1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,200 Rod, welcome to the 21 and 21 show. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:04,720 I'm so excited to be here. 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,020 I am so excited that I could get you on the show because you were like a huge inspiration to Presidio Bitcoin. 4 00:00:10,620 --> 00:00:16,720 Well, thank you. Again, this is so rad. I mean, it's an incredible view, incredible atmosphere. 5 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:18,960 What you guys have done is just awesome. 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:28,140 Thank you. For those of you that don't know Rod Rudy, he's dedicated significant time to building local strong Bitcoin communities. 7 00:00:28,140 --> 00:00:37,600 In 2022, he co-founded Bitcoin Park, a hub in Nashville, Tennessee, which has become one of the most active gatherings for places for Bitcoiners in the world. 8 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:43,780 And then earlier this year, that expanded to Austin, Texas, which was super exciting to hear. 9 00:00:44,540 --> 00:00:47,980 And Rod's also the co-founder of the 256 Foundation. 10 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:55,560 And before making his passion for Bitcoin into his profession, he spent years building companies, investing, and advising founders. 11 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:57,300 You nailed it. 12 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:03,640 And now a father of four young kids, seven, five, three, and two, which is just absolutely wild. 13 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,700 I should have put that in the intro because it's crazy that you do that and then you do all that. 14 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:09,600 I don't know how. 15 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:16,420 Although my daughter's basketball team, I'm like the assistant to the assistant coach, and we're 0-4 right now. 16 00:01:16,980 --> 00:01:19,600 So that's top of mind for me right now. 17 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:20,240 Okay. 18 00:01:20,580 --> 00:01:23,060 Actually, one of my questions on here is about basketball. 19 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:24,220 Oh, good. 20 00:01:24,220 --> 00:01:25,860 So you jump to that quickly. 21 00:01:25,860 --> 00:01:28,500 Good, because you're going to try to yourself up with that. 22 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,480 Cool, cool. Well, let's get through some of these questions. 23 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:35,600 Let's get let's do it. 24 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:43,380 All right. So first question for you. If you had to explain Bitcoin Park to someone who's never never visited before, how would you describe it? 25 00:01:43,380 --> 00:02:06,800 Yeah. So I would say, simply put, Bitcoin Park is a place for Bitcoiners and Freedom Fighters to work, learn, collaborate, and build. It's a physical place. And now hopefully we're going to build more of a digital realm as well, especially for the folks that are participate or want to participate that can't make it to Austin or Nashville. 26 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:12,700 So I'd say it's a home for mission-obsessed Bitcoiners and freedom fighters who want to 27 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:16,220 work, collaborate together locally and level up together globally. 28 00:02:16,940 --> 00:02:18,220 That's an amazing description. 29 00:02:18,940 --> 00:02:19,100 Yeah. 30 00:02:19,180 --> 00:02:23,360 And as I said, Bitcoin Park was like a huge inspiration to Presidio Bitcoin before we 31 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:24,180 started this place. 32 00:02:24,740 --> 00:02:28,720 We felt like huge FOMO, that we didn't have something cool in San Francisco. 33 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,020 And so we started it. 34 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:31,680 Totally. 35 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,120 And, you know, I'll never forget. 36 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,340 I think it was February of 2023. 37 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,540 So each of the months, 38 00:02:38,620 --> 00:02:41,340 because I had to like manufacture themes and so on. 39 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:42,720 So we did FOSS February, 40 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,940 where we invited so many FOSS teams to the park just to work. 41 00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:48,920 And Steve and you took us up on it. 42 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,840 And you invited the entire Spiral team out 43 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,540 for I think one of your first retreats or off sites. 44 00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:54,900 And you guys were like, 45 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,300 what the heck is this place? 