Can Bitcoin Fix Politics? With Troy Cross & Margot Paez - WBD676

Margot Paez is a Bitcoin Mining consultant & Troy Cross is a
Professor of Philosophy, and both are Fellows at BPI. In this
interview, we discuss the fracturing of political movements
(particularly the progressives), why the left is in favour of
CBDCs, how Bitcoin is a political tool, the Bitcoin Policy
Summit, Bitcoin’s image problem, and the issues and strengths of
higher education.


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On this episode, we welcome back two eminent friends of the show:
Margot Paez and Troy Cross. At the start of 2022, What Bitcoin
Did actively searched for progressive voices within the
community. It was soon apparent that there was a huge untapped
well of thoughtful and brilliant people who had identified the
powerful impact Bitcoin could have in supporting progressive
causes.


However, it is apparent that there is now a shift happening
within the left: a fracturing of beliefs and approaches. Some
progressives within Bitcoin are starting to align themselves with
a more holistic ideology predicated on financial fairness, which
is open to debate and collaboration with those on the other side
of the aisle.


At the root of this conversion is the belief that the promotion
and use of Bitcoin itself is a political act. As Margot states:
“it’s an act of defiance”, but an act of defiance with teeth.
Finally, activists have a tool that can take on the established
centres of power. But, if we are to accelerate adoption and
battle those who work against Bitcoin, education and advocacy
still require a solid evidence base.


Unfortunately, the FUD directed at Bitcoin has left an ingrained
stain in the minds of many progressives. Margot, one of the main
people within our community looking to bring academic rigour to
support the claims being made about Bitcoin’s societal benefits,
has suffered directly as a result of this. She has effectively
been kicked out of university because of her desire to study
Bitcoin, by people with a progressive ideology.


We must all do what we can to support people like Margot and
Troy. They are the ones providing the Bitcoin movement with the
analytical heft needed to protect it from institutional attacks.
They do it quietly and diligently, pushing against stiff
headwinds. We owe them a massive debt of gratitude.