Stephan Livera Podcast
By Stephan Livera
Stephan Livera PodcastAug 08, 2019
A Shift in Bitcoin Developer Thought? with Brandon Black (aka reardencode) SLP573
As you may know, at the recent Bitcoin++ conference, there was a ‘meeting of the minds’ and Brandon Black aka reardencode rejoins me on the show to discuss. We talk about:
- The state of various covenant proposals
- What has shifted now in thinking
- The promise of Great Script Restoration
- Could it have bad side effects?
- Doing good engineering
Links:
- X: @reardencode
- Bitcoin++: btcplusplus.dev
- Rusty’s talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSp8918HLnA
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Bitcoiners, Don’t Sleep on Nostr! - Miljan SLP572
Miljan from Primal joins me to talk about why Bitcoiners should not sleep on Nostr. We chat:
- Why he’s bullish on nostr
- What the experience is like nowadays
- Network effects for creators and devs
- Dealing with spam and sybil
- Why Openness is the killer feature
Links:
- X: @mbraticevic
- Site: Primal.net
- Miljan’s Nostr npub: npub16c0nh3dnadzqpm76uctf5hqhe2lny344zsmpm6feee9p5rdxaa9q586nvr
- Miljan’s Nostr: miljan@primal.net
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com/apply
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
What’s happening with JPY? - Peruvian Bull SLP571
Peruvian Bull, a macro writer and commentator joins me to explain what’s happening with the Japanese economy and how it all ties in with the dollar end game. We discuss:
- The impossible trinity for Japan
- Japanese government debt
- The global JPY carry trade
- The impact on the US financial system
Links:
- X: @peruvian_bull
- Nostr: npub1xwmyzp64xx03kw9ecd7fzsj3e9dgwah6an0rdng0cc6ux4dswwjs28pyyc
- Newsletter: https://substack.com/@peruvianbull
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Then They Fight You? - Parker Lewis SLP570
Parker Lewis of Zaprite rejoins me on the show to discuss recent updates in the space and what’s happening with Zaprite and merchant adoption.
- “Then they fight you” ?
- Chilling Effect
- Zaprite
- Getting Bitcoin Payment Rails Ready
- Gradually, Then Suddenly
- Why hope should not be lost
Links:
- X: @parkeralewis
- Site: Zaprite.com
- Get Parker’s Book: thesifhouse.com
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Why Bitcoin Should Not Ossify - Steve Lee SLP569
A lot of people talk about Bitcoin Ossification. Today Steve Lee, Lead @ Spiral rejoins me to expand on why this is the wrong idea. We also talk about the recent situation with bitcoin mining pool centralisation and what is driving it.
Links:
- X: @moneyball
- AJ Town’s ‘Slow and Steady’ post mentioned:
- Earlier episode also mentioned: SLP433 : v2 P2P Transport Protocol for Bitcoin (BIP324)
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
The System You Give Your Energy To - Jeff Booth SLP568
Jeff Booth, author, entrepreneur and founding partner of Ego Death Capital rejoins me on the show to talk about his bitcoin advocacy at various levels:
- Speaking to politicians about bitcoin
- The system you give energy to
- “Staying and fighting” in Canada vs supporting alternatives e.g. Madeira
- ‘Coincidental’ attack on Bitcoin?
Links:
- X: @JeffBooth
- nostr: npub1s05p3ha7en49dv8429tkk07nnfa9pcwczkf5x5qrdraqshxdje9sq6eyhe
- Site: Ego Death Capital
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com/live
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Bitcoin and Investing with Preston Pysh SLP567
How do you think about investing as a bitcoiner? Preston Pysh of TIP rejoins me on the show to talk about a range of related ideas:
- HODL vs invest in companies
- Microstrategy and other public companies
- VC and early stage investment
- Realistic investment hurdle rates
- Technical realities as bitcoin grows
Links:
- X: @PrestonPysh
- TIP: theinvestorspodcast.com
- nostr: npub1s5yq6wadwrxde4lhfs56gn64hwzuhnfa6r9mj476r5s4hkunzgzqrs6q7z
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com/live
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
The cost to hack bitcoin hardware wallets with Dmitry Nedospasov SLP566
Dmitry Nedospasov is a PhD in Chip Security, also known for his hardware wallet exploits in 2018 with the wallet.fail talk. Dmitry joins me to talk about hardware security in the world of bitcoin and how it compares with hardware chip security in other domains. We discuss:
- The 2018 wallet.fail talk
- Bitcoin compared with other industries
- Realistic hardware wallet attack types
- The cost of attacking a hardware device
- Backups and Shamir’s Secret Sharing
Links:
- X: @nedos
- LinkedIn: Dmitry Nedospasov
- Site: Keylabs.io
- Telegram: https://t.me/nedos
- wallet.fail talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1OBIGslgGM
- Recoverylabs.io
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Great Consensus Clean up, MEVil and LN isn’t dead - Steve Lee and Matt Corallo SLP565
Steve Lee and Matt Corallo of Spiral rejoin me on the show to talk about a range of topics. Firstly we discuss the Great Consensus Clean Up which relates to fixing some long standing bugs in Bitcoin. Secondly we talk about MEV and why it’s the wrong term, instead we should be talking about MEVil and the implications for Bitcoin miner centralisation. Finally we address the rumours of Lightning Network being dead or not useful.
