Fixing Bitcoin Payments w/ Keith Gardner

In this episode, I sit down with Keith Gardner, founder and CEO of Branta, to unpack a deceptively simple but critical missing piece in Bitcoin: pre‑payment verification. Fresh off the Vegas conference energy, we talk about how real‑world spending still feels nerve‑wracking—from my early Ledger Live panic to sending tuition via an Unchained vault—and why man‑in‑the‑middle risks and fat‑finger errors make many users hesitant to spend. Keith explains how Branta’s zero‑knowledge approach gives wallets a clear green‑light “yes” signal (think: the merchant’s logo you trust) without exposing addresses or payment data, so payments feel as reliable as they should. We also zoom out to the bigger picture: why Bitcoin must deliver both store‑of‑value and medium‑of‑exchange excellence, how better UX (Lightning, ecash, and smarter confirmations) invites everyday spending, and why the “integrity layer” of payments matters for builders, merchants, and users alike. We close by looking ahead to community momentum at Bitcoin Ireland and BTC Prague—and imagining a future where sending sats is safe and obvious, even at 2 a.m. after a show with friends.

• 'Branta (pre-payment verification for Bitcoin & Lightning)': https://branta.pro/
• 'Keith Gardner (Founder & CEO, Branta)': https://www.branta.pro/about
• 'River (Bitcoin exchange and wallet)': https://river.com/
• 'Strike (Bitcoin/Lightning payments app)': https://strike.me/
• 'ZEUS (Bitcoin Lightning wallet)': https://zeusln.com/
• 'Lightning Network (overview and resources)': https://lightning.network/
• 'Zero‑knowledge proof (primer)': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-knowledge_proof
• 'Ecash on Bitcoin (Bitcoin Design Guide)': https://bitcoin.design/guide/how-it-works/ecash/introduction/
• 'Bitcoin Ireland Conference 2026 (Dublin, May 22–25, 2026)': https://bitcoinireland.eu/
• 'BTC Prague 2026 (June 11–13, 2026)': https://btcprague.com/