In this episode, Conor, Open Source product manager at Spiral & Stephen, Product Designer at Voltage & Co founder of ATL Bitlab join Stephan to discuss the current state of Bitcoin user experience, particularly focusing on payments and the challenges faced by users. They explore the comparison between Bitcoin and physical cash, the Western perspective on Bitcoin payments, and the importance of user experience in facilitating Bitcoin transactions. 

They also touch upon various payment protocols like BOLT11, LNURL, and BOLT12, highlighting the need for interoperability and better privacy features in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The discussion also covers resources available for developers and designers to enhance wallet usability and integration.

Takeaways

🔸Bitcoin has excelled as a savings technology.

🔸The payments use case for Bitcoin still needs improvement.

🔸User experience is crucial for Bitcoin adoption.

🔸Comparing Bitcoin to cash highlights privacy concerns.

🔸Western users may not see a payments problem.

🔸Regulatory issues impact Bitcoin payments in the West.

🔸User experience challenges hinder Bitcoin transactions.

🔸Different payment protocols create compatibility issues.

🔸Community collaboration is essential for Bitcoin's future.

🔸Improving interoperability can enhance Bitcoin payments. Wallet compatibility issues can create negative user impressions.

🔸Designers can significantly improve wallet user experience.

🔸Testing compatibility between wallets is essential for user satisfaction.

🔸Tether's integration may boost Bitcoin adoption.

🔸Developers should prioritize payment capabilities before receiving capabilities.

🔸Collaboration between designers and developers can lead to better products.

🔸User experience improvements can be low-hanging fruit for wallet projects.

🔸A global hackathon aims to promote miner decentralization.

🔸Resources like BOLT12 and the Bitcoin Design Guide are valuable for developers.

🔸Engaging with the community can lead to innovative solutions.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:10) - What is the current state of Bitcoin usage - Payments or Savings?

(04:32) - Comparing Bitcoin with physical cash

(07:08) - What is the western perspective on Bitcoin payments?

(11:30) - Would people use Bitcoin more with improved UX?

(17:05) - Exploring payment protocols: Bolt11, LNURL, Bolt12 & BIP353

(23:34) - Sponsors

(30:14) - Navigating Bitcoin wallet compatibility challenges

(34:45) - What is the role of designers in wallet development?

(42:13) - Sponsors

(43:13) - Rumble’s integration of Tether & Bitcoin; The impact of Tether on Bitcoin adoption

(51:22) - Resources for wallet developers and designers

Links: 

• https://x.com/conorokus
• https://x.com/StephenDeLorme 
• https://bolt12.org/  
• https://twelve.cash/ 
• https://bitcoin.design/guide/ 
• https://youtu.be/IWTpSN8IaLE?si=hYjDn7FSICTRoXW8 
• https://minehackers.atlbitlab.com/ 

Sponsors:

• Bold Bitcoin
• CoinKite.com (code LIVERA)
• Lana by Galoy

Stephan Livera links:

• Follow me on X: @stephanlivera
• Subscribe to the podcast
• Subscribe to Substack