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Bugatti 'Destrier' (Based on the Bolide): A Stunning One-Off Creation

Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac discusses the Bugatti Destrier – a breathtaking 'Solitaire' (one-off) built on the extreme, track-only Bugatti Bolide.

Extraordinary Proportions & Design

• The car stands just 1 meter (3.3 feet) tall – proportions reminiscent of designer Frank's wildest sketches.
• It utilizes the chassis and legendary W16 engine from the Bolide.
• The focus is on pure design: a blend of extreme aesthetics and racing DNA. The US-based client, a major collector, was instantly captivated by the concept.

Is it Road-Legal?

• It has the basic ingredients (e.g., road tires, radiator fans), but lacks airbags and crash testing. An individual vehicle approval (e.g., in the UK) would be possible, but the owner has yet to decide.
• The core goal is timeless, elegant design that will still be captivating in 50 years.

Development & Uniqueness

• The displayed model is real (with the Bolide chassis) but not a running car. Building the drivable version will take another 2 years.
• Despite being a one-off, it undergoes extensive testing (aerodynamics, suspension, brakes) – more than some smaller brands do for their standard models.
• The "Solitaire" program allows customers to act like a Bugatti CEO: they sit with designers and engineers to name the car and define its mission (track vs. road, luxury vs. performance).

Interior & Engineering

• The interior is tailored for the 1m tall racer: an extremely low seating position (helmet-compatible), six-point harnesses (no airbags).
• Highlights include hammered aluminum (medieval knight armor inspiration), copper-woven fabric, and a yoke steering wheel with all controls within fingertip reach.
• The W16 architecture dominates the center tunnel.

The Sister Car: Bugatti Tourbillon (discussed)

• The Tourbillon is the new series model and the first completely independently developed car under Mate Rimac. It shares virtually no parts with Volkswagen or Audi.
• It's powered by a newly developed, naturally aspirated 16-cylinder engine (no turbos!) combined with electric motors – a packaging masterpiece.
• The development was extremely challenging (e.g., emissions, cooling), but the engine itself proved highly reliable.
• A special detail: the instrument cluster is made of over 700 parts, developed with a Swiss watchmaker and driven by tiny servo motors.
• Mate Rimac had to overcome internal resistance to build this combustion-engined masterpiece while simultaneously building the company.

Conclusion

The Destrier is a statement of extreme creativity and craftsmanship. The Solitaire program is not only prestigious but also profitable, driving the brand forward by unlocking "limitless possibilities."

Market Overview: Crypto Defies Dismal Macro

• Tight macro environment: rising rates, record US diesel prices, high inflation, and growing debt. Yet risk assets trade near all-time highs – the thesis: Bitcoin loves crises.

Bitcoin: Month, Week, and All-Time Highs

• September closed +6.72% – unusually strong for a historically weak month.
• Highest weekly close since January 2026.
• Price broke through $82K, reached $87.3K, then faded back to ~$83K.

ETF Inflows and Institutional Interest

• Bitcoin ETFs saw their biggest week since the Oct 10, 2025 black swan – around $2.4B in inflows.
• Analyst rule of thumb: ETF flows determine about 80% of Bitcoin’s price moves. For the $90K target, a total of $5B is needed.

Technical Analysis: Support and Correction

• The recent 5% correction spooked many; a retest of the $81K level is possible.
• Losing $80K could open the door to the 20-day moving average ($80,163) – but any dip is likely short-lived.
• Order book manipulation: large sell walls that vanish before being tested suggest market makers trying to buy cheaper.

On-Chain Data: Bullish Signals

• Exchange outflows are the fastest since October 2025 – coins moving to self-custody reduces sell pressure.
• Long-term holders have not moved 16.3M BTC in over 6 months – the real liquid float is incredibly thin.

Treasury Companies and Strategies

• MicroStrategy bought more Bitcoin, now holding an all-time high of 847,666 BTC.
• Strive holds 27,462 BTC and plans daily dividends – could smooth price action around ex-dates.
• Other names like Tesla, SpaceX, Marathon, Riot are included in the Hoddle model.

Inflation and Global Purchasing Power Loss

• UK purchasing power down 38.61% since Jan 2020 – US is likely around ~40%.
• Diesel prices have doubled in 12 weeks, feeding through to all costs.

Conclusion and Q4 Outlook

• Q4 can be strong for winning assets, but stay cautious – keep some dry powder for potential dips.
• Bitcoin may increasingly be seen as a safe haven during crises.

Not financial advice – just an opinion.

Bitcoin Price and Correction Potential

• Bitcoin is trading just below $84,000, with the correction weakening.
• Key support at $82,500–$82,000; a test of the 200 EMA (around $79,000–$80,000) is possible.
• If it goes lower, $74,000 and then $72,000–$70,000 are the next zones.
• The long-term uptrend remains intact as long as the 200 EMA holds.

Altcoin Market and Narratives

• Despite Bitcoin's correction, altcoins show strong moves, e.g., Quant (QNT) after news of the Onchain Money Initiative with The Clearing House.
• Altcoin season indicators are hot, but many coins are still far from their all-time highs (e.g., ICP, Polkadot).
• Important new narrative: Revenue-driven tokenomics with buyback programs (e.g., Hyperliquid) – classified as non-securities by the SEC.
• Caution against an overheated market: profit-taking and setting stop-losses are recommended.

Speaker’s Portfolio Strategy

• Own watchlist based on fundamentals (revenue, tokenomics, narratives).
• Current positions: e.g., Chainlink (LINK), Ondo (ONDO), LD – limit orders have been executed.
• Planned: Portfolio Challenge from $10,000 to $100,000 with regular updates.
• No blind trades – personal responsibility and own analysis are essential.

Macro and Geopolitical Factors

• Bond markets: Yields rising globally (Japan sells US Treasuries, high US financing needs).
• Fed: Interest rates remain higher for longer, inflation pressure from AI investments and energy crisis.
• Geopolitics: Iran talks, Strait of Hormuz, oil at $98; gold/silver correcting.
• Stablecoins: Genius Act promotes regulation and creates demand for Treasuries – positive for crypto.

Taxes & Security

• Germany: Draft bill on crypto tax – decision possible in December; CDU/CSU might oppose, but coalition agreement allows room.
• Security: Bitget hack ($380 million) covered by fund; OKX Shield offers additional protection (up to $500,000).

Outlook

• Short-term correction potential for Bitcoin (test 200 EMA), but medium-term positive.
• Altcoin profit-taking expected – selective purchases on dips.
• Key macro data: Nonfarm Payrolls on Friday, PCE data.
• Overall market remains fragile, but crypto benefits from both sides (digital gold + risk asset).

Introduction

The Pagani Huayra Codalunga Speedster is a breathtaking one-off from Pagani's exclusive “Grande Complicazione” division. Only 10 examples are being built – all already sold. The car tested is the factory prototype, and Pagani has never handed over the keys to anyone before.

Design & Details

• The name Codalunga literally means “long tail” – fitting for the extended rear section.
• It features an entirely new carbon-and-titanium chassis, unique to this model.
• The carbon rear clamshell measures 3.7 m² – bigger than a regulation pool table.
• Highlights include an oval front “mouth”, pistachio green paint over exposed carbon, bespoke wheels with left- and right-handed spokes, slimmer air intakes and snorkel-style air scoops.
• No mesh, no grille at the rear – instead a ceramic quad exhaust plus hidden extra pipes blowing hot gas over the diffuser.
• Even the rear fog light becomes theatre in its own little “tail gunner” pod.

Interior

• The cabin still looks stunning 15 years after the original Huayra.
• It features the first wooden steering wheel in a Huayra – a homage to the Zonda.
• The wood matches the gear knob of the 7-speed open-gate manual gearbox.
• Pagani developed its own touchscreen, but for the Utopia they moved back to smaller screens and buttons – a welcome decision.
• The upholstery can be customized with 4 million stitches and an exhaust-pattern fabric.
• Detail obsession: the key tray is longer to fit the longer Codalunga key.

