This episode of The CoinRock Show began on a solemn note, as Matthias addressed the escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Rather than the usual price talk, he opened with a personal and passionate appeal for peace, expressing frustration over rising global conflict and the political narratives fueling it.
“I’m just pro peace,” he said.
“I don’t care who you are. I just want people to get along.”
He reflected on the broader consequences of war—not only its human cost but also its long-term economic impact, particularly on markets like crypto. Despite Bitcoin floating between $102K and $110K, he described the market as stale and directionless, citing both macro uncertainty and muted retail participation.
“There’s nothing happening. The market is extremely stale… Builders are building, but the headlines aren’t moving anything.”
Matthias also noted the passing of the Genius Act and stablecoin-related developments as signs of a slow but inevitable integration between crypto and traditional finance. Yet, he was quick to point out that such regulatory wins haven’t yet translated into excitement or inflows.
As the segment wrapped, Matthias transitioned to the theme of the episode—exploring how Bitcoin is lived and experienced as a culture. He introduced the guest, Vivian—better known as btcviv—someone who isn’t just talking about Bitcoin, but actively weaving it into art, events, and everyday life.
The Storyteller of Bitcoin Culture
The guest this week was Vivian—better known in the Bitcoin world as btcviv. Introduced by Matthias with warmth and curiosity, she joined the show with an energy that was both professional and deeply personal.
Vivian’s journey into Bitcoin began in 2021, not through mining or investing, but through a freelance marketing gig she took while doing her master’s degree in London during lockdown. She made it clear upfront to her first client: she knew nothing about crypto. But as she dove in, the freedom dimension of Bitcoin lit a fire.
“I had to go through a very steep learning curve… but it was the freedom aspect of Bitcoin that really made my eyes open.”
That spark evolved into full-blown conviction. Today, Vivian is the Event Director of Bitcoin Asia, where she helps orchestrate global conferences uniting the East and the West. She also runs the “Life with Bitcoin” podcast—a lifestyle series that asks what it means to actually live as a Bitcoiner—and creates music as Ivy Lumi, using art and emotion to speak Bitcoin’s deeper truths.
“I feel like I’m making a difference,” she said, reflecting on the impact of her work.
For Vivian, Bitcoin isn’t just an economic tool—it’s a cultural force. One that touches identity, opportunity, and even healing. And she’s determined to shape that narrative through every medium she can.
What It Means to Live as a Bitcoiner
Vivian’s podcast, Life with Bitcoin, centers on one core question: What is it like to live as a Bitcoiner? But as Matthias flipped the mic and posed that question back to her, Vivian offered more than just an answer—she delivered a philosophy. She didn’t come into Bitcoin through tech or finance. In fact, she admitted,
“I don’t like numbers. I’m not tech-savvy. I like art, I like music, I like culture.”
That human-centered orientation shaped her view from the start—and eventually the foundation of her show.
For her, the Bitcoin space has long been dominated by those with the luxury to obsess over macroeconomics and cryptography. But the people who need Bitcoin the most? They’re not the ones tuning in to debates on monetary theory. They’re struggling to get by—and to reach them, she argued, we have to start speaking human.
“Show, don’t tell,” she emphasized*.*
“So my approach to adapting Bitcoin is how can we show people instead of telling them about Bitcoin?”
She believes the path to broader adoption lies in portraying a lifestyle—of freedom, joy, love, and connection—that Bitcoin can help unlock. Just like how lifestyle influencers sell health supplements by embodying the results, Vivian wants to sell Bitcoin by showcasing how it transforms lives.
“The Bitcoin rabbit hole starts with money,” she said.
“But then if you ask what is money, you ask other questions, you can ask pretty much anything like what is food? What is sleep? What does it mean? What is love? What is truth? What is freedom?”
Through Life with Bitcoin, Vivian has now interviewed nearly 50 guests, uncovering stories that range from spiritual awakenings to global adventures. There’s the traveler who left India with $200 and visited 40 countries on Bitcoin crowdfunding. There are countless tales of people relocating, healing, and transforming.
For Vivian, Bitcoin isn’t just a financial revolution—it’s a lifestyle revolution. And that’s the story she’s here to tell.
Is Bitcoin Still Anti-Bank?
As Bitcoin becomes increasingly embraced by Wall Street and legacy institutions, many wonder: Has it lost its roots? What happened to the anti-bank, anti-establishment ethos that launched it?
Matthias posed this very dilemma—citing OG Bitcoiners who now wrestle with seeing banks adopt the very asset once meant to disrupt them. But Vivian offered a grounded response, one that separated the tool from the tribe.
“You have Bitcoin, and you have Bitcoiners,” she said.
“That’s where people get stuck.”
She emphasized that Bitcoin is neutral—it doesn’t impose a philosophy. People, however, do. And whether you use Bitcoin to escape the system or to integrate into it, she believes both paths are valid.
“Everything is good for Bitcoin,” she said.
“it’s a user’s choice which path they would like to take. There are benefits in both and we need both teams to really fulfill the end goal.”
Instead of lamenting institutional adoption, Vivian sees an opportunity for introspection. Her philosophy centers on self-transformation before systemic change. Be the proof of your own work, she argued—live the values before preaching them.
“It encourages everybody to be radically honest with themselves,” she added.
That radical honesty is what unlocks the deeper personal shifts she often sees in Bitcoiners: some quit their jobs, others move countries, many adopt new ways of thinking and living.
Two Bitcoin ethos principles shape her worldview: proof of work and low time preference. She explains them simply. Proof of work is earning results through effort, like a student who studies all semester. Low time preference? It’s delayed gratification—sacrificing now to build something better later.
“Good things take work,” she said.
“Being low time preference is about knowing that there’s a future for you and always thinking about how, what can I do today to benefit my future self so that you delay your gratification.”
This lens has shaped every part of her journey—from producing a global podcast to launching a music career to managing events. It’s not about trading Bitcoin—it’s about living Bitcoin. And for Vivian, that life is built on intention, honesty, and effort over time.
Build the Future, But Don’t Forget the Present
Vivian’s message to the crypto-curious—and even to hardcore Bitcoiners—is simple: balance matters. Yes, stack sats. Yes, build long-term. But don’t neglect the present moment. Don’t forget to live.
For Vivian, Bitcoin isn’t just about sovereignty or savings—it’s a mirror. It reflects who we are and who we’re becoming. Through proof of work and low time preference, Bitcoin teaches us discipline. But she reminds us it also demands presence, creativity, and care—for ourselves, our passions, and the people we love.
Whether it’s producing music, hosting a podcast, or organizing global events, Vivian lives by one call to action:
“if you have a dream, if you have something that’s been on your mind that you’re debating about, you don’t know if you should go for it. This is your sign, go for it, do something today.”
Bitcoin might be about the future—but life with Bitcoin begins today.
Where to Find btcviv
- X (Twitter): @btcviv
- Podcast: Life With Bitcoin
- Event: Bitcoin Asia
- Music: Ivy Lumi