46 00:02:57,920 --> 00:02:58,940 And then next thing you know, 47 00:02:59,100 --> 00:03:00,840 fast forward a couple of years later 48 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:01,900 and you guys got your own, 49 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:03,860 I mean, redonkulous place. 50 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,100 Bitcoin Park in Nashville. 51 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,540 I haven't been to Austin yet, actually. 52 00:03:08,620 --> 00:03:09,540 I've never been to Austin. 53 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:10,500 Austin's great, too. 54 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:11,600 At all, so I need to go. 55 00:03:11,740 --> 00:03:12,940 And now there's a bigger reason to. 56 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:13,760 Yeah. 57 00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:14,580 No, totally. 58 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,960 Like, the Austins, I would say, is the OG. 59 00:03:18,540 --> 00:03:21,240 And Parker, who's one of my closest friends in Bitcoin, 60 00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:25,060 started, helped amplify the BitDevs there, 61 00:03:25,140 --> 00:03:28,000 and then helped lead and start the Bitcoin Commons, 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,200 which then became Bitcoin Park Austin. 63 00:03:30,940 --> 00:03:31,580 Very cool. 64 00:03:31,580 --> 00:03:37,380 so you guys are a huge inspiration to us i'm curious when you were building out bitcoin park 65 00:03:37,380 --> 00:03:42,540 what was what was your inspiration that is a very good question and funny enough i was just talking 66 00:03:42,540 --> 00:03:51,140 with uh leo lopez and a few others last night at dinner and he just they just had berlin uh freedom 67 00:03:51,140 --> 00:03:59,080 week and i remember in 20 i want to say it was 2019 for the lightning conference a bunch of us 68 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:04,560 were in Berlin. And there was this place called Room 77, if I remember it correctly. And it was 69 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:09,740 just a dive bar that accepted Bitcoin. And it was one of the first ones. And we were there when it 70 00:04:09,740 --> 00:04:16,060 was the last day of that place. And I was just like, wow, how cool of a place for Bitcoiners to 71 00:04:16,060 --> 00:04:21,920 gather, to have a drink, to work. People were working there. They were hanging. And I was just 72 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:28,600 like, man, I think there's something there. So Room 77 was an inspiration. Honestly, I was hearing 73 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,960 stories about these Bitcoin embassies. And then after time, it just, you know, and I loved meetups. 74 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:40,560 So before I went full-time into Bitcoin, I was in the tech world and I would just travel to different 75 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:45,400 meetups or conferences. I was that guy that was just traveling around, bumping around. 76 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,720 And I was like, and especially when COVID hit, I was like, we got to figure out a place that 77 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:55,960 we can bring people to Nashville and do this. It's a prime example of if you build it, 78 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:03,060 they will come. But you've also put so much effort into getting really, I mean, and Nashville is 79 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:07,660 awesome. Don't get me wrong. But I will say it's a smaller, you know, it's not a huge international 80 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:11,780 airport. It's like when people come visit Nashville, they have to do like multiple stops. 81 00:05:11,780 --> 00:05:17,080 And people are doing that. Like, how are you getting all these people to come to Nashville? 82 00:05:17,260 --> 00:05:22,340 Totally. So I will say the airport is awesome and growing. But with that said, you're right. 83 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,740 Like, no, we have a London direct. We have a Dublin direct. I think we're going to get a Tokyo. 84 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,960 So that's my Nashville, Tennessee pitch hat. 85 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:31,940 But similar to what you guys are doing, 86 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,720 you guys just hosted Startup Night. 87 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:36,720 You guys are doing Type 1 Energy Summit, 88 00:05:36,820 --> 00:05:38,000 which I heard was amazing. 89 00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:40,460 You guys are doing stuff that's unique, 90 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:41,900 that gives you energy. 