Simon is the co-founder of the Mempool Open Source project, an explorer for monitoring Bitcoin transactions, mempool congestion, network fees, and more.

In our conversation, we discussed the value of building Mempool as an open-source, self-hosted project, the Liquid Network’s role as a side chain on Bitcoin, peer-to-peer exchanges like Bisq, and the debate around Bitcoin’s transaction fee sustainability.

→ Mempool: https://mempool.space/

The Lightning Round is sponsored by Voltage, the industry standard in Lightning Network infrastructure.

→ Voltage: https://voltage.cloud?utm_source=kevinrooke&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=1mo

→ Use code KEVINROOKE to get 50% off your first month's Lightning node

The Lightning Round is the show segment where I answer any questions listeners send in over the Lightning Network.

To ask a question, send a message, or to support the show, download Fountain from the iOS or Google Play App Store and load your wallet with a few sats.

→ Fountain: https://www.fountain.fm/

→ Listen to More Episodes: https://play.fountain.fm/show/P6XXuSPg6f2rj4ECB0fT

→ Follow Kevin Rooke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kerooke

→ Lightning Address: ⚡kr@getalby.com

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Simon Intro

03:00 - The Importance of Building Open Source & Self-Hosted Projects

14:41 - The Future of Centralized vs. Self-Hosted Applications

25:57 - The Liquid Network as a Sidechain on Bitcoin

37:31 - Why Haven’t Exchanges Integrated Liquid?

42:00 - Mempool’s Plans to Build a Lightning Explorer

44:33 - Bitcoin’s Mempool & Transaction Fee Sustainability

52:21 - Incentives for Bitcoin Businesses to Move to Lightning & Liquid

56:09 - The Similarities and Differences Between Taro & Liquid

59:45 - The Lightning Round