Inside Svetski’s Samurai Revolution
The Bushido of Bitcoin: Reclaiming Honour in an Age of Fiat Illusions
1. Going Beyond Fiat Illusions:
Imagine stepping into a garden once radiant with life, its blossoms now strangled by creeping weeds and scorched by the midday sun. According to Aleksander Svetski, this tragedy is our cultural mirror: we subsist on the fading echoes of former achievements and the emptiness of hollow luxuries. In his magnum opus: The Bushido of Bitcoin, he presents a stark ultimatum: we can linger in our decline, or reclaim the land through discipline, decentralisation, and a renewed moral core.
Dramatic as that might seem, recent economic data lends weight to his warning. Among other things, it’s a significant fact that global debt surpassed $318 trillion in 2025, while U.S. credit card debt now totals more than totals $1.21 trillion. Equally troubling, over 60% of Americans report not being able to handle a simple $1,000 emergency without borrowing, while only 20% report being engaged at work. And herein lies the deeper problem: These figures are not random flare-ups, they’re signs of a rising loss of financial autonomy and collective resolve.
Enter the Samurai—“men of action,” as Svetski calls them—products of an ethos demanding spiritual depth and self-discipline. In plain English, their Bushido code wasn’t just about swordsmanship; it wove together moral conviction, civic duty, and personal honour. And the thing is, Svetski believes these ancient principles constitute a compass for our own age of confusion—one that, intertwined with Bitcoin’s incorruptible framework, has the potential to deliver us from our collective malaise.
Make no mistake: The Bushido of Bitcoin isn’t a polite sermon. It’s a gauntlet thrown down, demanding that we face our ugliest failings—financial, emotional, or otherwise—and rebuild on a foundation of genuine integrity. Among other things, it’s a paradigm shift, envisioning a world where the Samurai’s time tested moral code combines with blockchain’s tamper-proof design to protect against societal rot and the deeper and more troubling fractures in our collective consciousness.
“If we learned anything from our past, it’s to distrust the path of ease. Comfort leads to decadence. Every worthy thing is difficult.”
—Chris Wraight | Scars
What's remarkable, and challenging, about the book is that it’s ambitions go beyond merely reciting Bitcoin’s history or disproving its naysayers. “This is not about the minutiae of monetary policy,” Svetski states at the outset. “It’s about the human spirit in a time of civilisational confusion and decline.”
And I think this raises an important but often overlooked question. What happens if Bitcoin truly ‘wins’? Will sudden wealth soften us, or could a code of discipline and honour keep us steady?
Put differently: if society adopts a Bitcoin Standard, the bigger hurdle is our own moral backbone. Are we prepared to embrace the discipline required—both as individuals and as communities—to make it truly work? In Svetski’s view, this question is urgent—the course we choose may well define our next generation. And as is so often the case, he’s not wrong.
2. The Hollow Promise of Egalitarianism:
The Bushido of Bitcoin opens with a stark warning: our hyper-comfortable culture has morphed into a breeding ground for apathy, quietly eroding real excellence. According to Svetski, this decline isn’t simply due to modern technology or wealth but stems from deeper changes in our collective mindset. “We have centuries of centralisation and material comforts,” he writes, “transforming once-honourable men into soft, weak creatures hooked on porn, Netflix, and Uber Eats.”
Any honest person today can look at modern science and agree with his claim. By now I must have read a dozen studies about how adversity and hardship, mental or physical, thrust people into higher states of consciousness. The reason is straightforward: When you place additional demands upon the mind, it tends to rise up to meet them. Give the mind hardship, in manageable amounts, and it reconfigures itself to thrive in adversity. Give it apathy, on the other hand, give it security, and it will stagnate and degenerate.
