Bullish 🚀
#naddr1qq…rf7h

2025-02-04 18:50:45 UTC

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Excited to join @nprofile…2sjt @nprofile…glpg for the next @nprofile…t5ph Freedom Tech Series.
His book, "A Progressive's Case for Bitcoin," is a great intro to Bitcoin—and one I’ve gifted many times. #Bitcoin is for everyone, and Jason makes that case powerfully.
Looking forward to discussing how Bitcoin empowers the individual, advances financial inclusion and human rights, and drives meaningful social change.
Come hang out on March 6th in NYC! 🗽
#nevent1q…ld7x

2025-01-31 22:13:02 UTC

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🔥

2025-01-26 21:30:29 UTC

"It's liabilities all the way down." https://image.nostr.build/08ecb80a78075e6ceb84181935e2d1681385106d7b965ed49f8de4c0b92ce109.jpg
@nprofile…3tqm on the modern financial system.

2025-01-18 17:33:17 UTC

Some of us are out here building a parallel monetary system—one that empowers individuals, resists censorship and debasement, and protects freedom. An economy where money is a tool for liberation, not a mechanism of control.
Trump’s insider-allocated meme coin is the opposite. It’s not about freedom or sovereignty—it’s a cash grab designed to exploit those who don’t know any better.
For many of us, this came as no surprise. For those of you who genuinely thought Trump cared about financial freedom, this should be your wake-up call. His allegiance isn’t to open systems or individual sovereignty—it’s to whatever lines his pockets.
Bitcoiners should see right through the grift. The future can't be built on insider deals, centralized tokens, or political opportunism. This would be a replication of the flawed fiat system we're currently stuck in. The future is built on open, permissionless, censorship-resistant, and decentralized systems.
Stay humble and stay focused✌️
https://image.nostr.build/6af0b0818cfccb547843e843af20ee5746dd86a4421523fe06640e1a58995a7d.jpg

2024-12-20 19:26:59 UTC

I miss 58k

2024-12-12 22:04:40 UTC

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Tunisia continues to undermine central bank independence, India is pushing stringent KYC requirments of millions of citizens, and Kenya is reinstating tax measures that ignited nationwide protests earlier this year. This and more in the latest Financial Freedom Report.
#naddr1qq…05ey

2024-12-05 15:24:02 UTC

#Bitcoin is now worth over $103k USD, pushing it's market cap to a fresh high of $2 trillion.
We are now only $107 billion from overtaking Google as the world's 6th largest asset. https://image.nostr.build/840297001973f77dd9bfb9af24e6e88d4a25de33d841192e3e307d7cf26ffde8.jpg

2024-12-05 15:14:20 UTC

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The latest Financial Freedom Report is now live on Nostr!
#nevent1q…72fl

2024-11-28 20:36:21 UTC

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Financial Freedom Report #51 posted natively on Nostr for the first time.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
#naddr1qq…wu2p

2024-10-10 17:35:27 UTC

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Looking forward to this one! Join us tonight at Pubkey in NYC🗽
#nevent1q…ncjf

2024-09-26 20:21:43 UTC

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Will do!

2024-09-26 18:17:04 UTC

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I like to expirement! I use Amethyst on mobile, but I am also a big fan of Primal.

2024-09-26 16:16:49 UTC

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Thank you Dan!

2024-07-25 15:44:35 UTC

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Subscribe to the Financial Freedom Report and get all the latest news at the intersection of #Bitcoin and human rights!
#nevent1q…jt3x

2024-07-25 15:14:54 UTC

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🔥

2024-01-31 00:09:32 UTC

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Taylor Swift Super Bowl is exactly what we need.

