Stephan Livera Podcast

Shinobi (aka Bitcoin Twitter character @Brian_Trollz) joins me in this episode to discuss a range of topics:  Problems with using Litecoin for paying with things Confidential Transactions and the different approaches The push for smaller blocks Different approaches to scaling Problems with sidechains and drivechains Shinobi / Brian Trollz links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/brian_trollz &nbsp...

Justin Camarena of Bitrefill joins me to talk about his journey with Bitcoin Lightning development and pioneering Bitcoin Lightning payments at Bitrefill. We discuss: Learning Lightning development Pioneering Lightning payment at Bitrefill in the #reckless early days Bitrefill Thor service Lightning Channel Management Thoughts on Lightning custodial wallets What Lightning Network can enable Justin...

Andreas M. Antonopoulos (best-selling author, speaker and bitcoin  educator) joins me in this episode to talk about his views on Bitcoin  Maximalism as contrasted with a multicoin view. Andreas and I disagree  and present clashing visions. We also discuss other points such as  whether Bitcoin challenges central banking more specifically, or banking  generally. Andreas M. A...

Jack Dorsey (CEO of Twitter & Square) & Elizabeth Stark (CEO of Lightning Labs) join me to talk about the vision of Bitcoin as native currency of the internet. Bitcoin's principles, resilience, and being 'of the internet' are what make it special. In this special episode we discuss: How Jack came to understand Bitcoin and view it as potentially the native currency of the internet Why every...

Dr Guido Hülsmann, Senior Fellow of the Mises Institute, and Economics Professor at the University of Anger, France, joins me in this very special episode. We talk about government monetary intervention compared with a free market in money. We discuss many topics: The process of government monetary intervention and deterioration in quality of money Which kind of monetary intervention is worst? Int...

Rui Gomes & João Almeida (CTO, co-founder) of OpenNode join me in this episode to discuss why they turned down Roger Ver's $1.25M, as well as the vision of OpenNode in enabling Bitcoin & Lightning payments. Topics include:  Background on OpenNode Service structure and fees Rejecting Roger Ver's $1.25M offer and why Why OpenNode is Bitcoin-only Comparison of OpenNode with self-hosted B...

Marty Bent, host of the Tales From the Crypt podcast, and editor in chief of Marty's Bent joins me in this episode. We talk about Bitcoin content creation and curation, and also touch on the shifts in thinking from 'mainstream' economics required to understand Bitcoin.  Marty Bent links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MartyBent Marty's Bent Newsletter: martysbent.com   Tales from the Crypt...

Nicolas Dorier, a Bitcoin developer, joins me in this episode to talk about the open source project he started, BTCPayServer. BTCPayServer allows you to start accepting Bitcoin payments with 0% fees & no third-party. It is built with security, privacy and censorship-resistance at its core.  We cover: Why Nicolas started BTCPayServer What BitPay did to drive Nicolas to start his own open s...

Giacomo Zucco, well known Bitcoin advocate, Supremo of BHB Network, and bitcoin consultant/teacher joins me in this episode. We talk: His Bitcoin 'rage quit'! The recent trend of Lightning Network custodial wallets, and whether this is on net a good or bad thing Thoughts on altcoins - are some of them honest, good faith efforts? Might they be technologically interesting, but still not monetarily r...

Sjors Provoost (Bitcoin Core developer) joins me to discuss a range of topics:  Bitcoin Core Development and Review  Working towards hardware wallet support in Bitcoin Core Sjors' article, "A Crime on Testnet" - with privacy & fungibility implications Sjors Links:  Sjors Twitter: https://twitter.com/@provoost “A Crime on Testnet”: https://medium.com/provoost-on-crypto/a-crime-on...

Jeff Deist joins me to discuss Bitcoin and the application of Austrian economics in understanding Bitcoin. Topics:  Market selection of money The potential for a hard money standard to restrict govt spending Why Austrian Economists are split on Bitcoin Why credit would be much tighter under a hard money standard The deflation and 'hoarding' argument - dispelled The educational strategy pursue...

Aleks Svetski (CEO, co-founder of Amber) joins me in this fiery episode  to talk about the blind excesses of 'Crypto' over the last few years and  more: - Crazy excesses that we saw over the last few years - STO's - Security Token Offerings - "Crypto Traders" - "Crypto Hedge Fund Managers" - Bitcoin as asymmetric bet - Dollar Cost Averaging - Amber and the service offering Aleks and Ambe...

