Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll

Bitcoin Mining as Critical Energy Infrastructure in Europe

How Bitcoin mining stabilizes European grids while monetizing curtailed renewable energy In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, co-host Michael Blaschke sits down with Dr. Harald Rauter, Chief Growth Officer at 21Energy and board member of the European Bitcoin & Energy Association, to explore how Bitcoin mining could become critical energy infrastructure in Europe. Against the backdrop of Europe’s competitiveness and energy crises, Harald explains why 20–40 TWh of curtailed renewable power each year is not just an energy problem but a monetary one. He walks through the economics of stranded electricity, how grid constraints destroy CAPEX and erode industrial competitiveness, and why flexible loads like Bitcoin mining can turn wasted megawatts into revenue, grid stability and, ultimately, energy sovereignty. Michael and Harald dive into a distinctly European model of mining: modular containers co-located with wind and solar assets, Bitcoin space heaters in homes and businesses, and architectures that stack multiple income streams—from monetizing curtailed power and providing grid-balancing and reserve services to reusing heat. They contrast this with the era of hyperscale industrial farms in North America and argue that the future of mining is smaller, smarter and deeply integrated into local energy systems. The conversation also unpacks Europe’s surprisingly favorable regulatory landscape—from MiCA to key energy and market directives—and why the real bottleneck is no longer law but awareness and institutional courage. Drawing on work across 37 countries, Harald makes a clear case: Bitcoin mining is not outside the energy system; it is part of it. For energy companies, financial institutions and policymakers, this episode offers a concrete roadmap to rethinking Bitcoin mining as an infrastructure tool for Europe’s energy transition. Harald Rauter, Chief Growth Officer at 21energy, on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/haraldrauter/] Co-Host Michael Blaschke on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-r-blaschke/] Intelligence Brief by the Swiss Bitcoin Institute on ‘Abundant Power, Real Value: Turning Swiss Curtailment into Industrial Advantage’ [https://www.bitcoininstitute.ch/abundant-power-real-value/] Website of 21energy [https://21energy.com] 21energy on Twitter [https://twitter.com/21energy_com] 21energy on Instagramm [https://instagram.com/21energy_com] 21energy on YouTube [https://youtube.com/channel/UCvc0xu4n7jwNNOM1E2-ESqQ] 21energy on LinkedIn [https://at.linkedin.com/company/21energy] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

Why 9 European Banks Are Launching Their Own Stablecoin

… and what it means for the future of payments in the European Union In this episode of BFRR – Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock ’n’ Roll, host Jonas Groß welcomes Floris Lugt and Jan Lebbe, Co-Heads Digital Assets at ING Wholesale Banking and representatives of a new euro stablecoin initiative formed by nine major European banks. The conversation traces ING’s blockchain journey from 2016 experimentation to today’s focused digital asset strategy. Floris explains how early work in trade finance, collateral and payments consortia revealed a clear gap: while assets are moving on-chain, a trusted, interoperable euro cash leg is still missing. That realization, combined with rising client demand, led to the idea of a joint bank-issued stablecoin, rather than each bank building its own siloed solution. Jonas, Floris and Jan discuss why, despite the crowded market, they believe there is room—and a need—for another euro stablecoin: not as a speculative asset, but as regulated payment infrastructure backed by established banks, their compliance frameworks and massive client networks. They outline their vision of a neutral e-money institution based in the Netherlands, supervised by the Dutch central bank, focused solely on issuing the stablecoin, while banks and regulated providers build client-facing products and use cases on top. Use cases range from crypto trading and DeFi liquidity to cross-border payments, treasury, settlement of tokenized securities and real-world assets, and programmable payments. The trio also explore the coexistence of stablecoins, tokenized deposits and CBDCs, and the ongoing debate between permissioned and permissionless blockchains, including the role of privacy and zero-knowledge technology. Looking ahead to 2030, Floris and Jan expect stablecoins to be a mainstream yet almost invisible layer of financial infrastructure—quietly enabling new forms of value transfer while existing payment rails like SEPA continue to thrive alongside them. LinkedIn Jan Lebbe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-lebbe-080235/] LinkedIn Floris Lugt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/floris-lugt-279b4a/] Press release on the joint stablecoin project [https://www.ing.com/Newsroom/News/Nine-major-European-banks-join-forces-to-issue-stablecoin.htm] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

The Architecture of Stablecoin Issuers with Galaxy’s Thomas Cowan

A four-layer architecture for stablecoin businesses to survive institutional scrutiny. In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, we take you inside the organizational blueprint of the world’s most influential stablecoin issuers. Co-host Michael Blaschke is joined by Thomas Cowan, Head of Tokenization at Galaxy Digital, whose background spans Paxos, PayPal’s stablecoin infrastructure, and CBDC projects at Ripple and the Boston Fed. Together, they dissect how stablecoin businesses are truly built — far beyond the blockchain layer. While markets obsess over market cap rankings and regulatory headlines, this conversation goes deeper: What distinguishes a financial enterprise from a mere tech project in the stablecoin world? How do business models, applications, data architectures, and technology stacks interact to create institutional-grade resilience? Why does trust, not code alone, determine which stablecoin becomes “the on-chain dollar” the world actually uses? Thomas and Michael map out a four-layer framework — from business model to infrastructure — showing how design choices cascade through every layer of a stablecoin issuer. They explore the new competitive landscape shaped by MiCA, the Genius Act, and institutional demand, and they outline three emerging archetypes: white-label platforms, payment rails, and on-chain shadow banks. If you want to understand how the next generation of digital money infrastructure will be architected, operated, and trusted, this episode is a must-listen. 👉 Listen now and explore detailed show notes at bfrr.com Shownotes Thomas Cowan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-c-cowan/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

