CRYPTO 101 Podcast Summary

Episode: Crypto Rundown: What The Technicals are Saying About Bitcoin & Walmart Accepts Crypto Payments
Hosts: Bryce Paul & Brendan Viehman
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This "Crypto Rundown" episode offers in-depth technical and fundamental analysis of the current state of Bitcoin and the wider crypto market. Hosts Bryce and Brendan explore recent price action, technical indicators, macroeconomic risks, and a slew of bullish adoption news, including updates from major financial institutions and retail giants like Walmart. The conversation also touches on U.S. policy proposals regarding Bitcoin and larger market cycle questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bitcoin’s Technical Analysis and Market Bottoms

(Start – 11:20)

• Volatile Market Roller Coaster: Brendan highlights "up, down, up, down… now we’re on our way back up" (01:14) and how the crypto market remains highly volatile but with improving sentiment.
• Key Technical Signals:
  • Fear and Greed Index: Recently hit lows historically associated with market bottoms, such as "the bottom of the COVID crash," 2022 bear market, and tariff crash. Recent reading: 10 or below, which usually signals major buying opportunities (02:52).
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI): Both daily and weekly RSI readings are at levels typically seen at historic Bitcoin bottoms (03:20).
  • Summary Quote:
    “When we get around these levels in the big picture, it has been one of the best buying opportunities.”
    — Brendan (05:20)
• Price Action Recap:
  • Major bullish invalidation: After a sharp sell-off and rejection around the 20-day moving average, a massive green candle the next day "erases all the rejection’s gains"—significant technical strength (06:00).
  • Bitcoin now breaking above previous resistance levels, suggesting a possible trend reversal. Next major price target: "around 100k" (07:14).
• Caveats:
  • Watch for potential bear flag formations.
  • Higher lows need to hold for continued bullishness.

Notable Quote

“To have such a large selling pressure and selling candle get wiped out the very next day… is huge. It's an invalidation of the bearish formation and it’s just like, yeah, I mean, there’s really no other way to describe it besides if you’re a bear, that’s the most disrespectful candle that you could have.”
— Brendan (05:34)

2. Altcoin Outperformance and Market Structure

(07:30 – 11:20)

• Altcoin Performance:
  • Ethereum "outperforming Bitcoin on some of these moves" (20%) (08:40).
  • Solana and BNB bouncing 14–20%, XRP up 10%.
• Tools for Trend Analysis: Bitcoin remains the key market compass; Ethereum and Solana serve as altcoin indicators.
• Strategy Tip: Brendan suggests "dollar cost averaging and buying here and getting into some more risk" if you see early reversal signals, but cautions that full-blown euphoria is not here yet (10:48).

3. Monitoring Macroeconomic Risks: Spotlight on Japan

(12:15 – 17:13)

• Japan's Economic Policy:
  • Japan considering rate hikes while printing stimulus—"usually counterintuitive" and potentially disruptive to global finance (14:12).
• Why it Matters:
  • Japan is "a huge hub for borrowing and lending" globally; any interest rate changes can ripple across the world (15:18).
  • Past impact: July–August 2024, Japanese rate hike rumors caused a 30% Bitcoin drop in just seven days.
• Outlook:
  • Not expecting a similar crash now due to better market preparation, but:
    “Just something again, we like to remind everyone… keep it in the back of your mind.” — Brendan (17:13)

4. American Bitcoin Policy in the Spotlight

(17:13 – 25:22)

• Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Proposal:
  • New legislation proposed to gradually accumulate up to 1 million BTC for a U.S. "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" over five years, using mechanisms that won't raise taxes or increase debt (18:31).
  • Will use Federal Reserve remittances, gold revaluations, and updates to the Exchange Stabilization Fund.
  • This could "potentially offset long-term national debt."
• Brendan's Response:
  • Growing political momentum for the U.S. to directly accumulate Bitcoin, but actual mechanisms remain an open question (19:37).
  • International impact: If adopted, could spark global reserve copycats (24:12).

