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Haley Berkoe is joined by Kyle Fletcher, Principal Design Director at Block, to explore the intersection of bitcoin, design, and culture. They discuss why artists and designers play a critical role in shaping bitcoin’s future, the sats vs. bitcoin denomination debate, and how thoughtful design can help bring bitcoin to the masses. Kyle also shares personal influences, dream projects, and why onboarding artists, local merchants, and creative communities is key to bitcoin adoption. CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro & Kyle’s background at Block 01:01 State of Bitcoin brand creative 02:59 Designing future money: local and circular economies 05:55 The Intersection of art and bitcoin 08:19 The sats vs. bitcoin denomination debate 12:32 Design mentors, observation, and environment 15:39 Why Silicon Valley designers should care about Bitcoin 17:52 Dream projects: Bitcoin art galleries & philanthropy 22:11 Final thoughts: how creatives can get started with Bitcoin 23:13 Where to find Kyle online FOLLOW: Kyle Fletcher: https://x.com/kyleluvsew, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylefletcher/ Block/Cash App: https://x.com/blocks, https://x.com/CashApp Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe, https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyberkoe/ Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin, https://www.linkedin.com/company/presidio-bitcoin LINKS: Presidio Bitcoin Design Week Summary: https://open.substack.com/pub/bitcoindesign/p/presidio-bitcoin-design-week?r=53cq2n&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Kyle’s talk at Design Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YArvqMYy6nI Bitcoin Plushie: https://www.uncute.com/collections/everything-else/products/here-comes-bitcoin WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin

In this episode, Haley Berkoe interviews Conor Okus, a Product Manager at Spiral. Conor shares his journey from playing football to becoming a grantee at Spiral and now managing the grant program. He addresses common misconceptions about bitcoin contributors, emphasizes the importance of user experience in promoting adoption, and discusses the emergence of user-friendly (easy) bitcoin addresses. Conor also shares his thoughts on the intersection of AI and bitcoin, the ongoing debate about using "₿ " instead of "sats" to display bitcoin denominations, and offers valuable advice for newcomers to the bitcoin space. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Conor’s unique path: From footballer to bitcoiner 01:33 Becoming a Spiral grantee and joining the team full-time 03:53 What Spiral looks for in grant applications 05:08 Misconceptions about bitcoin contributors 07:15 First impressions of Presidio Bitcoin and the SF builder scene 08:25 Current focus: UX, BOLT12, and easy bitcoin addresses 12:04 The next wave of bitcoin innovation: Lightning and AI 14:38 How AI might leverage bitcoin for payments and micro-transactions 18:27 The sats vs. bitcoin ₿ display debate (BIP 177 and UX shifts) 22:37 Advice for aspiring bitcoin contributors 23:42 How to reach Conor & connect with Spiral FOLLOW: Conor Okus: https://x.com/ConorOkus, https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorokus/ Spiral: https://x.com/spiralbtc, https://www.linkedin.com/company/spiralbtc Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe, https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyberkoe/ Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin, https://www.linkedin.com/company/presidio-bitcoin LINKS: Spiral Grant Guidelines: https://spiral.xyz/blog/square-crypto-grants-for-everybody/ Easy Bitcoin Address: https://easybitcoinaddress.me/ Bitcoin Design Week at Presidio Bitcoin: https://event.bitcoin.design/ Bitcoin Design Community: https://bitcoin.design/ Bitcoin Plushie: https://www.uncute.com/collections/everything-else/products/here-comes-bitcoin WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin

Haley Berkoe talks with Matthew Pines, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, about bitcoin’s growing role in U.S. policy. They cover building a bitcoin community in DC, how policymakers are treating bitcoin as a strategic asset, the risks of quantum computing and AI, and why this moment feels like one of “high agency and high leverage” for bitcoiners. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Matt Pines and his path into bitcoin 02:10 The bitcoin scene in Washington DC 03:47 Shifting policy conversations and bitcoin as a strategic asset 05:12 Advice for bitcoiners engaging policymakers 07:06 What a bitcoin standard world could look like 09:08 Quantum computing risks and government response 13:18 Book recommendation: Global Discord by Paul Tucker 15:09 The intersection of bitcoin and AI 18:02 Dream bitcoin projects still missing in the market 19:42 Spicy take: China vs. U.S. bitcoin holdings 20:30 Optimism for bitcoin’s future and ETF adoption 23:24 Final takeaway: the power of agency 25:27 How to follow Matt and the Bitcoin Policy Institute FOLLOW: Matthew Pines: https://x.com/matthew_pines Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://x.com/btcpolicyorg Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin LINKS: Insights from the Quantum Bitcoin Summit https://presidiobitcoin.substack.com/p/insights-from-the-quantum-bitcoin Bitcoin Plushie: https://www.uncute.com/collections/everything-else/products/here-comes-bitcoin WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin

In this episode, Haley Berkoe chats with Jameson Lopp, longtime bitcoiner, cypherpunk, and Chief Security Officer at Casa, to explore the long-term threats and opportunities facing bitcoin. He discusses his latest bitcoin improvement proposal, how AI can be both a productivity booster and existential risk, and why bitcoin's future hinges on education, sovereignty, and conversation. CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS 00:51 Lopp’s top of minds: ossification, quantum threats, and protocol evolution. 01:44 An overview of his quantum Bitcoin Improvement Proposal. 06:23 How AI is helping with tooling and security, plus Lopp’s caution on the hype. 07:59 Writer’s block and Lopp’s creative process. 11:55 Lopp’s vision of a sovereign future and concerns about paper bitcoin trends. 15:16 Promoting bitcoin as money without pushing. 16:42 Lopp shares two controversial ideas: cut off quantum-vulnerable coins and use dynamic block sizes. 19:20 What gives him hope, the failures of fiat are bitcoin’s best marketing. 20:17 Don’t buy before you learn. Start with education, then stack. 21:47 Why discussion is the key to bitcoin’s long-term success. FOLLOW: Jameson Lopp: @lopp, https://x.com/lopp Casa: @CasaHODL, https://x.com/CasaHODL Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe Spiral: @spiralbtc, https://x.com/spiralbtc Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin LINKS: Lopp.net Lopps’ BIP: https://github.com/jlopp/bips/blob/quantum_migration/bip-post-quantum-migration.mediawiki Bitcoin Plushie: https://www.uncute.com/collections/everything-else/products/here-comes-bitcoin WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin

In this episode, Haley Berkoe sits down with Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation. They discuss how AI tools are empowering activists, the importance of local governance, and what a world on the bitcoin standard could look like. Alex shares insights from HRF’s grant program, the UX hurdles activists face using bitcoin, and why he remains hopeful about bitcoin’s future. TIMESTAMPS: 00:36 How Alex got into human rights 03:46 Use of AI by activists 06:13 The ideal role of government in a free society 08:04 Bitcoin as a human rights tool 10:15 A world on the bitcoin standard 14:18 Bitcoin UX: what’s improved, what’s still clunky, and the features activists want most. 16:53 Lessons from HRF’s grant program 19:36 Alex’s spicy takes on Bukele 22:02 Why Alex is hopeful about bitcoin’s future 23:21 Resources, books, and where to follow Alex online. FOLLOW: Alex Gladstein: @gladstein, https://x.com/gladstein HRF: @HRF, https://x.com/HRF Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin WHAT THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin

In this episode, Haley Berkoe interviews Alex Zukauskas, the Presidio Bitcoin Lead. Alex shares his background, discusses past and upcoming events, and explains why Presidio Bitcoin is the best place to be. He will be joining the show quarterly to keep everyone updated on all the exciting developments at Presidio Bitcoin. Episode Highlights: * Time flies, it’s been 7 months since Alex took the job, and 4 months since the launch of Presidio Bitcoin. * Recurring monthly events open to the public: BitDevs, LitDevs, and ₿uilder. * Upcoming events: The Quantum Bitcoin Summit, a careers fair in the fall, and book clubs. * The focused approach to adding members. We currently have 22 people, including open-source contributors, startups, and builders. * Global recognition and having visitors from all over the world. * Perks of working at Presidio Bitcoin. * Alex’s secrets to taking care of plants Reach out to Alex at hello@presidiobitcoin.org if you’re interested in a membership, visiting the space, or getting involved! FOLLOW: Alex Zukauskas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azukauskas/ Haley Berkoe: https://x.com/HBerkoe Presidio Bitcoin: https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin, https://www.linkedin.com/company/presidio-bitcoin/ WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit presidiobitcoin.substack.com

Haley Berkoe met with Ben Carman, who recently joined the Spiral team to work on the Lightning Development Kit and LDK-related projects. Previously he was at Taproot Wizards and Mutiny, a non-custodial Lightning wallet. Episode highlights include: - Ben’s new focus areas at Spiral. - His bitcoin journey, which started with a comedy podcast and Andreas Antonopoulos's videos. - Ben’s concerns about the bitcoin community's lack of emphasis on real-world payments. - He stresses the need for next-generation Lightning and self-custodial wallets, warning that without proper infrastructure, bitcoin risks being seen merely as a banking asset. - Shoutouts to Rockstar Dev and folks in the Austin bitcoin community, such as Buck Pearly, Jack Lesser, and Rod from Bitcoin Park. - Advice for newcomers: do everything you can to learn, contribute, and enhance visibility in the community. FOLLOW: Ben Carman: @benthecarman, https://x.com/benthecarman Spiral: @spiralbtc, https://x.com/spiralbtc Haley Berkoe: @HBerkoe, https://x.com/HBerkoe Presidio Bitcoin: @PresidioBitcoin, https://x.com/PresidioBitcoin WATCH THE SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/@PresidioBitcoin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit presidiobitcoin.substack.com