new renaissance capital

Hosted by Frank Corva

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May 2026

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We cover Bitcoin adoption around the globe.

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May 16, 20261 hr 1 min

The Fight For Bitcoin Rights In South Africa w/ Hermann Vivier

In this episode, host Frank Corva sits down with Hermann Vivier, a prominent South African Bitcoiner and the founder of Bitcoin Ekasi and The Surfer Kids non-profit. They dive deep into the recent draft regulations proposed by the South African government that threaten to essentially ban peer-to-peer Bitcoin usage through aggressive updates to the country's 1961 Capital Controls Act. Hermann breaks down how these vague new rules could force citizens to turn over assets to the state treasury or mandate holding funds in highly regulated, KYC-walled gardens, effectively outlawing local circular economies. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Hermann Vivier Follow Hermann on X: <a href="https://x.com/vryfokkenou">https://x.com/vryfokkenou</a> Follow Bitcoin Ekasi on X: <a href="https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi">https://x.com/BitcoinEkasi</a> Follow the Property Rights Defense Group on X: <a href="https://x.com/PRDG_ZA/">https://x.com/PRDG_ZA/</a> Learn more about Bitcoin Ekasi: <a href="https://bitcoinekasi.com/">https://bitcoinekasi.com/</a> Learn more about the Property Rights Defense Group: <a href="https://propertyrightsdefense.org/">https://propertyrightsdefense.org/</a> Timestamps: 0:00 Highlights 0:32 Introduction 3:52 Overview of the Proposed Capital Control Regulations in South Africa 10:30 Why are these controls being proposed now? 15:58 Communist Ideology in South Africa 22:32 Stopping South Africa from Becoming a 'Bitcoin Country' 27:44 Issues with the South African Bureaucracy and Administrative State 32:42 Why Hermann Is Optimistic 36:24 What can Bitcoiners do to help? 40:32 Why Some Non-White South Africans Support Communist Ideology 48:12 Why South Africans Aren't Leaving 53:34 Final Thoughts <h1 id="bitcoinbtcafricasouthafricaregulationlawlawsbitcoinekasipoliticsgovernmentmoneycapitalcapitalcontrolsfinancep2pp2prights">bitcoin #btc #africa #southafrica #regulation #law #laws #bitcoinekasi #politics #government #money #capital #capitalcontrols #finance #p2p #p2prights</h1>

May 9, 202651 min

Mostro: Building Censorship-Resistant P2P Bitcoin Trading on Nostr w/ Francisco Calderón

In this episode, we sit down with Francisco Calderon, a veteran developer and a central figure in the Latin American Bitcoin scene. Francisco shares his journey from experiencing the economic collapse in Venezuela to building Mostro, a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) trading protocol. We discuss how Mostro leverages the Nostr protocol to remove single points of failure, providing a lifeline for users in regions like Cuba and Bolivia where financial censorship and slow internet are daily realities. Beyond P2P trading, Francisco dives into the philosophical importance of open-source technology and his vision for the future. From using Bitcoin as a tool for remittances to his experimental work on decentralized voting systems, this conversation explores how sovereign technology can empower individuals globally. Whether you are interested in the technical mechanics of the Lightning Network or the humanitarian impact of Bitcoin, this episode offers a deep dive into the tech that is actually changing lives on the ground. Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:38 Introduction 2:38 Discovering Bitcoin 6:00 Francisco Starts Working on Bitcoin/Lightning 8:41 Building LNP2P Bot 12:59 Building Mostro 17:25 Where Mostro Is Used 19:19 How Mostro Utilizes Nostr 21:42 Who Mostro Was Built For 25:20 Can Mostro work with Ecash? 27:29 How big can Mostro get? 34:29 Perspective on Countries in Crisis 37:38 Maduro's Capture and the Current State of Venezuela 43:39 The Open-Source Future Is Bright 49:23 Closing <h1 id="bitcoinp2pmostronostrlightningnetworkopensourcevenezuelacubasovereigntechfinancialfreedomcensorshipresistantcryptodecentralizedbitcointradingtechforgoodlatinamericasovereignlivingremittancesbitcoindevblockchain">Bitcoin #P2P #Mostro #Nostr #LightningNetwork #OpenSource #Venezuela #Cuba #SovereignTech #FinancialFreedom #CensorshipResistant #Crypto #Decentralized #BitcoinTrading #TechForGood #LatinAmerica #SovereignLiving #Remittances #BitcoinDev #Blockchain</h1>

