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Podcast Host
Today's episode of Bitcoin News Alerts is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you can save some cash?
Bitcoin News Analyst
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Bitcoin News Analyst
Bitcoin doesn't get expensive when retail gets excited. Bitcoin gets expensive when governments discover they need what it does. That's when supply disappears. And that's when price disappears. Discovery breaks. Check this out. $10 million bitcoin sounds insane until you realize a nation just started using Bitcoin to route around financial warfare. Iran got 344 million in USDT frozen, not Bitcoin. USDT a stablecoin with an issuer. A freeze button. So what did they do? Build Bitcoin infrastructure around the world's most critical oil choke point.
Bitcoin Strategist
Let that sink in.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Not a hedge fund, not a degen trader. A nation. And Iran's local currency is getting obliterated against Bitcoin. This isn't adoption. This is escape velocity.
Bitcoin Strategist
Listen to this.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Because the Straer Hor moves isn't some random shipping lane. Roughly 20% of the world's oil flows through it.
Bitcoin Strategist
That makes it one of the most important choke points on the planet. And now Iran wants Bitcoin settlement tied to ships moving through it. Why? Because stable coins can be frozen, bank wires can be blocked, and Swift can be weaponized. Bitcoin can't. That changes everything instantly. Because this is no longer about digital gold. This is about uncensorable global commerce. And once one nation discovers that utility, others start paying attention fast. Now zoom out. Sailor just bought another 24,869 Bitcoin. They hold 843,738 as of today. Process that 843,738 Bitcoin gone. And at the same time, BlackRock just increases strategy exposure once again. The largest asset manager on earth keeps increasing its Bitcoin exposure. Japan is openly discussing national Bitcoin strategy. Meta Planet continues executing. And in countries where fiat confidence breaks, Bitcoin goes vertical. That's exactly what just happened in Iran.
Bitcoin News Analyst
People living inside broken monetary systems understand something Western investors said, still don't. Bitcoin is not just an investment, it's the escape hatch. That's why the average retail investor still misunderstands this cycle. They think Bitcoin reprices because of the hype, because influencers post charts, and because the ETFs bring flows. That does matter. But it's not the real story. The deepest story is what happens when Bitcoin becomes strategically useful. Not as speculation, as infrastructure, as settlement, as monetary defense, as an asset no foreign government can freeze. Think about what that means if one sanctioned nation starts routing around financial controls with Bitcoin. What happens when others realize they can do the same? What happens when governments stop asking? Should we regulate Bitcoin and start asking? Should we hold Bitcoin? That's when price discovery gets violent. Bitcoin does not need mass adoption to break the price models. It needs concentrated demand, a few sovereign buyers, a few treasury departments, and a few strategic actors. That's enough. Because there's only 21 million bitcoin and far less liquid supply. Lost coins, coal storage, long term holders, corporate treasuries, sailor ETFs, now sovereign utility demand. That's why 10 million isn't really a shocking number. The shocking assumption is believing the current price models survive this shift. Because once Bitcoin becomes more than just an investment, once it becomes strategic infrastructure, which it is, everything changes. And when that realization spreads, the market won't calmly reprice, it'll reprice violently. So question. What happens to the Bitcoin price when nations realize Bitcoin has no freeze button? Now here's the part people underestimate. What I just described is not some hypothetical Bitcoin fantasy. It's already happening in oil, on balance sheets, inside broken currencies, and in the hands of the biggest buyers on earth. Check out the receipts. Iran has launched the Hormu Safe, a platform offering digital maritime insurance for ships transiting the Straight of Hormuz, with payments settled in Bitcoin. Iran's Ministry of Economy has been developing the initiative since April, and officials estimate it can generate over $10 billion worth of revenue. The timing matters. Weeks ago, The OFAC froze 344 million in USDT held in wallets attributed to the Central bank of Iran.
Bitcoin Strategist
Keep in mind, these stable coins can be frozen. This is the perfect example. Bitcoin is the only thing they can't sanction and they can't freeze. By settling in Bitcoin instead of stable coins, Iran is explicitly routing around the enforcement mechanism that just cost them 344 million.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Brilliant.
