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In this episode of the Option Plus podcast, I chat with Philipp from 10101 about trustless financial derivatives built on Bitcoin Lightning. Together, we tackle the misconceptions surrounding derivatives, highlighting their importance for risk-averse individuals – not speculation, but lowering risk. Philipp delves into the workings of 10101’s synthetic stablecoin and its distinction from others like Tether or DAI. He details how by shorting Bitcoin, one can stabilize their position in US dollars using inverse perpetual swaps, removing the need for a centralized issuer.

We go deeper into the technology, exploring the role of Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) and their potential to revolutionize transactions. While reflecting on the challenges of managing a remote-first venture and navigating regulatory waters, I discuss the blurred lines in product classification and the implications of stablecoins on the dollar economy. Additionally, we delve into the platform’s unique features and potential, such as enabling access to the whole financial system from the Lightning economy, possible integration with merchant solutions such as BTCPayserver.

Links:

• A paper “Lightning Discreet Log Contract Channels” by me and René Pickhardt
• 10101 project, Twitter and Github
• Philipp’s Twitter @bonomat and Nostr: npub1tthrhn3mc8k6c72rn6uwfnclnlk6hcsg7lr60xfc0w3jlnxgy4jqmf5yzk
• ItchySats project
• BTCPayServer’s case study How Hodl Hodl used BTCPay to accept bitcoin payments at a conference and its technical counterpart How to enable Bitcoin payments for merchants at events using BTCPay Server
• Eurodollar wikipedia entry
• My book Cryptocurrencies – Hack your way to a better life (English my e-shop, Amazon, Spanish my e-shop, Amazon)

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In this episode of OptionPlus podcast, I will take you on a ride from tax havens through financial surveillance to crypto-utopistic new order.

As a kid, I have read books about off-shore tax havens as one would read an adventure novel. This world is almost gone thanks to FATCA and other means of financial surveillance. What changed? Are we are transitioning to a new order? Building on our experience with starting Paralelná Polis and running several businesses, I will explain the problems of surveillance state in financial sector and how we can sustain running a business and personal life mostly on cryptocurrencies and liberating technologies. What to do with volatility? What if crypto goes down? How do we escape the surveillance apparatus, reclaim our freedom, have fun and make money doing so? We have no time to waste in reforming the old linear governmental structures, let’s terraform a parallel exponential crypto universe together, today!

This is a recording of my 2019 talk on the topic.

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In this episode of Option Plus podcast, I delve into the world of uncertainty, volatility, optionality, and freedom, navigating these complex themes far beyond the confines of the COVID pandemic, war and other sources of uncertainty.

Reflecting on the unique challenges of 2020 (when this was recorded), this episode underscores the importance of choices that minimize regrets and maximize potential gains. I traverse the intricate terrains of risk and volatility, demystify the true value of optionality in life and financial markets, and even shed light on how Bitcoin might be a safeguard against systemic financial collapse. To top it all off, I offer actionable strategies for thriving in unpredictable times, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in crypto markets, parallel economies, and forward-thinking communities.

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In this episode of the Option Plus podcast, I am discussing the power of contrarian thinking and its relationship to Bitcoin. I recently gave a speech to participants in an economics Olympiad, urging them to think outside the box and embrace alternative options.

It surprised me to find that many young people I spoke to were conservative in their thinking, as I believe that the youth should be open to experimentation and new ideas. To illustrate the benefits of contrarian thinking, I share examples from financial markets and hiring practices.

In order to truly stand out and achieve world-class expertise in a particular field, I believe that it is necessary to combine multiple areas of expertise. This is called your unique ability.

To ignite contrarian thinking, I follow the questioning approach of Peter Thiel: He encourages his employees and potential hires to consider what they believe to be true about the world that most people would disagree with.

One of my own contrarian thoughts revolves around the concept of parallel societies and parallel financial markets. Having witnessed the growth of the internet and understanding its inner workings due to my presence during its development, I believe that a new parallel financial system is emerging through Bitcoin.

Despite the common perception that Bitcoin is small and not widely used, it actually has a substantial user base and is more widely adopted than many realize. However, the decentralized nature of Bitcoin makes it challenging to measure its impact using traditional methods. I recommend individuals to explore this field and avoid relying solely on macroeconomics – it’s snake oil science.

