Hardcore Bitcoin

Alex and Shimon are back together to kick the new year off. We discuss the bitcoin ETF launch, price volatility vs predictability, Elizabeth Warren's crazy new FUD narrative, and a lot more! Join us for another great episode.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Today on Passover Alex discusses how #Bitcoin is like Passover…. Wait what?!?!?!?Both involve a story of liberation: Passover celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, while Bitcoin represents a potential liberation of people from traditional financial systems that are controlled by governments and banks.Both have a strong sense of tradition: Passover is celebrated each year with the same rituals and traditions, while Bitcoin has a strong community of supporters who are committed to the idea of a decentralized currency.Then Alex talks about the current Energy fight and what The Chamber of Digital Commerce, Blockchain Association, Satoshi Action and the Texas Blockchain Council are doing to help us fight the good fight! Specifically:1. Encouraging investment in renewable energy infrastructure: Bitcoin mining is a process that requires a significant amount of energy, and as the demand for Bitcoin increases, so does the demand for energy to power the mining process. If this energy can be sourced from renewable sources such as solar, wind, or hydro power, it could incentivize the development and expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.2. Providing a new revenue stream for renewable energy producers: Bitcoin mining can be a lucrative business, and renewable energy producers could potentially use excess energy from their facilities to mine Bitcoin and generate additional revenue.3. Reducing carbon emissions: Bitcoin mining currently consumes a significant amount of energy, much of which comes from non-renewable sources such as coal. However, if more Bitcoin mining were to be powered by renewable energy sources, it could potentially reduce carbon emissions associated with the mining process.4. Creating new investment opportunities: As the demand for Bitcoin grows, there may be an opportunity for investors to invest in renewable energy projects that are specifically designed to power Bitcoin mining operations. #Crypto #Algorand #Dogecoin #Doge #ElonMusk #CryptoNews #Cryptocurrency #Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinNews #BitcoinMining #Ripple #XRP #XRPNews #RippleXRP #Ethereum #EthereumNews #ETH #Cardano #Ada #CardanoNews #Altcoin #Altcoins #NFTs #NFT #Metaverse #PodcastApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Our special guest is Professor Lawrence Kotlikoff, economics professorat Boston University and ranked by The Economist magazine as one ofthe world's 25 most influential economists. Larry is also thepresident of Economic Security Planning, Inc. and the founder ofMaximize My Social Security and MaxiFi.We spoke about different investment strategies, ways for governmentsto grow their GDP in order to fund their unfunded liabilities, someinteresting solutions to the healthcare costs crisis, ways in whichtechnology can create prosperity and a lot more.To learn more about professor Kotlikoff, visit:Kotlikoff.netLarrykotlikoff.substack.comMaximizemysocialsecurity.comMaxifi.comApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In today's episode, Shimon discusses the recent Silicon Valley bank debacle, the response from the federal reserve, and what it means for the price of Bitcoin and stocks. Are we about to see a large amount of money printing or will the federal reserve be able to sustain interest rates at high levels?  Our special guest is Professor Lawrence Kotlikoff, economics professor at Boston University and ranked by The Economist magazine as one of the world's 25 most influential economists. Larry is also the president of Economic Security Planning, Inc. and the founder of Maximize My Social Security and MaxiFi.  