

Built on Bitcoin with Jacob Brown
Jake
Interviews with the best founders building on Bitcoin. Jacob takes an open-minded approach and talks with builders from all corners of the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2024 • 1h 10min
Defining Bitcoin Layers with Janusz - Co-Founder of Bitcoin Layers Research Group
What's the future of Bitcoin scaling? In this episode, I talk with Janusz.
The co-founder of Bitcoin Layers, a new research group and educational platform demystifying Bitcoin scaling protocols.
We'll explore the concept of "Bitcoin Layers," why newer Bitcoin "L2s" are gaining attention despite not always meeting true Layer 2 criteria, and the wide variety of scaling designs. Janusz sheds light on the trust assumptions in these systems and why understanding current implementations is crucial to navigating Bitcoin in this new era.
Follow Janusz on Twitter: @januszg_
Learn more about BItcoin Layers: https://www.bitcoinlayers.org/

May 3, 2024 • 46min
BitSNARK, Grail Bridge & Bitcoin Rollups with Edan Yago - Core Contributor at Sovryn & Bitcoin OS
In this episode, Yago delves into the significance of the Bitcoin halving and its role in the consolidation of the cryptocurrency industry as Bitcoin begins to establish its dominance. He explores key technological advancements in Bitcoin, including Taproot and roll-ups, that position it as an operating system for a decentralized future. Additionally, Yago discusses Sovryn's multi-chain strategy aimed at creating a sustainable Bitcoin economy. He also examines the impact of tokens and decentralized finance (DeFi) in broadening Bitcoin's reach and ensuring its relevance in an evolving market.
We Discuss:
- What is BitSNARK, Grail & Bitcoin OS?
- Recent technical advancements thanks to Taproot
- Sovryn going multi-chain
- Is this Halving different?
and much more.
Follow Yago on Twitter: @EdanYago
Learn more about Bitcoin OS: https://sovryn.com/bitcoinos
Check out Sovryn: https://sovryn.app/

May 1, 2024 • 54min
Samourai Wallet & Government Regulation with Orlando Cosme - Lawyer & Founder @ OC Advisory
The US government shook up the crypto world when it was announced the Samourai Wallet devs were arrested and the domain seized. This opened up a ton of questions around regulation clarity, non-custodial tools, what is and isn't a money transmitter, and a bunch more topics.
I brought on Orlando Cosme to help dissect and understand what's going on in this situation and how the government is viewing these things.
Follow Orlando on Twitter: @Orlando_btc
Check out OC Advisory for legal help: https://www.ocadvisory.co/

Apr 29, 2024 • 50min
Halving Reorgs, Runes Launch Failure, Samourai Wallet & Miner Centralization Cartel - Bitcoin Weekly Kickback
This week we are back and talk about:
- The hysteria around miners reorging the halving block and what actually happened
- How did the Runes launch go and what happens next?
- The Samourai Wallet situation and privacy
- New data on miner centralization in Bitcoin
As always, go follow us on Twitter:
Charlie: @cbsspears
Bob: @bobbodily
Donny: @itsdonnyok
Jake: @Jakeblockchain
All previous episodes at https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/

Apr 26, 2024 • 50min
Bitcoin Meets Solana with Simple Swaps | Sylvie Durach & Adam Borcany Co-Founders of Atomiq
Could Solana be a solid Bitcoin L2? Is there value in making it effortless to swap between BTC and Solana assets?
The co-founders of Atomiq think so and have created an excellent product to eaisly swap between these assets with minimal risk.
Sylvie Durach and Adam Borcany of the co-founders of Atomiq. An atomic swap protocol that let's you swap assets from different chains with a dead simple interface.
Check out Atomiq: https://app.atomiq.exchange/
Follow Sylvie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sylvie0301
Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamBorco

Apr 15, 2024 • 52min
Who Controls Bitcoin, L2 Miner Incentives & UNCOMMON GOODS Game Theory
In this Bitcoin Weekly Kickback. Jake, Charlie, Donny, and Bob are joined by Matt Luongo to delve into:
- The role of nodes versus miners in controlling Bitcoin.
- The importance of fee revenue and NgU for different network users.
- Designing Layer 2 incentives that align with Layer 1 priorities.
- The Game Theory of UNCOMMON GOODS (The first Rune)
Follow these cats on Twitter: @itsdonnyok, @bobbodily, @cbspears, @jakeblockchain, @mhluongo

Apr 12, 2024 • 49min
Innovative Bitcoin Ordinal Lending with Robin Obermaier | Co-Founder of Liquidium
Ordinals have been huge for Bitcoin since launching early 2023. There is $100's of millions in value locked in these digital artifacts.
Liquidium allows users to borrow BTC using their Ordinal as collateral and lenders can earn a BTC yield lending to borrowers.
Robin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Liquidium.
Follow Robin on Twitter: @robin_liquidium
Take a loan on Liquidium: https://www.liquidium.fi/

Apr 8, 2024 • 60min
Bitcoin Weekly: Marathon Miner Fees, Custodial Lightning, BitVM & Is DeFi even worth it?
Another weekly chat of the latest in Bitcoin land. We have two special guests drop in this week. Philip from Arkadiko and Ian from Joltz Rewards, as well as the usual suspects Bob and Jacob.
We Discuss:
- Marathon Pools latest fee revenue coming way above average
- Lighting + Coinbase
- Custodial Lightning
- Is DeFi a worthwhile goal?
- Is BitVM safe?
Follow these gents on Twitter:
@BobBodily, @ian__major, @philiphacks and @jakeblockchain.

Apr 5, 2024 • 35min
Comparing Runes & Taproot Assets with Linden Stark - CTO at Joltz Rewards
Fungible tokens and digital collectibles are hot topics on Bitcoin. This year we saw BRC20's and Ordinals take off. Now in 2024, there are two new standards being launched that aim to replace many of the shortcomings of these previous attempts. Linden Stark breaks down Taproot Assets and compares the similarities and differences between this protocol and Runes.
Linden Stark is the CTO at Joltz Rewards. A Lightning-powered rewards provider and non-custodial Taproot Assets wallet.
Follow Linden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/0xLinden
Check out Joltz Rewards: https://joltzrewards.com/

Mar 26, 2024 • 55min
Mempool Sniping, MEV on Bitcoin, Private Mempools & Game of Blocks with Charlie Spears, Bob Bodily, Donny, Jacob
In this chat we discuss:
- The growing problem of mempool sniping and what to do.
- MEV on Bitcoin
- Private Mempools
- Game of Blocks
A relaxed and wide ranging chat with Charlie Spears, Bob Bodily, Donny and Jacob Brown.