Stephan Livera Podcast

Stephan & NVK discuss the current state of self-custody in Bitcoin, highlighting the advancements in hardware wallets like Coldcard and the importance of understanding trade-offs in wallet solutions. Coldcard introduces new features such as co-signing and key teleport, which enhance security and usability. The conversation also touches on the future of wallet software, including the promising...

Stephan & Vijay discuss the current state of Bitcoin, its market cycle, and its comparison with gold. They explore the implications of geopolitical factors on gold and Bitcoin, the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies, and the evolving liquidity channels in the market. The discussion also touches on speculation in Bitcoin and how it contributes to its growth, while emphasizing the importance of...

At Bitcoin Oasis 2025, we discussed Bitcoin tools & innovation, bitcoin cycles, financialization of bitcoin, adoption in the MENA region and India’s first bitcoin treasury company. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (00:57) - Preston Pysh (12:47) - Sponsors (15:03) - Sooly Kobayashi (21:49) - Max Hillebrand (28:46) - Sponsors(29:43) - Siddarth Bharwani (40:07) - Lara Eggiman Links:  https://bitcoin-o...

Stephan & Gilded Pleb, a developer who created StackMath, a financial calculator for Bitcoin, discuss Gilded's personal journey with Bitcoin, its potential impact on homelessness, and the importance of understanding financial models for retirement planning.  Gilded explains how traditional financial calculators often fail to account for the volatility of Bitcoin and introduces the Monte Ca...

In this episode, Stephan discusses the latest updates on Fedimint with its founders Eric Sirion and Joschi. They delve into the concept of eCash, its significance in the Bitcoin ecosystem, and the differences between Fedimint and other systems like Cashu. The conversation highlights the real-world applications of Fedimint, recent updates including version 0.7, and the introduction of IROH, which s...

In this episode, Stephan Livera speaks with Matyas Kuchar about the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, particularly focusing on the BTC Prague conference and the changing demographics of Bitcoin enthusiasts. They discuss the shift in sentiment towards Bitcoin, the importance of education in fostering self-sovereignty, and the role of corporate strategies in Bitcoin treasury management. The conversatio...

In this episode, Alejandro de la Torre, CEO and founder of Demand Pool, discusses the launch of their new Stratum V2 mining pool. Alejandro explains the importance of decentralization in Bitcoin mining, the risks associated with traditional mining pools, and how Demand Pool aims to create a fair and transparent system for miners.  The conversation covers the differences between payout structures l...

Stephan Livera and James Check discuss the evolving dynamics of the Bitcoin market, emphasizing the shift from traditional market cycles to a more complex interplay of macroeconomic factors and investor behavior. They explore the impact of institutional investors and ETFs on market sentiment, the psychological aspects of trading, and the importance of on-chain metrics in understanding market movem...

In this episode, Mason Jappa, CEO of Blockware Solutions, discusses the current state and future of Bitcoin mining, particularly in the U.S. He highlights recent regulatory clarity from the SEC, the evolving mining landscape, and the economic dynamics affecting miners. Mason emphasizes the importance of technology, liquidity, and strategic partnerships in successful mining operations, while also a...

In this episode, Conor, Open Source product manager at Spiral & Stephen, Product Designer at Voltage & Co founder of ATL Bitlab join Stephan to discuss the current state of Bitcoin user experience, particularly focusing on payments and the challenges faced by users. They explore the comparison between Bitcoin and physical cash, the Western perspective on Bitcoin payments, and the importanc...

Stephan chats with Steven Roose, CEO of SecondBTC, about Ark, a new Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin that aims to simplify self-custodial payments. They discuss the challenges of onboarding new users to Bitcoin, the unique features of Ark compared to other solutions like Liquid and Cashu, and the importance of maintaining user control over funds.  The conversation also touches on the recent Signet lau...

In this conversation with Stephan, David and Simanta discuss the implications of ZK Roll-ups for Bitcoin. They explore the benefits of ZK Roll-ups as a scaling solution, the trade-offs compared to other technologies like Lightning Network and sidechains, and the vision behind Alpen Labs.  The discussion also touches on the mechanics of ZK Roll-ups, user experience, and the potential impact of BitV...