2023-10-31 18:34:17 UTC

Do you still think #Bitcoin is a volatile, environmentally damaging, Ponzi-bubble lacking intrinsic value?
If so, this episode is for you.
Join Bram and I as we break down prevalent misconceptions about #Bitcoin    showing that it's not a simple black-and-white matter.
https://youtu.be/JR9Tr7TE1Mg?si=SytcVJ0kwBIEEbMd

2023-10-12 23:39:26 UTC

My latest article for Theya (YC) is now live and covers recent turbulence in U.S. Treasury Markets.
After a relatively stable decade, yields on 10-Year Treasury Bonds soared to 4.88% last week, marking a 16 year high.
A confluence of factors—Federal Reserve Policy decisions, mounting concerns surrounding U.S. debt and deficits, and the forthcoming issuance of fresh treasuries—are all playing a part.
Should yields on 10-Year Treasuries push above 5%, it makes the onset of a recession all the more likely.
Do you think yields will continue their ascent? Let me know in the comments below 👇
https://blog.theya.us/turbulence-in-u-s-treasury-markets-q3-2023/

2023-09-27 20:07:12 UTC

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Ray Dalio's book "The Changing World Order" which offers a comprehensive analysis of global economic and political dynamics. While the book is well written and offers key insights on the current state of the world, I couldnt help feeling like something was missing.
Most notably, an analysis of #Bitcoin and it's potential impact on the evolving world order is completely absent. This omissions can be seen as a significant flaw in his analysis for several reasons 🧵👇
Firstly, #Bitcoin represents a shift in the traditional financial paradigm. Dalio explains the historical rise and fall of nations and emphasizes the importance of economic systems and currency dynamics, but doesn't recognize Bitcoin as a decentralized digital currency that challenges the very foundation of these systems. Bitcoin's adoption have the potential to reshape the global financial landscape and the economic systems we use, making it an important factor to consider when discussing changing world orders.
Dalio also highlights the vulnerability of fiat currencies to devaluation from excessive money printing. He emphasizes the impact of currency devaluation on a nations economic stability, and how hard money provides the stability needed to emerge as a world power, yet neglects to mention #Bitcoin as a hedge against debasement due to it's limited supply of 21 million coins.
#Bitcoin could theoretically provide a neutral global reserve currency that cannot suffer debasement and thus can stand the test of time. In this way, Bitcoin has the potential to break the cycle of monetary crises stemming from currency debasement that have plagued nations through history.
Bitcoin's potential also extends beyond finance. It is a technology that enables borderless transactions, financial inclusion, censorship resistance, and wealth preservation. These characteristics give #Bitcoin the potential to disrupt traditional power structures, empower individuals, reshape global trade and redefine how we interact in the digital economy. Ignoring Bitcoin's impact is to overlook an important factor that can disrupt current power dynamics.
In the book, Ray Dalio details the transitions of power between geographic nations who in turn become the global reserve currency and financial hub of the world. An important detail to consider is that the emergence of #Bitcoin could mean that the next world order is not based on a geographic country but rather a collection of individuals, firms, and countries. This new paradigm would mean economic power is not tied to a specific nation state but rather a collective of those who chose to adopt #Bitcoin first.
While Dalio's book offers very valuable insights and historical context on how the world has worked, it's omission of #Bitcoin results in a notable limitation of his theory on repeating cycles of changing world orders. Understanding the emergence and potential of #Bitcoin as a globally accessible and neutral currency, it's ability to reshape power structures and geopolitical dynamics, and empower those who adopt it first are crucial to understand the dynamics at play in the 21st century.
I highly recommend reading Dalio's book, however, as you make your way through it, be sure to think critically about how #Bitcoin can fit into the changing world order we're currently experiencing.
https://image.nostr.build/7181af01cfa72f36f0d47d2f61cb769169f1dfbe45c6217b0bf07117cd81bab4.jpg