Links:
- X: @moneyball
- X: @TheBlueMatt
- BlueMatt's Blog: Stop Calling It MEV
- BIP Proposal: The Great Consensus Cleanup
- Delving post on Great Consensus Clean up Revival
- Steve’s X thread on GCC: https://twitter.com/moneyball/status/1760839436617875485
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Going Where You’re Treated Best and Nomad Capitalist Live 2024 with Andrew Henderson SLP564
Andrew Henderson rejoins me to discuss his story renouncing US citizenship, and whether the price was worth it. We discuss whether you should “stay and fight” as well as considerations relevant for Bitcoiners on pursuing their options in other countries. We also discuss Nomad Capitalist Live 2024, coming in KL Malaysia. Listen in to learn and stay up to date on global tax, investing and lifestyle strategies. Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com/live
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Revault, Liana, self custody and bitcoin inheritance with Kevin Loaec SLP563
Kevin Loaec of wizardsardine joins me to talk about bitcoin security and vaults. We get into a discussion about:
- Vaults and what’s possible today
- Timelocking and using them as part of self custody
- Inheritance scenarios
- Business use cases
- Covenant soft forks
Links:
- X: @KLoaec
- X: @Wizardsardine
- X: @revaultdev
- Site: Wizardsardine
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Intro
- 02:07 - Revault
- 08:07 - Liana
- 14:48 - Overview of Liana and Supported Hardware Wallets
- 25:17 - Managing Time Locks in Liana: Rotating Coins and Duration
- 29:47 - Coinkite.com
- 30:47 - Swan.com
- 32:09 - Mempool.space
- 33:10 - Self-Custody with Liana
- 37:26 - Understanding Revault and Liana
- 44:56 - Exploring Decaying and Expanding Multi-Signature
- 49:15 - RBF and CPFP in Liana Transactions
- 56:07 - Transaction Size in Liana
- 01:00:42 - The Debate on Covenants
- 01:05:37 - Enhancing Organization Security with Cosigners
- 01:09:30 - The Future of Self-Custody
Good Design Creates Trust - Bitcoin Design with Christoph Ono and Mogashni Naidoo SLP562
Have you wondered about the role design and UX plays in Bitcoin apps? Christoph and Mogashni join me from the Bitcoin Design Community to share insights on:
- What most people are getting wrong about design
- How you can leverage design principles in your bitcoin product
- Bitcoin specific design challenges
- Types of user
- Tools available by the Bitcoin Design community
Links:
- Site: Bitcoin.design
- Site: bitcoindesignfoundation.org
- X: @MogashniNaidoo
- X: @GBKS
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 03:31 - The Importance of Design in Bitcoin Applications
- 10:10 - The Bitcoin Design Community
- 12:34 - Common Mistakes in Bitcoin App Design
- 20:10 - Mempool.space
- 20:56 - Coinkite.com
- 25:14 - Embracing Creativity and Unique Design in Bitcoin
- 29:28 - Introduction to User Experience Design in Bitcoin
- 33:34 - Working with Bitcoin Apps and Projects
- 38:56 - Swan.com
- 39:14 - Simplifying the User Experience in Bitcoin
- 43:26 - Designing for Complexity in Bitcoin
- 45:09 - Navigating Competing Standards in Bitcoin Design
- 46:29 - The Value of UX Research in Bitcoin
- 49:48 - Practical Advice for Builders and Developers in Bitcoin Design
- 54:57 - Find Out More
- 56:40 - Closing Thoughts
US Government Fiscal Collapse Accelerates with Peter St Onge SLP561
Peter St Onge rejoins me on the show to share some insight into how bad the US government fiscal situation is getting. We talk:
- How much debt there is and what’s next here
- The impact on the people
- Japanese interest rates rising
- Japanese economic impacts
- AI and where the jobs will come from
- Bitcoin outlook
Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Tracking the new Bitcoin ETFs with Thomas Fahrer SLP560
Thomas Fahrer, co-founder of Apollo joins me to talk about the Bitcoin ETFs. We talk:
- Analysing the Bitcoin ETFs
- What further institutional adoption looks like
- How much capital could flow into Bitcoin
- The Bitcoin FOMO scenario
- Disagreements on the power law model
- MSTR and Bitcoin
Links:
- X: @thomas_fahrer
- Site: Heyapollo.com
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 03:02 - The Significance of Bitcoin ETFs
- 13:33 - Rebalancing and Volatility
- 21:19 - Grayscale's Declining Bitcoin Holdings
- 25:41 - Swan.com
- 27:00 - Mempool.space
- 27:45 - Coinkite.com
- 33:35 - Possible Motivations for Grayscale's Actions
- 34:03 - Successful ETF Launch and Consistent Demand
- 37:23 - Bitcoin Price Rise and Demand - Supply Dynamics
- 39:44 - Volatility and Orderly Transition
- 41:07 - Bitcoin's Historical Price Patterns
- 44:05 - Flaws in Power Law Model
- 45:05 - Bitcoin's Potential to Replace Traditional Assets
- 46:41 - Flaws in Power Law Model and Fiat Currencies
- 50:11 - Importance of Fundamental Analysis
- 51:38 - Bitcoin's Bullish Case and Fundamental Properties
- 58:51 - Closing Thoughts
How to Ride Through This Bitcoin Bull Cycle with Vijay Boyapati SLP559
My friend Vijay Boyapati (Author of the Bullish Case for Bitcoin, and part of the Swan team) rejoins me on the show to talk about HODLing, share his analysis on things, and offer some tips on how to HODL. We talk:
- What phase of the cycle we’re in
- HODLer psychology
- Does Bitcoin get captured?
- Is Bitcoin for Everyone?
- Self custody tech
- GBTC and Bankruptcies
- Common traps and how to avoid them
Links:
- X: @real_vijay
- Genesis thread https://twitter.com/real_vijay/status/1744454450138526162
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Overview
- 03:01 - The Excitement of Bull Markets
- 05:54 - The Slow Build-Up and Parabolic Moves
- 08:46 - Hodling Through Adversity
- 13:07 - The Nature of Bitcoin Cycles
- 16:02 - The Reachability of Bitcoin Participants
- 19:45 - Coinkite.com
- 21:00 - NomadCapitalist.com
- 22:08 - The Challenges of Self-Custody
- 30:00 - The Feasibility of Self-Custody for All
- 34:14 - Bitcoin as a Superior Monetary Base
- 35:10 - Concerns about Concentration Risk
- 38:07 - Mempool.space
- 39:16 - Swan.com
- 40:12 - Government Influence on Bitcoin ETFs
- 43:32 - Multipolar World and Bitcoin Adoption
- 44:01 - US Favorability towards Bitcoin
- 46:51 - Genesis Bankruptcy and Grayscale's Future
- 50:11 - Common Traps in a Bull Cycle
- 59:54 - Dealing with Corrections in a Bull Cycle
Mi Primer Bitcoin Goes International with John Dennehy SLP558
Mi Primer Bitcoin (My First Bitcoin) has grown since I last spoke with them on the show. John from the team rejoins me to talk about how things have developed. The team has now taught over 25,000 students in El Salvador and they are now expanding internationally.
