April 16th Bitcoin is the only asset governed by pure mathematics” – Paolo Aldoino
In the interview
Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino shared his views on Bitcoin News on Bitcoin, decentralization and why it’s at the heart of Bitfinex’s mission.
- Sparks of involvement
When was your first moment of passion for Bitcoin? Where were you and what makes the moment memorable?
My biggest passion is pushing the boundaries of what technology can do. My favorite thing is to experiment with how new technology can be used to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.
I’ve always been passionate about computers. I began coding at the age of 8 and later enrolled in the Computer Science Program at the University of Genoa, where I graduated in 2008. While researching military projects, I was deeply involved in encryption and discovered distributed systems. In 2012, I was inspired by the idea that I could read a Bitcoin white paper and looked after my wealth without resorting to banks or other intermediaries. We also realized that Bitcoin can provide access to financial services to millions of banks around the world.
What makes the moment memorable is my combination of passion for encryption, finance and decentralized technology, all together in Bitcoin. It was clear that this was not just an interesting concept, but a revolutionary change that could have an impact on global finance.
- Core Philosophy
What do you interpret as a core philosophy of Bitcoin? How is it best to regularly embody this spirit?
I interpret Bitcoin’s core philosophy as a commitment to economic freedom, decentralization, and the empowerment of individuals to control their wealth. Bitcoin represents the idea that a financial system can exist outside of traditional institutions without relying on intermediaries, while ensuring trust, privacy and transparency. Here you can read all about Bitfinex’s philosophy and its manifesto for economic freedom.
I embody this spirit by focusing on developing technologies that will strengthen decentralization and expand access to financial services. I am committed to furthering the ideals of Bitcoin both financial and beyond, with peer-to-peer (P2P) technology and decentralized systems that enable secure and transparent communication.
- Define success
How do you measure success in a particular Bitcoin niche? Which specific factors contribute most to achieving this metric?
For me, success with Bitcoin is not measured on the price chart. It is measured by resilience and real-world use. If a Lugano merchant, or an Argentine family, chooses to hold Bitcoin because they trust its certainty over local currency, it is a success.
Bitcoin is the only asset that is purely controlled by mathematics. There is no central bank or sudden policy shift – just 21 million people, half every four years. Such predictability builds trust. But what makes Bitcoin innovative is its peer-to-peer nature. It is the ability to trade freely anywhere in the world without resorting to banks, governments or intermediaries. This is a protocol for human coordination, not just financial.
Education is the only biggest contributor to success in this field. Once people understand not only how Bitcoin works, but also why Bitcoin exists, they start to see it as more than a financial tool. They view it as a foundation for freedom, sovereignty, and for resilience in uncertain times.
At Bitfinex, the central part of our mission is to build tools and infrastructure that will allow people to access Bitcoin on their own terms. This includes support technologies that enhance the peer-to-peer spirit of Bitcoin, from open APIs to lightning integration to the decentralized communications layer. If you can lower the barriers and raise the level of understanding, then Bitcoin’s success takes care of itself.
- Innovation and competition
Where do you think the greatest potential for innovation within Bitfinex lies as a major cryptocurrency exchange?
The greatest potential for innovation in Bitfinex is to build tools that make economic sovereignty practical and scalable. That means keeping the boundaries of performance, security and openness for traders as well as developers, creators and communities.
We are more than just trading platforms. Bitfinex has evolved into a high-performance financial technology stack, from the Lightning-Fast APIs for programmatic traders to peer-to-peer protocols that enhance free communication and connectivity. One area that I’m particularly excited about is integrating P2P infrastructure to build resilience in areas where traditional access to financial tools is limited or under threat.
That’s where real innovation occurs at the edge where technology meets people’s everyday needs. Whether we enable micropayments via lightning or build protocols that can withstand censorship through projects such as HolePunch, our focus is on expanding access as well as liquidity.
- Bitcoin Maxi
Do you think you’re a Bitcoin maximalist? If yes, why? If no, why?
Ultimately, we believe that Bitcoin is unique. It is the only decentralized, unstoppable asset in the world. It is governed by mathematics, not by committee. No other networks offer that level of predictability, resilience, or confidence. That being said, I also believe in building tools that will help real people. At Bitfinex, our mission is to provide users with choice, security and freedom, so we work on many layers of our ecosystem, from Bitcoin to lightning, lightning, and new technologies.
Bitcoin is the foundation and North Star, but innovation does not occur in a vacuum. It happens when we take that spirit (decentralization, openness, sovereignty) and apply it to everything we build. No, I don’t reject everything that isn’t bitcoin. But I believe Bitcoin is the benchmark – an idea that pushes us to think bigger and build better.