2023-09-22 22:55:22 UTC

Gary Gensler, head of the SEC, is secretly a #Bitcoin Maximalist 🧵
Don't believe me? Read on👇
Not many people know this, but during his time at MIT, Gensler's fascination with #Bitcoin was ignited as he taught a course on blockchain and money. Little did he know that this was the start of a hidden journey into the heart of #Bitcoin. He immersed himself in the intricacies of Bitcoin, recognizing its potential to disrupt traditional finance and empower individuals.
As he rose to the position of SEC chairman, Gensler found himself in a delicate position. He couldn't openly champion #Bitcoin maximalism due to his regulatory responsibilities, but he couldn't abandon his beliefs either. His regulatory decisions, such as clarifying that #bitcoin is the only commodity among cryptos, were part of a covert mission to advance the cause of #Bitcoin while condemning altcoins as unregistered securities.
One particularly intriguing aspect of Gensler's actions is his reluctance to approve a #Bitcoin spot ETF. But, when you think about it, it all starts to make sense. He's not obstructing progress; he's ensuring that individuals have a fair chance to accumulate #Bitcoin before institutions dominate the market. He also understands the importance of self custody in #Bitcoin and would rather individuals take full control over their funds rather than own paper Bitcoin.
Gensler knows that institutions could flood the market if an ETF we're approved, driving up Bitcoin's price. By delaying the ETF approval, he's providing a window of opportunity for retail investors to accumulate #Bitcoin at more accessible prices, preserving the democratic and decentralized nature of Bitcoin.
In conclusion, Gary Gensler's covert journey from MIT professor to SEC chairman was driven by a hidden passion for #Bitcoin maximalism. His actions as a regulator, while enigmatic, are guided by a desire to protect the interests of everyday Bitcoiners and individuals, and allow them to participate in the #Bitcoin revolution before institutions do.
https://image.nostr.build/ef1e8d64bb59481d3c1f93440c8154e3096a44254f8953b37e8d2ec3b818fcf0.jpg

2023-09-18 18:32:42 UTC

Is #Bitcoin a Public Good?
In economics, a public good is defined as a good that is both non-excludable and non-rivalrous.
For a good to be non-excludable, it must be very difficult or impossible to exclude individuals from using it.
Bitcoin tends to fit this definition quite well, as it is one of the most accessible goods in the world. Anyone can participate in the Bitcoin network and use it for transactions or other purposes without needing permission, and it's challenging to prevent someone from downloading a Bitcoin wallet and acquiring some Bitcoin.
While technically it is not accessible by everyone due to availability and regulations of on/off ramps and internet availability #bitcoin more or less fits this definition.
For a good to be non-rivalrous, one individuals usage of the good cannot reduce its availability for others.
Once again #Bitcoin fits this definition quite well. Bitcoin, it is non-rivalrous to the extent that one person holding and using Bitcoin does not inherently reduce its availability for others. The blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin allows multiple users to transact simultaneously without significantly affecting each other's ability to use it. Bitcoin's divisibility also ensures there are more than enough satoshis to go around.
While one could argue increased fees in blockspace could lead to exclusion of some individuals, layer 2 protocols like the Lightning Network address these concerns quite well.
Overall, I think it's clear #Bitcoin is more a public good than it is not, especially when you consider it's truly global and decentralized nature alongside it's non-excludability and non-rivalrous attributes.
While it may not fit the definition perfectly, I think this points to the fact that #Bitcoin is fundamentally unique and novel. Many established definitions and concepts within economics and beyond struggle to encapsulate the groundbreaking essence that Bitcoin brings to the table.
Do you think #Bitcoin is a public good?
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2023-08-15 21:47:37 UTC

