Podcast
Stephan Livera Podcast
Hosted by Stephan Livera · EN
Join Stephan as he interviews the sharpest economic and technical minds in Bitcoin & Austrian Economics to help you understand how money is changing and evolving. Leading names in the world of Bitcoin join the show to share their insights, whether they are developers, CEOs, economists, authors, analysts and more.
55episodes
Episodes
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Bitcoin Security Consortium with Mike Schmidt | SLP759
1w ago00:45:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Mike Schmidt executive director of Brink, and volunteer coordinator for the consortium, explains how the group formed, autonomy over funding, and how it plans to avoid repeating earlier centralized roadmap fights.Timestamps:00:55 — Quantum Risk and the Consortium Pledge03:10 — The Nine Consortium Members11:40 — Publishing Quantum Research Publicly13:39 — Brink Role and Funding Concerns16:20 — Defining Early Success Metrics19:00 — Informing the Public on Quantum Progress21:17 — Institutional Influence and Protocol Concerns25:13 — Research First on Quantum Signatures29:25 — Expanding Quantum Expertise33:14 — Scope Beyond Quantum Security35:31 — Why Quantum Motivates Corporate Involvement37:43 — Debates Over Development Funding40:30 — No Protocol Roadmap From the Consortium42:57 — Three-Year Goal: Mature ProposalsLinks: Press release: https://www.strategy.com/press/leading-financial-institutions-bitcoin-companies-launch-the-bitcoin-security-consortium_07-23-2026Mike’s thread: https://x.com/bitschmidty/status/2080263159152091455Consortium X: https://x.com/BTCconsortium Stephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
Transcribe →Daniel Buchner: Why BIP 110 Cannot Stop Bitcoin Spam | SLP758
2w ago00:57:02Tap to summarizeBuchner, known for his work on decentralized identity at Proof, brings a technical and game-theoretic lens to the debate over Bitcoin's monetary focus versus attempts to restrict arbitrary data.The conversation covers narrative shifts driving spam to Bitcoin, the limits of relay policy versus consensus rules, why the house analogy fails, economic node power over basement operators, and the lack of miner or buyer support that dooms the proposal.Timestamps:01:31 — Locusts Flock to Bitcoin's Last Pasture03:32 — Core Policy Tweaks Aren't Consensus Rules08:44 — Spam Hides in Any Public Key or Hash11:12 — Spammers Adapt in a Day, Consensus Can't14:59 — BIP110 Debate Exposes Major Inconsistency20:44 — Why the House Analogy Totally Fails25:25 — Nodes Get Cheaper Even With Max Spam28:08 — Set Tolerances Assuming Worst Case30:35 — No Legal Liability for Bad Chain Data33:04 — Filter Regime Creates Government Backdoor35:13 — BIP 110 Risks Centralizing Devs Around Luke37:33 — Economic Incentives Trump 'Good Guy' Miners39:03 — Economic Nodes Outweigh Basement Node Runners43:49 — BIP 110 Has Near-Zero Economic Support48:43 — Why Game Theory Kills BIP 11055:52 — BIP 110 Fork Dies With a WhimperLinks: https://x.com/csuwildcatStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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Lyn Alden: BIP 110 Could Trigger August Bitcoin Chain Split | SLP757
2w ago01:01:09Tap to summarizeLyn Alden warns that BIP 110 is unlikely to curb spam and instead mostly rearranges non-monetary data, raising the risk of a minority fork attempt that could split the Bitcoin chain.Lyn Alden is a leading macro analyst and Bitcoiner who examines how fiscal dominance now overrides traditional monetary policy tools.She breaks down why high debt-to-GDP ratios prevent rate hikes from taming inflation, how broad money supply still expands 5-8 percent annually, the limits of semiconductor and AI valuations, and the structure of a new Bitcoin-backed permanent capital vehicle for acquiring cash-flowing businesses.Timestamps:02:14 — BIP 110 Won't Stop Spam04:56 — Bitcoin Faces August Chain Split Risk12:12 — Bitcoin in Bottom Decile of Cycle15:37 — Nothing Stops This Fiscal Train18:04 — Why Volcker Can't Work Today22:02 — Higher Rates Won't Break the System24:44 — Net Issuance Matters, Not Gross Refi27:34 — Fed Balance Sheet Stays Flattish32:56 — Broad Money Grows Despite Flat Fed36:05 — US Money Supply Growth Hits 5-8%38:51 — Fiscal Dominance: Who Wins the Money?41:50 — Why Semiconductors Print Money45:13 — Software Stocks: Value Trap or Opportunity?47:31 — AI Is the New Dot-Com Bubble52:00 — Orange Juice: Bitcoin-Backed Business Buyer57:57 — Permanent Capital Vehicle, Not a Fund59:39 — Founders Keep Equity Upside After SaleLinks: X: https://x.com/LynAldenContactWebsite: https://www.lynalden.com/0BIP 110 debate ("motte-and-bailey" critique): https://x.com/LynAldenContact/status/2078599151043162159 Stephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
Transcribe →Bitcoin Desire Hits 8-Year Low | Michael Sullivan SLP756
3w ago00:43:54Tap to summarizeBitcoin desire sentiment has fallen to an eight-year low, a contrarian signal that historically aligns with market bottoms rather than tops.Michael Sullivan, an engineer and author, applies machine learning to individual X accounts to track granular Bitcoin emotions and moods over time.He examines how entry eras shape lasting narratives, why pro-BIP 110 cohorts show strikingly low conviction, how individual tracking avoids bot pollution, and why boredom plus infighting often mark optimal accumulation zones.Timestamps:01:44 — Conviction Isn't Bullish or Bearish07:05 — Why Individual X Tracking Beats Bots09:53 — Desire Peaks Flag Bull Market Tops11:49 — Bitcoin Desire Hits 8-Year Low16:27 — New Bitcoiners Angriest Right Now21:00 — Bitcoin Entry Era Shapes Your Views Forever?22:48 — BIP 110 Backers Show Strikingly Low Conviction25:33 — Pro-BIP 110 Group Lives in Its Own Bubble28:39 — BIP110 Brigading Creates Fake Consensus31:57 — OGs Optimistic, Plebs Stay Angry37:13 — X Algo Shift Sparks Bitcoin Optimism39:57 — Why Sentiment Metrics Fail for Trading41:55 — Boredom and Infighting Signal Bitcoin BottomLinks: Michael's X: https://x.com/SullyMichaelvanBitcoin Sentiment Weekly on Substack: https://sentimentsully.substack.comMichael’s novel, Blood of the Bourgeoisie: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Bourgeoisie-Michael-R-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B0FRZTM49YStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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James Check: Spot Buyers Saving Bitcoin Amid Time Pain | SLP755
4w ago00:54:52Tap to summarizeEven as ETFs and MicroStrategy sell into weakness, natural spot demand has kept Bitcoin from collapsing in what may be the shallowest bear market on record. The real test now is time pain, the grinding boredom that forces out remaining weak hands after the initial price capitulation.James Check, founder of Checkonchain.com, joins me to break down the current cycle through on-chain data and market psychology. His framework distinguishes price pain from the subsequent time pain that historically marks the true bottom.Checkmate examines why short-term holders flipped into high-conviction buyers, why 53K realized price now acts as a floor, the Pareto distribution among Bitcoin treasury companies, and why most copycat strategies will fail in the months ahead.Timestamps:00:56 — Last Day of Bear Feels Worst03:26 — Time Pain Grinds Out Weak Hands05:53 — Shallowest Bear Market Ever Seen08:53 — Spot Buyers Saving Bitcoin From Zero11:14 — Short-Term Holders Are Now Smart Money15:28 — July Bear Bottom: 8-Method Average18:50 — 53K Realized Price Now the Floor23:00 — Buy Bottom 15% and Just DCA28:30 — The AI Trade30:46 — Bitcoin and Gold Share a Rare Moat35:23 — Will Most Bitcoin Treasuries Fail?37:37 — MSTR's Sale of Bitcoin41:28 — Bitcoin Treasuries Follow Harsh Pareto Rule47:30 — Bitcoin Treasuries Next Cycle49:05 — High-Yield Trap?Links: https://x.com/_Checkmatey_https://x.com/_checkonchaincheckonchain.comhttps://charts.checkonchain.comhttp://newsletter.checkonchain.com/Stephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack#StephanLivera #StephanLiveraPodcast #Bitcoin #BearMarket #OnChain #Checkmate #TimePain #RealizedPrice #BitcoinTreasury #MarketCycles