91 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:43,100 I was just talking to Alex. 92 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:44,380 I was like, does this give you energy? 93 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:45,220 He's like, absolutely. 94 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,680 This is awesome for X, Y, and Z reasons. 95 00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:50,620 That enthusiasm and energy, 96 00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:53,480 just people feel that 97 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,680 and then want to be around it. 98 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,420 And you don't need hundreds of people, thousands of people to show up. 99 00:05:59,420 --> 00:06:16,219 You just need the great core group of five 10 20 30 people that are all about it And so in Nashville A it is a fun place to visit A lot of people want to visit it for the first time or so on It fairly modestly priced compared 100 00:06:16,219 --> 00:06:24,899 to a New York or a San Francisco or even Texas and such. And yeah, and we just, I feel like the 101 00:06:24,899 --> 00:06:29,439 kind of stuff that we create between our meetups, workshops, and summits are so unique and highly 102 00:06:29,439 --> 00:06:36,179 curated. So I love the saying, Bitcoin is for anyone, but not for everyone. And I feel like 103 00:06:36,179 --> 00:06:41,639 these different, like 90 plus percent of our programming is free and open to the public. 104 00:06:41,879 --> 00:06:46,739 So you can pick and choose where you spend your time with us. And so we got to earn it every 105 00:06:46,739 --> 00:06:51,439 single time when we're creating these different experiences. Yeah, that was something that you 106 00:06:51,439 --> 00:06:58,619 told us before. You're like, events are key. You have to do events. And that is definitely true. 107 00:06:58,619 --> 00:07:08,239 I think something that you have also done a really good job of, and I would love to know more, is how have you gotten the local community in Nashville who's not Bitcoiners to come to your space? 108 00:07:08,799 --> 00:07:10,599 So that's a good question. 109 00:07:10,699 --> 00:07:13,139 So how have we gotten the local community to come to our space? 110 00:07:13,499 --> 00:07:18,299 So high-quality meetups, for sure. 111 00:07:19,079 --> 00:07:21,759 And then just natural word of mouth, I want to say. 112 00:07:21,999 --> 00:07:23,959 So like, oh, well, let me take a step back. 113 00:07:24,859 --> 00:07:25,939 Consistency is key. 114 00:07:25,939 --> 00:07:29,179 and Parker taught me this 115 00:07:29,179 --> 00:07:30,839 third week of every month 116 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:32,199 the third Thursday of every month 117 00:07:32,199 --> 00:07:33,719 there's a BitDevs happening in Austin 118 00:07:33,719 --> 00:07:36,259 we did I think it was the second 119 00:07:36,259 --> 00:07:37,939 Wednesday of every month 120 00:07:37,939 --> 00:07:39,679 was our open house 121 00:07:39,679 --> 00:07:42,539 and then our BitDevs is the second Tuesday of every month 122 00:07:42,539 --> 00:07:43,339 so 123 00:07:43,339 --> 00:07:46,499 that consistency for people's calendar 124 00:07:46,499 --> 00:07:48,279 to say you know what I need to get the babysitter 125 00:07:48,279 --> 00:07:50,499 I need to do this because I'm going to go 126 00:07:50,499 --> 00:07:51,299 spend 127 00:07:51,299 --> 00:07:54,199 my time over at the park 128 00:07:54,199 --> 00:07:55,899 so consistency was one 129 00:07:55,899 --> 00:08:00,239 and then I always kind of open up each of the meetups and say, 130 00:08:00,779 --> 00:08:02,519 look, we take a lot of pride and responsibility 131 00:08:02,519 --> 00:08:05,319 in making this the best Bitcoin experience 132 00:08:05,319 --> 00:08:07,459 and FreedomTech experience you're going to have all year. 133 00:08:07,859 --> 00:08:08,999 Even this just meetup 134 00:08:08,999 --> 00:08:11,299 because you can spend your time anywhere. 135 00:08:11,299 --> 00:08:13,119 Right now I have a babysitter that I'm paying 136 00:08:13,119 --> 00:08:17,639 to help my wife do bedtime with four kids right now 137 00:08:17,639 --> 00:08:20,479 because I chose to be here and I want to be here with each of you. 138 00:08:21,079 --> 00:08:22,979 So taking a lot of pride and responsibility 139 00:08:22,979 --> 00:08:24,439 and making it the best experience 140 00:08:24,439 --> 00:08:26,779 from the drinks that are being served, 141 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:28,839 from the programming and the content that's there, 142 00:08:29,179 --> 00:08:31,679 to communicating the content in the program 143 00:08:31,679 --> 00:08:33,739 leading up to the event, 144 00:08:33,839 --> 00:08:36,399 to helping even people with all the little things 145 00:08:36,399 --> 00:08:37,579 to make the experience awesome. 146 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:38,819 So I think that resonates. 