ATL BitLab Podcast

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab on Friday, March 6th, 2026, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin cover Robin Linus's latest cracked-out discovery (BINOHASH: transaction introspection without soft forks using OPCHECKMU LTSIG quirks for $50 in cloud GPU grinding), post-quantum proposals for P2PKH outputs proving ownership via zero-knowledge STARKs (5.6MB proofs approaching feasibility), and the Hourglass V2 update limiting pay-to-pubkey spends to one Bitcoin per block to incentivize early quantum disclosure.

Alex announces React Native support merged in Fediment SDK after six months of Rust-to-native-modules work, enabling iOS and Android Fediment wallets with a few lines of code. Protocol proposals...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab on Friday, February 13th, 2026, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin celebrate Valentine's Day on air with a packed episode covering Bitcoin Inquisition's consensus cleanup activation, BIP-110's ongoing controversy with new concerns from Liana Wallet about vault users unable to upgrade in two weeks, and the freshly merged quantum-resistance proposals BIP-360 and BIP-361.

The conversation shifts to Lightning breakthroughs: Voltage settles the first publicly reported $1 million Lightning transaction between Kraken and SD Markets in 0.47 seconds, challenging the "Lightning is only for micropayments" narrative. Then disaster strikes—South Korean exchange Bithumb accidentally sends 620,000 BTC ($40B...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab on Friday, February 13th, 2026, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin celebrate Valentine's Day on air with a packed episode covering Bitcoin Inquisition's consensus cleanup activation, BIP-110's ongoing controversy with new concerns from Liana Wallet about vault users unable to upgrade in two weeks, and the freshly merged quantum-resistance proposals BIP-360 and BIP-361.

The conversation shifts to Lightning breakthroughs: Voltage settles the first publicly reported $1 million Lightning transaction between Kraken and SD Markets in 0.47 seconds, challenging the "Lightning is only for micropayments" narrative. Then disaster strikes—South Korean exchange Bithumb accidentally sends 620,000 BTC ($40B...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab on Friday, February 6th, 2026, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin return for their "second post-singularity" episode, sponsored by Harp Lager and Smithwick's Red Ale. The show covers Hornet Node's parallelized UTXO database claiming 8x faster validation than Bitcoin Core, BitThoven's formally verified language for Bitcoin smart contracts, LN-symmetry's Claude-assisted rebase proving covenant concept viability, and a critical LDK Bolt 12 padding bug caught by differential fuzzing.

Then the episode shifts tone dramatically: Gloria Zhao steps down as Bitcoin Core maintainer after sustained harassment from the filters community, prompting an extended discussion about open source...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab on Friday, January 30th, 2026, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin return to their regular Friday schedule with a packed episode covering Bitcoin Core wallet improvements, Lightning updates including LDK's dummy hop support and mixed-mode splicing, mutation testing techniques for validating test suites, and the emergence of BitVM4's new company founded by Robin Linus and Liam Eagen.

Then the show pivots dramatically: the hosts spend nearly an hour exploring OpenClaw (formerly ClaudeBot, formerly MoltBot)—a decentralized swarm of autonomous AI agents running on people's personal computers, talking to each other on MoltBook (AI-only Re...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin welcome Matthew Zipkin from Chaincode Labs to discuss the BOSS Challenge, a rigorous program designed to help aspiring developers launch careers in Bitcoin open source software. The conversation explores what it takes to become a Bitcoin protocol developer, the appropriate use of AI in learning and development, and how the program identifies serious contributors through a three-month gauntlet.

The episode then shifts to technical updates: the proliferation of "ARK" naming conflicts across Bitcoin projects, Stratum V2's progress toward decentralized mining infrastructure, LDK Node's experimental support for...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab, Stephen DeLorme is joined by Josh Doman (filling in for Alex Lewin) for BitDevs Radio Hour #5. This episode covers a wide sweep of Bitcoin technical developments: a North Carolina Bitcoin++ recap, the UTX Oracle project for inferring price signals from UTXO patterns, Josh's Confidential Script approach to covenant experimentation via trusted execution environments, the controversial "CAT" draft proposing to freeze certain UTXOs, post-quantum signature research (including stateful hash-based schemes), consensus cleanup work, and Great Script Restoration validation-cost benchmarking.