Powertrain & Driving Experience

• Power comes from a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 by AMG, built exclusively for Pagani.
• With 852 hp, it is the most powerful road-going Pagani ever – 24 hp more than the coupe.
• The soundtrack is not an operatic V12 scream, but a menacing mix of turbo hiss, sucking and whistling.
• The manual dog-leg 7-speed gearbox takes time to master but offers more control than the usual automated manuals.
• A blip button on the steering wheel rev-matches automatically if you like.
• Despite its exclusivity, the car does not feel fragile: lovely steering, great ride and proper sports-car engineering.

Price & Verdict

• The price is €11 million – which explains the extreme bespoke effort.
• The Codalunga Speedster is called the prettiest Huayra of all time.
• It proves that hypercars are not just collector's items – they deserve to be driven shamelessly and mercilessly.

Study Overview

A 2021 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether a specific micronutrient blend can reduce eye floaters. 61 participants with chronic, age-related floaters took either an active capsule (five ingredients) or a placebo for 6 months.

Active Ingredients

• L-Lysine (125 mg) – may inhibit glycation of collagen
• Citrus Bioflavonoids (100 mg) – standardized for hesperidin
• Grape Seed Extract (26.3 mg) – rich in proanthocyanidins
• Vitamin C (40 mg) – natural antioxidant in vitreous humor
• Zinc (5 mg) – cofactor for antioxidant enzymes

Results After 6 Months

• Subjective Symptoms: Active group's average discomfort score dropped from 3.9 to 2.10 (significant), placebo nearly unchanged (3.69 → 3.35). 66.6% of active group showed positive therapeutic response.
• Imaging (2D shadow area): 77% of active group saw an average 18% reduction in shadow area (121 to 100 cm²). Placebo group increased slightly.
• Visual Function: No change in visual acuity, but a specific high-frequency contrast test improved by a small but significant 0.06 log units.

Important Caveats

• The study was co-funded by the manufacturer (VitroCap N) and authors hold patent interests.
• No independent replication has been performed.
• 2D imaging does not prove actual dissolution of collagen clumps.
• The symptom questionnaire was created specifically for this trial and not independently validated.

Practical Eye Health Tips

• Blood sugar control: High glucose accelerates collagen cross-linking via AGEs.
• UV protection: Quality sunglasses reduce oxidative stress in the eye.

Medical Warning

This information applies only to chronic, medically evaluated floaters. Sudden onset of many new floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow/curtain in your vision requires immediate eye exam – it may signal retinal detachment.

Conclusion

The Floaters Trial is an encouraging first step. It shows a targeted micronutrient blend can produce moderate improvements for some individuals after 6 months. Not a miracle cure, but a scientifically grounded foundation worth watching for further research.

Michael Pollan and Andrew Huberman dive into the mysterious realm of consciousness—the topic of Pollan's latest book "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness." The conversation weaves together science, philosophy, and personal experience, revealing how plants, animals, and the human mind are deeply interconnected.

Defining Consciousness: Tricky Terrain

• Consciousness is the only thing we can be sure of, yet defining it remains elusive. Pollan adopts the description of subjective experience: if there is "something it is like to be" something, that being is conscious.
• He distinguishes between sentience—the basic ability to sense changes in the environment—and higher human consciousness with self-reflection and metacognition.

Plants: Intelligent Beings with a Form of Consciousness?

• Plants display remarkable problem-solving abilities: roots can navigate mazes to find fertilizer, and plants react to sounds of chewing caterpillars by producing defensive chemicals.
• Astonishingly, plants respond to the same anesthetics humans use—Venus flytraps won't snap shut when anesthetized. This raises the question of whether they possess a form of sentience.
• Pollan describes the evolutionary strategy of plants: they manipulate us through chemicals (caffeine, THC) to ensure their spread—without conscious intent, but with stunning success.

Self vs. Other: A Fundamental Principle of Life

• The distinction between "me" and "not-me" is foundational. Even nerve cells and plant roots follow this rule: they grow to acquire resources and avoid competing with kin.
• This principle might form the basis for more complex forms of consciousness—though it doesn't directly lead to "thinking."

