Eric Voskuil (lead developer of libbitcoin and Cryptoeconomics author) joins me to talk about his views on Austrian economics, Murray Rothbard, Fractional vs Full Reserve Banking. We also chat about “Jurisdictional Arbitrage” from his Cryptoeconomics github pages. Eric Voskuil links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/evoskuil Cryptoeconomics pages: https://github.com/libbitcoin/libbitcoin-system/wiki/Cryptoeconomics Libbitcoin: https://libbitcoin.org/ Stephan Livera links: Twitter: https://twitter.co...
May 20, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 72
On listener request, I fly solo for this episode to give Bitcoin newbies and Bitcoin intermediate listeners an overview on 'Bitcoin Austrian' thought. Learn why students of the Austrian school of economics are well placed to understand Bitcoin: How money arises on the market as most saleable good Why Bitcoin isn't a scam 'Intrinsic value' Blockchains and social scalability Bitcoin and Austrian thinkers worth listening to and reading Make sure you share this episode with your friends who are stru...
May 15, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Matt Odell, Bitcoin podcast co-host of the Rabbit Hole Recap joins me in this fun episode to talk about ways Bitcoiners can put theory into practice. Along the way we chat: Challenges in educating noobs Common pitfalls and scams Approaches to take going forward How to avoid scams to come in the future Matt Odell links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/matt_odell TFTC podcast: http://tftc.io/ Stephan Livera links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/@stephanlivera Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.c...
May 06, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Saifedean Ammous, Bitcoin economist and author of seminal book, The Bitcoin Standard, joins me in this episode. We talk about some of his recent research: How governments could try to kill Bitcoin Why fiat money hyperinflation is not that likely Why we can’t simply disregard gold Thoughts on stock to flow modelling Research Bulletins going forward Saifedean links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/saifedean Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/saifedean/ Research bulletin: http://saifedean.com/research S...
Apr 29, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Joost Jager, Lightning Network Infrastructure Engineer at Lightning Labs, joins me in this episode to talk about Lightning Loop Out and In. We also discuss some of the recent criticisms of the Lightning Network by Peter Rizun. We talk: How Lightning Loop helps you manage inbound liquidity, or pay with BTC on chain to get outgoing capacity on a lightning channel Practical uses of Lightning Loop technology Some of the technicals behind how Lightning Loop e.g. hodlinvoice Thoughts and responses to ...
Apr 20, 2019•53 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Plan B (@100trillionUSD), operator of a well known pseudonymous twitter account joins me for discussion on modelling the incredible value of Bitcoin. Don’t miss this discussion on data modelling, finance and investing in Bitcoin! We talk: Influences in terms of Bitcoin Modelling Bitcoin’s digital scarcity Impact of the halving Challenges and problems with modelling Bitcoin Finance and Investing theory and practice applied to Bitcoin Plan B / @100trillionUSD Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/10...
Apr 15, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 67
James O’Beirne, Bitcoin Core Engineer at Chaincode Labs joins me in this episode to talk about the real nature of ‘power’ and control within Bitcoin. It’s not as simple as it might first seem! We talk about: Differing conceptions of ‘power’ in Bitcoin Peer to peer network governance Bitcoin Core development Assume utxo James O’Beirne links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesob Github: https://github.com/jamesob Chaincode labs: https://chaincode.com/ Discussed in episode: 2019 Draft Paper by Ange...
Apr 10, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Nik Bhatia CFA charter holder and Bitcoin-native financial theorist joins me for discussion on the Lightning Network Interest Rate (LNRR) - a concept on how Bitcoin Lightning Network participants can earn an interest through routing fees earned on the Lightning Network. We talk: Background on Lightning Network and LNRR Node Accrual Rate (NAR) How LNRR and NAR will change with coming Lightning technology Challenges to the concept as is How it will evolve over time Nik Bhatia links: Nik Bhatia twi...
Apr 04, 2019•57 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Tuur Demeester, Bitcoin/Macro Investor and Writer, and Founding Partner of Adamant Capital joins us in a very important macro-economic and investment discussion on how to assess Bitcoin’s value through its past and into the future. Bitcoin Outlook and Phases Historical Bitcoin Valuation ideas New Bitcoin Valuation ideas Bitcoin Full Reserve Banking Tuur and Adamant Capital Links: Tuur Demeester Twitter: https://twitter.com/TuurDemeester Adamant Capital Research Sign up Link: https://mailchi.mp/a...
Mar 30, 2019•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 64
LightningK0ala joins us to talk about his new Bitcoin Lightning powered online gaming venture, Koala Studio. We talk: How he got into Lightning development Experiences with Satoshi’s Place What he’s doing with Koala Studio Future opportunities with Bitcoin Lightning gaming Wishlist for Bitcoin Lightning development Lightning K0ala and Koala Studio links: Lightning Koala twitter: https://twitter.com/@Lightningk0ala Koala Studio website: http://koalastud.io/ Koala Studio twitter: https://twitter.c...
