Stephan Livera Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Fight to Protect Bitcoin Self-Custody in South Africa with Ricki Allardice | SLP746 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

In this urgent 15-minute conversation, Stephan speaks with Ricki Allardice, one of the leaders of the Property Rights Defense Group, about South Africa’s Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026 — the most serious threat to Bitcoin self-custody the country has seen.

Ricki breaks down exactly what the draft rules would do to private keys, self-custody, and everyday Bitcoiners, where the process stands right now, and what the community can still do before the 30 June 2026 public comment deadline.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Overview of the Regulation Against Self Custody

(04:07) - Public Consultation Process

(05:49) - Can it be challenged?

(07:20) - It’s About Capital Controls

(08:02) - AML, Sanctions, FATF

(10:46) - What does it mean for Bitcoiners in South Africa?

(12:22) - Safety or Security concern here?

(14:22) - Call to Action and Support for Legal Defense

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

Using Bitcoin to Change the World: UHNW Philanthropy, Stewardship & Generational Legacy w/ Matt McClintock & Alla Futterman (Bespoke Group) SLP745 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Matt McClintock (Founder & CEO of Bespoke Group) returns to the show alongside Alla Futterman (Associate Client Relationship Manager & Head of Philanthropy Operations) fresh off his main-stage talk at BTC Prague 2026 titled “Using Bitcoin to Change the World.”

In this deep dive, we explore how ultra-high-net-worth Bitcoiners and their families are moving beyond simple HODLing to become active stewards — deploying Bitcoin through sophisticated, values-aligned philanthropy to solve real problems (landmine clearance, human trafficking recovery, wildlife protection, cultural preservation, and more).

We unpack Bespoke Group’s “Wealth Operating System,” sovereign estate planning for bearer assets, tax-efficient giving structures, next-gen involvement, the mindset shift from ownership to “this wealth has been entrusted to me,” and practical advice for Bitcoiners at every level who want their capital to outlive them and actually improve the world.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn Bitcoin conviction into lasting generational impact while keeping sovereignty and privacy intact, this is the episode.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Introduction to Bitcoin Philanthropy

(06:38) - Tax-Efficient Philanthropy Strategies

(13:07) - Charitable Structures for Bitcoin

(20:22) - Mindset Shifts in Bitcoin Philanthropy

(27:22) - Wealth Stewardship and Bitcoin

(32:13) - Challenges in Bitcoin Philanthropy

(37:23) - Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy

(39:49) - Practical Tips for Everyday Bitcoiners

Links:

Bespoke Group → https://bespokegroup.io/
Matt’s article: “How Bitcoin Wealth is Changing the World” (June 2026)
Alla’s article: “Philanthropy as Wealth in Motion”
https://x.com/mcclintock_m

Stephan Livera links:

Bitcoin Passports: How to Rank Countries for Bitcoiners | SLP744 Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Juchniewicz of Bitcoin Passport Index and Bitcitizen to discuss Bitcoin sovereignty, jurisdictional arbitrage, and how Bitcoiners should think about second passports and residencies.

We dive into the Bitcoin Passport Index, why Bitcoin-friendly tax and legal treatment matters more than most people realize, and how the landscape for citizenship and residency programs is rapidly changing.

Adam also breaks down his fast-track Vanuatu citizenship program and his full-service approach to helping Bitcoiners build a proper sovereign stack — from companies to passports to, in some cases, full exits.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Bitcoin Passport Index

(03:21) - How do you balance mobility against Bitcoin sovereignty?

(05:45) - How will CARF and global reporting change the game?

(08:41) - Vanuatu CBI program

(11:17) - Vanuatu compared with cheaper options like Sao Tome and Principe?

(13:27) - “citizen, not tourist” approach

(14:55) - Final advice for Bitcoiners

Links:

Bitcoin Passport Index: https://bpi.21cbi.io
Bitcitizen: https://www.bitcitizen.io
Vanuatu Citizenship Program: https://cbi.vu

Stephan Livera links:

Bark Goes Mainnet with Steven Roose | SLPfast 743 Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

Steven Roose (CEO of Second) rejoins me to explain Bark going live on Bitcoin’s main net.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Bark mainnet launched on June 9th

(02:01) - Bark and Lightning onboarding

(03:30) - Ark compared to Lightning — replacement or teammate?

(04:15) - User experience with Bark

(05:54) - Developer experience with Bark SDK

(08:04) - Barkd for merchants and services

(08:56) - Dev tooling and VTXO Inspector

(10:40) - What's the current status of adoption and what's coming next?

Fees?

(13:25) - Tx type overview

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

The Evolution of Bitcoin Mining with NG Zhang SLP742 Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, NG Zhang, founder and CEO of Canaan Inc., shares his journey in Bitcoin mining technology, from early ASIC development to modern innovations like heat reuse and energy integration. We talk about the evolution of mining hardware, industry trends, and future prospects.

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Intro and Early Days of Bitcoin Mining

(03:40) – From FPGA to ASIC Technology

(06:22) – The Avalon A16 Series

(09:07) – Reliability and Durability of Mining Machines

(12:15) – Failure Rates and Useful Life

(14:40) - Primary Market and Secondary Market for Mining

(16:40) – Small Scale vs. Large Scale Mining

(22:00) - What % is home mining today?

