Vancouver’s Mayor, Ken Sim, is a real Bitcoin fanatic who’s doing his half to get Vancouver’s metropolis council in addition to its residents to see what he sees with regards to Bitcoin.
And his efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
On December 11, 2024, the Vancouver Metropolis Council greenlit a movement Mayor Sim ready to start out making Vancouver a extra Bitcoin-friendly metropolis.
The movement directs metropolis workers to discover the concepts of Vancouver establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve in addition to accepting taxes and metropolis charges in bitcoin.
In my dialog with Mayor Sim, we mentioned the passing of this movement in addition to a few of his deeper philosophical ideas about Bitcoin.
We additionally touched on what Bitcoin adoption in Vancouver would appear to be in an ideal world, his personal journey down the proverbial Bitcoin rabbit gap and why Bitcoin can deliver monetary hope to the residents of Vancouver at a cut-off date when many are struggling to make ends meet.
The Vancouver Metropolis Council not too long ago handed your movement to make Vancouver a extra Bitcoin-friendly metropolis.
On a private stage, although, should you might wave a magic wand and allow no matter stage of Bitcoin adoption you see slot in Vancouver, what would that appear to be?
I’ve bought to present you a caveat right here. These are my very own private views. We’ve a fairly unbelievable group on the Metropolis of Vancouver, they usually’ve been tasked to discover. So, it isn’t as if I can actually affect the group and inform them “You must do that and that.”
In an ideal world, the very first thing we’d do is add to a strategic reserve. The second factor can be permitting individuals to transact with bitcoin with out triggering capital positive factors tax occasions and to simply accept funds within the type of bitcoin. Tax regulation throughout not simply Canada, however within the U.S. and numerous different jurisdictions, nonetheless hasn’t caught up, so each time you transact with bitcoin, there’s a capital positive factors tax price, which may be very cumbersome.
The third factor is that we begin the dialog and we bust the myths round narratives like Bitcoin is dangerous for the surroundings. That is all hogwash, proper? Bitcoin is definitely going to assist us save the surroundings.
Plus, it offers us with an immutable file and it truly provides to a stage of transparency we have by no means seen within the historical past of humankind. Having that included into our programs can be nice.
You spoke about this course of of training individuals about Bitcoin on Natalie Brunell’s present. You stated you “bathe them with love and then you definitely hit them with information.” Are you able to give an instance of what this seems to be like?
There’s numerous resistance with Bitcoin, particularly because it pertains to its perceived results on the surroundings. Folks hear this narrative that it is dangerous for the surroundings, and it is like, “Effectively, wait a second…”
I am an environmentalist, and I do know that should you pressure organizations throughout the planet to do stuff that they are not incentivized to do, nothing’s going to occur. Whereas should you incentivize them — should you construct in a reward system — it’s superb.
So, what do we all know? Effectively, we flare pure gasoline as a by-product of oil manufacturing, and if we truly seize that and repurpose it for Bitcoin mining, it’s truly good for the surroundings. Identical with capturing methane that seeps from the bottom.
Additionally, with various or inexperienced power sources, be it wind energy or solar energy, the place the economics usually do not pan out to construct these tasks, you present somebody with a assured buyer within the type of Bitcoin miners, and the economics work and this stuff get constructed. So, it is internet optimistic for the surroundings.
There’s additionally this false narrative that nefarious issues occur with Bitcoin. That is rubbish, proper? Money is untraceable. With Bitcoin, we’re speaking about an immutable file the place you’ll be able to see each single transaction because the starting of time and you may catch individuals on the on and off ramps.
A few of the narratives are literally the exact opposite of actuality, and so we’ve got to counter these narratives.
Based mostly on my expertise, it is easy to show somebody one thing, whereas it is so much more durable for individuals to unlearn, and we’re within the strategy of serving to individuals unlearn what they’ve realized.
You could have referred to Bitcoin as the best invention in human historical past. May you develop on that?
Our cash is damaged. Folks cannot use it to retailer their power into the longer term. We’re on this rinse and repeat cycle. In Ray Dalio’s ebook The Altering World Order, he talks in regards to the rise and fall of the Dutch empire, the rise and fall of the British empire, the rise and, as he places it, fall of the U.S. empire. If you happen to agree with Dalio’s perspective, the purpose is that the cash’s damaged.
