What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the cryptocurrency underlying Value4Value payments in Podcast 2.0. Through the Lightning Network, listeners can stream satoshis (the smallest Bitcoin unit: 0.00000001 BTC) to podcasters while listening.
Bitcoin Basics for Podcasters
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | The cryptocurrency |
| Satoshi (sat) | Smallest unit (100,000,000 sats = 1 BTC) |
| Lightning | Fast payment layer for micropayments |
| Wallet | Software to send/receive Bitcoin |
Bitcoin Units in Podcasting
| Unit | BTC Value | USD Equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 BTC | 1.0 | ~$50,000-100,000 |
| 1,000,000 sats | 0.01 | ~$500-1,000 |
| 10,000 sats | 0.0001 | ~$5-10 |
| 1,000 sats | 0.00001 | ~$0.50-1.00 |
| 100 sats | 0.000001 | ~$0.05-0.10 |
| 1 sat | 0.00000001 | ~$0.0005-0.001 |
*Values vary with Bitcoin price
Why Bitcoin for Podcasting
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Global | Works anywhere without banking |
| Permissionless | No approval needed |
| Micropayments | Lightning enables tiny amounts |
| Direct | No platform intermediary |
| Borderless | Same system worldwide |
Getting Started with Bitcoin
For receiving V4V payments:
- Install a Lightning-compatible wallet
- Generate your receiving address (pubkey)
- Add address to your podcast settings
- Payments arrive automatically
Popular podcast-friendly wallets:
- Alby (browser extension)
- Fountain (podcast app with wallet)
- Breez (mobile wallet)
- Phoenix (simple mobile wallet)
Why It Matters
Bitcoin enables a monetization model impossible with traditional payments—direct, global, instant micropayments from listeners to creators without any intermediary.
Why Bitcoin matters for podcasters:
-
No minimums: Receive payments of any size, even fractions of a cent.
-
No platform cut: 100% of listener payments reach you (minus tiny network fees).
-
Global reach: Listeners anywhere can support you—no payment processor restrictions.
-
Instant settlement: Payments arrive immediately while listeners enjoy your content.
Bitcoin vs traditional podcast monetization:
| Factor | Advertising | Patreon | Bitcoin V4V |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 30-40% | 5-12% | 0% |
| Minimum audience | Often 5K+ | Any | Any |
| Geographic limits | Some | Some | None |
| Payment timing | 30-90 days | Monthly | Instant |
The volatility consideration: Bitcoin price fluctuates significantly. Most V4V podcasters either:
- Convert to local currency quickly
- Hold Bitcoin as an investment
- Use stablecoins where available
Practical reality: Bitcoin V4V audience is currently small (1-5% of podcast listeners). But these listeners are highly engaged, and the model may grow as adoption increases.