Ex-Coinbase CTO: ‘Fed wants you dead,’ Bitcoin counters state control

Former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan spoke at the Network State Conference in Singapore on Sept. 22 about Bitcoin’s potential to protect wealth against inflation.

Srinivasan claimed that Bitcoin (BTC) serves as a shield against what he describes as the gradual erosion of wealth by the state through inflation.

“The Fed wants you dead—just a little bit every year. And so we resist that. We stand against that,” Srinivasan said about Bitcoin and crypto. 

Srinivasan compared the U.S. Federal Reserve’s approach to inflation with a slow process of wealth loss over time. In the current financial system, inflation is often seen as normal. The Fed targets around 2% inflation per year, meaning that the money people hold gradually loses its value.

In March 2023, Srinivasan entered a social media argument where he placed a $2 million bet that Bitcoin would reach $1 million by June 17, 2023.

The wager, initiated by Twitter user James Medlock, proposed that Srinivasan would win $1 million in USDC and keep 1 BTC if his prediction was correct, while Medlock would win $1 million in USDC if it wasn’t.

Srinivasan is an entrepreneur, investor, and former Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange. Before joining Coinbase, he co-founded several successful tech companies, including Counsy and Earn.com. Srinivasan is also known for his involvement as a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. 

Bitcoin financial parallels

In his statements, Srinivasan also drew parallels between the financial and medical systems. Srinivasan suggested that, just as inflation is seen as an inevitable part of the economy, the healthcare system treats aging as something that should be managed in small steps. 

He criticized this mindset, arguing that just as people accept losing a little bit of money each year, they’re also expected to accept losing a bit of their health each year.

Bitcoin, according to Srinivasan, offers an alternative to this approach. 

“Bitcoin is about stopping the state from slowly draining your wealth.”

Srinivasan.

Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin has a fixed supply, meaning it isn’t controlled by governments or banks. This setup makes it more resistant to inflation, offering a potential way for people to preserve their wealth over time.