Bitcoin.com News Interviews

Latest Episodes:

Simon McLoughlin, CEO of Uphold | Bitcoin’s Next Move: Mining, ETFs & Post-U.S. Election Market Trends | Global Crypto Insights | Bitcoin.com Interviews Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

Simon McLoughlin, Chief Executive Officer of Uphold, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to analyze Bitcoin’s next major market cycle — covering the effects of ETFs, mining economics, and the 2024 U.S. election on global crypto trends.

With more than 10 million users in 150+ countries, Uphold has become one of the world’s most trusted digital asset platforms, offering seamless access to 300+ assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, precious metals, and fiat currencies. The platform’s focus on deep liquidity, transparent pricing, and multi-asset functionality makes it a cornerstone for both retail and institutional crypto investors.

Simon discusses how Bitcoin ETFs are changing the investment landscape, how mining dynamics and halving cycles are impacting long-term valuation, and what macroeconomic shifts — including post-election fiscal policy — might mean for Bitcoin’s price trajectory. He also shares insights into Uphold’s global expansion strategy and its mission to empower users through accessible, secure, and regulated digital finance.

💡 In this episode:
• Bitcoin’s next big catalysts — halving, ETFs, and post-election macro trends
• How Uphold bridges traditional finance and blockchain innovation
• Mining economics and the sustainability of Bitcoin’s security model
• Why ETFs could accelerate Bitcoin adoption and liquidity
• The future of digital asset management in a global regulatory landscape

🎧 A must-listen for anyone seeking clarity on Bitcoin’s future amid shifting markets, exploring how Uphold is enabling financial freedom and diversification in the digital economy.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Simon McLoughlin – Uphold – CEO of Uphold, leading the next wave of Bitcoin adoption, crypto-financial services, and multi-asset digital investing.

Dan Otryvanoff, CPO of GoMining | Bitcoin Mining, Gamified: Inside Miner Wars and the Future of GameFi on Bitcoin | Bitcoin.com Interviews Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Dan Otryvanoff, Chief Product Officer at GoMining, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to explore how Miner Wars — GoMining’s new GameFi-powered Bitcoin mining platform — is transforming the way people interact with and earn from Bitcoin’s proof-of-work ecosystem.

Miner Wars introduces a groundbreaking gamified approach to Bitcoin mining, allowing players to join or form clans, strategize, and compete in real-time mining battles that simulate Bitcoin’s block-solving mechanics. Players earn BTC and GOMINING rewards, blending entertainment, strategy, and real economic incentives into one immersive Web3 experience.

As part of the broader GoMining ecosystem, Miner Wars represents the next evolution of Bitcoin utility and community engagement — turning passive mining into an interactive, player-driven economy that supports the onchain growth of Bitcoin. Dan breaks down how GameFi mechanics, NFTs, and layered blockchain infrastructure are bringing new life to Bitcoin’s ecosystem, while keeping true to its decentralized roots.

💡 In this episode:
• How Miner Wars gamifies Bitcoin mining for mass adoption
• The mechanics behind real-time “block-solving battles”
• How GoMining merges GameFi, NFTs, and Bitcoin infrastructure
• The role of GOMINING tokens in powering the ecosystem
• Why gamified mining could redefine Bitcoin’s engagement and accessibility

🎧 A dynamic discussion revealing how GoMining is using Web3 gaming, Bitcoin rewards, and GameFi innovation to make mining accessible, fun, and profitable for a global audience.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Dan Otryvanoff – GoMining – Chief Product Officer, driving innovation in Bitcoin GameFi, NFT integration, and interactive mining experiences with Miner Wars.

Jeremy Dreier, GoBTC Foundation | Unlocking Bitcoin’s Future Through Onchain Growth, Layer 2 Innovation & Tokenization | Bitcoin.com Interviews Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Jeremy Dreier, Chief Business Development Officer at GoMining and a key leader at the GoBTC Foundation, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to discuss how onchain innovation and Layer 2 development are shaping the next evolution of Bitcoin’s ecosystem.

The GoBTC Foundation is dedicated to fueling onchain growth by supporting Layer 1 and Layer 2 projects that enhance Bitcoin’s scalability, functionality, and utility. Through strategic funding, incubation, and token launch support, the foundation aims to expand Bitcoin’s ecosystem beyond store-of-value narratives — unlocking new use cases in DeFi, tokenization, payments, and data verification.

Jeremy explains how Bitcoin’s future may depend increasingly on onchain activity, and how GoBTC is helping developers leverage smart contract layers and sidechains to power faster, more efficient, and more creative use cases — all while preserving Bitcoin’s core decentralization principles.

