“Europe is becoming a museum. Bitcoin is passing its test. And AI still can’t trade like a human.”
In this powerful episode, Bill Mann and Mark Connors welcome Alex Fleiss, CEO of Rebellion Research, for an unfiltered conversation on macroeconomic fractures, digital asset dualities, and the psychological edge of human investors.
We cover:
🪙 Bitcoin's dual identity — both risk-on asset and safe haven
🇪🇺 Europe's decline — is the EU the next Japan? Or just a financial museum in waiting?
🧠 AI vs. Human Traders — Why market psychology can't be coded (yet)
📉 MicroStrategy, Tim Cook, Apple’s network effect, and Buffett’s surprising humility
🔭 The future of AGI, China’s capital controls, and the rise of AI-driven quant research
Plus: Alex shares stories from the front lines of quant investing, his admiration for Judea Pearl and Jan LeCun, and a preview of the upcoming Fordham QuantVision Conference.
🎧 Subscribe! Listen or Watch the Full Episode:
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🧠 Featured Guest
Alexander Fleiss is CEO of Rebellion Research, a pioneer in AI-driven investing. He’s taught at Columbia, Cornell, Berkeley, and Fordham, and curates one of the most respected quant conferences in the world. His insights span from machine learning in markets to capital flight from Europe and the misunderstood risks of MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy.
🔖 Topics Covered
The "Buffett paradox" — faith in Coke, fortune in Apple
How Reinforcement Learning is shaping asset management
Why Switzerland stands alone in Europe’s economic structure
Will AI ever beat a good human trader?
Can Bitcoin become the world’s next reserve currency?
📢 Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear your take.
💬 Is Europe a long-term short?
💥 Can faith and network effects justify Bitcoin's price action?
🧠 Has AI investing peaked or are we just getting started?
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📍LinkedIn: The New Barbarians Podcast
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