Lightning Network Debate: Bitcoin's future or overhyped flop? Harsha Goli vs. Paul Sztorc 2025.
Join the Built on Bitcoin Newsletter: https://builtonbitcoin.beehiiv.com/subscribeThe conversations that build tomorrow's economy. Beyond the tribes. Ahead of the trend.In a charged debate hosted by Jacob Brown, Harsha Goli champions the Lightning Network's surging adoption and technical leaps, painting a picture of a scalable future for Bitcoin. Countering this optimism, Paul Sztorc draws historical parallels to argue for caution, emphasizing the critical need for self-custody and raising concerns about custodial solutions and the hub-and-spoke model. This discussion dives deep into the technical hurdles, the passionate community divide, and the very real implications for Bitcoin's scaling and investment potential. Is Lightning the key to Bitcoin's mainstream success, or is it facing an uphill battle against inherent limitations and regulatory pressures?
If you want to understand the forces shaping Bitcoin's future, this is the episode for you.The kickback crew is back after an 8-month hiatus to discuss:00:00 Running and Training for Marathons01:59 Reflections on Bitcoin Vegas05:52 The OP_RETURN Drama and Bitcoin Core12:08 Scaling Bitcoin: CTV and CheckSig from Stack24:52 Debating Bitcoin Upgrades30:01 The Rise of OdinFun33:11 Alkanes and Meta Protocols42:59 Nerdaxes and Open Source MiningFollow the crew on TwitterCharlie: https://x.com/cbspearsBob: https://x.com/BobBodilyDonny: https://x.com/itsdonnyokJake: https://x.com/JakeBlockchainFollow the Built on Bitcoin podcast on Twitter: https://x.com/builtonbtcpodCatch up on past episodes at https://www.builtonbitcoin.xyz/Subscribe to the newsletter:https://builtonbitcoin.beehiiv.com/subscribe
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Scaling Bitcoin with BitVM & Bitlayer | Kevin He Interview Co-Founder of Bitlayer
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!
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E162: The Lightning Network in 2025 with Graham Krizek - Founder of Voltage Cloud
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/
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E161: Bitcoin Compliance: Everything You Should Know with Harsha Goli - Co-Founder of Magnolia
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/
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.
South Africa