On The Chain: Crypto / Politics - Michael Carbonara – Candidate U.S. House of Representatives, Florida 25

Release Date: December 11, 2025

Host: On The Chain ("A" and "B" refer to co-hosts Jeff and Chip)

Guest: Michael Carbonara, Republican candidate for U.S. House, Florida District 25

Episode Overview

This episode features Michael Carbonara, a fintech entrepreneur and Republican candidate running to unseat incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida's 25th Congressional District. The discussion centers on Carbonara’s vision for economic freedom, technological innovation, especially around blockchain and digital assets, government transparency, and restoring opportunity and prosperity for Floridians and Americans at large. The hosts delve into Michael's background, the rationale behind his run, and his policy stances on healthcare, fintech innovation, term limits, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Run for Congress? (03:19)

• Background: Not a career politician; experienced entrepreneur and fintech innovator.
• Catalyst: COVID-19 response was the breaking point.
  • Quote: "COVID is when it was right there in our faces. The corruption, the disregard for our rights was never more prominent... we couldn’t go to church... We couldn’t even go to work. Our businesses were shut down. For a government to have the ability to do that to us, I think is just outrageous." (03:41)
• Sees current representation as totally out of touch with district values.

2. Problems in Florida's 25th District (04:33)

• Rising cost of living, increased taxes, unaffordable housing, and rampant local government fraud.
• Student loan burdens are blocking the American Dream for younger generations.
  • Quote: "We have a whole generation that lost the opportunity for the American dream because they're basically burdened with the student loan debt, and it's hard to even find a job with that degree." (04:33)

3. Health Care & The ACA (Obamacare) Debate (06:04 – 09:42)

• Carbonara criticizes ACA for raising costs and fueling fraud, especially in South Florida.
• Advocates for health savings accounts, market competition, and transparency as alternatives.
  • "Obamacare has some of the biggest frauds... the subsidies are going to big Pharma rather than the money going back to the people." (06:04)
  • "We had a better system before Obamacare... we just need to put something better that subsidizes the American people, not Big Pharma." (08:25)

4. Government Transparency via Blockchain (10:44 – 11:30)

• Sees blockchain as a vital tool for government transparency and accountability.
• Cautions against Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), stresses privacy for citizens.
  • "While we need the government to adopt blockchain, we need to make sure we maximize privacy of the American people by maximizing the transparency of the government." (10:44)

5. Digital Assets, Stablecoins, and US National Security (12:14 – 15:00)

• Stablecoins can strengthen the dollar and U.S. global financial influence.
• Predicts US Dollar stablecoins will become a primary global reserve as people in developing economies favor stability over their own fiat currencies.
  • "What that's going to do is be the greatest export of the US dollar ever. And that will drive major deposits into the US Banks..." (12:14)
• Warns about looming “currency wars” and collapsing central banks abroad.

6. Entrepreneurial Background & Fintech Innovation (16:52 – 19:29, 28:10)

• Ibanera: Company built infrastructure for compliant cross-border fintech and crypto payments, especially relevant after US banks like Silvergate and Signature shut down.
• Blockchain's value: Real-time payments, transparency, eliminating legacy inefficiencies.

7. Crypto Regulation & Maximalism (22:13, 29:36 – 30:56)

• Blockchain innovation moving faster than government; SEC is "coming around" but needs to be proactive, not reactionary.
• Pushes for broad crypto innovation, not maximalism: "Most of the entrepreneurs or business space, I would say, are not maximalist. The ones I've met, because there's so much innovation, there's so much utility or different use cases..." (30:24)

8. Insurance Crisis & Potential for Blockchain (33:04 – 33:37)

• Homeowner/condo insurance is unaffordable, worsened by fraud and lack of competition.
• Suggests blockchain can improve transparency and reduce fraud, but emphasizes the need for market competition.

