Matt O'dell, Bitcoin OG and freedom tech advocate, joins Shawn to dissect trust in a world of surveillance and centralized control. From Bitcoin’s role as a beacon of financial agency to Signal's strides in secure communication, O'dell unpacks the tools reshaping money, identity, and expression. As co-founder of Bitcoin Park, OpenSats, and Ten31 Ventures, and host of Rabbit Hole Recap and Citadel Dispatch, he shares a decade of insights on building privacy-first businesses and communities. Recorded June 16, 2025, amid global tensions, this episode explores why open protocols matter, what’s thriving in 2025, and how to navigate a trust-minimized future.
Background
Matt O'dell is a veteran Bitcoiner and open-source advocate, driving freedom tech forward. He co-founded Bitcoin Park, OpenSats, a 501c3 funding open-source projects like nostr and Tor, and Ten31, a VC firm backing Bitcoin businesses like Strike and Start9. Hosting Rabbit Hole Recap with Marty Bent and Citadel Dispatch, O'dell educates thousands on Bitcoin and privacy. A former Human Rights Foundation volunteer and Bitcoin Policy Institute board member, he champions self-custody and financial freedom, blending technology, policy, and community to counter surveillance.
Highlights

• Bitcoin’s Evolution: From a pre-Mt. Gox Wild West to 2025’s robust self-custody and mobile apps, Bitcoin empowers users, though KYC/AML normalizes surveillance.
• Freedom Tech Wins: Signal’s nonprofit model balances privacy and usability, while Tor persists despite vulnerabilities. Both lag Bitcoin’s anti-hegemonic design.
• OpenSats Mission: Funds open-source projects transparently, countering corporate capture, with support for Tor and Bitcoin-focused initiatives.
• Ten31 Ventures: Backs profitable Bitcoin businesses like Strike (fiat-Bitcoin bridge) and Start9 (self-hosting), balancing short-term gains with long-term freedom.
• Nostr’s Promise: Solves identity and social media challenges with permissionless, trust-minimized communication, countering deep fakes and censorship.
• Business Models: Buy/sell Bitcoin and collateralized loans dominate, but lean, open-source ventures like Primal and Peach bet on future demand. Tether’s $24B profit underscores fiat arbitrage, yet Bitcoin’s scarcity prevails long-term.

Quotes to Remember

• “Bitcoin became this avenue of hope for me. It was a direction that we could actually affect actionable change and have true agency.” – Matt O'dell
• “The power of these projects relies on individuals. It’s a movement of people.” – Matt O'dell
• “Winning is 5% or higher of the global population using these tools in a freedom-focused way.” – Matt O'dell
• “The tools exist for people to take agency. It’s better spent improving the lives of those who seek it than convincing the masses.” – Matt O'dell
• “Bitcoin is the opportunity cost. You need to be profitable in Bitcoin terms.” – Matt O'dell

Resources & Links

• Human Rights Foundation Financial Freedom Report: hrf.org/financialfreedomreport – Weekly insights on global financial repression and freedom tech’s impact.
• Odell’s Resource Page: odell.xyz – Tools, contacts, and guides for Bitcoin and privacy tech.
• Rabbit Hole Recap: rhr.tv – Weekly Bitcoin news with Odell and Marty Bent.
• Citadel Dispatch: citadeldispatch.com – Matt Odell’s podcast on Bitcoin, privacy, and freedom tech.
• Bitcoin Park: bitcoinpark.com – Community hubs in Nashville and Austin for Bitcoin education.
• OpenSats: opensats.org – Support open-source projects driving freedom tech.
• Ten31: ten31.vc – Venture capital firm investing in Bitcoin-focused businesses.

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Music in this episode by More Ghost Than Man.