Deryck Graham on Bitcoin, Freedom, and the Future of Money – Featured on PWN

We’re proud to share that our CEO, Deryck Graham, was recently featured on the Private Wealth Network’s podcast, “Making Wealth Meaningful,” in a wide-ranging conversation about Bitcoin, freedom, and the future of money in the modern world.

In the episode, Deryck shares how his early exposure to emerging tech and capital markets shaped his conviction in digital assets. He describes the moment he discovered blockchain in 2017, a turning point that led him to build Portal Asset Management, an investment firm focused on capturing long-term value in the digital asset economy.

Deryck, with guest Jack Black, also unpacked what’s really driving interest in Bitcoin and other digital currencies. From rising inflation to growing mistrust in fiat currency, the conversation explores how decentralised technologies are challenging the foundation of traditional banking.

“Money is broken… it’s totally manipulated. It’s built to consistently inflate and debase, and monetary [policy] just causes so much pain in the world,” Jack says. “People are working harder, inflation is out of control, and money is being used to fund wars and a whole bunch of other stuff.”

Deryck and Jack argue that today’s monetary policy, shaped by constant money printing, interest rate manipulation, and expanding debt, is eroding the value of paper currency and creating a long-term need for alternatives.

“The Australian dollar is just buying less and less every day,” Deryck says. “You think you’ve hit the ball out of the park with a 10 per cent return, but the dollar’s dropping 10 per cent per annum. So you’re just treading water.”

Future of Money and Financial Inclusion

They also explore the role of stablecoins and the rise of digital payments, especially in markets where the local currency is volatile or unreliable. In places like Argentina, Jack notes, people are opting to store value in USD-backed stablecoins rather than their local currency.

“There’s more transactions on stablecoins than PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard all combined,” Jack says. “A lot of countries now… if you live in Argentina, you much prefer to hold US dollars than your typical local currency.”

Deryck highlights that these digital forms of money, often privately issued and backed by reserves, are already transforming how financial transactions occur at scale.

“People are transferring large volumes of US dollar stablecoins from one nation to another… in sub-30 seconds and at tiny costs,” he explains. “You become the bearer asset of that stablecoin, like receiving cash.”

Financial Freedom

For many, this shift isn’t just technical, it’s philosophical. Bitcoin is positioned not only as a store of value, but also as a path to financial freedom: freedom from inflation, from opaque systems, and from centralised control.

“If you speak to Bitcoin owners or accumulators, they’ll all say to you, it’s about generational wealth and creating freedom,” says Deryck.

As more people hold wealth in a digital form, the role of commercial banks and legacy financial institutions may need to evolve to remain relevant in a cashless society.

“We’re going into the world of digital assets, which is borderless, high speed, and very efficient,” Deryck says. “It is the next obvious and unquestionable future. The delay won’t be the technology. It’ll be governments and regulators trying to work out how they can cope with it.”

And while financial regulation is still catching up, one thing is clear: digital currencies are no longer fringe.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here

🔑 Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• The evolution of monetary policy.
  As central banks experiment with digital currencies, private systems like Bitcoin may offer alternative paths. Digital money is exposing weaknesses in traditional banking and legacy infrastructure.
• A shift in financial technologies.
  Digital assets are the first new asset class since 1602. Comparing this shift to the invention of public equities, Deryck highlights how blockchain is reshaping trust, value, and ownership.
• Bitcoin is not about buying coffee, it’s about building freedom.
  Deryck explains why Bitcoin is more than a currency: it’s a store of value, a hedge against fiat debasement, and a vehicle for individual sovereignty.
• Why volatility isn’t the enemy.
  Bitcoin’s price swings reflect its growth and adoption, and shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness.
• Most investors measure wealth in a deteriorating currency.
  He challenges listeners to rethink their base currency: “What if you valued your assets in Bitcoin instead of AUD or USD?” From stablecoins to blockchain, new tools are challenging how we think about financial stability and inclusion.
• A mindset shift.
  Measuring wealth in fiat may be outdated, it’s time to reframe how value is understood and preserved.
• Improved market access, speed, and autonomy.
  Digital payments and decentralised platforms are making financial systems more responsive and inclusive, especially across borders.

This conversation is essential listening for high-net-worth investors and forward-thinking families seeking exposure to the future of finance.

👉 Learn more about our Bitcoin accumulation strategy and how Portal helps investors build freedom through innovation.

Read more: Bitcoin, Freedom: Insights from Portal Asset Management’s CEO on PWN Podcast