147 00:08:39,099 --> 00:08:40,859 And then they tell their friends and family, 148 00:08:40,979 --> 00:08:41,799 and the next thing you know, 149 00:08:42,419 --> 00:08:45,459 you got something where both of our senators 150 00:08:45,459 --> 00:08:46,739 frequently come to the park. 151 00:08:46,739 --> 00:08:48,499 A governor comes to the park. 152 00:08:49,299 --> 00:08:52,039 Our ECD commissioner, our attorney general, 153 00:08:52,299 --> 00:08:54,099 our councilman, all these people, 154 00:08:54,099 --> 00:08:57,219 They just want to be around the energy and the people. 155 00:08:57,939 --> 00:08:59,979 And that's been really, really cool to see. 156 00:09:00,639 --> 00:09:04,319 It's definitely an inspiration to me, especially with the local policy. 157 00:09:04,539 --> 00:09:08,319 It's a goal of mine to get the mayor here, Dan Lurie. 158 00:09:08,859 --> 00:09:10,199 I want him, Apple City Bitcoin. 159 00:09:10,379 --> 00:09:19,099 And I think that there is a huge, compelling story around it because, and I'm sure you have felt the same, that having like a physical Bitcoin space brings so much energy. 160 00:09:19,099 --> 00:09:23,399 It brings people, but it also helps local businesses and Bitcoin payments. 161 00:09:24,099 --> 00:09:26,159 Now you guys have plushies. 162 00:09:26,539 --> 00:09:32,179 We have awesome plushies that we are distributing across the local area. 163 00:09:32,179 --> 00:09:37,259 I will say on the policy side, folks, the key there is patience. 164 00:09:38,159 --> 00:09:46,079 Because, you know, so a lot of people are like, wait a minute, we want to get our senators to the park. 165 00:09:46,159 --> 00:09:47,159 We want to get the governor. 166 00:09:47,599 --> 00:09:50,039 So there's outbound and inbound. 167 00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:57,359 so always just like i'll tell a quick story where we had a mayor's race and uh these folks were like 168 00:09:57,359 --> 00:10:00,779 hey i'm running for mayor i want to come to the park for the meetup i was like yeah sure come on 169 00:10:00,779 --> 00:10:06,359 and the guy came up in like a little suit and like even i think he had makeup on and i was like wow 170 00:10:06,359 --> 00:10:12,719 this is intense he's like okay cool when am i talking and when i'm like you're gonna contribute 171 00:10:12,719 --> 00:10:17,919 to our bit devs tonight like oh how like what do you know about bitcoin he's like nothing i just 172 00:10:17,919 --> 00:10:22,919 people probably want to hear like about me and so on i'm like no this is just a bitcoin focused 173 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:27,639 meetup and it's specifically focused on these topics that we have you know you're more than 174 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:32,919 welcome to stay here and then he got up and left which more power to you but like having an 175 00:10:32,919 --> 00:10:37,979 environment such that these people can come and welcome and participate so i'll tell one story 176 00:10:37,979 --> 00:10:43,539 about um senator haggerty he it was like three or four times where his team was like hey we want to 177 00:10:43,539 --> 00:10:46,759 come meet and so on. And I was like, what do you guys want to meet about? Like, I don't know. 178 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,639 And so finally we figured out this private round table where he was able to learn from a lot of 179 00:10:51,639 --> 00:10:55,499 different stakeholders and so on. And then the team kept on showing up to the meetups, kept on 180 00:10:55,499 --> 00:10:59,539 showing up to the meetups. They're helping fold the chairs. They're helping all this stuff. Same 181 00:10:59,539 --> 00:11:03,119 with Senator Blackburn's team, same with Governor Lee's team. And I was like, wow, they're actually 182 00:11:03,119 --> 00:11:11,939 showing up and participating, which is I think the key here. And that area, so I would, based on my 183 00:11:11,939 --> 00:11:18,399 experience is figuring out the teams around these people and then having them come and participate 184 00:11:18,399 --> 00:11:23,619 as an attendee and experience one of your awesome startup nights. Maybe come to Type 1 Energy Summit 185 00:11:23,619 --> 00:11:29,019 next year and see the former CTO of Facebook here and be like, why is the former CTO of Facebook? 186 00:11:29,239 --> 00:11:33,859 I thought Libra was their thing and they probably hate Bitcoin. Why are they involved? And then all 187 00:11:33,859 --> 00:11:38,539 of a sudden they're like, oh, got it. The common denominator is freedom for freedom tech or whatever 188 00:11:38,539 --> 00:11:40,519 the story is. 189 00:11:40,639 --> 00:11:43,359 So that's my little rant on that front. 190 00:11:43,659 --> 00:11:45,139 Because it's like one of those things 191 00:11:45,139 --> 00:11:46,339 from the outside looking in, 192 00:11:46,699 --> 00:11:47,359 you'd think we were, 193 00:11:48,419 --> 00:11:51,619 it was very easy and you just need to do it. 194 00:11:51,619 --> 00:11:54,039 It's like a lot of hundreds of meetups 195 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:56,539 and thousands of people coming through the doors 196 00:11:56,539 --> 00:11:57,919 and just being consistent. 