Is the Bitcoin 4-Year Cycle Broken? + Our Bitcoin-Only Lightning Project (21Stacker) | Ep.27
Fri Jan 09 2026
In Episode 27 of The Emerge21 Show, Alan and Chris review the Bitcoin landscape heading into 2026—from institutional adoption and dampening volatility, to the question many are asking: is the 4-year cycle broken?
They also reveal what’s been taking up most of their time: the launch of 21Stacker—a Bitcoin-only, Lightning-native competition platform designed to help people experience Bitcoin (not just hear about it).
The goal is simple: reduce friction, strip out fiat rails where possible, and create a hands-on Lightning moment that sparks curiosity and learning.You’ll also hear how the provably-fair draw mechanics work (pre-commit hash + next Bitcoin block hash + verification steps + 6 confirmations), why the platform includes a skill-based question, and how the 21% Partner Program (including lifetime commission for early partners) is designed to drive Bitcoin adoption through community network effects.Key themes: Bitcoin adoption, Lightning onboarding, cycles vs fundamentals, corporate treasuries, provably-fair verification, and building Bitcoin-native products in public.🔗
Explore 21Stacker: https://21stacker.com/
🎧 Subscribe for more Bitcoin-native builds + education from Emerge21.
What you’ll learn / talking points:
- Why 2025’s narratives didn’t play out the way many expected- Corporate + institutional Bitcoin adoption vs. retail participation
- The case for “cycle skepticism” and why calendar-year patterns can mislead- Volatility dampening: good for Bitcoin’s maturity, tricky for hype-driven retail- Why education alone doesn’t convert—first-hand Lightning experience does- The thinking behind a Bitcoin-only platform (and why avoiding fiat matters)- How 21Stacker aims to onboard the “next wave” via familiar mechanics- Provably-fair draw system: pre-commit hash + Bitcoin block hash + 6 confirmations- Skill-based entry + compliance considerations (including a free postal route)- The 21% partner program, including early-partner lifetime commission structure- Notable quotes “Bitcoin isn’t adopted by explanation alone—it's adopted through experience.”“If you can own more Bitcoin this month than last month, that’s the strategy.”“The calendar-year cycle is broken… and that’s probably healthier long-term.”“We stripped out the fiat rails—if you want to participate, you’ll use Lightning.”
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In Episode 27 of The Emerge21 Show, Alan and Chris review the Bitcoin landscape heading into 2026—from institutional adoption and dampening volatility, to the question many are asking: is the 4-year cycle broken? They also reveal what’s been taking up most of their time: the launch of 21Stacker—a Bitcoin-only, Lightning-native competition platform designed to help people experience Bitcoin (not just hear about it). The goal is simple: reduce friction, strip out fiat rails where possible, and create a hands-on Lightning moment that sparks curiosity and learning.You’ll also hear how the provably-fair draw mechanics work (pre-commit hash + next Bitcoin block hash + verification steps + 6 confirmations), why the platform includes a skill-based question, and how the 21% Partner Program (including lifetime commission for early partners) is designed to drive Bitcoin adoption through community network effects.Key themes: Bitcoin adoption, Lightning onboarding, cycles vs fundamentals, corporate treasuries, provably-fair verification, and building Bitcoin-native products in public.🔗 Explore 21Stacker: https://21stacker.com/ 🎧 Subscribe for more Bitcoin-native builds + education from Emerge21. What you’ll learn / talking points: - Why 2025’s narratives didn’t play out the way many expected- Corporate + institutional Bitcoin adoption vs. retail participation - The case for “cycle skepticism” and why calendar-year patterns can mislead- Volatility dampening: good for Bitcoin’s maturity, tricky for hype-driven retail- Why education alone doesn’t convert—first-hand Lightning experience does- The thinking behind a Bitcoin-only platform (and why avoiding fiat matters)- How 21Stacker aims to onboard the “next wave” via familiar mechanics- Provably-fair draw system: pre-commit hash + Bitcoin block hash + 6 confirmations- Skill-based entry + compliance considerations (including a free postal route)- The 21% partner program, including early-partner lifetime commission structure- Notable quotes “Bitcoin isn’t adopted by explanation alone—it's adopted through experience.”“If you can own more Bitcoin this month than last month, that’s the strategy.”“The calendar-year cycle is broken… and that’s probably healthier long-term.”“We stripped out the fiat rails—if you want to participate, you’ll use Lightning.”