The Honest Money Show

What does the Australian government really think of Bitcoin? According to Bayani Mills, CEO of the Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB), the problem is that it doesn't. Bayani joins Honest Money to explain how policymakers, regulators, and banks actually see Bitcoin, and why Bitcoiners need to show up if they want the rules to change.
Bayani breaks down why Australia fell behind on Bitcoin innovation, how Bitcoin mining could help build energy infrastructure and lower power costs, and why AML and KYC rules create risky stockpiles of personal data. He also shares why he expects a pitch for a retail CBDC within five years, and why the RBA talks about Bitcoin so much for an institution with no position on it.
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Bayani and Anja discuss government sentiment toward Bitcoin in Australia, Bitcoin mining and energy, KYC, debanking, and the road to a retail CBDC.
The conversation moves from ABIB's recent event at Parliament House in Melbourne, hosted by Libertarian MP David Limbrick, to why so many Australian Bitcoin miners stay quiet about what they do. Bayani explains how regulators put up barriers instead of leaning into innovation, and how talent and investment went overseas as a result.
The episode also covers AUSTRAC and data collection, the cost and effectiveness of AML and KYC, Project Acacia and stablecoins, banks reviewing customers' social media, the difference between inflation, debasement, and CPI, the shift toward independents, and how everyday Bitcoiners can get involved through meetups and ABIB working groups.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Most Australian policymakers only know Bitcoin through crypto and mainstream media
ABIB engages government on Bitcoin mining, energy, and methane abatement
More Bitcoin mining is happening in Australia than regulators realise
Regulatory barriers pushed Australian talent and investment overseas
AML and KYC rules create stockpiles of personal data that put Bitcoiners at risk
Bayani expects a pitch for a retail CBDC in Australia within five years
Banks can decide who they serve, and Australians have no right to a bank account
Rules only change when Bitcoiners turn up and engage with policymakers
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 What Does Government Think of Bitcoin?
01:47 Changing Hearts and Minds in Parliament
03:51 The Parliament House Event in Melbourne
06:35 Why Australian Miners Stay Quiet
10:36 Aussie Bitcoin Talent and Capital Flight
14:46 How to Get Involved With ABIB
18:52 KYC, AUSTRAC, Data Honeypots and Wrench Attacks
27:57 Does AML and KYC Even Work?
32:24 What ABIB Has Been Working On
36:14 Project Acacia, Stablecoins and the RBA’s CBDC Paper
39:43 The RBA Has No Position on Bitcoin?
42:05 The Digital Euro and Money as a System of Control
48:44 Inflation, Debasement, and CPI
50:46 Debanking and Political Dissent
53:55 Independents and Political Engagement
56:51 Bitcoiners Inside Government and Banks
58:23 Is Gerard Rennick Coming Around?
1:01:30 What Bayani Is Most Bullish On
1:04:13 Meetups and Tools for Bitcoiners
1:06:09 Methane Abatement at Local Landfills
1:09:10 Final Thoughts
🔗 FEATURED LINKS
ABIB: https://bitcoinindustrybody.org.au
Orange Label: https://orangelabel.io
BTC Map: https://btcmap.org
🔗 AFFILIATE LINKS
Buy Bitcoin in Australia With a $10 Sign Up Bonus
HARDBLOCK: https://hardblock.com.au/join/honestmoney
Learn to Acquire, Secure, and Manage Your Bitcoin
MINERACKS: https://www.mineracks.com/honestmoney
Shop Signing Devices, Bitaxes, Nodes, Apparel, and More
SHOP BITCOIN AUSTRALIA: https://shopbitcoin.com.au
Collaborative Security, Inheritance Planning, and Retirement Strategies
THE BITCOIN ADVISER: https://thebitcoinadviser.com/honest-money
Reached Terminal Bitcoin? Borrow Against Your Bitcoin Without Selling
LOAN MY COINS: https://www.loanmycoins.com/honest-money
📌 ABOUT THE HONEST MONEY SHOW
The Honest Money Show explores the forces shaping our financial world, from monetary systems and personal finance to Bitcoin. Through in depth conversations with builders, thinkers, and educators, the show challenges mainstream narratives and provides practical insights into financial sovereignty.
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into Bitcoin and money literacy.
Follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn at HonestMoneyShow.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This podcast is for general information and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not represent any organisation or regulatory body. Financial markets are volatile and speculative. You should seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions. By listening, you accept that all actions taken are your own responsibility, and neither the host, guest, nor the podcast accept liability for any loss or damage.