I point this out for the simple reason that societal concepts cloud and shape perception. They’re a useful tool of control for those who know how to wield them. Our modern day love affair with comfort and equality serve to flatten the natural hierarchy of talent and virtue that once propelled western civilisation forward. In our zeal to ensure no one is “left behind,” we have eradicated the will to stand out—or stand taller. This, Svetski explains, spawns an “ugly, resentful spirit” that mocks genuine distinction and extinguishes the spark of heroism that once animated our ancestors.
“For this is how things are: the diminution and levelling of European man. We can see nothing today that wants to grow greater, we suspect that things will continue to go down, down, to become thinner, more good-natured, more prudent, more comfortable, more mediocre—there is no doubt that we're getting 'better' all the time.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche | On the Genealogy of Morals
He goes onto reference Hagakure to show this isn’t the first time in history that men have grown listless in times of peace and plenty. “When one comes to speak of kaishaku… it has become an age of men who are prudent and clever at making excuses.” In other words, as soon as real challenge disappears, so too does the character it forges.
Opinions will vary, but I tend to agree with him that "equality is the great evil of our time,” and genuine freedom and excellence flourish only when we allow people—and outcomes—to differ. By coddling everyone, we fail to cultivate men capable of true greatness. And yet Svetski insists that this course can still be altered. But let me not rush too far ahead.
3. Fiat Money Expansion—Fertilising the Weeds of Mediocrity:
Beneath this pervasive decay, Svetski identifies an underlying—and much more insidious—accelerant at work: The runaway printing of fiat currency. For as long as governments continue to churn out money at will—masking ballooning debts beneath a façade of GDP growth—they encourage a mindset cantered around instant gratification and quick fixes.
Drawing parallels to historical precedents (European monarchies, the late Roman Empire) that debased their coinage until it became worthless, he insists that modern democracies are simply repeating the cycle via welfare handouts, corporate bailouts, and artificially low interest rates.
“For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader—the barbarians enter Rome.”
—Robert A. Heinlein
And the thing is, while all this fiat expansion may look like a purely economic issue, it actually seeps into every aspect of life—undermining discipline, stoking envy, and propping up apathy and complacency. And that, Svetski cautions, is where mediocrity flourishes—and accountability slips away.
To be fair, it’s easy to see cases of this happening everywhere. The recent USAID scandal is a good example: Myriad government spending programmes on “cultural” initiatives abroad, including $20 million for ‘Sesame Street shows in Iraq’ and $1 million for ‘Disability-based climate leadership’ in Tajikistan.
The question that we should be asking ourselves is—why bother with careful societal oversight and authentic contribution? The genuine doers among us lose motivation, overshadowed by those who manipulate credit-fuelled indulgences and elaborate money-laundering schemes.
“Our nihilistic age is characterized by a pervasive, nebulous sense of hopelessness and creeping disquiet. We are trapped in a longhouse of our own making, managed by an administrative class to whom we’ve ceded ever more power. The world has become one giant HR department run by crazy cat ladies and a never-ending horde of bureaucrats.”
Aleksandar Svetski | The Bushido of Bitcoin,
“We’ve adapted to a deranged fiat world,” Svetski laments, “where cheats and parasites can thrive—until everything collapses under its own weight.” Every new round of money-printing, every bailout or stimulus, merely props up the weeds of mediocrity, strangling any honest labour before it can truly take hold.
4. Bitcoin as the Catalyst for Renewal:
That being said, this generally agreed upon perspective is also somewhat limited. Drawing on Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian School, Svetski highlights how sound money, at its best, can spark genuine excellence—financing cathedrals from mere sketches, transforming raw ideas into thriving enterprises, and fuelling discoveries that reshape entire civilisations. “Money is fundamentally…energy,” he reminds us, emphasising that true independence arises from controlling one’s own economic destiny.
What’s needed to combat this problem, then, is a radical reshaping of our economic infrastructure, where the pursuit of excellence isn’t undermined by the next surge of minted currency. That bedrock is Bitcoin—the tool capable of finally dethroning the printing press and reorienting societies toward virtue and prosperity.
