Building and Scaling: a Bitcoin Conversation

Since inception, ARK has researched and published thoughts on the cryptocurrency ecosystem within Big Ideas and through articles, whitepapers, monthly Bitcoin reports and podcasts. Now, in coordination with Bitcoin Park, ARK is pleased to introduce a monthly conversation with leaders in the Bitcoin space, to discuss everything happening in the rapidly-changing and still nascent Bitcoin ecosystem. Published through the For Your innovation podcast channels, this monthly series aims to be informative and enlightening, including experts with diverse viewpoints. Guests on this month’s Bitcoin Brainstorm include: Preston Pysh – Show Host and Co-Founder, The Investor’s Podcast Network and Advisor, Ego Death Capital Jack Mallers – CEO and Founder, Strike Obi Nwosu – CEO and Co-Founder, Fedi Rod Roudi – Co-Founder, Bitcoin Park   Harry Sudock – Chief Strategy Officer, GRIID and Partner, Bitcoin Park   Cathie Wood – CEO, CIO and Founder, ARK Invest Yassine Elmandjra – Crypto Lead, ARK Invest Key Points From This Episode: 00:00 Intro to the Bitcoin Brainstorm and Bitcoin Park in Nashville 4:30 Our panel discusses Jack Dorsey’s thoughts on Bitcoin as the currency of the internet 8:30 Dr. Art Laffer’s discovery and interest in Bitcoin 10:30 How Bitcoin can potentially benefit communities like those in Kenya 19:00 What countries are moving the fastest to adopt Bitcoin as a currency and how does the global south view Bitcoin generally 26:20 Jack’s thoughts on the modern day monetary policy and why it may be destroying the middle class 28:31 Why Bitcoin might be too volatile for many people living in poverty, but crypto solutions like stablecoins could be a better option 30:35 Potential routes of scalability for Bitcoin, including the potential for a third layer, beyond Lightning 35:20 Comparing Visa’s network to the Lightning network and the argument that Bitcoin does not have a scaling problem 39:26 How Jack Dorsey and Block are working to grow the Lightning network 44:39 The cooperation that exists within the Bitcoin ecosystem and why 49:10 Bitcoin’s role in enabling businesses to reach more people globally 54:38 The comparison of Lightning channels to traditional fiat channels 56:30 Why Bitcoin might be the most inclusive currency 01:00:49 How Bitcoin could be unlocking a new customer that was otherwise unwilling to bank, similar to how Robinhood unlocked a new investor base with lower barriers to entry 01:03:42 The ability to focus on markets that other people are unable to focus on may be one of Bitcoin’s most valuable current features 01:06:15 Obi’s recounting of Gridless, a Kenyan Bitcoin mining company that has transformed villages in Africa 01:10:00 Preston’s comparison of Bitcoin to Mitochondria 01:11:02 Conclusion, and final thoughts from Harry, Preston, Obi, Yassine, Jack and Cathie Show Notes: June ARK Invest Bitcoin Monthly – https://twitter.com/dpuellark/status/1676733038674190338 Money Matters Podcast with Jack Mallers and guest Jack Dorsey https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1-jack-dorsey/id1695949365?i=1000619425244 Ai4ALL Hackathon – https://bolt.fun/tournaments/ai4all/overview To learn more about Bitcoin Park – bitcoinpark.com