197 00:11:58,279 --> 00:11:59,479 Next time, yeah, definitely. 198 00:11:59,799 --> 00:12:01,999 Actually, this week marks our one year 199 00:12:01,999 --> 00:12:04,239 of soft launching Presidio Bitcoin. 200 00:12:04,239 --> 00:12:05,039 Let's go. 201 00:12:05,139 --> 00:12:05,759 And you were there. 202 00:12:05,939 --> 00:12:06,279 Yeah. 203 00:12:06,279 --> 00:12:17,138 I was super honored to be there and I did like a 10 presentation That was we should like pop that up That would be cool 204 00:12:17,798 --> 00:12:18,018 Yeah. 205 00:12:18,738 --> 00:12:19,718 So big week. 206 00:12:21,358 --> 00:12:21,658 Okay. 207 00:12:22,578 --> 00:12:26,398 So who do you think your most unexpected guest has been at? 208 00:12:26,958 --> 00:12:28,558 Either in Nashville or Austin. 209 00:12:30,998 --> 00:12:34,538 My most, or most unexpected guest. 210 00:12:34,538 --> 00:12:37,058 Or maybe we want to shout out for someone coming to visit. 211 00:12:37,238 --> 00:12:40,358 you know 212 00:12:40,358 --> 00:12:44,978 most unexpected 213 00:12:44,978 --> 00:12:45,698 guest 214 00:12:45,698 --> 00:12:48,678 honestly 215 00:12:48,678 --> 00:12:49,178 like 216 00:12:49,178 --> 00:12:52,438 or someone you're most proud of 217 00:12:52,438 --> 00:12:53,318 getting to 218 00:12:53,318 --> 00:12:55,298 well Kathy's been great 219 00:12:55,298 --> 00:12:58,198 Kathy Wood we do a monthly Bitcoin podcast 220 00:12:58,198 --> 00:13:00,538 with her and she's been so kind 221 00:13:00,538 --> 00:13:02,338 to come up multiple 222 00:13:02,338 --> 00:13:02,938 times 223 00:13:02,938 --> 00:13:06,578 you know one person that she's 224 00:13:06,578 --> 00:13:08,618 introduced me to, and now his 225 00:13:08,618 --> 00:13:10,618 office is right up the street, which 226 00:13:10,618 --> 00:13:12,778 he's so awesome, is Dr. Art 227 00:13:12,778 --> 00:13:14,498 Laffer. So it's been 228 00:13:14,498 --> 00:13:16,778 awesome to see him at the park and have 229 00:13:16,778 --> 00:13:18,698 him be involved in the Bitcoin 230 00:13:18,698 --> 00:13:20,298 and Freedom Tech community. 231 00:13:21,578 --> 00:13:22,598 I would say he's like 232 00:13:22,598 --> 00:13:24,698 90 plus percent there on Bitcoin and 233 00:13:24,698 --> 00:13:26,438 gets it. I love that he's like, 234 00:13:26,538 --> 00:13:28,718 it needs to be more private. This is BS 235 00:13:28,718 --> 00:13:30,618 that everyone can see everyone's 236 00:13:30,618 --> 00:13:32,838 transactions and so on. We need private money. 237 00:13:33,938 --> 00:13:34,758 But yeah, 238 00:13:34,798 --> 00:13:36,418 I would say Kathy and Dr. Laffer. 239 00:13:36,578 --> 00:13:46,518 very cool um so you guys i think do you still use btc pay for bitcoin payments or you guys 240 00:13:46,518 --> 00:13:51,918 accept bitcoin payments at yeah well i'll tell a quick story on that uh matt and i when we started 241 00:13:51,918 --> 00:13:56,778 bitcoin park we're like we're bitcoin only or you know hardcore and the price of bitcoin i think was 242 00:13:56,778 --> 00:14:04,218 like 40k and uh it just started dropping and it just started dropping and all of our costs are 243 00:14:04,218 --> 00:14:10,598 fiat denominated. And I mean, the price went down to 15K and it was just like, I'm like ready to 244 00:14:10,598 --> 00:14:14,098 sell everything in the park. I'm like, got to sell this, got to sell this, got to sell this. 245 00:14:14,878 --> 00:14:25,158 But so we now, we use ZapRite for our membership invoicing. So we have a fiat option from credit 246 00:14:25,158 --> 00:14:31,378 cards or ACH. And then we have a nice treasury, that's how you learn treasury management is 247 00:14:31,378 --> 00:14:38,738 going through that pain. So we have BTC Pay. We use ZapRite quite a bit now. We use, 248 00:14:39,058 --> 00:14:45,198 yeah, ZapRite quite a bit right now. But I think there's a non-zero chance 249 00:14:45,198 --> 00:14:49,478 that Square may be coming. I heard they were accepting Bitcoin or something like that. 250 00:14:50,438 --> 00:14:52,118 Have you seen our register? Yeah. 251 00:14:52,318 --> 00:14:57,178 Or a Square merchant. Yeah, I love it. I love it. No, awesome. No, I was having dinner last night 252 00:14:57,178 --> 00:15:04,698 with Miles. And one of the cool things that one of our first summits that we did was grassroots 253 00:15:04,698 --> 00:15:10,598 Bitcoin. And I'm super proud of that. It was, I think, in August of 2022, after the first few 254 00:15:10,598 --> 00:15:16,358 months. And it's a meetup of meetup organizers. And it was just amazing. And we try to do that 255 00:15:16,358 --> 00:15:23,118 every year. And this will be our third or fourth year doing it this next 2026. And I invited Miles 256 00:15:23,118 --> 00:15:27,278 and his team to come and do one of the keynote presentations too. 257 00:15:27,738 --> 00:15:31,098 We'll probably have anywhere from 30, 40 meetup organizers, 258 00:15:31,278 --> 00:15:32,298 maybe even 100 plus. 259 00:15:33,298 --> 00:15:35,778 You got to have a meetup that's been running for at least, 260 00:15:35,838 --> 00:15:39,558 I think it's six months or at least a year to be able to come to it 261 00:15:39,558 --> 00:15:41,798 because we want to exchange ideas and best practices 262 00:15:41,798 --> 00:15:42,778 and network and such. 263 00:15:44,558 --> 00:15:49,338 So very excited for him and that team to get direct access 264 00:15:49,338 --> 00:15:52,298 to all these amazing meetup organizers. 