In this conversation, Stephan Livera and Robert Warren discuss the evolving landscape of Bitcoin mining, focusing on the intersection of energy consumption and human flourishing. They explore the impact of AI on energy demand, the misconceptions surrounding the cost of production in Bitcoin mining, and innovative strategies for monetizing energy. The discussion highlights notable examples of companies and initiatives that are redefining the mining industry, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and community-driven innovation.

Takeaways:

🔸Energy consumption correlates with human flourishing.

🔸The narrative around Bitcoin mining is evolving positively.

🔸AI's demand for energy is reshaping the mining landscape.

🔸Cost of production metrics are often misleading in Bitcoin mining.

🔸Henry Ford's principles of continuous production apply to Bitcoin mining.

🔸Monetizing the megawatt involves diverse revenue streams.

🔸Gridless compute is revolutionizing energy use in Bitcoin mining.

🔸Smaller miners can thrive by leveraging unique opportunities.

🔸Flexible load strategies can stabilize energy markets.

🔸Innovation labs like Choya are crucial for industry advancement.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:50) - Overview of National Energy & Mining Summit

(02:42) - Human flourishing and energy consumption

(06:11) - The energy narrative around Bitcoin

(10:00) - Bitcoin miners pivoting to AI

(14:04) - Hashrate growth

(16:59) - “Cost of Production” analyst metric criticism

(22:50) - Early years of Bitcoin mining

(24:54) - Henry Ford's crystal palace

(29:38) - Monetizing the Megawatt

(33:10) - Different revenue streams in Bitcoin mining

(36:20) - How is Gridless Compute innovating Bitcoin mining ops?

(40:15) - Robert’s Home Bitcoin mining setup

(42:38) - What is ‘Flexible Load Management’ in Bitcoin mining?

(46:41) - Upstream Data bridging Oil & Bitcoin mining

(50:49) - The Cholla Innovation Lab 

(54:23) - Upcoming events at Bitcoin Park 

Links: 

• https://x.com/robertwarren 

• https://x.com/bitcoinpark_ 

• https://x.com/robertwarren/status/2019449339811131840 

• https://bitcoinpark.com/MONETIZING%20THE%20MEGAWATT%201_26.pdf 

• https://linktr.ee/bikesandbitcoin 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this conversation, Stephan Livera and James O'Beirne discuss the implications of quantum computing on Bitcoin, exploring skepticism towards the perceived threats, the current state of quantum research, and the potential responses from Bitcoin developers. They delve into proposed solutions, the role of institutions like NIST, and the challenges of Bitcoin protocol development. The discussion also touches on user experience, self-custody, and the future of Bitcoin adoption amidst evolving technological landscapes.

Takeaways:

🔸Quantum computing poses theoretical risks to Bitcoin, but practical threats are far off.

🔸Skepticism about quantum computing's immediate impact is prevalent among experts.

🔸Bitcoin developers have more pressing issues to address than quantum threats.

🔸Proposed solutions like BIP 360 could enhance Bitcoin's security regardless of quantum risks.

🔸NIST's push for post-quantum cryptography raises concerns about government influence.

🔸The academic and business interests in quantum computing may hype its urgency.

🔸Bitcoin's protocol development faces challenges due to a lack of strong leadership.

🔸User experience is crucial for Bitcoin adoption and self-custody.

🔸The future of Bitcoin may depend on how well it adapts to user needs and technological changes.

🔸Bitcoin remains a unique solution to fiat debasement and economic instability.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:46) - What is the deal with quantum computing and Bitcoin?

(05:05) - Advancing progress in quantum computing

(09:43) - Is the quantum threat to Bitcoin around the corner? 

(11:57) - Quantum resistant schemes developed by Bitcoiners

(15:45) - NIST and diverse views on Post-quantum cryptography

(22:31) - The future of Bitcoin in a Post-quantum world

(29:45) - 'Matt Corallo Quantum Plan'

(34:08) - A modest version of the Big Blocker view

(38:41) - Covenants and Scaling Bitcoin

(43:35) - Comparing OP_TEMPLATEHASH & OP_CTV

(48:01) - The ‘Slow and Steady’ approach to Bitcoin development

(55:19) - What’s the next adoption pathway for Bitcoin?

(1:04:04) - AssumeUTXO, Utreexo & Floresta

(1:07:20) - Why are so few people running Bitcoin nodes?