We spoke about the fiscal gap in the USA, The USA vs China in the 21st century, Social Security, and a lot more. Kotlikoff.netLarrykotlikoff.substack.comMaximizemysocialsecurity.comMaxifi.com Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbr Spotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc Hardcorefinanceshow.com  Follow us on Twitter @MrEBITDA @ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Alex and Shimon discuss the latest in the markets and the upcoming Bitcoin halving. Will the previous pattern of sideways action and then an upward break repeat itself? They also discuss the latest unemployment and CPI prints and how the current methodology of calculating these metrics that the federal reserve relies on for determining the monetary policy, may no longer be accurate for the post-covid world. We discuss a thesis where the actual CPI is lower, and actual unemployment is higher, which means that the federal reserve can start reversing course sooner rather than later.We then welcome back Kristen Ragusin to the show for Part 2 of our discussion around money and scarcity. Kristen is a professional wealth management consultant with twenty-five years of experience. Investing over $150 million, she helps clients navigate markets and achieve financial goals. She is a certified digital currency professional and earned her Master's Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Kristen holds certificates in FinTech from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in Money and Society from the University of Cumbria, London. Alex and Kristen discuss the macro outlook, how most people mis-understand what money is, and https://www.kristenragusin.com/https://twitter.com/KristenRagusinApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Today Alex and Shimon discuss the latest Bitcoin news, the decoupling of Bitcoin and the traditional markets, and the Celsius bankruptcy proceedings. Critically, the Celsius retail claw back rule and how that can affect   Our guest today is Kristen Ragusin. Kristen is a professional wealth management consultant with twenty-five years of experience. Investing over $150 million, she helps clients navigate markets and achieve financial goals. She is a certified digital currency professional and earned her Master's Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Kristen holds certificates in FinTech from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in Money and Society from the University of Cumbria, London.  Alex and Kristen discuss the macro outlook, how most people mis-understand what money is, and  https://www.kristenragusin.com/https://twitter.com/KristenRagusin Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbr Spotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc  Hardcorefinanceshow.com Follow us on Twitter @MrEBITDA @ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Today Shimon and Alex discuss the latest news in the #Crypto and #Bitcoin markets, analyzing the latest regulatory challenges brought to crypto by U.S. Regulators. They also touch on national security and #AI – examining how ChatGPT can enable a productivity gain.The featured guest of this episode is David Richter of Simple CFO and the Profit First for REI Podcast.David Richter is an active real estate investor who has been essential in closing over 850 deals which include wholesale, turnkey, BRRRR, owner finance, rentals, lease options, and any other exit strategy you can think of. While growing and building a real estate business from 5 deals a month to over 25 deals a month, he realized that as much money was coming in, it was going right out. With the unique opportunity of being in every seat as a real estate investor, he found a calling to the company's finance seat to help them see where their money was really going. David has helped real estate companies completely turn around from going out of business to building cash reserves through his profit advising company Simple CFO Solutions, LLC. He is the author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. His goal in life is to completely transform the Real Estate Investing industry when it comes to how real estate investors view their finances and – bring them true financial clarity and freedom.https://simplecfosolutions.com/https://simplecfosolutions.com/podcast/Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In today's episode Shimon and Alex say good bye to the Hardcore Finance Show and hello to the Dollar Auction Show. The Dollar Auction Show will be the Digital Asset Strategy show - focusing on Growth and Management Strategy in the Digital Asset sphere. Shimon will bring the Marketing/Growth/Strategy angle and Alex will bring the Strategy/Technical/Financial angle. Together, Alex and Shimon discuss the latest news in the Digital Asset world, and read the tea leaves about what is coming down the pike and how players should react.  In each show we discuss:  1.     News + Price Action2.    Regulatory/Policy3.    New Tech + Game Theory4.    Deep Dive + Guest Today, we deep dive on Bitcoin Ordinals, what they are, the Pro and the Con case of having them. Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.Hardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

