Open Source Leadership: Empathy, Example, Collaboration

Episode 019 – Abubakar: Bitcoin Core Secrets, Code Wars, Drama, and Lines He Won’t Cross All in Bitcoin w/CK

What really happens inside Bitcoin Core? In this explosive, no-holds-barred episode, Nigerian Bitcoin Core contributor Abubakar Nur Khalil pulls back the curtain on the misunderstood world of Bitcoin protocol development. He takes us from code wars and tribal drama to the fine line between progress and fragility.

We talk:

– The truth behind the OP_RETURN debate

– Why the biggest Bitcoin risk isn’t technical

– How the dev vs pleb divide almost became a walled garden

– What Bitcoin Core actually got right

– The secret cost of being visible

– And why memes, mentorship, and Taproot still matter

Abubakar also opens up about:

– Growing up in Nigeria under hyperinflation

– His role in distributing $1.7M+ in dev grants via Btrust

– Personal red lines that would make him walk away from #Bitcoin

This is one of the most grounded, technical, and human episodes yet. Perfect for devs, skeptics, and Bitcoiners who care about the soul of Bitcoin.

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👇FOLLOW ABUBAKAR'S WORK:

Nostr: primal.net/abubakar X :‪ ‪@ihate1999

https://www.forbes.com/sites/abubakarnurkhalil/

Recursive Capital: Nostr:https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs2geajxsevea6rdmryeg3h35s4lsx3m26r4dlf05rdhc2pvdhe97crpmaep

X: @rcrsvcapital

Btrust: Nostr:https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqsgcjxztw2d7fcxkupfq8p2hdwcqhpzc399fdl3y8rnwplqw8carkq2455gd

X: @btrustteam https://www.btrust.tech

👇FOLLOW CK & ALL IN BITCOIN:

Nostr: allinbitcoin@primal.net

   \[allinbitcoin@iris.to\](mailto:allinbitcoin@iris.to)                      \[allinbitcoin@nostrplebs.com\](mailto:allinbitcoin@nostrplebs.com)  

X: @allinbitcoinpod

👇WATCH / LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALL IN BITCOIN PODCAST: https://linktr.ee/allinbitcoin

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🎟️ Adopting Bitcoin Conference 📍 San Salvador | Nov 14–15, 2025 Use code: ALLINBITCOIN for 10% OFF your ticket. See you there! 🚀

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TIME STAMPS:

0:00 Introduction

3:02 Code or people

4:04 Nigeria: hardship, inflation, and discovering Bitcoin

6:00 Leadership in open source 7:22 The dumbest Bitcoin myth

8:30 Bitcoin tribalism

9:45 Adoption isn’t linear

11:00 Why Bitcoin matters

13:00 Being a Bitcoin Core developer

15:00 Nostr vs X

17:00 Taproot, SegWit, and upgrades that shaped Bitcoin’s evolution

20:00 Inside Bitcoin Core

23:00 When open source turns into a walled garden

26:00 The human side of governance

29:00 Bitcoin’s biggest risks

31:00 OP_RETURN revisited

33:00 DeFi, purity, and why Bitcoin must stay focused

37:00 The red line: when Abubakar would finally walk away from Bitcoin

41:00 Bitcoin treasuries, corporations, and the soul of Bitcoin’s future

54:00 Why Bitcoin still gives him hope

DISCLAIMER:All views expressed by me or my guests are solely our own opinions. You should not treat any opinions expressed in this podcast as a specific endorsement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or political advice, and it does not promote or oppose any political party, candidate, or campaign. This podcast may contain speculation, or interpretation. We encourage listeners to do their own research and verify information independently.