Links:
- X: @jdennehy_writes
- Site: Miprimerbitcoin.io
- SLP381 John Dennehy & Gloriana Solano – Bitcoin Diploma in El Salvador
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 01:16 - Bitcoin Diploma and Infrastructure
- 03:37 - International Expansion and Node Network Governance
- 05:27 - Course Format and Duration
- 08:16 - Teaching Bitcoin in Public Schools
- 09:14 - Collaboration with Ministry of Education
- 12:37 - Different Approaches to Teaching Bitcoin
- 15:27 - Continued Education and Advanced Courses
- 17:55 - Coinkite.com
- 19:06 - Swan.com
- 20:18 - Mempool.space
- 21:13 - Bitcoin Education for Different Age Groups
- 23:48 - Format and Agenda of Bitcoin Education Conferences
- 26:15 - Collaboration with Governments and Universities
- 29:37 - Localization and Modification of Curriculum
- 32:31 - Focus on International Expansion
- 34:26 - Challenges of Education for the Masses
- 36:48 - Adapting Curriculum to Rising Fees
- 39:17 - Empowerment and Independence in Bitcoin Education
- 40:40 - Call for Support and Contributions
Swapping across Bitcoin, Lightning and Liquid with Kilian from Boltz.exchange SLP557
How do we interact with Bitcoin in a multi layer world? What cost savings and trade offs are necessary here? What even counts as a layer? Kilian from boltz.exchange joins me to talk about swapping across Bitcoin on-chain, Lightning and Liquid. We discuss:
- How swapping works
- What makes it atomic and non-custodial
- What counts as layer 2
- Fee savings and trade offs
Links:
- X: @kilrau
- Site: boltz.exchange
- X: @boltzhq
- Taproot feature blog post: Introducing Taproot Swaps: Putting the "Fun" Back into Refunds!
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters/Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 03:07 - Boltz.exchange: Moving Between Bitcoin Layers
- 05:35 - Use Cases for Lightning Service Providers
- 09:45 - Enhancing Wallet Functionality
- 13:20 - Non-Custodial Atomic Swaps
- 21:43 - Coinkite.com
- 23:07 - NomadCapitalist.com
- 24:25 - Fees and Fee Savings
- 29:35 - Trust Model of Liquid
- 32:40 - Regulatory Risks for Liquid
- 37:10 - Transaction Limits on Liquid
- 38:58 - Mempool.space
- 39:59 - Swan.com
- 41:02 - Scalability of Liquid
- 44:15 - Integration of Liquid with Other Services and Wallets
- 51:22 - Pragmatism in Bitcoin Adoption
- 55:45 - Operating in a High-Fee Environment
- 57:45 - Closing Thoughts
The First Bitcoin Circular Economy - Arnhem City Netherlands with Patrick van der Meijde SLP556
Patrick van der Meijde, founder of BitKassa and co founder Arnhem Bitcoin City joins me to talk about his experience with co-founding one of the earliest Bitcoin ‘circular economy’ communities in 2014.
- How he got started
- Taking payments pre-lightning
- Are there enough people spending?
- Resurgence in circular economies
- Adopting Bitcoin Arnhem City
Links:
- X: @PatrickvdMeijde
- Site: adoptingbitcoinarnhem.com
- Site: arnhembitcoinstad.nl
- Cofounder @BitKassaNL
- Cofounder Arnhem Bitcoin City @Bitcoinstad
- Youtube: 10 years of merchants accepting bitcoin in Arnhem
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera Links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Chapters/Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 01:55 - Bitcoin Narratives in 2014
- 04:45 - Transaction Fees and Challenges
- 08:46 - Arnhem Bitcoin City and its Evolution
- 09:55 - Context of Arnhem City in the Netherlands
- 11:45 - Capital Gains Tax in the Netherlands
- 12:33 - Impact of AML Regulations
- 14:13 - Merchants Keeping Bitcoin
- 15:00 - Swan.com
- 16:14 - Mempool.space
- 17:11 - Coinkite.com
- 18:40 - Merchant Churn and Turnover
- 23:35 - Importance of Local Community
- 28:55 - Adopting Bitcoin Conference in Arnhem
- 31:32 - Transition to Lightning Network
- 35:45 - Success Rates of Lightning Network Payments
- 36:30 - Improvement of Lightning Network
- 37:53 - Conclusion and Event Details
Bitcoin Atlantis 2024 interviews - Alden, Lavish, Strolight, Pouliot, Roose, Todd (SLP555)
While in Madeira for Bitcoin Atlantis, I did some interviews on a range of topics with Lyn Alden, James Lavish, Tomer Strolight, Francis Pouliot, Steven Roose and Peter Todd. We discussed:
- is Macro mid curve?
- USG debt
- Using analogies to teach bitcoin
- librerelay
- MEV concerns
- Self custodial and scaling
Links:
- Lyn Alden X: @LynAldenContact
- Site: lynalden.com
- James Lavish X: @jameslavish
- Site: jameslavish.substack.com
- Site: bitcoinopportunity.fund
- Tomer Strolight X: @TomerStrolight
- Bitcoin is Generational Wealth - A Short Film by Matt Hornick and Tomer Strolight
- Swan Signal Bitcoin Blog
- Francis Pouliot X: @francispouliot_
- Site: BullBitcoin.com
- Steven Roose X: @stevenroose3
- GitHub: github.com/stevenroose
- Peter Todd X: @peterktodd
- Site: Petertodd.org
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Bitcoin DLC Self Custodial Finance with Philipp Hoenisch of 10101 SLP554
What applications exist for Bitcoin self custodial finance? Philipp Hoenisch, founder of 10101 (pronounced ten-ten-one) joins me on the show to talk about bitcoin trading without counterparty risk. We discuss:
- DLC overview and basics
- DLC channels and lightning
- 10101 walkthrough
- “Funding rate”
- Synthetic stablecoins
- For individuals or business?
