The Bitcoin Layer

In this episode, Nik delivers a global macro update as Bitcoin surges to $99,000, nearing six figures after a major breakout. He analyzes the drivers behind this rally, including institutional demand, market cycles, and Bitcoin’s dominance over Ethereum. Nik reveals why recession fears are fading, with resilient housing and labor markets, booming corporate bond issuance, and anticipated Trump-era...

In this episode, USC professor Nik Bhatia answers questions from economics student Demian Schatt, exploring how Bitcoin could fit within modern fiscal and monetary policy frameworks. Demian asks thought-provoking questions about operating under a Bitcoin standard during recessions, such as how governments could stimulate the economy without increasing the money supply. Nik explains the role of fis...

In this episode, Nik Bhatia sits down with Eric Wallerstein of Yardeni Research to dissect the forces driving today’s financial markets. They explore how rising interest rates and evolving monetary policy are reshaping recession expectations and the resilience of the corporate bond market, dive into the Fed’s cautious balance sheet management, the risks of private credit, and the impact of bond vo...

In this episode, BTC Sessions, a seasoned Bitcoin educator, dives into the essential skills and tools for achieving true self-custody and financial sovereignty in bitcoin. In this insightful conversation with Nik, BTC Sessions shares his personal journey, highlighting how he learned about self-custody, using hardware wallets, and running Bitcoin nodes. They also discuss the evolution of the hardwa...

In this episode, Nik welcomes David Zell, co-founder of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to analyze the shifting tides in Bitcoin policy and the regulatory challenges posed by Operation Choke Point 2.0. As the post-election landscape evolves, David shares what these changes mean for Bitcoin advocacy, the institute’s strategy with lawmakers, and the push for Ross Ulbricht’s freedom as part of broader...

In this video, Nik discusses bitcoin's recent path to all-time highs as it surges above $85,000. Nik breaks down why his technical analysis points to $96,000 as the next major target. Bitcoin's exit from a $23,000 consolidation funnel has pushed its current market cap up to $1.5 trillion, and Nik dives into what it means for bitcoin to approach 2% of the value of total global equities. He also dis...

In this episode, Nik analyzes the historic market movements following Bitcoin’s surge to an all-time high of $77,000 amidst Donald Trump’s return to the White House. He explores how the election impacted financial markets, focusing on prediction markets like Polymarket that signaled Trump’s victory early. Nik examines the S&P 500’s reaction, shifts in U.S. Treasury yields, and projections for upco...

In this episode, Nik sits down with Unchained co-founders Dhruv Bansal and Joe Kelly to unpack why Bitcoin security demands a unique approach—far different from traditional financial services. They discuss why bitcoin's structure requires holders to prioritize collaborative custody over standard methods. Dhruv and Joe also provide technical insights behind multi-signature (multi-sig) security, key...

In this episode, Nik Bhatia and James from Checkonchain dive deep into Bitcoin's current market landscape, breaking down the driving forces behind Bitcoin's recent volatility. This in-depth analysis covers the role of options trading, the impact of ETF inflows, and the latest on-chain data insights. As speculators return to the market and "hodlers" hold steady, Nik and James discuss how the tug-of...

In this episode, Nik presents a global macro update, breaking down conflicting signals in the US economy. He starts with inflation data, a recession that never seems to come, the surging US dollar’s impact on global markets, and the signal we derive from the shape of the yield curve. He tackles the Fed's balancing act between inflation, unemployment, and market expectations, while exploring if tra...

In this video, Nik dives into HBO's latest Bitcoin documentary, "Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery," exploring its take on Bitcoin’s evolution and influence. He covers key moments like the hunt for Satoshi, the documentary’s explanation of Bitcoin’s mechanics, and its perspective on the Blocksize Wars. Nik also discusses Adam Back’s role, Blockstream’s portrayal, and where the film misses on imp...

In this episode, Nik Bhatia and Matt Dines unveil the high-stakes dynamics of U.S. Treasury issuance and its immediate ripple effects on markets, set against the backdrop of the upcoming election. They examine the latest borrowing projections, the strategic role of short-term bill issuance, and how rising bond volatility could signal market risks. Comparing the U.S. and UK debt strategies, they an...

