Bitcoin is emerging as a beacon of financial sovereignty amid global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.

Roundtable anchor Rob Nelson; Kelly Kellam, Director at BitLab Academy; and Perianne Boring, Founder of the Digital Chamber, recently shared their insights on how cryptocurrency might be used on the global financial stage.

Kelly Kellam emphasized the transformative power of bitcoin, stating that "The number one vote you could ever make, ever, is to self-custody bitcoin." He critiqued the U.S. dollar, arguing that its ability to be "inflated into infinity" funds wars and devalues citizens' hard-earned money. Kellam added, "The best invention of our time is this software called bitcoin, which allows us to have financial sovereignty and be outside of the system."

Speaking at a Brics summit in Kazan this week, President Vladimir Putin denounced the weaponization of the dollar via sanctions and tried to rally allies into support for an alternative. Putin attempted to propose a so-called “Brics Bridge” alternative for international trade settlement to take on the dollar-led Swift system.

“We are not rejecting or fighting the dollar, but if we are not given the chance to use it, what can we do? We are then forced to look for alternatives,” Putin said. Using blockchain technology, the "Brics Bridge" could eventually come to eat into the trillions of dollars in global trade routed through Swift. It remains unclear how bitcoin may play a direct role, but could easily be adopted as the currency of choice.

Rob Nelson reflected on historical figures in the context of modern finance, suggesting that "Alexander Hamilton might be turning over in his grave."

Nelson also brought up Ripple founder Chris Larsen's million-dollar donation to the Harris campaign, questioning whether contributing to both political sides could foster a desire to support the crypto space. "That's how lobbying works," he noted, "[it] nurtures a desire for these people to feel like we've got to work in the crypto space."

Perianne Boring stressed the importance of bipartisan support for cryptocurrency. "We have worked very, very hard to keep it a non-partisan issue," she said. Boring explained that her organization's focus is on "educating all policymakers regardless of the aisle" to ensure that laws and regulations effectively support those building and investing in the space. She expressed hope for depoliticizing the issue, stating, "Let's focus on the technology and ensure the U.S. can be at the center of building this incredibly important new space and technological frontier."