
S16E61 - S16 E61: Alan Szepieniec on Privacy, Scaling & Quantum Resistance
Published: December 11, 2025
Duration: 2:41:12
Alan Szepieniec is a cryptographer & systems architect who specializes in Zero Knowledge proofs. He created Neptune Cash, a L1 network which combines ZK STARKs with Proof of Work in order to have a money system that's private, scalable & quantum resistant.
Time stamps:
00:00:00 Intro & Sponsors
00:02:30 Welcome Alan Szepieniec
00:03:02 Alan's Background in Cryptography & Libertarianism
00:05:15 Path to Bitcoin & Privacy Disillusionment
00:07:30 Privacy as Essential for Fungible Money
00:09:44 Network-Level Privacy & Censorship Resistance
00:12:15 Debate on Privacy Improvements in Bitcoin
00:14:01 Scalability Trade-offs with Recursive ZK Proofs
00:17:26 Lightning Network Privacy Limitations
00:22:39 Lightning's Potential for High-Frequency Trading
00:26:41 Custodial Risks & ZK-Proven Custodians
00:31:21 Sponsor: Unstoppable Wallet
00:33:17 Sponsor: Sideshift.ai
00:34:20 ZK-STARKs Explained...