2023 is the year of crypto regulation and while all global regulators are important, the US Regulators seem to drive the global Crypto Agenda. Most media outlets are reporting on regulation in the crypto space, but we, at the Hardcore Finance show are going straight to the source. In this episode, Alex goes to Capital Hill to chat with his representatives about the upcoming Crypto regulation. We sleuthed around Congress so that you don't have to. Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Alex discusses 2023 and how to use this year to build. The episode goes through old mistakes, reflections on the crypto space and how to be a mature company, as well as what does 2023 have in store for us. Alex email for comments: alex@hardcorefinanceshow.comApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex discuss GPT3, and its recently released to the public chatbot. We discuss the deflationary aspects of having artificial intelligence being able to answer prompts and develop them into narratives, solving problems, coming up with a reason the recent ROI of marketing campaigns is dropping and a lot more!Will this deflation enable the government to print a lot of money without causing prices to spike? Join us to find out.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.Hardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this third installment of the privatization of money, Shimon discusses the different advantages that privatization of any resource has from the point of view of the government. Then he continues to analyze what is unique about money and how the privatization of the good called "money" can bring prosperity to the worldwide population.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.Hardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this episode, Alex and Shimon discuss the following:* The recent ripple effects from the interest rate increases* The large hit that crypto took* The FTX saga - using customer funds to gamble with* FTX valuation drivers and why they weren't reliable* Lack of due diligence by traditional VCs* Effective altruism and it's possible terrible consequences* DeFi yield and where it comes from* Is punitive regulation coming?Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex discuss the fallout from the FTX debacle and next steps for Crypto and Bitcoin. Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In today's episode Alex and Shimon welcome back Representative Margaret Croke. Representative Croke represents the 12th District in Illinois and has been a big crypto proponent. Representative Croke talks to us about the future of crypto regulation, what would it take to get sensible regulation passed, governments adopting blockchain technology and much more. If regulation + crypto is important to you (and it should be!) don't miss this!https://www.repcroke.com/Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In today's episode Alex welcomes David Blatt back on the show. We talk about the massive bond yield hikes of the last 6 months, the Fed Pivot, effects on the real estate market – both residential and commercial and when the bottom in Real Estate will come.   David is CEO of CapStack Partners, focused on helping clients find real estate investment & capital solutions. He is also the Founder & CEO of Banxel, the first lender2lender marketplace to syndicate, buy & sell real estate loans. With a background in distressed real estate, Mr. Blatt has successfully structured & closed countless complex deals. He is also a frequent public speaker & writer on innovation & capital market trends in real estate.   Follow David on Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidblatt-capstackceo https://twitter.com/capstackceoApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this episode of the hardcore finance show, Shimon discusses the disastrous short term effects of the Fed's Jackson Hole meeting. Is there a silver lining waiting in the long term, or are we up for more carnage in the markets? Can raising interest rates be good for the economy long term? And how does all of that affect the cryptocurrency markets? Tune in to find out.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.thehardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Want to be a MILLIONAIRE? Tony Bradshaw - the award winning wealth coach - teaches us how to make the Millionaire Choice. Shimon, Alex, and Tony discuss how to manage money, what is real wealth, asset classes, the current financial crisis, and even.... a bit of crypto. This is one of the best and most informative episodes yet!https://www.tonybradshaw.com/https://www.themillionairechoice.com/Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinanceshow.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this Episode Shimon and Alex wrangle with the Identity of the Hardcore Finance Show and why talking to people about finance and financial freedom is so near and dear to our hearts. Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex discuss the recent happenings in the Ukraine - Russia war and how that will impact the global markets. Part 2Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex discuss the recent happenings in the Ukraine - Russia war and how that will impact the global marketsApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this episode of the hardcore finance show, Shimon discusses the disastrous short term effects of the Fed's Jackson Hole meeting. Is there a silver lining waiting in the long term, or are we up for more carnage in the markets? Can raising interest rates be good for the economy long term? And how does all of that affect the cryptocurrency markets? Tune in to find out.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex walk the streets of DC and discuss the upcoming Ethereum Merge.  Is it actually bullish for Bitcoin? Is Proof of Stake better than Proof of Work?Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Recession?!?!? That terrible four (9) letter word! are we in one? What does it mean to be in one? Should we panic? Where do we hide? Why isn't Joe Biden doing anything!?Alex goes into all of these points and more in the latest episode of the Hardcore Finance Show.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

