Join the Built on Bitcoin Newsletter: https://builtonbitcoin.beehiiv.com/subscribeThe conversations that build tomorrow's economy. Beyond the tribes. Ahead of the trend.In a charged debate hosted by Jacob Brown, Harsha Goli champions the Lightning Network's surging adoption and technical leaps, painting a picture of a scalable future for Bitcoin. Countering this optimism, Paul Sztorc draws historical parallels to argue for caution, emphasizing the critical need for self-custody and raising concerns about custodial solutions and the hub-and-spoke model. This discussion dives deep into the technical hurdles, the passionate community divide, and the very real implications for Bitcoin's scaling and investment potential. Is Lightning the key to Bitcoin's mainstream success, or is it facing an uphill battle against inherent limitations and regulatory pressures?
If you want to understand the forces shaping Bitcoin's future, this is the episode for you.The kickback crew is back after an 8-month hiatus to discuss:00:00 Running and Training for Marathons01:59 Reflections on Bitcoin Vegas05:52 The OP_RETURN Drama and Bitcoin Core12:08 Scaling Bitcoin: CTV and CheckSig from Stack24:52 Debating Bitcoin Upgrades30:01 The Rise of OdinFun33:11 Alkanes and Meta Protocols42:59 Nerdaxes and Open Source MiningFollow the crew on TwitterCharlie: https://x.com/cbspearsBob: https://x.com/BobBodilyDonny: https://x.com/itsdonnyokJake: https://x.com/JakeBlockchainFollow the Built on Bitcoin podcast on Twitter: https://x.com/builtonbtcpodCatch up on past episodes at https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/Subscribe to the newsletter:https://builtonbitcoin.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Kevin He, a seasoned blockchain architect with experience launching multiple L1s/L2s (including Huobi Eco Chain), joins the show to discuss Bitlayer. We explore his journey into crypto, the genesis of Bitlayer, and take a deep dive into BitVM technology - what it is, how it works, its current development status (BitVM 2, Alliance progress, auditing), and how Bitlayer is leveraging it to build trust-minimized Bitcoin L2 solutions, focusing on DeFi. Kevin shares insights on the Bitcoin opcode debate, the future of Bitcoin scaling, and reveals Bitlayer's upcoming BitVM bridge mainnet launch. What we talk about: 00:56 Kevin's Background: Building L1s/L2s & Early Lessons 10:36 The Genesis of Bitlayer & Addressing Bitcoin L2 Needs 18:00 Discovering BitVM: A Breakthrough for Bitcoin L2 Security 26:45 BitVM Explained: Verification, Not Just Computation 34:37 BitVM Development: V1 vs V2, ZK Challenges & Bridge Focus 41:30 Inside the BitVM Alliance: Technical Progress & On-Chain Impact 48:00 Alpha Leak: BitVM Auditing & Mainnet Progress 54:30 The Bitcoin Opcode Debate: Necessity and Impact on BitVM 01:04:00 Long-Term Bitcoin Sustainability: Fees vs Subsidy & Upgrades 01:08:00 Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge Mainnet Launch & Partnerships Follow Bitlayer on Twitter: @BitlayerLabs Learn more about Bitlayer: [https://www.bitlayer.org/](https://www.bitlayer.org/) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchain Stay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: [https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/](https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest and assist the best early-stage founders building new user-cases for Bitcoin. Website: [https://www.btcfrontier.fund/](https://www.btcfrontier.fund/) Twitter: [https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund](https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund) Love yall! See you in the next episode. Peace!
