The ₿ridge Report - #8
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
The Austin AI Meetup is now a weekly vibe series that will cover a range of topics and demos in the rapidly evolving industry. This week we had 4 presenters, all with very different use cases and backgrounds, show off their “vibe coding stack” to share ways these tools have greatly increased their productivity and ability to do work at a speed and effectiveness that was unthinkable just a few years ago. It was really cool to see how coders, designers, and strategists are all using LLMs both similarly but also wildly different. We saw demos from tools like cursor, bolt.new, v0, and Claude.
Two OGs are helping steer this initiative: Justin Moon, a pioneer in open-source AI and “vibe coding,” and Anthony Ronning, co-founder of Open Secret, a company focused on securing personal data shared with models. Their energy has laid an incredible foundation for what’s happening here in Austin.
While these meetups aren't strictly Bitcoin-focused — and that’s intentional — they all orbit the same backdrop: freedom technology. We believe Bitcoin, AI, and Energy are converging in ways that will feel as natural to future generations as the internet and smartphones are to us today. Our mission at Bitcoin Park is to create the best environment possible to build the tools of tomorrow — and we’re just getting started.
We discussed prompting and different ways to type, or talk, to the models based on what our desired output is. That’s really important to break down. Over the last few weeks my understanding of AI and the use of it as a tool has evolved a ton.
Prompting for an output, instead of an outcome, creates a clearer objective that allows training of these models to use based on tangible and intangible results. Balancing the thinking being more like an engineer vs. a just an operator / strategist here will level up my usage in what I believe an exponential capacity. But, in order to do that I have to personally deprogram many the AI habits I’ve built.
An example is my daily Bitcoin education posts on LinkedIn, which are part of my "Daily Dose" project. A goal this year is to post every day, offering quick, real-world insights to help orange pill more people. It’s a fun and rewarding challenge — but it hasn’t always been easy.
At first, I used AI tools like ChatGPT mainly to brainstorm ideas and tweak drafts to fit my voice. It helped, but I was still spending 4–5 hours a week grinding through each post manually. Then two weeks ago, I changed: I created a custom "Daily Dose GPT" that could tailor topics, schedule ideas, and generate rough drafts based on my past work. Suddenly, my writing time shrank to just 20–30 minutes a week.
But not everything clicked perfectly.
Since automating the graphics with DALL-E, the quality dropped. The images look obviously AI-generated, and my clean branding took a hit — along with some engagement. It was a reminder that automation without intentionality can hurt more than it helps.
That’s the real lesson: It's not just about using AI — it's about learning how to engineer better prompts and workflows.
These meetups are helping me think like a builder — creating systems, not just outputs. And that’s exactly why they matter.
If you’re even a little curious about optimizing your workflow, your creativity, or your productivity, these conversations are pure gold. Come vibe with us. You’ll be amazed at how fast things can level up.
A quote I heard this week that really stuck with me:
"Marry the process, date the tools."
Building a scalable, efficient process isn’t easy. It takes real effort to strip away waste and sharpen workflows. It's tempting to find a tool that "works well enough" and move on — but that kind of complacency can slow you down in the long run. True optimization means staying agile, constantly tinkering and refining. Always staying ready to pivot to better options when the opportunity arises. So, having the right process in place makes you unbeatable.
That’s exactly why I’m committed to attending every AI meetup I can. There’s so much signal, so much learning packed into these conversations — it honestly blows my mind how fast this space is moving.
Not long ago, I was using ChatGPT mostly as a better search engine. Today, I'm learning to think differently — to push boundaries, engineer better outputs, and design smarter systems.
Another quote I heard on top of this was on the Founders Podcast capturing this idea perfectly: "Those who live on the edges tend to define the middle." Meaning: keep testing, keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to break a few rules. When a spark lights, fan that flame. Push boundaries.
Of course, the challenge remains: how do I scale without losing authenticity? I don’t want to sound robotic — I want to build systems that amplify the real message, not replace it. That balance will be key, especially as I continue to find and refine my voice in this evolving world.
If you're curious too, I hope to see you at the next meetup.
We’re just getting started. If you want to join an Austin AI Meetup, please RSVP at bitcoinpark.com/austin.
Next week we’re going to learn how to build an AI Agent. It’s sure to be a good one.
And, if you are interested in beginning to save in Bitcoin I currently recommend using Strike to set up purchases - this is one of the easiest Bitcoin Only exchanges (no crypto casino distraction) that provides a familiar, dependable experience.
Please use my referral link to waive fees on BTC purchases up to $500: https://invite.strike.me/D2CTXV
Happy stacking.
Aho.