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Bitcoin in Your Signal Chat – Radar’s Bold Move with Seth for Privacy | SLP754
4w ago00:26:44Tap to summarizeRadar integrates self-custodial Bitcoin payments directly into Signal's messaging network, eliminating the need for separate apps or custodians when sending value to contacts.Seth for Privacy, from the Cake Wallet team, explains how Radar targets everyday users rather than Bitcoin maximalists by preserving Signal's privacy model while adding instant Lightning-enabled transfers via Spark.The discussion covers seamless account migration from Signal, offline payment receives, wallet risk limits for non-critical funds, and the decision to pursue VC funding through a separate entity.Timestamps:00:49 — Why Messaging & Payments Stay Separate03:34 — Migrate Signal Account Without Losing Data08:18 — Send Bitcoin Instantly With One Tap10:10 — Receive Payments Completely Offline11:40 — Bitcoin for Everyone, Not Just Bitcoiners14:21 — Don't Put Life Savings in Hot Wallet17:10 — Signal Can't See Your Bitcoin Payments19:13 — Donating Monthly to Signal Foundation22:48 — Radar Takes VC Path Unlike CakeLinks: Radar Chat: https://radar.chat@SethForPrivacy: https://x.com/sethforprivacyCake Wallet: https://cakewallet.comStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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Dan Gould: Payjoin DevKit Ships and Breaks Common Input Ownership | SLP753
Jul 700:18:23Tap to summarizePayjoin delivers transaction batching driven by real economic activity rather than waiting for pool participants, while also cutting fees through direct net settlement between counterparties.Dan Gould, maintainer of Payjoin DevKit, explains how the new async protocol and oblivious HTTP relay change what is practical for mobile wallets today.The conversation covers current live deployments in Bull Bitcoin and Cake Wallet, remaining fingerprinting heuristics beyond common input ownership, the multi-party roadmap, and how developers can integrate the library with under ten thousand lines of code.Timestamps:00:00 — Payjoin DevKit01:46 — Live Payjoins in Wallets Today04:25 — No Waiting for Batch Pools06:14 — Payjoin Works on Mobile Phones08:29 — Oblivious HTTP Hides Your IP10:05 — Fingerprinting Still an Issue?14:02 — Net Settlement Saves Big Fees15:36 — Multi-Party Payjoin Roadmap17:10 — Build Payjoin in a WeekendLinks: https://x.com/brian_trollz/status/2069465912143749462 https://github.com/payjoin/payjoin.org/pull/143 https://payjoindevkit.org/ https://x.com/bitgouldStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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Fedimint in South Africa: Zero Fees & Community Custody | SLP752
Jul 300:36:42Tap to summarizeA South African circular economy is already running real payments on Fedimint with seven guardians on Start9 boxes. Users send eCash with zero fees inside the federation and feel the same simplicity as Wallet of Satoshi—except the custody is local and the privacy model is different.Hermann and Joshi explain how non-technical guardians set up 5-of-7 multisig, how the Conduit wallet hides complexity, and why Fedimint beats Liquid on on-chain integration and local trust. They also cover Lightning gateway economics and why small federations may beat one global Spark.Bitcoiners exploring Lightning, eCash privacy, and circular economies in emerging markets should listen.Key Takeaways:Seven-guardian 5-of-7 multisig on Start9 now runs daily in South Africa with high reliability.Users inside the same federation enjoy true zero-fee eCash transfers.Conduit