- Risks and things can break down
Prior Episodes:
- SLP349 Chris Stewart Bitcoin DLCs & Stablechannels
- SLP219 Nadav Kohen – What You Should Know About Bitcoin DLCs
- SLP519 Self Custodial Bitcoin Finance with Matthew Black of Atomic Finance
Links:
- X: @bonomat
- X: @get10101
- Site: 10101.finance
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 05:58 - The Concept of Discrete Log Contracts (DLCs)
- 10:28 - Non-Custodial Trading and DLC Channels
- 12:46 - Using the 10101 App
- 21:32 - Expiry and Funding Rates
- 26:01 - NomadCapitalist.com
- 27:47 - Coinkite.com
- 28:57 - Market Makers and Trade Sizing
- 32:05 - Limits and Future Plans
- 35:55 - Security and Hardware Wallets
- 37:41 - Non-Degen Uses for 10101
- 38:50 - Comparison of Stable Coin Concepts
- 41:58 - High Interest Rates and Risks
- 48:33 - Swan.com
- 49:42 - Mempool.space
- 50:44 - Comparison of Stable Value Options
- 56:49 - Technical Complexity and Education
- 58:43 - Future of the 10101 App
- 01:00:45 - Reasons for Lack of Non-Custodial Finance Adoption
- 01:03:56 - Closing Thoughts
The Future of Bitcoin Banking with Eric Yakes SLP553
Eric Yakes, author of The 7th Property, joins me to talk about the future of Bitcoin Banking, LN and ecash. We discuss:
- Chaumian mints and ecash
- Interaction with LN
- Credit markets in the future
- How does the system remain Full Reserve?
- Regulatory roadblocks
- Will there be a role for passive index funds?
Links:
- X: @ericyakes
- axiombtc.capital/bank
- Site: Yakes.io
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 08:23 - Bitcoin Banking
- 13:57 - Chaumian Mints
- 19:10 - How Do Chaumian Mints Work
- 24:04 - Use Cases for FediMints and CashewMints
- 31:09 - Coinkite.com
- 32:24 - Mempool.space
- 33:13 - Swan.com
- 35:08 - Bitcoin's Evolution and Adoption
- 38:20 - Regulatory Roadblocks for Commercial Mints
- 40:31 - Mitigating Risk of Token Debasement
- 46:59 - Fractional Reserve Banking and Trust
- 56:45 - Passive Index Funds and Stock Indexes
- 01:01:56 - Accounting Valuation and Global Wealth
- 01:06:02 - Closing Thoughts on Banks Without Bankers
EIA Attack on Bitcoin Miners Brian Morgenstern SLP552
Brian Morgenstern, Head of Public Policy of Riot Platforms joins me to talk about the latest attack on Bitcoin miners:
- Is Bitcoin mining a partisan issue?
- The EIA “Survey”
- Falsehoods on grid stability and emissions
- False Emergency
- What to do about it
Links:
- X: @MorgensternNJ
- Thread https://twitter.com/MorgensternNJ/status/1754634147232977246
- X: @TXblockchain_
- Sen. Lummis declares the survey to be ‘absurd’
- Joint statement by the Chamber of Digital Commerce & Texas Blockchain Council opposing the survey: Industry Statement on EIA’s Emergency Survey - Chamber of Digital Commerce (digitalchamber.org)
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction and Background
- 02:26 - Is Bitcoin Support Partisan?
- 06:35 - The EIA Request for Information on Bitcoin Mining
- 13:18 - Motivations and Political Divide
- 18:42 - "Emergency" Collection of Data
- 20:14 - Swan.com
- 21:26 - Mempool.space
- 22:35 - Coinkite.com
- 23:52 - Competitive Information and Disclosure
- 31:50 - Potential Misinterpretation and Attacks
- 39:04 - Pushing Back and Taking Action
- 41:24 - The Importance of Speaking Up
- 42:16 - Closing Thoughts
What’s Next for Bitcoin and Mutiny Wallet with Ben Carman SLP551
Ben Carman of Mutiny Wallet rejoins me on the show to talk about what’s coming next for Bitcoin. We talk about scaling Bitcoin and contrast the different mindsets, discuss different soft fork proposals and directions Bitcoin could go. We also talk about what impact covenants will have and the latest with Mutiny Wallet.
- Bitcoin’s biggest challenges
- Taxonomy of Bitcoin development culture
- Soft forks and covenants
- What ‘counts’ as a Bitcoin L2?
- What are the big benefits of covenants?
- Mutiny Wallet - a new Hybrid era?
- Will people get priced out?
- Fedimint support
- Synthetic USD or swaps?
- Inscriptions and Spam
Links:
- Site: mutinywallet.com
- X: @benthecarman
- nostr: npub1u8lnhlw5usp3t9vmpz60ejpyt649z33hu82wc2hpv6m5xdqmuxhs46turz
- Inscriptions post: https://habla.news/a/naddr1qqxnzdesxgerxdp58yenyvejqgswrlemlh2wgqc4jkds3d8ueqj9a2j3gcm7r48v9tskdd6rxsd7rtcrqsqqqa28wdzn0j
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- Nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:18 - Bitcoin's Challenges: Scaling and Social Consensus
- 08:50 - Different Perspectives on Bitcoin's Future
- 16:10 - The Importance of Unilateral Exit and Self-Custody
- 21:16 - The Potential of Covenants for Scaling Bitcoin
- 25:23 - Mempool.space
- 26:17 - Coinkite.com
- 27:37 - Bitcoin Ark - A Payment Pool
- 31:11 - Introduction to Mutiny Wallet
- 34:36 - Addressing Security Concerns
- 37:06 - Simplifying Onboarding and Social Features in Mutiny Wallet
- 41:50 - The Challenge of Scalability and Affordability
- 43:50 - Building a Hybrid Wallet with Fediment Support
- 45:50 - NomadCapitalist.com
- 47:50 - Swan.com
- 49:07 - Guardians and Discoverability in Mutiny Wallet
- 50:50 - Multiple Federation Support in Mutiny Wallet
- 55:25 - Stable Channels and Synthetic USD in Mutiny Wallet
- 01:00:20 - The Role of ETFs and Number Go Up in Bitcoin Adoption
- 01:04:40 - The Debate on Inscriptions and Shitcoins in Bitcoin
- 01:08:01 - Closing Thoughts
Dispelling False Narratives About Bitcoin with Daniel Batten SLP550
Do the lies about Bitcoin frustrate you? Join us in this episode as we discuss the ways to dispel and debunk some of the most egregious false climate narratives on Bitcoin with Daniel Batten, Managing Partner at CH4 Capital. We discuss:
- The biggest bitcoin climate myths
- Dishonest portrayal in the media
- “Per transaction” fake methodology
- Where Cambridge CCAF is wrong
- Bitcoin’s PoW and ‘ideological intransigence’
- ESMA submission
- How Bitcoiners can help
Links:
- X: @DSBatten
- Articles: https://batcoinz.com/submission-to-esma-on-bitcoin-mining/
- https://batcoinz.com/a-tale-of-two-articles/
Prior episodes referred to
- SLP487 Bitcoin Mining Energy Debate – Digiconomist and Ben Gagnon
- SLP542 Defending Bitcoin PoW in the EU with Lyudmyla Kozlovska and Bota Jardemalie
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:51 - Daniel's Journey with Bitcoin
- 09:13 - Biggest Bitcoin Climate Myths
- 18:34 - Coinkite.com
- 19:37 - Mempool.space
- 20:34 - How Media Perceptions about Bitcoin Changed Over Time
- 36:20 - Cambridge Bitcoin Estimate
- 44:45 - Swan.com
- 45:54 - Acknowledging Other Paths To Sustainability
- 57:10 - Submission to ESMA and Correcting False Narratives
- 01:09:21 - Bitcoin's Environmental Benefits
- 01:12:40 - Closing Thoughts
Is Everything Good For Bitcoin? with Christian Keroles SLP549
We talk about monetary maximalism, and whether everything is good for bitcoin with Christian Keroles of HRF. We discuss:
- Monetary maximalism: descriptive or prescriptive
- Bitcoin Spam
- Antifragility
- What bitcoiners are getting wrong on personal finance
- How 2023 played out with “ordinals”
- Not being used to winning
Links:
- X: @ck_SNARKs
- Site: HRF.org
- Site: https://cbdctracker.hrf.org/home
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamp/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:22 - Defining Monetary Maximalism
- 03:10 - Monetary Maximalism as an Observation
- 05:00 - Descriptive vs Prescriptive Monetary Maximalism
- 09:50 - The Debate on Ordinals and Spam
- 21:05 - The Nuisance Level of Spam
- 22:48 - What Are Most Bitcoiners Getting Wrong On Personal Finance
- 29:49 - The Emergence of Ordinals and Inscriptions
- 32:27 - Coinkite.com
- 33:28 - Swan.com
- 34:31 - Mempool.space
- 35:54 - The Umbrella Term of Ordinals
- 41:16 - The Fallout and Consequences of Bitcoin Developments
- 48:53 - The Strengthening of Bitcoin through Challenges
- 53:20 - The Debate on Filtering in Bitcoin
- 58:32 - The Emergence of Runes Protocol
- 01:02:13 - Bitcoin's Winning Streak
- 01:04:35 - Confusion and False Narratives
- 01:07:37 - The Base of Bitcoin: 21 Million Coins and HODL
- 01:08:37 - Closing Thoughts and Bitcoin Adoption
Bitcoin Oasis 2024 interviews - Zucco, Rizzo, Dashjr, Prince Philip, De La Torre SLP548
We’re trying something a little different this episode! While at Bitcoin Oasis 2024 in Dubai I captured some short interviews with some speakers at the conference. We covered a wide range of topics ranging from Bitcoin Spam, to nation state adoption and honestly grappling with bitcoin user adoption trade offs. The speakers interviewed are:
- Alejandro De La Torre of Demand Mining
- Luke Dashjr of Ocean Mining
- Prince Philip of Serbia, from JAN3
- Pete Rizzo of Bitcoin Magazine
- Giacomo Zucco of Plan B Network
Links:
- Alejandro De La Torre X: @bitentrepreneur
- Luke Dashjr X: @LukeDashjr and https://ocean.xyz/
- Prince Philip of Serbia X: @PrincFilip1 and https://jan3.com/
- Pete Rizzo X: @pete_rizzo_ and Bitcoinmagazine.com
- Giacomo Zucco X: @giacomozucco and https://planb.network/
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- https://nomadcapitalist.com
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 01:44 - Alejandro De La Torre Interview
- 08:26 - Luke Dashjr Interview
- 21:10 - Swan.com
- 22:46 - Mempool.space
- 23:47 - Prince Philip of Serbia Interview
- 37:08 - Pete Rizzo Interview
- 54:29 - Coinkite.com
- 55:46 - NomadCapitalist.com
- 57:20 - Giacomo Zucco Interview
- 01:13:26 - Closing Thoughts
Big Changes in El Salvador with Mike Peterson SLP547
Mike Peterson from Bitcoin Beach El Zonte, El Salvador rejoins me on the show to give listeners some updates from El Salvador. Having a reduced crime rate and improved investment and tourism into the country has driven big changes! We talk:
- How things look a few years on from the Bitcoin Law
- Life on the ground in El Salvador
- How easy it is to move
- El Salvador $1M Citizenship Program
- Dealing with on chain fees
- Custodial vs Self Custodial and pragmatism
- ‘Circular Economies’ and insights from his networking around the world
Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
01:20 - Two and a Half Years After Bitcoin Adoption in El Salvador
05:21 - Financial Innovation in El Salvador
09:36 - Bottom-Up vs Top-Down Adoption of Bitcoin
11:00 - Ease of Setting Up in El Salvador
21:05 - Coinkite.com
22:13 - Mempool.space
22:56 - Swan.com
24:15 - Living on Bitcoin in El Salvador
31:48 - Bitcoin Meetups and Events in El Salvador
35:51 - Circular Economies and Bitcoin Adoption
40:55 - Insights from Other Circular Economies
50:05 - Custodial vs. Non-Custodial
54:21 - The Bitcoin Beach Podcast
56:16 - Closing thoughts
2024 Lightning Wallet Overview with Anita Posch SLP546
Get an overview of lightning wallets in this episode with Anita Posch. Anita walks through what she found in testing self custodial lightning wallets under conditions of poor internet connectivity. We also talk about themes that came up at the recent Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town South Africa.
- On the ground insights
- Results of the self custodial wallet test
- Which LN apps came out best?
