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The Bitcoin Layer

The Bitcoin Layer

The Bitcoin Layer is a premium markets research provider, covering bitcoin through a global macro lens | Research, Analysis, & Education Featuring Nik Bhatia, author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Layered Money and USC Marshall School of Business professor. Subscribe to our research publication and YouTube channel to learn about global macroeconomics, bitcoin, Lightning Network, the monetary and financial system, the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and geopolitics. Most importantly, develop a

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All Episodes

00:33:36

Bitcoin Price Levels to Watch: Short-Term Holders in...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/24

In this episode, Nik is joined by TBL research associate Johan Bergman for a deep dive into Bitcoin’s latest price action and on-chain signals. Johan explains why the short-term holder cost basis has defined Bitcoin’s trading range for the past three years, and how the $104,000 level aligns with the 200-day moving average and key volume nodes. The discussion covers RSI momentum, Bollinger Band compression, and why realized volatility continues to decline as Bitcoin matures as an asset class. Nik and

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00:40:20

The Fed Is NOT In Control: Why Markets Lead & Bitcoin...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/19

In this episode, Nik is joined by TBL researcher Demian Schatt to break down the Fed’s latest rate cut and why it’s just catching up to what markets have already priced in. He explains the meaning of the Fed’s “neutral rate,” why central bank policy lags economic conditions, and how the SOFR curve and MOVE index signal shifting liquidity dynamics. Nik and Demian explore the market’s expectations for inflation, the historical roots of Fed-government coordination, and the growing tension between

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00:21:57

Bitcoin & Liquidity Academy 3: Primary Dealers, U.S....

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/17

In this episode, Nik continues our TBL classroom series on Bitcoin and liquidity. He breaks down the inner workings of the U.S. Treasury market, the role of primary dealers, and how the Federal Reserve interacts with both. This lesson covers the mechanics of QE and QT, Fed balance sheet dynamics, and how treasuries move from issuance to investor portfolios. Nik also introduces the concept of liability-driven investing and asset-liability matching to explain long-term treasury demand. This episode

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00:29:19

How Bitcoin Is Powering a New Credit Market

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/15

In this episode, Nik welcomes Arch Lending CEO and co-founder Dhruv Patel to explore the emerging world of Bitcoin-backed lending. Dhruv explains how Arch provides overcollateralized loans to individuals and institutions, using Bitcoin as pristine collateral without rehypothecation. The conversation covers risk management, loan-to-value dynamics, interest rate trends, and why credit markets help legitimize Bitcoin as an asset class. Nik also breaks down the layered money framework and how Arch’s CLO

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00:37:49

Bitcoin Hits $116,000 as the Fed Eyes Rate Cuts

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/12

In this episode, Nik Bhatia breaks down the macroeconomic forces driving Bitcoin above $116,000, including a broad decline in interest rates, softening U.S. labor market data, and rising expectations for Fed rate cuts. He walks through updated CPI figures, ISM services and manufacturing signals, and why the Fed is likely to cut another 75bps even without a formal recession. Nik also examines the Treasury yield curve’s parallel shift, bond market dynamics, and the strategic reliance on Treasury

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00:25:49

Bitcoin & Liquidity Academy 2: How $37 Trillion in US...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/08

In this episode, Nik continues our Bitcoin & Liquidity Academy with a deep dive into fixed income market structure and its role in global capital markets. He explains how loans become securities, why bonds trade differently than stocks, and how the Treasury system is organized through CUSIPs. Nik unpacks the scale of the $120 trillion bond market, contrasts equity and debt financing, and walks through who owns U.S. Treasuries today. He also explores the link between GDP, tax revenue, and debt

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00:46:04

Inside the Global Liquidity Shift Powering Bitcoin...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/04

In this episode, Nik is joined by Dr. Jeff Ross to assess the US economy, global geopolitics, and what they mean for Bitcoin. They review the post-2020 policy regime, fiscal dominance, and why PMIs and new orders may be turning up, then discuss the Supreme Court path for tariffs, the US push on chips and energy, and the risk of a hot conflict with China. Jeff explains his liquidity blob framework, how the TGA and RRP shift money between the public and the government, and why expanding liquidity

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00:40:56

Collateral Wars: Bitcoin, Chips, & The Next Dollar...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/09/03

In this episode, Nik sits down with Kane McGukin to map the future of collateral, credit, and liquidity across the global system. They unpack Michael Howell’s Capital Wars, why chips and energy are becoming strategic collateral, how stablecoins can move bank reserves onto usable rails, and where Bitcoin fits as digital collateral. The conversation covers potential credit markets built on Bitcoin, how banks may enter with custody and lending, and why US policy appears to be devaluing dollars to boost

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00:25:47

Bitcoin & Liquidity Academy 1: Understanding Balance...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/30

In this episode, Nik kicks off a new TBL classroom series on Bitcoin and liquidity. He lays the foundation by teaching balance sheets from the ground up, starting with individuals, then firms, and finally the U.S. government. Nik explains how assets, liabilities, and equity interact, why corporations rely on productive capital and cash flow, and how the U.S. Treasury operates the federal balance sheet. He also explores what gives U.S. debt its status as the world's collateral backbone, and how this

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00:12:30

Is Bitcoin Wealth or Just Money?

