While thinking about the possible attacks against bitcoin holdings the threat of Electro-Magnetic Pulses popped up. So my questions are:
1. How susceptible are bitcoin holdings to Electro-Magnetic Pulses (whether they be highly targeted or a more generalized attack)?
Depends on your setup. For myself, limited to none, but a large scale EMP attack would cause issues for a large segment of commerce regardless of currency. The most effective non-nuclear EMP attack delivery method is cluster packages of fully operational electromagnets and c4 detonators to collapse the field. Most missile systems don't have the power required to keep the magnets at full field strength before the implosion of the field, so only really large and slow planes would be able to deliver payload like this, and that shit get's shot down quick, especially considering that most anti-aircraft gear is EMP hardened.
Unshielded optical routers and cellular towers would probably be the primary target of such an attack vector, and then who knows, people might have to remember how electromagnetics and the internet work again. Might be a net positive from a recovery standpoint.
2. What are some of the possible defenses?
There are lots of published military manuals on building EMP protected shelters, if you're getting paranoid.