(23:00) - Heat Recovery

(29:00) - Different methods of cooling in Bitcoin Mining

(31:40) - Mining machine form factor

(32:40) - Stratum V2 Support?

(37:35) - Market Dynamics: Public vs. Private Miners

(39:50) – Energy Grid Integration and Bitcoin Mining

(44:25) - Efficiency gains are slowing down in bitcoin mining

Links:

https://www.canaan.io/

Stephan Livera links:

Will Cole, Chris Seedor, Nathan Day, Philipp, Skot9000, Alex Bragin at BTCPrague 2026 | SLP741 Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, I caught up with Will Cole from Zaprite, Alex Bragin (Jan3), Nathan Day from BTCMap, Philipp (Satora), and Skot 9000 (BitAxe/SHA256) while at BTC Prague 2026.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – Interview with Skot9000 of (SHA256)

(09:01) – Interview with Alex Bragin of JAN3

(20:35) – Interview with Will Cole of Zaprite

(28:45) – Interview with Philipp of Satora.io

(39:33) – Chris Seedor of Seedor.io

(46:23) – Nathan Day of BTCMap

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

Freedom Tech Summit + BCD 2026 | SLP740 Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, industry experts discuss the latest developments in Bitcoin treasury strategies, Lightning Network innovations, and market outlooks amid macroeconomic uncertainties. Gain insights into hardware wallets, stablecoins, and the future of Bitcoin adoption.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – Interview with Freddie New from BHODL

(08:47) - Interview with Nick Farrow from Frost Snap

(21:27) - Interview with Tony Klausing from Stable Channels

(26:41) - Interview with André Dragosch from Bitwise

(39:35) - Interview with Sam Callahan from Oranje BTC

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

Can You Actually Earn on Lightning? With Chris Ritter | SLP739 Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Chris Ritter joins me to discuss Lightning Network economics, yield opportunities, network centralization, and the rapid growth of Lightning payments. We explore who captures value in the Lightning Network, security considerations for routing nodes, and what recent data reveals about the future of Bitcoin payments.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – Introduction to Lightning Economics

(04:23) – Understanding Bitcoin Treasury Strategies

(09:08) – The Evolution of Lightning Network Routing

(14:45) – Growth and Volume in the Lightning Network

(19:57) – Centralization Trends in the Lightning Network

(25:08) – Security Considerations in Lightning Routing

(29:18) – Yield Generation in Lightning Network

(35:05) – The Future of Payments and AI in Lightning

(41:34) - Closing Thoughts

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

Can Bitcoin Become Easier Without Becoming Custodial? With PakoVM | SLP738 Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, PakoVM joins me as we discuss the security challenges facing Bitcoin users, from scams and self-custody risks to the trade-offs of convenience versus sovereignty. The conversation explores emerging Bitcoin protocols such as Ark and Spark, the role of Linux and open-source hardware, advancements in wallet design, privacy, inheritance planning, and whether stablecoins and Bitcoin-native financial infrastructure can accelerate global adoption.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – Introduction

(05:24) – Navigating Scams in the Bitcoin Space

(10:16) – The Rise of Linux and Desktop Alternatives

(15:18) – Bitcoin Technology: Lightning, Ark, and Beyond

(30:27) – Bridging Traditional Finance and Bitcoin

(35:10) – Bitcoin as a Medium of Exchange vs. Store of Value

(39:22) – Stablecoins and Their Role in Bitcoin Ecosystem

(41:50) – Wallets and User Experience in Bitcoin Transactions

(44:23) – Community Perspectives: Bitcoin Only vs. Multi-coin

(46:14) – Global Perspectives on Bitcoin Adoption

(50:17) – Future of Bitcoin Technology and User Adoption

(01:02:18) – Privacy Solutions and User Experience in Bitcoin

(01:08:21) – Closing thoughts

Links:

Stephan Livera links:

Sigbash: Covenant-Like Policies on Bitcoin Without a Soft Fork with Arbedout | SLP737 May 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Stephan sits down with Arbedout to explore one of the most debated technical topics in Bitcoin today: covenants, vaults, and the future of Bitcoin custody infrastructure.

They discuss why many people may be misunderstanding where the real demand for covenants comes from, and how covenant-related features could improve Bitcoin self-custody through vaults, spending limits, recovery mechanisms, and more secure long-term storage setups.

The conversation also explores Bitcoin adoption, conviction, long-term store of value dynamics, and the psychological challenges of holding Bitcoin through volatility.

Timestamp:

(00:00) – The privacy problem with co-signing today

(03:25) – What does Sigbash allow us to do?

(08:15) – What is Oblivious Signing?

(12:20) – Privacy, Regulation, and Reducing Multisig Honeypot Risks

(15:10) - What does Sigbash use look like in practice? Inheritance, Vaults, and Multisig

(19:50) - Can the server grief the user?

(21:10) – Mobile Wallets, Assisted Self-Custody, and NeoBank Possibilities

(25:50) - Sigbash project and product

(28:29) – Sigbash vs PIPES vs BinoHash Explained

(33:01) – Covenant Demand, Bitcoin Security, and the Future of Self-Custody

(36:33) – Closing Thoughts