265 00:15:52,298 --> 00:15:53,858 well I wasn't trying to 266 00:15:53,858 --> 00:15:54,718 shill Square 267 00:15:54,718 --> 00:15:55,438 in that 268 00:15:55,438 --> 00:15:55,898 but 269 00:15:55,898 --> 00:15:57,838 definitely great 270 00:15:57,838 --> 00:15:58,198 that you guys are 271 00:15:58,198 --> 00:15:58,618 excited about Square 272 00:15:58,618 --> 00:15:59,338 but my question 273 00:15:59,338 --> 00:16:00,918 about that was going to be 274 00:16:00,918 --> 00:16:01,858 so right now 275 00:16:01,858 --> 00:16:02,658 the Spiral team 276 00:16:02,658 --> 00:16:03,238 in particular 277 00:16:03,238 --> 00:16:04,278 really cares about making 278 00:16:04,278 --> 00:16:04,838 you know 279 00:16:04,838 --> 00:16:06,118 we're really excited 280 00:16:06,118 --> 00:16:07,958 Bitcoin being used 281 00:16:07,958 --> 00:16:08,398 as money 282 00:16:08,398 --> 00:16:09,458 we have this initiative 283 00:16:09,458 --> 00:16:10,798 which I would love 284 00:16:10,798 --> 00:16:11,698 to talk to you more about 285 00:16:11,698 --> 00:16:12,278 getting involved 286 00:16:12,278 --> 00:16:13,318 in that grassroots effort 287 00:16:13,318 --> 00:16:14,038 because that's exactly 288 00:16:14,038 --> 00:16:14,558 what we're doing 289 00:16:14,558 --> 00:16:15,918 with the Bitcoin 290 00:16:15,918 --> 00:16:16,698 merchant community 291 00:16:16,698 --> 00:16:17,738 and getting itty bitties 292 00:16:17,738 --> 00:16:18,218 and the letters 293 00:16:18,218 --> 00:16:19,098 to different 294 00:16:19,098 --> 00:16:20,118 like local champions 295 00:16:20,118 --> 00:16:22,098 but kind of 296 00:16:22,298 --> 00:16:27,578 What has your experience been like as a business accepting Bitcoin? 297 00:16:28,118 --> 00:16:32,618 Any words of advice to businesses looking to embrace Bitcoin as a payment? 298 00:16:33,258 --> 00:16:35,798 So, yeah, a few. 299 00:16:36,378 --> 00:16:44,178 I'll save advice from the hardcore Bitcoiner that's going into that same merchant store and being like, accept Bitcoin, accept Bitcoin. 300 00:16:44,678 --> 00:16:46,298 Put yourself in their shoes. 301 00:16:46,538 --> 00:16:48,638 At the end of the day, they're dealing with employees. 302 00:16:48,978 --> 00:16:50,418 They're dealing with costs rising. 303 00:16:50,418 --> 00:16:52,458 they're dealing with paying rent 304 00:16:52,458 --> 00:16:54,738 they're dealing with a number of things 305 00:16:54,738 --> 00:16:56,498 the next thing they want 306 00:16:56,498 --> 00:16:58,798 including myself is added complexity 307 00:16:58,798 --> 00:17:00,738 even if it makes their 308 00:17:00,738 --> 00:17:02,598 life 1% better they're not 309 00:17:02,598 --> 00:17:04,078 looking for that right now 310 00:17:04,078 --> 00:17:05,978 and so it's like I'm not going to 311 00:17:05,978 --> 00:17:08,638 so you're telling me I have to train my staff 312 00:17:08,638 --> 00:17:10,338 which is flaky already 313 00:17:10,338 --> 00:17:12,518 you know hiring people is really tough 314 00:17:12,518 --> 00:17:14,058 I'm going to now train them to say 315 00:17:14,058 --> 00:17:16,418 do you want to pay in bitcoin or credit card 316 00:17:16,418 --> 00:17:18,658 just give me the money here's your burger 317 00:17:18,658 --> 00:17:20,018 have a blessed life 318 00:17:20,418 --> 00:17:29,498 So now with Square, I do think it makes it much simpler, not all the way there, but just still much simpler to say, hey, do this. 319 00:17:29,998 --> 00:17:44,178 On the merchant side, from my experience, I would say you should lean in and spend the time on a Saturday, Sunday when the kids are asleep and just go watch the Square videos on getting set up and the reasons why. 320 00:17:44,278 --> 00:17:45,538 So the reason why is simple. 321 00:17:46,058 --> 00:17:47,818 Why is our friend grumpy? 322 00:17:48,438 --> 00:17:49,058 You just told me. 323 00:17:49,058 --> 00:17:49,278 Itty bitty. 324 00:17:49,278 --> 00:17:50,698 Yes, he's grumpy. 325 00:17:51,258 --> 00:17:51,298 Why? 326 00:17:52,318 --> 00:17:53,858 My daughter really wants to know. 327 00:17:55,358 --> 00:17:58,238 He's grumpy because of the 3% credit card fees. 328 00:17:58,878 --> 00:18:02,218 And you just bring that up to any business owner, 329 00:18:02,858 --> 00:18:04,538 they will see in their QuickBooks account, 330 00:18:04,678 --> 00:18:08,178 you know, chart whatever the transaction fees and so on. 331 00:18:08,498 --> 00:18:10,658 Or they'll look at their total revenue and say, 332 00:18:10,878 --> 00:18:25,697 well 3 of you know a million is Imagine if you had of extra working cash or whatever or you had you know whatever of extra stuff Maybe it a small vacation that you could go on with 333 00:18:25,697 --> 00:18:32,057 the family or such. And so one of the cool things, and I'm not here to show square, but one of the 334 00:18:32,057 --> 