April 24, 20261 hr 4 min

The Fight For Real Bitcoin Freedom w/ Hannah Rosenberg

Hannah Rosenberg of Lightning Labs joins Frank for a philosophical deep dive into the state of Bitcoin in 2026. This episode explores the "human being problem" behind Bitcoin's growing pains, specifically focusing on how authoritarianism and elitism have infiltrated American Bitcoin circles. Hannah shares personal experiences of how the space has changed and why she maintains respect for the "diamonds in the rough" who uphold their principles despite the pressure to chase power or clout. Beyond the cultural critiques, we look at the practical future of Bitcoin as a global currency. From the importance of de minimis tax exemptions to the rise of inclusive economies over extractive ones, we cover the logistics of a Bitcoin-fueled renaissance. We also discuss why the most interesting Bitcoin stories are currently happening outside of the West, where the technology is a literal lifeline rather than just a financial asset. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Hannah Rosenberg Timestamps: 0:00 Highlight 0:10 Intro 1:50 Authoritarianism and Elitism in Bitcoin 13:06 Are human beings unavoidably hierarchical? 20:28 Upholding the Bitcoin Ethos 27:58 Is the circle of high-integrity people expanding? 29:27 Human Psychology and the Fear State 36:05 The Difficult of Serving Bitcoin 41:58 Can Bitcoin help us to be better? 49:04 What Keeps Hannah Motivated 53:19 Will better regulation help with Bitcoin adoption? 1:02:04 Final Thoughts <h1 id="bitcoinlightningnetworkcryptodecentralizationfinancialfreedomblockchainbitcoinculturelightninglabsglobalsoutheconomicfreedombitcoin2026techethicspsychologyhumanrightsdigitalcurrency">Bitcoin #LightningNetwork #Crypto #Decentralization #FinancialFreedom #Blockchain #BitcoinCulture #LightningLabs #GlobalSouth #EconomicFreedom #Bitcoin2026 #TechEthics #Psychology #HumanRights #DigitalCurrency</h1>

April 10, 20261 hr 8 min

On the Iran Conflict and Bitcoin in the Middle East w/ Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar joins us to discuss the reality of the situation in Iran, including how people from the region view at the conflict. He debunks common misconceptions about Iran's ethnic makeup and discusses how local populations really feel about the regime and foreign intervention. We also discuss the multiple layers on which Bitcoin has been adopted in the Middle East. Please note that this episode was recorded before the two-week ceasefire agreement, which was announced on April 7, 2026. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Faisal Saeed Al Mutar Link to Faisal's newsletter, Middle East Uncovered: <a href="https://www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/">https://www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/</a> Link to Faisal's organization, Ideas Beyond Borders: <a href="https://ideasbeyondborders.org/">https://ideasbeyondborders.org/</a> Video Timestamps: 0:00 Highlights 0:30 Introduction 3:33 An Overview of the Iran Conflict 10:02 Best and Worst Possible Outcomes 15:53 Opening the Straight of Hormuz 22:50 An Ethnic and Religious Breakdown of Iran's Population 24:40 Iran Isn't Venezuela 30:15 How many Iranians want regime change? 38:15 Iran and Freedom 42:47 Different Perspectives of Iranians 48:35 Bitcoin in the Middle East 58:02 Shelly Kittleson 1:03:38 Outro <h1 id="middleeastiranwarbitcoingeopoliticsiranisraelstraitofhormuziraqhumanrightssovereigntechregimechangeideasbeyondborderslebanonafghanistanglobalenergyusforeignpolicyfreedomthedayafterjournalismmiddleeastuncovered">MiddleEast #IranWar #Bitcoin #Geopolitics #IranIsrael #StraitOfHormuz #Iraq #HumanRights #SovereignTech #RegimeChange #IdeasBeyond Borders #Lebanon #Afghanistan #GlobalEnergy #USForeignPolicy #Freedom #TheDayAfter #Journalism #MiddleEastUncovered</h1>