Mar 28, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Rodolfo Novak, Founder of Coinkite joins me to discuss ways to keep Bitcoin in line with its true cypherpunk values: Decentralizing Bitcoin’s communication networks Alternative methods of sending, receiving, verifying Bitcoin transactions Radio transmissions Coinkite and physical bitcoin products Rodolfo Novak links: Rodolfo Novak twitter: https://twitter.com/nvk Coinkite: https://coinkite.com/ Coinkite twitter: https://twitter.com/Coinkite Stephan Livera links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/@ste...
Mar 27, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 62
David Bailey, CEO of BTC Media (yBitcoin, Bitcoin Magazine, Let’s Talk Bitcoin Network) joins me in this wide ranging conversation about Bitcoin over the years, and Bitcoin media: Journey over the years Getting into Bitcoin media Problems with ‘enterprise blockchain’ The ‘path back to Bitcoin’ for some people/companies Bitcoin Magazine and the switch to Bitcoin focus Bitcoin 2019 Conference - San Francisco June 2019 David Bailey links: David Bailey twitter: https://twitter.com/davidfbailey yBitc...
Mar 23, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Askuwheteau and Ketominer of the nodl.it team join me to talk about the ‘plug and play’ Bitcoin Lightning full node hardware they are creating. We discuss: Bitcoin full node philosophy Why they started a company How to set up a Nodl device Comparison with other plug and play node products Future features coming Askuwheteau, Ketominer & nodl links: Askuwheteau’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAskuwheteau Ketominer’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ketominer nodl Twitter: https://twitter.com/nodl_i...
Mar 19, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Dr Christian Decker of Blockstream, one of the world’s leading experts on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, joins Stephan to talk in-depth about Bitcoin Lightning Channel Factories and Multi Party Channels. We talk about: Why Channel Factories might be desirable in the future Basic Overview Technical breakdown Risks Interaction with other Bitcoin/Lightning technology Technical Requirements Future Outlook on Lightning Network Christian Decker Links: Christian Decker Twitter: https://twitter.com/...
Mar 14, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Chris Belcher, Bitcoin Privacy OG (JoinMarket, Electrum Personal Server) joins me in this must listen episode on Bitcoin Privacy fundamentals. Chris talks about multiple ways you can be deanonymised, as well as countermeasures available. We then talk more broadly about Bitcoin Privacy techniques. How your Bitcoin privacy can be broken Different mechanisms and tools to defend your privacy in 2019 Chain analysis and what it relies on JoinMarket Electrum Personal Server Chris Belcher links: Chris B...
Mar 11, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Alex Adelman, CEO and Founder of Lolli joins me to talk about How Newbies Can Earn Bitcoin. We'll be discussing: Psychology around bitcoin today Earning vs buying Privacy & security in a custodial world Merchant & consumer adoption Self sovereign, personal banking Alex Adelman and Lolli Links: Alex Adelman Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexadelman Lolli: http://lolli.com/ Lolli twitter: https://twitter.com/trylolli Stephan Livera links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/@stephanlivera Subscrib...
Mar 09, 2019•56 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Max Keidun and Roman Snitko (CEO and CTO of Hodl Hodl) join me to talk: Why they started Hodl Hodl, a P2P exchange How Hodl Hodl is different from the typical Bitcoin exchange Education of users Volume trends Prediction market announcement Baltic Honeybadger conference 2019 Max, Roman, Hodl Hodl & Baltic Honeybadger Links: Max Keidun: https://twitter.com/keidunm Roman Snitko: https://twitter.com/romansnitko Hodl Hodl: https://hodlhodl.com/ Hodl Hodl twitter: https://twitter.com/hodlhodl Balt...
Mar 02, 2019•57 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Shinobi (aka Bitcoin Twitter character @Brian_Trollz) joins me in this episode to discuss a range of topics: Problems with using Litecoin for paying with things Confidential Transactions and the different approaches The push for smaller blocks Different approaches to scaling Problems with sidechains and drivechains Shinobi / Brian Trollz links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/brian_trollz BlockDigest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb53lXz2IzEFT5JNHSbdvPg Stephan Livera links: Twitter: ht...
Feb 25, 2019•57 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Justin Camarena of Bitrefill joins me to talk about his journey with Bitcoin Lightning development and pioneering Bitcoin Lightning payments at Bitrefill. We discuss: Learning Lightning development Pioneering Lightning payment at Bitrefill in the #reckless early days Bitrefill Thor service Lightning Channel Management Thoughts on Lightning custodial wallets What Lightning Network can enable Justin Camarena Links: Justin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/juscamarena Bitrefill: https://www.bitrefill....
Feb 21, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Andreas M. Antonopoulos (best-selling author, speaker and bitcoin educator) joins me in this episode to talk about his views on Bitcoin Maximalism as contrasted with a multicoin view. Andreas and I disagree and present clashing visions. We also discuss other points such as whether Bitcoin challenges central banking more specifically, or banking generally. Andreas M. Antonopoulos links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/aantonop Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aantonop Website: https://antonopou...