It's a builder-heavy mix of protocol governance realities, cryptography trade-offs, and the practical edge...

Broadcasting live from ATL BitLab, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin close out the year with a festive edition of the BitDevs Radio Hour. This episode covers a grab bag of fresh Bitcoin technical developments: new BIP assignments, a novel approach to private collaborative custody, a consensus discrepancy discovered via differential fuzzing, Lightning protocol optimization ideas, a serious React server components security vulnerability, and the debut of Bitcoin Wrapped 2025.

It's a year-end mix of hard engineering talk, cryptographic concepts, dev-ops war stories, and community reflections.

Stephen and Alex recap the final Atlanta BitDevs meetup...

Live from ATL BitLab, Stephen DeLorme and Alex Lewin sit down with Evan Kaloudis, founder of Zeus, one of Bitcoin's most beloved Lightning wallets.
This episode dives deep into the design trade-offs of non-custodial Lightning, the emergence of "graduated wallets," eCash systems like Cashu and Fedimint, statechain-based systems like Spark, and the future of Bitcoin payments UX.

The conversation ranges from practical LSP economics to the viability of Ark, Spark, and other L2 proposals, as well as Evan's views on privacy, trust models, griefing attacks, covenants, and how wallets should guide users up the self-custody ladder.<...

It's time for another BitDevs Radio Hour! Alex Lewin and Stephen DeLorme discuss some of the latest technical developments in Bitcoin. This conversation covers topics like the merging of Cluster Mempool into Bitcoin Core, preventing lightning pinning attacks with P2A and v3 transactions, the drama over Jack Maller's getting debanked by Chase, and other topics.

The very first BitDevs Radio Hour! Alex Lewin and Stephen DeLorme discuss some of the latest technical developments in Bitcoin. This conversation covers topics like the Bitcoin Kernel Project, recent soft fork related debates and internet drama, and updates to the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal process with Murch's motion activate BIP3. Bonus: El Salvadaro smash buys the dip and Coinbase brings back ICOs.

Can Bitcoin replace DNS? Andrew Lunde presents Spaces Protocol, a permissionless naming system anchored on the Bitcoin blockchain. Learn how auctions determine ownership of top-level names like "@bitcoin," the technical challenges of browser integration, and the trade-offs between decentralization and scalability. Discover how $120,000 in Bitcoin has already been burned through the auction process, the role of DHT nodes in storing metadata, and why this approach may recreate the centralization problems it aims to solve.

Show Notes:

00:00 Opening Quote: Uncancelable Identity 

00:30 Event Recording and Podcast Information

01:02 Sponsor Message: ATL...

Start9 CEO Matt Hill joins Jordan Bravo to discuss the evolution of sovereign computing and the upcoming StartOS 0.4.0 release. Learn about Start9's mission to democratize server administration, their revolutionary new networking capabilities, plans for an open-source router, and innovative community programs for scaling support and development. Plus: why dignity matters as much as privacy and security in computing.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/sov-022-matt-hill-start9

00:00 Opening Quote: Sovereign Computing Definition

00:33 Introduction and Show Sponsorship

01:51 Welcome and Sovereign Computing Origins

03:21 What is Sovereign Computing?<...

Google is making Android more like iOS by blocking "sideloading" of unverified apps starting next year. Jordan Bravo breaks down why "sideloading" is a psyop term designed to make normal software installation seem dangerous, how Google's new developer KYC requirements will kill freedom tech, and why this gradual "boiling of the frog" approach threatens projects like GrapheneOS. Plus a chilling reminder from former NSA/CIA director Michael Hayden: "We kill people based on metadata."

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/sov-021-google-kills-android-sideloading-metadata-surveillance-state

00:00 Opening Quote: Satoshi KYC Example

00:41 Introduction and Sh...

Not all "free" software is actually free - you're often paying with your data, privacy, or through deceptive subscription traps. In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme break down the business models behind the software you use daily, from ethical freemium approaches like Tailscale to exploitative data harvesting like Gmail. They explore managed hosting models, the pros and cons of subscriptions versus one-time payments, and expose dark patterns that trick users into unwanted charges. Plus updates on Jordan's private SIM card journey and news about Google's forced Android changes and Linux desktop growth.

