In this episode, Hunter Beast discusses the potential threats posed by quantum computing to Bitcoin and the proposed solutions, including BIP 360, which aims to introduce quantum-resistant hashes. The conversation delves into the technical aspects of Bitcoin's cryptography, the vulnerabilities associated with address reuse, and the importance of community feedback in developing effective solutions. Hunter emphasizes the urgency of preparing for quantum threats and the need for a collaborative ap...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 672
In this episode, Stephan reconnects with Stephen Cole to discuss the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, particularly focusing on the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies and the launch of Castle, a new venture aimed at automating Bitcoin treasury management for small and medium businesses. They explore the implications of Bitcoin adoption for small businesses, the importance of hard tech, and the potential for Bitcoin to serve as a foundational asset for future innovations. The conversation emphasizes...
Jul 01, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 671
Clara Shikhelman Head of Research at ChaincodeLabs and Anthony Milton join me to explain the quantum threat to Bitcoin and possible mitigations: Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:46) Understanding Quantum Computing and Bitcoin Security (05:42) The Impact on Bitcoin Private keys (08:34) Mining and Quantum Computing (10:50) How many coins are vulnerable? (14:00) Bitcoin script types (19:37) Sponsors (21:25) Immediate call to action - stop address re use (25:20) What do we do if a QC appears? Burn vs S...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 670
Zach Pardey, CEO and co-founder of Bold, a Bitcoin-focused banking platform, discusses Zach's journey into the Bitcoin space, the societal issues stemming from fiat systems, and how Bitcoin can serve as a solution. The conversation delves into the integration of Bitcoin with traditional banking, the unique offerings of Bold, including Bitcoin rewards and self-custody options, and the emerging trend of Bitcoin treasury companies. Zach emphasizes the importance of self-custody and the need for fin...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 669
In this episode, Aaron discusses his book 'The Sovereign Child' and his unique approach to parenting, which is influenced by libertarian philosophy and the ideas of David Deutsch. Stupple emphasizes the importance of understanding children's reasons for their behavior rather than imposing authoritarian discipline. He advocates for a parenting style that maximizes freedom and autonomy while still providing guidance and support. The conversation also explores the importance of allowing children to...
Jun 24, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 668
Stephan & Matt discuss the ‘Save Our Wallets’ campaign, which aims to protect non-custodial wallets from regulatory challenges posed by the U.S. government. He highlights the legal risks developers face due to broad interpretations of regulations and the potential consequences of future administrations. The importance of advocacy for legislative change, user engagement, and improving user experience in Bitcoin transactions are emphasized. Additionally, the conversation touches on the implica...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 667
Blake & Stephan discusses the emerging concept of Bitcoin treasury companies, their role in the debt market, and the potential benefits and risks associated with them. He emphasizes the proactive approach these companies take to bring capital into Bitcoin, the importance of understanding the mechanics behind their operations, and the sustainability of their net asset value (MNAV). The discussion also touches on investment strategies, personal perspectives on risk, and the future of Bitcoin t...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 666
Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President, Open Dialogue Foundation discusses the intersection of Bitcoin, human rights, and the weaponization of financial regulations. She highlights the dangers of transnational financial repression, where authoritarian regimes exploit financial action task force (FATF) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to target individuals and organizations. The discussion emphasizes the need for privacy protection, legislative change, and active advocacy to safeguard civil lib...
Jun 13, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 665
Igor Neumann, co-founder of Firefish, discusses the innovative approach of their Bitcoin lending platform. Firefish operates as a decentralized marketplace connecting borrowers and lenders, allowing users to leverage their Bitcoin as collateral for loans. Igor explains the unique features of their protocol, the loan terms, user demographics, and the growing interest in Bitcoin collateralized loans. He also addresses the technical aspects of their platform, including liquidation processes and com...
May 24, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 664
Reed Wommack shares his journey into Bitcoin, transitioning from a role at Swan Bitcoin to running Groundluxe, a company focused on grounding products. He discusses the evolving landscape of Bitcoin treasury companies, the risks and rewards associated with leveraging debt for investments, and the importance of a long-term perspective in navigating market cycles. Reed also emphasizes the potential for Bitcoin to dominate the equity market and the impact of capital gains tax on investment strategi...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 663
Stephen and Zac discuss the innovative intersection of Bitcoin and life insurance. They explore how Bitcoin can disrupt traditional life insurance markets, the recent funding successes of Meanwhile, and the unique benefits of Bitcoin-denominated policies. The conversation dives into the mechanics of these policies, the yield generation strategies employed by Meanwhile, and the tax advantages that make them appealing to customers. The episode concludes with insights into the customer experience a...