March 27, 20261 hr 44 min

How Bitcoin Helps in Cuba | Cómo Ayuda Bitcoin en Cuba

Discover the innovative ways Bitcoin is being used in Cuba to overcome economic hurdles and empower local communities. Our guests, Forte and Catrya, co-founders of Cuba Bitcoin, provide a firsthand look at the technical projects they are working on and the importance of native language media in the Bitcoin space. Descubre las formas innovadoras en que se está utilizando Bitcoin en Cuba para superar obstáculos económicos y empoderar a las comunidades locales. Nuestros invitados, Forte y Catrya, ofrecen una visión de primera mano de los proyectos técnicos en los que están trabajando y de la importancia de los medios de comunicación en lengua nativa dentro del ecosistema de Bitcoin. From infrastructure development to community education, this episode covers the essential work being done to foster Bitcoin adoption in Cuba. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities that exist within the Cuban Bitcoin ecosystem. Desde el desarrollo de infraestructuras hasta la educación comunitaria, este episodio aborda la labor esencial que se está llevando a cabo para fomentar la adopción de Bitcoin en Cuba. Descubre los desafíos y oportunidades únicos que existen dentro del ecosistema Bitcoin cubano. Guests | Invitados: Reyna Chicas - Bitcoin Training Coordinator at Mi Primer Bitcoin (Translator) Forte, Co-founder of Cuba Bitcoin Catrya, Co-founder of Cuba Bitcoin Host | Presentador: Frank Corva Timestamps: 0:00 Highlights | Reflejos 1:10 Introduction | Introducción 6:10 What's happening in Cuba? | ¿Qué está pasando en Cuba? 18:37 What's the solution for Cuba? | ¿Cuál es la solución para Cuba? 26:57 Do Cubans want a U.S. intervention? | ¿Los cubanos quieren una intervención estadounidense? 33:13 Can Bitcoin help Cubans? | ¿Puede Bitcoin ayudar a los cubanos? 45:16 The History of Cuba Bitcoin & Mostro | La historia de Cuba Bitcoin y Mostro 1:13:21 Mostro, Nostr-powered P2P Trading | Mostro, Negociación P2P con Nostr 1:20:35 Teaching Bitcoin in Cuba | Enseñar Bitcoin en Cuba 1:38:17 Follow Cuba Bitcoin, Mostro, Forte & Catrya | Siga Cuba Bitcoin, Mostro, Forte y Catrya <h1 id="bitcoincubabitcoincubacryptotechnicalbitcoinbitcoineducationcommunitybuildingfinancialsovereigntybitcoinadoptioncubandevelopersbitcoinmediabitcoininspanishcomunidadlibertadlibertadoreseducacineducacionfinancieracomunismosocialismocapitalismodinerocriptocriptomonedasfinanzasbtcdiversityintechdiversitylatinamericacaribbeanamricalatinacaribe">Bitcoin #Cuba #BitcoinCuba #Crypto #TechnicalBitcoin #BitcoinEducation #CommunityBuilding #FinancialSovereignty #BitcoinAdoption #CubanDevelopers #BitcoinMedia #BitcoinInSpanish #comunidad #libertad #libertadores #educación #educacionfinanciera #comunismo #socialismo #capitalismo #dinero #cripto #criptomonedas #finanzas #btc #diversityintech #diversity #latinamerica #caribbean #américalatina #caribe</h1>

