On the show today, we have Kevin Hurley, CTO and co-founder of LightSpark, dicussing the company's mission to modernize antiquated payment rails by utilizing Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Lightspark aims to enable real-time, low-cost global transactions similar to data packet transfers on the internet. The team set out to simplify complex blockchain concepts for customers, ensuring scalability.

Interesting Takeaways

• Kevin and his team are solving a very complex problem, but bringing forth an incredibly interesting, valuable, and utilitarian solution, in creating a “glue” network for payments.

• Lightspark started out running a full node system for each customer, enabling them essentially to throw more capital at scalability issues. As their implementation and understanding matured, they were able to correct this, while maintaining efficient scalability.

• It was refreshing to hear that the Lightspark team is comprised of “good human beings”. Meaning, Kevin and the team are mostly looking for people who are great to work together, and are passionate about solving the problems they are addressing.

• Even with the perceived scalability of the blockchain and efficient node handling, the Lightspark team are still chasing scalability. And in developing the first product, they still didn’t simplify it enough for early users - they needed more abstraction, which Kevin and his team quickly addressed at the time of launch.

• Super cool that Lightspark was chosen as an integration partner with Coinbase!

Through iterative development, Lightspark created user-friendly solutions like Universal Money Addresses (UMA) to integrate traditional banking with new-age cryptocurrency systems. Kevin emphasizes the importance of a collaborative team culture and the balance between innovation and scalability. Motivated by personal influences, Kevin strives to build a legacy that honors his family and makes global money movement more efficient.

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