107: Allen Farrington ON: Bitcoin and The Hidden Complexity Behind Every ‘Simple’ Payment
What if your “simple” tap-to-pay purchase hides fourteen different payments?This episode features Allen Farrington, an author and investor who is the co-founder and general partner at a venture firm focused on companies building on Bitcoin. He is also the co-founder and CEO of an asset management business deploying in Bitcoin, and he recently gave a conference talk debunking the idea that fiat payments are easy while Bitcoin payments are a headache. Tune in to find out what actually happens when you buy something with a card and why that mess matters for the future of money.Most people think paying with a tap or a swipe is clean and instant, without realizing how many hidden credit relationships that fiat system is juggling for a single purchase. We look at how the costs and delays that businesses live with every day create openings for Bitcoin to act as real settlement money inside those payment flows. And we get into what that shift could mean in the next few years without pretending that any one technology instantly solves money for everyone. Because once you see how the rails really work, you can’t unsee it.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:58] Why fiat payments rely entirely on layers of credit instead of true debits[03:26] How lightning parallels ACH but removes banks as mandatory intermediaries[05:12] Why inbound liquidity and always-online requirements make lightning difficult for consumers but ideal for businesses[07:53] The real reason fiat transactions involve 9+ intermediaries and constant credit risk[10:46] How Bitcoin enables direct settlement instead of credit extensions hidden behind payment processors[13:32] Merchants feel the pain of fiat and how Bitcoin flips that incentive[15:49] The future where paying in fiat carries a premium and Bitcoin payments become cheaper by default[18:44] Stablecoins are not “worse Bitcoin,” just better fiat for broken use cases[20:19] How stablecoins may eventually settle over Bitcoin rails as liquidity deepens[22:41] What multiple stablecoin issuers would require and why Bitcoin simplifies interbank settlement[30:18] Why non-Bitcoin companies need a strategic stance on it before it's a fiduciary requirement[33:14] How fiat payment inefficiencies create the wedge that brings mainstream companies onto Bitcoin railsWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Bitcoin Is Venice by Allen Farrington and Sacha Meyers | Book or AudiobookFind more from Allen:Allen Farrington | LinkedInFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedIn
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106: Kurtis Warren ON: This Cafe Owner’s Bitcoin Strategy Will Change How You See Money
What if your neighbourhood cafe quietly turned itself into a Bitcoin miner?In this episode, I'm kicking off a new series with Bitcoin entrepreneurs and executives who are actually weaving this asset into the way they work and save. Today I'm joined by Kurtis Warren, a longtime Bitcoiner and owner of a downtown Vancouver coffee bar that's evolved into a community hub. He shares how his path collided with Bitcoin and how it changed how he thinks about building for the long term.The coffee industry runs on tight margins in a city where costs just keep climbing. Curtis flipped that script for his team and his own future plans. You’ll hear the questions he had to answer around day-to-day payments, security, and taxes, and why he still chooses to keep stacking instead of selling.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[02:16] Why building a cafe around low time preference changes how a business survives[05:12] What happens when a coffee shop becomes a modern version of a historic idea hub[08:47] How a community space transforms once people start treating it like a meetup home[10:59] The reason Bitcoin reshapes how owners think about margins, risk, and expansion[20:14] How comparing Bitcoin’s growth to a new location’s returns forces harder decisions[26:01] Why this cafe treats Bitcoin as a long-term savings engine instead of quick revenue[29:12] What happens when a team starts converting part of their pay into a volatile asset[36:02] The moment Bitcoin stops feeling speculative and starts feeling like real hope[38:01] Why entrepreneurs see personal possibility in an asset most people still doubtWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Learn more from Kurtis:Funk Coffee Bar | WebsiteFunk Coffee Bar | InstagramKurtis Warren | LinkedInFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedIn
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105: Ted Carr ON: How a Video Game Taught Me Everything About Bitcoin
Nobody told me that a video game could teach me everything I needed to know about money.In this episode, I sit down with Ted Carr, the creator of the Bitcoin community on the online learning platform School. Ted’s been in Bitcoin since 2017, through all the chaos and crashes, and now teaches thousands of people how to navigate it with confidence. His story goes from losing coins on hacked exchanges to building one of the most grounded Bitcoin learning spaces online.We get into the hidden lessons inside video game economies, the painful tuition every Bitcoiner pays, and what it really means to “own” something digital. Each idea challenges how we think about money, freedom, and control.Because once you see how value actually works, you can’t unsee it.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[05:58] Why losing Bitcoin on early exchanges taught Ted the real meaning of ownership[09:47] The moment he realized his coins on-screen weren’t really his[13:42] What ancient island stones can teach us about digital money[17:26] How a childhood video game predicted Bitcoin’s future[21:04] The mindset shift that turned market crashes into buying opportunities[23:44] Why debt isn’t always the enemy when you understand Bitcoin’s growth curve[27:36] The three biggest mistakes most new Bitcoiner makes, and how to avoid them[31:25] What the Luna crash revealed about Bitcoin-only conviction[35:41] The simple logic that even billionaires use to see Bitcoin as the ultimate cheat codeWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Andreas M. Antonopoulos | YouTubeMichael Saylor | YouTubeLedn | WebsiteColdcard | WebsiteTrezor | WebsiteLedger | WebsiteThe Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or AudiobookBitcoin Community | SkoolFind more from Ted:Ted Carr | WebsiteTed Carr | FacebookTed Carr | InstagramTed Carr | YouTubeFind more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedIn
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104: Tomer Strolight ON: Custodians vs Innovators: Can Bitcoin Evolve Without Betraying Its Purpose?
