James Check (aka Checkmate) is the co-founder of Checkonchain and one of the leading voices making onchain data accessible for everyday bitcoiners. Known for his ability to turn complex charts into compelling stories, James blends his engineering background with market analysis to help people see human behavior imprinted in bitcoin’s ledger. In this episode, James joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share why realized cap is one of the most powerful adoption metrics, how to interpret profit and loss across holders, and what onchain data is saying about the current cycle. We dig into the role of ETFs and treasury companies, the impact of derivatives on market structure, and why the future of onchain analytics remains deeply human.
TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & why onchain data matters for bitcoin 1:30 – Buying the 2017 top, engineering background & finding bitcoin 4:50 – Realized cap, cost basis, and why it just crossed $1T 7:30 – From civil engineering to onchain analysis 10:00 – Orange pill moments, macro influences, and early metrics 12:40 – Human behavior, fear & greed mapped onchain 15:00 – Turning raw data into stories people understand 18:00 – State of the market in 2025: leverage, ETFs, and demand 22:00 – Cycles, late-stage dynamics & institutional flows 26:00 – Rethinking market cycles: the three-cycle structure 31:00 – Sell-side pressure, hodlers, and ETF dynamics 35:00 – Are ETFs and treasury companies changing onchain analysis? 40:00 – Profit, loss, and building decision frameworks for different price scenarios 46:00 – Key support zones: 110K, 90K, and Sailor’s liquidation line 49:00 – Derivatives, ETFs, and how flows shape volatility 54:00 – Risks of leverage, banks entering, and future fireworks 58:00 – Rapid fire: desert island metrics, entry point for retail, and data wish list 1:02:00 – The Australian bitcoin community & grassroots conferences 1:05:30 – The future of onchain analytics, AI, and Checkonchain’s next report
Explore how bitcoin as a monetary tool is transforming lives and perspectives. Through in-depth conversations, uncover stories of innovation, disruption, and growth as we chart the ever-evolving bitcoin frontier. Whether you're a bitcoin veteran or just curious, The Bitcoin Frontier is your guide to the future of money.