21X Journey: Transforming Capital Markets with Blockchain

How the first TSS under the European DLT Pilot Regime revolutionizes tokenized securities settlement In this BFRR episode, hosts Stefan Grasmann and Manuel Klein dive into the third big pillar of digital finance: tokenized securities and the regulated market infrastructure needed to scale them. They’re joined by Max Heinzle (Founder & CEO) and Victoria Jahn (Head of Regulatory Affairs) from 21X—the company operating what they describe as Europe’s first DLT trading and settlement system (DLT-TSS). Max traces his journey from traditional capital markets to blockchain, arguing that distributed ledgers are the “missing” settlement layer for securities. He explains how 21X runs a blockchain-enabled exchange (currently on Polygon, with multi-chain plans) that atomically matches and settles trades in ~T+2 seconds, removing the need for a CSD and slashing post-trade friction and cost. Victoria unpacks the EU DLT Pilot Regime, clarifies what a TSS license allows (combining exchange and settlement on-chain), and why stringent issuer standards and disclosure are crucial to attract the buy side. The conversation gets practical: why stablecoins (e-money tokens under MiCA) are the cash leg today, how wholesale CBDC could complement them, and what it takes to onboard wallet-native investors, RWAs funds, custodians, brokers, and—eventually—neo-banks and large distribution platforms. The hosts press on the perennial hurdles: secondary markets for on-chain bonds, bootstrapping liquidity with market makers, and solving the “chicken-and-egg” problem via multilateral venues rather than OTC. Looking ahead, 21X outlines a US expansion via broker-dealer/ATS licensing plus targeted exemptive relief, citing open doors at regulators and growing institutional demand. The panel imagines a near future where 24/7 programmable markets, per-second yield accrual, automated treasury, and T+1-second DvP finality are standard—and where public, permissionless rails connect global issuers and investors within robust regulatory guardrails. If you want a clear, insider view of how regulated on-chain capital markets could finally scale—from stablecoin settlement to tokenized MMFs, ETFs, bonds, and equities—this episode is your blueprint. 21X website [https://21x.eu/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!

When Banks and Nations Enter the Digital Money Arena | News

We unpack October’s biggest crypto and blockchain news – market shocks, institutional adoption, and how China’s digital currency ambitions add a new geopolitical twist In this new BFRR news episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll, Michael and Jonas break down what happened in October across crypto markets, institutional blockchain, and stablecoins — and why it matters for the future of digital finance. They start with the macro shock of the month: tariff threats between the U.S. and China triggered one of the largest crypto liquidations ever — roughly $20 billion in leveraged positions wiped out — and sent total crypto market cap swinging between $4.3T and $3.5T before settling near $3.75T. The hosts debate whether this proves that crypto is now a mature macro asset class that trades like equities… or just more proof that Bitcoin currently behaves more like tech stocks than “digital gold.” From there, they zoom in on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin held around $112K after spiking to $125K, but the headline story is political: Luxembourg became the first EU member state to allocate part of its sovereign wealth fund (1%) to Bitcoin ETFs — a symbolic but important milestone for nation-state level adoption. On Ethereum, they unpack the upcoming “Fusuka” upgrade aimed at making the network faster and cheaper through more efficient data handling and rollup support. The core of the episode focuses on institutional blockchain infrastructure. Three developments stand out: the launch of “Regulated Layer 1,” a new European cooperative blockchain governed by major banks; Swift’s move to build a shared ledger with 30+ global banks for real-time cross-border settlement; and Deutsche Börse Group’s work with Chainlink to bring regulated market data on-chain. Michael and Jonas argue this is the shift from pilots to production — traditional finance is no longer experimenting with blockchain, it’s building and owning it. Finally, they dive into stablecoins: Deutsche Börse partnering with Circle, Société Générale pushing bank-issued stablecoins directly into DeFi, major global banks exploring a joint stablecoin initiative, and China’s strategic push into yuan- and even euro-linked stablecoins. The lines between TradFi, DeFi, and geopolitics are blurring — fast. BFRR episode with Ivica Aračić on DLT architecture [https://bfrr.info/architecting-dlt-financial-infrastructures-with-swiat-cto-ivica-aracic/] Knowledge Bite Michael: Opinion piece “From bank wars to blockchain” [https://www.ledgerinsights.com/from-bank-wars-to-blockchain/] Knowledge Bite Jonas: ECB digital euro cost note [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/timeline/profuse/shared/pdf/ecb.deprep251010_a_view_on_recent_assessments_of_digital_euro_investment_costs_for_the_euro_area_banking_sector.en.pdf] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website [https://www.bfrr.de/] Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel [https://t.me/+jA3nMkERPtc5YjQ0] ---------------------------------------- Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here [https://relai.ch/rock/]. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll. Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here [https://fountain.fm/show/wNv0vSPWzu8Gh7bZTorB] Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here [https://www.bfrr.de/disclaimer/] ---------------------------------------- All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!