Jameson Lopp, Cypherpunk & CTO of Casa, joins me in this episode to discuss a range of topics: What he's working on right now @ Casa "Who controls Bitcoin Core?", the article by Jameson 2018 Year in Review, thematically and by statistics Bitcoin storage and multi signature solutions Bitcoin helping enable individual sovereignty Grin & Beam  Maintaining privacy with a Bitcoin transacti...

Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, Cypherpunk & Cryptographer, and inventor of hashcash (cited in Bitcoin's whitepaper) joins me in this episode. We talk about the new update to Blockstream satellite, Tim May and Bitcoin Privacy. Topics: - Blockstream satellite background - How Blockstream satellite works - Making Lightning payments to deliver encrypted messages via satellite - The need for censorship...

Dhruv Bansal, Chief Science Officer of Unchained Capital joins me to talk about some of his data science analytical work on Bitcoin's blockchain, and also how Unchained Capital are thinking about Bitcoin financial services. We discuss how Bitcoin enables entirely different delivery of financial products and services. One example of this is the new feature, Collaborative Custody. Topics: - Blockcha...

Vijay Boyapati (Software Developer, Austrian Economist) joins me to discuss his 2010 article, "Why Credit Deflation Is More Likely Than Mass Inflation". Find out where economics commentators were getting it wrong immediately post the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and ways to think about Bitcoin in the coming years. Vijay Links: Article discussed: http://libertarianpapers.org/articles/2010/lp-2-43....

Laolu aka roasbeef, CTO of Lightning Labs joins me in this episode to talk about some of the latest developments with Bitcoin's Lightning Network: - Lightning Summit (Adelaide, Australia Nov 2018) - AMP - Splicing - Probing - Wumbology (large channels) - Neutrino - Wishlist for changes in Bitcoin Core - What products/services should be built on Lightning - What's coming up for Lightning Labs - Out...

Per Bylund (Assistant Professor at OSU and Fellow of Mises Institute) joins me to discuss how some firms today are larger than what they would be under a free market. The impact of regulation and ways to assess competition in a market are discussed. We also touch on the confusion about scarcity and 'post scarcity'. Per Bylund Links: Per’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/PerBylund Per’s website: http:...

Rene Pickhardt, a Bitcoin/Lightning educator, and rising star in the world of Lightning joins me to talk about the Lightning Network. We discuss: - How he got into Lightning - Involvement in the Pirate party - The recent Lightning Summit in Australia - Upcoming Lightning tech - Routing Rene Pickhardt Links: Rene’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/renepickhardt Rene’s Twitter: https://twitter....

Justin Moon (Founder/Instructor, BUIDL Bootcamp), joins me in this episode to discuss how he came into Bitcoin recently and started doing presentations, Bitcoin application coding and now teaching Bitcoin development to students. We talk about non traditional paths to careers such as software development, and also talk through the structure of BUIDL Bootcamp. Justin links: BUIDL Bootcamp: https://...

Pierre Rochard (Noded Podcast, Nakamoto Institute, Bitcoin Advisory) joins me in this episode to talk about his new Bitcoin Lightning "Power" Excel Plugin, which allows you to tinker with Lightning right inside MS Excel! We also talk about his recent experience at the Chaincode Lightning Residency, and various other topics on what kind of work is needed in Bitcoin & Lightning. Pierre Links: Pierre...

Dan Held (Co-Founder Picks & Shovels) has been writing influential articles and joins me in this episode to share his perspectives on being in Bitcoin for 6 years. We discuss what the real narrative was around Bitcoin in the early days, and how some Bitcoin Heroes turn and become Bitcoin Villains. We also discuss how to survive in Bitcoin, as well as broader investment discussion on what 'capitula...

Kara Haas, CPA joins me to discuss Bitcoin auditing and accounting. Especially in relation to Tether, there are many people confused about what an audit is, versus an attestation. And with the Bitmain IPO, some confusion on the correct accounting treatment for Bitcoin. As an accountant and auditor in the field, Kara is able to shed some light on this.

Rigel Walshe (aka CoinsureNZ) joins me to talk about his recent viral adventures in sending Bitcoin transactions without internet on the device itself. His recent stories lit up social media and showed real world usage of TxTenna, a collaboration between GoTenna (mesh networking) and Samourai Wallet (Bitcoin wallet project focused on privacy).

Patri Friedman, MD of Zarko Investment Group and a leader in the seasteading movement joins me to talk about how Bitcoin & Crypto will enable greatly freer markets around the world. We talk about Bitcoin maximalism, Crypto parallels with the dotcom bubble, jurisdictional competition, seasteading and start up cities, law as technology, and more. We also discuss David Friedman's thoughts on Bitcoin...