Bitcoin Policy Institute

Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) reached Congress by an unusual route: founding software companies and holding Bitcoin since 2013. BPI's David Zell sat down with him at PubKey to talk about how a builder's instincts shape the way he legislates, his bill to give the U.S. a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and the policy questions AI is raising faster than Washington can answer them. The conversation runs from Beg...

Why did Tether launch a U.S. stablecoin now? Why does Coinbase have so much influence in Congress? And what’s really behind the SEC–CFTC harmonization push? Bitcoin Policy Hour breaks down the biggest regulatory stories shaping Bitcoin’s future plus a deep look at the debasement trade driving gold, silver, and potentially bitcoin higher.🔶 Connect with Zack Shapiro on X: https://x.com/zackbshapiro...

Why are banks fighting stablecoin yield and why does it matter for Bitcoin? Zack Shapiro, Ken Egan, and Zack Cohen, break down the political battle unfolding in the U.S. Senate and why Coinbase’s opposition could derail market structure reform in the latest Senate bill. From developer protections to self-custody rights, this episode explores what’s at stake for the future of Bitcoin in the United...

In this exclusive interview, Congressman Warren Davidson announces the introduction of the Bitcoin for America Act, legislation that could redefine how the United States adopts Bitcoin and how Americans fulfill their tax obligations. Hosted by Conner Brown, Head of Strategy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), this premiere episode of the BPI Spotlight Series explores:• Codifying the Strategic B...

In episode 15 of The Bitcoin Policy Hour, Washington is tightening its grip on crypto. Zack Cohen, Zack Shapiro, and Ken Egan of the Bitcoin Policy Institute are breaking down what that really means for your wallet and your freedom to build. From the fallout over the leaked DeFi regulation memo to renewed fights on Capitol Hill over self-custody and market structure, this week’s discussion dives i...

In episode 14 of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, the BPI team breaks down one of the most consequential stories in Bitcoin policy to date. The U.S. government has seized one of the largest Bitcoin troves in history — approx. 127,000 BTC — from a massive “pig-butchering” scam ring. With the now-enacated SBR, the federal government is now empowered to add this to its hoard of Bitcoin. The team unpacks the...

In this conversation, Renee Sorchik sits down with Dr. Joshua Hendrickson and Dr. Craig Warmke to discuss their new paper, Sanctions and Sanction-Resistant Money. They explore the concept of “Hash Handcuffs” — the idea of enforcing U.S. sanctions on the Bitcoin network — and whether such attempts are technically feasible or economically effective. The discussion examines potential pressure points...

Congress is waging a war on Bitcoin wallets through the CLARITY Act — a market structure bill that could either protect self-custody and open-source developers or dismantle them at the last minute. In episode 17, special guest Kyle Olney joins to break down what the bill really says, why the Satoshi Needs You campaign is rallying Bitcoiners, and how Washington politics could decide the future of p...

In an era where free markets are increasingly shaped by state power, investors need to understand the nexus of geopolitics, political economy and exponential technologies as a tool of statecraft. BPI’s Matt Pines and Zack Shapiro join Zack Cohen to examine how U.S. industrial policy, AI breakthroughs, and Bitcoin regulation are converging to reshape global markets. The conversation explores the la...

In this conversation, Renee Sorchik discusses with Dr. Joshua Hendrickson and Dr. William Luther the implications of their research on Bitcoin, focusing on the relationship between block size, security, and the price of Bitcoin. They explore how block congestion can act as a deterrent to criminal activities, the empirical analysis of breaches and fraud, and the historical context of the block size...

In this episode, Renee Sorchik, VP of Research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, sits down with Brent Buchanan, CEO of Cygnal, America’s leading polling firm, and Troy Cross, professor at Reed College and co-founder of the Nakamoto Project. Together they dive deeper into new polling data and survey findings on Bitcoin adoption, ownership, and public perception. The conversation explores who really...

What future risk does quantum computing pose to Bitcoin, and how can we think of those risks in terms of their potential geopolitical outcomes? In this episode of Bitcoin Policy Hour, Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen recap the "Crypto Week" legislative wins, followed by a deep dive on the "Q-Day" threat—the moment quantum computers become powerful enough to threaten B...

In this episode of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, the Bitcoin Policy Institute's Zack Cohen and Zack Shapiro are joined by special guest David Zell, (BPI Co-founder) to break down Crypto Week in DC, including the Genius Act, anti-CBDC legislation, and the Clarity Act. The team analyzes the recent surge in Bitcoin price action, the growing role of institutional capital, and how partisan politics are...