For one thing, a Bitcoin Standard raises a formidable obstacle to the infinite money press. Without the power to conjure funds at will, governments would be forced into genuine taxation or voluntary contributions. And in this environment, ill-fated policies and unstable ventures would unravel quickly rather than linger for decades.
And yet, he’s quick to caution that Bitcoin isn’t a “silver bullet” that magically corrects all human behaviour. “It’s more like a keystone to a bridge,” he writes. “Without it, the bridge can’t be finished; but on its own, there’s no real bridge at all.”
This highlights two crucial insights. First, after decades under the sway of fiat-driven distortions, our cultural institutions are so deeply compromised that any shift toward meaningful change is painfully slow. Second, as we’ve already noted, that same sluggishness creeps into individual behaviour patterns.
“There is only one unforgivable lie. That is the lie that says: this is the end. You’re the conqueror. You have achieved it. And now all that remains is to build walls higher and shelter behind them. Now, the lie says, the world is safe. All Emperors are liars. Safe—no fouler word exists.”
—Chris Wraight | Scars
What remains of the book delves into the Samurai’s code—Bushido—and explores how its timeless principles can revitalise our modern world. By championing honour, excellence, and the stability of sound money, Svetski argues that Bushido stands as a potent antidote to our scattered, hyper-distracted culture.
5. Channelling Bushido for the 21st Century:
For Svetski, real change hinges on praxis—on turning theory into direct action. Like many people nowadays, he doesn’t view the Samurai as relics from a bygone era, but rather as the models that our digital age desperately needs. Born out of relentless feudal warfare, Bushido shaped warriors through courage, honor, loyalty, respect, and self-control—principles that continued to influence art, governance, and culture long after the fighting stopped. At its core, it wasn’t simply a war code; it was a code for living.
And in a world drowning in distractions, Svetski argues that's precisely the animating force we need. Indeed he invites us to see how the Samurai’s “bodily skill, strategic acumen, and unwavering loyalty” catapulted them to astonishing heights—and to imagine what that same resolve might achieve if we use it to rebuild our own moral foundation.
“Chivalry is a flower no less indigenous to the soil of Japan than its emblem, the cherry blossom; nor is it a dried-up specimen of an antique virtue preserved in the herbarium of our history. It is still a living object of power and beauty among us and makes us aware that we are still under its potent spell.”
—Inazo Nitobe | The Samurai Way, Bushido
From Svetski’s perspective, combining Bushido’s virtues—integrity, loyalty, and self-discipline—with Bitcoin’s swift, worldwide capabilities could transform us into “warriors of the mind.” Let’s be clear, though: this isn’t about performing age-old ceremonies. It’s about rekindling the energy that propelled those warriors to ceaselessly refine themselves. Still, this naturally begs the question: from a practical standpoint, how do we make it happen?
6. Training & Self-Defence:
Among other things, embodying these warrior principles demands a willingness to choose voluntary hardship. In feudal Japan, Samurai students faced cold nights, punishing drills, and the persistent risk of real combat. Today, however, we've sanitised our everyday existence—and most of us hardly notice. We’re too busy scrolling social media or skimming headlines to think about genuine challenges. The solution Svetski proposes is reassuringly simple:
Martial arts (e.g., Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) to rebuild resilience.
Fasting or cold exposure to break the spell of constant comfort.
High-stakes challenges (a gruelling trek, a difficult physical test, or some demanding rite of passage) that force us to reach beyond our limits.
The fundamental truth here is straightforward: when we dodge hardship, genuine progress grinds to a halt. Yet, by weaving small, intentional challenges into our routines, we sharpen both body and mind, moving closer to the Samurai’s code of disciplined living.
As Svetski notes, it’s about building new habits, echoing Ernst Jünger’s insight that pain must be “voluntarily integrated” lest it overwhelm us. Citing John Carter’s pointed saying—“adipose tissue is estrogenic”—he underscores that complacency doesn’t just weaken our bodies; it also dulls our thinking.