Shimon and Alex get together to discuss the stock market pain and if and when it will stop. Are you hurting? So are we!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this episode of hardcore finance, Alex and Shimon discuss whether we have hit the market bottom, or whether we have more losses ahead of us.The bull case - the fed will be able to lower interest rates without increasing inflation further. The bear case - interest rates are going up and market will continue to crash.We discuss the prospects of both of these scenarios as well as a lot more - are we on a growth trend? Will the war in Ukraine's impact on the markets end soon, and a lot more.Join us for a fascinating discussion!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show

In this episode, Shimon and Alex discuss the recent drop in the markets:* How long will the bloodbath continue?* Will the federal reserve be able to increase interest rates for much longer?* How similar is the current situation to the end of 2018?* Is the NASDAQ in a technical correction?* Can the keynsian method work? If the interest rate increases now, could it be good for long term growth?* If the government didn't increase interest rates in the good times, what can they do in the bad times?* Are we paying for Trump's mistakes?* Will we pay for this by inflation or by recession?* What will Elizabeth Warren do or say?* Our predictions about the resolution of this whole mess.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.hardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/MrEbitdahttps://twitter.com/ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)Support the show

Shimon and Alex are back after a while to discuss the following topics:* Authoritarianism in Canada* War in Europe* Bank robberies with covid masks* How to make a lot of money - have a belief that is different than everyone else, but also correct* Is the nasdaq still a good place to allocate capital to given the recent volatility* Time horizons for the nasdaq - 6 months vs 10 years* Do politicians have the power to affect economic outcomes over the long term?* The probable outcome of the 40 year bond bull run* Negative real rates* Why do people hold negative yielding bonds?* The T.I.N.A (there is no other alternative) approach to allocating capital* How does consumer behavior and fed policy affect inflation?* Is the laffer curve breaking given the latest technological trends* Is the price of food and other commodities stuck at a high level or will it go down* Why is now different than the 70s stagflation?* Is the bank of japan responsible for the latest MMT trends in the western economies?* The effect of the war in Ukraine on the macro economic landscape* Our portfolios have taken a huge hit since we last spoke* Robots that can fold the laundry...* Holding an index vs picking stocksApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.hardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/MrEbitdahttps://twitter.com/ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)Support the show

In this episode of Hardcore Finance, Alex and Shimon speak with Rob Frasca. Rob is a serial entrepreneur who has built and brought three venture-backed startups to successful exits. He is the co-founder and managing partner of COSIMO Ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in investing in promising blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. Frasca frequently speaks on cryptocurrencies and he and his team invest in disruptive technologies that promise to reshape the way global markets operate in an increasingly digital world. He believes blockchain technology represents the single-largest value creation event of our lifetimes. Through COSIMO X, the firm's public tokenized fund, Frasca hopes to deliver immense value to investors seeking access to these emerging blockchain opportunities.In the episode, we discuss the following:* Global monetary policy and its implications on cryptocurrency prices* Value created vs value captured in various crypto projects* Why blockchain technology is the biggest value creation in a long time* The ascent of China and central bank digital currencies* Will the federal reserve raise interest rates next year, how many times and at what magnitude?* The effect technology has on deflation that can potentially offset inflation driven by monetary expansionReferences:Niall Ferguson - The square and the TowerFollow Rob on Twitter:https://twitter.com/robfrascaApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/MrEbitdahttps://twitter.com/ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)Support the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Shimon and Alex welcome David Blatt to the show. David is CEO of CapStack Partners, focused on helping clients find real estate investment & capital solutions. He is also the Founder & CEO of Banxel, the first lender2lender marketplace to syndicate, buy & sell real estate loans. With a background in distressed real estate, Mr. Blatt has successfully structured & closed countless complex deals. He is also a frequent public speaker & writer on innovation & capital market trends in real estate. Follow David on Social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidblatt-capstackceohttps://twitter.com/capstackceoApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Bitcoin just hit all time highs and then the market dropped. What does this mean? What's really going on? How does the macro landscape affect the markets? And the latest from the Biden Administration.Shimon and Alex seek out the truth.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

In today's episode of the hardcore finance show, Alex and Shimon discuss the recent weekly events. We talk about china banning bitcoin (again), capital controls, evergrande and their real estate woes, the recent price drop in the markets, the infrastructure bill and its implication on inflation and treasury interest rates, and what does all of this mean about the future. Will the higher rates drive higher real growth, or will they collapse asset prices?Join us for a fascinating discussion!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

What a week it has been. El Salvador is adopting Bitcoin, crypto markets are REKT, The IMF is rooting against the underprivileged, and Coinbase is airing out their dirty SEC laundry. Shimon and Alex discuss a whirl wind of a week!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Shimon and Alex welcome back Gil Eyal and Eliaz Tobias of Crowdsense. Crowdsense is one of the best tools in the market for finding signal in noise and can quickly analyze thousands of data points to help investors trade. This is acutely applicable to Crypto as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Polkadot and even GameFi tokens like Star Atlas and Axie Infinity are driven by retail sentiment.We discuss whether social media sentiment can predict price movements of cryptocurrencies, the social influencers effect on cryptocurrency adoption, different algorithms that crowdsense users and many more topics. https://www.crowdsense.ai/starfund.iohttps://twitter.com/gileyalhttps://twitter.com/CrowdsenseaiApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Shimon and Alex open up the brand new Hardcore Finance Studio. We then re-examine the markets and why people should invest in Bitcoin - as a special request from our fans.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

In this solo episode, Shimon discusses why governments could let Bitcoin survive and thrive. Some of the questions discussed are:- How could getting rid of the state monopoly of money creation help the state collect more tax revenue?- When would this relevant? - What is our Bitcoin price target before governments start to care? - What is the optimal tax %? - Why do low interest rates hurt productivity and tax collection? Tune in to find out!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