💡 In this episode:
• How the GoBTC Foundation is accelerating onchain innovation for Bitcoin
• Why Layer 2s are key to Bitcoin’s scalability and adoption
• The growing role of tokenization and programmable assets in Bitcoin’s future
• How Bitcoin can remain the backbone of DeFi and Web3
• Jeremy Dreier’s insights on sustainable growth and Bitcoin ecosystem expansion

🎧 A forward-looking conversation about Bitcoin’s transformation from a digital currency to a programmable, multi-layered financial network, and how onchain growth could define its next decade.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Jeremy Dreier – GoBTC Foundation – Chief Business Development Officer at GoMining, supporting Layer 1 and Layer 2 projects driving Bitcoin’s onchain expansion and ecosystem growth.

Edan Yago, CEO of BitcoinOS | How BitcoinOS Unlocks Smart Contracts, AI, and Financial Freedom on Bitcoin | Bitcoin.com Interviews Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Edan Yago, CEO and Co-Founder of BitcoinOS, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to break down how BitcoinOS is transforming Bitcoin into a fully programmable, scalable smart contract platform — without compromising its core principles of decentralization and security.

BitcoinOS is designed to extend Bitcoin’s native capabilities, enabling composable applications, scalability, and AI integration directly on top of the Bitcoin network. By enhancing Bitcoin’s original architecture, BitcoinOS brings financial freedom, automation, and innovation to the world’s most secure blockchain, allowing developers to build DeFi, payments, and intelligent apps on Bitcoin itself.

Yago explains how BitcoinOS maintains fidelity to Bitcoin’s roots as sovereign, peer-to-peer money, while overcoming limitations that have historically pushed smart contract innovation onto other chains like Ethereum. The result is a new paradigm for Bitcoin-native innovation — combining AI-driven functionality, modular scalability, and trustless interoperability across the crypto ecosystem.

💡 In this episode:
• How BitcoinOS expands Bitcoin’s functionality through smart contracts
• The role of AI in enhancing blockchain automation and financial innovation
• Why scalability and composability are key to Bitcoin’s next evolution
• How BitcoinOS preserves decentralization while unlocking new possibilities
• Edan Yago’s vision for a free, Bitcoin-powered financial operating system

🎧 A groundbreaking discussion on how BitcoinOS bridges the gap between Bitcoin’s security and Web3 flexibility, ushering in a new era of AI-enhanced crypto finance and decentralized innovation.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Edan Yago – BitcoinOS – CEO and Co-Founder of BitcoinOS, building the smart contract operating system that brings AI, scalability, and DeFi to Bitcoin.

Ann Chien, Partner at IVC | What Web3 Games Must Do to Succeed in Japan | Breaking Into Asia’s Most Dynamic Gaming Market | Bitcoin.com Interviews Sep 01, 2024

Show notes

Ann Chien, Partner at IVC | What Web3 Games Must Do to Succeed in Japan | Breaking Into Asia’s Most Dynamic Gaming Market | Bitcoin.com Interviews

🧾 Optimised Description
Ann Chien, Partner at IVC (Infinity Ventures Crypto), joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to explore how Web3 gaming studios can successfully enter and thrive in the Japanese market — one of the most influential gaming ecosystems in the world.

IVC is a leading Web3 venture capital firm backed by top Japanese gaming studios, with a strong investment portfolio spanning blockchain gaming, AI, DeFi, infrastructure, and digital entertainment. With over 200 portfolio projects and the organization of IVS Crypto, Japan’s largest Web3 conference drawing 12,000+ attendees annually, IVC sits at the heart of the region’s blockchain innovation.

Ann shares her deep insights on what makes the Japanese gaming market unique — from cultural expectations and IP sensitivity to user experience design and community engagement — and how Web3 game developers can tailor their approach to appeal to Japan’s massive base of loyal, quality-driven gamers.

She also discusses how Bitcoin’s decentralization ethos and blockchain interoperability are shaping the next wave of digital ownership, giving Japanese studios new tools for creative expression and fair monetization.

💡 In this episode:
• How Web3 gaming can align with Japan’s cultural and design standards
• The role of Bitcoin and blockchain in powering fair digital economies
• Why IVC invests in next-generation gaming, DeFi, and infrastructure projects
• Insights from IVS Crypto — Japan’s largest Web3 conference
• Strategies for global studios to expand into Asia’s most advanced gaming market

🎧 A valuable deep dive into the intersection of blockchain, gaming, and culture, revealing how Web3 and Bitcoin-driven economies are being embraced in Japan’s gaming sector.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Ann Chien – IVC – Partner at Infinity Ventures Crypto, driving investments in Web3 gaming, blockchain innovation, and the future of decentralized entertainment.