Bitcoin Strategist
Bitcoin has no freeze function. Before the official launch, Greek maritime risk firm Maris warned that unknown actors claiming to represent Iranian authorities war already sending messages to ships demanding transit fees in Bitcoin for safe passage. At least one oil tanker was attacked after falling for what appeared to be a related scam. The Straight, or moose, handles roughly 20% of the global oil supply. Iran is positioning itself as the de facto insurer for the world's most critical energy checkpoint, using Bitcoin as the payment rail, specifically because it cannot be frozen or seized. The high priest Max Kaiser poses a great question. Shouldn't the Panama Canal be accepting Bitcoin? Brilliant question. And this is the game theory playing out in real time.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Bitcoin's going parabolic against the Iranian real, as you can see in this chart. That's because Bitcoin is demonetizing fiat currencies in real time. Just imagine what will eventually happen to the US Dollar. And we've seen this play out over and over again all around the world, with currencies collapsing now. Also breaking news. $13 trillion Black Rock just announced they increased their Bitcoin exposure via MSTR to over $3 billion. The world's largest financial institutions are buying Bitcoin. And I'm not surprised. The largest shareholders of MSTR are Vanguard and Black rock. They have 536 million more of MSTR as of today and hold a total of 17.75 million shares. If you've been looking for an excuse to consolidate your assets, this is it. Until May 31, Coinbase has given a straight 3% bitcoin boost on any crypto or cash deposits all month. Coinbase One is built to help you get more out of your money with zero trading fees on thousands of crypto assets around 3.5 APY on USDC boosted staking and lending rewards and up to 4% bitcoin back with the Coinbase One card. Plus you can still claim 20 off your first year of Coinbase One annual plans and a 50 bitcoin bonus with when you spend $100 on a new Coinbase One card in the first 30 days through May 31, it's the perfect time to centralize your assets, maximize your earnings. Get your 3% boost at coinbase.com BTC NEWS that's coinbase.com BTC NEWS to claim your Bitcoin bonus. No purchase necessary. See rules and other ways to enter terms Apply to Other offers futures SL swaps via Coinbase Financial Markets risk of 100% loss payouts event based not investment advice not available in Nevada. Coinbase One card is offered through Coinbase Inc. And Cardless Inc. Cards issued by First Electronic Bank. Bitcoin back rates are based on cardholders assets on Coinbase.
Podcast Host
Today's episode of Bitcoin News Alerts is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you can save some cash?
Bitcoin News Analyst
Progressive makes it easy to see if
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you can save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Today is Pod Episode 2342. Today is Monday, May 18, 2026. Sailor just bought another 24869 Bitcoin and I prophesied this. Someone asked me yesterday, how much bitcoin do you think he'll be announcing on Monday? I said 25,000 wild guests and here you go. That's a $2 billion buy at $8985 per Bitcoin, achieving a Bitcoin yield of 12.6% year to date. Fung Lee, their CEO, pointed out they've generated 84,987 Bitcoin gain, which is 6.6 billion USD so far this year, which is already 75% of the entire 2025 Bitcoin gain. Quoting Fong Lee Digital credit is helping us deliver faster growth in 2026 than in 2025. And that's precisely what STRC is doing.
Bitcoin Strategist
They're ultimately tapping into that massive market of digital credit, which is untapped strategy to hit 1 million bitcoin. It's imminent.
Bitcoin News Analyst
I agree with that.
Bitcoin Strategist
It hasn't even been a full five months and strategy already acquired 171,238 bitcoin thus far this year. That's a 25% increase in its bitcoin stack this year. Absolutely. Insane in the membrane, Insane in the brain. 171,000 bitcoin divided by 94 business days is 1822 bitcoin per business day. Now I asked you the question, how many bitcoin are mine per day? Only 450. So strategy is single handedly outpacing the entire daily mine Supply using the 1822 Bitcoin per business day pace and assuming they don't continue to speed up with STRC adoption, a million bitcoin target minus 843,000 current stack means they only have 156,000 bitcoin remaining to hit that target. Let me know if you believe this will happen by August, September. They're projecting at the current pace It'll happen by September 21st. I think it'll happen even faster because he's accelerating. And the race is neck and neck with Black Rock. Now Metal Planet CEO Simon Gurivich just had a meeting with Japanese House of Representative member Junichi Kanda on Japan's Bitcoin strategy. So yes, the government of Japan is discussing strategic Bitcoin reserve. This is the global hash war as Max Geiser prophesies many years ago Adam
Bitcoin News Analyst
back backed Capital B just bought $15 million of Bitcoin. Treasury companies are loading up as they should be doing right now. Also the Trump family back bitcoin miner American Bitcoin Corp. ABTC increases holdings by 200 Bitcoin now holding 7.500 BTC and you can see they're ranking amongst the top 100 holders and they're currently number 15. Also breaking news, 13 trillions just announced it'll launch Bitcoin and crypto ETFs the world's fifth largest economy. This is in Japan. Asia is waking up to the bitcoin. So you already know global hash war baby. Also breaking news 1.5 trillion. Morgan Stanley is now paying $1500 to Bitcoin and crypto buyers who sign up for E Trade. They're paying it directly to advance adoption. Check out this clip.
