WEBVTT 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:28.600 Hey everyone, and welcome to the Bitcoin Street 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:30.949 Journal market update! I'm your host, Georgia. 00:00:31.269 --> 00:00:33.750 I'm sitting in today for Anna, who is on vacation. 00:00:34.530 --> 00:00:38.770 Gee, and I'm Alfred. Glad to be back in the studio, 00:00:38.990 --> 00:00:41.630 Georgia. Likewise, Alfred. Today we're diving 00:00:41.630 --> 00:00:44.369 deep into the world of Bitcoin. We're gonna unpack 00:00:44.369 --> 00:00:46.710 all the recent news, and there has been a lot 00:00:46.710 --> 00:00:50.509 lately, right? Absolutely. From potential ETFs 00:00:50.509 --> 00:00:53.429 to wild price swings, it's been a roller coaster. 00:00:53.890 --> 00:00:56.729 Exactly. So we'll break down what's been happening, 00:00:56.929 --> 00:00:59.450 what it all means, and importantly, what you 00:00:59.450 --> 00:01:02.109 should be watching out for. This is your go -to 00:01:02.109 --> 00:01:04.769 guide for navigating the Bitcoin landscape. Whether 00:01:04.769 --> 00:01:08.069 you're a seasoned Bitcoin veteran or just starting 00:01:08.069 --> 00:01:11.049 to dip your toes in, we've got something for 00:01:11.049 --> 00:01:14.069 you. We'll try to filter through a lot of the 00:01:14.069 --> 00:01:17.230 noise and bring you some quality information. 00:01:17.609 --> 00:01:20.689 So buckle up, grab your favorite beverage, and 00:01:20.689 --> 00:01:23.129 let's get started with the Bitcoin Street Journal 00:01:23.129 --> 00:01:26.120 market update. Alright, Georgia, so maybe we 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:29.219 should start with the basics, yeah? What exactly 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:32.959 asterisk is asterisk Bitcoin for anyone who's 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:36.120 like totally - Good call, Alfred. So in the simplest 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.140 terms, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:42.640 Think of it as digital gold. That is also programmable 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.040 money. Digital gold. I like that. So no central 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.060 bank controls it, right? That's the whole decentralized 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:53.750 thing? Precisely, no government, no single institution. 00:01:54.170 --> 00:01:56.689 It operates on a peer -to -peer network, meaning 00:01:56.689 --> 00:01:59.370 transactions happen directly between users. It's 00:01:59.370 --> 00:02:01.750 all thanks to something called blockchain technology, 00:02:02.230 --> 00:02:05.390 which, at its core, is just a public, distributed 00:02:05.390 --> 00:02:08.270 ledger. Okay blockchain, we'll probably need 00:02:08.270 --> 00:02:11.650 a whole episode just to unpack that. But so, 00:02:12.009 --> 00:02:15.150 what's the point of bitcoin? What problem does 00:02:15.150 --> 00:02:18.310 it solve? Well, a few things. For one, it offers 00:02:18.310 --> 00:02:20.849 a way to send money across borders without hefty 00:02:20.849 --> 00:02:23.930 fees or needing to trust intermediaries. Think 00:02:23.930 --> 00:02:26.409 remittances, international business transactions. 00:02:26.849 --> 00:02:29.689 But beyond that, it is, you know, an alternative 00:02:29.689 --> 00:02:32.490 to traditional financial systems that some people 00:02:32.490 --> 00:02:35.930 just don't trust. Right, especially with inflation 00:02:35.930 --> 00:02:38.289 concerns and government control of currencies. 00:02:39.050 --> 00:02:41.750 Bitcoin gives people an option, a way to opt 00:02:41.750 --> 00:02:45.349 out, right? Exactly. It's about financial sovereignty. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:48.139 putting individuals in control of their own assets. 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:51.599 And because the supply is capped at 21 million 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.620 coins, it's also seen as a hedge against inflation, 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.719 unlike, say, the U .S. dollar, where the government 00:02:57.719 --> 00:03:01.039 can just print more money. Okay, makes sense. 00:03:01.699 --> 00:03:04.659 So, it's like a limited edition digital asset 00:03:04.659 --> 00:03:08.099 with a built -in scarcity. So, it's not controlled 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:11.960 by one entity, which gives people a choice and 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:15.199 may hedge against inflation. Bingo! And, you 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:17.719 know, it also enables new kinds of financial 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:20.740 applications that just weren't possible before. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:24.080 Things like decentralized finance or DeFi, but 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:26.680 we can get into that another time. Speaking of 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.780 new financial applications, Alfred, can we dive 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:33.419 into the big news? You mean the Bitcoin ETFs? 00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.840 Yeah, that's been the talk of the town. It's 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:39.560 huge, right? The SEC finally gave the green light 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.000 after, what, years of rejection? Years, Georgia, 00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:47.189 years. So, for our listeners who might not be 00:03:47.189 --> 00:03:50.650 following every twist and turn, what asterisk, 00:03:50.729 --> 00:03:54.150 exactly asterisk, does this ETF approval mean 00:03:54.150 --> 00:03:57.210 for Bitcoin adoption? I mean, is this really 00:03:57.210 --> 00:04:00.449 that big of a deal? Huge. Think about it, Alfred. 00:04:00.909 --> 00:04:03.669 Before, investing in Bitcoin directly could be 00:04:03.669 --> 00:04:06.110 a hurdle for many people. You had to set up a 00:04:06.110 --> 00:04:09.650 crypto wallet, navigate exchanges. It could be 00:04:09.650 --> 00:04:12.569 intimidating. True. It's not exactly grandma 00:04:12.569 --> 00:04:15.949 -friendly, you know. Exactly. But now, with a 00:04:15.949 --> 00:04:18.149 Bitcoin E -Dev, you can invest in Bitcoin through 00:04:18.149 --> 00:04:20.389 a traditional brokerage account. The same way 00:04:20.389 --> 00:04:23.529 you'd buy, I don't know, Apple stock or a bond 00:04:23.529 --> 00:04:27.029 fund. So it's like, Bitcoin is now available 00:04:27.029 --> 00:04:29.790 in the kiddie pool. No need to jump into the 00:04:29.790 --> 00:04:33.269 deep end of crypto exchanges, huh? Haha, exactly! 00:04:33.829 --> 00:04:36.350 It opens up Bitcoin to a whole new wave of investors. 00:04:37.029 --> 00:04:39.370 Institutional investors, pension funds, your 00:04:39.370 --> 00:04:42.250 average retail investor who's a bit crypto -curious 00:04:42.250 --> 00:04:44.410 but doesn't want the hassle of managing their 00:04:44.410 --> 00:04:49.949 own keys. Okay, I get it. Easier access. Broader 00:04:49.949 --> 00:04:53.389 appeal. But does this mean a flood of new money 00:04:53.389 --> 00:04:56.850 into Bitcoin? Will we see the price skyrocket 00:04:56.850 --> 00:04:59.250 or... Well, that's the million dollar question, 00:04:59.290 --> 00:05:01.839 isn't it? I think we can see a significant increase 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:05.040 over time, like as institutions get more comfortable 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:07.560 allocating a portion of their portfolios to Bitcoin. 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:11.399 Right. Because they have, you know, a fiduciary 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:14.480 duty to their clients. They can't just yolo into 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.740 Bitcoin. Right? Exactly. But even a small percentage 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:21.279 allocation from these massive funds can have 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.139 a huge impact on demand and therefore price. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.600 Also, remember, it adds legitimacy. What about 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.629 the potential downsides? Are there any risks 00:05:30.629 --> 00:05:34.329 associated with these ETFs? Sure. There are always 00:05:34.329 --> 00:05:37.470 risks. For one, these ETFs track the price of 00:05:37.470 --> 00:05:40.730 Bitcoin, but they're not actually Bitcoin. So 00:05:40.730 --> 00:05:42.970 you don't have the same level of control as holding 00:05:42.970 --> 00:05:45.949 Bitcoin directly. You're trusting the ETF provider 00:05:45.949 --> 00:05:49.629 to manage the Bitcoin on your behalf. Also, ETF 00:05:49.629 --> 00:05:54.410 fees... Right. There's always a cut, right? You 00:05:54.410 --> 00:05:58.189 gotta watch out for the expense ratios. Absolutely. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:01.279 And of course, the price of Bitcoin itself is 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:04.699 still volatile. So even with an ETF, you're exposed 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:08.000 to those price swings. But overall, I think the 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.339 ETF approval is a major step forward for Bitcoin 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:13.600 adoption. It makes it more accessible, more mainstream 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:15.899 and ultimately more legitimate in the eyes of 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:18.879 the traditional financial world. Agreed. It's 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.420 like Bitcoin is finally getting its seat at the 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:24.579 big kids table. So it's one thing to get approval. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:28.410 It is another to retain it. It will be really 00:06:28.410 --> 00:06:31.209 interesting to see what comes of this. Okay, 00:06:31.290 --> 00:06:34.930 so we've talked about the ETF approval. But let's 00:06:34.930 --> 00:06:37.810 face it, Georgia, Bitcoin's been on a rollercoaster 00:06:37.810 --> 00:06:41.089 lately. I mean, one day it's up, the next it's 00:06:41.089 --> 00:06:44.029 down. What's driving all this volatility? Oh, 00:06:44.290 --> 00:06:47.550 absolutely. I mean, strap in, right? Price volatility 00:06:47.550 --> 00:06:50.670 is like Bitcoin's middle name. Right? There are 00:06:50.670 --> 00:06:53.689 a bunch of factors at play. I mean, the ETF approval, 00:06:53.790 --> 00:06:56.449 ironically, probably contributed to some of the 00:06:56.449 --> 00:06:59.389 initial volatility. You had that buy the rumor, 00:06:59.649 --> 00:07:02.810 sell the news effect, right? Ah, yeah. I've seen 00:07:02.810 --> 00:07:05.910 that happen with stocks. So people were expecting 00:07:05.910 --> 00:07:08.529 the price to skyrocket immediately after the 00:07:08.529 --> 00:07:12.089 approval. And when it didn't, they took profits. 