We should not have a reserve foreign money that is ever lasted. We preserve repeating historical past. However Bitcoin modifications all that. As everyone knows, you’ll be able to’t mess with it, and you may’t manipulate it. It is a game-changer and once we lastly get onto the bitcoin commonplace — I believe it is a matter of when, not if — it will change how people work together with one another and the way nation states evolve.
You simply cited considered one of Ray Dalio’s books, and I’ve heard you talk about the way you’ve additionally learn books like The Bitcoin Normal and Layered Cash. You’re additionally a buddy of Jeff Sales space’s. With all of the studying you’ve carried out and the conversations you’ve had with Jeff, did you find yourself having a lightbulb second with Bitcoin or was it extra of a gradual studying course of?
Effectively, I had the alternative of the lightbulb second when my son Mitchell got here as much as me and stated “Dad, I wish to purchase bitcoin.” And I used to be like, “You contact that shit, and I’ll punch you within the throat.” Clearly, I wasn’t going to try this.
Then, I began seeing extra of it and had conversations with Jeff. So, I began to look into it, learn a bunch about it and went to a few conferences. My journey was similar to numerous different individuals’s. I used to be utterly towards it after which I warmed as much as it and finally grew to become an evangelist.
I am unable to level to anyone level the place it was like, “Wow, there you go” and I went 180 levels the opposite manner. I do keep in mind although, I made my first $500 buy of bitcoin on November the 14th, 2020. The rationale it took me so lengthy was I needed to learn to use the app on which I purchased the bitcoin. It was all clunky — only a ache within the butt.
However I do not forget that day, as a result of after I lastly purchased it I assumed, “Did I miss out?” I believe I purchased it at like 16 or 17 grand and it had run from like seven or eight grand the month earlier than. I used to be like, “Did I miss it?” I keep in mind Jeff saying, “No, you’re nonetheless tremendous early; we’re all nonetheless tremendous early.”
You’ve talked about how unaffordable housing in Vancouver is. Does bitcoin repair this?
Sure. Let me offer you an instance. We’ve a small studio rental up in Whistler (a city north of Vancouver). After we purchased it, it will have price 17.2 bitcoin. That is about 4 years in the past. By way of {dollars}, the property is up 36%, however by way of bitcoin, it is down one thing like 85%. As of at this time, it prices like 3.3 bitcoin to purchase it.
By the best way, I am not giving funding recommendation. I am simply speaking a couple of theoretical, if this performs out the way it might. If in some unspecified time in the future within the not so distant future, you can purchase a home in Vancouver for a bitcoin, what meaning is you’ll be able to actually purchase a home for about US$106,000 or about CA$150,000 should you purchased a bitcoin at this time.
I am not telling individuals to take out a mortgage to purchase bitcoin — very removed from it. Go search monetary recommendation. However should you imagine bitcoin’s worth will proceed to understand, you’ll be able to actually purchase a home for CA$150,000 within the close to future by shopping for a bitcoin proper now.
You have introduced Bitcoin, a taboo topic, into the fold as Mayor of Vancouver, and also you’ve stated that doing so would possibly result in your not getting re-elected. Have you ever ever thought-about that the alternative is perhaps true, that possibly by embracing Bitcoin the individuals of Vancouver will wish to re-elect you?
I am not too involved about that. I’ve no need to be a premier or prime minister. I am not a politician, regardless that I am sitting on this function, which I actually honor, worth and take very severely. However the purpose was by no means to be widespread. The purpose was by no means to get re-elected. The purpose was to do what I believed is true for the way forward for the Metropolis of Vancouver.
And so I could not sit again any longer and ignore this as a result of I really imagine that this units the town up for the subsequent hundred years. Am I proper? We do not know, however we’ve got a fairly good feeling, and I really imagine in it.
I believe voters, residents — it would not matter what facet of the political spectrum you sit on — are sick of politicians who do stuff simply to get re-elected. They need individuals to do what they imagine is true, and I imagine that is proper. If we do not get re-elected due to it, I can personally maintain my head up excessive and say, “You understand what? We caught to our values and we did what’s proper.” If it really works out, nice. I truly suppose it will work out, although.
It looks as if a progressive metropolis like Vancouver — the primary metropolis in Canada to have a Bitcoin ATM — ought to be in favor of Bitcoin. Nonetheless, the earlier mayor tried to ban Bitcoin ATMs within the metropolis. Was there a response from the Vancouver group when the mayor did this?