Ilya Abugov, Partner at Sanctor Capital | Navigating the Web3 Gaming Frontier | How Blockchain, Bitcoin, and DeFi Are Shaping the Next Era of Play | Bitcoin.com Interviews Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Ilya Abugov, Partner at Sanctor Capital, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to discuss the fast-evolving Web3 gaming landscape — where blockchain, Bitcoin, and decentralized finance (DeFi) converge to reshape how players interact, earn, and own digital assets.

Sanctor Capital serves as a strategic sanctuary for visionary Web3 founders, offering early-stage projects the tools, mentorship, and capital to succeed in crypto’s most dynamic sectors — including GameFi, NFT economies, and metaverse infrastructure. Ilya shares insights from years of experience at Crypto Briefing and DappRadar, exploring how data-driven analysis and traditional finance perspectives can guide smarter investments in blockchain gaming.

He explains how Web3 games are evolving beyond play-to-earn models into sustainable ecosystems driven by true asset ownership, tokenomics, and community governance — all built on the foundational principles pioneered by Bitcoin.

💡 In this episode:
• How Sanctor Capital identifies and supports the most promising Web3 gaming startups
• The intersection of Bitcoin’s philosophy and decentralized gaming economies
• Why data transparency and token design are critical to GameFi’s long-term success
• The rise of player-owned assets and metaverse interoperability
• What’s next for blockchain gaming as traditional investors enter the space

🎧 A forward-looking discussion on how Bitcoin’s decentralization ethos continues to influence Web3 gaming innovation, and how Sanctor Capital is guiding builders through the next phase of blockchain entertainment.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Ilya Abugov – Sanctor Capital – Veteran Web3 analyst and investor, helping shape the future of blockchain gaming, DeFi ecosystems, and metaverse innovation.

How Logos Is Using Bitcoin Ordinals to Onboard Early Supporters to Its Network State Stack | Decentralized Governance, Privacy & Web3 Innovation | Bitcoin.com Interviews Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Bitcoin.com Interviews, Dustin Plantholt speaks with the team behind Logos, a fully decentralized, privacy-preserving, and politically neutral technology stack designed to power the next generation of self-sovereign network states. Logos is now onboarding early supporters onto its Network State technology stack through an innovative Bitcoin Ordinals collection, merging Bitcoin’s permanence with decentralized governance and Web3 infrastructure.

The Logos stack consists of three modular, blockchain-based protocols:

Nomos – a consensus layer enabling secure, transparent coordination;
Codex – decentralized data storage for censorship resistance;
Waku – a private, peer-to-peer messaging layer for communication sovereignty.

Together, these protocols create the foundation for cyber states, parallel societies, and voluntary digital nations — communities governed by shared values, not borders. By integrating Bitcoin Ordinals, Logos is inviting early contributors and supporters to inscribe their participation on Bitcoin’s immutable ledger, symbolizing a lasting commitment to the ideals of freedom, privacy, and decentralization.

💡 In this episode:
• How Logos is using Bitcoin Ordinals to engage and reward early adopters
• What “network states” mean for the future of governance and digital identity
• How Nomos, Codex, and Waku combine to form a sovereign digital infrastructure
• Why Bitcoin remains the foundation for permanence and trust in decentralized systems
• The role of privacy, censorship resistance, and voluntary participation in Web3 societies

🎧 A thought-provoking conversation on how Bitcoin, Ordinals, and decentralized infrastructure are converging to empower borderless, self-governed digital communities.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Logos Network – Building a Bitcoin-aligned, privacy-first network state stack with Nomos, Codex, and Waku, designed to power the future of sovereign, decentralized societies.

Brian Shuster, Founder & CEO of Utherverse | What Sets Utherverse Apart From Other Metaverse Projects | Building the Future of Web3 Worlds | Bitcoin.com Interviews Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Brian Shuster, Founder and CEO of Utherverse, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to discuss how Utherverse is redefining the Metaverse and Web3 experience with over 50 million users worldwide since its first launch in 2004. Now in Beta testing for its third-generation platform, Utherverse is designed to serve as a universal metaverse framework, allowing creators and businesses to build, connect, and monetize immersive digital worlds like never before.

Shuster shares how Utherverse’s blockchain-powered infrastructure enables interoperability across metaverses, offering seamless integration of NFTs, crypto payments, and virtual economies. He explains why most metaverse projects fail to achieve meaningful adoption — and how Utherverse’s proven engagement model, scalability, and community-driven governance make it uniquely positioned to dominate the next era of digital interaction.