wallet offers a lighter, payments-focused alternative to Fedi with regional QR support.Migration between federations is smooth with parallel running and user-controlled timing.Fedimint severs the transaction graph for privacy while Liquid hides amounts but retains the graph.Local guardians reduce the “custodial guilt” felt when onboarding users to foreign services.Lightning gateways can become profitable side businesses with only a few hours of monthly work.Geographic spread of guardians improves resilience against local internet or power outages.Onboarding still requires one extra step—joining the federation—after app install.Fedimint is on-chain native, allowing direct receive and send without intermediate swaps.Timestamps:00:00 - Fedimint Goes Live in South Africa01:48 - Magic: Pay Across Africa04:15 - Onboard Users Without Custodial Guilt08:08 - Zero Fees Shock Rural Users11:04 - Liquid vs Fedimint Privacy Showdown13:32 - Many Small Federations Or Global Spark16:09 - Non-Techies Run Bitcoin Guardians Easily18:14 - 5-of-7 Multisig Survives Two Failures20:53 - Fedimint QR Is a 5-of-7 Multisig24:05 - Gateway: Profitable Hobby in Hours/Month31:06 - Trust Locals Over Anonymous Custodians34:55 - Spread Guardians to Survive OutagesLinks: Bitcoin Ekasi: https://bitcoinekasi.orgFedimint: https://fedimint.orgConduit Wallet: https://joschisan.github.io/conduit/SLP651 with Eric & Joschi: https://stephanlivera.com/651Follow Hermann: https://x.com/vryfokkenouFollow Joschi: https://x.com/joschisanbtcStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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Quarterly Self-Custody Update - Q2 2026 with NVK | SLP751
Jun 3000:50:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode, NVK rejoins me to discuss the latest developments in Bitcoin self-custody, hardware wallets, and privacy solutions, providing valuable insights for enthusiasts and practitioners alike.Timestamps:00:00 Quarterly Self-Custody Update01:28 Sparrow Wallet Update & Silent Payments05:41 Coldcard MK5 & Recent Firmware Updates07:53 The Evolution of Co-signing & MuSig211:58 Liana & Nunchuk Wallet Updates17:16 Cove, BlueWallet & Mobile Wallet Progress19:09 BitKey V2 & Pragmatic Self-Custody22:55 Open Hardware Wallet Project Updates27:15 Merchant Payments & Bitcoin Commerce31:19 Stable Balance Wallets & Self-Custody36:38 Hardware Wallet Security Updates39:07 ARCA: Personal Data Haven ExplainedLinks: Stephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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The First Stratum V2 Block: What It Means for Bitcoin Mining | SLP750
Jun 2900:15:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Alejandro De La Torre, CEO of @DMND_Sv2, joins me to discuss the mining of Bitcoin block 955,318 — the first known Stratum V2 block on mainnet.We break down what happened, the benefits of Stratum V2, how it improves efficiency and we talk about SV2 adoption more broadly.A great episode for anyone who wants to understand where Bitcoin mining is heading.Timestamps:00:00 The First Stratum V2 Block: What Happened?01:08 How Does Miner Transaction Selection Change Bitcoin Mining?01:58 Can SV2 Mining Pools Still Reject Blocks Though?03:19 Can Miners Easily Switch Pools with Stratum V2?04:45 Major Mining Pools Joining the Stratum V2 Working Group05:40 Hardware & Firmware Support for Stratum V207:43 Is Miner Interest in Stratum V2 Growing?09:00 The Biggest Benefits of Stratum V2 for Miners10:21 How Does DMND's SLICE Payout System Compare to FPPS?11:50 What Needs to Happen for Stratum V2 to Become the Standard?13:21 Should Miners Start Building Their Own Block Templates?Links: Alejandro’s announcement post: https://x.com/bitentrepreneur/status/2070131040992035235DMND Pool: https://www.dmnd.workAlejandro on X: https://x.com/bitentrepreneurStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
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