Financial Expert
Let me explain why this is a big deal at least for the likes of Morgan Stanley which is up to this point Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, they offered exposure to Bitcoin through the ETF wrapper. So that would be through like Mike Novogratz's firm Galaxy. But they have never decided to go Direct and provide direct access. Morgan Stanley's plan specifically is to offer it through E Trade, through a little startup called zerohash. They are now partly owned by Morgan Stanley, partly owned by Sofi and Apollo. So it seems like they've decided they're expressing an opinion about this company being an infrastructure play that will allow banks and fintechs to connect to the crypto economy.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Well, there you go. They're incentivizing you guys to sign up, giving you free money. That's how desperate they are to join the bitcoin arms race. And speaking of the bitcoin arms race, the man leading the rest of the pack, Michael Sailor, achieved the goal of owning 4% of the Bitcoin supply. Now naturally it's not Sailor that owns all that bitcoin, it's the shareholders through mstr. But it just goes to show you how fast things are happening right now. So congratulations, Michael Saylor. That's phenomenal. Let's not Forget back in 2013, Sailor said Bitcoin days are numbered. It seems like just a matter of time before it suffers. The same fate is online gambling. And now in 2026, he's the largest corporate holder in the entire world. 4% of the entire bitcoin supply in the hands of one company.
Bitcoin Strategist
Pretty wild.
Bitcoin News Analyst
We've come a long ways since then. So it goes to show you even if you come to came late, you could be one of the largest holders. Who would have thought someone coming in in 2020 would end up being the largest corporate holder in the world six years later? That goes to show you maybe the largest holder in the future hasn't even
Bitcoin Strategist
came into bitcoin yet.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Maybe it'll be a country like China or Russia.
Bitcoin Strategist
I pray it's the USA of course. But at the same time, let's get moving with this bitcoin strategic reserve. Trump already signed the executive order back in 2025, but we haven't really been stockpiling. Yes, we have 320,000 Bitcoin which was seized by the criminals, drug traffickers, anti money laundering, tax avoidance. But we haven't made any acquisitions as far as purchasing or swapping our gold reserves for bitcoin or swapping worthless fiat currency. There's so many different strategies in plays where the United states could have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 million Bitcoin sailors calling for the United states to acquire 20% of the entire bitcoin supply.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Think about that for a moment. That's just one country. Will they follow through? I'm a little skeptical, but I think it will happen. But I almost feel like another country is going to pass the United States and take it more serious. But what are your thoughts and which country do you think that may be? Breaking news. Minnesota governor signs bill into law that allows the banks and credit unions to offer bitcoin custody services. The customers want to know why that is.
Bitcoin Strategist
Because bitcoin is pristine collateral.
Bitcoin News Analyst
Of course. The banks want your bitcoin and they're coming for it full speed ahead. Also, Pavel, the founder of Telegram says bitcoin will reach a million per coin. The government keeps printing money like no tomorrow. Nobody is printing bitcoin.
Bitcoin Strategist
Amen.
Bitcoin News Analyst
And that's a beautiful thing. I believe it's just a matter of time before we hit a million. It's another 10x from 100 GS. How many times is Bitcoin 10x since the inception? So many times I can't count.
Bitcoin Strategist
I don't got enough fingers and toes.
Podcast Host
What are you going to do?
Bitcoin Strategist
But there's no doubt bitcoin will continue
Bitcoin News Analyst
to do what to do.
Bitcoin Strategist
Because it's the only finite, limited supply asset in existence. And now the entire world is racing to accumulate it. And that's why you're seeing so much bitcoin being absorbed from the market at an unprecedented pace. Right now. Sailor issues a dire warning to the bitcoin community. He says, if bitcoin went to $10 million tomorrow, I want you to think
Bitcoin News Analyst
about how you'd feel.
Bitcoin Enthusiast
Volatility was a gift to the faithful. It scares away the tourist. It scares away the lazy. It scares away the people that are already conventionally rich that have all the money. If people in the rest of the world knew what I know and they understood and they agreed with me, bitcoin would go to $10 million tomorrow. And if Bitcoin went to $10 million tomorrow, I want you to think about how you would feel and how your viewers would feel because you would look lose 20 years.
