In this episode, David Marcus, CEO and co-founder of Lightspark, discusses his journey from Facebook to bitcoin and the challenges of integrating Lightning at Coinbase. He explores the pace of bitcoin adoption, differentiates between custodial and non-custodial Lightning services, and addresses the market for goods transactable only over the Lightning network. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on financial services, the future of Visa and Mastercard with bitcoin, and issues with taxes on smaller bitcoin payments.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:01:35 Founded and exited multiple companies—why so much success?
00:02:50 Leaving Facebook to start Lightspark?
00:08:19 David’s first touchpoint with bitcoin
00:12:26 Adoption occurring faster or slower than you expected?
00:15:20 Implementing Lightning at Coinbase
00:17:50 What took Coinbase so long to implement Lightning?
00:25:55 Custodial Lightning vs non-custodial Lightning
00:33:40 Spending bitcoin vs Lightning as payment technology only
00:35:19 Concerns with stablecoins on Lightning?
00:38:24 Goods and services only sold over the Lightning network?
00:45:07 Lightspark, Visa, and Mastercard
00:47:09 Barriers to break into in person retail payments
00:49:50 Will Visa and Mastercard be forced to adopt bitcoin and Lightning?
00:50:40 Will taxes always be a hurdle for bitcoin payments?
00:51:25 Will the Visa and bank “3% payment fee” eventually go away?
00:52:39 What’s something you believe that most bitcoiners would disagree with?
00:54:44 What’s the biggest risk to bitcoin and Lightning?
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What is The Bitcoin Frontier?
Join us as we explore the transformative power of bitcoin, delving into how it has reshaped the lives and perspectives of our guests. Joe Burnett’s engaging conversations offer a unique insight into their collaborative journey in exploring this monetary revolution. Discover firsthand accounts of innovation, disruption, and inspiration as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of the bitcoin frontier.
Whether you're a seasoned bitcoin enthusiast or just starting to explore its potential, The Bitcoin Frontier is your passport to understanding the future of finance.