Show...

Not all software is created equal when it comes to digital sovereignty. In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme break down their framework for evaluating software that respects your freedom and privacy. They cover why open source isn't always a guarantee, how to spot healthy vs abandoned projects on GitHub, the importance of data export capabilities, and sustainable business models that won't disappear overnight. Plus, news about Samsung killing bootloader unlocks, EU age verification requirements, and reviews of new authenticator apps from Proton and Ente.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/how-to-choose-sovereign-software

Your location data is one of the most sensitive pieces of information you share, but are you trusting Google and Apple with every place you go? In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore private alternatives to mainstream navigation apps that don't track your movements. They cover privacy-focused options like Magic Earth and Organic Maps built on Open Street Maps, reveal how to use Waze on GrapheneOS without Google Play Services, and discuss the ultimate privacy solution: standalone Garmin GPS devices. Plus, news about Proton's new AI assistant Lumo and the company's concerning move away from Switzerland due...

Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme dive deep into Eric Hughes' groundbreaking 1993 Cypherpunk Manifesto, exploring how this foundational document predicted Bitcoin, anonymous transaction systems, and modern digital privacy tools. They discuss the historical context of cryptography being illegal, the evolution from military-controlled encryption to widespread adoption, and how today's privacy-focused services like Mullvad exemplify the manifesto's principles. The hosts examine why "cypherpunks write code" and how this philosophy continues to drive sovereign computing solutions today.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/cypherpunk-manifesto

00:00 Introduction and Bitcoin's Anonymous Transaction Systems 

00:33 Welcome and ATL BitLab Sp...

Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme return with a news-packed episode covering the latest privacy violations and surveillance schemes. They discuss Trump's plan to create a master database of Americans using Palantir, WhatsApp AI accidentally leaking user phone numbers, Meta and Yandex exploiting Android phones to track browsing habits, and Ford's patent for cars that report speeding drivers. Plus, Jordan shares updates on his sovereign computing journey including anonymous phone services, Alby Hub lightning setup, and self-hosted lightning addresses.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast

00:00 Introduction and Digital Footprint Philosophy

00:35 We...

In today's digital landscape, having your own website is more important than ever for true digital independence. Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explain how to register domain names and set up web hosting with minimal personal information and maximum privacy. They cover Bitcoin-accepting registrars, anonymous VPS providers, and how the domain name system really works. Plus, they discuss a controversial Bitcoin update proposal that highlights why running your own node matters.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/anonymous-website-hosting-and-domains

00:00 Why Own Websites Beat Social Media Platforms 

00:35 Introduction and ATL BitLab Sponsorship 

01:55 Welcome an...

Bitcoin is built on the principle of not trusting third parties, but are you trusting someone else's node to validate your transactions? In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore why running your own Bitcoin and Lightning nodes is crucial for true financial sovereignty. They break down the hardware requirements, software options like Umbrel and Start OS, and how to connect popular wallets to your own node. Plus, news about Thunderbird's new email service and the concerning bankruptcy sale of 23andMe's genetic data.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/bitcoin-sovereignty-running-your-own-full-node

00:00 Why You Should Run...

AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude are powerful tools, but they come with significant privacy trade-offs. In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore practical approaches to using AI without surrendering your data to big tech companies. They compare privacy-focused third-party services that use confidential computing (like Maple) and local storage options (like Venice.AI) before diving into running open-source models entirely on your own hardware with tools like Ollama, GPT4All, and LM Studio. They also reveal how your Smart TV might take screenshots of what you're watching through Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) and share steps to disable...

Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme break down the reality of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) beyond the marketing hype. They explore what problems VPNs actually solve—hiding your IP address from websites, concealing your browsing from ISPs, and encrypting traffic—while addressing their limitations and downsides. Jordan and Stephen compare VPNs with Tor, examine trusted providers including Proton VPN, Mullvad, IVPN, and the innovative Obscura, and discuss the frustrating trend of websites blocking VPN users. Learn practical advice for incorporating VPNs into your digital sovereignty toolkit and why you should stand up for your right to privacy online.

Show...

