Greymantle's Politics and Culture

Insights into the Long Game

Understanding Cryptocurrency, Part 2: Digital Gold and Crypto Billionaires

Ivor Greymantle

Key Takeaways IV. Bitcoin, Ethereum and Early Crypto Ecosystem When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin software in January 2009, almost nobody noticed – at least not immediately. The world was preoccupied with far more immediate concerns. Banks were failing, governments were rushing to stabilize financial markets, and millions of people were confronting the economic fallout […]

Understanding Cryptocurrency: A Guide for Skeptics, Part 1: The Blockchain Revolution

Ivor Greymantle

More than 17 years after Bitcoin’s creation, cryptocurrency remains one of the most poorly understood phenomena in modern finance and technology. Part of the confusion stems from the fact that three distinct concepts have become tangled together in the public's mind under the name "crypto". In this series, we untangle these concepts. In Part 1, we explore the Blockchain Revolution that made cryptocurrencies possible.

The Loneliness of Modern Freedom: Why Autonomy Has Not Delivered Happiness

Ivor Greymantle

Elite discourse in the West tends to dwell rhapsodically on the supposed joys of autonomy and self-fulfillment. What it spends less time analyzing is the loneliness of modern freedom. It can advocate for why autonomy allows for liberation. What it can't explain is why autonomy has not delivered happiness. This week, we consider 'The Loneliness of Modern Freedom'.

All the Right Moves: Leo XIV’s First Year as Pontiff

Ivor Greymantle

By recentering the Catholic Church on its foundational truths and prioritizing administrative integrity, Pope Leo XIV is attempting to heal internal Church fissures that many thought were beyond repair, while serving as a rare anchor in a world that has lost its moorings. In his first year, Pope Leo seems to have made all the right moves.

The Chaos Magick President: Trump’s War on Reality

Ivor Greymantle

In November 2024, days before Donald Trump’s improbable return to power, I published an article on these pages titled "Lord of Illusions: Donald Trump as Master Magician". Trump's behavior, I alleged, bore a close resemblance to that of the infamous Aleister Crowley. The "Illusionist" that I described in 2024 has fully manifested himself as “the Chaos Magick President" of 2026. The stage tricks are gone; what remains is a raw, blasphemous attempt to overwrite the firmware of our shared reality.

What Does Humble Pie Taste Like? Why the Iranian Regime Defied My Forecast of Collapse

Ivor Greymantle

Back in March, I made a very bullish forecast that Iran's regime would collapse with 98% certainty for myriad reasons, the U.S.-Israeli attacks being the most proximate. But I was dead wrong. In this post, I analyze the gaps and mistakes made in my earlier forecast. What does humble pie taste like? Read on and I'll tell you.