- The situation with fees
- Where the test might not be suitable
- How things may change with a Liquid or Fedimint approach
Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Bitcoin Life Insurance with Zac Townsend SLP545
What does Life Insurance look like when it’s all priced and done in Bitcoin? Zac Townsend (CEO and co-founder of Meanwhile) joins me on the show to talk about it. We discuss:
- Life insurance as a model
- Term or Whole life
- Bitcoin denomination
- Is it the next Celsius or BlockFi?
- Does it work under a deflationary
- Private credit fund
Links:
- X: @ztownsend
- X: @meanwhilelife
- Site: meanwhile.bm
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- nomadcapitalist.com/apply
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Where Did Bitcoin Come From? The Genesis Book with Aaron van Wirdum (SLP544)
Aaron van Wirdum rejoins me to talk about his exploration of how Bitcoin came to be. We talk about his new book, The Genesis Book. In this book, Aaron explores some of the technologies, and philosophies that led to the creation of Bitcoin. We discuss:
- What he learned in making this book
- Hayek and the Austrians
- Extropians
- Cryptography and the Cypherpunks
- Libertarians
- Precursor tech to Bitcoin
Links:
- X: @AaronvanW
- Site: http://thegenesisbook.com/
- Nostr #npub1art8cs66ffvnqns5zs5qa9fwlctmusj5lj38j94lv0ulw0j54wjqhpm0w5
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
- https://nomadcapitalist.com/live/
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Stephan Livera Substack newsletter
Timestamp/Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Motivation for Writing the Book
04:05 - Bitcoin's Origins and Evolution
08:21 - The Influence of Hayek and Austrian Economics
18:54 - The Connection Between FOSS and Bitcoin
25:49 - The Extropians and Their Vision
30:47 - The Cypherpunks and Their Ideology
32:28 - Swan.com
33:52 - Mempool.space
35:00 - Coinkite.com
39:30 - The Rise and Fall of DigiCash
51:20 - The Crypto Wars and Government Regulation
56:26 - Pre-cursor Electronic Cash Projects
01:01:20 - Satoshi's Clever Insight
01:03:00 - Closing thoughts
Bitcoin Mining Around the World with Seb Gouspillou (SLP543)
Sébastien Gouspillou is a French Bitcoin miner, entrepreneur, and speaker. He is the CEO of BBGS (Big Block Green Services) and he joins me to talk about Bitcoin mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oman and elsewhere around the world:
- Bitcoin mining in the DRC
- Bitcoin mining in Oman
- Using various forms of energy
- Working in different environments
- Narrative shifts in Bitcoin Mining and Proof of Work
Links:
- X: @SebGouspillou
- Site: bbgsmining.com
Sponsors:
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Stephan Livera Substack newsletter
Timestamps/Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
02:34 - Challenges and Risks in the Congo
04:30 - Bitcoin Mining in Virunga National Park
09:28 - Performance and Investment in the DRC
14:10 - Economic Opportunities and Job Creation
23:31 - Bitcoin Mining in Oman
28:05 - Challenges of Solar-Powered Mining
31:38 - Bitcoin Mining in the Middle East
41:30 - Mining Potential in Africa
45:05 - Energy Sources
47:37 - The Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining
55:35 - Closing Thoughts
Defending Bitcoin PoW in the EU with Lyudmyla Kozlovska and Bota Jardemalie (SLP542)
It seems that the EU is constantly coming out with bad new regulations that will impact Bitcoiners and Bitcoin miners. Joining me today is Lyudmyla Kozlovska and Bota Jardemalie from the Open Dialogue Foundation - Bitcoin and human rights advocates. We talk about:
- EU bureaucracy and ECB threat to Bitcoin
- Why engage with these people at all?
- Attacks on Bitcoin’s Proof of Work
- Threat to self custody and sovereignty - AML
- Bitcoin as bank of last resort
- How you can help with testimonials
Links:
- PoW submission: https://en.odfoundation.eu/a/724499,defend-pow-submission-to-esma/
- EU AML submission: https://en.odfoundation.eu/a/578069,can-the-eus-anti-money-laundering-reform-help-dictators/
- Site / Support OD Foundation: https://en.odfoundation.eu/how-can-you-help/
- Lyudmyla on X: @LyudaKozlovska
- Bota on X: @jardemalie
Sponsors:
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Subscribe to Substack
Timestamps/Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
04:55 - The current threats
08:00 - Engaging with Regulators
12:05 - Can they be reasoned with?
17:30 - Threats to mining
25:55 - ESG Narrative and Proof of Work
38:20 - Threats to Self Custody and AML Regulations
46:03 - AML and Counter-Terrorism Financing Regulations
52:50 - De-risking and Financial Exclusion
01:00:28 - Summary of Key Concerns and closing thoughts
Covenant Use Cases & TXHASH with Steven Roose (SLP541)
Given the recent discussion on covenants, you might be curious about what actual covenant use cases look like. Joining me today is Steven Roose to help explain covenant uses and TXHASH as well as various objections:
- Case for Covenants
- Why TXHASH
- Scope of changes
- Covenants.info
- Covenant use cases
- Ark
- Commercial viability
Links:
- X: @stevenroose3
- Site: Covenants.info
- TXHASH ML post: https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2022-January/019813.html
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
A New Era for Bitcoin with Tuur Demeester (SLP540)
On the eve of Bitcoin ETFs being approved, is Bitcoin entering a new era? Tuur Demeester, long time bitcoin advocate, writer and speaker rejoins me on the show to discuss his thoughts:
- This new era for Bitcoin
- ETF approval and what it means
- Capture risks are low
- Psychology of a market cycle and HODLers
- “Hate buying” Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Life Insurance
- Why every company needs a Bitcoin strategy
- Future of Bitcoin use
Note this show was recorded Jan 10th 2024 8pm Dubai (11am Eastern time), just prior to ETF approval.
Links:
Sponsors:
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and background
01:00 - The new era of Bitcoin
06:11 - What are the actual risks?
12:20 - How many coins are held in custody?
