The biblical case for Bitcoin: Is sound money a moral duty?

Inflation. Money printing. Wealth erosion. These aren’t just economic concerns; they’re moral ones. That’s the argument behind God Bless Bitcoin, a new documentary exploring how Bitcoin aligns with religious principles and the fight for financial justice.

The film, co-directed by Brian and Kelly Estes, examines Bitcoin through the lens of ethics and faith, arguing that sound money—money that cannot be manipulated or debased—is not just a financial necessity but a moral imperative. Featuring perspectives from religious leaders, economists, and Bitcoin advocates—including Strategy CEO Michael Saylor—the film makes the case that Bitcoin is the most ethical form of money ever created.

A broken monetary system

The Esteses’ journey to making God Bless Bitcoin began with their growing disillusionment with the traditional financial system. "I really didn't understand money until about 10 years ago," Brian told The Crypto Radio. "Once I went on my Bitcoin journey, I understood what money really was, and the currency that the government issues is not money. They're Federal Reserve notes."

The Esteses argue that governments and central banks can print unlimited amounts of money, diluting the value of people's savings. "When the government dilutes it, they're stealing from you, and it's just completely unethical and immoral," Brian said. To them, inflation isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a form of financial injustice that punishes savers and benefits those in power.

Kelly, who has worked extensively with students from low-income backgrounds, saw the impact of this firsthand. One of her students, a refugee from Venezuela, was alarmed to see similar patterns of inflation developing in the United States. "She said, 'My parents are really worried because the same things that were happening in Venezuela are now starting to happen here.'"

For the Esteses, the global nature of the problem makes it even more urgent. They believe that fiat money systems, by design, erode purchasing power over time, disproportionately affecting those with the least financial security.

Bitcoin as a moral alternative

The Esteses argue that Bitcoin provides a more ethical financial system—one that cannot be manipulated or controlled by any central authority. "When the world gets on a Bitcoin standard and everybody's using Bitcoin as money, then we can't be deluded. You know, it's the best form of money humans have ever created," Brian said.

Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralized nature, they believe, make it fairer than fiat currency. "The fact that no one can control or manipulate Bitcoin, and that everyone has to play by the same set of rules, and there's no rulers, I think that makes it inherently very moral," says one interviewee in the film.

This aligns with long-standing religious teachings on financial ethics. Rabbi Daniel Lapin compares modern money printing to biblical warnings against dishonest business practices, while Islamic scholars in the film explain how Bitcoin’s scarcity aligns with Islamic finance principles that forbid riba (interest) and artificial money creation. "In Islam, the practice of lending at interest is forbidden," one speaker says.

Christian perspectives also feature prominently, with Father Robert Sirico calling the Federal Reserve "a place of great mischief"—something Bitcoin’s structure is designed to prevent. Across different faiths, a common theme emerges: money should be a tool for fair and honest transactions, not a system for exploitation.

A new moral compass

For the Esteses, Bitcoin isn’t just a better form of money—it’s a potential solution to some of society’s biggest challenges. Brian argued that the instability of fiat money has made it harder for people to start families and plan for the future. "Because it's so expensive today, it's preventing young people from starting their families and getting married and doing what God directs us to do in the Bible and in Genesis."

The argument is that in a Bitcoin-based financial system, people could save money without worrying about inflation depleting their purchasing power. With a stable, predictable monetary system, wages and savings would hold their value over time, allowing people to make long-term financial plans with confidence.

Kelly sees this as part of a broader issue of financial sovereignty. "If the world can get on a Bitcoin standard, and it could stop the money printer and stop diluting our time and our energy, then we'll be able to live a life that's more compliant with God's wishes and commands," she said.

Beyond individual financial stability, the film suggests that a Bitcoin-based system could curb government overreach. If money can’t be printed at will, the Estes argue, it removes the ability of governments to fund conflicts or expand power unchecked. 

Bitcoin as a religious movement?

The film also touches on an idea that has surfaced frequently in Bitcoin circles—whether Bitcoin itself has become something of a belief system. Many Bitcoin advocates speak about it with a level of conviction that goes beyond economics, treating it as a mission rather than just an investment.

Saylor makes this connection explicit. "Bitcoin is as much an ideology as it is a technology," he said in the film. "Because it's an ethical ideology, there are many people that feel very spiritual about it, and others that view it as a religion."

This perspective suggests that Bitcoin is more than just a financial tool—it’s a set of principles that challenge the current system and offer an alternative vision for the future. For some, it represents a shift away from government-controlled money toward a system governed by math and code, where trust is placed in technology rather than institutions.

A moral debate worth having

The Esteses are clear in their belief that Bitcoin is the best financial system ever created. But their film also raises broader questions—what should money be? Who should control it? And how do financial systems shape society and individual lives?

God Bless Bitcoin makes a strong case for Bitcoin as a moral alternative to fiat currency, backed by religious principles that predate modern banking by thousands of years. Whether or not viewers agree, the film challenges them to rethink money’s role in the world—not just as an economic tool, but as a force that shapes ethics, fairness, and the way we live.

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in the Guardians of Bitcoin podcast.