The Other Side of the (Bit)Coin with Ben McKenzie

The proliferation of cryptocurrency functions as a speculative "greater fool" scheme that mirrors the most exploitative flaws of the traditional financial system while operating without its regulatory safeguards. Ben McKenzie, actor and author of *Easy Money*, details how digital assets like Bitcoin and stablecoins are frequently utilized by rogue states and criminal cartels to bypass international sanctions, citing reports that North Korea has funded half of its nuclear program through crypto theft. The discussion highlights a systemic conflict of interest where major financial institutions and political figures, including Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, legitimize these volatile markets to capture transaction fees and campaign donations. This integration into the regulated economy risks a subprime-style contagion, as the underlying technology remains too slow for legitimate global commerce but highly effective for money laundering and the financing of international conflict.