March 18, 20261 hr 6 min

Bitcoin as a Lifeline in Jamaica w/ Dread

In this episode, Frank sits down with Dread, a developer, the founder of the Flash app, and just an all around incredible human being, sometimes referred to as "the Jamaican Bitcoiner," to discuss his incredible work on the ground following a devastating Category 5 hurricane in his home country. When traditional banks and Western Union locations were destroyed or offline, Dread and his team used the Bitcoin-powered Flash app to deliver immediate relief, care packages, and essential supplies to those in need. We dive deep into the creation of Flash, a fork of the Blink wallet tailored specifically for the Caribbean culture and economy. Dread explains his vision for "Project Island Resilience," which combines solar power, Starlink internet, and Bitcoin nodes to create community hubs that can withstand any future disaster. Timestamps for Audio: 0:00 Highlight 0:38 Intro from Frank 2:06 Introduction 3:35 The Hurricane Relief Effort in Jamaica 6:18 How the Situation in Venezuela is Affecting Jamaica 7:54 The Intense Reality of the Relief Effort in Jamaica 10:31 Mobilizing a Relief Effort Team 12:04 The Financial Infrastructure Impact after the Hurricane 16:02 Jamaicans Turn to Bitchat 18:31 Has Jamaica recovered? 20:33 Prepping Jamaica for the Next Storm with Freedom Tech 22:56 An Overview of the Flash App 26:45 Dread's Bitcoin Developer Story 31:22 Many in Jamaica Don't Have/Use a Bank Account 33:59 Forking the Blink/Bitcoin Beach Wallet 39:20 Are Jamaicans using Bitcoin? 41:58 The Challenges of Building Open-Source Tech 46:21 Dread's Hope for Jamaica 51:23 Moving Forward with Bitcoin Adoption in Jamaica 56:06 What's next for Flash and Jamaica's recovery effort? 1:01:28 Where to Find Dread and Jamaica Relief Effort Info 1:05:45 Outro Guest: Dread Host: Frank Corva Download Flash here: <a href="https://getflash.io/">https://getflash.io/</a> Link to Forbes article mentioned in the intro: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankcorva/2025/11/20/jamaicas-first-native-bitcoin-app-is-helping-with-hurricane-relief/">https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankcorva/2025/11/20/jamaicas-first-native-bitcoin-app-is-helping-with-hurricane-relief/</a> <h1 id="bitcoinjamaicahurricanereliefflashappemergencytechlightningnetworkfinancialsovereigntycaribbeanopensourcenosterbreezesdkprojectislandresiliencebitcoinrelieffintechcryptoaiddecentralizationmeshnetworkssolarbitcoinstarlinkjamaicanbitcoiner">Bitcoin #Jamaica #HurricaneRelief #FlashApp #EmergencyTech #LightningNetwork #FinancialSovereignty #Caribbean #OpenSource #Noster #BreezeSDK #ProjectIslandResilience #BitcoinRelief #FinTech #CryptoAid #Decentralization #MeshNetworks #SolarBitcoin #Starlink #JamaicanBitcoiner</h1>

