In Episode 312 of The Block Runner Podcast, hosts William, I-man, and TJ unpack a wild week for $NAT: overnight listings on three centralized exchanges with zero fees paid, a god-candle to a $150M market cap, and a deeper, more rigorous walk-through of the Bitcoin security-budget math than the show has ever done on-air. They run the numbers through Michael Saylor's $441 trillion scenario, show why fees can't close the gap, and lay out the case for NAT as a supplementary second subsidy capable of delivering $2.1B/day to miners. The episode closes with a commitment: the next video from The Block Runner is NAT.fun going live.
Disclosure: William and I-man are founders of NAT.fun and hold NAT tokens. All analysis in this episode reflects their perspective as participants in the ecosystem.
Key topics:
Do the math yourself. If you arrive somewhere different, bring it into the comments.
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We continue unpacking the NATpaper with Part 2 — diving deep into why $NAT has evolved from a novel idea to a structural necessity for Bitcoin’s long-term sustainability. With @SpiderPool_com, one of Bitcoin's largest mining pools, officially integrating @natgmi rewards, we're witnessing the early stages of an alternate security model being adopted at scale. We explore the fundamental question: can Bitcoin survive as a global monetary system without rethinking its incentive structure?
From dissecting Michael Saylor’s shifting perspective to drawing parallels between @blockbuster collapse and Bitcoin’s resistance to innovation, we lay out the full picture of what’s at stake. This isn't just about NAT anymore — it's about whether Bitcoin remains decentralized or becomes a Ponzi for sovereign nations.
We explain how NAT enables a second subsidy, how it ties directly to miner activity via the bits field, and why DMT opens the door to Bitcoin-aligned utility across other chains. If you’re a miner, developer, or policymaker — this is your blueprint for how Bitcoin can evolve without compromising its core ethos.
This is NATstoppable. Let's build forward.
Is Bitcoin’s security future-proof? We dive deep into why Bitcoin’s long-term survival hinges on increasing its cost of attack—and how $NAT may be the missing piece. We explore the uncomfortable truth: Bitcoin isn’t being used as peer-to-peer cash, and the current fee model may not be enough to sustain its security past 2140.
We challenge core assumptions about BTC’s future, question the infinite doubling thesis, and unpack how @natgmi aims to subsidize miners, increase decentralization, and reinforce Bitcoin’s cost of attack without altering its monetary policy.
From trillion-dollar hypotheticals to hardware realities, this is part 1 of our breakdown of the NATpaper.
**Welcome back to episode 279 of The Block Runner Podcast. As always, we have your host William talking with your cohost I-man as we discuss cryptocurrency developments while we make this new technology relatable to you. You can watch the full episode on YouTube AND stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter at TheBlockRunner.com.
Here are some of the topics they discuss today:**
First up, revisit Bitcoin DeFi through the lens of this cycle’s emerging “industry cook”: digital-asset treasury companies.
Next, Do we really need native Bitcoin primitives, or will off-chain/custodial routes—UTXO time-locks and loan products be enough to make BTC productive?
and Finally, we pressure-test trench metas like Pokémon “phygital” and map where the music could stop.
Alright, let’s listen in!
First up, Bitcoin might be hitting new highs—but under the surface, its economic engine is breaking.
Next, ive deep into the looming security budget crisis threatening Bitcoin’s future
and Finally, why Digital Matter Theory and the NAT token could be the lifeline that get bitcoin secured
We take a hard look at the current state of crypto and why so much of it feels broken. From scam tokens and insider trading to fake engagement and deceptive marketing, the noise makes it nearly impossible to separate real projects from the endless stream of grifts.
We share our own experience with $NAT, a project built to solve real problems but held back by industry “standards” like inflated social metrics and bought followers—tactics we refuse to use. This puts us at a crossroads: do we play the dirty game to gain traction, or stick to a cypherpunk ethos of organic growth and community-first building?
In this episode, we wrestle with that tension and argue for a shift toward substance, sustainability, and real community-driven initiatives—drawing inspiration from how companies like Apple built enduring value over decades, not hype cycles.