Elon Musk’s newly-stated alignment with the so-called “America Party” might mark a turning point in Bitcoin politics—but could it also polarize Trump against BTC? In this episode of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, BPI’s Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro, and Zack Cohen unpack the political chessboard as Elon steps closer to Bitcoin. Chapters: 00:00 – Elon’s Political Power & Bitcoin Alignment 01:04 – Myste...

The U.S. government is running it hot — and Bitcoin may be the only exit. In episode 8 of the Bitcoin Policy Hour, the Bitcoin Policy Institute team — Executive Director Matthew Pines, Head of Policy Zack Shapiro, and Associate Zack Cohen — break down what just happened with the Big Beautiful Bill and why it matters for Bitcoin, inflation, and America’s fiscal future. They dive into the last-minut...

At the nexus of AI, international relations and monetary policy, Bitcoin’s rise is poised to change the distribution and consolidation of power across the political stack. 00:00 - Intro: From the Bitcoin Policy Summit in DC 04:00 - Why Bitcoin touches every policy domain 06:00 - National security and dual-use tech with Patrick Witt 09:00 - Government’s evolving view on Bitcoin 10:30 - Balancing pr...

In this conversation, Renee Sorchik and Yaël Ossowski discuss the concept of Bitcoin-based mortgages, exploring how Bitcoin can be integrated into the traditional mortgage system. They delve into the potential market for such mortgages, the regulatory landscape, and the role of institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The conversation concludes with thoughts on the broader economic impact of...

In Episode 6 The Bitcoin Policy Hour, our team unpacks the emerging “Riyadh Accord,” a sweeping geopolitical realignment where the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations are bundling AI, Bitcoin, and techno-industrial leverage into a new framework of global influence. As Blackwell chips begin to replace F-35s as diplomatic bargaining tools, and sovereign wealth funds quietly accumulat...

Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen tackle three pivotal issues shaping Bitcoin’s trajectory in episode 5 of the Bitcoin Policy Hour. They explore the rapid expansion of stablecoins into the energy and commodity sectors, the legal showdown over Samourai Wallet and its implications for Bitcoin software developers, and the GENIUS Act’s bid to redefine stablecoin regulation and US dollar hegem...

In this urgent and wide-ranging conversation, Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro, and Zack Cohen explain why the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) must be the top legislative priority — not market structure bills or stablecoin regulations. As China and the Middle East move faster on sovereign Bitcoin adoption, the U.S. risks losing its monetary edge in a geopolitical arms race. Drawing on national security...

This conversation explores global research on Bitcoin adoption, with a focus on survey and interview methodologies, insights from qualitative data, and the factors driving or hindering adoption across different countries. It emphasizes the human stories behind Bitcoin use and the need for stronger education and thoughtful policy. The discussion also examines findings from a comprehensive survey on...

Policy experts Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro, and Zack Cohen explore the radical implications of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and how Bitcoin might serve as a stabilizing counterforce in a world dominated by AI. Drawing from the viral “AI 2027” scenario, we examine the risks of alignment failure, economic disruption, and geopolitical escalation—and argue why Bitcoin’s monetary properties co...

Episode #2 of the Bitcoin Policy Hour hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. Geopolitics and policy experts Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen discuss America's Bitcoin and gold strategies in the context of a new monetary order and U.S.-China competition. They game out for what reasons, and with what likelihood, the U.S. may pivot from hoarding gold, to accumulating Bitcoin, and what this...

In this conversation, Renee Sorchik, Andrew Hohns, and Matt Pines explore the concept of BitBonds—Bitcoin-backed treasury bonds designed to tackle the U.S. national debt—while highlighting the legislative challenges, bipartisan potential, and broader economic benefits of such an initiative. They also discuss the role of Bitcoin as a savings tool, the urgency of proactive policy, and BPI’s efforts...

Episode #1 of "The Bitcoin Policy Hour", a new show by Bitcoin Magazine and the Bitcoin Policy Institute where we cover all things geopolitics, public policy and Bitcoin. Geopolitics and policy experts Matthew Pines, Zack Shapiro and Zack Cohen discuss the Trump admin's tariff gambit in the context of US-China relations and the Triffin Dilemma, making the case that Bitcoin, despite i...