In this solo episode, Shimon explores a thesis under which governments choose to not stop bitcoinI wanted to start from a desired end result (bitcoin becomes world money) and examine a scenario under which it could happen.The main thesis of bitcoin supporters is that governments cannot stop it. I don't agree. If the governments could put people on the moon, stop the nazi regime that at some point ruled a huge chunk of the world, and destroy the USSR - a government that had lots of nukes and sent the first man into space and back, they can stop bitcoin.Another thesis is that governments are not efficient, lazy, lack political will, don't have the resources to commit, and that's why they won't stop it. This is a more believable argument, but it assumes that bitcoin is not significant enough, in which case it's not very interesting. If bitcoin fulfills its promise and becomes world money, and becomes a threat to government revenues, a cost/benefit analysis would justify committing the resources required to stop it.This episode explores a scenario under which governments will choose to not stop bitcoin. The only way under which this could happen (given bitcoin being significant enough) is if it increases the government's tax revenue.At first glance it sounds ridiculous, but this is exactly why I wanted to record this episode. Buckle up.Follow us on twitter!@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSubscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSubscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcOur youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrg492YbLDRnx5yXVFj_XFASupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Glenn Kirschner, Shimon Lazarov and Alex Chizhik chat about the Mueller Report, the workings of the USA legal system on both the federal and state level, Trump's legal troubles, Trump's associates charged with fraud and other types of financial crimes and foreign interference into the USA policies.Glenn Kirschner is a retired federal prosecutor who worked under Robert Mueller as chief of homicide in DC. After his public service, Glenn became a legal analyst for MSNBC and other news outlets and started his youtube channel Justice Matters where millions of people tune in every day to get a deeper understanding on the most recent legal developments.We discussed:Glenn's path to becoming a federal prosecutorWorking with Robert Mueller as his supervisorGlenn's take on the Mueller report. Was it the right decision to not indict a sitting presidentWhen will charges be brought against Trump now that he is no longer presidentObstruction of justice and other crimes that Trump has publicly committedThe Jan 6 insurrection and Trump's involvement in itThe recent indictment of Tom Barrack and the UAEs influence on Trump's speeches and policiesState's rights vs federal decision makingThe supreme court vs local state legislationand a lot more…Follow Glenn on twitter @glennkirschner2Follow Glenn's channel on youtube Justice MattersFollow us on twitter!@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSubscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSubscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcOur youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrg492YbLDRnx5yXVFj_XFASupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Shimon and Alex discuss President Joe Biden's stance on inflation and how he plans to manage it. Is there inflation? Did he misspeak? Does he really think money printing will cause less inflation?We then move on to discuss our interview with the brilliant Sinead Colton Grant and how encouraging it is to have major institutions so deeply understand blockchain, crypto, and Bitcoin.We are more bullish than ever!Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

BNY Mellon's Sinead Colton Grant, Alex Chizhik and Shimon Lazarov chat about Digital Asset Impact Investing and many topics in the intersection of digital currencies, the traditional fintech space, and the global macro environment.We discussed:• Bitcoin as a store of value• The global macro landscape• The role of digital currencies in the rapidly developing fintech space• Ways to determine the value of digital assets• Banking the unbanked• Bitcoin as both an asset and a monetary network• Innovation in the fintech space• The results of the recent monetary expansion on the global economy• Performance of stock indexes in light of monetary expansion• Utilizing crypto currencies as part of a portfolio context• The longevity of cryptocurrencies vs an expansion of number of adopters• Is past performance indicative of future results• The impact of cryptocurrencies on the developing world• The institutional perception of digital currencies vs stocks, bonds and real estate• The volatility of Bitcoin vs its upside and uncorrelated nature with other traditional assets• Inflation as a concern for traditional investors and Bitcoin as an inflation hedge (vs traditional inflation hedges such as commodities)and a lot more…Time stamps:0:44 - Sinead Colton Grant's background2:38 - how Sinead got into the space and why digital assets are interesting to her6:11 - Sinead's thoughts on the recent changes in monetary policy, mainly increase in central bank balance sheets and their inflation of asset prices and how it will affect digital assets. She mentions changes in valuations in stocks, real estate, tech equities vs other equities, and the weakening of the USD.13:20 - Sinead's views on cryptocurrencies as stores of value vs other more traditional stores of value such as commodities.25:45 - Bitcoin's energy usage vs the value it can bring to the developing vs the developed world. Commodities, real estate and other stores of value increase in quantity as the price goes up vs Bitcoin where the energy use increases as price goes up.33:05 - Bitcoin as a money that is not dependent on any particular government, and the institutional view of that aspect.41:15 - Bitcoin as social impact investing.42:55 - Opportunity for institutions to tap into billions of consumers through the Bitcoin network that can connect them to a monetary network that doesn't have high fixed transaction costs.44:45 - Thoughts on regulation.47:00 - BNY Mellon's entry into the space and the reactions to that move49:25 - Sinead's recommendation - The show “This Way Up” on Hulu - a comedy about 2 Irish women moving from Ireland to London.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Today on the Hardcore Finance Podcast we welcome Lee Bratcher of the Texas Blockchain Council. (https://texasblockchaincouncil.org/). We talk about how fundamental property rights are to capitalism and democracy, Bitcoin and illicit activity, and the incredible movement brewing underneath the surface across many States. Texasblockchainsummit.org texasblockchaincouncil.org Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbr Spotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc Hardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter @MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Andy Edstrom is the author of the book "Why Buy Bitcoin". We discuss many topics such as inflation, government monetary policy, the investment case for Bitcoin and a lot more.Follow Andy on twitter: https://twitter.com/edstromandrewOr visit his website: http://www.andyedstrom.com/Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcwww.hardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

In today's Hardcore Finance show we interview Ravi Sood, a Canadian financier and venture capitalist. Sood was raised in Waterloo, Ontario and resides in Hong Kong. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Waterloo. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Navina Asset Management and its predecessor company Lawrence Asset Management, which at its peak controlled over $800 million in assets globally.Sood has also founded several businesses operating in emerging markets, including Buchanan Renewables, Feronia Inc., Jade Power Trust, and Galane Gold. He is well known in Canada as a regular TV personality and frequent guest host of the Business News Network's evening news programme "Squeeze Play".We discussed Gold vs Bitcoin as a store of value, the impact of the recent global monetary expansion on investments in different sectors, and a lot more.Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

David Kovacs - the co-founder of First Contact Entertainment and Founder & CEO of Emmersive Entertainment - talks to Alex about his new acquisition of Lomotif, his vision for NFTs, and his plans to help artists monetize their creations. This was the hottest talk in the pressroom of Bitcoin 2021David Kovacs' background is fascinating specializing in investment banking, private equity, and venture capital and has extensive experience in both mature and emerging markets, having analyzed hundreds of deals and executed both buy and sell-side engagements. Mr. Kovacs served as the Head of Investment Banking, Research, and Private Equity for North America for Fitch Learning (Fitch Ratings). Before that, he held private equity and investment banking roles in key positions with Hinduja Group, Blackstone Group, and Citigroup. Mr. Kovacs lectures at many of the leading investment banks, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and government agencies, including the Securities & Exchange Commission, New York City Controller's Office, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, JP Morgan, Barclays, Citigroup, RBC, RBS, Lazard, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. David Kovacs, the co-founder of First Contact Entertainment and Founder & CEO of Emmersive Entertainment. David talks to Alex about his new acquisition of Lomotif, his vision for NFTs, and his plans to help artists monetize their creations. Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcHardcorefinance.comFollow us on Twitter@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

In this episode Shimon and Alex chat about the latest Bitcoin price drop, the FUD around Bitcoin, the China Ban, and Elon Musk's Energy tweets. Does it all matter? Should we be scared? http://hardcorefinance.comApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfcSupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Today Shimon is joined by Croesus - one of the best twitter handles to follow on bitcoin. We discuss Bitcoin's value proposition, its comparison to the stock market, inflation and a lot more.- Business school attitudes towards bitcoin- Ethereum as a technology vs bitcoin as a breakthrough in money- Bitcoin bootstrapping itself from nothingness to being an increasingly credible store of value- The significance of halving cycles- Hyperinflation and price stability- The stock market as a hedge against inflation- Life experiences of losing faith in the credibility of government's monetary policy- The M2 money supply chart going up and to the right with an annual growth rate of 8% even before the latest monetary stimulus package- Why is an 8% increase in the money supply result in only 2% CPI inflation- Basket of goods changing in the CPI index- The technological deflationary environment offsetting the inflationary pressure created by monetary expansion- Keynes' statement "in the long term we're all dead"- Is price stability and full employment good targets for the federal reserve?- Banning bitcoin is sanctioning yourself- Government supporters of Bitcoin (Cynthia Lummis, Margaret Croke and others)- The privatization of money- Democracy as a platform that is conducive to monetary expansion- Gold mining creates an uncertainty in its supply schedule- Portfolio rebalancing - is it a good strategy?- Bitcoin as pristine collateral- Is the stock market a good protection against inflation vs Bitcoin?- Land as a store of value- Bitcoin's monetary policy as a technology that has never existed before. Follow us on twitter!@croesus_btc@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrg492YbLDRnx5yXVFj_XFAApple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfchttp://hardcorefinance.comSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Shimon and Alex welcome Representative Margaret Croke from Illinois’ 12th District – Go Cubs!Representative Croke is a freshman State Legislator embarking on world-changing things. She has led the charge to make Illinois the most crypto and Bitcoin friendly state in the U.S. and allowed Shimon and Alex to tag along for the ride. In this episode we discuss how Bitcoin and Crypto are sources for good and will be beneficial to Illinois and the U.S. beyond FinTech and even beyond job creation – although both are critically important. We talk about banking the unbanked, renewable energy, equity, wealth preservation, immigration, and much more.  Help us and help Representative Croke put Illinois on the Crypto map!  Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfc https://www.ilga.gov/   http://www.Repcroke.cominfo@repcroke.comBill Link: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/102/HB/10200HB3968.htmhttp://hardcorefinance.com @Croke4Illinois@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

