In this episode, I sit down with Adam Meister, a Bitcoin OG, and a relentless promoter of strong hands and long-term thinking. Adam first bought Bitcoin in 2013, has never sold a coin, and lives by the ethos that “deferral of gratification” is the true path to freedom. ––– Offers & Discounts ––– ⭐ Get 10% OFF Blockhunters — the ultimate Bitcoin board game. Visit https://blockhuntersgame.com/ and use code btcmatrix at checkout! Get 10% off your ticket for the Bitcoin Conference 2025 in Vegas! Use the promo code MATRIX at https://tickets.b.tc/affiliate/matrix/event/bitcoin-2025 Theya is the world’s simplest Bitcoin self-custody solution. Download Theya Now at theya.us/cedric Get up to $100 in Bitcoin on River at river.com/Matrix The best Team Bitcoin merch is at HodlersOfficial.com. Use the code Matrix for a discount on your order. Become a sponsor of the show: https://thebitcoinmatrix.com/sponsors/ ––– Get To Know Today's Guest ––– • Adam Meister on X: https://x.com/TechBalt ––– Socials ––– • Check out our new website at https://TheBitcoinMatrix.Com • Follow Cedric Youngelman on X: https://x.com/cedyoungelman • Follow The Bitcoin Matrix Podcast on X: https://x.com/_bitcoinmatrix • Follow Cedric Youngelman on Nostr: npub12tq9jxmt707gd5vnce3tqllpm67ktr0mqskcvy58qqa4d074pz9s4ukdcs ––– Chapters ––– 00:00 - Intro 01:05 - Welcoming Back Adam Meister 04:17 - The 4-Year Cycle and Adam’s Never-Sell Strategy 05:27 - Leveraging Bitcoin for Fiat in 2025 08:17 - U.S. Bitcoin Policy & Stablecoins vs FedCoin 10:23 - Stablecoins, Dollar Dominance, and Self-Custody 12:12 - Mental Resistance to Spending Bitcoin 18:06 - Political Shift: From Anti-Crypto to Bitcoin Embraced 19:10 - Identity, Image, and What Real Wealth Looks Like 23:24 - Bitcoin, Family, and Gratification Deferral 27:15 - Being Part of the Innovation Frontier 29:52 - Staying Stoic Through Forks and Fear 31:08 - The Mental Struggle with Fulfillment 33:36 - Disappearing Bitcoin Millionaires & Safety Concerns 35:59 - Adam’s Austerity & Global Travel Tips 38:03 - Recognition, Humility, and Local Identity 39:04 - Roger Ver, Forced Hodlers & Buying Mistakes 42:01 - Sacrifice, Hard Days & It’s Not Luck 45:19 - Class Warfare vs Individual Empowerment 48:16 - Bitcoin & Political Crossfire 50:08 - Be Principled, Not Populist 52:07 - The “Working Man” Myth & Opportunity in the U.S. 53:14 - Rejecting Class Warfare for Cultural Understanding 56:13 - Bitcoin Connects the World 57:18 - Escape from Fiat Dependency 59:17 - Life Without 9-to-5: The Freedom Bitcoin Brings 01:00:21 - The Bitcoin Overlay 01:00:21 - Living in the Bitcoin Overlay During Crisis 01:01:07 - Staying Calm Through the 2020 Panic 01:02:45 - Why Adam Avoids Traditional Wealth Displays 01:04:10 - Freedom From the Fiat Mindset 01:06:30 - Advice for Young Bitcoiners 01:08:12 - Stories of Forced HODLing and Regret 01:10:00 - Calling Out Fake OGs & Clickbait Culture 01:12:05 - Bitcoiners Who Disappeared Into Privacy 01:15:27 - Staying Humble Despite Millions 01:17:15 - Cheap Living, Smart Travel, and Baltimore Roots 01:19:05 - Why Deferring Gratification Pays Off 01:23:25 - Connecting Across Cultures Through Bitcoin 01:25:10 - Rejecting Class Warfare and Scapegoating 01:29:00 - Why Bitcoin Is Still the Best Bet 01:31:00 - Parting Wisdom from a Tr…