I explore these themes more deeply in Hormones & Hardship and How Pain Expands Consciousness, but the essential truth remains: we must relearn how to face discomfort head-on—a lost wisdom our ancestors once held dear, now easily ignored in an era of uninterrupted convenience.
7. Ten Bushido Virtues for the Modern World:
At the heart of this work, Svetski draws our attention to the Bushido virtues first laid down by Inazo Nitobe in Bushido: The Soul of Japan. Writing in the Meiji era, Nitobe preserved a genuine portrait of Samurai life—before modern narratives began to blur its edges. Central to this legacy are eight core pillars—spanning Justice and Courage through Loyalty and Self-control—which anchor the essence of Bushido.
Yet, in response to today’s rapid shifts, Svetski expands upon Nitobe’s blueprint by introducing two additional virtues—Responsibility and Excellence. He contends that, when supported by a stable monetary system, these ten guiding principles could spark a profound cultural renaissance. Together, they reinforce that excellence is intentionally honed, not stumbled upon—and that real freedom hinges on moral rigor and personal accountability. So let’s explore them:
1. Justice & Rectitude:
Justice forms the moral backbone for decisive action. Among the Samurai, rectitude meant “the power of deciding…without wavering—to die when it is right to die, to strike when it is right to strike.” English words like “justice” and “righteous” trace back to the notion of straightness. While in Japanese, Seigi (正義) fuses “straight” (正) with “duty or sacrifice” (義), affirms that no talent endures without a fundamental sense of right and wrong.
2. Courage:
Courage is moving beyond fear in pursuit of what’s just. Augustine once wrote, “Hope has two beautiful daughters…Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” For the Samurai, bravery was void unless it served a righteous end. Japanese yūki (勇気) blends “strength” (力) with “vital energy” (気), while English “courage,” rooted in “heart,” underscores the inner resolve necessary to face life’s trials.
3. Benevolence & Compassion:
Far from softening bravery, mercy refines it. Inazo Nitobe observed, “The bravest are the tenderest,” capturing the Samurai view that real valor includes empathy. Japanese jin (仁), literally “person + two,” highlights our shared humanity. In English, “love” spans eros, agape, and philia—varied shades of compassion. Practiced together, justice, courage, and compassion form a powerful triad of ethical strength.
4. Politeness & Respect:
Respect is the outward grace of recognising worth in ourselves and others. Japanese sonkei (尊敬) unites reverence (尊) with mindful awe (敬). In English, “respect,” from respectere, suggests “to look back,” highlighting thoughtful regard for another’s value. Woven together with the other Bushido virtues, respect fosters relationships rooted in dignity and mutual growth.
5. Veracity & Honesty:
Honesty is the keen edge of honour. In Japanese, seijitsu (誠実) intertwines sincerity (誠) with actuality (実), stressing words that reflect truth. English “integrity,” from integritas, suggests wholeness—our deeds and promises must align without fracture or deceit.
6. Honour & Reputation:
Honour gives moral conviction its weight. In feudal Japan, it bound a person’s character to their standing. Nitobe called honour “the immortal part of one’s self.” Where it’s dismissed, betrayal follows. In daily life, it remains our compass: without self-respect, neither our words nor actions carry lasting substance.
7. The Duty of Loyalty:
Duty and loyalty are often listed as separate ideals, yet in Bushido, they converge as a single guiding principle known as chūgi (忠義). Nitobe calls this virtue the “keystone” of the code—binding warriors to a higher calling, whether a lord, a cause, or an honored principle. In Japanese, chū (忠) signifies steadfast devotion (implying a heart centred in unwavering fidelity), while gi (義) conveys justice or righteous sacrifice.
