Dive into Bitcoin's 2024 technical landscape with NVK. We dissect the impact of covenants and CheckTemplateVerify (CTV) on smart contracting and scalability, analyze OP_RETURN's usage, and evaluate the Lightning Network's potential for scaling. We also ponder Layer 2's self-custody significance, tackle block spam concerns with node filters, and delve into transaction developments brought by SegWit and Taproot. Additionally, we discuss BRC20 implications and assess the Mempool's health score. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:20 - An understanding of the Mempool health score and what it indicates about the Bitcoin network's efficiency and congestion. 06:31 - The technical intricacies and implications of implementing covenants in Bitcoin. 09:01 - The advancements in transaction structures and efficiency brought by the Taproot update. 09:01 - Insights into the potential and challenges of BRC20 tokens or standards on the Bitcoin network. 11:34 - The role and impact of OP_RETURN in Bitcoin transactions. 13:41 - Challenges and opportunities in scaling the Lightning Network. 25:59 - The importance of self-custody in Bitcoin's Layer 2 solutions. 48:46 - How CheckTemplateVerify (CTV) could revolutionize smart contracting and enhance Bitcoin's scalability. Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Link to NVK’s Cold Card Hardware wallet. Link to NVK’s AI website. Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here. NEW TO THE SHOW? Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here. Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool. Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services. Stay up-to-date on financial markets and investing strategies through our daily newsletter, We Study Markets. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors: River Toyota Linkedin Marketing Solutions Fidelity Efani Shopify NDTCO Fundrise Wise NetSuite TurboTax Vacasa NerdWallet Babbel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices