015. She Bought Bitcoin at $11 | Tatiana Moroz on Artist Coins & Creator Independence

Welcome back to STACKED, the show about becoming your own best asset.Today I sat down with Tatiana Moroz, singer-songwriter, early Bitcoiner, and founder of Crypto Media Hub.Tatiana is a Berklee College of Music alumna who bought her first Bitcoin at $11 in 2012 through a connection from the Ron Paul campaign. Two years later, she created TatianaCoin on the Bitcoin blockchain—the world's first artist cryptocurrency—and used it to fund her third album, Keep the Faith, paying her entire band in Bitcoin throughout production.In this conversation, we dive into why the creator economy is still broken for musicians, how blockchain gives artists a way to truly own their audience, what fan-funded music looks like in practice, how AI is compressing years of work into days for independent builders, and what it means to build a career without asking permission from labels or platforms.Tatiana also shares her decade-long advocacy for Ross Ulbricht, what his pardon meant for the Bitcoin and libertarian communities, and why she believes Bitcoin is more than an investment—it's a revolution.This is a beginner-friendly conversation about music, money, creative ownership, and the future of independent creators.Key Topics Covered:— Origin story: Berklee, libertarian politics, and how the Ron Paul campaign led directly to Bitcoin — Buying Bitcoin at $11 through a BitPay sponsorship and falling down the Bitcoin rabbit hole— The DIY creator trap: building audiences on platforms that can censor or cut you off— TatianaCoin: creating the world's first artist cryptocurrency on Bitcoin in 2014— Blockchain explained simply: digital scarcity, finite ownership, and why it matters— Funding Keep the Faith: the first album funded and paid for entirely with Bitcoin— Why touring is often a social media flex rather than a sustainable income model for artists— Tokenization in music vs. gaming: why network effects remain the biggest challenge— AI as a force multiplier for indie entrepreneurs: 36 hours instead of 2 years and $500K— Building a censorship-free, blockchain-powered platform for artist independence— Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road, and more than a decade of advocacy leading to his pardon— Bitcoin for beginners: wallets, self-custody, trusted communities, and getting started safelyTimestamps:00:00:00 – Welcome + Introducing Tatiana Moroz00:01:00 – Origin: Berklee, Music as a Message & Reading Dystopian Novels00:02:21 – Libertarian Politics & Singing for the Ron Paul Campaign00:04:37 – The DIY Creator Trap: Building Audiences on Platforms You Don't Own00:07:01 – Blockchain Explained: Scarcity, Finite Copies & Why It Matters for Creators00:07:38 – Creating TatianaCoin in 2014: The World's First Artist Cryptocurrency00:12:51 – AI as a Builder's Tool: 36 Hours vs. 2 Years and $500K00:17:40 – Building a Censorship-Free Platform for Artist Independence00:35:53 – Bitcoin for Beginners: Wallets, Self-Custody & Trusted Communities00:42:46 – Teaching Kids About Bitcoin & Ghost Trading as a Starting Point00:44:24 – Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road & Over 10 Years of Advocacy Before the Pardon00:48:43 – Lightning RoundTags:Tatiana Moroz, TatianaCoin, Bitcoin for artists, creator economy, fan-funded music, artist cryptocurrency, music and Bitcoin, creator independence, self-custody, blockchain for musicians, indie artist, music business, financial sovereignty, Bitcoin beginner, Crypto Media Hub, STACKED podcast, Brickell Babes, Ross Ulbricht pardon, Bitcoin at $11, direct-to-fan monetizationDisclaimer:The content shared on this page should not be construed as legal, financial, investment, or medical advice. Your viewing and/or use of this information does not create any kind of client, patient, or fiduciary relationship with us. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own advisors or medical professional concerning your situation and specific questions you may have.