🇺🇸 🇸🇾 🇮🇱 No US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve | No Epstein List | More War | This Week In Bitcoin, Macro & GeoPolitics | #BitcoinHardTalk Episode 90

Jul 18, 2025
 

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Note to Readers

The blog below was pulled together using AI based on my live commentary from Episode 90. It's not how I talk—so if it sounds like a robot wrote it, that's because one kinda did. The ideas, framing, and takes are mine. But the wording isn't. So if you want the raw, unfiltered version, hit play on the video. If you're just scanning for the TL;DR, this AI-written summary might help—but don't take it as gospel. Bitcoiners know better than to trust anything without verifying.

Peace!

Simon Dixon

 

Hey hey, Bitcoin Wealth Builders! 

It's Friday—and that means it's time to decode this week's shifts in Bitcoin, macroeconomics, and geopolitics. The headlines were a chaotic mix of bombshells: no US Bitcoin strategic reserve, no Epstein List, but a new war in Syria. In this episode, we're going to break down what this means, how to protect yourself, and cover everything that happened this week within that theme.

Part 1: US Passes Crypto Acts While Bitcoin Reserve Mysteriously Disappears | This Week In Bitcoin

While Washington was busy passing crypto legislation, the real story was happening on the blockchain and in the US Treasury's barren Bitcoin vaults.

  • New All-Time Highs: Bitcoin has been making new all-time highs multiple times a day, reaching $122,484 this week. It has now become the world's
    5th largest asset, surpassing Amazon and fluctuating around a $2.3 trillion market cap. As a currency, it has overtaken the Brazilian Real to become the world's 10th most valuable. 
  • Crypto Week in Washington: The US House passed three major digital asset bills: the Genius Act (stablecoins), the Clarity Act (regulations), and the Anti-CBDC Act. However, the Anti-CBDC Act is not a full ban; it simply requires congressional approval for a future CBDC, giving a head start to private institutions. 
  • US Bitcoin Reserve Vanishes: The U.S. Marshals Service disclosed that the government's Bitcoin strategic reserve has dwindled to just 28,988 BTC , a massive drop from the previously reported 200,000+ BTC. This sell-off of nearly 80% of its holdings means China is now the largest government holder of Bitcoin in the world. 
  • 401k Goes Crypto: President Trump is set to sign an executive order allowing Americans to invest their 401k retirement savings into Bitcoin and crypto, potentially unlocking a portion of the $9 trillion held in those accounts. 
  • BlackRock's ETH Control Play: After a massive short squeeze that saw Ethereum surge 70% in less than a month , BlackRock has filed to add
    staking to its Ethereum ETF. This is a move to gain control over the network's governance, highlighting the fundamental difference between proof-of-stake and Bitcoin's censorship-resistant proof-of-work. 

Part 2: What does the EU & Japan tell us about the future of the US & China? | This Week In Macro

The economic turmoil in the EU and Japan serves as a stark warning for the fiscal path of the United States, as the Proof-of-Weapons network continues its global destabilization campaign.

  • EU Vassalization: The EU approved its 18th round of Russian oil sanctions, a move that continues to harm European economies by raising their energy costs while lowering prices for BRICS nations like China and India. This is part of the ongoing vassalization of Europe, where its leaders serve corporate interests over their own people. 
  • The Japan Foreshadow: Japan's economy is a glimpse into the future for the US. Its Debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded
    260%, its 30-year government bonds have lost 45% of their value since 2019, and the Bank of Japan has record unrealized losses of $198 billion. Despite this, the US is on a more unsustainable path due to its trade deficit. 
  • Trump's Inflationary Policies: The US deficit is on track to hit $1.88 trillion this year, up from $1.2 trillion last year. Inflation ticked upward again as CPI rose to 2.7%. Trump's response has been to approve Nvidia H20 chip exports to China, sending the stock to record highs , and threaten severe tariffs on Russia. This is a recipe for more inflation and a weaker dollar.
  • China's Strategic Reserves: While the US depletes its Bitcoin and petroleum reserves, China is loading up. It is quietly building a strategic oil reserve that could soon rival OPEC+ in importance and is now the world's largest government holder of Bitcoin. 

Part 3: The War Machine’s Double Game: Epstein and Syria Exposed | This Week In GeoPolitics

The Proof-of-Weapons network is playing a double game, using the Epstein saga to control US politics while using Israel to ignite chaos in Syria for profit and leverage.

  • The Epstein Cover-Up: The DOJ and FBI abruptly concluded the Epstein case, stating he had no client list and committed suicide. This led to Ghislaine Maxwell offered to testify before Congress and reveal the list. Elon Musk's public calls to release the list are clashing with Trump's claims that it's a "Democrat hoax," a power play designed to fragment Trump's base and keep him dependent on the network. The files will never be released, as they are a weapon to keep leaders in check. 
  • The Syria Escalation: Israel launched major strikes on Damascus, Syria, an unplanned escalation that disrupted the negotiated decolonization of the region. The strikes were a move by Israel (representing the US military-industrial complex) to weaken HTS (backed by the GCC and Turkey) and secure its own interests while the regional powers were consolidating a unified Syria. 
  • Humanitarian Crisis as a Weapon: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to be used as leverage. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has consolidated all aid into a single site, creating what the UN calls "killing zones." Israeli soldiers are under orders to open fire into crowds gathered for food. This comes as Netanyahu's cabinet is weakening, with Orthodox Jewish parties threatening to leave the coalition, which would force new elections. 

 

Final Thoughts: Don't Let the Calm Fool You

Markets look stable. Conflict looks isolated. Regulation looks measured. That's by design. But underneath it all, this is how the new financial system is being deployed: full-reserve stablecoins backed by sovereign debt, tokenized political access, and ETF custodians holding real Bitcoin while you get fake exposure. And still, Bitcoin remains sovereign—if you hold it right. The dollar is being reengineered, and the wars are being monetized. Bitcoin is the one neutral system they can't print or sanction.

So hold your keys. Trust no proxy. And remember—stability is the story they sell you right before they pull the plug.

 

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Disclaimer

This blog was generated with the assistance of AI and is based on the views, commentary, and live analysis delivered by Simon Dixon in Bitcoin HardTalk Episode 90. While AI was used to structure and summarize the conversation, the insights, framing, and content originate from the livestreamed episode hosted by Simon Dixon.

The purpose of this blog is to distill complex global developments—from Bitcoin adoption to geopolitical realignments—into an accessible format for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, tax, investment, or political advice. The commentary included here reflects personal opinions formed at the time of the episode, based on publicly available data, historical analysis, and Simon Dixon's professional perspective.

Bitcoin and other digital assets are volatile, high-risk instruments. Readers should perform their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making financial decisions. Nothing in this blog should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any asset, nor does it suggest any guarantee of future performance or outcome. References to individuals, companies, financial institutions, and geopolitical actors are made strictly for analytical or educational discussion.

By reading this blog, you acknowledge sole responsibility for any interpretation or action you take based on this content. Neither Simon Dixon nor any affiliated parties shall be held liable for financial loss, reputational damage, or decision-making based on the insights presented herein.

For the complete and unfiltered version of Simon Dixon's analysis, readers are encouraged to watch the full Bitcoin HardTalk Episode 90 livestream.