Podcast Host
Today's episode of Bitcoin News alerts is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you can save some cash?
Bitcoin News Analyst
Progressive makes it easy to see if
Podcast Host
you can save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
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Bitcoin Enthusiast
Terms apply of stacking opportunity.
Bitcoin News Analyst
You gotta respect Sailors conviction. So how would you feel if bitcoin hit $10 million tomorrow? Let me know in the comments right down below. Sailor's currently the king, but you know what they say about the king. Others are going to try to dethrone him and take off his head. So be careful out there Michael, especially with Larry Fink.
Podcast Host
But if you're watching Larry, I want
Bitcoin News Analyst
you to go home and get your shine box shoeshine, Larry. As you can see, mass adoption is accelerating and Bitcoin has become a strategic way to maneuver around sanctions. And they can't freeze bitcoin. But remember your favorite stablecoin can be frozen with the touch of a button. All it takes is the government to call out the issuer. Hey Tether CEO, there's terrorists transacting in your stable coin. We need you to freeze it in the name of national security. And they're not even going to second guess it. They'll be like frozen, you know. So be careful where you store your wealth. There's a reason we put our wealth in btc. It's the only store value, it's the
Bitcoin Strategist
only asset that cannot be confiscated and taken away or frozen in this case by the forces of evil.
Bitcoin News Analyst
I'd feel pretty amazing if Bitcoin would
Bitcoin Strategist
have hit $1 million tomorrow. Send it.
Bitcoin News Analyst
If Bitcoin goes to $10 million tomorrow, I would be okay financially, I think.
Bitcoin Strategist
Hopefully there won't be riots in the streets.
Bitcoin News Analyst
I could live the rest of my life happy and joyful.
Bitcoin Strategist
Bitcoin went to 10 million tomorrow.
Bitcoin News Analyst
You can't short your dorks. You can't afford that. What happens when the world realizes bitcoin's most important feature is that nobody can freeze it? And what price do you think bitcoin hits then? And don't forget to check out bitcoin news alerts.net for the full premium experience with video and to participate in the live stream along with the community Q and A and I look forward to seeing you on tomorrow's episode. Hoddle.
Podcast Host
Today's episode of Bitcoin News Alerts is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you can save some cash?
Bitcoin News Analyst
Progressive makes it easy to see if
Podcast Host
you can save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com progressive casualty insurance insurance company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
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Title: Iran Uses Bitcoin To Escape Financial Warfare – $10 Billion Utility Shock
Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Bitcoin News Alerts Team
Theme: How nation-states like Iran are leveraging Bitcoin’s censorship resistance to bypass financial sanctions, and how this shift is sparking a global game-theory arms race for Bitcoin among sovereign actors, corporations, and individuals.
In this compelling episode, the hosts dive deep into how Iran has turned to Bitcoin as an escape hatch from financial sanctions, moving billions through the world’s critical oil supply channels and exposing the limitations of stablecoins and traditional finance. The discussion examines the strategic use of Bitcoin as monetary infrastructure by nations and major corporations, explores the latest movements by institutional giants like BlackRock and MicroStrategy, and contemplates the far-reaching market implications as sovereigns awaken to Bitcoin’s unfreezable nature.
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| Topic | Speakers | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|:----------:| | Iran switches to Bitcoin settlements for oil shipping | News Analyst, Strategist | 01:38–02:35| | BlackRock, MicroStrategy, institutional FOMO | News Analyst, Strategist | 03:38–07:06| | Japan’s national BTC strategy; global “hash war” | News Analyst, Strategist | 10:29–11:48| | US government strategy, Saylor’s 20% suggestion | News Analyst, Strategist | 14:21–15:38| | Minnesota law: banks offer Bitcoin custody | News Analyst, Strategist | 15:38–15:53| | Pavel Telegram, Sailor’s $10m warning, price/game theory illustrations | Strategist, Enthusiast, News Analyst | 15:53–16:59| | Bitcoin’s unfreezable nature vs. stablecoins | News Analyst, Strategist | 18:13–18:56|
This episode underscores a historic inflection point: Bitcoin is rapidly evolving from speculation to essential infrastructure for nations, corporations, and individuals. As governments like Iran deploy Bitcoin to outmaneuver sanctions—and institutions scramble to accumulate—the traditional supply/demand models and regulatory assumptions are breaking down. As the hosts assert, we’re witnessing the dawn of the “global hash war”—and only those who adapt, stack, and secure their BTC will survive the next wave of financial upheaval.
“Stack hard. Stay sovereign.”