As we enter the latter half of 2023, debates surrounding the possibility of a recession are only increasing.
In my latest article, I break down 7 key economic indicators hinting towards a slowing economy 🧵👇
1️⃣ Yield Curve Inversions have been a very reliable indicator of a slowing economy. In fact, since 1969 a yield curve inversion has preceded every US recession. In June of 2022 the 10yr and 2yr Treasury yields inverted begging the question—where is the recession?
2️⃣ Large Bank Failures since the Great Financial Crisis in the fall of 2008 echoes historical precedence and highlights vulnerability in the financial structure. It was 6 months after the failure of Bear Sterns in March of 2008 before the recession arrived in full force—could history repeat itself?
3️⃣ One of the Fastest Interest Rate Hike in US History has pushed the federal funds rate to decade highs and imposed higher borrowing costs of individuals and businesses alike. The economy may face potential headwinds in adjusting to tighter credit conditions.
4️⃣ The tendency for the Unemployment Rate to bottom before a recession raises questions about our currently low unemployment rate. While it may seem positive on the surface it could mask underlying weakness in the economy that manifests as the recession unfolds.
5️⃣ A Declining Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) suggests a contraction in the manufacturing and services industry and has served as an early warning sign of impending recessions many times. This worrying trend may further contribute to a slowing economy.
6️⃣ Tightening Credit Conditions from aggressive interest rate hikes are reaching levels not seen since the Great Financial Crisis in 2008 and a fall in commercial loans has been evident. While tightnening credit itself does not predict a recession, it's correlation with economic downturns should not be ignored.
7️⃣ The Fed Predicting a Mild Recession adds further credibility to the possibility of a recession on the horizon. As the central banks responsible for guiding policy their awareness of the risks speaks heavily to the possibility of a slowing economy.
Together these indicators paint a clear picture of economic challenges ahead. While the exact timing and severity of a recession is difficult to predict, it is crucial to remain aware of the risks we face.
Check out my full article for an in-depth analysis of these economic indicators and what it means for the economy.
https://open.substack.com/pub/zacguignard/p/2023-macro-outlook-7-signs-of-a-looming?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=26emfn

2023-08-15 20:00:53 UTC

⚠️2023 #Macro Outlook⚠️
Contrary to the appearance of a new bull market, we're actually witnessing the most remarkable bear market rally ever.
In my latest article, I uncover 7 key #economic indicators pointing to an impending #recession 👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/zacguignard/p/2023-macro-outlook-7-signs-of-a-looming?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=26emfn

2023-07-18 17:07:41 UTC

Since 1971 and the abandonment of the #Gold Standard...
📈 US M2 increased over 3,150%
🏠 US home prices surged over 1,850%
📊 S&P 500 returned over 20,000%
🥇 Gold returned over 5,150%
In my latest article I review how decades of loose monetary policy have contributed to the everything bubble and explore how #Bitcoin stands ready to absorb the monetary premiums that have built up in assets over decades of monetary manipulation.
https://open.substack.com/pub/zacguignard/p/bitcoins-role-in-deflating-the-everything?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=26emfn

2023-06-16 20:41:11 UTC

Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme
Bitcoin is too volatile
Bitcoin has no intrinsic value
Bitcoin is only used by criminals
Bitcoin will be hacked
Bitcoin is bad for the environment
Bitcoin is a bubble
Actually,
#Bitcoin is the most misunderstood technology of our time.
My latest article addresses these common misconceptions and provides key facts to help uncover the legitimacy of these claims.
https://open.substack.com/pub/zacguignard/p/bitcoin-myths?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=26emfn

2023-06-09 22:13:03 UTC

Have you heard of the Japanese real estate bubble in the late 1980s? It was an unprecedented speculative frenzy. Prices soared, fueled by easy credit and rampant investor speculation. Japan seemed unstoppable, but little did they know what awaited them👇
In the early 1990s, disaster struck. The bubble burst, causing a devastating collapse in real estate and stock prices. The trigger was monetary tightening policies implemented by the Bank of Japan to curb inflation. The effects were far-reaching.
Property values plummeted, leaving investors and financial institutions with enormous losses. The country entered a prolonged period of economic contraction known as the "Lost Decade." Low growth, high unemployment, and stagnant wages became the new normal.
The bursting bubble exposed the vulnerabilities of Japanese banks. They had heavily invested in speculative real estate loans and faced insolvency as asset values tanked. Government intervention was required to stabilize the banking sector.
Now, let's shift our focus to Canada. While it's a different country and time, there are notable parallels. Canada currently faces a private debt situation that bears some resemblance to Japan's bubble era.
Canadian households have accumulated significant debt, driven by low interest rates and easy access to credit. This debt is primarily concentrated in mortgages, similar to how Japanese investors flocked to real estate investments during their bubble.
If there's a sudden shock to the Canadian economy, such as a sharp rise in interest rates or a housing market correction, the private debt burden could become a ticking time bomb. Just as in Japan, the bursting of the bubble could have severe consequences.
Fast forward to today, and we're witnessing interest rates rise at an unprecedented pace. The Bank of Canada recently raised rates by 25 basis points, despite Canada's private debt-to-GDP ratio surpassing 230%. This is even higher than Japan's peak during their bubble.
What does this all mean? While the exact consequences are uncertain, it's crucial to note the eerie similarities between Canada now and Japan during their bubble's peak in the 1990s. Both countries exhibit high levels of private debt and face tightening monetary policies.
If the Canadian housing market corrects due to interest rates surging rapidly, it could potentially trigger a similar chain of events as Japan experienced. High private debt burdens become unsustainable, asset values decline, and the economy faces significant headwinds.
What do you think happens next?

