In this episode of the Crypto 101 Podcast, Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex, shares the incredible journey of helping build one of crypto’s oldest surviving exchanges through hacks, market crashes, and multiple Bitcoin cycles. Paolo explains why Bitfinex eliminated trading fees, how tokenized securities could unlock capital access for emerging markets, and why Bitcoin remains the ultimate hedge against global instability.

The conversation dives deep into Lightning Network scaling, AI agents transacting with Bitcoin, institutional adoption, and why self-custody still matters despite the rise of ETFs. Paolo also gives his perspective on quantum computing risks, Bitcoin’s future beyond the four-year cycle, and why owning even one Bitcoin could become life-changing.

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Paolo Ardoino joins the Crypto 101 Podcast
• 02:00 – From hacker to CTO of Bitfinex
• 06:30 – Surviving the 2016 Bitfinex hack
• 10:00 – Why Bitfinex removed trading fees
• 15:00 – Tokenized securities and emerging markets
• 20:00 – Why options trading never took off in crypto
• 24:30 – ETFs, institutions, and Bitcoin self-custody
• 29:30 – Lightning Network, AI agents, and Bitcoin payments
• 35:00 – Quantum computing vs Bitcoin explained
• 40:00 – Why owning 1 Bitcoin could become life-changing

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Music Credit: “Fog” by DIZARO — Creative Commons CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download/Stream | Promoted by Audio Library

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always do your own research before investing.