Supply Shock Tackling Bitcoin's Biggest Debates: Lightning, Quantum, & Knots | Mike Tidwell
Oct 16, 2025
Mike Tidwell, a Lightning developer at ZBD Pay and organizer of TABConf, dives into the thrilling debates surrounding Bitcoin's future. He discusses TABConf's unique community-driven approach and the tensions between Bitcoin Core and Knots governance. The conversation probes whether the Lightning Network is misallocated or successful and whether quantum computing really poses a threat. Tidwell also sheds light on how user preferences impact mempool policies and the political dynamics at play in Bitcoin's development. Tune in for an insightful exploration!
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Community-First Conference Design
- TabConf experiments with community-driven, open-source scheduling and debate formats to surface diverse technical views.
- Mike Tidwell says audience participation and rotating debate panels let more voices shape technical discussions.
Lightning's Value Vs. Opportunity Cost
- Lightning isn't inherently failed but its opportunity cost matters relative to other Bitcoin work.
- Mike Tidwell argues B2B Lightning currently offers the strongest UX while peer-to-peer improvements remain challenging.
Prioritize Practical Lightning Use Cases
- Focus Lightning work where it already delivers strong UX like B2B and custodial flows.
- Expect peer-to-peer self-custody UX to improve slowly, so design for incremental adoption.