March 11, 20261 hr 25 min

Helping Open-Source Bitcoin Developers Thrive w/ Amiti Uttarwar

In this episode of new renaissance capital, Frank sits down with Amiti Uttarwar, the first confirmed female Bitcoin Core developer and founder of Waye. Amiti discusses her transition from technical development to providing psychosocial support and executive coaching for open-source builders. We explore the "tyranny of permissionlessness" and why supporting the mental well-being of developers is critical for the long-term resilience of the Bitcoin ecosystem. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Amiti Uttarwar 0:00 Cold Open 0:28 Intro from Frank 2:28 Introducing Amiti and Waye 9:06 Amiti's Technical Background 15:04 Defining Burnout 18:58 Starting Waye 28:43 The Importance of Diversity in Bitcoin 39:40 The Shared Cognitive Burden of Working in Bitcoin 49:35 Creating Space for People to Express Themselves 51:53 Understand Your Deepest Why 58:20 The 10x Mindset 1:06:23 The Neuroscience behind Identity Shifts 1:12:15 Overcoming Our Autopilot 1:18:12 Final Thoughts from Amiti 1:23:44 Outro <h1 id="bitcoinopensourcementalhealthneuroscienceamiuturarbitcoincoredeveloperwellness10xmindsetfreedomtechburnoutcodingpsychologyblockchainp2pinnovationdiversityintechflowstatesolopreneurtechcoachingdecentralization">Bitcoin #OpenSource #MentalHealth #Neuroscience #AmiUturar #BitcoinCore #DeveloperWellness #10xMindset #FreedomTech #Burnout #Coding #Psychology #Blockchain #P2P #Innovation #DiversityInTech #FlowState #Solopreneur #TechCoaching #Decentralization</h1>

March 3, 20261 hr 5 min

Bitcoin Mining and the Revitalization of Venezuela w/ Alessandro Cecere (El Sultán de Bitcoin)

In this episode of new renaissance capital, Frank Corva sits down with Alessandro Cecere, better known as El Sultan de Bitcoin, on X to discuss the transformative potential of Bitcoin mining in Venezuela. Alessandro shares his journey of starting one of Latin America's first mining farms in 2013 and explains how the country's current energy crisis—characterized by a massive power deficit—can be solved through strategic partnerships with international Bitcoin miners. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Alessandro Cecere (El Sultán de Bitcoin) Timestamps: 0:00 Cold open 1:05 Intro 2:13 Introducing Alejandro 3:43 Mining Bitcoin in Venezuela in 2013 9:47 Are Venezuelans happy that Maduro was captured? 13:01 Thoughts on Delcy Rodriguez 14:18 The Relationship between Edmundo Gonzalez and María Machado 15:25 The Importance of Military Power in Venezuela 17:30 How Bitcoin Mining Helps Venezuela's Grid 24:14 How Oil and Gas Miners Can Benefit from Bitcoin Mining 27:00 An Overview of Alessandro's Recent Bitcoin Mining Article 33:54 Public and Private Bitcoin Miners Welcome 39:45 Working with Luxor on the Ground in Venezuela 44:45 Will Bitcoin mining help everyday Venezuelans? 48:38 Support for Bitcoin Mining Operations 51:06 When will Venezuela's economy be fixed? 1:00:44 Venezuelans Are Optimistic 1:02:47 Conclusion 1:04:20 Outro <h1 id="bitcoinbitcoinminingvenezuelacryptoenergymacroeconomicsminingmaduroelsultanluxorhashrateeconomicsinfrastructurecleanenergysouthamericabitcoin2026newrenaissancecapitalgeopoliticsoilandgasflaregas">Bitcoin #BitcoinMining #Venezuela #Crypto #Energy #Macroeconomics #Mining #Maduro #ElSultan #Luxor #Hashrate #Economics #Infrastructure #CleanEnergy #SouthAmerica #Bitcoin2026 #NewRenaissanceCapital #Geopolitics #OilAndGas #FlareGas</h1>

February 24, 20261 hr 20 min

Bitcoin as a Catalyst for Change in Kenya: The Story of Afribit Kibera w/ Ronnie Mdawida