2023-06-02 23:21:57 UTC

Everytime I get zapped I'm reminded of how much better nostr is than twitter.

2023-06-02 23:15:23 UTC

Just finished writing a midterm exam for econ.
Imagine my surprise when I flipped the page and encountered a question asking me to make the case for #Bitcoin as money.
That's ~60 econ students who had to ask themselves today, IS bitcoin money? Bound to get some people thinking.

2023-06-01 20:21:27 UTC

$305 trillion in global debt, but what have we truly gained?
📚 Have we increased access to quality education for all?
⚖️ Is there a fair and just global economic system?
🍽️ Does everyone have access to food and water?
☮️ Is global peace a reality?
🌍 What about the state of our environment?
💰 Are wealth disparities narrowing?
👩‍⚕️ Has healthcare become more accessible and affordable?
🌐 Is internet access widespread and affordable?
👥 Are human rights respected and protected?
🛣️ Are our roads in better condition?
💡 Has innovation thrived?
🚀 How far have we advanced in interplanetary travel?

2023-05-22 15:37:18 UTC

In my latest article, I delve into the crucial subject of federal debt, exploring its nature and the factors contributing to its significant growth over the past few decades. By establishing a connection between debt and inflation, I aim to highlight the inherent inflationary nature and long-term unsustainability of an economic system reliant on perpetual debt accumulation.
I invite you to read the article below to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex issue👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/zacguignard/p/decoding-the-trifecta-debt-money?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android

2023-05-10 22:23:51 UTC

Excited to share my recent interview with PlebUnderground and DNComply where I discuss my experience as president of a university #Bitcoin club and the role university clubs play in promoting Bitcoin education and awareness.
I first discovered Bitcoin during the pandemic. As an economics major I was instantly fascinated by the idea of a decentralized, peer to peer currency with a fixed supply. I became convinced that Bitcoin is one of the most important innovations of our time. This inspired me to become president of the club.
Our clubs main goal is to offer an open space for discussion and education about Bitcoin. We want to provide the necessary tools to help people better understand and study Bitcoin, and to start as many conversations surrounding Bitcoin as we can.
By bringing together students, academics, and industry experts Bitcoin clubs can deepen our collective understanding of Bitcoin and speed us towards hyperbitcoinization.
If you're currently enrolled in university and are interested in starting a Bitcoin club, make sure to gain a strong understanding of the topic, host regular events and collaborate with other clubs. I highly encourage anyone in university to consider starting a Bitcoin club. Together we can make the world a better place!
Check out the full interview below to learn more about my journey with Bitcoin, my role as president and the importance of university clubs in promoting Bitcoin education and awareness.👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/plebunderground/p/how-and-why-to-start-a-university?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android

2023-04-05 18:18:58 UTC

3 things I've learned as president of a university #Bitcoin club👇
1️⃣ Bitcoin is still crypto in the minds of the masses. We have yet to reach an inflection point where it's widely understood that bitcoin is fundamentally different from the array of "cryptocurrencies" that have come after it. Education will play a key role here.
2️⃣ Increased Bitcoin education is critical for mass adoption. We are currently in a stage where everyone has heard of bitcoin but very few actually understand it. This has led to bitcoin being widely misunderstood.
The good news is people are hungry for information. Therefore, bitcoin education could not be more important than it is today. If you're on the fence about starting some form of btc education, whether a website, writing, or speaking, just do it! Your work will be appreciated.
3️⃣ We are fighting an information war with mainstream media. Most people are still rife with misconceptions about scalability, environmental implications, etc. This is an uphill battle. If bitcoin is to succeed, each of us will need to do our part to make that future a reality.

