Episode Overview

Podcast: The Bitcoin Treasuries Podcast with Tim Kotzman
Episode: Building Bitcoin Treasuries in Britain with Andrew Webley & Jesse Myers of Smarter Web Company
Air Date: February 17, 2026

In this episode, host Tim Kotzman sits down with Andrew Webley and Jesse Myers of Smarter Web Company to explore the rise of Bitcoin treasury strategies in the UK. The discussion ranges from personal journeys into Bitcoin, the process of publicly listing a Bitcoin-focused company in Britain, and the significance of the emerging “treasury company” model for Bitcoin’s integration into the global financial system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backgrounds: Personal & Professional Journeys

Andrew Webley’s Story

• Early career started in 1999, pre-dotcom crash, with Hargreaves Lansdowne—“the biggest retail broker in the UK” ([01:00]).
• Became head of online and was instrumental in building their digital presence.
• Founded Smarter Web Company 16 years ago to provide web services remotely, way before remote was trendy ([02:10]).
• Discovered Bitcoin almost 10 years ago: viewed initially as volatile, a possible store of value, or trade instrument, but conviction grew after following Michael Saylor’s approach ([02:50]).

"I wanted a UK version of [MicroStrategy] because... I love the UK, but I wanted us to have our own version of strategy, but I couldn't find one. So about 18 months ago I thought, well, if no one else is going to have...a UK version, then I'll do it." — Andrew Webley ([03:52])

• Listed Smarter Web Company on the Aquis Exchange (the UK’s junior market) in April 2025, emphasizing transparency and retail investor involvement ([04:30]).
• Recently listed on the London Stock Exchange, becoming the largest UK Bitcoin treasury company ([04:30]).

Jesse Myers’ Story

• Raised in Pasadena, CA, background in accounting, consulting (Bain), and Stanford MBA ([05:00]).
• Entered crypto via Ethereum, but a harsh lesson in 2018 drew him to Bitcoin maximalism after studying monetary history and scarcity ([05:50]).
• Notably, his analysis on Bitcoin’s total addressable market (e.g., “Bitcoin 24 model”—$13 million BTC in 20 years) influenced Michael Saylor’s thinking ([07:30]).

"When you then start to really dig into why is bitcoin winning... you realize that there's a whole deeper level... this isn't about technology, it's about money." — Jesse Myers ([06:35])

• Inspired by treasury companies like MicroStrategy and Meta Planet, met Andrew at a Bitcoin conference, and quickly saw the UK as a huge, untapped capital market ([10:00]).
• Strong belief: “There’s going to be a winning Bitcoin treasury company in every capital market in the world” ([11:27]).

2. Conviction: Why Bitcoin Treasury Companies?

Breaking Out of MicroStrategy Mold

• For years, only MicroStrategy was seen as able to do the Bitcoin treasury play; Meta Planet’s pivot showed it could be done “from nothing” ([13:25]).

• The model is accessible:

  "Bitcoin is for everyone. Bitcoin's for every individual, company, and government. And it's a tailwind that you can opt into or not." — Jesse Myers ([13:45])

• Jesse underscores Europe as the next frontier after US and Japan led with their respective companies ([10:50]).

Smarter Web’s Approach

• Transparency and shareholder-first ethos:

  "Since the start, we've been as transparent as you can be as a public company. We've put shareholders first and foremost in every decision..." — Andrew Webley ([15:08])

• The business case: Trust in Bitcoin to outperform any traditional line of business in the long-run ([15:18])

  "If you believe in Bitcoin like we do, you believe...bitcoin's going to average, let's say, 30% a year. And then you think about that in the context of a business...it's the best business model you can get." — Andrew Webley ([15:35])

3. Pivotal Industry Moments & Perspective

• Jesse recounts how Bitcoin’s market share and asset monetization is still just “0.2% of global asset value,” emphasizing room to run ([13:58]).
• Both highlight Meta Planet’s pivot as a psychological unlock for entrepreneurs—if they can do it, anyone can (“the floodgates opened” — Jesse Myers [13:33]).
• Andrew frames Bitcoin treasury companies as a dramatically simpler way to deliver shareholder returns compared to traditional business models ([15:20]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Inspiration & Tenacity:

  “Everyone told me at the time that it wouldn’t work and I, I said, you know, this is ridiculous… look at Meta Planet…we’re just going to emulate that model. But, you know, we pushed on, we did it.” — Andrew Webley ([03:40])

• On Bitcoin’s Unique Place in Financial History:

  “Bitcoin is a digital perfection of scarcity and what makes gold a compelling asset… especially, the coup de grace was reading The Bitcoin Standard.” — Jesse Myers ([07:29])

• On Defining the New Era:

  “We'll look back at this as the demarcation point for bitcoin...there's going to be before treasury companies and after treasury companies, and I think it's going to be quite stark.” — Jesse Myers ([09:59])

Important Timestamps

• 00:12–04:48 — Andrew Webley’s journey: Career roots, founding Smarter Web, Bitcoin discovery, launch and listing story.
• 04:49–11:45 — Jesse Myers’ journey: Ivy league finance path, crypto awakening, Bitcoin-focused research, connection with Andrew, why the UK market matters.
• 13:09–14:55 — How early pioneers like Meta Planet expanded the model beyond MicroStrategy.
• 14:55–16:30 — Smarter Web’s ethos: transparency, shareholder returns, and the fundamental business logic of a Bitcoin treasury company.

Tone & Language

• The discussion is detailed and reflective, peppered with humor and humility (e.g., Andrew on not wanting to start the story “all the way back to childhood” [00:12]; Jesse calling his previous career path the “yuppie elite track” [05:13]).
• Both guests use financial and tech vernacular in an accessible way, making big-picture trends relatable to average listeners.

For those new to Bitcoin treasury companies, this episode explains:

• How visionaries are bringing Bitcoin to the heart of Britain’s financial sector,
• Why the UK is set to become a key player in institutional Bitcoin adoption,
• And what it takes—both in terms of conviction and hard work—to launch something truly new in a conservative market.

The story of Smarter Web Company, as told by Andrew Webley and Jesse Myers, is emblematic of Bitcoin’s next evolution: transparent, shareholder-focused, global, and only just beginning.