On Wednesday May 12th Shimon and Alex welcome Representative Margaret Croke from Illinois’ 12th District – Go Cubs!Representative Croke is a freshman State Legislator embarking on world-changing things. She has led the charge to make Illinois the most crypto and Bitcoin friendly state in the U.S. and allowed Shimon and Alex to tag along for the ride. In this episode we discuss how Bitcoin and Crypto are sources for good and will be beneficial to Illinois and the U.S. beyond FinTech and even beyond job creation – although both are critically important. We talk about banking the unbanked, renewable energy, equity, wealth preservation, immigration, and much more. Help us and help Representative Croke put Illinois on the Crypto map! Apple Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/36u8fmbrSpotify Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4zv6syfchttps://www.ilga.gov/ http://www.Repcroke.cominfo@repcroke.comBill Link: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/102/HB/10200HB3968.htmhttp://hardcorefinance.com@Croke4Illinois@MrEBITDA@ShimonLazarovSupport Hardcore Finance: https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donateSupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Today,  Shimon and Alex welcome famed entrepreneur and star VC – Ben Narasin of NEA. We discuss what founders should look for in VCs, where pockets of opportunity are in the market, how to think about innovation, the Biden proposed Capital Gains Tax increases, and even Bitcoin and crypto. -------------------NEA is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses with nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital. NEA focuses on tech and healthcare companies. Ben is a prolific entrepreneur and a highly regarded early-stage investor with mega hits such as: Dropcam, Lending Club, TellApart, Kabbage and Zenefits. And his own IPO of Fashionmall.com in 1999. http://hardcorefinance.com@ShimonLazarov@MrEBITDA@BNarasinPitch-ben.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennarasin/Support the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

On Wednesday, May 5th, on the Hardcore Finance Show (http://hardcorefinance.com), Shimon and Alex welcome famed entrepreneur and star VC – Ben Narasin of NEA. We discuss what founders should look for in VCs, where pockets of opportunity are in the market, how to think about innovation, the Biden proposed Capital Gains Tax increases, and even Bitcoin and crypto. -------------------NEA is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses with nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital. NEA focuses on tech and healthcare companies. Ben is a prolific entrepreneur and a highly regarded early-stage investor with mega hits such as: Dropcam, Lending Club, TellApart, Kabbage and Zenefits. And his own IPO of Fashionmall.com in 1999. http://hardcorefinance.com@ShimonLazarov@MrEBITDA@BNarasinPitch-ben.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennarasin/Support the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)

Today Alex talks about his view of President Biden’s Tax Policy – specifically his proposal to increase capital gains taxes to 43.8% on individuals making more than $1,000,000 per year. In our view this is a disastrous policy with terrible consequences and it goes much deeper than “tax the rich”. In this episode, Alex discusses:1. The origin of Capital gains taxes and why they are unique2. Capital vs. Income taxes3. Entrepreneurship, risk taking, and their ties to Capital Gains4. Wealth vs. Money – how they are vastly different5. Inflation6. Leverage and unintended behavior7. Trading frequency8. The Government vs. the Individual Great brief CNBC Overview: https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1385636584456921089http://hardcorefinance.com@ShimonLazarov@MrEBITDASupport the show (https://www.hardcorefinance.com/donate)