The past, present, and future of freedomtech
Matt O’dell, Bitcoin OG and freedom tech advocate, joins Shawn to dissect trust in a world of surveillance and centralized control. From Bitcoin’s role as a beacon of financial agency to Signal’s strides in secure communication, O’dell unpacks the tools reshaping money, identity, and expression. As co-founder of Bitcoin Park, OpenSats, and Ten31 Ventures, and host of Rabbit Hole Recap and Citadel Dispatch, he shares a decade of insights on building privacy-first businesses and communities. Recorded June 16, 2025, amid global tensions, this episode explores why open protocols matter, what’s thriving in 2025, and how to navigate a trust-minimized future.
Background
Bitcoin became this avenue of hope for me. It was a direction that we could actually affect actionable change and have true agency.
— Matt O'Dell
Timestamps
Resources
About Matt O'Dell
Matt Odell is a veteran Bitcoiner and open-source advocate driving freedom tech forward. He co-founded Bitcoin Park (Nashville and Austin) for community education, OpenSats, a 501c3 funding open-source projects like Tor, and Ten31, a VC firm backing Bitcoin businesses like Strike and Start9. Hosting Rabbit Hole Recap with Marty Bent and Citadel Dispatch, Odell educates thousands on Bitcoin and privacy. A former Human Rights Foundation volunteer and Bitcoin Policy Institute board member, he champions self-custody and financial freedom, blending technology, policy, and community to counter surveillance.