Wargaming the Oil Crisis, Bitcoin's Role in US-China Competition, & AI Agent Payments | BPH Ep 31

The Iran conflict is sending global oil markets into crisis, and the ripple effects could trigger a geopolitical reset with massive implications for Bitcoin. In this episode of Bitcoin Policy Hour, Ken, Zack Shapiro, and host Zack Cohen break down Bitcoin's strategic role in U.S.-China competition, why Lightning Network is becoming the payment standard for AI agents, and the CFTC's precedent-setting no-action letter on non-custodial wallets. They also tackle Basel III's punitive 1,250% capital requirements for banks holding Bitcoin and the fight for a Bitcoin de minimis tax exemption on Capitol Hill. Click here to get 10% off bitcoin 2026 Conference in Las Vegas: https://tickets.b.tc/event/bitcoin-2026?promoCodeTask=apply&promoCodeInput=YT10🔶 Connect with Zack Shapiro on X: https://x.com/zackbshapiro🔶 Connect with Zack Cohen on X: https://x.com/zackcohen_🔶 Connect with Ken Egan on X: https://x.com/Bayman11771🔶 Learn more about the Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/Chapters: 0:00 - Cold Open: Energy, Civilization & the Global Oil Crisis0:40 - Bitcoin in the Indo-Pacific8:00 - Iran Conflict, Strait of Hormuz & the Energy Market Crisis14:56 - Could U.S. Ground Forces Enter Iran?18:40 - Finding Trustworthy Information on the Iran Conflict21:43 - Lightning Network for AI Agent Payments: Lightning Labs Demo Day27:10 - Why Bitcoin & Lightning Are Built for the Robots, Not Humans32:28 - CFTC No-Action Letter on Phantom Wallet39:23 - Sam Lyman Joins BPI & Basel III's 1,250% Capital Requirement Fight48:39 - Bitcoin De Minimis Tax Exemption vs. Market Structure Legislation55:01 - Section 1960, the BRCA & the Road Ahead for Bitcoin Policy#Bitcoin #BitcoinPolicy #BPI #BitcoinPolicyHour #LightningNetwork #AIagents #LightningLabs #CFTC #BaselIII #BitcoinTax #DeMinimis #BitcoinNationalSecurity #USChinaCompetition #IranConflict #OilCrisis #StraitOfHormuz #EnergyMarkets #NonCustodial #PhantomWallet #BitcoinBanking #FederalReserve #BitcoinRegulation #BRCA #BitcoinMining #Stablecoins #DigitalAssets #GeniusAct #BitcoinReserve #MonetaryPolicy #Geopolitics #SamLyman #DoombergEnergy #BitcoinAdoption #FreedomTech