In this episode, Jacob Shapiro sits down with Matt Pines, who somehow manages to be both a national security thinker and a Bitcoin whisperer, to talk through the Trump administration’s pivot toward crypto, why Bitcoin has suddenly gone strategic, and what it tells us about where the global economy might be headed. They dig into the politics, the policy confusion, and the deeper structural shifts behind the headlines. From U.S.-China competition to financial fragmentation, Matt breaks it down without hype - and helps us try to make sense of how a meme coin presidency ended up building a Bitcoin embassy. It’s a wild, smart ride.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:37) - Welcoming Matt Pines

(01:27) - Matt's Career Journey

(02:45) - Bitcoin Policy Institute

(06:21) - Consulting Industry Insights

(12:31) - Trump's Shift on Bitcoin

(19:16) - Strategic Importance of Bitcoin

(26:56) - US-China Relations and Bitcoin

(35:53) - Lutnick vs. Bass: A Clash of Personalities

(37:13) - Liberation Day and Strategic Shifts

(39:38) - The Trade War's Financial Fallout

(41:41) - Bitcoin's Role in a Changing World

(43:49) - US Strategy and Bitcoin Integration

(47:01) - Global Power Dynamics and Bitcoin

(57:31) - The Deep State and Elite Civil Wars

(01:05:42) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Referenced in the Show:

Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com

Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap

CI Site: cognitive.investments

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The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com

Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.

Cognitive Investments is an investment advisory firm, founded in 2019 that provides clients with a nuanced array of financial planning, investment advisory and wealth management services. We aim to grow both our clients’ material wealth (i.e. their existing financial assets) and their human wealth (i.e. their ability to make good strategic decisions for their business, family, and career).

The Froth of Grift

The Jacob Shapiro Podcast