Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Stripe: https://stripe.com - Paperspace: https://gradient.run/lex to get $15 credit - Codecademy: https://codecademy.com and use code LEX to get 15% off - NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives - Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings EPISODE LINKS: Alex's Twitter: https://twitter.com/gladstein The Little Bitcoin Book: https://littlebitcoinbook.com/ Human Rights Foundation: https://hrf.org/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:34 - Universal human rights 15:34 - Authoritarianism 25:44 - AIs impact on civil liberties 37:07 - Edward Snowden and government surveillance 40:46 - Money 44:59 - Bitcoin 1:00:46 - Government response to Bitcoin 1:11:17 - The blockchain 1:16:40 - Can Bitcoin fail? 1:19:31 - Bitcoin scams 1:23:16 - Patriotism 1:25:39 - Human Rights Foundation 1:30:13 - Conflict with China 1:33:03 - Corporate accountability 1:48:25 - Garry Kasparov and the HRF 1:53:34 - Journalism, conversations, and truth 2:00:48 - Alex's book recommendations 2:08:54 - Attacks on Bitcoin 2:10:34 - The future of humanity 2:14:55 - Advice for young people 2:26:12 - Meaning of life SOCIAL: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
Bitcoin is freedom technology. Alex Gladstein joins the podcast to discuss how the developing world is using the currency of the network to escape the currency of the state. Alex and Balaji cover how fiat devaluation is global taxation, why the IMF and World Bank aren’t what you think they are, and why Bitcoin is the critical tool for individual freedom. If these ideas interest you, we're building startup societies at Network School. You can apply online at https://ns.com. OUTLINE 0:12 - Check Your Financial Privilege book 5:16 - Stablecoins legalized 8:12 - Bitcoin is freedom technology 22:15 - Alex's book Hidden Repression 30:16 - The West has the greatest business model of all time 51:22 - When people say 'bitcoin saved my life' REFERENCES I. Books * Check Your Financial Privilege: https://www.amazon.com/Check-Your-Financial-Privilege-Gladstein/dp/B09V2NM9VJ * Hidden Repression: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Repression-Exploitation-Development-Gladstein/dp/B0CYM7FDHD/ * Broken Money: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Money-Financial-System-Failing-ebook/dp/B0CGNVNXK2/ * The Bitcoin Dollar: https://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Dollar-Economic-Monomyth-Mark-Goodwin-ebook/dp/B0CN7BC98Q/ II. Studies and Articles * Stablecoin Legislation of USA (GENIUS Act): https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12553 * Stablecoin issuers become the largest buyers of US debt : https://www.theglobaltreasurer.com/2025/06/25/stablecoin-market-fuels-us-treasury-demand/ * Malawi’s currency devalued by 44% overnight: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67367983 * FDR suspends the gold standard for US currency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_6102 * Thailand launches Crypto to Baht conversion: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-launch-crypto-to-baht-conversion-foreign-tourists-2025-08-18/ * External debt history of Bangladesh: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393065412_A_comprehensive_overview_of_the_external_debt_history_of_Bangladesh * Bretton Woods System: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/economics-econometrics-and-finance/bretton-woods-system * Marshall Plan: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/marshall-plan * IMF approves $3 billion bailout to Egypt: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/12/16/pr22441-egypt-imf-executive-board-approves-46-month-usd3b-extended-arrangement * $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Recovery-and-Reinvestment-Act * Singrauli, India, still suffering years after World Bank coal investments: https://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/singrauli.pdf * Nostr Protocol: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr SOCIALS https://x.com/ns https://x.com/gladstein https://ns.com/