In this episode, we travel to Nairobi, Kenya to learn about Afribit Kibera, a project proving that Bitcoin is more than just a financial asset — it's a tool for social and environmental reform. Afribit co-founder Ronnie Mdawida details how they have integrated Bitcoin into waste collection groups, women’s upcycling initiatives, and even motorcycle taxi (boda boda) licenses. By creating a circular Bitcoin economy, Kibera residents are keeping value within their community and building a brighter future. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Ronnie Mdawida For more on Afribit: <a href="https://www.afribit.africa/">https://www.afribit.africa/</a> To donate to Afribit: <a href="https://geyser.fund/project/afribitkibera">https://geyser.fund/project/afribitkibera</a> Timestamps: 0:00 Hook 0:35 Lead-in from Frank 4:09 Introduction: Ronnie Mdawida & Afribit Kibera 6:06 Afribit's Work in Kibera: Waste Management, Incentivized Learning & Onboarding Merchants 16:05 Tando: A Bitcoin Lightning Network App That Enables M-PESA Payments 17:55 Bitcoin Catalyzing Behavioral Change 19:52 A History of Ronnie's Work in Kibera 25:45 The Ubuntu System 27:21 Banking the Unbanked with Bitcoin 34:06 Afribit's Plan Beyond Bitcoin 42:09 The BBC Covers Afribit 49:35 The Challenges of Running Afribit 1:05:35 Fedi's SateNet 1:09:53 Afribit's Victories 1:16:55 Conclusion 1:20:07 Final Words from Frank <h1 id="bitcoinkenyanairobikiberaafribitfinancialinclusionlightningnetworkbitcoinafricabankingtheunbankednairobicryptoeducationmachankurafedicirculareconomybitcoinstoriessatshumanrightsblockchainafricagrassrootssocialimpactdigitalsovereignty">Bitcoin #Kenya #Nairobi #Kibera #Afribit #FinancialInclusion #LightningNetwork #BitcoinAfrica #BankingTheUnbanked #Nairobi #CryptoEducation #Machankura #Fedi #CircularEconomy #BitcoinStories #Sats #HumanRights #BlockchainAfrica #Grassroots #SocialImpact #DigitalSovereignty</h1>

February 13, 20261 hr 15 min

nrc31 | Bitcoin and Freedom Tech in Iran with Ziya Sadr & Frank Corva

In this powerful reboot of the new renaissance capital show, we are joined by Ziya Sadr, a prominent Iranian Bitcoin and Freedom Tech educator who shares his harrowing first-hand account of the 2022 protests. Ziya discusses his time in detainment, the industrial-scale violence used by the regime, and why millions of Iranians are now at a breaking point due to decades of economic mismanagement and currency collapse. We dive deep into how technology like Bitcoin, Starlink, and Samourai Wallet are serving as vital lifelines for people living under extreme censorship. Ziya explains why privacy isn't just a preference but a survival mechanism in Iran, and he offers a direct call to action for the international community to support those fighting for their lives on the ground. Host: Frank Corva Guest: Ziya Sadr Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:47 Ziya's Background 6:10 Ziya's Time In Prison In Iran 8:57 Currency Collapse In Iran 22:37 Teaching Bitcoin To Iranians 32:36 What Percentage Of Iranians Want The Regime Gone? 35:38 These Protests In Iran Were Different 46:15 Where Does Iran Go From Here? 50:54 Iranians Asking For Trump To Intervene 59:28 What Can Bitcoiners Do To Help? 1:06:47 Using Samourai Wallet In Iran 1:12:25 Where To Follow Ziya / Conclusion You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital <h1 id="bitcoiniranfreedomtechziyasadrhumanrightsprivacystarlinkcryptorevolutiondigitalfreedombitcoineducationsamouraiwalleteconomiccrisisanticensorshiptechliteracynewrenaissancecapitalbitcoinglobalfinancialsovereigntyiranprotestsblockchainforgood">Bitcoin #Iran #FreedomTech #ZiyaSadr #HumanRights #Privacy #Starlink #Crypto #Revolution #DigitalFreedom #BitcoinEducation #SamouraiWallet #EconomicCrisis #AntiCensorship #TechLiteracy #NewRenaissanceCapital #BitcoinGlobal #FinancialSovereignty #IranProtests #BlockchainForGood</h1>