Empire

Inside the Hidden Power Struggles of Bitcoin Upgrades | Steve Lee & Ren

15 snips
Dec 10, 2024
Steve Lee, Head of Crypto at Block and a leader in Bitcoin open-source software, joins Ren to dive deep into Bitcoin's consensus mechanism. They dissect research on the six key stakeholder groups shaping Bitcoin's destiny, revealing how covenants could usher in a chain split. The discussion highlights the power of self-custody holders versus institutional investors and explores the rising role of ETFs. With insights into potential changes from application developers in 2025, this conversation is a must-listen for crypto enthusiasts!
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ANECDOTE

Steve Lee's Role at Block

  • Steve Lee worked at Block (formerly Square) for over five years, leading Spiral, a Bitcoin-focused initiative.
  • Spiral operates independently from Block's commercial business, focusing solely on open-source Bitcoin software development.
INSIGHT

Motivation for the Research

  • The increasing discussions and potential contention around Bitcoin covenant changes motivated Steve Lee to revisit the topic of Bitcoin's consensus mechanism.
  • Many people in the crypto space are unfamiliar with the block size wars of 2017, highlighting the need for education on Bitcoin's consensus process.
ANECDOTE

2017 Block Size Wars

  • The 2017 block size wars highlighted the challenges of reaching consensus in a decentralized network like Bitcoin.
  • This led to a split, resulting in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, driven by disagreements over scaling solutions.
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