9. National Security, Immigration, and Foreign Threats (36:02 – 41:15)

• Supports Florida’s terrorism designations for Muslim Brotherhood and CARE.
• Expresses concern over Iran-Hezbollah influence in Venezuela and the dangers of narco-terrorism/drug flows.
• Backs strong defense and proactive identification of threats.
  • "We have a narco terrorist [Maduro] that is killing our kids... No matter what side of the fence you’re on, That’s a fact." (39:07)

10. Personal Story and Entrepreneurial Motivation (41:45 – 45:49)

• Dropped out of college; realized he was an entrepreneur in late 20s.
• Built companies out of need to create, not conform.
  • "Having that realization—you just don't fit into a box... You don't have to do things the normal way." (41:45)

11. IVF/Fertility Project & Demographics Crisis (43:11 – 46:50)

• Started fertility support business as a humanitarian project.
• Frames low birth rates as a looming humanitarian and societal threat.
  • "It is probably the largest humanitarian crisis in the world right now." (45:14)

12. Campaign Strategy, Community Support, and Next Steps (47:52 – 50:37)

• Self-funded initial run; now seeking broader grassroots support.
• Campaign launch had "10 million views of our announcement video with zero social media a week before." (50:02)
• Humbling support; focus is on “getting the word out.”

13. Fun Lightning Round & Stance on Term Limits (51:08 – 56:45)

• Advocates for moderate term limits: ~10 years for House; 2-3 terms for Senate.
• Points to Founders as role models: Washington, Jefferson, Franklin—as entrepreneurs, not politicians.
  • "Our country was founded by entrepreneurs. Every one of our founding fathers was an entrepreneur." (57:48)
• Political superpower? “Common sense.” (53:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On feeling compelled to run:
  “During COVID is when it was right there in our faces...people really were stamping over our rights and didn’t care.” (03:41)
• On government responsibility:
  “We need to make sure we maximize privacy of the American people by maximizing the transparency of the government.” (10:44)
• On the future of stablecoins:
  "What that's going to do is be the greatest export of the US dollar ever." (12:14)
• On entrepreneurs vs. career politicians:
  "Our country was founded by entrepreneurs... The career politician is the wrong way of doing things." (57:48)
• On crypto innovation and maximalism:
  “Most of the entrepreneurs or business space, I would say, are not maximalist...there’s so much innovation, there’s so much utility or different use cases.” (30:24)
• On term limits:
  "Running for office and working dedicated time should be a contribution to the people. It shouldn't be a lifelong career." (55:49)
• On blockchain for transparency:
  "If we have blockchain implemented as a next stage, we could track in real time all those government payments." (10:44)
• On what sets him apart as a candidate:
  "I’m not a career politician. I want to get in and get it done... I want to be there as long as I'm effective and people want me there, but I have no plans of being in there til I'm old and gray." (54:44, 54:56)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Why Run for Congress? – 03:19 – 04:26
• District's Issues & Representation – 04:33 – 05:32
• ACA and Health Care Reform – 06:04 – 09:42
• Blockchain for Transparency and Anti-CBDC – 10:44 – 12:14
• Stablecoins & U.S. Dollar Global Dominance – 12:14 – 15:00
• Fintech & Entrepreneurial Innovation – 16:52 – 19:29
• Regulatory Challenges & Maximalism – 22:13, 29:36 – 30:56
• Insurance Market & Blockchain Potential – 33:04 – 33:37
• Security, Immigration, Foreign Influence – 36:02 – 39:07
• Personal Story: Entrepreneurial Roots – 41:45 – 45:49
• IVF, Fertility & Demographics – 43:11 – 46:50
• Community Support & Viral Campaign Launch – 50:02 – 50:37
• Lightning Round (Personality, Policy Rapid-Fire) – 51:08 – 56:45
• Role Models & Founding Fathers – 57:48 – 59:36
• Closing Message / Why He’s Running – 60:54 – 62:04

Closing Summary & Final Message

Michael Carbonara positions himself as an anti-establishment, innovation-driven candidate committed to restoring economic freedom, government accountability, and American prosperity—using modern technology like blockchain while preserving privacy and embracing common sense. He promises to bring entrepreneurial problem-solving to Congress, address local and national crises (from healthcare to insurance and demographic decline), and break the cycle of career politicians. The campaign now pivots to grassroots outreach and voter mobilization.

Final Quote:
"I'm running to restore those freedoms, to bring back affordability and economic prosperity by reducing taxes, by focusing on our safety, focusing on our police force...focusing back on America first, values of what this country is founded on. And that's why I'm running." (60:54)

Find out more or support the campaign:
michaelcarbonara.com

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