Matt Huang

And so I think economic freedom is one of these underrated frontiers where we are slowly walking our way into possible totalitarianism in how much financial control our governments have over the people. And I think everyone in the U.S. looks at China and says, that looks like a very dystopian system. Social credit score, full visibility into finances, one system.

And so I think economic freedom is one of these underrated frontiers where we are slowly walking our way into possible totalitarianism in how much financial control our governments have over the people. And I think everyone in the U.S. looks at China and says, that looks like a very dystopian system. Social credit score, full visibility into finances, one system.

And I don't think they fully realize the same thing is happening in the West. So I think it's one of the more urgent problems facing freedom in the West alongside the speech issues. A common characterization, only criminals need encrypted messaging or only criminals need privacy of their financial transactions.

And I don't think they fully realize the same thing is happening in the West. So I think it's one of the more urgent problems facing freedom in the West alongside the speech issues. A common characterization, only criminals need encrypted messaging or only criminals need privacy of their financial transactions.

I think it's increasingly clear that this is something that affects everyone and it's not singularly political. in the sense that it's not a right or a left issue. For example, I think in the aftermath of the first Trump presidency, a lot of people in the MAGA world lost bank accounts.

I think it's increasingly clear that this is something that affects everyone and it's not singularly political. in the sense that it's not a right or a left issue. For example, I think in the aftermath of the first Trump presidency, a lot of people in the MAGA world lost bank accounts.

Now, with the Republicans in power, a lot of people on the left are worried about people being able to access abortions and get proper health care without financial surveillance of their payments. These are issues that touch on all sides and this ultimate question of individual freedom and sovereignty.

Now, with the Republicans in power, a lot of people on the left are worried about people being able to access abortions and get proper health care without financial surveillance of their payments. These are issues that touch on all sides and this ultimate question of individual freedom and sovereignty.

I think the most obvious recent example is the set of debankings that have happened. Operation Chokepoint 2.0, which Nick Carter and the crypto community has done a really good job cataloging. There was also Operation Chokepoint 1.0, which happened prior, primarily with marijuana, gambling, and other... Can you describe what those things were?

I think the most obvious recent example is the set of debankings that have happened. Operation Chokepoint 2.0, which Nick Carter and the crypto community has done a really good job cataloging. There was also Operation Chokepoint 1.0, which happened prior, primarily with marijuana, gambling, and other... Can you describe what those things were?

They're ultimately the government saying these activities are technically legal, but we don't like them. And so they apply various kinds of bureaucratic pressure onto the banking system to refuse those people as customers. And I think the law should be the law. So if some activity is illegal, then let's make it illegal.

They're ultimately the government saying these activities are technically legal, but we don't like them. And so they apply various kinds of bureaucratic pressure onto the banking system to refuse those people as customers. And I think the law should be the law. So if some activity is illegal, then let's make it illegal.

But when activity is legal, I think it's sort of incumbent on the system to enable that legal activity to happen should it want to happen. And I think of crypto as much like we would look at the Chinese control of media as something distasteful to us in the West. And the free Internet is something that seems more moral.

But when activity is legal, I think it's sort of incumbent on the system to enable that legal activity to happen should it want to happen. And I think of crypto as much like we would look at the Chinese control of media as something distasteful to us in the West. And the free Internet is something that seems more moral.

And the Internet is a very useful check on that type of totalitarian control because through VPNs or other technical techniques, people in China have access to the real Internet and can find out information should they want to. That alternate system doesn't exist yet for finances. And I think crypto is building that.

And the Internet is a very useful check on that type of totalitarian control because through VPNs or other technical techniques, people in China have access to the real Internet and can find out information should they want to. That alternate system doesn't exist yet for finances. And I think crypto is building that.

And so at a minimum, I think it's a check on the degree of overreach of the traditional system. But I think it's also a very important alternative. I think in the long run, we also get more efficient systems, more innovation, lots of positive effects. It's not just a political defensive point, but that political dimension is a very important part of what's being built.

And so at a minimum, I think it's a check on the degree of overreach of the traditional system. But I think it's also a very important alternative. I think in the long run, we also get more efficient systems, more innovation, lots of positive effects. It's not just a political defensive point, but that political dimension is a very important part of what's being built.

Well, I'm not fully sure. I suppose I've always had somewhat of a skepticism towards authority. And so when I see authority exerting itself, it does make me wonder, is this the way we want the world to work?

Well, I'm not fully sure. I suppose I've always had somewhat of a skepticism towards authority. And so when I see authority exerting itself, it does make me wonder, is this the way we want the world to work?