(1:14:52) - Closing thoughts 

Links: 

• https://x.com/jamesob 

• https://ctv-csfs.com/ 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Qs31E80cA 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this episode, Stephan Livera and Dhruv Patel, CEO of Arch Lending, discuss the current state of Bitcoin lending, market trends, and the unique products offered by Arch Lending. They explore the mechanics of Bitcoin-backed loans, risk management strategies for borrowers, and the importance of custody and security in the lending process. The conversation also touches on the future of Bitcoin lending, growth strategies, and the evolving landscape of financial products in the cryptocurrency space.

Takeaways:

🔸Bitcoin lending is gaining traction despite market volatility.

🔸Arch Lending offers flexible Bitcoin-backed loans with up to 60% LTV.

🔸Understanding the mechanics of Bitcoin loans is crucial for borrowers.

🔸Customized loan products cater to specific needs of clients.

🔸Risk management is essential when borrowing against Bitcoin.

🔸Arch Lending does not rehypothecate client collateral, ensuring security.

🔸The market for Bitcoin-backed loans is expected to grow significantly.

🔸Debt can be a powerful tool for wealth building if managed wisely.

🔸Interest rates for Bitcoin loans have decreased over time.

🔸Current market conditions may present safer borrowing opportunities.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:22) - How does Arch Lending work?

(02:50) - What does Arch Lending offer? 

(05:15) - LTV conditions & specialised loan products

(09:20) - Risk-managed borrowing against Bitcoin

(14:20) - How does Arch Lending custody the Bitcoin?

(15:46) - Comparing various Bitcoin lending models

(19:46) - Thoughts on borrowing against Bitcoin ETFs

(21:37) - Capital providers for Arch Lending

(23:16) - Will Arch Lending provide Proof of Reserves? 

(24:34) - All-in-one Bitcoin financial services

(25:48) - Growth & future of Bitcoin lending

(28:08) - Who should NOT use Bitcoin lending services? 

(32:45) - Will TradFi offer similar Bitcoin lending products? 

(34:08) - Closing thoughts

Links: 

• https://x.com/ArchLending 

• https://archlending.com/ 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this episode, Stephan Livera and Matt Corallo discuss the implications of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security. They explore expert opinions on the timelines for quantum threats, the current stance of Bitcoin developers, and potential solutions for quantum resistance. Matt introduces his proposed plan for integrating quantum-resistant features into Bitcoin wallets, emphasizing the need for gradual adoption and community consensus. The conversation also touches on market dynamics, the role of seed phrases, and the importance of preparing for a future where quantum computing could pose a significant risk to Bitcoin.

Takeaways:

🔸Quantum computers are not an immediate threat to Bitcoin.

🔸Experts suggest a timeline of 10 to 25 years for quantum threats.

🔸Bitcoin developers have historically underestimated quantum risks.

🔸There is ongoing research into quantum-resistant solutions.

🔸Wallet adoption of new technologies is slow and challenging.

🔸The future Bitcoin community will make decisions on quantum security.

🔸Market dynamics will influence the value of quantum-vulnerable coins.

🔸Seed phrases provide a layer of security against quantum threats.

🔸The proposed quantum plan aims for minimal disruption to users.

🔸Preparation for quantum threats should start now, even if the risk is distant.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:51) - Quantum computer’s breakthrough timelines

(03:38) - Are Bitcoin developers taking the quantum threat seriously?

(07:41) - Evaluating the quantum threat

(10:00) - The Matt Corallo Quantum Plan

(17:48) - Future community decisions on quantum security

(20:12) - Will Bitcoin need a soft fork? 

(23:30) - Market’s response to quantum threat 

(28:15) - The role of seed phrases in quantum security

(33:40) - Post quantum cryptographic schemes

(37:23) - Patoshi miner adapting to Q-Day

(43:25) - Which public cryptography scheme is most vulnerable? 

(50:20) - Closing thoughts 

Links: 

• https://x.com/TheBlueMatt 

• https://bluematt.bitcoin.ninja/ 

• https://saveourwallets.org/ 

Stephan Livera links:

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In this episode, Stephan Livera interviews Jos Lazet from Blockrise, discussing the recent volatility in Bitcoin prices, the semi-custodial model of Blockrise, and the future of Bitcoin lending. They explore the implications of market movements, the importance of risk management in lending, and the evolving landscape of Bitcoin services. Joss shares insights on Blockrise's offerings, including asset management and lending, and emphasizes the need for user-friendly solutions in the Bitcoin space.

Takeaways:

🔸Bitcoin's volatility is expected to continue for several years.

🔸The semi-custodial model offers a balance between security and usability.

🔸Risk appetite is crucial when considering Bitcoin loans.

🔸Institutional adoption is necessary for Bitcoin's growth.