I did not observe it too intently on the time, so I do not know. I am unable to touch upon it. What I can touch upon is we do have numerous politicians who will make coverage up primarily based on advantage signaling versus information. We’re a knowledge pushed administration, and we care in regards to the future prosperity of our metropolis.
I believe the excellence right here is we select to have essentially the most impression — we’re extra involved in regards to the steak than the sizzle. If somebody could make an argument on why it is a dangerous thought primarily based on information, we’ll take heed to it. We would have it mistaken, however I can inform you nobody has been in a position to assault our Bitcoin stance with information.
Bitcoin could be type of tough to make use of technically. So, for instance, in an ideal world, possibly Bitcoin turns into authorized tender in Vancouver in some unspecified time in the future, or if there’s simply better adoption of it, do you are worried in regards to the technical difficulties related to utilizing Bitcoin? Would the Vancouver metropolis authorities ever get entangled in educating its Vancouver residents about Bitcoin?
It isn’t one of many core providers we offer as a metropolis, so I do not see us happening the academic rabbit gap. We’ll go away it as much as different specialists.
If the trade makes Bitcoin less complicated to make use of, so many extra teams and people will simply hop on the bandwagon. And you already know it is coming as a result of there are lots of people engaged on this proper now.
I am not an knowledgeable, however after I, after I hear about a number of the issues which are taking place on Layer 2s and the Lightning Community, I see a future the place that is seamless. When individuals go right into a Walgreens they usually purchase a sweet bar, they gained’t take into consideration how they’re paying with Bitcoin. All of the plumbing beneath will occur with out them figuring out, and it will revolutionize the planet.
You have carried out a handful of interviews on this matter up to now. Is there something that we within the media haven’t requested you but that you just’d like to debate or level out?
Sure, I’d prefer to make a common name out and never only for the town of Vancouver. It is for each single metropolis and province and state and jurisdiction and canton, and nation on the planet.
We’ve to get the schooling on the market, which continues to be a tough problem. Some individuals within the media have made the remark that what we’re doing proper now could be extra advantage signaling, as a result of we’ve got the hope of creating this occur. That is incorrect, although.
We want Bitcoin supporters to start out pumping the true narrative of why bitcoin is a sound monetary asset. It is the perfect performing asset within the final 16 years on the planet. And we’re not merchants, so should you’re not seeking to day commerce, the entire volatility would not matter.
We have to begin getting that narrative out, however not from me, from the group. We have to let our elected officers know this as a result of they are not going to do something till individuals hit them with information and inform our flesh pressers that they need this.
We’re doing this as a result of we imagine in it. We wish to get forward of it. We wish to arrange the town for the subsequent 100 years, and that is why we’re keen to take political threat to do that. However we’d like assist. So, in case your viewers will help us push that narrative with our provincial authorities and of their jurisdictions, as effectively, that will be nice.
If individuals come onboard and see how bitcoin can scale back a number of the monetary stress of their lives, do you suppose Vancouver transforms right into a pro-Bitcoin metropolis comparatively shortly?
Sure.
I’m going again to my sister-in-law, who if she watches the video she’s gonna punch me within the face. About 13 years in the past, she was afraid of getting an iPhone. She did not perceive the expertise. It was a psychological block.
Then, she jumped on the bandwagon like everybody else, as a result of all her buddies had iPhones. It is ridiculous now to suppose that individuals had been afraid of iPhones, proper?
Will Bitcoin give us hope? Completely.
I’m going again to the Metropolis of Vancouver and why that is so essential. The Metropolis of Vancouver exists in the identical circumstances as everybody else does. Whereas individuals cannot afford a house or they’re battling groceries, we’ve got a price range.
We’ve to rent cops, firefighters, engineers, and we’re dwelling in an surroundings the place our foreign money is getting debased and we will not improve taxes at a fee that retains up with that. We do not wish to lower providers, and so Bitcoin provides us hope the place we will repair our monetary state, our steadiness sheet.
And that can truly assist us run this metropolis for the subsequent hundred years. I believe when individuals perceive Bitcoin they usually begin to undertake it, they’ll have hope, as effectively, as a result of they’ll understand their buying energy goes up, which is a good factor.
