TFTC: A Bitcoin Podcast #686: Living on a Bitcoin Standard in 2026 with Steve Lee
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Nov 22, 2025 In this discussion, Steve Lee, a Spiral engineer focused on Bitcoin infrastructure, delves into the future of Bitcoin as everyday currency. He explains how daily usage bolsters Bitcoin's resilience and the idea of being both a long-term holder and active user. Lee shares insights on living on a Bitcoin standard, the challenges and advancements in Lightning technology, and how grassroots efforts can drive merchant adoption. He addresses misconceptions about Lightning's growth and emphasizes the need for patience and strategic investment in the cryptocurrency's future.
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Accept Multiple Subsystems
- Don't expect one silver-bullet subsystem to serve every use case soon; accept multiple subsystems.
- Use Lightning as backbone glue so users can send and receive Bitcoin across diverse platforms.
Mobile UX Improved, Merchants Lead
- Lightning mobile UX has improved and can serve tens of millions, though it won't cover everyone.
- Merchant acceptance may be Lightning's stronger initial sweet spot than individual mobile-first adoption.
Metrics Can Mislead On Lightning
- Public Lightning metrics like capacity understate real usage because operators optimize efficiency.
- Private data shows sustained strong monthly payment growth despite flat visible capacity.