This episode tackles Bitcoin’s late-summer price lag. The panel explains whale selling, ETF rotation, and seasonal weakness, while highlighting macro shifts in reserves, Fed politicization, and healthy fee dynamics. The store-of-value vs medium-of-exchange debate resurfaces, and Swan announces the handoff of the Specter project to a new nonprofit association.
Whales & Long-Term Holders Selling: Profit-taking by OG wallets is redistributing supply. Many are diversifying custody or rotating some BTC into ETFs for margin/borrowing flexibility.
Seasonality Matters: Bitcoin weakness in August/September is common; thin liquidity + vacation season amplify dips.
ETFs as Financial Rails: Institutions and wealthy holders prefer ETFs for cheaper margin rates compared to Bitcoin-backed loans.
Retail vs OG Perspective: Whale trims feel like “dumping” to retail but are natural in Bitcoin’s monetization process.
Global Reserves Shift: For the first time since the 1990s, central banks hold more gold than U.S. Treasuries—de-dollarization in motion.
Fed Politicization: The fight over Gov. Lisa Cook shows growing political pressure on the Fed under fiscal dominance.
Fee FUD Dismissed: Low on-chain fees ≠ security crisis. Dynamic fee markets ensure resilience.
Store of Value vs Medium of Exchange: False dichotomy—Bitcoin functions as both, but its SoV role dominates today.
Bitwise Framework: 2035 scenarios debated: bear $88K, base $1.3M, bull ~$3M. Panel skeptical of the low-end case.
Specter Association Launch: Swan transfers Specter to a new Swiss nonprofit. Yan Pritzker joins the board; roadmap now fully community-driven.