Early Riders Research
Why Multi-Institution Custody is Winner Take All: Part 4
This continues to build upon our multi-part series unpacking why custody is the single biggest unlock for Bitcoin adoption—and how MIC is the model that solves it. In addition to being the best way for individuals and companies, and B2B2C partners to interact with their wealth, MIC will be used in other ways not yet available to the market at scale, including mints, collateral for insurance, escrow for large cross-border flows, and remittances.
Why Multi-Institution Custody is Winner Take All: Part 3
This builds upon our multi-part series unpacking why custody is the single biggest unlock for Bitcoin adoption—and how MIC is the model that solves it. This report focuses on the advantages for businesses who incorporate MIC into their model.
Why Multi-Institution Custody is Winner Take All: Part 2
This builds upon our multi-part series unpacking why custody is the single biggest unlock for Bitcoin adoption—and how MIC is the model that solves it. This report highlights the shortfalls of current custodial options, what is MIC and its benefits, and why it wins today. Future installments will cover why financial products are better on MIC, and where the future of bitcoin custody is headed.
Why Multi-Institution Custody is Winner Take All: Part 1
This article kicks off a multi-part series unpacking why custody is the single biggest unlock for Bitcoin adoption—and how MIC is the model that solves it. We’ll dive into how MIC works, why it’s better than its predecessor custodial offerings, and how it reshapes custody for bitcoin ownership and corporate custody solutions alike. Future installments will cover the history of money and banking, its advantages for all parties involved, why financial products are better on MIC, and where the future of bitcoin custody is headed.
Bitcoin is the True Fintech
While fintech has received most of the attention over the past two decades, bitcoin offers a superior alternative to existing systems and the marginal upgrades that fintech has provided by establishing a decentralized, fixed-supply monetary system that is already delivering tangible benefits to millions globally. Unlike the speculative noise of the broader cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin offers a proven, secure, and transformative asset with profound implications for capital preservation and economic empowerment. Herein, we evaluate the shortcomings of traditional fintech, delineate Bitcoin’s operational and economic superiority, and distinguish it from the crowded field of alternative cryptocurrencies, providing a rigorous case for its adoption by discerning investors.
Do More With Less
Human beings are inherently deflationary, and with the acceleration of technological progress, those who combine the highest leverage deflationary tools – software, Bitcoin and AI – will experience the greatest returns on productivity and capital. Humans, teams, and our companies have become drastically more efficient over time as we have leveraged the collective knowledge of humankind to accurately identify challenges, create and refine powerful tools to solve problems, and share education about the most effective ways to collectively utilize those tools. We anticipate that efficiency will continue to accelerate, as we can use our improving tools to create even more sophisticated and useful technologies.
Bitcoin Will Change Capital Stacks
Fiat currencies have distorted incentives for both founders and venture investors alike. This report examines how Bitcoin offers a superior alternative to fiat currency for companies as working capital and a treasury asset, as well as how founders and venture capitalists can benefit from Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is the Hurdle Rate
The hurdle rate represents the minimum acceptable rate of return that a project or investment must achieve to be considered viable. Traditionally, when a project fails to meet this threshold, it is deemed an inefficient use of capital and should be rejected. Investment managers have historically calculated the hurdle rate as the "risk-free rate" plus a "market risk premium." This report examines the limitations of this conventional approach and presents Early Riders' alternative perspective.
Every Company is a Bitcoin Miner
While Bitcoin mining has been predominantly associated with specialized mining firms investing heavily in computational power and energy resources, a compelling argument suggests that every company, regardless of its industry, has the potential to function as a Bitcoin miner. This report explores the thesis that businesses with robust free cash flows and sustainable competitive advantages are better positioned to accumulate Bitcoin than traditional mining operations. By redefining their strategic outlook, companies can leverage Bitcoin's growth to fortify their purchasing power and secure a competitive edge in their respective market.