Should the U.S. build a national strategic bitcoin reserve?

In this episode, we sit down with George Selgin, Director Emeritus at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, to explore his views on money, markets, and bitcoin’s role in the global economy. George shares his journey from studying marine biology to becoming a leading voice in monetary economics and discusses how definitions of money have evolved. We examine bitcoin’s classification as a synthetic commodity, its potential as a store of value, and whether it could ever replace the US dollar. George also analyzes the proposed bitcoin strategic reserve, highlighting its costs, risks, and implications for government debt.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:11 - Introducing George Selgin's background and career

00:07:42 - Moving from Hong Kong to the University of Georgia

00:09:50 - Defining money and its role in economics

00:12:12 - Explaining why bitcoin doesn’t meet the definition of money

00:13:31 - Defining the dollar and its place in the economy

00:15:52 - Understanding gold’s history and modern role

00:19:11 - Analyzing bitcoin as a synthetic commodity

00:21:51 - Evaluating bitcoin as a store of value vs. medium of exchange

00:24:52 - Discussing bitcoin’s long-term price potential

00:29:21 - Examining markets, prices, and bitcoin’s future

00:36:13 - Questioning if the US dollar could be replaced

00:42:36 - Evaluating the bitcoin strategic reserve proposal

00:49:11 - Breaking down the costs and risks of a bitcoin reserve

00:55:00 - Closing thoughts and where to follow George Selgin

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