- Filling the division
What lessons from the “early” of Bitcoin should know new entrants?
I think one of the most important lessons from the early days of Bitcoin is that this movement was not merely priced, it wasn’t about principles. Bitcoin has emerged as a response to systemic disorders. It was opacity, censorship and rebellion against the idea that you needed permission to own your own money.
At the time there was raw energy. It’s the feeling of building something for people, for people. Today, it’s easy to be distracted by memes, hype cycles, or harvest farming, but the core lessons remain: resilience, privacy, decentralization – these are the foundations, not functions. If you are new to space, I recommend you look beyond the surface. Bitcoin is not just an investment, it is a technical and philosophical framework for freedom.
- The spirit of Bitcoin
How do you balance the core spirit of Bitcoin with the broader Web3/Defi ecosystem?
The core spirit of Bitcoin – decentralization, self-reinforcement, censorship resistance – is the North Star. Everything else in this space is the foundation to be measured. At Bitfinex, we take that spirit seriously, not just in what we support, but in how we build it. However, I am also an engineer. The experiments are healthy and I think the broader Web3 and Defi ecosystem can provide meaningful innovations, but only if those innovations match the value that enabled Bitcoin in the first place.
Transparency, user control, and robustness to hype. This is the balance. engage in new technologies, but filter them through the lens of Bitcoin principles. If a tool or protocol increases individual freedom and resilience, explore it. If that damages these values, we leave it.
- Community and collaboration
Who is the most influential bitcoin relationship in the ecosystem?
The most influential relationships I have built in the Bitcoin ecosystem are those who focus on building, such as developers, educators, organizers and others who are deeply interested in protecting Bitcoin’s core values. Some are public figures, others prefer to stay behind the scenes, but they are all committed to moving the space forward with integrity. What connects us is a common commitment to decentralization, resilience and freedom. We learn from each other, challenge each other, support each other not only through words but real-world actions.
These relationships are built over time through consistency. I focus on the contributions that appear, hear and make sense, in line with the principles that brought us to this space first. That’s how you build trust – through work and shared vision.
- Roadmap
What is the most influential service on Bitfinex’s roadmap at this time? What is the reason?
One of the most influential areas of our current roadmap is strengthening the infrastructure within our facilities. While interest is growing from hedge funds, asset managers and traditional trading companies looking to have exposure to digital assets, operating at scale requires reliable, speed and compliance tools.
At Bitfinex, performance is always our priority. But now we are layering more robust APIs, deeper liquidity across pairs, advanced risk control, and more powerful reporting tools to meet the expectations of professional investors. This is not about following trends, but about continuing to provide the standards set a few years ago. Bitfinex is one of the original exchanges in the digital asset industry, building a reputation for resilient combat testing technology that has endured over a decade of market volatility.
Bringing more institutional capital into Bitcoin and digital assets is an important part of ecosystem maturation. We’re building for that future. Traditional and decentralized finance converges without undermining the principles that make this space unique.
- Advice for newcomers
What advice would you give fresh Bitcoiners, aiming to leave their mark in the ecosystem?
My advice is simple. Focus on the building, not on the branding. The early Bitcoin community was driven not by marketing, but by deep beliefs in belief, code, and freedom. If you’re in this space to make a name for yourself, start by contributing something useful. Write code, educate others, help improve open source projects, and build tools to solve real-world problems.
Don’t chase the hype. Bitcoin is intentional and resilient – it is by design. To leave a mark, you must adjust to that rhythm. Study history, understand the value, and be prepared to work in the shadows for a while before it is recognized. Those who most shaped Bitcoin didn’t ask for attention – they gained trust over time.
This ecosystem rewards those who remain curious, humble and appear. That’s how the impact will be made.
- Legacy and reflection
When Bitcoin reaches global adoption, how do you want to remember its contribution to Bitcoin’s history?
You don’t need a name written in Bitcoin history. Most importantly for me, it helped me to build a system that is more accessible, more resilient and more useful for everyday people. If you help us strengthen our foundations through technology, infrastructure and education, that’s enough.
Bitcoin stories are not about one person. It’s about a global community that believed in ideas and continued to build, whether it was difficult or unpopular. If my role in it helps others find a way into the ecosystem or gives them the tools to maintain their sovereignty and remain safe, I consider the legacy worthy of leaving.
- Satoshi
If you could go back in time and ask Satoshi one question, what would it be?
Perhaps they’ll ask Satoshi if there were any clues that he was trying to ignite a financial revolution. Because that’s Bitcoin. It is proof that people can overturn their financial position and bring about the balance and resilience that our global economy desperately needs. This is just the beginning.
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