2023-03-30 18:13:55 UTC

What is the broken window fallacy?
First coined by French economist Frédéric Bastiat in 1850, this is one of the most common fallacies in economics and is still incredibly relevant today as most policy decisions are made with no regard to opportunity costs👇
Suppose you are the owner of a bakery, one day someone throws a rock through your front window and it shatters.
The broken window fallacy mistakenly believes that this damage to property will result in positive economic effects by creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
This assumption is flawed because it ignores the opportunity cost of repairing the broken window. The money you must now spend to repair your window is exactly how much less money you now have to spend on anything else such as buying other goods or investing in new technologies.
As such, the economic activity generated by fixing the broken window is completely offset by the economic activity that could have been generated had the window not been broken in the first place.
The net effect is that the economy is just as well off as it was before.
This fallacy highlights the importance of understanding and considering the opportunity cost of all actions, especially when involving policy, business, and environmental decisions.

2023-03-14 18:41:08 UTC

I am very excited to announce that I am starting a newsletter where I will be publishing articles on Bitcoin and Economics!
My first article "Why Bitcoin?" is now available and focuses on the importance of Bitcoin in the 21st century👇
https://zacguignard.substack.com/p/why-bitcoin?utm_source=twitter&sd=pf

2023-03-07 23:12:31 UTC

It's simple really,
Your savings account shouldn't be someone else's liability.
Opt out with Bitcoin.

2023-03-06 19:58:49 UTC

5 Key Pillars of Austrian Economics
👇🧵
1️⃣Subjectivism: All value is subjective, determined by individual preferences and perceptions.
2️⃣Free Markets: Guided by interactions of individuals making decisions in their areas of expertise reinforced by prices, profits and losses acting as signals to guide resource allocation and coordination of economic activities.
3️⃣Sound Money: A monetary system based on sound money would provide unprecedented economic stability and predictability.
4️⃣Time and Uncertainty: Focus is given to individual time preference and how this affects economic decisions. Uncertainty must be recognized as it plays a key role in constantly changing and unpredictable economic environments.
5️⃣Marginalism: Behavior and production decisions are analyzed at the margin on the basis of costs and benefits from incremental changes.
Austrian economics and Bitcoin align well,
free markets, sound money, decentralized, deflationary, scarce. Together they create a financial powerhouse.
If you want to learn more about Austrian Economics I highly recommend reading the likes of Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard and Henry Hazlitt whose works are widely distributed and available.

2023-03-03 00:30:52 UTC

https://i.imgur.com/H9ipm8R.jpg

2023-03-01 03:41:19 UTC

Okay I just got zapped for the first time... Now I understand what you guys were talking about.
This. Feels. AMAZING.

2023-02-27 00:36:28 UTC

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Only realizing now you can't delete your notes and I kinda like it... Much more accountability.

2023-02-24 22:52:20 UTC

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It's been a slow process. Students are much more open minded, profs less so. I'll be grabbing coffee with one of my econ profs post reading break and will update then.

2023-02-24 20:39:30 UTC

I'm not one for price predictions, but since we're on nostr now...
∞/21M

2023-02-22 18:06:03 UTC

The real question now is how to decide which platform to post about Bitcoin on... Nostr or Twitter🤔

2023-02-22 18:01:20 UTC

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Thanks for tip, I usually use Muun so I couldn't find my LNURL. Got my Wallet of Satoshi set up now, hopefully I did it right.

2023-02-20 22:14:33 UTC

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Awesome, that worked perfectly:)

2023-02-20 18:25:29 UTC

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Awesome, thanks for the clarification Andrew.

2023-02-20 18:21:11 UTC

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How does one set a profile photo? It's asking for a link but my photos are all files...

2023-02-20 18:16:45 UTC

Am I doing this right?