In this special update, we look back on the second half of 2023, highlighting some of the updates to our portfolio of Bitcoin infrastructure products and progress made on the precipice of Bitcoin research and development.

https://blog.blockstream.com/blockstream-quarterly-h2-24/

Several new projects in recent months have been leveraging the layer-2 interoperability of Lightning and Liquid. Some of these projects include Boltz, Alby, and the Green and AQUA wallets. During a recent discussion on our Blockstream Talk podcast, Christian Decker, Head Greenlight engineer, elaborated on the benefits of a Lightning over Liquid (LoL) network. He explained how it would be seamlessly compatible with Lightning over Bitcoin, allowing for improved scaling and opening up new use cases for Bitcoin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQwAMwvLNA&t

We've just shipped Blockstream Talk #37 featuring one of the most important contributors to the open-source Liquid and Elements projects, and the Co-Founder of Vulpem Ventures, Marco Argentieri.


Jesse Knutson and Marco delve into Bitcoin layer-2 scaling solutions, from Liquid to Lightning and Ark, and discuss the incredible tools Marco has developed on Liquid, such as Marina Wallet, Fuji Money, and Tdex. They also cover covenants, sharing UTXOs, and bitcoin atomic swaps with Vulpem's latest offering, Banco. Dive into this conversation now to stay at the forefront of Bitcoin development.

📺 Watch: https://youtu.be/RObIWrDmH7U
🎧 Listen: https://blockstream-talk-23225031.simplecast.com/episodes/developing-bitcoin-commerce-with-layer-2s-and-vulpem-ventures-featuring-marco-argentieri-blockstream-talk-37

A proposed solution to #Bitcoin scalability and lack of expressivity is the addition of new covenant opcodes. Each new covenant proposal has its own advantages, disadvantages, and trade-offs, but all include a certain level of Miner Extractable Value (MEV) risk. Given these inherent traits in the nature of programmable money, what level of risk is acceptable?

We explore this question by examining MEV and the limitations of Bitcoin Script. We also look at some of the covenant proposals, such as CAT + CSFS and CTV, as well as the new Simplicity blockchain language, an alternative to Bitcoin Script that is more expressive with static analysis and formal verification.

The latest from Blockstream Research:

https://blog.blockstream.com/miner-extractable-value-mev-and-programmable-money-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

Most institutional blockchain projects have avoided using Bitcoin as a technical foundation due to its restricted-by-design nature. Yet, it's precisely Bitcoin's conservative approach to development strategy and design, epitomized by architectural choices like the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model, that gives it the robustness that financial institutions need.

Contrasted with the account model and overemphasis on smart contracting utilized by altcoin chains like Ethereum and Solana, Bitcoin's careful design may position it as the ideal starting point for operationally sound financial infrastructure that will ultimately disrupt the status quo.

Read more from our Chief Product Officer, Jeff Boortz:

https://blog.blockstream.com/why-bitcoins-utxo-model-is-best-for-blockchain-based-finance/

After three months and 418 commits submitted by 36 contributors, the latest release of Core Lightning, v24.02, codenamed "Uint Needs Signature," is now out!

While mainly a maintenance release, there are numerous changes that node operators will love, as well as some under-the-hood improvements that will make it simpler and more affordable for users to run CLN, including:

⚡️Testnet fix
⚡️New recovery plugin for greater reliability
⚡️Optimization of block process (now >50% faster)
⚡️The gossip_store file can now be shared among multiple nodes
⚡️Bonus: Dual funding has officially been added to the Lightning spec!

Read more on the official Blockstream blog:

https://blog.blockstream.com/core-lightning-v24-02-uint-needs-signature/

Yesterday, we joined forces with leading digital assets platform Bitfinex Securities for the launch of ‘Bitcoin Capital,’ a new virtual roundtable series designed to explore the dynamic intersection of blockchain technology and traditional finance.

The first hour-long session featured legendary cryptographer and Bitcoin pioneer Dr. Adam Back, CEO and co-founder of Blockstream, and Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex Securities. Together, they explored a range of topics, touching on everything from the projected impact of the recent Bitcoin ETF approvals to the role of tokenization in transforming the issuance of traditional financial instruments like securities, bonds, and even mortgages.

Get the recap below:

https://blog.blockstream.com/blockstream-and-bitfinex-securities-launch-new-bitcoin-capital-virtual-roundtable-series/

Last year, we improved upon Green's security and privacy fundamentals by wholly redesigning the mobile wallet for a more refined self-custody experience. In the latest 2.0.0 release of Green Desktop, users will get this same refreshed experience, including a more user-friendly interface for hardware wallet users, the ability to have one recovery phrase for both your Bitcoin and Liquid accounts, an all-new dashboard with Bitcoin price and fees, and much more!

https://blog.blockstream.com/blockstream-green-2-0-a-new-accessible-experience-for-bitcoin-desktop-wallets/

We've just released episode #38 of Blockstream Talk, featuring insights from Blockstream Liquid Engineer Byron Hambly. We delve deep into Bitcoin's scalability, the development of layer-2 solutions and explore crucial topics like the blockchain trilemma and covenants on Bitcoin. We also discuss the significance of interoperability between the Lightning and Liquid networks for the global south.