What happens when the people safeguarding Bitcoin can’t agree on what they’re actually safeguarding?In this episode, I sit down with Tomer Strolight, writer, educator, and long-time Bitcoin thinker, to explore the cracks forming in Bitcoin’s governance. From the origins of Core development to the recent rifts over protocol changes, Tomer explains why these debates aren’t just technical, they’re philosophical.At the heart of it all is one question: can Bitcoin evolve without betraying its purpose? Fear and trust collide here. On one side are those pushing for innovation; on the other, those guarding the purity of sound money. The tension isn’t abstract, it’s personal, and it’s reshaping the future of the network, because when the code that runs the world’s hardest money starts to split, the real question is whether we can keep talking long enough to hold it together.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:42] Why teaching Bitcoin without metaphors could change how people actually understand it[04:57] What the fight between “custodians” and “innovators” reveals about Bitcoin’s future[09:18] How paranoia and blind trust both distort debates about Bitcoin’s governance[13:27] The overlooked reason Bitcoin’s consensus rules act more like judges than developers[18:46] What the “inscriptions” controversy exposed about Bitcoin’s shifting priorities[23:55] Why rushing code changes in Bitcoin can have irreversible consequences[30:41] The deeper conflict between those who see Bitcoin as money and those who see it as adatabase[39:52] How generational differences among developers are reshaping Bitcoin Core[50:16] What real dialogue, not debate, could mean for Bitcoin’s survivalWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:The Legendary Treasure of Satoshi Nakamoto by Tomer Strolight | ArticleHello. I Am Bitcoin by Tomer Strolight | Article Why People Wonder if Bitcoin is Alien Technology by Tomer Strolight | ArticleSwan Bitcoin | Blog Learn more from Tomer by following him on X and LinkedIn.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedIn
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103: Michael Dunworth ON: The Treasury Game That’s Crashing Bitcoin Stocks
Bitcoin hit $125,000 this week, and it felt like nobody cared.In this episode, I’m joined by three-time guest Michael Dunworth. He’s a longtime Bitcoiner and builder who helped roll licensing, on-ramps, off-ramps, and banking partners into an API for others to use.We dig into how Bitcoin treasury companies turned a smart idea into a dangerous illusion. Big promises, confusing language, and off-chain trades have investors thinking they’re buying Bitcoin when they’re really buying risk. Custodians hold too much power. Analysts still use the wrong metrics. And the people trying to shortcut their way to gains keep getting wrecked.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:06] Why Bitcoin treasury companies copied the Saylor playbook, and why it backfired[03:18] The reason “acquired” is used intentionally as opposed to “bought” when companies announce Bitcoin buys[04:49] What happens when investors chase Bitcoin exposure through stocks instead of self-custody[06:32] How traditional analysts miss the point by measuring treasuries in dollars, not SATs per share[14:11] The risk no one’s talking about when custodians hold a fifth of all Bitcoin[37:52] What OTC net settlement reveals about “price suppression” myths[44:09] How off-chain trading hides real Bitcoin demand from the charts[57:58] Why centralization could turn Bitcoin’s strength into its biggest weaknessWant to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:The Dao of Bitcoin by Scott Dedels | Book or AudiobookThe Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or AudiobookLearn more from Michael by following him on X.Find more from Scott:Scott Dedels | XBlock Rewards | InstagramBlock Rewards | YouTubeBlock Rewards | TikTokBlock Rewards | WebsiteBlock Rewards | LinkedIn
About The Block Reward | Real Stories. Real Impact. All Powered by Real Money - Bitcoin
Welcome to The Block Reward Podcast, where real stories meet real impact, all powered by real money—Bitcoin. Each week, we dive into the transformative world of Bitcoin through in-depth interviews with thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of decentralized finance.
Your host, Scott Dedels, also shares solo episodes where he reflects on his journey as a conscious CEO, offering insights into leadership, personal growth, and the evolving role of Bitcoin in creating a more intentional and purpose-driven economy.
Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting to explore its potential, The Block Reward Podcast delivers thought-provoking conversations and actionable takeaways to inspire your own financial freedom and conscious living.
Join us as we uncover the stories and strategies that fuel the Bitcoin revolution—one block at a time.
New episodes released every Tuesday!
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