Is Lightning on its way out or primed for massive adoption? This is a question underlying so much of the discussion around Lightning on the timeline. So I sat down with Graham to discuss the state of Lightning in 2025. Recently they published a report in partnership with Fidelity Digital Assets and presented some great stats on the health of the network. This episode will make you bullish on Lightning. Check out this conversation with Graham Krizek - CEO & Founder of Voltage Cloud. Follow Graham on Twitter: https://x.com/gkrizek?lang=en Learn more about Voltage: https://www.voltage.cloud/
In this conversation, we sit down with Harsha Goli and delve into the complexities of Bitcoin compliance, exploring the challenges faced by startups in navigating regulatory landscapes. Harsha shares his extensive background in the Bitcoin space, highlighting the importance of compliance and the impact of regulations on innovation. We discuss the current state of regulatory uncertainty, the implications of KYC and AML requirements, and the evolving role of custodial and non-custodial solutions. The conversation also touches on the tax implications of cryptocurrency transactions and the future of stablecoins in the regulatory framework.Follow Harsha on Twitter: @_arshbotLearn more about Magnolia on their website: https://magnolia.financial/
In this episode, we sit down with Dominik Harz, co-founder of BOB (Build on Bitcoin), to explore the cutting edge of Bitcoin scaling and interoperability. Dom dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of building on Bitcoin, focusing on Bob's innovative approach to bridging Bitcoin with other networks like Ethereum using BitVM. We discuss the importance of network effects, the intricacies of cross-chain security, and the practical considerations for users interacting with these technologies. Dom also shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the unique hybrid L2 model Bob is implementing. This conversation provides a fascinating look into the future of Bitcoin and its potential to connect with the broader crypto ecosystem. What we talk about: Dominik's background and journey into the Bitcoin spaceThe evolution of Bitcoin and the need for scaling solutionsBob's approach to bridging Bitcoin with other chains using BitVMThe importance of network effects in cryptoChallenges and solutions in cross-chain securityPractical considerations for users and the future of BobThe hybrid L2 model and its implicationsTransitioning from academia to entrepreneurshipFollow Dominik Harz on Twitter: https://x.com/dominik0_ Learn more about Bob: https://www.gobob.xyz/
Today, Matteo & Raul join me to discuss how Fluid Tokens is revolutionizing decentralized finance (DeFi) on Bitcoin. As pioneers in leveraging Bitcoin’s UTXO model with Ordinals & Runes, they’re building innovative DeFi primitives like staking, lending, and decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in a trustless and permissionless way.In this episode, we explore:• [00:00] Surviving the Bear Market and Building in Web3• [07:00] Matteo & Raul’s Journey into Crypto• [13:00] Understanding UTXO: Why It’s Better for DeFi• [23:30] Fluid’s Current Products: Lending, Staking, and DEXs• [30:00] The Future of Bitcoin OS and ZK Bridges• [37:00] Pushing Bitcoin Script to Its Limits• [45:00] The Role of Account Abstraction in DeFi’s UX EvolutionFollow Fluid Tokens:• Website:https://fluidtokens.com/• Twitter: @FluidTokensXBTFollow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchainStay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest in and assist the best early-stage founders building new use cases for Bitcoin.Website: https://btcfrontier.fund/Twitter: @BTCFrontierFundLove y’all! See you in the next episode. Peace!
Bitcoin-Backed Stablecoins: A Deep Dive with Jakob Schillinger Jakob Schillinger, CEO & Founder of Hermetica, joins me to discuss the exciting potential of Bitcoin-backed stablecoins. Hermetica is building a system of decentralized finance on Bitcoin, using stablecoins as a key building block. In this conversation, we explore: [00:00] Bitcoin and Stablecoin Adoption Curve [08:10] Jakob's Journey into Bitcoin [18:50] The Different Types of Stables [27:30] What is Hermetica & How it Works. [47:45] Building Useful Products (Practically) Follow Jakob Schillinger on Twitter: @Jakob_btc Learn more about Hermetica: https://hermetica.fi/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchain Stay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest and assist the best early-stage founders building new user-cases for Bitcoin. Website: https://www.btcfrontier.fund/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund Love yall! See you in the next episode. Peace!
