[ELEVATE] The ₿ridge Report - #17
We Are in an Era of Full Scale Digital Transformation To a Bitcoin Standard
Welcome back to this week’s edition of The ₿ridge Report!
Today’s report is broken up into 3 parts:
The Bitcoin Meetup - a review of some broader happenings surrounding bitcoin and how it continues to influence culture and grow as a global community.
The Blockchain Audit - an insight in my personal journey as I continue to integrate a bitcoin standard into my life and the broader world around me.
The Volatility Index - a review of newsworthy articles, podcasts, and events of the week, an AI generated summary, and my Dose of analysis.
Bitcoin Meetup
Becoming Undeniable: Yash's Proof of Work
Yash didn’t get accepted.
He knocked on the door—and it didn’t open. So he kicked it down.
Let me explain.
Gauntlet is a top-tier AI accelerator. Complete the program, and you’re essentially guaranteed a job. But Yash didn’t pass the initial test. A subjective, intelligence-gated entry exam kept him out. Most people would take the “no” and move on. Not Yash.
Instead, he decided to outwork everyone in a cohort he wasn’t even part of. Over seven straight 15+ hour days, he built in public—live tweeting his process, publishing daily updates, exposing his wins and failures in real time. No polish. Just raw, transparent work.
That’s when Austen, Gauntlet’s founder, noticed. The proof of work was undeniable. Not just the quantity, but the quality and consistency. It became clear that Yash didn’t just want in—he was already operating like someone who should be in.
He was offered a spot. On merit.
Now he has until Sunday to ship his final project and officially join the cohort. No guarantees, no shortcuts. Just sustained, visible effort.
Here’s the lesson: don’t wait to be discovered—become undeniable so they have to notice.
This is what proof of work looks like. It’s not a buzzword. It’s not an aesthetic. It’s the steady raising of your own standard until the gap between you and the crowd is obvious.
And it’s a reminder to all of us—especially in the Bitcoin space—that the best way to change the system isn’t through permission. It’s through performance.
Proud to call Yash a friend and continue to see him crush it in this world of AI that often moves so quick it’s hard to keep up.
Blockchain Audit
Focus as a Force Multiplier
Focus is a superpower. And honestly, it’s one I’m still learning to master.
Lately, my time has been split across a few main threads: growing Bitcoin Park into the most impactful hub for freedom tech, keeping my newsletter and podcast consistent, and rounding the corner on my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. Each one feeds a different part of my spirit—but managing all requires clarity.
One thing I’ve noticed? When I’m locked in, I can get more done in a single morning than I used to accomplish in a whole week of unfocused effort. Not because I’m smarter now. But because I care more. When you align your work with your values, intensity becomes sustainable.
David Ogilvy said a great ad must have a promise that is both unique and persuasive. The same could be said of our personal commitments. Why are you doing this? What makes your work matter?
This newsletter has become a weekly rhythm for me. A reflection point. But even here, I’ve realized the need for deeper intentionality. It’s not enough to hit “publish.” The real challenge is to communicate clearly. To connect. To educate—without boring people into understanding Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is simple: it’s a way to save. That’s the promise. But no one’s going to adopt it because I said so. My role is to make the case compelling enough that people want to find out for themselves.
You can’t fake proof of work. And you can’t outsource conviction. But you can simplify the message:
Save in Bitcoin.
Spend with intention.
Build with focus.
These are my reminders this week. Maybe they’ll resonate with you, too.
👉 RSVP for all meetups at bitcoinpark.com/austin
If any, or all, of these seem of interest to you - come say hi!
Volatility Index
What Mattered This Week in Bitcoin
Castle Raises $1M for Bitcoin Treasury Automation
Castle, a Bitcoin treasury platform for SMBs, just closed a $1M pre-seed round backed by Boost VC and Winklevoss Capital. Their product automates the conversion of revenue into Bitcoin—integrating with tools like QuickBooks and Stripe.
My Dose: SMBs need a better savings vehicle. Castle offers a way to do it quietly and consistently. This is a step toward Bitcoin being a default business backend, not a speculative bet.AI x Bitcoin Meetup at Bitcoin Park
The recent ABC meetup explored the convergence of AI and Bitcoin—where the two intersect, and what each can offer the other. From AI-generated apps to autonomous agents that transact in Bitcoin, we’re seeing the start of something powerful.
My Dose: AI might increase productivity. Bitcoin protects the fruits of that productivity. The synergy is real—but only if we fight to keep it open, decentralized, and free of capture.Mi Primer Bitcoin Expands Community Hub
Mi Primer Bitcoin is scaling its education model, turning on more community hubs to reach new learners in Latin America.
My Dose: Education is infrastructure. Especially when it’s locally led and values-aligned. Mi Primer Bitcoin is a bright spot in global adoption efforts—one worth supporting and learning from.