May 19, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 662
Stephan and Antoine discuss the complexities surrounding Bitcoin's OP_RETURN functionality and the ongoing debate about spam filtering on the Bitcoin network. They explore the implications of consensus rules, standardness, and the historical context of these discussions. Antoine provides insights into the motivations behind changes in Bitcoin Core's policies and the potential future of Bitcoin as both a currency and a data storage solution. The conversation highlights the urgency of addressing O...
May 17, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 661
In this conversation, Stephan Livera and Michael Tanguma explore the current landscape of Bitcoin, focusing on the challenges of self-custody, the role of custodians, and the emergence of multi-institution custody solutions. They discuss the importance of education in the Bitcoin space, the dynamics of Bitcoin treasury companies, and the unique opportunities for Bitcoin adoption in the Middle East. The conversation emphasizes the need for evolving security measures as Bitcoin adoption increases ...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 660
Shehzan Meredia, CEO and founder of Lava, a non-custodial Bitcoin lending platform shares the unique features of Lava, including its focus on security, user experience, and the use of Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) to provide cryptographic guarantees for borrowers. Shehzan explains the loan process, interest rates, and how Lava differentiates itself from traditional custodial lending platforms. The conversation also touches on the impact of previous lending failures in the crypto space and the im...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 659
At the Tuscany Lightning Summit 2025, we discussed Ark and VTXOs, batching, RGB, DLCs, what constitutes spam on Bitcoin, Bitcoin payments market, miniscript, bitcoin inheritance tools and more. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (01:48) - Tiero (09:17) - Alekos Filini (18:40) - Sponsors (20:56) - Anant Tapadia (33:16) - Andi Pitt (44:24) - Sponsors (45:21) - Giacomo Zucco Links: https://x.com/tierotiero https://x.com/ArkLabsHQ https://x.com/giacomozucco https://x.com/planb_network https://x.com/1andipi...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 658
Stephan discusses the significance of Bitcoin as money and the concept of monetary maximalism with guests Rockstar Dev and Di from BTC Inc. They explore the current state of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange, the challenges of adoption, and the innovations being introduced, such as the Bolt Card, to facilitate Bitcoin payments. The conversation emphasizes the importance of leading by example in the Bitcoin community and the need for better technology to enhance user experience and drive adoption. ...
May 07, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 657
Leon Wankum shares his journey from studying philosophy to becoming a property expert and Bitcoin enthusiast. He discusses the intersection of real estate and Bitcoin, emphasizing the monetary premium in real estate, the impact of the fiat system on property prices, and the social consequences of property investment. Leon differentiates between property speculation and development, highlighting the business aspects of real estate. He also compares investment yields in real estate versus Bitcoin,...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 656
Stephan & NVK discuss the current state of self-custody in Bitcoin, highlighting the advancements in hardware wallets like Coldcard and the importance of understanding trade-offs in wallet solutions. Coldcard introduces new features such as co-signing and key teleport, which enhance security and usability. The conversation also touches on the future of wallet software, including the promising Cove Wallet and the potential of Miniscript in Bitcoin transactions. NVK also highlights the signifi...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 655
Stephan & Vijay discuss the current state of Bitcoin, its market cycle, and its comparison with gold. They explore the implications of geopolitical factors on gold and Bitcoin, the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies, and the evolving liquidity channels in the market. The discussion also touches on speculation in Bitcoin and how it contributes to its growth, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying economic theories. They also explore the evolving landscape of Bitcoin,...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 15 min
At Bitcoin Oasis 2025, we discussed Bitcoin tools & innovation, bitcoin cycles, financialization of bitcoin, adoption in the MENA region and India’s first bitcoin treasury company. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (00:57) - Preston Pysh (12:47) - Sponsors (15:03) - Sooly Kobayashi (21:49) - Max Hillebrand (28:46) - Sponsors(29:43) - Siddarth Bharwani (40:07) - Lara Eggiman Links: https://bitcoin-oasis.com/ https://x.com/BTCArabiaLtd https://x.com/PrestonPysh https://primal.net/sooly https://prima...
