Genius WOMEN: Can Bitcoin Devs Save the World? With Nifty Nei
- DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Bitcoin Devs Nifty Nei on Coding, Curiosity, and Why Women Are the Future of Bitcoin
Nifty Nei is a rare unicorn: a woman entrepreneur and Bitcoin developer who makes complex code accessible and fun. From self-taught Android apps in São Paulo to building Bitcoin tools that empower women worldwide, her mission is clear: make Bitcoin development approachable for everyone, especially those traditionally excluded from tech.
This episode is for anyone curious about how Bitcoin actually works under the hood, why developers matter more than influencers, and how women in code are about to change everything.
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✨ Key Takeaways
1. The "Double Unicorn" Journey: From Liberal Arts to Bitcoin Dev
Nifty Nei didn't start as a coder. She calls herself a "Black Swan." While her family were programmers, she studied business and languages. Curiosity eventually led her to code, then to Cash App, and finally to Blockstream. Her story proves you don't need a traditional CS degree to build the future of money.
2. Bitcoin is "Digital Artisanship"
In a world of "move fast and break things," Nifty views Bitcoin development as a craft.
"Artisanship and craftsmanship isn't dead. It is the only thing that makes this world a better place... You do it the right way because it’s the right way to do it." — Nifty Nei
She emphasizes that quality code creates a legacy that lasts for generations.
3. Gamifying the Protocol: The "Bitcoinet" Workshop
Bitcoin can be abstract and scary. To solve this, Nifty created The Workshop (formerly The LARP)—a physical, hands-on game using paper, pencils, and baskets. It allows people to act out the blockchain, verifying transactions and mining blocks manually. Her dream? For every student in America to experience this before they graduate.
4. Women in Tech: The Power of the Invitation
Nifty shares a profound insight on why there aren't more women in dev spaces. Unlike men, who often jump in unprompted, women often wait for an invitation. "Women tend to need to be invited if you want them to participate... We have to make an active effort to invite them." Ladies, consider this your invitation!
5. Hacking the World with BTC++
Nifty organizes BTC++, a developer conference series that is truly global. From Austin to Berlin to Buenos Aires (and now Brazil!), these events bring local and international devs together to hack, build, and innovate on the protocol.
Episode Overview
In this electric episode, I sit down with Nifty Nei (Lisa Neigut)—a true "double unicorn" in the Bitcoin space: a female developer and a visionary educator. We explore her fascinating pivot from a liberal arts background to becoming a core engineer at Blockstream and Cash App. Nifty shares the "Black Swan" journey of how she taught herself to code and eventually found her home building on the Lightning Network.
We dive deep into her mission to demystify Bitcoin for everyone, not just math whizzes. She introduces us to The Workshop (formerly The LARP), her hands-on physical game that teaches the Bitcoin protocol using paper, pencils, and baskets. We also discuss the unique challenges women face in tech, the power of needing an "invitation" to participate, and how she is fostering a global tribe of builders through her BTC++ conference series in places like Austin, Berlin, and Brazil.
This conversation is a reminder that Bitcoin isn't just about "number go up"—it's about "knowledge go up." Whether you are a seasoned bitcoiner or just curious about how the magic internet money actually works, Nifty’s passion for "digital artisanship" and education will leave you inspired.
About Nifty Nei
Nifty Nei (Lisa Neigut) is a Lightning Network Engineer and the founder of Base58, a Bitcoin engineering school. She previously worked at Blockstream on Core Lightning and at Cash App. She is also the organizer of the BTC++ conference series, fostering a global community of Bitcoin builders. She is passionate about making Bitcoin accessible through hands-on education and bringing more diversity into the developer ecosystem.
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⏱️ Episode Timestamps
(00:00:00) Intro: Meeting the "Double Unicorn" Nifty Nei
(00:01:45) The Backstory: From Liberal Arts to Subway Maps & Cash App
(00:04:41) The "Rekt" Moment: Buying at $15k and watching it hit $3k
(00:08:48) Digital Artisanship: Why Bitcoin code must be built to last
(00:16:41) Women in Tech: Why invitations matter & navigating male spaces
(00:24:41) Base58: Why we need a Bitcoin engineering school
(00:29:23) The Workshop: Gamifying Bitcoin with paper, pencils, and baskets
(00:33:00) Personality Types: Why "Intuitives" flock to Bitcoin
(00:42:32) BTC++: Hacking in Brazil and building a global dev tribe
(00:55:38) The Dream: Every student in America learning Bitcoin before graduation
🙋♀️ Common Questions About Bitcoin Development for Beginners
Do I need a tech background to learn Bitcoin development?
