Max Keiser's Vision of a Hyperbitcoinized Future (prepare now!)
While in El Salvador, i got a chance to sit down with the legendary Bitcoin maximalist Max Keiser. He didn't hold back.
In our recent discussion, legendary Bitcoin maximalist Max Keiser laid out a compelling, and at times provocative, vision of a world fundamentally reshaped by Bitcoin. From its "divine" origins to its inevitable role in dismantling traditional financial systems, Keiser paints a picture of societal bifurcation and economic revolution.
Bitcoin: A Divine Intervention and the Sistine Chapel of Money
Max Keiser suggests a profound, almost spiritual, purpose for Bitcoin, stating that "God is unhappy with humans because we're destroying his creation" and "He sent us Bitcoin so this is our last chance". He posits that Bitcoin "turns greed into altruism," converting the human tendency towards self-annihilation (greed) into a force for love, acting as a "trick that God is playing on us," a "Trojan horse".
For Keiser, Bitcoin is not merely a technological innovation but a "masterful engineering job," calling it "the Sistine Chapel of money," possessing "spiritual qualities" that can "inflame your soul to be more of a human".
The Irreversible Bifurcation: Coiners vs. No-Coiners
Keiser asserts that the world is on the cusp of a permanent split, or "bifurcation," into "coiners and no-coiners". This division will set "the template...for the next 500 years". In this new reality, "those with coin or the coiners versus those without coins the no coiners there will be a split in in in the world and society and we won't be looking at the world in terms of nation states anymore".
He starkly contrasts the future for these two groups: if you have no coin, you'll "probably be living in the equivalent of hell," while those with coin "will be living in heaven". Keiser emphasizes the urgency of this moment, describing his communication as "pragmatic" rather than "hyperbolic," urging people to prepare.
The Demise of the State and Central Banks
A core tenet of Keiser's vision is the obliteration of central banks and the disintermediation, or even "killing," of the nation-state. He believes Bitcoin separates money from the state, ushering in a "post state post central bank world". This is exemplified by his work in El Salvador, where his goal is to establish a "node nation" where every Salvadoran household has a Bitcoin node and possesses all the money, leaving the state bankrupt and merely a service provider that does the bidding of the node owners. He predicts that countries without Bitcoin will "disintegrate" and even "go to war with each other" due to their reliance on debt and fiat money printing.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a long-standing foe of Keiser, is also squarely in his crosshairs. He feels "very sorry for the IMF because they're a dying institution and they won't be around five five years from now". Keiser believes Bitcoin will "eviscerate the IMF," citing the decline of its Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) against Bitcoin. He notes the irony that while the IMF claims Bitcoin adds instability, figures like Donald Trump (despite his "rookie mistakes" with Bitcoin) suggest it brings stability.
El Salvador: The Guiding Light of Hyperbitcoinization
El Salvador is presented as the leading example of this new paradigm, being the "first country out of the fourth turning" and the "most heavily Bitcoinized country in the world". Keiser highlights that the IMF is "scared shitless" of El Salvador's success because it accelerates their own demise. Key aspects of El Salvador's Bitcoinization include:
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: The country's reserve is growing daily and will soon be worth billions, intended as collateral to retire the IMF debt.
High Adoption: While some might claim otherwise, Keiser states El Salvador has a 15% day-to-day adoption rate, which he considers "quite high" globally. Furthermore, he argues there's "100% adoption" due to the strategic reserve, meaning "everyone in this country has exposure to Bitcoin".
Bitcoin Companies and Infrastructure: Bitcoin companies are relocating to El Salvador, and infrastructure like new airports and roads are being built to support initiatives like Bitcoin City and Volcano Energy (geothermal Bitcoin mining).
Leadership: President Nayib Bukele is described as a "genius" who understood Bitcoin even before becoming president.
The Disease of Fiat Money and the Virtue of Savings
Keiser labels fiat money as a "disease" to which people are "addicted," akin to alcoholism or drug addiction. He argues that the fiat system encourages debt and war, as printing money to fund conflict only increases Bitcoin's value. He criticizes the Keynesian myth that lower interest rates stimulate demand, asserting that it only leads to massive global debt, currently at $350 trillion.
Bitcoin, conversely, "restores the savings rate" and fosters optimism, as saving in Bitcoin implies a belief in a brighter future. Keiser reminisces about a time when savings were encouraged, contrasting it with the "neoliberal phase" where savings became "a dirty word". He emphasizes that "you can't have capitalism without capital" and "you can't have capital without savings," which Bitcoin makes possible.
Bitcoin's Unrivaled Superiority and Demonetization
Keiser declares Bitcoin the "ultimate perfect money" that has "usurped gold". He outlines Bitcoin's "demonizing" effect on various traditional assets and markets:
Gold: People are selling gold to buy Bitcoin, as gold's supply is "elastic" (e.g., asteroid mining, extraction from seawater), unlike Bitcoin's fixed 21 million supply. Bitcoin offers superior portability and verifiable transactions without third parties.
Real Estate and Fine Art: These markets are also being demonetized as people opt for Bitcoin.
Bond Market: This is highlighted as the "biggest honeypot" at $200 trillion. Keiser predicts this capital will flow from bonds to Bitcoin, leading to a "100x" increase in Bitcoin's price.
Self-Custody, Dollar-Cost Averaging, and the Future
For individuals, Keiser's advice is clear: "stay agile, get a few passports, self custody your Bitcoin and get your bugout bag ready by the front door". He strongly advocates for "hodling" (holding Bitcoin) and "dollar cost averaging" (buying a fixed amount regularly regardless of price) as the safest and most effective strategies, emphasizing "don't try to time the market, spend time in the market".
While he acknowledges that "Bitcoin treasury companies" like MicroStrategy add demand, he also expresses concern that they are "reuniting Bitcoin with the state and Wall Street," thereby "kind of keeping alive the organism that should already be dead" and "delaying the process". He warns that these companies, if they prioritize their stock price over Bitcoin, could create a "pretty significant pullback" in Bitcoin price by selling their holdings. He dismisses "shitcoins" as "worthless shit" that will "go to zero against Bitcoin," seeing their market days as "over" due to other speculative options.
Ultimately, Keiser envisions a "Bitcoin singularity" where the concept of money itself disappears, leading to a "massive upgrade as humans" into a "post egocentric existence" based on "love" and "spirituality". He predicts that within five years, Bitcoin will be a "$200 trillion dollar asset" with billions of users, becoming ubiquitous. In this future, the term "dollar" will become a "legacy term that refers to nothing," as all value will implicitly be Bitcoin.
Just as a mighty river inevitably carves its path, even if temporarily slowed by obstacles, Keiser sees Bitcoin's trajectory as an unstoppable force, fundamentally reshaping the global financial landscape. The "train is leaving the station," and the choice for humanity is whether to get on board or be left behind.
You can watch the whole podcast on YouTube.
Till next time, Niko