Anyone have any advice on how I can help an economist friend of mine learn the economics of bitcoin mining? He’s just been put in charge of building a team for a think tank and he’s in a position to influence public policy at the federal level, especially if republicans win the White House (but even if they don’t).

He’s Austrian / libertarian but as close to a blank slate as you can imagine when it comes to bitcoin. Very interested and willing to learn. His team will be calculating the costs of policy proposals on a wide range of topics, including energy. Policy changes on energy permitting definitely on the table. I have introduced the concepts of stranded energy and that bitcoin mining is a magic wand to convert that into money but he will be crunching actual numbers and I can’t tell him how to do that. If his calculations convince him that the money involved is enough for anyone to give a shit, he’ll push it up the chain. But that won’t happen without some guidance.

Ideally I’d put him in contact with an expert in the bitcoin mining field who could answer all of his questions, by chat or email or whatever. Maybe several sessions over the next 1-2 months as he does his work. Short of that, maybe something he could read? …

PLEASE repost this and/or flag this note to anyone with the requisite expertise who might be able to help. Or send me DM and we can talk. I’d love to see him orange pilled … maybe even purple pilled. Government intrusions into privacy is one of his passions but he simply hasn’t had much contact with the bitcoin or cypherpunk world.

Pura vida!