In this episode, Nik examines the powerful forces pushing Bitcoin toward new highs, revealing how government spending sets off new money creation that flows directly into assets. Starting with a breakdown of Bitcoin’s recent breakout and technical setup, he then explores the global backdrop, including China’s $1 trillion stimulus and shifts in U.S. fiscal policy. Using a balance sheet approach, Ni...

The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm.   Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube. Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform. Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficia...

The Bitcoin Layer is a bitcoin and global macroeconomic research firm.   Subscribe and turn on notifications for TBL on YouTube. Subscribe to TBL’s research letter: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/subscribe Follow TBL on X: https://twitter.com/TheBitcoinLayer Subscribe to The Bitcoin Layer on your favorite podcast platform. Join the official TBL channel on Telegram: https://t.me/thebitcoinlayerofficia...

In this video, Nik walks through our weekly global macro risk report, Mean Median Mode, where we examine the dynamic relationship between interest rates, bond volatility, stock market, and Bitcoin’s price movements. Nik discusses how interest rates impact bitcoin, how bond volatility affects global markets, and the correlation between stocks and bitcoin. Nik also explains how he analyzes and finds...

In this episode, Nik is joined by Caitlin Long to dissect the evolving landscape of crypto banking. She dives into the impact of Operation Chokepoint 2.0, exploring how government agencies viciously attacked the crypto sector. She explains how the powerful influence of the banking lobby shapes regulatory frameworks and sheds light on the inherent fragility of the traditional banking system and the...

In this episode, Nik recaps the day in economic data and financial markets, including a look at JOLTS and the slowing labor market, weak ISM manufacturing data and prices, and the repo market. In the most important financial development of the day, elevated SOFR volumes and repo rates confirm there is some scarcity in the money markets. We believe this type of calendar activity may signal an end t...

In this comprehensive conversation—and Part 4 of our "Teaching Bitcoin" series—Michael Howell takes the wheel and asks Nik his lingering questions about bitcoin. The pair explore bitcoin's tax implications, regulatory frameworks, and its role in the global economy. They discuss the differences between Bitcoin and stablecoins, the significance of Gresham's law, and try to dream up a futur...

In this extensive educational video explaining bitcoin, Michael Howell joins Nik Bhatia and The Bitcoin Layer as a student this time instead of as our liquidity teacher. In Part 1, Nik dives into bitcoin's history as Michael inquires whether bitcoin is better described as an asset or as money. Part 2 continues with a deep dive into hashing, mining, and bitcoin's blockchain architecture. Michael gr...

In this episode, Nik is joined by Sam Baker, researcher at River, to analyze the growing trend of bitcoin adoption by businesses. Sam explains the findings of his report, explores the motivations behind businesses adopting Bitcoin, the implications of accounting and tax treatment, and the differences between public and private companies in their Bitcoin holdings. The discussion also delves into th...

In this third episode of our ongoing series with Michael Howell, Nik dives deep into the intricacies of Bitcoin, focusing on its limited supply, mining mechanics, and the integrity of the network. They get into the weeds of individual nodes and the role they play in maintaining network security. They also discuss the impact of government actions, the rise of ETFs, and the role that bitcoin could o...

In this episode, Nik is joined by Matt Dines to break down the latest monetary stimulus from China. In a strong move from the Chinese central bank, rates were lowered and significant tailwinds for equity prices were provided via a new collateral facility. The pair analyze currency moves in Chinese yuan and gold, and Matt breaks down the historical context for these actions. Is China engaging in a...

In Part 2 of our "Teaching Bitcoin" series with legendary financial researcher Michael Howell, Nik delves into the intricacies of bitcoin's cryptography, mining mechanism, and decentralized network. The pair discuss the origin of a blockchain, and Michael learns about hashing algorithms for the first time. A discussion of bitcoin's supply schedule, difficulty target, and difficulty adjus...

In this episode, Nik recaps the latest in global macro after the Fed slashed rates by 50 basis points. As the promise of greater liquidity and less interest rate uncertainty hit financial markets, risk is rallying with stocks reaching an all-time high and bitcoin's price increasing by 6%. Nik discusses the Fed cut, QT, stocks, bitcoin's price, the housing market, and what is motivating the Fed rig...