🔸Blockrise aims to provide transparent and user-friendly services.

🔸The lending market is evolving with new standards and players.

🔸Understanding liquidation points is essential for borrowers.

🔸The European banking system is efficient for fiat transactions.

🔸Blockrise focuses on a hybrid custody solution for clients.

🔸The future of Bitcoin lending will involve more innovative financial products.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:00) - Bitcoin’s recent price volatility & ETFs role

(05:31) - What is Blockrise?

(08:08) - Semi-custodial model

(11:44) - How does Blockrise work?

(18:55) - Onboarding & user journey in Bitcoin custody  

(24:42) - Does Blockrise support stablecoins?

(28:34) - Fiat integration and future of stablecoins in Bitcoin lending

(32:21) - Insights from ‘Bitcoin Lending Standards’ report

(42:00) - Leveraged Bitcoin or Stay humble & stack sats? 

(47:27) - Loan terms, interest rates and fees

Links: 

• https://x.com/jos_lazet 

• http://blockrise.com 

• https://www.blockrise.com/en/resources/the-bitcoin-lending-standards-2026-article 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this episode, Harsha Goli from Magnolia Financial discusses the launch of their Bitcoin-enabled banking services across the US, navigating regulatory challenges, and the importance of partnerships with banks. He emphasizes the need for better user experiences in Bitcoin transactions, the role of price oracles, and the implications of the Clarity Act on Bitcoin development. The conversation also touches on the tension between traditional banks and the crypto industry, the future of community banks, and innovations in Bitcoin technology. Harsha shares insights on potential use cases for Magnolia's services and the challenges of bridging the gap in Bitcoin adoption, while also addressing privacy concerns in Bitcoin transactions.

Takeaways:

🔸Magnolia Financial has launched Bitcoin-enabled banking services across all US states.

🔸The company aims to provide a better user experience in Bitcoin transactions.

🔸Partnerships with banks are crucial for navigating regulatory challenges.

🔸The Clarity Act is seen as a positive development for Bitcoin institutions.

🔸Stablecoins are currently dominating the financial landscape.

🔸Magnolia is focused on integrating financial services into Bitcoin applications.

🔸The future of community banks may involve adapting to crypto innovations.

🔸Innovations in Bitcoin technology, especially Layer 2 solutions, are promising.

🔸Privacy concerns in Bitcoin transactions are becoming increasingly complex.

🔸Harsha emphasizes the need for seamless money transfers in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:36) - Magnolia enabling Bitcoin-enabled banking

(03:10) - Regulatory hurdles in the US

(05:03) - Can Banks provide their own native Bitcoin rails?

(08:24) - Improving UX with Magnolia

(11:48) - Magnolia as Price Oracle in Bitcoin finance 

(13:35) - Magnolia's pricing and onboarding process

(17:10) - What is the impact of US regulations on Bitcoin development? 

(21:11) - CLARITY Act

(25:00) - Tension between Banks & Crypto

(28:01) - Community Banks and Crypto?

(29:31) - What is Harsha excited about in Bitcoin and its L2’s?

(32:08) - Use cases of Magnolia

(33:48) - Stable channels & Taproot assets

(38:10) - Increasing Bitcoin adoption?

(40:51) - Bitcoin privacy and financial scams

(46:58) - Closing thoughts on building with Magnolia

Links: 

• https://x.com/arshbot 

• https://x.com/magnolia_rails 

• https://magnolia.financial/ 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this episode, Stephan Livera discusses with Jay & Matt the evolution of Lygos Finance, a company formed from the acquisition of Atomic Finance, focusing on decentralized lending using Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs). The conversation explores the growth of the Bitcoin collateralized lending market, the unique position of Lygos in offering non-custodial loans, and the role of Oracles in determining loan outcomes. The hosts delve into the flexible loan terms and competitive interest rates offered by Lygos, as well as the platform's global reach and future developments in user experience and funding mechanisms.

Takeaways:

🔸The merger of Atomic Finance and Lygos and its significance for DLC lending

🔸How DLCs work in a lending context: simplified signatures and outcomes

🔸Advantages of DLCs over traditional custodial lending platforms

🔸The role of oracles: Magnolia as a third-party verifier

🔸Speed improvements with adapter signatures and upcoming hardware wallet support

🔸Market size and growth of Bitcoin collateralized loans (over $25 billion)

🔸Comparison of DLCs versus custodial and multi-sig lending solutions

🔸Extending and rolling over DLC loans seamlessly

🔸UX considerations: transparency, privacy, and future seamless fiat/stablecoin onboarding

🔸Potential impacts of future Bitcoin upgrades like Taproot or Covenant support

🔸How DLCs support global, trust-minimized, and scalable lending

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:40) - From Atomic Finance to Lygos Finance 

(04:02) - What is the size of the Bitcoin lending market? 