The Body as the Origin of Consciousness

• Challenging the classical focus on the cortex, Pollan draws on Antonio Damasio and Mark Solms to argue that consciousness begins in the brainstem and in bodily feelings (hunger, pain, comfort).
• Feelings are inherently conscious—they must be felt. The cortex only adds interpretation. Studies of people born without a cortex show they still have conscious experiences.
• Body-to-brain communication is intense: 80% of information flows from body to brain, not the other way around. Example: ginger calms the stomach and makes people less morally judgmental—emotions like disgust are "checked" through the gut.

Ego, Psychedelics, and Boundless Consciousness

• Pollan shares his own psilocybin experience: complete ego dissolution where he became blue paint and then a Bach cello piece. The subject-object boundary vanished.
• The benefit: one gains perspective on the ego and can relativize it. This is not permanent but serves as a valuable shift in perspective—also achievable through meditation or awe experiences.
• Pollan introduces filter theories of consciousness: perhaps consciousness is an electromagnetic field that our brains receive like radios. Aldous Huxley called the brain a "reducing valve" that admits only a measly trickle of reality.
• Collective consciousness is not a woo-woo dream but a state where self-boundaries blur, promoting prosocial behavior—though it never lasts.

The Future of Psychedelics: Between Medicine and Social Change

• FDA approval for MDMA and psilocybin is imminent. Pollan hopes for responsible introduction but warns of risks (psychosis, unregulated use).
• The alliance of left and right—e.g., veterans using ibogaine—is driving legalization. This shows that psychedelic medicine today has support across ideological divides.

Caffeine: The Everyday "Wonder Drug"—and an Experiment

• For his book "This Is Your Mind on Plants", Pollan went on a three-month caffeine fast. The withdrawal was tough: he felt like a stranger and couldn't write.
• After reintroduction, he experienced incredible energy—better than any psychedelic. His takeaway: caffeine is a powerful tool we dull through daily use. Conscious consumption (e.g., only on weekends) can preserve its effect.
• He stresses that drugs are neither good nor bad—context matters. Caffeine is a prime example of a legal, socially accepted substance with enormous benefits.

Practical Wisdom for a Fulfilled Life

• Gardening teaches responsibility for nature: plants have their own interests that we must respect.
• Hope is essential: Pollan always writes with a positive perspective—even about problematic topics like industrial meat, he presents alternatives (grass-fed instead of corn-fed).
• Food & Politics: The food movement should build alliances across party lines. The Maha-moms and the slow-food movement can achieve shared goals (e.g., against pesticides).

The bottom line: Consciousness is no simple phenomenon—it is shaped by our body, our senses, and our relationship with the environment. And sometimes a cup of coffee or a glance at the garden brings us a little closer to the mystery of existence.

Bitcoin’s Surprising Strength

• Ben Cowan admitted he was wrong: he expected a Q4 flush, but Bitcoin broke above the May high and now trades around $85K.
• Bitcoin has shrugged off macro headwinds (rising yields, strong dollar, higher energy prices) that normally would pressure it.

Cycle Analysis & Bear Market Comparison

• The current bear market lasted only ~9 months – similar to 2019, but without a massive volume spike at the bottom.
• Compared to the previous cycle (Terra/Luna, FTX), there were fewer ‚sins‘ to pay for, hence less pain.
• The 4-year cycle remains intact, even if the bottom came earlier than expected (summer instead of Q4).

Liquidity & Altcoins

• Global net liquidity is still severely constrained (~$25T vs $30T in 2021).
• Monetary policy is less restrictive now (Fed funds rate below 2-year yield), allowing altcoins to rally.
• However, a true alt season is unlikely unless Bitcoin first has a euphoric rally and liquidity surges (which would require a crisis first).
• The Bitcoin pair index (ALT/BTC) does not yet show a sustainable rotation.

Key Level to Watch

• The decisive factor is the weekly close above/below ~$82,800 (May high).
  • Above it: Bullish – the bottom is likely in.
  • Below it: Bearish – could still see a Q4 low.

Social Sentiment Reality Check

• The recent spike in YouTube views is not due to renewed retail interest, but to a change in how views are counted (now counts after 1 second).
• Other metrics (Coinbase app ranking, Google Trends, Twitter followers) show no recovery in retail demand.

Takeaway: Stay flexible. As long as Bitcoin holds above $83K, the bullish case is intact. A weekly close below that level could trigger another Q4 decline.