Taken together, they emphasise both duty—the obligations owed to lineage or higher principles—and loyalty, the heartfelt commitment to stand by those obligations, even when it’s hard. This bond forged “bands of brothers” like the 47 Ronin or the Templar Knights, united by deep mutual faith rather than mere convenience. Western etymology echoes the same theme: “loyalty” stems from Latin legalem, linking fidelity with “adherence to law.” Ultimately, Bushido’s duty of loyalty teaches us that real bonds transcend short-term interests—forming the core of any enduring society.
8. Self-Control:
Often described as the quintessential warrior virtue, Self-Control unifies and moderates all other Bushido pillars. In Japanese, jisei (自制) merges ji (自, “self”) with sei (制, “control” or “governance”), highlighting the power of mastering one’s impulses. Historically, Samurai needed calm discipline to retain composure in battle—an unrestrained warrior risked harming both himself and his comrades.
Etymologically, English “restraint” points to holding oneself in check, a vital guard against reckless indulgence. True freedom, in this sense, depends on self-mastery: if you can’t govern your desires, external forces will. As historian Johan Huizinga notes, “The height of heroism is reached in men who renounce the pleasures of life,” showing how sacrifice and self-denial can elevate both individual character and community well-being. By practicing restraint, you shield yourself from thoughtless indulgence and set a clear path for purposeful action.
In addition to the eight virtues listed above—each subtly adapted for our modern era—Svetski introduces two more. Taken together, they form the ten core virtues of his book: The Bushido of Bitcoin, creating a fully realised framework for anyone aiming to merge moral clarity with a sound monetary standard.
9. Responsibility & Integrity:
Responsibility welds freedom to duty. In Japanese, sekinin (責任) merges “obligation” (責) with “duty” (任). In English, “responsibility” (from respondere) means answering for one’s actions. Without accountability, lofty ideals grow empty, unanchored from any duty to uphold what’s right—for ourselves, our leaders, or our communities. True sovereignty demands we stand behind our choices and accept their consequences.
10. Excellence:
Excellence reaches beyond the convenient middle. Japanese Yūshū (優秀) pairs superiority (優) with standing out (秀). The English “excellence,” born of ex (“out”) and cellere (“rise high”), reflects a call to surpass the ordinary. Real mastery isn’t about overshadowing others but persistently refining one’s own gifts—for both personal and communal good.
You might not realise it, but each Bushido virtue is tackled from many angles—etymological, historical, philosophical, and psychological—offering insights into how these principles once shaped civilisation’s greatest innovators and how we can still use them today.
8. Continued Horizons:
And so here we stand, on the razor’s edge. Will we continue to drift into fiat-induced fantasies and digital numbness, or choose the path that upholds discipline and honour? Aleksandar Svetski’s The Bushido of Bitcoin confronts our habit of taking the easy road, warning that recognising truth without acting on it is pointless—“letting it hammer our souls into weapons for good.”
Some might claim they’re perfectly content with the current landscape—after all, if Bitcoin’s price keeps climbing, who needs more change? But deep down, that’s a deception. While Bitcoin offers a rock-solid gauge of value, it can’t alter our cultural mindset by itself. That duty belongs to each of us—ditching apathy for real initiative, forging a lasting legacy in a world lulled into comfort by trivial distraction.
Practically speaking, Svetski’s formula for discipline revolves around personal accountability, unshakeable brotherhood, and the meticulous guardianship of sound money. Yet more crucially, he calls us to embody the Samurai mindset—to stand firm in moral conviction. In the end, skill means little without honor, and lofty ideals fall flat if no one is willing to defend them.
And so, let hollow illusions burn. Let a new generation of knights rise, paving the way for a revolution beyond anything we’ve seen. It won’t be painless—true revolutions never are—but it will be worth it.
Against this backdrop, The Bushido of Bitcoin emerges as a classic text reborn for modern times—a moral framework paired with the unassailable logic of sovereign money. Yet it also heralds a moment we’ve long awaited, and it demands nothing less than our bravest step forward.