Today we have Mithil Thakore, co-founder of Velar, on the podcast. Velar is a DeFi application focused on providing yield on Bitcoin. Mithil shares his journey in the crypto space, the vision behind Velar, and the importance of building on Bitcoin's secure infrastructure. The discussion delves into the differences between L1 and L2 solutions, the current product offerings of Velar, and an in-depth explanation of derivatives and perpetual contracts in the crypto market. The intricacies of perpetual decentralized exchanges (perp DEXs), their development, and the future of Bitcoin DeFi. He explains the differences between perpetual contracts and futures, the importance of liquidity and low latency in trading, and the trust assumptions involved in using Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions. Finally, he emphasizes the potential of decentralized finance on Bitcoin and his vision for it to surpass Ethereum DeFi in the coming years.Follow Mithil on X: @RainFire09Follow Velar on X: @velarBTCCheck out Velar on their website: https://velar.com/
The time to board the Ark is coming. Ark is a new off-chain scaling solution for Bitcoin that plays nicely with other off-chain protocols like Lightning. Alex is the Head of Ecosystem at Ark Labs, in this conversation, we discuss:The current landscape of off-chain protocolsHow does Ark work?What will the UX feel like for users?Wen live on mainnet?Alex’s background in BitcoinAnd much more.Follow Ark Labs on Twitter: @ArkLabsHQLearn more about Ark: https://arklabs.to/Best place to dive deeper:https://arkdev.info/docs/learn/intro
Counterparty is back in active development after taking a long hiatus. For the newer Bitcoiners that typically listen to this podcast, you may not know what Counterparty is. In this conversation, we discuss: [0:00] Shitcoins on Bitcoin. 2014 vs Now. [4:40] Meta-Protocols vs Forking Bitcoin [6:52] Centralization Fears: Core Devs vs Mining [9:20] OP_Return Debate [11:00] Alternative tokens on Bitcoin [16:00] What is Counterparty [22:04] Counterparty 2.0: Big upgrades [28:25] What does XCP token do [31:10] Where do Counterparty'ers hang out [33:40] Future Roadmap [37:00] What Adam's most excited about Follow Adam on Twitter: @agkrellenstein Learn more about Counterparty: https://counterparty.io/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchain Stay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest and assist the best early-stage founders building new user-cases for Bitcoin. Website: https://www.btcfrontier.fund/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund Love yall! See you in the next episode. Peace!
Setzeus is a prominent developer and educator in the Bitcoin space.In this episode, we discuss his journey into the Bitcoin space and how he stays locked in as a founder. Tools his development house (Strata Labs) have built empowering developers with Bitscript and Rootkey. We also explore how Strata Labs operates as a development agency. Follow Setzeus on Twitter: @setzeus Check out Strata Labs: https://www.stratalabs.org/ Explore Bitscript: https://www.bitscript.app/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchain Stay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest and assist the best early-stage founders building new user-cases for Bitcoin. Website: https://www.btcfrontier.fund/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund Love yall! See you in the next episode. Peace!
Follow Charlie on X: @cbspears Follow Donny on X: @itsdonnyok Follow Jake on X: @jakeblockchain This Bitcoin Weekly Kickback episode covers various topics related to proof of work and mining. It starts with a discussion about a project called the Rats, which involves inscribing rat-related things onto an inscription. The conversation then moves on to the effectiveness of proof of work for new chains and the challenges they face in competing with Bitcoin. The hosts express skepticism about the success of new proof of work networks and highlight the path dependency and adoption challenges they face. They also discuss the Bitax pleb mining initiative and its potential to contribute to the decentralization of mining. The conversation covers various topics including the potential of Bitcoin mining as a home-centric activity, the role of Nostra as a social media platform, and the concept of micro-payments. The hosts discuss the implications of pleb mining and how it can lead to a better understanding of Bitcoin. They also explore the challenges and potential centralization of Nostra as a social media platform. Additionally, they touch on the idea of streaming Satoshis and the importance of micro-payments. The conversation concludes with a brief mention of Magic Eden and its token launch.