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/28

In this episode, Nik explores the difference between money and wealth and why Bitcoin may be more than just money. He breaks down three key pillars of societal wealth creation: production and exchange, capital goods, and innovation. Nik explains how Austrian economics helps us understand the true drivers of prosperity. He compares Bitcoin to productive real estate, argues that its accumulation represents a form of digital capital, and shows how its rising market price reflects deeper economic value

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00:30:41

HODLing Alone Won’t Secure Your Bitcoin

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/25

In this episode, Nik is joined by Mitch Moore, founder of Strong Wealth, to explain why simply HODLing Bitcoin is not enough. Mitch lays out a real financial plan for Bitcoiners, including estate strategies, tax planning, and inheritance protocols. He covers the three pillars of Bitcoin estate planning: legal title transfer, mechanical key access, and heir education. The conversation explores tradeoffs between self custody and custodians, how to set up trusts, and how to avoid costly mistakes when

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00:41:45

Is Bitcoin’s Liquidity Tailwind Ending? MOVE, Repo,...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/20

In this episode, Nik is joined by TBL researcher Demian Schatt to break down a major macro signal flashing caution across markets: a sudden spike in the MOVE Index, the bond market’s volatility gauge. He explains why the recent Treasury refunding announcement is pushing rollover risk higher, and what that means for liquidity, credit creation, and risk assets like Bitcoin. Nik also explores the current strength in the dollar, the potential for higher volatility in duration, and whether the

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00:34:30

The Global Refugee Crisis & The Bitcoin Solution

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/15

In this episode, Nik is joined again by Daniel Batten to explore Bitcoin’s role as a humanitarian tool. They unpack a new report showing that over 329,000 refugees have used Bitcoin to escape war, persecution, and financial repression. Daniel explains why traditional tools like cash, gold, and stablecoins often fail during crisis events, and how Bitcoin works where others do not. They highlight stories from Ukraine, Venezuela, and Somalia, and explain how Bitcoin enables borderless money, personal

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00:48:09

What If the Dollar Ran on Bitcoin?

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/13

In this episode, Nik is joined by Ian Major, co-founder of Joltz, to break down the rise of stablecoins on Bitcoin. Ian explains the new infrastructure making it possible, including Lightspark’s SDK, Bitmatrix’s liquidity model, and programmable tools on Bitcoin’s Layer 2. He also covers how this unlocks dollar-denominated smart contracts, real commerce use cases, and a true Bitcoin-native stablecoin experience. The episode includes a look at Tether’s early role proving global demand for on-chain

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01:02:52

$1 Million Bitcoin: A Scientific Prediction Explained

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/11

In this episode, Nik is joined by astrophysicist and mathematician Stephen Perrenod to unpack the scientific framework behind a potential $1 million Bitcoin. Stephen introduces the Bitcoin Power Law thesis and explains how mathematical modeling, fractals, and historical price patterns point to Bitcoin’s long-term exponential growth. They discuss how this theory differs from stock-to-flow, the role of volatility in Bitcoin’s maturity, and how timeframes like 2031–2033 align with past cycles. The

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00:26:42

Is It Too Late to Buy Bitcoin in 2025?

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/05

In this episode, Nik breaks down whether it’s too late to buy Bitcoin in 2025 now that it trades above $100,000 with a $2 trillion market cap. He walks through Bitcoin’s journey from a niche internet money to a globally recognized monetary asset and explains why this is still the early innings. Nik analyzes Bitcoin’s evolving role as it moves from digital gold to a trade settlement tool capable of replacing U.S. Treasuries, and what that means for its long-term valuation potential. The episode zooms

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00:16:36

Bitcoin Drops as Yields Crash: What the Fed Will Do Next

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/08/02

In this episode, Nik breaks down the sharp drop in U.S. Treasury yields following weaker employment data and explains why the bond market is now pricing in imminent Fed rate cuts. He walks through the two-year yield signal, the Fed’s neutral rate dilemma, and why inflation normalization is shifting the policy conversation. Nik also unpacks the latest moves in the dollar, recession signals from ISM data, and how these macro shifts are impacting Bitcoin’s consolidation around $108,000. The update

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01:13:30

Bitcoin Collateral & GSE Reform: A $40 Trillion...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/07/30

In this episode, Nik welcomes back Matt Dines Chief Investment Officer at Build. They discuss the newly enacted GENIUS Act how U.S. dollar stablecoin regulation is tied to Bitcoin collateral usage and what GSE reform could mean for private credit expansion. Matt explains why using Bitcoin holdings as mortgage collateral could unlock Gen Z access to homeownership drive $40 trillion in private credit growth and anchor the monetary system around Bitcoin rails to keep the dollar system alive.🔗 Links &

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00:17:07

Why $1 Million Bitcoin Is Closer Than You Think

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/07/29

In this episode, Nik breaks down one of the largest Bitcoin transactions in history: the $9 billion sale of 80,000 BTC by a Satoshi-era wallet through Galaxy Digital. Nik explains how the market absorbed this massive transfer without collapsing, what it says about Bitcoin’s maturity, and why this moment signals growing institutional and OG participation. He also explores the math behind Bitcoin’s path to $1 million, projecting how compounding growth between 30 to 50 percent annually could get us

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00:26:01

Global Macro Update: Liquidity Cycles Higher While...

The Bitcoin Layer ·

2025/07/25

In this Global Macro Update, Nik explains how the end of QT is reshaping liquidity across markets and supporting bitcoin’s foundation. He breaks down the rise in Treasury bill issuance, steady reserves, and the Fed’s smooth exit from reverse repo, all fueling stronger banking system liquidity. Nik also unpacks the breakdown in the DXY and its connection to U.S. industrial policy. On the bitcoin side, he covers six-figure consolidation, compressing volatility, rising funding rates, and stable

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157 results

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