(05:33) - Unique position of Lygos in the DLC space; Requirements for DLCs by hardware wallets

(08:20) - What is a DLC?; How does DLC work in the Bitcoin loan context?  

(12:49) - How is Lygos different from other Bitcoin lending platforms? 

(16:44) - What is the role of an oracle in Lygos? 

(20:53) - What does taking a loan with Lygos look like?; Loan terms, interest rates & collateral requirements 

(32:10) - Global reach of Lygos; How are the loans funded? 

(35:33) - Is UX a major factor in developing Lygos? 

(40:02) - Possibility of future Bitcoin upgrades and their impact on DLCs

(44:48) - Closing thoughts 

Links: 

• https://x.com/matthewjablack 

• https://x.com/LygosFinance 

• https://www.lygos.finance/ 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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I was joined by Peter Schiff, Piero Coen, Skot at Plan B Elsalvador as we discussed Gold vs Bitcoin, AI & a multipolar world, Bitcoin as freedom money for Latinos and open-source mining decentralizing Bitcoin.

Takeaways:

🔸Bitcoin and gold are often compared as stores of value.

🔸Recent market movements have raised questions about the stability of gold and silver.

🔸Central banks are increasingly buying gold, indicating a shift in demand.

🔸The US dollar's status as a reserve currency is being challenged.

🔸AI has potential to increase productivity but may not solve economic issues.

🔸Peter Schiff remains skeptical about Bitcoin's long-term value.

🔸Wall Street's involvement has influenced Bitcoin's popularity.

🔸Bitcoin requires continuous new buyers to maintain its value.

🔸The transition to Bitcoin-only solutions is gaining traction.

🔸Building local exchanges is crucial for Bitcoin adoption in Central America.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Gold vs Bitcoin ft.Peter Schiff

(28:30) - Bitcoin breaks banking exclusion for Latinos ft. Piero Coen

(58:50) - Open-source Bitcoin mining ft. Skot

Links: 

• https://x.com/PlanBElsalvador 

• https://x.com/PeterSchiff 

• https://x.com/piero_coen 

• https://x.com/osmo_money 

• https://x.com/skot9000 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this episode, the discussion revolves around Breez's innovative SDK and its nodeless implementation, which simplifies the integration of Bitcoin and Lightning into applications. The guests share their experiences from the ‘Time to Build’ challenge, highlighting the ease of use and the potential for new applications in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Brianna discusses her social events platform, Evento, and how it leverages the Breez SDK to facilitate peer-to-peer value exchange. Aljaz shares insights on developing a BTC Pay plugin that enhances payment processing without the need for a full Lightning node. The conversation also touches on user experience design, the role of vibe coding in development, and the growing excitement around Bitcoin and Layer 2 solutions.

Takeaways:

🔸Breez SDK simplifies Bitcoin integration for developers.

🔸Evento aims to create a fair events platform without high fees.

🔸Breez's node-less implementation reduces complexity for users.

🔸User experience is crucial for onboarding non-Bitcoiners.

🔸Vibe coding allows for rapid development and experimentation.

🔸Brianna emphasizes the importance of user feedback in design.

🔸Aljaz's BTC Pay plugin streamlines payment processing.

🔸Liquid and Spark offer different trade-offs for developers.

🔸The Bitcoin ecosystem is seeing renewed interest and innovation.

🔸The future of Bitcoin payments looks promising with new tools. 

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:04) - Overview of ‘Time to Build’ challenge

(02:07) - What is Breez Nodeless SDK?

(03:09) - Brianna’s experience of building Evento using Breez SDK

(09:02) - Aljaz’s BTCPay Server plugin

(12:48) - How does Aljaz’s BTCPay plugin help the end user? 

(16:00) - What does implementing the plugin unlock? 

(19:23) - Vibe coding Bitcoin payments with Breez SDK

(21:30) - AI, MCP and documentation

(24:54) - UX and design considerations for Evento

(29:47) - Evento wallet 

(34:07) - Comparing Liquid & Spark implementations

(35:23) - Excitement around Bitcoin and L2 developments

(41:14) - Closing thoughts 

Links: 

• Brianna: https://x.com/briimhd 

• Danny: https://x.com/dannystagg

• Aljaz: https://x.com/aaaljaz  

• Evento: https://x.com/evento_so 

• Breez: https://x.com/breez_tech 

• Aljaz site: https://disobey.dev/ 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this conversation, Stephan Livera and Jonas Nick discuss the implications of quantum computing on Bitcoin's security, focusing on the risks posed to cryptographic signatures. They explore the current vulnerabilities in Bitcoin, the potential for quantum attacks, and the need for post-quantum cryptographic solutions. The discussion covers various signature schemes, including hash-based signatures, their trade-offs, and the challenges of transitioning to a quantum-resistant Bitcoin. They also touch on the implications for hardware wallets, multi-signature schemes, and the potential need for block size increases to accommodate new signature sizes.