🎧 Listen: http://tinyurl.com/blockstreamtalk38
📺 Watch: https://youtu.be/Jn-XKKcQ-NA

Building Bitcoin infrastructure is at the core of what we do at Blockstream. Feedback from the community is essential so we can continue providing developers with the best resources and tools to succeed.

Please share your insights and help us refine our resources for Core Lightning, Greenlight, Elements, and other open-source Bitcoin projects. The survey is short and anonymous!

https://form.typeform.com/to/LR4l7nxY

Are you curious about Shamir's Secret Sharing and how it compares to multisignature regarding Bitcoin wallet security and backups? Learn directly from the Director of Blockstream Research, Andrew Poelstra, in these two video shorts:

Shamir's Secret Sharing overview:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Wx0B-prSU]

How it differs from multisignature:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1vus8_yOsw]

Check out episode #39 of Blockstream Talk! Host Jesse Knutson chats with Andrew Howard and Raúl Velasquez from JAN3 about Aqua wallet's innovative approach to Tether and Bitcoin. Discover JAN3 Financial's role in driving institutional adoption and its influence on global policies. Plus, get the scoop on Aqua's upcoming BTCmap integration and collaboration with Botev Plovdiv.

🎧 Listen: https://tinyurl.com/blockstreamtalk39
📺 Watch: https://youtu.be/i1kxB7JnX84

In our latest tutorial, we discuss the why and how of Bitcoin multisignature and demo setting up a 2-of-3 solution using the Blockstream Jade hardware wallet in two different wallet apps: Specter and Sparrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ5Xckqb4CI

Join the live premiere of Bitcoin Capital #2 with Tuur Demeester and Adolfo Contreras for a deep dive into blockchain's impact on economic empowerment in developing regions. Drawing on the works of from Hernando De Soto and Nick Szabo, we'll explore:

🌍 Turning extralegal assets into viable capital
🔐 Using Liquid technology to bridge trust gaps
📈 Making capital markets more accessible

Don't miss this opportunity to uncover potential game-changers for the Global South's economy. Hosted by Jesse Knutson of Bitfinex Securities, mark your calendars for April 16rd, 12:00PM EST 🌎 / 6:00 PM CEST 🌍.
Register here ⬇️
https://blockstream.com/bitcoin-capital/

As the Liquid Network's technical provider, Blockstream is committed to making it easier to build on Liquid and the broader L2 ecosystem. These recent development efforts have culminated in the new Liquid Wallet Kit (LWK), a collection of Rust tools to build Liquid wallets.

The aim of LWK is to provide all the necessary building blocks for Liquid wallet applications development and simplify the life of developers by addressing common pain points of the current tooling. We want LWK to be a reference tool that can help reduce friction for Liquid integration, define ecosystem standards and productionize Liquid innovation.

Read more about what you can build with LWK today:

https://blog.blockstream.com/lwk-liquid-wallett-kit/

Blockstream manages a number of official accounts across social media to engage with our users and guide them in using our technologies and products. Please refer to the list below to confirm our verified channels and refrain from joining fraudulent groups, which may lead to loss of funds or inaccurate information.

Note: Blockstream employees will never DM you first on Telegram. If you have a general support question and are unfamiliar with Telegram, we recommend asking on the official Blockstream subreddit. If the question is more specific and includes personal information, fill out a Help Center ticket. Both linked in the article below.

https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/31394615728665-Official-Blockstream-Social-Channels

Explore the power of atomic swaps on Liquid and exchanging assets peer-to-peer using the Blockstream Jade hardware wallet and the SideSwap app in the latest Blockstream Deciphered demo.

https://youtu.be/Cm2XQWH2SRc

Grassroots outreach and action, especially through local Bitcoin meetups, have been instrumental in transforming Bitcoin from a niche technology into a permanent fixture in finance.

Bitcoin's narrative is not shaped, for example, by an official marketing department or spokesperson, but by the persistent efforts of everyday people like you. This is why we are launching Blockstream Local, a new initiative designed to empower communities with the necessary tools and support to carry forward the legacy of grassroots Bitcoin education.

By joining Blockstream Local, your meetup will receive curated education resources, early access to new Blockstream products, and the ability to create a revenue stream, all of which can significantly amplify impact in your local community.

Read more and learn how to register today:

https://blog.blockstream.com/blockstream-local-meetup-support-and-grassroots-bitcoin-education/

Blockstream Talk #40, featuring Relai app CTO Adem Bilican, is out now! Tune in as we discuss the integration of non-custodial Lightning for over 100K European customers utilizing Greenlight.

🎧 Listen: https://tinyurl.com/blockstreamtalk40

📺 Watch: https://youtu.be/a2tVgHiY0f4