15:00 - Tuur's reports
21:27 - Psychology of a market cycle and HODLers
31:40 - Swan.com
33:12 - Coinkite.com
34:52 - Mempool.space
37:43 - 3 green, 1 red meme
43:10 - Bitcoin Life Insurance
51:21 - “Hate buying” Bitcoin
56:35 - Why every company needs a Bitcoin strategy
01:01:50 - Future of Bitcoin use
01:07:02 - Closing thoughts
Living in Dubai and Bitcoin Oasis with Lara Eggiman (SLP539)
Have you heard about Dubai but been wondering about what it’s like there? Lara Eggiman joins me to talk about Dubai, the UAE and the new bitcoin-only conference launching here, Bitcoin Oasis. We discuss:
- Dubai lifestyle
- Common misconceptions
- Tips for people who want to set up in Dubai
- Why the UAE is well placed for Bitcoin adoption
- Bitcoin Oasis
- Bitcoin Association
Links:
- X: @SwissAlice1
- Site: Bitcoin-oasis.com
Sponsors:
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and background
01:27 - Why Dubai?
02:46 - Common Misconceptions about Dubai
05:32 - Benefits of Living in Dubai
08:08 - Tips for Setting Up in Dubai
12:27 - Why UAE and Dubai are Well-Placed to Adopt Bitcoin
14:25 - Swan.com
16:07 - Mempool.space
17:11 - Coinkite.com
20:25 - Competitive Jurisdictions
22:07 - Bitcoin Association UAE
27:46 - Living in Dubai
30:00 - Closing thoughts
The Real Origins of Money with Natalie Smolenski SLP538
In this conversation, Natalie Smolenski discusses the intersection of Bitcoin, anthropology, and political economy. She explores the debate on the origin of money and the clash between anthropologists and economists. Smolenski argues that money is a social technology that can take different forms based on trust and use cases. She examines the limitations of fiat currency and the importance of trust in debt settlement. Smolenski also discusses the rise of Bitcoin as a competing institution to traditional currencies and the threat to open source development in the EU. We also discuss various topics related to jurisdictional arbitrage, the Texas Bitcoin Foundation, the challenges facing universities, and the future of higher education. Links:
- X: @NSmolenski
- Satoshi Papers: Satoshipapers.org
- Texas Bitcoin Foundation: txbitcoinfoundation.org
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Timestamps/Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 The Debate on the Origin of Money
06:50 Clash between Anthropologists and Economists
13:14 The Role of Commodity Money
20:07 Coinkite.com
21:29 Swan.com
27:05 Payment vs Settlement
34:44 The Decline of State Power and the Rise of Bitcoin
39:00 Mempool.space
40:13 The Competition between Bitcoin and Fiat Currency
52:18 The Threat to Open Source Development in the EU
59:24 The Texas Bitcoin Foundation and Bridging the Gap
01:01:24 The Challenges of Universities and the Need for Innovation
Are Covenants Necessary for Bitcoin? with Brandon Black (SLP537)
Not everybody understands that blockchains themselves don’t scale. And this may create some tricky implications if we want to onboard large numbers of people to Bitcoin. This is why some of the discussion nowadays is about soft forks and covenants. Brandon Black rejoins me to talk about some of his ideas on how many people can use Bitcoin with current tech, and how covenants such as CTV (Check Template Verify) could help improve this. We discuss:
- How many people can use Bitcoin
- Why not build L3?
- Thoughts on block size
- “Rush to the exits”
- Different kinds of forks
- Covenant proposals explained in english
- Concrete proposals
- Commercial demand
- Unforeseen risks
- Value density
Links:
Prior Episodes:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Elizabeth’s War on Bitcoin with Pierre Rochard (SLP535)
Elizabeth Warren has come out with a new anti Bitcoin bill. Joining me is VP of Research at Riot Platforms, Pierre Rochard. We talk about:
- What’s in the bill
- Policy objectives
- “Unhosted wallets”
- FATF
- Ordinals
- Tx Fees
- Third school of thought on long term fees
Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Michael Saylor on Bitcoin Principles (SLP536)
What are the key principles underlying Bitcoin? How should we think about changes to Bitcoin? Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman and Founder of MicroStrategy rejoins me on the show to discuss:
- Bitcoin Protocols
- Bitcoin Principles
- Bitcoin Dynamics
- Bitcoin Politics
- Bitcoin Philosophy
Links:
- X: @saylor
Prior Episode:
Prior Episode:SLP213 Michael Saylor – Bitcoin Dematerializes Money
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Small Business for Bitcoiners with Bobby Shell (SLP534)
Should Bitcoiners consider Small Business? What are some of the important considerations here? Bobby Shell of Voltage and Imprint Digital joins me on the show to talk about his experiences in SMB and why Bitcoiners should also think about it.
- Why do SMB
- Earning more and making an impact
- His experiences with digital and physical businesses
- Why not just stack sats?
- The latest at Voltage
Links:
- Twitter/X: @iBobbyShell
- Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-shell-iv/
- Youtube: @ibobbyshell
- Website: Bobbyshell.com
- Nostr: bobby@vlt.ge / npub1kyga29699700q90pd4s2uc36ddn27cczfmkfgxcx2wl7urwkvl2ql3asvf
- Imprint Digital website
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
The Great Drivechain Debate with Paul Sztorc and Peter Todd (SLP533)
Drivechain is a proposal from 2015 which has had a lot of community debate recently. Joining us today to debate this are Paul Sztorc (CEO of Layer Two Labs) and Peter Todd. We discuss a range of points:
- Drivechain and miner centralisation
- Whether you can delegate running a node
- Legal risks
- Fees and Blocksize limits
Links:
- Earlier episode with Shinobi: Will Drivechain Centralise Bitcoin? With Shinobi
- X: @peterktodd
- Peter Todd’s post: Drivechains: A Detailed Analysis
- Peter’s Site:petertodd.org
- X: @Truthcoin
- Paul’s site: Truthcoin.info
- Paul’s response to Peter’s post: https://www.drivechain.info/peer-review/peter-todd-2023.png
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Intro
- 01:22 - Guests Introduction
- 02:12 - Paul's Opening Statement
- 11:08 - Peter's Opening Statement
- 19:42 - Paul's Rebuttal
- 24:56 - Peter's Rebuttal
- 30:47 - Guests Challenge each Other
- 01:30:59 - Closing thoughts
Bitcoin Seed Backups for Multi Sig with SeedHammer (SLP 532)
Now many of us are familiar with the idea of using steel backups for our bitcoin private keys, but what about in the case of multi signature? And what about using machine engraving? Dax and E from the SeedHammer project join me to talk:
- Why they are interested in this problem
- Passphrase vs multi sig
- Descriptor backup on steel
- Seed Hammer walk through
- Cost
- Attack vectors
- Changing standards
- Where the project is going next
Links:
- X: @SeedHammer
- Site: Seedhammer.com
- Github: https://github.com/seedhammer/seedhammer
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
How Many People Can Use Lightning? LSP Specs with Severin Buhler (SLP531)
How many people can use Bitcoin and Lightning today? Severin Buhler from Synonym joins me to talk about the LSP spec as well as lightning development. We talk about how the new LSP spec will enable more wallet builders, and more user choice, as well as smoothing the process for LSPs to compete:
- What is an LSP
- A marketplace of LSPs
- Competition between jurisdictions
- Wallet of Satoshi news
- How many people can use lightning?