💡 In this episode:
• The evolution of Utherverse from Web2 to Web3 and its 50M+ user legacy
• How blockchain and Bitcoin-inspired principles support metaverse interoperability
• Why true decentralization is key to the future of virtual economies
• How NFTs and crypto payments power ownership and trade in Utherverse
• Brian Shuster’s long-term vision for a connected, creator-driven metaverse

🎧 A deep dive into the Metaverse economy, Web3 innovation, and how Utherverse is using blockchain and Bitcoin’s ethos of decentralization to build a truly open virtual world.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Brian Shuster – Founder & CEO of Utherverse, the world’s most established metaverse ecosystem, combining blockchain interoperability, NFT economies, and decentralized infrastructure.

Justin Sun | The Meme Coin Revolution with SunPump & WBTC’s Security Upgrade | TRON, Bitcoin, and the Future of Decentralized Trading | Bitcoin.com Interviews Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Justin Sun, Founder of TRON and CEO of BitTorrent, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to discuss two major developments reshaping the crypto landscape — the SunPump Beta launch and WBTC’s multi-jurisdictional security upgrade.

SunPump is Justin Sun’s new meme coin launchpad built on the TRON blockchain, designed to bring fair, transparent, and community-driven token launches to Web3. The platform aims to democratize meme coin creation, ensuring equal access, fair pricing, and innovative liquidity mechanisms that prevent the kind of manipulation often seen in early-stage crypto markets. With its user-friendly interface and TRON ecosystem integration, SunPump represents a bold move toward mainstream adoption of decentralized trading.

The discussion also covers Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) and its latest security partnership with BiT Global, enhancing trust and transparency across Bitcoin’s cross-chain ecosystems. By transitioning to a multi-jurisdictional structure, WBTC strengthens asset custody, governance, and regulatory alignment — ensuring Bitcoin’s place as the anchor of decentralized finance (DeFi).

💡 In this episode:
• How SunPump is revolutionizing meme coin launches on the TRON blockchain
• Why fair-launch mechanics matter for the future of Web3 tokens
• Justin Sun’s insights on WBTC’s multi-chain, multi-jurisdictional evolution
• How TRON is bridging the gap between Bitcoin and DeFi ecosystems
• The growing role of decentralized liquidity in the next Bitcoin bull cycle

🎧 A high-energy conversation exploring Bitcoin interoperability, TRON innovation, and meme coin culture — and how Justin Sun continues to push blockchain toward its next frontier.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Guest: Justin Sun – Founder of TRON, CEO of BitTorrent, and a leading voice in Bitcoin DeFi, cross-chain innovation, and Web3 adoption.

Alex Guseff, Founder of Tectum | Making Bitcoin Spendable Again With SoftNote & the World’s Fastest Blockchain | Bitcoin.com Interviews Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Alex Guseff, Founder and Lead Architect of Tectum and SoftNote, joins Dustin Plantholt on Bitcoin.com Interviews to explain how Tectum’s revolutionary Layer-1 blockchain is bringing Bitcoin utility back to the forefront — enabling instant, private, and fee-free payments that make Bitcoin truly spendable again.

Developed by Crispmind, Tectum is the world’s fastest Layer-1 blockchain, achieving an unprecedented 3.5 million transactions per second (TPS) through its proprietary Proof of Utility consensus mechanism. Designed for speed, scalability, and privacy, Tectum integrates zero-knowledge proofs and layered processing, allowing seamless transactions across crypto ecosystems without compromising security.

Alex breaks down how SoftNote, Tectum’s flagship product, acts as a digital cash layer for Bitcoin, turning BTC into a fast, frictionless medium of exchange — all while maintaining self-custody and full blockchain transparency. This innovation could finally close the gap between Bitcoin as a store of value and Bitcoin as spendable money.

💡 In this episode:
• How Tectum’s Proof of Utility technology enables record-breaking blockchain speeds
• Why Bitcoin’s transaction limitations inspired SoftNote’s creation
• How SoftNote makes Bitcoin instant, private, and usable for daily payments
• The role of zero-knowledge proofs in securing high-speed blockchain transactions
• Alex Guseff’s vision for Bitcoin’s next era of utility and adoption

🎧 A powerful look at how Tectum is transforming Bitcoin payments — turning the world’s most secure blockchain into the fastest and most practical financial network for everyday use.

🎙️ Host: Dustin Plantholt – Bitcoin.com Interviews
🔗 Bitcoin.com

💼 Featured Partner: Tectum – A next-generation Layer-1 blockchain by Crispmind, combining Bitcoin integration, SoftNote payments, and record-breaking scalability through Proof of Utility.

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