Built on Bitcoin with Jacob Brown

Matthew Black and Jay Patel, co-founders of Lygos Finance, share insights from their backgrounds in Bitcoin and lending. They discuss why non-custodial loans are the future, focusing on Discreet Log Contracts as the potential 'Holy Grail' for Bitcoin-backed lending. The conversation delves into institutional interest in Bitcoin as collateral, and the notable differences in interest rates between DeFi and CeFi. Listeners will also learn about Lygos' approach to provide loans while keeping borrowers' keys secure.

Shehzan Maredia, CEO of Lava, sheds light on their impressive $200 million fundraising effort and their innovative Bitcoin-backed line of credit, BLOC. He shares how Lava transforms traditional finance by allowing users to save in Bitcoin and borrow against it without selling. Topics include the psychology of Bitcoin saving, real-world customer stories, and the intricacies of their custody and security upgrades. Shehzan also emphasizes transparent communication and the importance of trust in evolving tech, all while hinting at exciting future developments for Bitcoin wealth management.

Join David Seroy, Ecosystem Lead at Alpen Labs and Bitcoin researcher, as he dives into the cutting-edge innovations surrounding Bitcoin. Discover GLOCK, a novel approach to improve BitVM using garbled circuits. Unearth how zero-knowledge proofs can revolutionize Bitcoin's scalability and trust models. David also explores the future of ZK technology, the significance of soft-fork upgrades, and the exciting potential of multilingual execution environments. His insights highlight a dynamic period of innovation within Bitcoin's evolving landscape.

Follow me on X: https://x.com/JakeBlockchainTitle says it all. Covering news from Lightspark, Spark, Arkade, Joltz, River, BitcoinYield, BitBIt, SatGo, Atomiq, Seth for Privacy, MagicEden and more.

In a captivating debate, Harsha Goli, CEO of Magnolia and former engineer, argues for the Lightning Network's potential in streamlining Bitcoin transactions, highlighting its growing adoption. Conversely, Paul Sztorc, the creator of Drive Chains, raises alarms about custodial risks and scalability concerns, comparing it to past tech failures. The discussion dives into technical challenges, the hype surrounding innovations, and the regulatory landscape, questioning if the Lightning Network is indeed crucial for Bitcoin's future or an overhyped concept.

The hosts dive into the recent OP_RETURN drama and its implications for Bitcoin's protocol. Hear insights on the evolving landscape of Bitcoin Vegas and the network dynamics among attendees. The debate heats up around potential upgrades, with discussions on CTV and CheckSigFromStack. They also unveil the launch of Odin Fun and what it means for user experience. Plus, explore the innovative Alkanes meta protocols and the rise of NerdAxe aimed at decentralizing mining. It's a lively conversation that reshapes how we think about Bitcoin's future!

Kevin He, a seasoned blockchain architect with experience launching multiple L1s/L2s (including Huobi Eco Chain), joins the show to discuss Bitlayer. We explore his journey into crypto, the genesis of Bitlayer, and take a deep dive into BitVM technology - what it is, how it works, its current development status (BitVM 2, Alliance progress, auditing), and how Bitlayer is leveraging it to build trust-minimized Bitcoin L2 solutions, focusing on DeFi. Kevin shares insights on the Bitcoin opcode debate, the future of Bitcoin scaling, and reveals Bitlayer's upcoming BitVM bridge mainnet launch. What we talk about: 00:56 Kevin's Background: Building L1s/L2s & Early Lessons 10:36 The Genesis of Bitlayer & Addressing Bitcoin L2 Needs 18:00 Discovering BitVM: A Breakthrough for Bitcoin L2 Security 26:45 BitVM Explained: Verification, Not Just Computation 34:37 BitVM Development: V1 vs V2, ZK Challenges & Bridge Focus 41:30 Inside the BitVM Alliance: Technical Progress & On-Chain Impact 48:00 Alpha Leak: BitVM Auditing & Mainnet Progress 54:30 The Bitcoin Opcode Debate: Necessity and Impact on BitVM 01:04:00 Long-Term Bitcoin Sustainability: Fees vs Subsidy & Upgrades 01:08:00 Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge Mainnet Launch & Partnerships Follow Bitlayer on Twitter: @BitlayerLabs Learn more about Bitlayer: [https://www.bitlayer.org/](https://www.bitlayer.org/) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter: @JakeBlockchain Stay updated on everything Built on Bitcoin podcast: [https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/](https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building something amazing on Bitcoin? Connect with us at the Bitcoin Frontier Fund. We invest and assist the best early-stage founders building new user-cases for Bitcoin. Website: [https://www.btcfrontier.fund/](https://www.btcfrontier.fund/) Twitter: [https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund](https://twitter.com/BTCFrontierFund) Love yall! See you in the next episode. Peace!

Is Lightning on its way out or primed for massive adoption? This is a question underlying so much of the discussion around Lightning on the timeline. So I sat down with Graham to discuss the state of Lightning in 2025. Recently they published a report in partnership with Fidelity Digital Assets and presented some great stats on the health of the network. This episode will make you bullish on Lightning. Check out this conversation with Graham Krizek - CEO & Founder of Voltage Cloud. Follow Graham on Twitter: https://x.com/gkrizek?lang=en Learn more about Voltage: https://www.voltage.cloud/

In this conversation, we sit down with Harsha Goli and delve into the complexities of Bitcoin compliance, exploring the challenges faced by startups in navigating regulatory landscapes. Harsha shares his extensive background in the Bitcoin space, highlighting the importance of compliance and the impact of regulations on innovation. We discuss the current state of regulatory uncertainty, the implications of KYC and AML requirements, and the evolving role of custodial and non-custodial solutions. The conversation also touches on the tax implications of cryptocurrency transactions and the future of stablecoins in the regulatory framework.Follow Harsha on Twitter: @_arshbotLearn more about Magnolia on their website: https://magnolia.financial/

In this episode, we sit down with Dominik Harz, co-founder of BOB (Build on Bitcoin), to explore the cutting edge of Bitcoin scaling and interoperability. Dom dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of building on Bitcoin, focusing on Bob's innovative approach to bridging Bitcoin with other networks like Ethereum using BitVM. We discuss the importance of network effects, the intricacies of cross-chain security, and the practical considerations for users interacting with these technologies. Dom also shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the unique hybrid L2 model Bob is implementing. This conversation provides a fascinating look into the future of Bitcoin and its potential to connect with the broader crypto ecosystem. What we talk about: Dominik's background and journey into the Bitcoin spaceThe evolution of Bitcoin and the need for scaling solutionsBob's approach to bridging Bitcoin with other chains using BitVMThe importance of network effects in cryptoChallenges and solutions in cross-chain securityPractical considerations for users and the future of BobThe hybrid L2 model and its implicationsTransitioning from academia to entrepreneurshipFollow Dominik Harz on Twitter: https://x.com/dominik0_ Learn more about Bob: https://www.gobob.xyz/