Feb 18, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Jack Dorsey (CEO of Twitter & Square) & Elizabeth Stark (CEO of Lightning Labs) join me to talk about the vision of Bitcoin as native currency of the internet. Bitcoin's principles, resilience, and being 'of the internet' are what make it special. In this special episode we discuss: How Jack came to understand Bitcoin and view it as potentially the native currency of the internet Why everyone is so excited about the Lightning Network Lightning Torch Square and the Cash App Twitter & ...
Feb 11, 2019•52 min
Dr Guido Hülsmann, Senior Fellow of the Mises Institute, and Economics Professor at the University of Anger, France, joins me in this very special episode. We talk about government monetary intervention compared with a free market in money. We discuss many topics: The process of government monetary intervention and deterioration in quality of money Which kind of monetary intervention is worst? Interaction of reserve requirements with capital requirements How businesses and banking differ in a fr...
Feb 05, 2019•55 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Rui Gomes & João Almeida (CTO, co-founder) of OpenNode join me in this episode to discuss why they turned down Roger Ver's $1.25M, as well as the vision of OpenNode in enabling Bitcoin & Lightning payments. Topics include: Background on OpenNode Service structure and fees Rejecting Roger Ver's $1.25M offer and why Why OpenNode is Bitcoin-only Comparison of OpenNode with self-hosted BTCPayServer approach How users can set up Getting tech support Plans over the next year or so Growth marke...
Feb 02, 2019•49 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Marty Bent, host of the Tales From the Crypt podcast, and editor in chief of Marty's Bent joins me in this episode. We talk about Bitcoin content creation and curation, and also touch on the shifts in thinking from 'mainstream' economics required to understand Bitcoin. Marty Bent links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MartyBent Marty's Bent Newsletter: martysbent.com Tales from the Crypt Podcast: https://anchor.fm/tales-from-the-crypt TFTC21 Podcast twitter account: https://twitter.com/TFTC21 Steph...
Jan 24, 2019•49 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Nicolas Dorier, a Bitcoin developer, joins me in this episode to talk about the open source project he started, BTCPayServer. BTCPayServer allows you to start accepting Bitcoin payments with 0% fees & no third-party. It is built with security, privacy and censorship-resistance at its core. We cover: Why Nicolas started BTCPayServer What BitPay did to drive Nicolas to start his own open source version Cost and ease of setting up BTCPayServer Hardware node products that can be configured with ...
Jan 20, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Giacomo Zucco, well known Bitcoin advocate, Supremo of BHB Network, and bitcoin consultant/teacher joins me in this episode. We talk: His Bitcoin 'rage quit'! The recent trend of Lightning Network custodial wallets, and whether this is on net a good or bad thing Thoughts on altcoins - are some of them honest, good faith efforts? Might they be technologically interesting, but still not monetarily relevant? Bitcoin financialisation - Does Bitcoin need financialisation or does finance need Bitcoin?...
Jan 15, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Sjors Provoost (Bitcoin Core developer) joins me to discuss a range of topics: Bitcoin Core Development and Review Working towards hardware wallet support in Bitcoin Core Sjors' article, "A Crime on Testnet" - with privacy & fungibility implications Sjors Links: Sjors Twitter: https://twitter.com/@provoost “A Crime on Testnet”: https://medium.com/provoost-on-crypto/a-crime-on-testnet-6d95ede8da03 Episode Ad/Sponsor: BUIDL Bootcamp with Justin Moon Learn to code Bitcoin: https://buidlbootcamp...
Jan 08, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Jeff Deist joins me to discuss Bitcoin and the application of Austrian economics in understanding Bitcoin. Topics: Market selection of money The potential for a hard money standard to restrict govt spending Why Austrian Economists are split on Bitcoin Why credit would be much tighter under a hard money standard The deflation and 'hoarding' argument - dispelled The educational strategy pursued by the Mises Institute Jeff's recommended Austrian economics books for Bitcoiners Jeff Deist and Mises I...
Jan 04, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Aleks Svetski (CEO, co-founder of Amber) joins me in this fiery episode to talk about the blind excesses of 'Crypto' over the last few years and more: - Crazy excesses that we saw over the last few years - STO's - Security Token Offerings - "Crypto Traders" - "Crypto Hedge Fund Managers" - Bitcoin as asymmetric bet - Dollar Cost Averaging - Amber and the service offering Aleks and Amber links: - Amber website: https://getamber.io/ - Aleks Twitter: https://twitter.com/AleksSvetski - Article "A wo...
Jan 03, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Jameson Lopp, Cypherpunk & CTO of Casa, joins me in this episode to discuss a range of topics: What he's working on right now @ Casa "Who controls Bitcoin Core?", the article by Jameson 2018 Year in Review, thematically and by statistics Bitcoin storage and multi signature solutions Bitcoin helping enable individual sovereignty Grin & Beam Maintaining privacy with a Bitcoin transaction Jameson Lopp links: Jameson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/lopp "Who Controls Bitcoin Core?": https://m...
Dec 29, 2018•54 min•Season 1Ep. 43