Notable Quote

“If we do get this, I mean, be prepared for Bitcoin's price to be strapped onto an Elon rocket and sent through the galaxy.”
— Brendan (24:59)

• Crypto-friendly Taxation Proposal:
  • Hosts mention the idea of paying taxes in Bitcoin with no capital gains as "elite" (25:10).

5. Traditional Finance Joins the Party: Adoption Milestones

(27:55 – 34:28)

• Russia’s 2nd Largest Bank:
  • To launch Bitcoin and crypto trading in 2026; signals worldwide expansion (27:55).
• Vanguard, Bank of America, and Charles Schwab:
  • Vanguard opening access to 50M clients; Bank of America recommends 1–4% in BTC; Charles Schwab to offer Bitcoin and Ethereum in early 2026 (29:21–32:38).
  • Brendan speculates institutions waited for cheaper entry before such announcements.
• J.P. Morgan Flips Bullish:
  • After years of Jamie Dimon calling Bitcoin a "Pet Rock," J.P. Morgan launches crypto products and puts a $170,000 BTC price target on the table (32:38–34:28).

Notable Quote

“It’s one of the all-time head fakes of all time… Jamie Crypto diamond running around the world… then all of a sudden JP Morgan just starts rolling out the red carpet.”
— TiVo/Bryce (34:04)

6. The Extended Business Cycle Debate

(36:01 – 39:23)

• Raoul Pal’s “Everything Code” Thesis:
  • U.S. debt maturity extension may have stretched the traditional market/business cycle from 4 to 5 years (36:36).
  • Suggests peak market/liquidity in 2026.
  • Hosts note this thesis is gaining traction in the podcast guest circuit and may weaken the four-year/bull run halving cycle thesis.

7. Breakthrough in Real-World Crypto Use: Walmart Accepts Crypto Payments

(39:35 – 41:22)

• Walmart One Pay Cash App:
  • Largest U.S. retailer now accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP via its app (40:24).
  • Brendan:
    “The next time you’re sitting at the table on a holiday and your uncle turns to you and says… you can’t go to the store and pay for things in crypto… now you can.” (41:09)
• Significance:
  • Fulfills frequent demand for real-world crypto utility; major step for mainstream adoption.

8. Closing Thoughts & Listener Appreciation

(41:22 – 44:04)

• Volatility as Opportunity:
  • The hosts champion volatility as a moment for education and smart entry, not fear.
• Community Recognition:
  • Special thanks to "Gary"—the show's top Spotify listener, showing strong community engagement (42:02).
• Podcast Growth:
  • Over 900 listeners have Crypto 101 as their #1 podcast for Spotify Wrapped in 2025.

Notable Closing Quote

“You need a team if you’re going to do this stuff for the long term and be really invested… we really appreciate everybody tuning in.”
— Bryce/TiVo (44:04)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Market Sentiment Turns:
  “Doesn't matter if it's in Asia or Europe or North America or South America… you are seeing this happen on a global level.” — Brendan (28:20)

• On Price Cycle Analysis:
  “Are you going to let all this overshadow the one liquidation event that we had?” — Brendan (34:28)

• On Real-World Usage:
  “Let’s go buy some groceries. Let’s go buy some toilet paper… and let’s go pay for it all in Bitcoin or Ethereum or XRP or whatever you want. And now you’re able to do it.” — Brendan (41:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Technical analysis of Bitcoin: 01:11–11:20
• Altcoin performance insights: 07:30–11:20
• Fear/Greed Index & volatility chat: 12:15–15:18
• Macro risk: Japan rates impact: 15:18–17:13
• U.S. policy: Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: 18:31–25:22
• Institutional adoption rundown: 27:55–34:28
• Raoul Pal business cycle discussion: 36:36–39:23
• Walmart crypto acceptance news: 39:35–41:22
• Listener appreciation & closing: 41:22–44:04

Final Takeaway

This episode captures a significant turning point for crypto: technicals are aligning with bullish fundamentals, legacy financial giants are finally embracing Bitcoin, and mainstream adoption is taking a fresh leap as Walmart enables crypto payments. Amid ongoing volatility and macro uncertainties, the hosts emphasize research, education, and community, highlighting that—regardless of cycle length or breaking news—the momentum toward everyday crypto use and acceptance is stronger than ever.