{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Bitcoin Frontier","title":"What if bitcoin development stopped tomorrow? with Mike Schmidt and Buck Perley","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/74b0aba2\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3305,"description":"What if bitcoin development stopped tomorrow? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Schmidt, Executive Director at Brink, and Buck Perley, Director of Product Engineering at Unchained, to explore the state of open source development and why it matters more than ever. Mike shares his path from software engineer to funding bitcoin core developers, while Buck recounts his early bitcoin experiences in China. We cover what bitcoin core developers actually do, how brink evaluates contributors, and why maintenance, security, and review are essential—even without major protocol changes. The conversation also touches on ossification, governance, and the future of soft forks. If you’ve ever wondered who maintains bitcoin’s foundation and why it matters, this episode pulls back the curtain.\n\nSUPPORT THE PODCAST:\n→ Subscribe\n→ Leave a review\n→ Share the show with your friends and family\n→ Send us an email podcast@unchained.com\n→ Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description\n→ Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=TBF-podcast-description\n→ Buy bitcoin in an IRA—sign up today and get your first year free: unchained.com/frontier\n→ What is bitcoin: A tech stock? An inflation hedge? A ponzi scheme? Can DOGE Fix The Dollar? Come listen to Professor Peter St. Onge give a keynote presentation on April 16th: https://unchained.com/doge\n\nTIMESTAMPS:\n0:00 - Intro\n1:14 - Why open source matters for bitcoin\n6:20 - How Buck discovered bitcoin in China\n11:12 - What bitcoin core developers actually do\n16:57 - How brink evaluates developers before funding\n22:15 - What brink would do with unlimited funding\n27:34 - Why bitcoin needs more reviewers, not just coders\n32:10 - Should bitcoin ossify or stay flexible?\n36:36 - The messy politics of soft forks and consensus\n42:18 - What is bitcoin governance really?\n47:18 - Unpopular...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/WoeHujZLSYOjeE_EY1iBuQ0tTK0I8K63kAncvwN8qto/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83NTI2/Y2ZjZjFjN2NlZjI3/ZmQyZjc5ODQyMTc5/OTYxMi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}