Ep. 99: Knut Svanholm - Stop Asking Permission: Bitcoin Or Fiat Prison

My guest today is Knut Svanholm, author, educator, and philosopher focused on Bitcoin. Drawing on ethics, praxeology, and monetary history, Knut argues that sound money reduces conflict by aligning human action with natural law and voluntary exchange. In this episode, he explains why fiat banking already functions like a CBDC system in practice, why cash preserves privacy but not liberty, and why real freedom requires self custody and non-KYC Bitcoin. We explore his critique of custodial “paper Bitcoin,” the case for non-custodial adoption over treasury companies, and his view of Bitcoin as intellectual armor that raises the cost of violence. Knut outlines a practical path away from banks, explains why stablecoins can be a bridge yet remain fiat, and why a low-time-preference culture of quality over quantity matters.

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-- SPONSORS --

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-- LINKS –

Knut’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/knutsvanholm

Knut’s Nostr: https://primal.net/knutKnut’s Website (10% off with code EFRAT): https://www.bitcoininfinity.com/ 

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-- CHAPTERS –

00:00 - Coming Up

01:23 - Introduction to Knut

03:40 - Current Affairs: Stablecoins & CBDCs

06:55 - Cash & Fiat vs. Bitcoin

08:20 - Ethics of Money, Natural Law, First Principles 

10:00 - Conflict Resolution via Violence Or Communications

13:12 - Ad Break: Trezor & BitVault

15:30 - Bitcoin as Intellectual Armor

20:30 - Knut’s Take on Bitcoin Treasury Companies

23:11 - Ad Break: Abundant Mines & Expat Money

27:39 - Mass Adoption & Future Outlook

29:46 - Transitioning to a Bitcoin-Only Reality

34:44 - The Psychological Manipulation of Obedience

39:05 - Hope & the Shawshank Redemption Metaphor

42:43 - Bitcoin as a Tool for Human Freedom & Hope

48:12 - Closing Thoughts & Acknowledgements