No. Nifty learned coding through curiosity and building, not through formal CS degrees. Start with a problem you want to solve (like her subway app). Build it. Learn as you go.
What's the difference between Bitcoin development and general software development?
Bitcoin development means building on or with the Bitcoin protocol (layer 1), or building tools that interact with Bitcoin (wallets, explorers, payment systems, etc.). It requires understanding cryptography, consensus, and game theory—but you can learn these hands-on.
Why should women care about Bitcoin development specifically?
Because developers have real power: they build the tools, set the standards, and shape how technology evolves. If women aren't in Bitcoin development, women's perspectives and needs get missed. Nifty wants to change that.
Can I really earn money as a Bitcoin developer?
Yes. There are Bitcoin companies, startups, open-source projects with bounties, and consulting work. But more importantly: as a developer, you have the skills to participate in the future of money itself.
How do I get started learning Bitcoin?
Nifty recommends: (1) Read the Bitcoin whitepaper (Satoshi Nakamoto) to understand the basics. (2) Join communities like Hacker School, Bitcoin development forums, or Nifty's workshops. (3) Build something small—a wallet, a price tracker, a transaction analyzer. Learn by doing.
Why is Brazil special for Bitcoin development?
Brazil has a growing Bitcoin community, young developers hungry to learn, and real-world use cases for Bitcoin (payments, remittances, store of value). Nifty's workshops will help train developers in emerging markets to build Bitcoin solutions locally.
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📚 Resources & Links Mentioned
Document: Bitcoin Whitepaper by Satoshi Nakamoto
Conference: BTC++ (Bitcoin Plus Plus)
Concept: The Workshop (Physical Bitcoin Game)
📜 Full Episode Transcript
Dj Valerie: Aloha Love Tribe! Guess who I have in the house? I have someone here who is making people understand how Bitcoin works in the most fun, hands-on way. She is a developer, a coder, and she has a new project. I am so excited to have Nifty Nei with me. Welcome, beautiful, how are you?
Nifty Nei: Hey Dj Valerie. I’ve been better; I’ve been a little sick this week, so I look tired, but we’re doing good. We are getting ready for an amazing event in Brazil next month, and I'm trying to get 2025 planned. There is a lot happening.
Dj Valerie: There is so much happening. For my audience who might not know you, I would love for you to give a backstory. Who are you, how did you get into Bitcoin, and what is your mission? You are a rare diamond—a woman in Bitcoin, an entrepreneur, and a developer.
Nifty Nei: I ended up in Bitcoin because I've always been curious. I love learning how systems work, and Bitcoin is a unique system. I actually went to school for business and liberal arts—languages and accounting—not computer science. But that curiosity eventually came back. I really like technology because of how it changes the way people interact and move through the world.
I found out about Bitcoin from hacker friends in New York around 2010/2011. They explained how Proof of Work mining functions, which is the most revolutionary thing; nothing else in the world works like it.
I didn't officially get into Bitcoin until 2018 when I was hired at Cash App as a backend engineer. I had worked in Android product building for half a decade, including at Etsy, but I got bored. Cash App happened to be putting engineers on their Bitcoin team, which was my opportunity. From there, I figured out how to get hired at Blockstream to work on Lightning, and I've been there for about five years now.
Dj Valerie: What does the Bitcoin network mean to you? For people who are nervous about the volatility, why are you here?
Nifty Nei: For me, and specifically regarding Lightning, it is about the ability to do peer-to-peer digital transactions. We are losing physical cash; you can't really travel with it or use it for major commerce anymore because markets are digital. Bitcoin is the first protocol to figure out how to do peer-to-peer exchange in a decentralized way. That is really special.
Working at Blockstream with engineers like Christian Decker, Rusty Russell, and formerly Greg Maxwell, I’ve seen that the caliber of engineering is incredibly high. They care about doing things the right way, not just the fastest way or the way that makes the most money.