Blockchain Audit
J’s Bitcoin Journey:
Speaking of finding my voice, I started a podcast!
The Medium of Exchange Podcast is a conversation that explores the transformation of bitcoin going from a widely agreed upon store of value to a digital peer-to-peer cash system, a true medium of exchange (MoE). We plan to talk to business owners in both the bitcoin and fiat world to explore their experiences in working with their specific industry, product, or service, and why / how bitcoin has played a role in their growth. The conversations will expand a variety of topics but mainly will come back to what are the overarching obstacles to fully transform bitcoin into a true MoE.
In the back of my head I’ve always wanted to start a podcast so this has been a fun project. A lot has gone into learning about the process of what it takes to truly bring one forward - it’s not as simple as just hopping on a zoom and pressing record. Appreciative of my co-host Jason for helping with a lot of the behind the scenes work to get this out. We plan to start posting on a consistent basis! Be sure to subscribe on YouTube or Spotify to never miss an episode.
The first episode was dropped this week with Jon Gordon - the founder of Satoshi Health Advisors.
Jon was gracious to share his backstory of starting a healthcare focused consulting practice to help doctors get on a bitcoin standard. Really interesting stuff to see the crossover and opportunities within the healthcare system and bitcoin. Bitcoin can fix a lot of the waste that has become embedded into our healthcare system.
In the vain of being able to just do things, we’ll see what this project evolves into. It’s going to be business and bitcoin focused - 2 things I enjoy talking about. Hopefully we can teach you something.
Check it out!
Volatility Index
This week’s headlines:
📰 Twenty One: A New Bitcoin-First Public Company is Born
Summary: Jack Mallers, Tether, and SoftBank have teamed up to launch Twenty One, a Bitcoin-native public company, through a business combination with Cantor Equity Partners. With over 42,000 Bitcoin at launch, Twenty One aims to offer investors direct Bitcoin exposure, pro-Bitcoin advocacy, and Bitcoin-focused media. The company will introduce new performance metrics like Bitcoin Per Share (BPS) and Bitcoin Return Rate (BRR), prioritizing Bitcoin accumulation over traditional fiat earnings. Backed by $585 million in new funding, Twenty One is positioning itself as a long-term builder of Bitcoin-native financial products. Read the full article.
My Dose: Mallers is the real deal — kinda like a mullet he’s business in the front, bitcoiner at heart. Great to see heavy hitters driving real Bitcoin-native innovation. And of course I have to shill my own analysis on why this approach is the future:
🛡️ Bitkey’s Push for Better Bitcoin Self-Custody
Summary: Bitkey announced a major update aiming to eliminate the traditional trade-offs between privacy, safety, and usability in bitcoin self-custody. Upcoming changes include easier transaction verification, fingerprint reset options, a new Security Hub, private wallet balances, and private purchasing options. They’re also giving users more control over wallet recovery settings and expanding exchange integrations. Bitkey’s goal is to create a self-custody solution that doesn’t force users to compromise on critical features. Read the full Bitkey blog post.
My Dose: Bitkey nails simple, secure custody. Glad to see them continue providing new features — this is a perfect first step for anyone starting their Bitcoin journey into self custody.
⛏️ Bitdeer Breaks Bitmain’s Mining Monopoly
Summary: Bitdeer, a company born out of a split within mining giant Bitmain, has officially entered the bitcoin mining hardware market by shipping its first machine, the Sealminer A2. Offering competitive performance and made in Vietnam, the A2 challenges Bitmain’s decade-long dominance. Backed by a major $150 million investment from Tether, Bitdeer (now publicly traded as BTDR) has serious capital and momentum behind it. This marks a major shift in mining power dynamics, introducing new competition and innovation into the space. Read the full story.
My Dose: Decentralizing ASIC production is massive for Bitcoin’s resilience. More competition = more security for the network. A big win.
🤖 "Only 10% Are Using AI Correctly" - Bitcoin, AI & Energy Convergence - Rod Roudi
Summary: In a new episode of TFTC, Rod Roudi and Marty Bent dive into how Bitcoin, AI, and energy are converging to create a future centered on freedom, innovation, and personal sovereignty. They discuss how few people are fully utilizing AI, how Bitcoin and AI communities are flourishing in cities like Austin and Nashville, and how these technologies can reshape education and entrepreneurship. The core message: Bitcoin provides incorruptible money, AI offers leverage, and abundant energy secures individual freedom. Those who embrace these tools with purpose will help build the next societal foundation.
My Dose: Bitcoin, AI, and energy aren't just buzzwords — they’re the building blocks of a freer, faster, and smarter society. The edge right now isn’t just using these tools — it’s mastering how you use them.
See you next week, thanks for reading!