00:18:38,778 cool things is like, hey, if we can pay in Bitcoin, like even the vendors now, we have a whole like 335 00:18:38,778 --> 00:18:46,418 system where we ask, we would prefer to pay in Bitcoin. Here's why. Saving that 3% is super 336 00:18:46,418 --> 00:18:51,518 convenient. We have different wallets set up to be able to pay. So on our end, but having that 337 00:18:51,518 --> 00:18:56,838 merchant be like, Rod, you had that issue from 40K down to 15K. I don't want to deal with Bitcoin and 338 00:18:56,838 --> 00:19:02,278 I don't want to deal with cap gains. Cool. Fiat, Bitcoin, fiat or Bitcoin to fiat, 339 00:19:02,477 --> 00:19:07,438 you can go 100% and so on. You need to do fiat to fiat with Bitcoin in the middle now, 340 00:19:07,438 --> 00:19:14,258 with cash app now. Totally. Really cool. Totally. So I would say is there's still a learning 341 00:19:14,258 --> 00:19:21,078 time. I do think not going aggro to these merchants, but just saying, oh, by the way, 342 00:19:21,758 --> 00:19:25,217 the Bitcoiners also, including myself, we just need to be prepared to pay in Bitcoin. 343 00:19:25,658 --> 00:19:30,118 Yeah. Be like, have your wallet ready. Don't be like fussing around with it. Be like ready to scan 344 00:19:30,118 --> 00:19:35,358 and pay and say, bam, here you go. And then be like, look, I'm going to tell all my friends 345 00:19:35,358 --> 00:19:40,457 about this because there's like something about wallet share you know when you go like there's you 346 00:19:40,457 --> 00:19:44,758 know you're Monday through Friday you go to lunch I don't know what there's that ill something over 347 00:19:44,758 --> 00:19:51,078 there there's probably like 10 restaurants here and you're you know you're probably at the 1230 348 00:19:51,078 --> 00:19:55,358 you look around all right we're going Mexican we're going sandwiches we're going pizza you know 349 00:19:55,358 --> 00:20:00,298 whatever how do you go get that wallet share and if you have if you beat these folks early to 350 00:20:00,298 --> 00:20:05,278 accepting Bitcoin especially with that one crazy Bitcoiner amongst those five like no I want to go 351 00:20:05,278 --> 00:20:06,057 to the Mexican spot. 352 00:20:06,477 --> 00:20:07,418 They also accept Bitcoin. 353 00:20:07,518 --> 00:20:07,898 And by the way, 354 00:20:07,918 --> 00:20:08,697 I'm buying today. 355 00:20:09,158 --> 00:20:09,918 And then all of a sudden, 356 00:20:09,977 --> 00:20:10,298 it's like, 357 00:20:10,378 --> 00:20:11,038 holy smokes. 358 00:20:11,217 --> 00:20:12,038 We just got that one, 359 00:20:12,158 --> 00:20:13,438 not only the 3% fees, 360 00:20:13,918 --> 00:20:14,938 we just got an extra 361 00:20:14,938 --> 00:20:15,998 one or two customers 362 00:20:15,998 --> 00:20:16,717 to come through. 363 00:20:17,018 --> 00:20:17,938 So I do think 364 00:20:17,938 --> 00:20:19,298 that'll resonate over time. 365 00:20:19,878 --> 00:20:20,197 For sure. 366 00:20:20,237 --> 00:20:21,197 And that's my long-winded way 367 00:20:21,197 --> 00:20:21,618 of saying that. 368 00:20:22,618 --> 00:20:23,717 I have lots of more questions 369 00:20:23,717 --> 00:20:24,078 for you. 370 00:20:24,078 --> 00:20:24,318 Please. 371 00:20:24,758 --> 00:20:26,078 But we only have 372 00:20:26,078 --> 00:20:27,338 like a minute and a half left. 373 00:20:27,338 --> 00:20:27,538 Okay. 374 00:20:27,878 --> 00:20:28,498 But really quick, 375 00:20:28,538 --> 00:20:28,878 really quick, 376 00:20:28,938 --> 00:20:30,158 before I ask my last 377 00:20:30,158 --> 00:20:30,977 Bitcoin question 378 00:20:30,977 --> 00:20:32,418 is back to college basketball. 379 00:20:32,557 --> 00:20:33,038 Let's go. 380 00:20:33,798 --> 00:20:34,518 Because there's... 381 00:20:34,518 --> 00:20:35,378 You're a huge fan. 382 00:20:35,438 --> 00:20:35,998 So Steve. 383 00:20:35,998 --> 00:20:38,057 We got a couple of college basketball nuts here. 384 00:20:38,178 --> 00:20:39,298 And I know you're one too. 385 00:20:39,418 --> 00:20:41,078 How are you feeling about your teams this year? 386 00:20:41,858 --> 00:20:45,697 Well, now I went to Indiana University. 387 00:20:46,398 --> 00:20:49,098 And I don't think we're a basketball school anymore, unfortunately. 388 00:20:49,918 --> 00:20:50,758 Tennessee, yes. 389 00:20:50,898 --> 00:20:51,557 From my wife. 390 00:20:52,038 --> 00:20:53,758 They're, I think, number 20 in the country. 391 00:20:53,957 --> 00:20:54,338 3-0. 392 00:20:55,078 --> 00:20:57,298 I think they're going to be good this year as well. 393 00:20:57,998 --> 00:21:01,598 But now I'm like a football school because Indiana's number two, I guess, in the country. 394 00:21:01,678 --> 00:21:02,638 Which is really cool. 395 00:21:03,358 --> 00:21:04,197 But yeah, we'll see. 396 00:21:04,197 --> 00:21:05,418 How about you in Gonzaga? 397 00:21:05,798 --> 00:21:06,278 Feeling good. 398 00:21:06,498 --> 00:21:06,717 Yeah. 399 00:21:06,858 --> 00:21:07,398 Feeling good. 400 00:21:08,398 --> 00:21:10,957 Yeah, I think it's, well, we're number one in Ken Palm today. 401 00:21:11,498 --> 00:21:12,918 Wait, you're number one in the country? 