Dj Valerie: That reminds me of high time preference vs. low time preference. The younger generation is used to "ship it, break it," but Bitcoiners are like Michelangelo—building something to last for generations.
Nifty Nei: Exactly. Things done right create their own legacy. If you build it to be the most usable, thoughtful product, people will treasure it for years. Craftsmanship isn't dead. Bitcoin has its warts, but it is a beautiful protocol. It is an honor to work in this ecosystem.
Also, Bitcoiners tend to be independent thinkers. You don't get into Bitcoin without being able to make decisions for yourself. Those are the people I want to build a community with. In a modern world full of "Doomer cults" or "AI cults," I am very happy in the Bitcoin community, building money that allows private commerce.
Dj Valerie: You are a leader in a space that is mostly men. When I go to Dev meetups, it’s me and 40 dudes. What is that like for you?
Nifty Nei: Getting older is helpful because you have enough experience to spot patterns. I worked in Android engineering, which is very masculine. It’s harder when you are new because you don't realize that the energy people put on you isn't about you—it’s about their relationship to having a woman in their space.
However, I think women tend to need to be invited to participate, whereas men don't realize that. Men will often just show up in my DMs offering to help. It seems the barrier for men to offer help is lower.
Dj Valerie: I love that framing. A lot of women are not "elbows out" aggressive; they are more receptive. It is nice to have that invitation. I started hosting a women's meetup in Denver, and the ladies love it because they don't feel uncomfortable asking questions.
Dj Valerie: Let’s talk about Base 58 and the Workshop.
Nifty Nei: Base 58 is an engineering school focused on teaching how the Bitcoin protocol works. Understanding the engineering gives you power—you understand the "knobs and levers" you can change. It also allows you to understand proposals. Right now, I'd bet less than 5% of technical Bitcoiners truly understand what is being proposed for protocol changes. We need education to maintain a true consensus system.
Dj Valerie: You have this workshop kit that allows people to "touch" a Bitcoin transaction using strings and baskets. How did you come up with this?
Nifty Nei: It comes from understanding different learning styles (like Myers-Briggs). Most Bitcoiners are "Intuitives" who get abstract concepts. But if we want Bitcoin to be accessible to the majority, including kids, we need to make it sensory.
It’s similar to Singapore Math, where you touch objects before moving to abstract numbers.
The Workshop (formerly the LARP): This is a hands-on, 2-hour game.
It is accurate to the protocol.
You learn what decentralized computing means.
You learn about the mempool (using baskets), coinbase, and verification.
It uses pen, paper, and physical objects.
Dj Valerie: It humanizes the experience. I saw people’s eyes light up when they got to physically "stamp" a transaction as approved.
Nifty Nei: It is fun because newbies can do it, but experienced devs also love it because they see the actual protocol logic. I want every school student in America to do a Bitcoin Workshop before they graduate.
Dj Valerie: Tell us about Bitcoin++ (BTC++).
Nifty Nei: Bitcoin++ is an international conference series for technical and open-source contributors. We are arguably the most international Bitcoin conference.
Last Year: Austin, Buenos Aires, Berlin.
This Year: We are attempting six events in six countries.
Next Event: Brazil (Florianopolis) next month.
It is a four-day event: two days of workshops/lectures and two days of a hackathon. We try to connect local Bitcoiners with global experts. The theme for Brazil is hacking/building. We have people like Super Testnet, Stu from CBD (covenants), and Nicholas Golen (lightning implementation) attending.
Dj Valerie: Who should attend?
Nifty Nei: The main audience is developers, but if you are a VC looking for projects, or someone wanting to become technical, it’s a great place. I am also looking to better serve the VC ecosystem this year, perhaps through newsletters highlighting the "frontier" stuff we showcase.
Dj Valerie: How can people get a hold of the workshop box or follow you?
Nifty Nei:
Email: hello@base58.school (We have kits in stock).
Twitter/X: @NiftyNei
Events: btcplusplus.dev
Dj Valerie: Thank you for taking the time, especially while feeling under the weather. I hope you feel better soon and have a great time in Brazil.
Nifty Nei: Thanks, Dj Valerie. Hopefully, we scale this year and see the community grow.
Dj Valerie: Peace, love, and warm Aloha to everybody!