00:07:12.670 --> 00:07:15.670 Exactly. A lot of traders and investors had been 00:07:15.670 --> 00:07:18.790 anticipating the ETF approval for months, even 00:07:18.790 --> 00:07:22.100 years. So, they'd already built up their positions. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:26.060 When the news finally hit, they sold off, which 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:28.459 created a dip in the price. I mean, also with 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:31.439 the ETFs, you see increased trading volume and 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:34.680 volume typically leads to more volatility, especially 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:38.180 with an asset like Bitcoin. Makes sense. So it's 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.660 not necessarily a bad thing, just a temporary 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:43.959 market correction? Well, it's a normal thing. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.620 I think corrections are healthy, they shake out 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:49.600 the excess leverage and speculative froth. But, 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:52.579 you know, beyond the ETF news, there are other 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:55.560 factors influencing the volatility. Like what? 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:59.079 Macroeconomic stuff? Definitely. I mean, interest 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:02.660 rates, inflation, geopolitical events, all of 00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:05.060 that impacts investor sentiment. And Bitcoin 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:07.800 is definitely not immune. If there is fear in 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:10.720 the market, people will run to safety. Sometimes 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:13.839 Bitcoin is seen as that, sometimes it is not. 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:18.060 Right. Because Bitcoin is still seen as a risk 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:22.600 -on asset, right? When there's uncertainty in 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:25.439 the market, people tend to dump their riskier 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:28.939 holdings, like crypto. Yeah, I mean, to some 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:31.079 extent. But I think that narrative is starting 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:35.039 to shift. Slowly. As Bitcoin becomes more mainstream 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.480 and as institutions allocate more capital to 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:40.090 it, It could start to behave more like a store 00:08:40.090 --> 00:08:43.669 of value, like gold and, you know, offer a hedge 00:08:43.669 --> 00:08:47.389 against economic uncertainty. Interesting. So 00:08:47.389 --> 00:08:50.789 less of a risk -on asset and more of a safe haven? 00:08:51.330 --> 00:08:53.929 That's the hope, right? But we're not there yet. 00:08:54.129 --> 00:08:56.990 We're still in the early stages of that transition. 00:08:57.230 --> 00:08:59.350 And then you have to layer in the regulatory 00:08:59.350 --> 00:09:01.610 uncertainty, which is also a big contributor 00:09:01.610 --> 00:09:05.450 to the volatility. Ah, yeah. The Essegiveth and 00:09:05.450 --> 00:09:09.240 the SEC taketh away, right? Haha, exactly. Any 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.659 hint of stricter regulations can send shivers 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:14.100 down the spine of the crypto market. But it works 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:17.019 both ways. Any positive regulatory development 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:20.120 can boost the price. Right. So it's a constant 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.980 tug of war between fear and greed, right? With 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:27.039 news headlines driving the price up and down. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:31.279 I guess that's what makes it exciting. But also 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:34.440 nerve -wracking. Yeah. It's definitely not for 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:36.720 the faint of heart, Alfred. But that's also what 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:39.419 creates opportunities, right? For those who are 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:42.019 willing to do their research, manage their risk, 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:45.120 and stomach the volatility. Agreed. You have 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.940 to be prepared to hodl! Speaking of opportunities, 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:50.799 Alfred, let's talk about something that's historically 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.059 been a pretty big deal for Bitcoin. Oh yeah, 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.419 I think I know where you're going with this. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:01.269 You mean the halving? The halving, exactly! I 00:10:01.269 --> 00:10:03.330 mean, for our newer listeners, this might sound 00:10:03.330 --> 00:10:06.309 like some, you know, cryptic Bitcoin jargon. 00:10:07.110 --> 00:10:09.129 So Alfred, can you break down what a halving 00:10:09.129 --> 00:10:13.809 is and why it matters? Absolutely. So in a nutshell, 00:10:14.129 --> 00:10:16.649 the Bitcoin halving is a pre -programmed event 00:10:16.649 --> 00:10:20.250 that happens roughly every four years. Right. 00:10:20.250 --> 00:10:23.190 I think it's every 210 ,000 blocks, to be exact. 00:10:23.690 --> 00:10:27.789 Yep. Georgia is spot on. I did not want to bore 00:10:27.789 --> 00:10:31.460 everyone with too much detail. The halving reduces 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:34.620 the reward that miners receive for validating 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:37.559 transactions on the blockchain. Okay, so why 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.379 does Bitcoin do that? Well, it's all part of 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:43.419 Bitcoin's design to control its supply and mimic, 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:47.600 in some ways, precious metals, like gold. By 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.840 reducing the reward, the rate at which new Bitcoins 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.200 are created is cut in half. It is like a digital 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:57.710 monetary policy, almost. Right, so it's a mechanism 00:10:57.710 --> 00:11:00.690 to combat inflation, right? Like ensuring that 00:11:00.690 --> 00:11:03.649 Bitcoin doesn't become oversaturated? Exactly. 00:11:04.090 --> 00:11:06.950 It reinforces Bitcoin's scarcity. I mean, there 00:11:06.950 --> 00:11:10.769 will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin ever. The 00:11:10.769 --> 00:11:14.389 halving reinforces that. Okay, so less supply. 00:11:14.870 --> 00:11:17.350 Theoretically leading to higher prices, right? 00:11:17.490 --> 00:11:21.309 That makes sense. That's the theory, yeah. I 00:11:21.309 --> 00:11:23.789 mean, historically, halvings have been followed 00:11:23.789 --> 00:11:27.169 by significant price increases. But past performance 00:11:27.169 --> 00:11:30.029 is not indicative of future results, of course. 00:11:30.470 --> 00:11:32.669 Right, and it's important to remember that the 00:11:32.669 --> 00:11:35.009 market conditions are different each time a halving 00:11:35.009 --> 00:11:39.190 occurs, right? So, there are no guarantees. Precisely. 00:11:39.710 --> 00:11:42.549 I mean, you gotta consider the overall macroeconomic 00:11:42.549 --> 00:11:45.669 climate, regulatory landscape, adoption rate. 00:11:46.110 --> 00:11:49.950 All of that plays a role. But the halving is 00:11:49.950 --> 00:11:52.190 something that the Bitcoin community watches 00:11:52.190 --> 00:11:56.080 very, very closely. It's kind of a big deal. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.960 Yeah, because it really reinforces that store 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.299 -of -value narrative, right? It's like saying 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:03.659 that, hey, this asset is designed to be scarce 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:06.720 so it could hold its value over time. So, Georgia, 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.500 where do you see all of this heading? I mean, 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:12.700 looking ahead, say, five years from now, what's 00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:15.899 your take on Bitcoin adoption and its impact 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:18.919 on the financial system? That's the million -dollar 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:22.320 question, isn't it? Or should I say the 21 million 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.210 Bitcoin question? I think we're at a really interesting 00:12:25.210 --> 00:12:27.970 inflection point. You've got growing institutional 00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:31.110 interest, increasing regulatory clarity, albeit 00:12:31.110 --> 00:12:33.889 slowly, and a growing awareness among the general 00:12:33.889 --> 00:12:37.049 public. I think in five years, we'll see Bitcoin 00:12:37.049 --> 00:12:39.429 much more integrated into the traditional financial 00:12:39.429 --> 00:12:43.309 system. Integrated how? Well, I envision more 00:12:43.309 --> 00:12:45.610 companies holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets. 00:12:46.070 --> 00:12:48.370 More pension funds and endowments allocating 00:12:48.370 --> 00:12:51.639 a small percentage to crypto. And frankly, more 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:54.580 everyday use cases for Bitcoin. Think using Bitcoin 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:57.139 for payments, for cross -border transactions, 00:12:57.580 --> 00:13:00.240 that sort of thing. It is already happening. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:03.340 It is, but I think it'll be way more widespread. 00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:05.879 The real game -changer will be when we see wider 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:08.039 adoption of the Lightning Network. That will 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:10.460 make smaller Bitcoin transactions way faster 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:13.879 and cheaper. Okay, so let's put a number on it. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:17.720 This is always fun. Where do you see the price 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:22.700 of Bitcoin in five years? No pressure. All right, 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:25.059 all right, let me put on my Nostradamus hat here. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:28.620 Okay, assuming the adoption trends continue and 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:31.200 there aren't any major regulatory crackdowns, 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:35.139 I could see Bitcoin hitting maybe 250 ,000 to 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:38.740 300 ,000. That is pretty bullish, Georgia. I 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.679 know, I know, but hear me out. I think the limited 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.519 supply coupled with increased demand is going 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:47.639 to drive the price significantly higher. Okay, 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:51.820 I will play. I will say that if the ETFs do their 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:55.159 job and we see a lot of inflows from institutional 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.320 investors, which is what everyone is expecting, 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.039 I can see Bitcoin reaching, oh, I don't know, 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:05.799 maybe $200 ,000. I'm slightly more conservative 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:08.779 than you are, Georgia. I think adoption is going 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:11.700 to take some time and there will be bumps along 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:14.840 the way. What about the risks? Well, regulation 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:17.820 is always a big one. If governments start cracking 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:20.639 down on Bitcoin, That could definitely put a 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.259 damper on things. And of course, there's the 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:25.759 ever -present risk of a major security flaw being 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.419 discovered in the Bitcoin protocol. Yeah, those 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.779 are our valid concerns. I think another risk 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:33.039 is the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.879 It needs to become more sustainable if it's going 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:39.840 to achieve widespread adoption. Absolutely. The 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:42.320 good news is that there's a growing focus on 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:46.200 using renewable energy for mining. And as the 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:49.720 price of Bitcoin goes up, It incentivizes miners 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:53.399 to find more efficient and sustainable ways to 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:56.659 operate. Agreed. And I think we'll see more innovations 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.700 on that front in the coming years. Ultimately, 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:03.460 I think Bitcoin has the potential to reshape 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:06.580 the global financial system in some pretty profound 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:09.039 ways. It will be interesting to watch it unfold, 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:12.960 that's for sure. Definitely. It's a wild ride, 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.799 Georgia, and I don't think any of us know exactly 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:18.850 where it's going to end up. But one thing is 00:15:18.850 --> 00:15:23.210 for sure, Bitcoin is not going away anytime soon. 00:15:23.649 --> 00:15:26.190 Okay Alfred, before we wrap up, let's tackle 00:15:26.190 --> 00:15:28.570 a question from one of our listeners. This one 00:15:28.570 --> 00:15:31.710 comes from at BitcoinBeginner on Twitter. Alright, 00:15:31.950 --> 00:15:35.149 let's hear it. They ask, with all the talk about 00:15:35.149 --> 00:15:37.929 ETFs and institutional money, is there still 00:15:37.929 --> 00:15:40.549 a place for the small, individual investor in 00:15:40.549 --> 00:15:43.879 Bitcoin? What do you think Alfred? Absolutely. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:46.159 I think that's a fantastic question. And the 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:49.960 answer is a resounding yes. Look, the beauty 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.100 of Bitcoin is that it's decentralized. It's for 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:55.840 everyone. You don't need to be a Wall Street 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.559 whale to participate. Exactly. The ETF approval 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:02.019 makes it easier for institutions to get involved. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:05.139 Sure, but it doesn't change the fundamental value 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:07.340 proposition of Bitcoin for the average person. 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:10.279 It's still a way to own a scarce digital asset, 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:12.840 to opt out of the traditional financial system, 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:16.980 if you want to. Well said. And actually, the 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.899 increased institutional interest could be a good 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:23.960 thing for smaller investors. Oh, how so? Well, 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.019 if the price of Bitcoin goes up because of institutional 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:30.419 demand, that benefits everyone who holds Bitcoin, 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:34.240 regardless of how much they own. Plus, it brings 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:37.019 more legitimacy to the space. which could attract 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:40.940 even more people to get involved. I agree. It's 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:43.279 all about education and understanding the risks 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:46.179 and rewards. Don't put in more than you can afford 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:48.480 to lose, but don't be afraid to get your feet 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.960 wet. Exactly. So thanks for the question at Bitcoin 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:55.820 Beginner, and for everyone else listening, we 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:59.159 want to hear from you too. Hit us up on... Or 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:06.640 X! Hit us up on Nostra or by visiting TheBitcoinStreetJournal 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:09.440 .com and let us know what topics you want us 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:13.119 to cover in future episodes. We love hearing 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.799 from you. Alright Alfred, that about wraps it 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.900 up for today's Bitcoin Street Journal market 00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:21.259 update. Yep, another deep dive into the world 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:24.819 of Bitcoin. We covered a lot today, from what 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:28.859 Bitcoin is, to the ETF approval, the price volatility, 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:32.220 the halving, and what we think the future might 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:35.420 hold. It was a whirlwind, wasn't it? Hopefully, 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.599 we've given you some food for thought, whether 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.039 you're a seasoned Bitcoin veteran or just starting 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.559 to explore the space. And remember, this stuff 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:47.660 is complex. So do your own research and never 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:51.240 invest more than you can afford to lose. Absolutely. 00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:54.079 Thanks for tuning in to the Bitcoin Street Journal 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:56.680 Market Update. We really appreciate you spending 00:17:56.680 --> 00:18:00.230 your time with us. Definitely. And hey, if you 00:18:00.230 --> 00:18:02.769 liked what you heard today, please subscribe 00:18:02.769 --> 00:18:06.029 to the podcast on your favorite platform, Apple 00:18:06.029 --> 00:18:10.430 Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts. 00:18:10.750 --> 00:18:14.450 And don't forget to follow us on Noster at BitcoinStreetJournal 00:18:14.450 --> 00:18:17.529 .com for more insights and market updates, or 00:18:17.529 --> 00:18:20.529 to suggest topics for our next episodes. We love 00:18:20.529 --> 00:18:23.210 hearing from you guys. Until next time, happy 00:18:23.210 --> 00:18:26.069 hodling! See you on the streets, the Bitcoin 00:18:26.069 --> 00:18:28.130 streets, see you on the next block.