Bitcoin is difficult to change. How do we reach consensus to change it?. Stephen DeLorme covers Part 2 of the Bitcoin Consensus Analysis Project, highlighting both technical and social layers of reaching consensus. Learn about the roles of various stakeholders in the Bitcoin ecosystem including economic nodes, investors, media influencers, miners, protocol developers, users, and application developers. Discover how stakeholder powers fluctuate throughout the upgrade process, potential risks of bounties leading to chain splits, and methods to gauge community sentiment.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/stephen-delorme-how-does-bitcoin-consensus-work-part-2

00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin Consensus and Bounties

00:51 Event...

Your smartphone is a computing device just like our desktop and laptop computers. How can you have a smartphone that isn't surveilled, censored, controlled, and constrained? Jordan discusses the challenges and solutions for achieving self-sovereignty with mobile devices. He critiques the limitations of iOS and explores the emerging landscape of Linux mobile devices. The episode focuses on de-Googled Android solutions like CalyxOS and GrapheneOS, elaborating on the latter's security features and compatibility with Google Pixel devices. Jordan also provides practical advice on acquiring and setting up these devices for enhanced privacy. Tune in to learn how you can reclaim...

In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme discuss the challenges of app store censorship and explore various alternatives to the Google Play and Apple App Stores. They dive into the Aurora Store, Obtainium, F-Droid, Zap Store, and Accrescent, examining how these platforms can help preserve user privacy and circumvent censorship. Learn about the benefits and limitations of each alternative and get insights on how to take back control of your device's app ecosystem.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/bypass-app-store-censorship

00:00 Introduction to Apple's App Store Policies

00:35 Welcome...

Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme delve into the importance and methods of acquiring non-KYC Bitcoin. They explore peer-to-peer platforms like HodlHodl, RoboSats, and Bisq, discussing their unique features, privacy benefits, and how to effectively use them. Learn how to navigate these decentralized networks to maintain control over your Bitcoin transactions while avoiding the pitfalls of KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone focused on enhancing their financial privacy.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/3-ways-stop-doxing-your-bitcoin

00:00 Introduction

00:21 Welcome to the Sovereign Computing Show

00:37 ATL BitLab Sponsorship and...

Dive into an insightful event recording discussing the technological paradigm shifts as presented in Jeff Booth's 'Price of Tomorrow,' focusing on chapters three and four. From the evolution of computational power, exemplified by Moore's Law, to the implications of self-driving cars and 3D printing, Andrew Lunde covers how new technologies can disrupt existing industries. Learn about the challenges of thinking differently, historical examples of significant cognitive shifts, and the potential future technologies that might surpass even quantum computing. This discussion also explores how technology can create an abundance that challenges traditional economic models based on continuous credit expansion.   Show N...

Whenever you pay for things with a debit/credit card, you're exposing yourself. In this episode, Jordan and Stephen discuss tools you can use to regain some control and privacy with your payments. They cover using Bitcoin & Lightning, virtual debit cards, gift cards, and cash.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/how-to-make-private-payments

00:00 Introduction and Reframing Privacy

00:29 Welcome to the Sovereign Computing Show

00:45 ATL BitLab Sponsorship

01:46 Introduction to Private Payments

02:32 Using Bitcoin for Private Payments

03:33 Challenges with On-Chain Bitcoin Privacy

07:11 Exploring Lightning Network for...

Bitcoin is difficult to change. How do we reach consensus to change it? Nitesh walks us through the first half of the Bitcoin Consensus Analysis Project paper, providing an in-depth analysis of Bitcoin's consensus mechanism and the complexities surrounding protocol upgrades. He discusses the challenges of implementing changes in a decentralized network, the difference between soft forks and hard forks, and various activation methods like Flag Day, BIP 34, BIP 9, and BIP 8. Nitesh also outlines the different stakeholders in the Bitcoin ecosystem—including economic nodes, investors, media influencers, miners, protocol developers, users, and application developers—and their respective incentives and infl...

Google Chrome is not just a browser; it's a surveillance tool. In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Steven DeLorme delve into why Chrome collects vast amounts of your data and discuss more private alternatives. They explore various browsers like Firefox, Brave, and the up-and-coming Ladybird, as well as private search engines such as DuckDuckGo, StartPage, and Kagi. Learn how to take back control of your web browsing experience with privacy-focused tools and strategies.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/is-your-web-browser-spying-on-you

00:00 Google Chrome: The Spy in Your Browser

00:36 Welcome...

