Stephan Livera Podcast

Lisa Neigut, Bitcoin developer and educator, talks about Bitcoin layer 2's, the Lightning Network, BTC++, and teaching Bitcoin developers at Base58. They discuss the challenges and trajectory of alternative layer 2 solutions like Arc, the importance of running a Lightning node, risks of using Lightning Network, Bitcoin Layer 2 (L2), Nix Bitcoin, and the advantages of using Nix OS and Base58 for teaching Bitcoin transactions.

Vijay Boyapati joins the host and discusses the economy's impact on Bitcoin's 4-year cycles, the contrast between monetary and fiscal stimulus during the COVID crisis, and the potential future of Bitcoin as a macro asset. They also explore the concept of trust in Bitcoin versus gold, the importance of improving Bitcoin technology and onboarding more people into the ecosystem, and the potential risks associated with an ETF.

Andrew Poelstra (Director of Research, Blockstream) has been around Bitcoin research and development for a long time, and has a lot of insight to share on Bitcoin research in this episode. For part 2 of my discussion with Andrew we focus more on bitcoin and cryptography research that the team are working on, and what it means for the future of Bitcoin: Cryptography Bulletproofs++  MuSig2 FROST Bitcoin Scripting Miniscript Simplicity CTV and APO Covenants: are they risky for Bitcoin?  Transaction Introspection on Liquid Links: Blockstream Research on X Blockstream Research site Other relevant episodes: SLP476 What is FROST? Is it the future of Bitcoin Multi Sig? with Nick Farrow SLP222 Jonas Nick and Tim Ruffing What’s MuSig2? What Does it Mean for Bitcoin Multisig? SLP452 Bitcoin Miniscript and what it enables – with Antoine Poinsot & Salvatore Ingala SLP339 Jeremy Rubin – What is Check Template Verify? SLP505 MuSig2 in Practice, APO, CTV & Bitcoin Soft Forks with Brandon Black Sponsors: Pacific Bitcoin Festival (code LIVERA) CoinKite.com (code LIVERA) Mempool.space Base58  Stephan Livera links: Follow me on Twitter @stephanlivera Subscribe to the podcast

A ‘paper computer’ for Bitcoin checksums and Shamir Secret Sharing may seem absurd, but that’s what we’re talking about in this episode! This project is a scheme to generate, encode, checksum, split and recover Bitcoin secret keys, using pencil, paper and lookup tables (alternately, volvelles). We discuss codex32 and the motivation behind it with Andrew Poelstra (Director of Research, Blockstream). Note this is the first of a two part episode. In this first part we discuss: Bitcoin private keys today Multi signature and Shamir Secret Sharing contrasted Where to keep shards or keys Error correction Risks with Hardware wallets (even though you should still use them) BIP39 vs codex32 Limitations of the paper computer (Volvelles) Links: codex32 website codex32 github Blockstream store Sponsors: Pacific Bitcoin Festival (code LIVERA) CoinKite.com (code LIVERA) Mempool.space Base58  SL links: Follow me on Twitter @stephanlivera Subscribe to the podcast

Brandon Black, Bitcoin developer, discusses implementing MuSig2 at BitGo, future Bitcoin soft forks, APO, and CTV. They explore the benefits and implementation of MuSig2, the difference between MPC and script, and the NPC plus script approach for on-chain Bitcoin holders. They also discuss the Bitcoin Protocol School, Taproot Intensive class, and Cold Card Mark 4, as well as critiques of APO and the alternative covenant proposal. Lastly, they touch on transaction introspection and its relationship to the liquid network.

Have you been wondering about how to design your lifestyle overseas? Rigel (aka coinsurenz) rejoins me on the show to talk about jurisdictional arbitrage in Latin America. We talk about some of his recent moves and his experiences as a bitcoin sovereign individual:  Voice vs Exit - what about ‘staying and fighting’?  Recent residency acquisition in Paraguay How the Latam residency market has shifted Common mistakes that digital nomads make Owning vs Renting homes and storage lockers Designing your life Links: Twitter: @CoinsureNZ SLP328 The Rise of Bitcoin Nomadism with CoinsureNZ Sponsors: Pacific Bitcoin Festival (code LIVERA) CoinKite.com (code LIVERA) Mempool.space Base58  Stephan Livera links: Follow me on Twitter @stephanlivera Subscribe to the podcast

Lawrence Lepard of Equity Management Associates discusses the cost of living crisis, recession fears, boomer hate, US government debt, policy and social responses, and the broken monetary system. They also touch on Bitcoin products, generational conflict, increasing debt challenges, and the potential move towards a multipolar world.

How can lightning users secure themselves even further? Just like how hardware wallets and secure elements can help secure your cold storage coins, Validating Lightning Signer (VLS) is a project aiming to help improve the way lightning security works. In this conversation with project co-founder Ken Sedgwick, we chat: Why VLS is needed How VLS works Implementing part of the lightning state machine What rules are covered?  What lightning implementations are supported?  The impact of lightning protocol changes Interactions with watchtowers?  How you can get involved Links: Twitter: @VLSProject Site: Validating Lightning Signer Sponsors: Pacific Bitcoin Festival (code LIVERA) CoinKite.com (code LIVERA) Mempool.space Base58  Stephan Livera links: Follow me on Twitter @stephanlivera Subscribe to the podcast

Dr Maxim Orlovsky, co-founder of RGB, discusses the history and applications of RGB, a smart contract layer for Bitcoin. They cover topics such as client side validation, the RGB ecosystem, using RGB for tokens and bitcoin finance, the MyCitadel wallet, and what's next for RGB.

Andrew Henderson, Founder of Nomad Capitalist rejoins me on the show to talk: Home country bias Looking beyond headlines  Evolution in citizenship Global minimum tax and ‘the international community’ CBDC Nomad Capitalist Live Links: Twitter: @nomadcapitalist  Site: Nomadcapitalist.com Sponsors:  Pacific Bitcoin Festival (code LIVERA) CoinKite.com (code LIVERA) Mempool.space Base58  Stephan Livera links: Follow me on Twitter @stephanlivera Subscribe to the podcast