Takeaways:

🔸Quantum computers pose a real risk to Bitcoin's cryptography.

🔸Current Bitcoin signatures are vulnerable to long-range attacks.

🔸Hash-based signatures are significantly larger than current signatures.

🔸Transitioning to quantum resistance will require careful planning.

🔸The Bitcoin community must reach a consensus on new schemes.

🔸Verification costs will increase with new signature schemes.

🔸Hardware wallets will need to adapt to new signature requirements.

🔸Block size discussions may need to be revisited in light of quantum risks.

🔸The timeline for quantum computing advancements is uncertain.

🔸A gradual transition to quantum resistance may be necessary. 

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:49) - How real is quantum risk to Bitcoin?

(04:39) - When could quantum pose a threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography? 

(09:56) - Long range vs Short range attacks

(12:37) - How many coins are vulnerable to Long range attacks?

(14:12) - Different types of cryptography and exploring Hash-based signature schemes

(17:00) - Categories of Hash-based signature scheme and their pros & cons

(23:42) - How do Hash-based signatures work? 

(32:14) - Would Lightning, Multi-sig, Taproot, Silent Payments, Atomic swaps work in a post-quantum world? 

(38:50) - What are Adaptor signatures & how do they affect atomic swapping? 

(41:27) - Will we need new Bitcoin hardware wallets?; Signature production & verification 

(44:41) - Signature size and Bitcoin block capacity implications

(46:52) - Should we revisit the block size conversation? 

(54:57) - Overview of SPHINCS+ & SHRINCS

(59:49) - Transitioning to post-quantum signature schemes; Overview of BIP 360

(1:09:06) - Closing thoughts

Links: 

• https://x.com/n1ckler 

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera

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In this conversation, Arnab Naskar from Stokr discusses the intersection of Bitcoin, tokenization, and capital markets. He explains how Bitcoin serves as both a store of value and a settlement layer, enabling the creation of decentralized financial systems. The discussion covers the advantages of using Liquid for tokenization, the importance of confidentiality in transactions, and the innovative financing opportunities in energy and Bitcoin mining. Arnab emphasizes the systemic shift in financial markets due to tokenization, the role of stablecoins, and the future of decentralized finance on Liquid.

Takeaways:

🔸Bitcoin serves as a store of value and a settlement layer.

🔸Stokr focuses on tokenizing financial assets on Liquid.

🔸Liquid offers confidentiality and stability for tokenized assets.

🔸Tokenization can reduce the need for intermediaries in finance.

🔸The market for tokenized securities is rapidly growing.

🔸Energy infrastructure financing is a key area for innovation.

🔸Tokenization opens up investment opportunities globally.

🔸Users can trade tokenized assets seamlessly on Liquid.

🔸The future of finance will involve both DEXs and centralized exchanges.

🔸Tokenization represents a systemic shift in capital markets.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:59) - Who is Arnab and what is Stokr? 

(02:29) - Isn’t Bitcoin enough? 

(04:44) - How and why is Stokr different?; The importance of Liquid Network 

(08:35) - How does Liquid compete with other chains for tokenization of assets? 

(11:54) - What is CMSTR?

(15:01) - Does Stokr help finance SMEs & traditional businesses?

(18:23) - What is Blockstream Mining Note (BMN)? 

(24:34) - Trust minimising the ownership of securities; Whitelisting process 

(28:57) - How big is Liquid Network? How does it fare compared to other asset platforms? 

(33:43) - Who are the customers of Stokr’s tokenized products? 

(37:34) - What does the interface between Stokr and the end user look like?; The @Blockstream edge

(46:11) - Is TradFi embracing tokenization of assets?; Will Bitcoin be the base layer for tokenization?

(56:25) - Closing thoughts 

Links: 

• https://x.com/Arnab_Naskarr 

• https://x.com/stokr_io 

• https://blog.liquid.net/cmstr-note-tokenizing-public-stock-on-liquid/

• https://mining.blockstream.com/finance/bmn/  

Stephan Livera links:

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