Can Bitcoin Bridge the Political Divide? With Ted Cruz

SHOW NOTES: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/can-bitcoin-bridge-the-political-divide Ted Cruz is a serving US Senator for Texas. In this interview, we discuss the importance of Bitcoin for Texas and the United States, communicating the threat of CBDCs, the political and regulatory challenges, and Bitcoin�s symbiotic relationship with energy. THIS EPISODE�S SPONSORS: Gemini - https://www.gemini.com/ Wasabi- https://www.wasabiwallet.io/ Ledn - https://www.ledn.io/ Fidelity Investments - https://crypto.fidelitycareers.com/ Ledger - https://www.ledger.com/ Texas Blockchain Summit - https://www.texasblockchainsummit.org/ BCB Group - https://hubs.ly/Q011cb730 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Bitcoin is apolitical freedom tech 00:06:50 US politics & regulatory battles 00:12:12 The real threat of CBDCs 00:16:52 Bitcoin vs political polarisation 00:26:22 Bitcoin�s symbiotic relationship with energy WHERE TO FIND THE SHOW: � My website: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/ � iTunes: https://apple.co/2OOlzVV � Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ygc4W1 � Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2IQO8fX � SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2CGSVQR � YouTube: https://bit.ly/3nyi9Ez � TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2ywystr LISTEN TO OLD EPISODES: � By guest: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/guests/ � By topic: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/topics/ � Transcriptions: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/transcriptions/ SUPPORT THE SHOW: � https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/sponsorship/ � Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/whatbitcoindid/ � Subscribe on iTunes � Leave a review on iTunes � Share the show out with your friends and family on social media � Drop me a line on [email protected] WHERE TO FOLLOW ME: � Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatbitcoindid/ � Medium: https://medium.com/@whatbitcoindid/ � Instagram: http://instagram.com/whatbitcoindid/ � Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatbitcoindid/ � YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/whatbitcoindidpodcast � Website: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/ � Email list: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/subscribe/ LEARN ABOUT BITCOIN: � Step by Step Guide: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/learn-bitcoin � Training: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/training/ � Resources: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/resources/ #Bitcoin #Finance #Economics **** �I am an enthusiastic fan of Bitcoin and I want to say to everyone here thank you for what you�re doing to drive the Texas economy, to drive the American economy, to modernise energy, to strengthen resiliency of the grid, to enhance economic freedom.� � Ted Cruz Ted Cruz is a serving US Senator for Texas. In this interview, we discuss the importance of Bitcoin for Texas and the United States, communicating the threat of CBDCs, the political and regulatory challenges, and Bitcoin�s symbiotic relationship with energy. - - - - Ted Cruz is one of the most consequential politicians of his generation. He is a strong advocate for liberty and the tools that support freedom within society. It is perhaps no surprise that he is therefore a fan of Bitcoin. But equally, it shows strength and courage as many of those in positions of power still cast aspersions about Bitcoin and its associated community. Yet, as with all firebrand politicians, Ted Cruz divides opinions. He is uncompromising in his approach to certain issues. He is also part of the modern political game whereby the opposition is deemed to be the enemy. There is an obvious political incentive to adopt such characteristics in terms of being able to clearly delineate your position where there is significant competition for attention. There are certainly strong critics of Bitcoin within the Democratic party. However, Bitcoin can not be allowed to become a political football. It is still a nascent technology, and its development in the US could still be derailed by damaging regulation. It is imperative therefore that those who back Bitcoin on both sides of the aisle not only work together, but they are seen to be working together (e.g. Lummis and Gillibrand). Ted Cruz acknowledges this. He knows that his voice has a limited reach within more progressive circles. He needs those who would otherwise be antithetical to his politics to join him, and vice versa, to ensure this technology and its community is not driven out of the US. The basis of the reasoning is sound: it is freedom money that has a symbiotic relationship with energy. Let�s work to ensure politicians can see the issues anew by discarding the broken lens of politics.