#Bitcoin #BitcoinAustralia #BayaniMills #ABIB #AUSTRAC #KYC #CBDC #RBA #Debanking #BitcoinMining #ProjectAcacia #SoundMoney #FinancialSovereignty #HonestMoneyShow

How do you get paid in Bitcoin in Australia, and why might it be the best defence against inflation far worse than the official figures suggest? Adam Poulton, CEO of Get Paid in Bitcoin, joins Honest Money to explain how Australians can receive part of their wages in Bitcoin into self-custody, and why he calls CPI “a CP lie”.
Adam breaks down why real inflation measured by the money supply runs closer to 8 to 10 percent a year, how house prices track money printing rather than CPI, and what that does to your wages, savings, and chance of ever buying a home. He also shares how Get Paid in Bitcoin works with payroll systems like Xero, why he was banned by a major bank for life, and why no change of government can outrun money printing.
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Adam and Anja discuss getting paid in Bitcoin in Australia, real inflation, debanking, and why political fixes fall short. They also dig into why ⁨Dave Hughes⁩ and ⁨Karl Stefanovic⁩ feel so close to landing on Bitcoin as the solution.
The conversation moves from how Get Paid in Bitcoin works, including its Xero payroll integration and self-custody by default, to why the gap between CPI and real inflation leaves workers falling behind every year. Adam explains how M3 money supply has grown around 8 to 10 percent a year for decades, and how that reshapes wages, retirement, and everyday life.
The episode also covers Adam’s lifetime ban from a major bank, the debanking wave hitting Bitcoiners and business owners, the friction on cash withdrawals, the tobacco-tax Laffer curve, and why Adam believes Bitcoin, not a change of government, is the real escape from a broken monetary system.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Get Paid in Bitcoin lets Australians receive wages in Bitcoin, into self-custody
It integrates with payroll systems like Xero for easy employer setup
Official CPI badly understates what Australians actually lose to inflation each year
Real inflation measured by money supply runs closer to 8 to 10 percent a year
House prices track the growth in money supply, not the official CPI figure
Australia creates hundreds of billions of brand-new dollars every single year
Debanking is hitting Bitcoiners and business owners, Adam was banned for life
No change of government can outrun a monetary system built on money printing
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Adam Poulton of Get Paid in Bitcoin
01:15 What Get Paid in Bitcoin Actually Does
05:25 Self-Custody by Default
06:56 Bitcoin as an Employee Retention Tool
09:08 Why Wages Can’t Keep Up
13:41 CPI vs Real Inflation
21:30 Hundreds of Billions Printed Every Year
26:30 Is Australia Waking Up to Money Printing?
31:30 Why Dave Hughes and Karl Stefanovic Are So Close
39:13 Banned for Life by the CBA
41:05 The Debanking Wave Hitting Australians
43:37 Bracket Creep and a Broken System
46:26 WTF Happened in 1971
48:30 Why Political Fixes Won’t Work
53:01 The Tobacco Tax and the Laffer Curve
58:29 Bitcoin Price Outlook and Final Thoughts
🔗 FEATURED LINKS
Get Paid in Bitcoin: https://getpaidinbitcoin.com.au
Adam Poulton on X: https://x.com/adampoulton
WTF Happened in 1971: https://wtfhappenedin1971.com
🔗 AFFILIATE LINKS
Buy Bitcoin in Australia With a $10 Sign Up Bonus
HARDBLOCK: https://hardblock.com.au/join/honestmoney
Learn to Acquire, Secure, and Manage Your Bitcoin
MINERACKS: https://www.mineracks.com/honestmoney
Shop Signing Devices, Bitaxes, Nodes, Apparel, and More
SHOP BITCOIN AUSTRALIA: https://shopbitcoin.com.au
Collaborative Security, Inheritance Planning, and Retirement Strategies
THE BITCOIN ADVISER: https://thebitcoinadviser.com/honest-money
Reached Terminal Bitcoin? Borrow Against Your Bitcoin Without Selling
LOAN MY COINS: https://www.loanmycoins.com/honest-money
📌 ABOUT THE HONEST MONEY SHOW
The Honest Money Show explores the forces shaping our financial world, from monetary systems and personal finance to Bitcoin. Through in depth conversations with builders, thinkers, and educators, the show challenges mainstream narratives and provides practical insights into financial sovereignty.
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into Bitcoin and money literacy.
Follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn at HonestMoneyShow.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This podcast is for general information and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not represent any organisation or regulatory body. Financial markets are volatile and speculative. You should seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions. By listening, you accept that all actions taken are your own responsibility, and neither the host, guest, nor the podcast accept liability for any loss or damage.
#Bitcoin #GetPaidInBitcoin #Inflation #CPI #MoneyPrinting #Debanking #BitcoinAustralia #AdamPoulton #SoundMoney #FinancialSovereignty #WTFHappenedIn1971 #HonestMoneyShow

Where is the Bitcoin price really heading, and does the power law still point to Bitcoin reaching millions? 
Stephan Livera joins Honest Money to explain his outlook on Bitcoin's price, why adoption is slower than he once believed, and what the power law model projects for the decades ahead.
Stephan explains how his thinking on Bitcoin adoption has shifted over eight years, why he now meets people wherever they enter the funnel, from ETFs to self-custody, and what the power law suggests about Bitcoin reaching roughly a million dollars in the early 2030s and around ten million by 2045. Along the way he reflects on the long game of Bitcoin, surviving your first bear market, community infighting, and what the Coldcard hack really means for self-custody.
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Stephan and Anja discuss Bitcoin's price trajectory, the power law, bear markets, and self-custody.
The conversation moves from eight years of podcasting, through his long-term conviction on Bitcoin as money, to how he now sees adoption as a broad funnel rather than an all-or-nothing choice. He explains why he likes the power law as a grounding model over the debunked stock-to-flow, and what it projects for Bitcoin's price into the 2030s and 2040s.
The episode also covers why the first bear market is the hardest and why dollar-cost averaging through it matters most, the exhausting community infighting around BIP-110 and spam, the quantum-security consortium forming around Bitcoin, and why, after the Coldcard hack, Stephan believes multi-vendor multisig is the real long-term answer to self-custody.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
The power law projects Bitcoin near a million dollars in the early 2030s and ten million by 2045
Stephan favours the power law as a grounded model over the debunked stock-to-flow
Bitcoin is not get rich quick, it is a five to ten year, multi-decade process
The first bear market is the hardest, and DCA through it matters most
He has evolved on "Bitcoin only" while keeping his long-term conviction
Adoption is a broad funnel, from ETFs and custodians to full self-custody
Community infighting over BIP-110 and spam burned out many builders
After the Coldcard hack, multi-vendor multisig is his long-term self-custody answer
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: Bitcoin's Path to Millions
05:09 Bitcoin Only, With Nuance
15:07 The Hybrid Car Theory of Adoption
18:21 Bitcoin as a Broad Adoption Funnel
23:45 Why Bitcoin Isn't Get Rich Quick
30:50 Do the Price Models Actually Work?
34:47 Surviving Your First Bear Market
37:30 Infighting, BIP-110, and Spam
43:45 Institutions and the Next Fork Fights
46:16 The Quantum Security Consortium
48:38 Self-Custody After the Coldcard Hack
52:31 The Continual Learning Journey
56:56 Community Questions: Lightning in Australia
01:01:43 Final Thoughts: A Multi-Decade Process
🔗 FEATURED LINKS
Stephan Livera on X: https://x.com/stephanlivera
Stephan Livera Podcast: https://www.stephanlivera.com/
🔗 AFFILIATE LINKS
Buy Bitcoin in Australia With a $10 Sign Up Bonus
HARDBLOCK: https://hardblock.com.au/join/honestmoney
Learn to Acquire, Secure, and Manage Your Bitcoin
MINERACKS: https://www.mineracks.com/honestmoney
Shop Signing Devices, Bitaxes, Nodes, Apparel, and More
SHOP BITCOIN AUSTRALIA: https://shopbitcoin.com.au
Collaborative Security, Inheritance Planning, and Retirement Strategies
THE BITCOIN ADVISER: https://thebitcoinadviser.com/honest-money
Reached Terminal Bitcoin? Borrow Against Your Bitcoin Without Selling
LOAN MY COINS: https://www.loanmycoins.com/honest-money
📌 ABOUT THE HONEST MONEY SHOW
The Honest Money Show explores the forces shaping our financial world, from monetary systems and personal finance to Bitcoin. Through in depth conversations with builders, thinkers, and educators, the show challenges mainstream narratives and provides practical insights into financial sovereignty.
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into Bitcoin and money literacy.
Follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn at HonestMoneyShow.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This podcast is for general information and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not represent any organisation or regulatory body. Financial markets are volatile and speculative. You should seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions. By listening, you accept that all actions taken are your own responsibility, and neither the host, guest, nor the podcast accept liability for any loss or damage.