Failure is integral to improvement, and those who succeed in the long run are those who have an advantage – an edge. Stability is a myth, and embracing volatility can actually reduce stress. Prices serve as an information system that reflects the interplay between supply and demand. It is better to prepare for and embrace the volatile nature of the world.

Links:

• My latest book Cryptocurrencies – Hack your way to a better life
• Support me with value4value

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Pack your revolutionary banners and hide your “civic disobedience” weapons. And definitely don’t join a political party. Reformation and revolution are both obsolete and very slow ways towards more freedom. So what shall we do instead? With Max Hillebrand, we continue our last conversation about first principles of liberty and in this conversation, we talk about strategies for freedom here and now. Agorism, Parallel Polis, Vonu, Second Realm, TAZs, Cryptoanarchy. “…and in various ways they are combined…” as my favourite song that shall go unnamed says. Speaking of songs, we also talk about very interesting musical inspiration. So dive in!

Links:

• You can find Max Hillebrand at TowardsLiberty.com and on Twitter as @HillebrandMax. I also recommend listenting to the episodes of Vonu Podcast with Max.
• Hackers Congress Paralelni Polis is happening 2-4 October 2020 – physically in Prague and online. Get your tickets with a discount using coupon code optionplus. Should also work for workshops during the congress (both physical and online).
• My courses Firefox for better privacy and Introduction to lightning network are available, and of course with a discount to listeners. Use coupon code podcast.
• Great episode of Cypherpunk Bitstream about The Roots of Parallel Polis, in which me, Martin Leskovjan, Frank Braun and Smuggler talk about strategy for self-liberation in a communist authoritarian regime of Czechoslovakia. If it works in authoritarian hellhole, it works wherever you live.
• Second realm: The book on strategy
• Vonu: The Search for Personal Freedom
• New Libertarian Manifesto by Samuel Edward Konkin III – the main book about agorism
• Everything Voluntary – a great introduction to voluntaryism
• Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged – a great book about the values of productive society. If you need a positive “kick”, I highly recommend it.
• Paul Rosenberg’s A Lodging of Wayfaring Men and The Breaking Dawn are both amazing books about the practical sides of liberty.
• T.A.Z.: The Temporary Autonomous Zone, Ontological Anarchy, Poetic Terrorism – Hakim Bey’s amazing book
  • Also listen to this musical interpretation of parts of the book by Bill Laswell.

Support this podcast

This podcast is costless for you and ad-free, but it is not costless to produce. If you have found it useful, I appreciate any donations (using cryptocurrencies).

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Credits

Podcast created and produced by Juraj Bednar.
Title song by suonho, used under CC-BY license.

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It all started with a Twitter thread and my conversation with Max about one of the strategies for self-liberation. Many people don’t know that they are out there. People don’t usually talk about how they hide from coercion (and not only state coercion) or avoid it. But that does not mean that everyone has to discover it on their own.

In this first part of a series, we talk about what do we look for in the strategies that we are willing to consider. Making a lot of money and hiring a private army could probably be considered an anti-coercion strategy, but we would need to abolish our principles. So what are they?

Links:

• You can find Max Hillebrand at TowardsLiberty.com and on Twitter as @HillebrandMax. I also recommend listenting to the episodes of Vonu Podcast with Max.
• Hackers Congress Paralelni Polis is happening 2-4 October 2020. Get your tickets with a discount using coupon code optionplus. Should also work for workshops during the congress (both physical and online).
• My courses Firefox for better privacy and Introduction to lightning network are available, and of course with a discount to listeners. Use coupon code podcast.
• Great episode of Cypherpunk Bitstream about The Roots of Parallel Polis, in which me, Martin Leskovjan, Frank Braun and Smuggler talk about strategy for self-liberation in a communist authoritarian regime of Czechoslovakia. If it works in authoritarian hellhole, it works wherever you live.

Support this podcast

This podcast is costless for you and ad-free, but it is not costless to produce. If you have found it useful, I appreciate any donations (using cryptocurrencies).

– +

USD GBP EUR BTC

Support me with crypto

Subscribe

Credits

Podcast created and produced by Juraj Bednar.
Title song by suonho, used under CC-BY license.