Bitcoin is DOOMED! Here's Why it's YOUR Fault | Michael Tidwell

***"Your relay policy doesn't make you a different Bitcoiner. Your consensus policy mainly does."***

In this episode of *THE Bitcoin Podcast*, Walker America is joined by Michael Tidwell — co-founder of TABConf and host of the BlockTime podcast. Together they dive into Bitcoin’s latest debates, the philosophy of what really defines Bitcoin, and why high-signal conferences like TABConf matter for the future of freedom tech.

From the history of Bitcoin meetups in Atlanta, to the block size wars, to today’s controversies around Bitcoin Core v30 vs Knots, and user-activated soft forks (UASF), Tidwell brings a unique perspective on education, game theory, and Bitcoin’s resilience. The conversation also covers Nostr, Meshtastic mesh networks, the importance of economic nodes, and why transparency and experimentation are essential to Bitcoin’s immune system.

If you care about Bitcoin’s future, self-sovereignty, and the culture wars shaping the protocol, this one’s a must-listen.

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X: https://x.com/miketwenty1
Nostr: https://primal.net/miketwenty1
TABCONF: https://7.tabconf.com/

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00:00 – IN THIS EPISODE...
04:10 – Titwell, Tidwell, or Tittywell? Name jokes & live stream banter
05:45 – Walker plays an AI-generated Bitcoin “hate song”
06:40 – Tidwell’s Bitcoin journey: from meetups to BlockTime podcast
09:00 – Block size wars & early BitPay insights
11:55 – Starting TABConf & its high-signal mission
15:00 – Karaoke, chess, and transparency: what makes TABConf unique
18:00 – Rotating panels, game shows & experimental formats
20:50 – Meshtastic, mesh networks, and freedom communications
24:00 – Nostr livestreaming & zaps discussion
28:00 – Free speech, memes, and censorship in the UK & online
30:50 – Deepfakes, AI voices & why Web of Trust matters
36:00 – What is Bitcoin? Tidwell’s radical definition
40:55 – Proof of work vs. nodes: Tidwell vs. Greg Maxwell
43:30 – Bitcoin as money, ledger, and network (Walker’s view)
52:00 – The “nothing burger” of Bitcoin Core v30 debate
58:45 – What is an economic node? Tidwell & Walker explain
01:07:50 – Why this debate might just be Bitcoin’s natural churn cycle
01:13:30 – How debates veered into extreme claims & government-like rhetoric
01:24:00 – Op_return, block bloat & misconceptions explained
01:30:00 – Why BSV is not a fair comparison to Bitcoin
01:34:50 – Why even make this change? Tidwell explains Core’s reasoning
01:41:00 – Arbitrary data, inscriptions & why NOTS doesn’t fix it
01:45:10 – Satoshi Settlers: Tidwell’s Bitcoin-powered metaverse project
01:48:00 – Where to find Michael Tidwell & closing thoughts

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