Matthew Pines on the Geopolitical and National Security Implications of Cryptocurrency Adoption

Macro Musings with David Beckworth

Matthew Pines is the director of intelligence for SentinelOne Strategic Advisory Group and is a veteran of the national security world. Matthew is also the author of several papers on cryptocurrencies and their implications for national security, including a recent one titled, *Great Power Network Competition & Bitcoin,* and he joins David on Macro Musings to talk about these linkages. Specifically, David and Matthew also discuss the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve proposal, the problems with our current network approach to national security, how digital currency can enhance dollar dominance worldwide, and much more.

Transcript for this week’s episode.

Matthew’s Twitter: @matthew_pines

Matthew’s Bitcoin Policy Institute profile

David Beckworth’s Twitter: @DavidBeckworth

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Related Links:

*Great Power Network Competition & Bitcoin* by Matthew Pines

*National Security in the Digital Age: Bitcoin as a Tool for Modern Statecraft* by authors Matthew Pines, Ben Kincaid, Robert Malka, James McGinniss, Lee Bratcher, Pierre Rochard, Lindsey Daley, Gabriel Royal, Thomas Wood, Ian Gaines, and Kyle Schneps

*Global Discord: Values and Power in a Fractured World Order* by Paul Tucker

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:35) – Matthew’s Journey into the National Security Space

(00:07:56) – Evaluating the Current Level of Defense Expenditures

(00:12:17) – An Executive Summary of *Great Power Network Competition & Bitcoin*

(00:16:11) – Problems with Our Current Network Approach to National Security

(00:26:24) – The Intersection of Monetary Policy and National Security

(00:29:55) – How Can Digital Currency Enhance Dollar Dominance Across the Globe?

(00:38:32) – Breaking Down the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Proposal and Its Implications

(00:48:13) – The National Defense Authorization Act and the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act: Basics and Implications

(00:57:29) – Outro