- LSP business models
- LSPS1 and 2
- JIT Channels
- Asynchronous payments
- Blocktank
Links:
- X: @SeverinAlexB
- X: @lnrouter
- Site: lnrouter.app
- Site: Synonym.to
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Growing a Bitcoin Circular Economy with Fernando Motolese (Bitcoin Beach Brazil & Bitcoinize POS) (SLP530)
There are various Bitcoin ‘circular economies’ but we talk with Fernando Motolese about how he started Bitcoin Beach Brazil, as well as his efforts in creating a new merchant POS terminal device, Bitcoinize. We discuss:
- How Bitcoin Beach Brazil started
- Onboarding merchants
- Bolt card
- Tech stack
- Tourists and Locals experience
- Bitcoinize device
- HODL vs Spend
- Fundraising
Links:
- Fernando Motolese X: @MotoleseOficial
- Bitcoinize site: bitcoinize.com
- Bitcoinize POS on X: @BitcoinizePOS
- Bitcoin Beach BR fundraiser: https://donate.praiabitcoin.org/
- X: @BitcoinBeachBR
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Ciudad Morazán with Massimo Mazzone (SLP529)
Free Private Cities are an exciting attempt at a new model for private governance. I’ve previously spoken with leaders in this movement such as Titus Gebel and Peter Young. Today I’m speaking with the founder of Ciudad Morazan, another free private city in Honduras. This one is a little different to the others you may have heard of, as this one is more focused on ‘blue collar’ workers, families, and businesses. We talk about the free private cities model and how it is being applied differently here with Massimo Mazzone, founder. Topics:
- Free Private City Model
- Taxes
- How many live in Morazan
- ZEDE law
- Comparison with Prospera
- Morazan’s 4 advantages
- Scaling up
- Amenities available
- Growth
- No legal tender law
Links:
- X: @MassimoMazzone4
- Site: morazan.city
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Bitcoin Mining Decentralisation with Ocean - Bitcoin Mechanic (SLP528)
Has Bitcoin’s Mining ecosystem become centralised? What can be done about it? Bitcoin Mechanic from Ocean joins me to talk:
- Hashers vs Miners
- Different pool payout methods
- Stratum v2
- Block withholding attacks
- What Ocean is doing about it
- Fees
- Lightning payouts
Links:
- X: @GrassFedBitcoin
- Site: ocean.xyz/event
- X: @ocean_mining
- Article: Are Mining Pools Becoming a Problem?
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Has Business Been Exploiting Labour since 1971? with Gene Epstein (SLP527)
Many Bitcoiners have seen or shared around the images that show Labour Compensation (wages and other benefits) diverging from Labour Productivity since 1971, particularly from sites such as wtfhappenedin1971.com. Rejoining me today is Gene Epstein to break down why this chart is flawed! We also talk about broader issues around CPI, whether inflation is over or undercounted, and cost of living pressures that so many people are facing today. The conclusions will surprise you!We talk:
- Labour Compensation and Productivity
- Nominal dollars and issues with price indexes
- Is CPI overstated?
- Are we poorer than we used to be?
- Cost of living crisis
- Can you make it on a single income these days?
- The real problems
Links:
- X: @GeneSohoForum
- WTFhappenedin1971 site spoken about: https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/
- Gene’s Soho Forum Website: https://www.thesohoforum.org/
- Book: Econospinning: How to Read Between the Lines When the Media Manipulate the Numbers
- Gene’s Mises Institute Lecture cited: https://youtu.be/h9BE1YIrqyE?si=J5ia_Q18OjGcdB6-
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Don’t Lose Your Coins with NVK (SLP526)
How do you prevent loss of your coins? What are some critical steps that are commonly missed? NVK and I discuss a recent case of a HODLer losing 25 BTC, as well as talk about updates in Bitcoin security.
Links:
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Bitcoin’s Blocksize Scarcity with Bob Burnett of Barefoot Mining (SLP525)
When you need to send a Bitcoin transaction, you need Bitcoin blockspace. But blockspace is scarce! CEO of Barefoot Mining, Bob Burnett and I chat about this, and what you can do about it.
- Blockspace scarcity and explanation
- What you can do about it
- UTXO management
- Different types of miner
- Miner’s Trilemma
- Arguments against public company mining
- Mining NOT being a leverage play on Bitcoin
- Public vs private miners
- Gateway going public
- Core Scientific bankruptcy
- Mining decentralisation
Links:
- X: @boomer_btc
- Site: Barefoot Mining
- Old Man Yells: @OldManYells-btc
- Satoshi’s Heel article mentioned: SATOSHI’S HEEL: IS MINING INFRASTRUCTURE A VULNERABILITY THAT COULD TAKE DOWN BITCOIN?
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast
Natalism and Bitcoiners with Malcolm Collins (SLP524)
Is there a demographic collapse coming? What could or should be done about it? Is there any connection with Bitcoiner culture? Malcolm Collins has a background in VC and Private Equity, and he is a co-founder of The Pronatalist Foundation. He has spent a lot of time speaking about this problem and has some great insights to share:
- Population Projections
- The Urban Monoculture
- Pronatalist aims
- Childless demographics
- What caused this
- What governments have tried
- Where Bitcoiner culture could change this
- How to motivate a large family
Malcolm’s links mentioned:
Links:
- Site: Pronatalist.org
- X: @SimoneHCollins
Sponsors:
- Swan.com (code LIVERA)
- CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
- Mempool.space
Stephan Livera links:
- Follow me on X @stephanlivera
- Subscribe to the podcast