Ordinalsbot is one of the most successful companies in the Ordinals space.In this episode, Brian Laughlan discusses his journey from launching a collection called Satoshibles on Ethereum to building on Bitcoin with Ordinals. He highlights the advantages of storing data on-chain and the challenges of high fees. We also his process of iterating on product and understanding what to build next.Follow Brian on Twitter: @bruffstarCheck out Ordinalsbot: https://ordinalsbot.com/
On this latest Bitcoin Weekly we discuss the Babylon Mainnet launch, Fractal Bitcoin Sidechain, The state of discourse on Bitcoin Twitter, East vs West and how they invest differently, Proof-of-Work being zero sum, the effects of the Ordinals numbering debate on devs, and much more.Follow Charlie on X: @cbspearsFollow Donny on X: @itsdonnyokFollow Bob on X: @bobbodilyFollow Jake on X: @jakeblockchainSound Bites"People have been craving the pod. I'm gonna waste no time. Let's just jump right in.""The general idea of development and pushing forward on Bitcoin is thrilling.""The number of developers who are competent in the ordinals and ordinals adjacent type dev activities are limited.""Fractal would be a pretty good testnet... It sounds like a terrible idea.""Either ETH wins or Bitcoin wins, but one has to slowly die or they're both easily more attackable.""BitVM2 is good enough for a specific bridging use case... LPs can come in and make it possible."
Its Bitcoin L2 season and Botanix is a nake you've surely heard around. But do you know what the Spiderchain is? In this episode we deep dive into how their novel peg-in/peg-out and consensus mechanism works to move BTC into their sidechain.Willem Schroe is the co-founder of Botanix Labs.You can follow him on Twitter: @WillemSchroeLearn more about Botanix on their website: https://botanixlabs.xyz/
Today we're talking about Bitcoin design and how to make products people love. In this conversation, Erik and Skyler discuss the concept of design and its application in the Bitcoin space. They explore the misconception that design is solely about aesthetics and highlight its utilitarian nature. They also delve into the psychology behind design and the importance of creating pleasant and intuitive user experiences. The conversation then shifts to the role of designers in the Bitcoin space and the challenges they face, such as the tendency to prioritize technology over people. They emphasize the need for designers to put the user first and iterate quickly based on user feedback. In this conversation, Jacob, Skyler, and Erik discuss the importance of user feedback and iteration in the design process. They highlight the value of creating working mock-ups in tools like Figma and gathering user feedback before investing in development. They emphasize the need for designers to be open to user insights and to constantly learn from how people interact with their designs. The conversation also touches on the challenges of building businesses in the Bitcoin space and the importance of understanding the limitations and potential use cases of the technology. They also express excitement about the potential of AI in design and the organic growth of the eCash protocol. Follow Erik on Twitter: @uxerik_ Follow Skyler on Twitter: @skyler_fs
The gang is back from Nashville. Follow us on Twitter/X: Donny: @itsdonnyok Charlie: @cbspears Bob: @BobBodily Jake: @Jakeblockchain
When Ordinals launched, there were so many tools lacking to properly inscribe and trade these new assets on Bitcoin. Emblem Vault was one of the first movers and marketplaces to allow trading of these new digital artifacts. Today I had Adam McBride on the show to discuss what Emblem Vault is, their unique view on the digital asset space and what they are working on next. Follow Adam on X: @adamamcbride Learn more about Emblem Vault: https://circuitsofvalue.com/
In this video, we're talking with Shehzan Maredia, the co-founder of Lava. We'll dive into how Lava is revolutionizing financial freedom with self-custody solutions, wallets without seed phrases, and ways to spend your BTC effortlessly. Follow Shehzan on Twitter: https://x.com/MarediaShehzan Check out Lava Wallet: https://www.lava.xyz/