Lisa sits down with litigator and tax specialist Joshua Smeltzer to unpack how Texas is positioning itself as a digital-asset hub, what the new business-court and “business judgment rule” mean for companies, and how tax and regulatory choices ripple through M&A, treasury strategy, and day-to-day operations. From plain-English explanations of blockchains and NFTs to real-world pitfalls like staking-reward taxation and balance-sheet Bitcoin, Joshua translates complexity into practical moves leaders can make now.

Why listen

• Understand how Texas policy (business courts, SB29) may reduce friction and risk in complex deals.
• Get a clear, non-technical definition of “digital assets” (beyond just crypto).
• Learn the most common digital-asset tax traps—and how to avoid them.
• Hear how treasury strategies that include Bitcoin change deal terms and diligence.

Key Takeaways

Texas is engineering deal confidence.

SB29 codifies the business judgment rule and narrows who can bring internal claims; Texas Business Courts create a specialized venue for complex disputes—both can reduce litigation overhang and speed decisions.

Digital assets ≠ just crypto.

Think tokenized rights, NFT titles/provenance, and blockchain-based records—with use cases expanding beyond finance.

Tax rules are evolving (slowly).

Crypto treated as property drives capital-gains reporting; staking rewards timing is under active challenge; expect more 1099 reporting from exchanges.

Treasury Bitcoin changes M&A.

Buyers and sellers may need volatility-aware terms (collars, true-ups, working-capital-like mechanics) when significant BTC sits on the balance sheet.

Sovereignty vs safety.

Self-custody is powerful—but operational risk (keys, loss) is real. Policy and tooling maturity will determine mainstream adoption.

Guest Links

Joshua on LinkedIn (active commentary & article shares): (7) Joshua Smeltzer | LinkedIn

Forbes column (digital assets, Texas policy, tax/litigation insights): The TeX Factor For Traditional And Digital Asset Businesses

Gray Reed blog: (7) Gray Reed: Posts | LinkedIn

Episode Quote

“In 2030, we’re going to be fine. We’ve been through a lot—and we’ll navigate this era the same way: with clarity, good judgment, and practical rules.”

Listen next: Episodes on TXSE, carve-out playbooks, and AI’s impact on diligence.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only and reflects the personal views and experiences of the participants. It should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Always consult with your own qualified advisors regarding your specific situation before making business or legal decisions.

About In2edge:

In2edge is the consulting firm behind this podcast — helping companies navigate the complex world of post-M&A execution. From contract transitions to procurement, supplier onboarding to compliance, In2edge brings practical, hands-on solutions that go beyond the strategy decks and into real operational impact.

Subscribe to M&A+:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast. And remember, sometimes the smartest move a leader can make is simply asking a great question.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

In this episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, Lisa Scott sits down with Tim Savage, CPA and Tax Partner at Weaver, who leads the firm’s Blockchain & Digital Assets practice. Tim shares how he built a crypto-forward tax practice inside a traditional firm, where digital assets fit in M&A due diligence, and the tax levers that quietly drive value (or risk) after close. The conversation also digs into stagflation signals, treasury diversification, and one simple move companies can make today to future-proof.

You’ll learn:

• How Tim went from Big Four tax to leading a digital assets practice at Weaver
• What really changes in M&A when a target holds Bitcoin/crypto (custody, controls, valuation)
• The tax traps in carve-outs and integrations: 83(b), 409A, state nexus (Wayfair), transaction costs
• Deal design in plain English: asset vs. stock, §338(h)(10), §351, §368, and when §1202 (QSBS) matters
• Stagflation 101 and why scarce assets (incl. Bitcoin) are back in boardroom discussions
• The one practical step a CEO can take now to get ready for the next decade

Guest: Tim Savage — CPA, Tax Partner at Weaver; leads Blockchain & Digital Assets; Board member, Texas Blockchain Council; speaker at Bitcoin 2023–2025.

Quotes

• “Tax can quietly make or break the value of a deal.”
• “If a target holds Bitcoin, diligence the custody like you would the vault.”
• “Today’s ‘high’ may be tomorrow’s ‘new low’ as adoption compounds.”

Links

• Guest: Tim Savage (Weaver): weaver.com
• Texas Blockchain Council: texasblockchaincouncil.org
• Host: Lisa Scott (In2edge / Intuitive Edge): in2edge.com

Disclaimer

This conversation is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult your professional advisors.

About In2edge:

In2edge is the consulting firm behind this podcast — helping companies navigate the complex world of post-M&A execution. From contract transitions to procurement, supplier onboarding to compliance, In2edge brings practical, hands-on solutions that go beyond the strategy decks and into real operational impact.

Subscribe to M&A+:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast. And remember, sometimes the smartest move a leader can make is simply asking a great question.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/

In this timely and wide-ranging episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, host Lisa Scott sits down with Lee Bratcher, Founder and President of the Texas Blockchain Council, during a historic week in U.S. crypto legislation.

As the GENIUS Act is signed into law and the Clarity Act gains momentum, Lisa and Lee explore what this federal progress means for Texas, how the blockchain ecosystem has evolved, and where the real M&A activity is heating up in the crypto space.

They cover:

• The origin and mission of the Texas Blockchain Council
• Texas as a global leader in Bitcoin policy and innovation
• The structure and players in the blockchain ecosystem—from mining to custody to DeFi
• Tokenization, stablecoins, and what smart capital is doing now
• Regulatory clarity and how it’s unlocking M&A across mining, infrastructure, and fintech
• How traditional professionals—legal, finance, strategy—can align with and support this evolving space
• DAOs, digital identity, and the long game for Texas

Lisa and Lee wrap up with a lightning round on underrated innovations, must-read books, and what the future holds for Texas as a digital asset capital.

Learn more about Lee Bratcher: texasblockchaincouncil.org

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Lisa’s firm: www.in2edge.com
• Subscribe to the M&A+ Newsletter on LinkedIn (including the Crypto Series)
• Follow Lisa Scott and Lee Bratcher on LinkedIn for updates
• Recommended Reading: The Bitcoin Standard, Inventing Bitcoin, writings by Nick Carter

This Week in Crypto (Context):

• GENIUS Act signed into law, marking the first federal crypto legislation
• Clarity Act passes House, defining SEC/CFTC jurisdiction
• Texas becomes the first U.S. state with a state-funded Bitcoin reserve

About In2edge:

In2edge is the consulting firm behind this podcast — helping companies navigate the complex world of post-M&A execution. From contract transitions to procurement, supplier onboarding to compliance, In2edge brings practical, hands-on solutions that go beyond the strategy decks and into real operational impact.

Subscribe to M&A+:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast. And remember, sometimes the smartest move a leader can make is simply asking a great question.

To learn more, visit: https://in2edge.com/