Navigating Frontier Tech – Episode 20 | Why Bitcoin is Rallying

In this episode 
of yWeb3 Navigating Frontier Tech host Jay Steinback leads a discussion with Michael McCarty, Chief Product Officer at BitcoinIRA, and Chris Kline, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Bitcoin IRA. The conversation delves into the recent surge in Bitcoin's price and its implications, including the approval of Bitcoin Spot ETFs and the differences between Bitcoin ETFs and BitcoinIRA. They also explore the tax advantages of investing in Bitcoin through an IRA, insights into the upcoming halving, and the latest news from institutions like Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan regarding their stance on crypto. Additionally, the episode covers topics such as the recent Coinbase crash, the performance of Bitcoin miner Marathon's shares, and the energy efficiency of miners in the US.

Throughout the episode, McCarty and Kline provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investments, shedding light on key trends and developments shaping the market. From regulatory approvals to technological innovations, they offer a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges facing investors in the dynamic world of digital assets. With their combined expertise and experience, gain a deeper understanding of the factors driving Bitcoin's rally and the strategies for navigating the complex terrain of cryptocurrency investment.

About Guests

Michael McCarty was previously the founder of Shrimpy and now serves as the Chief Product Officer at BitcoinIRA. He has experience as a distributed Real-Time Software Engineer at Boeing and as an Associate Research Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, where he focused on researching extraterrestrial life on Mars.

Michael has been active in the crypto community since 2012, when he began mining Bitcoin on custom hardware. In 2019, he published a book titled "College Coup: Achieving Success in a Broken System," offering advice on navigating the college system effectively. Michael earned his Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering and Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Chris Kline serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Bitcoin IRA, where he oversees the company's operations, partnerships, and product development.

In 2016, Chris spearheaded the launch of Bitcoin IRA, the world’s pioneering platform enabling investors to acquire Bitcoin for their IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. He orchestrated strategic partnerships and developed a streamlined process to offer investors a comprehensive solution to leverage the burgeoning digital currency market for their retirement savings, all while ensuring full compliance with IRS regulations. Under his leadership, the company has achieved significant growth, with assets under custodianship exceeding $12 billion.

Chris is a graduate of The University of Colorado, Boulder, where he earned a degree in International Finance and Leadership. He resides with his family in the greater Los Angeles area.

Guest Social Links:

Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klinec/

Michael's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkmccarty3/ 

BitcoinIRA's Website: https://bitcoinira.com/

Timestamps

0:25 Jay’s intro 

1:29 Guests intro  

4:05 Bitcoin’s Rally 

12:40 About BitcoinIRA 

15:04 The importance of access to Bitcoin 

19:40 The Bitcoin Halving 

25:50 Gold vs Bitcoin 

30:00 Fidelity upped its BTC allocation 

35:00 The Bitcoin Journey 

43:30 BlackRock’s BTC ETF just broke $1 bn in trading volume for the day 

46:45 BTC is up 250% since Jim Carmer said it was "phony and a scam" 

51:30 Coinbase Crashes Following Bitcoin Pump 

55:00 Challenges of building & scaling in Web3 

1:01:20 How to get in touch 

Topics Overview:

1. Approval of Bitcoin Spot ETF Raising the Price of Bitcoin
2. Tax-Advantaged IRA
3. Differences between Bitcoin ETF and BitcoinIRA
4. Upcoming Halving
5. Morgan Stanley Evaluating Spot Bitcoin ETFs for Its Giant Brokerage Platform: Sources
6. JPMorgan Changes Tune on Crypto as Bitcoin Surges
7. Coinbase Crashes Following Bitcoin Pump
8. Bitcoin Miner Marathon's Shares Outperform Peers Ahead of Possible 'Strong' Earnings Report
9. Energy-efficient miners in US less likely to be impacted by Bitcoin halving
10. Bitcoin layer-2 staking offers a superior alternative to interest rates
11. Bitcoin-Focused Payments App Strike Rolls Out Services to Africa
12. ‘Newborn Nine’ Bitcoin ETFs Now Hold 300,000 BTC—Over $17 Billion Worth
13. Kraken preps for new crypto entrants with institutional-focused offering

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DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode were done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.