Apr 30, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 653
Stephan & Gilded Pleb, a developer who created StackMath, a financial calculator for Bitcoin, discuss Gilded's personal journey with Bitcoin, its potential impact on homelessness, and the importance of understanding financial models for retirement planning. Gilded explains how traditional financial calculators often fail to account for the volatility of Bitcoin and introduces the Monte Carlo simulation as a more effective tool for predicting financial outcomes. The conversation also touches ...
Apr 29, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 652
In this episode, Stephan discusses the latest updates on Fedimint with its founders Eric Sirion and Joschi. They delve into the concept of eCash, its significance in the Bitcoin ecosystem, and the differences between Fedimint and other systems like Cashu. The conversation highlights the real-world applications of Fedimint, recent updates including version 0.7, and the introduction of IROH, which simplifies the setup process. They also explore the importance of client agnosticism, the integration...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 651
In this episode, Stephan Livera speaks with Matyas Kuchar about the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, particularly focusing on the BTC Prague conference and the changing demographics of Bitcoin enthusiasts. They discuss the shift in sentiment towards Bitcoin, the importance of education in fostering self-sovereignty, and the role of corporate strategies in Bitcoin treasury management. The conversation also touches on the Czech Republic's unique position in the Bitcoin ecosystem and the upcoming BTC...
Apr 22, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 650
In this episode, Alejandro de la Torre, CEO and founder of Demand Pool, discusses the launch of their new Stratum V2 mining pool. Alejandro explains the importance of decentralization in Bitcoin mining, the risks associated with traditional mining pools, and how Demand Pool aims to create a fair and transparent system for miners. The conversation covers the differences between payout structures like FPPS and PPLNS, the innovative Slice payment system, and the role of translation proxies in facil...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 649
Stephan Livera and James Check discuss the evolving dynamics of the Bitcoin market, emphasizing the shift from traditional market cycles to a more complex interplay of macroeconomic factors and investor behavior. They explore the impact of institutional investors and ETFs on market sentiment, the psychological aspects of trading, and the importance of on-chain metrics in understanding market movements. The discussion highlights the need for investors to adapt their strategies and perspectives in...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 648
In this episode, Mason Jappa, CEO of Blockware Solutions, discusses the current state and future of Bitcoin mining, particularly in the U.S. He highlights recent regulatory clarity from the SEC, the evolving mining landscape, and the economic dynamics affecting miners. Mason emphasizes the importance of technology, liquidity, and strategic partnerships in successful mining operations, while also addressing the ongoing debate between mining and simply holding Bitcoin. The discussion provides insi...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 647
In this episode, Conor, Open Source product manager at Spiral & Stephen, Product Designer at Voltage & Co founder of ATL Bitlab join Stephan to discuss the current state of Bitcoin user experience, particularly focusing on payments and the challenges faced by users. They explore the comparison between Bitcoin and physical cash, the Western perspective on Bitcoin payments, and the importance of user experience in facilitating Bitcoin transactions. They also touch upon various payment prot...
Mar 22, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 646
Stephan chats with Steven Roose, CEO of SecondBTC, about Ark, a new Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin that aims to simplify self-custodial payments. They discuss the challenges of onboarding new users to Bitcoin, the unique features of Ark compared to other solutions like Liquid and Cashu, and the importance of maintaining user control over funds. The conversation also touches on the recent Signet launch, scalability concerns, and practical use cases for Ark in facilitating Bitcoin transactions. Stev...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 17 min
In this conversation with Stephan, David and Simanta discuss the implications of ZK Roll-ups for Bitcoin. They explore the benefits of ZK Roll-ups as a scaling solution, the trade-offs compared to other technologies like Lightning Network and sidechains, and the vision behind Alpen Labs. The discussion also touches on the mechanics of ZK Roll-ups, user experience, and the potential impact of BitVM on the ecosystem. The conversation highlights the challenges and limitations of current technology ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 644
Lisa, the founder of Base 58 and BTC++, discusses her focus on Bitcoin education and the growth of the Bitcoin++ conference series. She highlights the importance of building a global community of Bitcoin developers and the challenges of funding open-source projects. In this conversation, Lisa and Stephan discuss the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, focusing on decentralization in block construction, the challenges faced by small miners, and the importance of mining incentives. They explore upcomin...
Mar 10, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 643