402 00:21:12,977 --> 00:21:13,898 In Ken Palm, but not. 403 00:21:13,898 --> 00:21:14,538 What's Ken Palm? 404 00:21:14,557 --> 00:21:19,578 Not like other college basketball, not the NCAA, like traditional ranking. 405 00:21:19,878 --> 00:21:21,678 It's like using like data. 406 00:21:21,878 --> 00:21:21,957 Yeah. 407 00:21:22,138 --> 00:21:22,538 Interesting. 408 00:21:22,818 --> 00:21:22,918 Yeah. 409 00:21:22,918 --> 00:21:23,138 Okay. 410 00:21:23,418 --> 00:21:27,858 So we're looking pretty good here at Presidio Bitcoin, but it'll be fun. 411 00:21:27,858 --> 00:21:36,858 Anyways, my last question for you is, so you are like, you know, super involved in your communities, do tons of events. 412 00:21:37,278 --> 00:21:39,578 We're getting close to the end of the year. 413 00:21:39,717 --> 00:21:44,818 What's like one thing that you're like really excited and optimistic for in 2026? 414 00:21:46,758 --> 00:21:49,358 One thing, like a million. 415 00:21:50,118 --> 00:21:50,598 No, no. 416 00:21:50,598 --> 00:21:57,858 So 2026, I will say, especially with square payments, hopefully on the policy side, even 417 00:21:57,858 --> 00:22:01,737 though people are like, well, non-dominimus this side, you just need to remove the friction 418 00:22:01,737 --> 00:22:02,538 from people's head. 419 00:22:03,098 --> 00:22:08,418 And so once that tax exemption is gone, reflowing of Bitcoin usage, then the merchants are going 420 00:22:08,418 --> 00:22:08,798 to win. 421 00:22:09,318 --> 00:22:10,038 Everyone's going to win. 422 00:22:11,057 --> 00:22:12,518 Nobody loses in that scenario. 423 00:22:12,998 --> 00:22:14,098 It's such a, yeah. 424 00:22:14,237 --> 00:22:19,158 So that's one thing I hope on the policy side that we can remove so that we can really open 425 00:22:19,158 --> 00:22:19,878 the floodgates. 426 00:22:19,878 --> 00:22:31,538 I think the quality of the conversation, especially in person, across Bitcoin Park Nashville, Bitcoin Park Austin is going to be awesome. 427 00:22:32,018 --> 00:22:36,598 We hosted Imagine If, which is this convergence between Bitcoin AI energy and Freedom Tech. 428 00:22:36,798 --> 00:22:39,418 We're bringing that Summit of Summits back in October. 429 00:22:40,078 --> 00:22:45,197 So Kathy, Dr. Laffer, a bunch of folks are coming back for that. 430 00:22:45,197 --> 00:22:54,358 And I hope in 2026 or maybe before my daughter's basketball team gets that one W, even though we're 0-4. 431 00:22:54,878 --> 00:22:56,398 So I'm optimistic about that, too. 432 00:22:57,477 --> 00:22:58,098 That's a fun thing. 433 00:22:58,678 --> 00:23:00,858 Well, thank you so much for coming on the show. 434 00:23:00,977 --> 00:23:05,598 If our listeners want to follow more about you or Bitcoin Park, where should they go? 435 00:23:06,078 --> 00:23:07,438 Yeah, so Bitcoin Park. 436 00:23:07,598 --> 00:23:10,217 Honestly, just email me at rod at BitcoinPark.com. 437 00:23:10,737 --> 00:23:11,998 We have a Twitter account. 438 00:23:12,118 --> 00:23:13,118 We have a Nostar account. 439 00:23:13,118 --> 00:23:20,358 and honestly the one and Steve is super kind and so is Thomas they've given a shout out to our email 440 00:23:20,358 --> 00:23:25,318 our date we have due to a daily email yes which is I subscribe to it too oh sweet it's a good it's 441 00:23:25,318 --> 00:23:31,818 a good quick read you should definitely thank you yeah it's so one other thing and I was alluding to 442 00:23:31,818 --> 00:23:36,378 it earlier it's like build the things you want to see in life and and so one of the things that 443 00:23:36,378 --> 00:23:42,558 I'm not seeing when I got into Bitcoin and you know whatever was the education was on fire the 444 00:23:42,558 --> 00:23:45,298 the people that were just creating videos 445 00:23:45,298 --> 00:23:47,798 and long form Twitter posts and so on, 446 00:23:47,818 --> 00:23:49,018 I could learn so quickly. 447 00:23:49,717 --> 00:23:51,058 And now there's just so much, 448 00:23:51,158 --> 00:23:52,237 whether it's this treasury, this, 449 00:23:52,457 --> 00:23:53,998 and like all a bunch of things. 450 00:23:54,438 --> 00:23:55,638 I'm like, I need four bytes 451 00:23:55,638 --> 00:23:57,998 of just the highest signal possible. 452 00:23:58,398 --> 00:23:59,898 Bitcoin and freedom tech. 453 00:24:00,258 --> 00:24:01,938 And now we're doubling into Aon Energy. 454 00:24:02,098 --> 00:24:04,878 So if you go to bitcoinpark.com forward slash email, 455 00:24:05,717 --> 00:24:07,098 you'll get what's called OpDaily, 456 00:24:07,518 --> 00:24:08,658 four bytes in your inbox, 457 00:24:08,658 --> 00:24:09,717 Monday through Saturday. 458 00:24:10,378 --> 00:24:12,237 And then our editor, Rob Warren, 459 00:24:12,237 --> 00:24:14,658 we'll send a weekly summary, which is really cool too. 460 00:24:15,438 --> 00:24:15,838 Very cool. 461 00:24:16,418 --> 00:24:18,878 Well, thanks again for coming on the show. 462 00:24:19,058 --> 00:24:22,118 And I'm so happy that you can make it for City of Bitcoin in your SF visit. 463 00:24:22,197 --> 00:24:22,778 You're the best. 464 00:24:22,938 --> 00:24:23,358 Thank you, Haley. 465 00:24:23,418 --> 00:24:23,957 Yeah, thanks.