In this episode of Build with Bitcoin, co-hosts Lynne Bairstow and Israel Muñoz welcome Ben Cousens, co-founder of Antidote, a fintech accelerator aimed at fostering Bitcoin innovation in London. Ben shares his journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship, his deep passion for Bitcoin, and the mission behind Antidote. The conversation explores the regulatory landscape in the UK, the strategic positioning of Antidote within London's fintech ecosystem, and the accelerator's unique approach to supporting startups in the Bitcoin space. Ben Cousens discusses the importance of building a diverse investor base for Bitcoin startups, the opportunities in Bitcoin fintech, and the evolution of micro payments and streaming sats. He emphasizes the need for usability and mass adoption of Bitcoin, as well as the balance between open-source and business models, and offers advice on Bitcoin treasury strategies for startups. ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⚡ Get personalized onboarding at River for Bitcoin-only financial services: https://partner.river.com/buildwithbitcoin ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ Chapters 00:00 Intro 06:32 Ben's Journey into Bitcoin 12:44 The Philosophy Behind Antidote 17:54 Regulatory Environment in the UK 22:11 Antidote's Location and Strategic Positioning 24:09 Antidote's Accelerator Program and Services 31:34 Identifying Opportunities in Bitcoin Fintech 35:42 The Evolution of Micro Payments and Streaming Sats 41:52 Usability and Mass Adoption of Bitcoin 46:39 Balancing Open Source with Business Models 49:10 Bitcoin Treasury Strategies for Startups 52:25 Attracting Talent to the Bitcoin Ecosystem References https://antidotebtc.com/ https://x.com/AntidoteBTC https://www.buildwithbitcoin.xyz/ https://x.com/BuildwBitcoin ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ❗ DISCLAIMER: This show is for entertainment purposes only. Before making any decisions, consult a professional.