#Bitcoin #StephanLivera #BitcoinPrice #PowerLaw #BitcoinAdoption #BearMarket #SelfCustody #Multisig #BitcoinAustralia #FinancialSovereignty #HonestMoneyShow

What happens to your Bitcoin if you get hit by a bus tomorrow, and could your family actually access it, or would it be lost forever?
Mike, product manager at Guardblock, joins Honest Money to tackle the hardest problems in Bitcoin self-custody: backups, inheritance, and staying secure in a world where AI is making attacks more sophisticated by the day. In the wake of the Coldcard hack, Mike explains why a single device is no longer good enough, how collaborative security using multisig and Bitcoin timelocks works, and how to make sure your coins reach your heirs without leaving a dangerous security hole.
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Mike and Anja discuss self-custody, collaborative security, and Bitcoin inheritance.
The conversation moves from the lessons of the Coldcard hack and recent data breaches, through the difference between custodial and non-custodial, single-sig and multisig, to how Guardblock's time-locked vaults add a co-signing key and recovery pathways without taking custody of your coins. Mike explains why self-custody still demands personal responsibility, how timelocks let you exit unilaterally if the company disappears, and why inheritance is the single biggest reason people are signing up.
The episode also covers wills and letters of wishes, the privacy and trust trade-offs of collaborative security, which hardware wallets work with Taproot miniscript, the product's pricing, and why everyday people shouldn't need to be technical experts to keep their Bitcoin safe.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
After the Coldcard hack, a single device and basic setup is no longer enough
AI tools are making attacks on Bitcoin self-custody more sophisticated
Multisig removes the single point of failure that sinks single-sig setups
Collaborative security adds a co-signing key so a stolen seed alone can't move funds
Bitcoin timelocks create recovery pathways and let you exit if a provider disappears
Inheritance is the biggest gap in self-custody, and the top reason people sign up
Put a plan in a letter of wishes, never seed words or pins in your will
Everyday people shouldn't need extreme technical skill to hold Bitcoin safely
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Mike From Guardblock
01:17 What the Coldcard Hack Taught Us
06:15 Why One Device Is No Longer Enough
10:01 Custodial vs Non-Custodial, Explained
12:05 Single-Sig vs Multisig, Explained
15:38 What Guardblock Actually Is
18:45 How Collaborative Security Works
24:11 How Bitcoin Timelocks Work
26:40 The Recovery Pathways Explained
37:00 The Privacy and Trust Trade-Offs
40:26 The Bitcoin Inheritance Problem
45:26 Probate, Wills, and Letters of Wishes
48:47 Which Hardware Wallets Work
01:03:00 Pricing and No Lock-Ins
🔗 FEATURED LINKS
Guardblock: https://guardblock.com
Guardblock on X: https://x.com/GuardBlock21
🔗 AFFILIATE LINKS
Buy Bitcoin in Australia With a $10 Sign Up Bonus
HARDBLOCK: https://hardblock.com.au/join/honestmoney
Learn to Acquire, Secure, and Manage Your Bitcoin
MINERACKS: https://www.mineracks.com/honestmoney
Shop Signing Devices, Bitaxes, Nodes, Apparel, and More
SHOP BITCOIN AUSTRALIA: https://shopbitcoin.com.au
Collaborative Security, Inheritance Planning, and Retirement Strategies
THE BITCOIN ADVISER: https://thebitcoinadviser.com/honest-money
Reached Terminal Bitcoin? Borrow Against Your Bitcoin Without Selling
LOAN MY COINS: https://www.loanmycoins.com/honest-money
📌 ABOUT THE HONEST MONEY SHOW
The Honest Money Show explores the forces shaping our financial world, from monetary systems and personal finance to Bitcoin. Through in depth conversations with builders, thinkers, and educators, the show challenges mainstream narratives and provides practical insights into financial sovereignty.
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into Bitcoin and money literacy.
Follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn at HonestMoneyShow.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This podcast is for general information and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not represent any organisation or regulatory body. Financial markets are volatile and speculative. You should seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions. By listening, you accept that all actions taken are your own responsibility, and neither the host, guest, nor the podcast accept liability for any loss or damage.
#Bitcoin #SelfCustody #Guardblock #Multisig #BitcoinTimelocks #ColdcardHack #BitcoinInheritance #BitcoinSecurity #Collaborativecustody #HardwareWallet #BitcoinAustralia #FinancialSovereignty #HonestMoneyShow

Are Bitcoin treasury companies safe, or is the boom built on hype? Bitcoin treasury strategy means navigating wild market volatility, where companies have traded from forty times the value of their Bitcoin down to pennies on the dollar. So how do you make sense of them, and what does it mean for investors?
Tim Kotzman, a founding member of the True North podcast and a close watcher of Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, joins Anja to explain how corporate Bitcoin strategy has evolved since MicroStrategy's first purchase in 2020. From convertible debt and preferred equity to the rise of digital credit, Tim breaks down the financial engineering behind companies like Strategy and Strive, and why conviction separates the winners from the rest.
🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY
Tim and Anja discuss Bitcoin treasury companies, financial engineering, and institutional adoption.
The conversation moves from the failed Clarity Act, through the evolution of corporate Bitcoin strategy since 2020, to the mechanics of convertible debt, preferred equity, and digital credit. Tim explains why treasury companies aim for amplified Bitcoin exposure rather than an ETF's one-to-one match, how swings in book value create opportunity and risk, and what makes a strategy succeed or fail.
The episode also examines how many treasury companies may survive, why the last cycle left some CEOs cautious, how self-custody of tokenised stock could reduce short selling, regulatory differences from Australia to Europe, and Tim's answer to the money printing criticism.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Bitcoin is a commodity, so it needs no regulatory clarity
Corporate Bitcoin strategy has evolved fast since 2020
Treasury companies target amplified Bitcoin exposure, not one-to-one like an ETF
Book values swing from 40x Bitcoin held to pennies
Conviction and a clean balance sheet separate the strong from the weak
A few large players may dominate via digital credit
Self-custody of tokenised stock could curb short selling
The "money printing" criticism misreads what these companies do
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Tim Kotzman
01:02 The Failed Clarity Act and What It Means
03:26 Why Bitcoin Doesn't Need Regulatory Clarity
04:24 How Corporate Bitcoin Strategy Evolved Since 2020
08:24 Wall Street Versus the Bitcoin Community
13:01 Bitcoin Treasury Company or Bitcoin ETF?
15:47 How These Companies Are Valued
20:40 Why Strategy Sold Bitcoin at the Bottom
24:07 What Makes a Good Treasury Company
30:05 How Many Treasury Companies Will Survive
39:10 Understanding MNAV and Bitcoin Per Share
51:20 Global Regulations and the Australian Problem
53:26 Tokenised Stocks and Self-Custody
57:41 Is This Just Money Printing?
59:44 Why Tim Started His Podcast
🔗 FEATURED LINKS
Tim Kotzman on X: https://x.com/TimKotzman
Tim Kotzman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@timkotzman8925
True North on X: https://x.com/TNorth
True North: https://tnorth.com/
🔗 AFFILIATE LINKS
Buy Bitcoin in Australia With a $10 Sign Up Bonus
HARDBLOCK: https://hardblock.com.au/join/honestmoney
Learn to Acquire, Secure, and Manage Your Bitcoin
MINERACKS: https://www.mineracks.com/honestmoney
Shop Signing Devices, Bitaxes, Nodes, Apparel, and More
SHOP BITCOIN AUSTRALIA: https://shopbitcoin.com.au
Collaborative Security, Inheritance Planning, and Retirement Strategies
THE BITCOIN ADVISER: https://thebitcoinadviser.com/honest-money
Reached Terminal Bitcoin? Borrow Against Your Bitcoin Without Selling
LOAN MY COINS: https://www.loanmycoins.com/honest-money
📌 ABOUT THE HONEST MONEY SHOW
The Honest Money Show explores the forces shaping our financial world, from monetary systems and personal finance to Bitcoin. Through in depth conversations with builders, thinkers, and educators, the show challenges mainstream narratives and provides practical insights into financial sovereignty.
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into Bitcoin and money literacy.
Follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn at HonestMoneyShow.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This podcast is for general information and educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not represent any organisation or regulatory body. Financial markets are volatile and speculative. You should seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions. By listening, you accept that all actions taken are your own responsibility, and neither the host, guest, nor the podcast accept liability for any loss or damage.
#Bitcoin #BitcoinTreasury #MicroStrategy #Strategy #Strive #DigitalAssets #BitcoinInvesting #InstitutionalBitcoin #TimKotzman #BitcoinAustralia #FinancialSovereignty #HonestMoneyShow