In this episode, Rich Lassiter explores the economic insights from Jeff Booth's book, *The Price of Tomorrow.* Rich delves into the 2007-2008 financial meltdown and how experts' misjudgments led to rapid unraveling. He explains the dynamics of trust-based financial systems and the Ponzi-like nature of current economic structures. Rich also covers the transformative power of technology and the unique position of Bitcoin as a true free market, offering a comprehensive breakdown of platform dominance, creative destruction, and the Minsky Moment's impact on modern economies.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/rich-lassiter-first-currency-wars-then-trade-wars-then-real-wars

00:00 Introduction: Currency Wars and...

In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, hosts Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme delve into the importance of self-hosting to maintain control over your digital data. They highlight the benefits of using NextCloud, an open-source suite that can replace Google Drive, iCloud, and other big tech solutions. They discuss various hosting options, including third-party providers like enclaive.io and the ease of self-hosting with StartOS. The episode also explores how to setup photo and file syncing, and why this approach enhances your digital sovereignty.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/pocast/how-to-get-secure-sovereign-personal-file-storage

00:00 Introduction and Personal...

You might not realize it but your phone number is undermining your privacy and digital sovereignty. In this episode of the Sovereign computing show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme discuss the problems with the typical setup that most of use have with phone numbers, SIM cards, & cellular data. Then they detail steps you can take to fix the problem by decoupling phone numbers from service providers, using VoIP numbers, eSIMs, and other tools.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/your-phone-number-is-compromised

00:00 Embracing the Sovereign Computing Mindset
00:50 Introduction to the Sovereign Computing Show
01:05 Sponsorship and C...

Discover how to regain control over your email in this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show with Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme. They outline the three main points of control we've lost in the modern age. Learn about domain separation, alternate email providers, and the power of email aliases to protect your privacy and digital life. Jordan and Stephen provide actionable tips and tools, including how to use SimpleLogin for email aliases, employing different email clients, and even self-hosting your email server.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/three-things-about-email-you-lost-control-of-how-to-fix-it

Deflation is an unstoppable force driven by rapid technological advances, according to Jeff Booth. In this episode, HODLBarbarian helps you explore the concept of deflation and its impacts on the economy through Booth's lens. We discuss why technology is rendering efforts to create inflation irrelevant, and how central banks' inflationary models drive wealth inequality and societal discord. Discover why Booth believes Bitcoin is the ultimate tool for economic transparency and how it's repricing the world, challenging traditional economic paradigms. Join us as we delve into the key ideas from Booth's influential book, 'The Price of Tomorrow,' and unpack the...

You might think that nobody can read your private messages, but chances are, the apps you are using are not as private as you think. In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme discuss how to enhance digital privacy by replacing everyday messaging apps with more secure and sovereign options. They review various messaging applications like Signal, Matrix, and SimpleX, and delve into their benefits and drawbacks.   Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/your-messaging-apps-are-not-private   00:00 Introduction to the Sovereign Computing Show 00:16 Sponsorship and Community at ATL BitLab 01:28 Deep Dive into Instant Messengers 02:23 The Importance of End-to-End En...

Michael Tidwell reveals the secrets of the TABConf 6 Capture the Bitcoin challenge. In this one scavenger hunt breakdown, he demonstrates the flexibility and power of Bitcoin's taproot upgrade and how it can be used to build far more interesting things than just simple sending and receiving of bitcoin.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/michael-tidwell-bitcoin-secrets-revealed-taptree-of-horror

Ready to break free from big tech's grip on your digital life? In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme delve into the essential first steps of reclaiming your privacy by managing your own calendars and contacts. They explore various self-sovereign options, from using Proton's encrypted services to setting up Nextcloud and lightweight WebDAV servers. Learn how to seamlessly integrate these tools with your mobile and desktop devices, ensuring your sensitive personal data stays under your control. Don't miss this essential guide to taking the next steps in your sovereign computing journey.

...

What is sovereign computing? Jordan and Stephen discuss taking back control of your technology to protect your data and ensure that the tools you use are serving your best interest and not the interests of third-parties. Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/what-is-sovereign-computing