An interview with BTCpay Server (TLC 2019)

## BTCpay Server Interview (TLC 2019) - Summary

This interview, recorded at TLC 2019, dives deep into BTCpay Server, an open-source, free payment processor designed as a decentralized alternative to services like BitPay. Created in 2017 by Nikoladoria, BTCpay Server arose from a frustration with BitPay's direction and a desire to provide a more community-driven and Bitcoin-centric payment solution. The project essentially rewrote the core engine of BitPay, offering merchants a way to receive Bitcoin payments without intermediaries and associated fees. The project’s philosophy centers on building robust, foundational infrastructure (“towers”) rather than temporary solutions (“bridges”) and emphasizes the importance of user freedom and control over their payments. The interview highlights the growing adoption of BTCpay Server and the vibrant community surrounding its development, particularly focusing on improvements to the Lightning Network user experience and the creation of innovative plugins.

1. Main Topics Discussed:

• Decentralized Payment Processing: BTCpay Server's core purpose as an open-source alternative to centralized payment processors like BitPay.
• History & Motivation: The origins of BTCpay Server, driven by a desire for greater Bitcoin freedom and a critique of BitPay's practices.
• Functionality & Comparison to BitPay: How BTCpay Server functions similarly to BitPay but with key differences: open-source, free, and without third-party involvement.
• Full Node Operation: The importance of running a Bitcoin full node with BTCpay Server for security, verification, and privacy.
• Lightning Network Integration: Support for multiple Lightning Network implementations (LND, C Lightning, Armageddon) and ongoing efforts to expand integration.
• Merchant Payment Verification: The necessity for merchants to verify payments received through BTCpay Server.
• Privacy & Security: Discussion of privacy concerns and the benefits of running a full node and connecting to hardware wallets.
• User Experience (UX) Improvements: Addressing pain points in Lightning Network adoption, such as initial setup and channel refills.
• Software Development & Community Collaboration: The iterative nature of software development and the vital role of community contributions.
• BTC Transmuter Plugin: A new plugin providing fiat conversion rates, automated Bitcoin sales, payment splitting, and Wasabi wallet mixing capabilities.
• Codebase Interconnection: The speaker emphasized the importance of connecting various codebases to foster innovation and collaboration within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

2. Key Quotes:

• "Bitcoin is the honey badger of money, BTC pay server is the honey badger of pay server payments."
• "You always have to make that choice. Do you want freedom or do you want somebody to take care of stuff for you?"
• "What I think we need is towers, things where we can see great into the distance, things that last forever, things that are not walls and not bridges."
• "It's like, that's not a feature [chain analysis]."

3. People Mentioned:

• Nikoladoria: Creator of BTCpay Server.
• Tony Gallippi: Founder of BitPay.
• Keto Miner: Known for his persistence in fixing issues.
• Antents: "The greatest memeer of all time," now CMO of Bippey.
• Casa: Integrating with BTCpay.
• eclair guys: Collaborators on Lightning Network integration.
• Today: Involved in upcoming integrations.
• Bippey: Company where Antents is CMO.

4. Bitcoin Price/Events Mentioned:

• Segwit: A Bitcoin protocol upgrade.
• B2X: Likely referring to the Bitcoin Cash hard fork.
• No specific Bitcoin prices were mentioned.