Lisa, the founder of Base 58 and BTC++, discusses her focus on Bitcoin education and the growth of the Bitcoin++ conference series. She highlights the importance of building a global community of Bitcoin developers and the challenges of funding open-source projects.  In this conversation, Lisa and Stephan discuss the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, focusing on decentralization in block construction...

Stephan discusses the evolution of Bitcoin and the challenges of self-custody with Philip Hoenisch, co-founder of Lendasat. They explore the transition from traditional finance to on-chain solutions, the importance of self-custody, and the ideological divides within the Bitcoin community.  Philipp shares his insight on the intricacies of Bitcoin lending, focusing on liquidation processes, collater...

Eric Semler, chairman of Semler Scientific, shares his journey from being an investor in technology and media to adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy for his company. He discusses the origins of Semler Scientific, the challenges faced in the healthcare sector, and how he became convinced of Bitcoin's potential as a store of value.  Eric elaborates on the transition from personal conviction in...

In this episode, Stephan speaks with Nick Slaney about the current state and future of the Lightning Network. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding Lightning adoption, the legal challenges faced by developers, and the opportunities for Lightning Service Providers (LSPs).  Nick shares insights on hosted channels, liquidity management, and the user experience of Lightning, emphasizing the impo...

In this episode, Stephan Levera interviews Ethan from Bitaroo, discussing the current state of Bitcoin in Australia, regulatory challenges, the importance of self-custody, and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges.  They explore the implications of regulations like the FATF and AFSL, the role of banks in facilitating or hindering Bitcoin transactions, and the need for consumer protect...

Harsha & Stephan discuss the challenges Bitcoin businesses face regarding regulation, particularly the tightening KYC and AML requirements. Harsha highlights the implications of these regulations on the Bitcoin ecosystem and the role of custodians. The discussion also touches on the evolving regulatory landscape, the impact of political administrations on crypto regulation, and the future of s...

Will Foxley, co-founder of BlockSpace Media and host of the Mining Pod chats with Stephan about the need for a dedicated Bitcoin media publication, the upcoming OP NEXT conference focused on scaling Bitcoin, and the importance of fostering conversations among Bitcoin developers, miners, and institutions. Will shares insights on the ossification debate within the Bitcoin community and the role of p...

Stephan and Pierre discuss the evolving landscape of Bitcoin, focusing on the dichotomy between securitization and tokenization. They explore the regulatory environment, the challenges of Bitcoin adoption, and the implications of volatility on investor behavior. The discussion also touches upon the financialization of Bitcoin and the misconceptions surrounding tokenization of real-world assets, ul...

The episode focuses on the evolving narrative of Bitcoin, emphasizing its role as a medium of exchange rather than just a store of value. Dan & Danny explore the advancements in the Lightning Network, the challenges of user adoption, and the importance of awareness in driving Bitcoin's integration into both crypto and fiat worlds. The discussion highlights the potential for Lightning to facili...

Stephan and Nicolas discuss the evolution of Bitcoin banking, the role of Galoy, and the impact of regulatory changes on the Bitcoin ecosystem. They explore the differences between Bitcoin and fiat banking, the potential for local and global Bitcoin banks, and the future of Bitcoin custody and lending.  The discussion also touches on the challenges posed by regulations and how recent changes may o...

Mason Carter, co-founder of Acropolis, chats about the adoption of Bitcoin in corporate treasury management. Stephan & Mason discuss the challenges faced by businesses in managing their treasury, the role of Bitcoin as a potential solution, and the importance of custody and regulatory considerations.  Mason also shares insights on how companies can get started with Bitcoin, the impact of recen...

Julian and Peruvian Bull join Stephan to discuss the origins of the Federal Reserve - its creation in 1913 and its implications on the economy. They explore the recent awakening of public awareness regarding economic disparities exacerbated by COVID-19 and the role of central banking in these issues.  The discussion contrasts the historical significance of 1913 with the events of 1971, emphasizing...

In this conversation, Ben Kaufman discusses the evolving relationship between Bitcoin and government, the implications of political engagement for Bitcoiners, and the advancements in self-custody technology.  He introduces Miniscript, a programming language for Bitcoin that enhances the flexibility of spending conditions, and explores innovative use cases, particularly in inheritance planning. The...