Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex, shared his views with Bitcoin News on Bitcoin, decentralisation and why financial freedom is core to the mission of Bitfinex.

Spark of InvolvementWhen was the first moment you became passionate about Bitcoin? Where were you, and what makes that moment memorable?

My greatest passion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with technology; my favourite thing to do has been experimenting with how new technologies can be harnessed to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.

I have always been passionate about computers. I started coding at the age of eight and later enrolled in the University of Genoa’s computer science program, from which I graduated in 2008. While conducting research for a military project, I became deeply involved with cryptography and discovered distributed systems. In 2012, I read the Bitcoin white paper and was inspired by the idea that people could take care of their own wealth without relying on banks or other intermediaries. I also realised that Bitcoin could provide access to financial services for millions of unbanked and underbanked people worldwide.

What makes that moment memorable was the combination of my passion for cryptography, finance, and decentralised technology, all coming together in Bitcoin. It was clear to me that this wasn’t just an interesting concept, it was a revolutionary shift that could impact global finance.

Core PhilosophyWhat do you interpret to be Bitcoin’s core philosophy? How do you best embody this ethos on a regular basis?

I interpret Bitcoin’s core philosophy as a commitment to financial freedom, decentralisation, and empowering individuals to take control of their own wealth. Bitcoin represents the idea that financial systems can exist outside of traditional institutions, without relying on intermediaries, while ensuring trust, privacy, and transparency. You can read all about Bitfinex’s philosophy and its Financial Freedom Manifesto here.

I embody this ethos by focusing on developing technologies that enhance decentralisation and expand access to financial services. I am committed to advancing peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies and distributed systems that enable secure, transparent communication, further promoting the ideals of Bitcoin in both finance and beyond.

Defining SuccessIn your particular Bitcoin niche, how do you measure success? Which singular factor contributes most to achieving this metric?

For me, success in Bitcoin isn’t measured by price charts — it’s measured by resilience and real-world usage. If a merchant in Lugano, or a family in Argentina, chooses to hold Bitcoin because they trust its certainty more than their local currency, that’s success.

Bitcoin is the only asset governed purely by math. No central banks, no sudden policy shifts — just 21 million, and a halving every four years. That kind of predictability builds trust. But what makes Bitcoin revolutionary is its peer-to-peer nature — the ability for anyone, anywhere in the world, to transact freely without relying on a bank, a government, or an intermediary. It’s a protocol for human coordination, not just finance.

The single biggest contributor to success in this space is education. Once people understand why Bitcoin exists — not just how it works — they begin to see it as more than a financial tool. They see it as a foundation for freedom, for sovereignty, for resilience in uncertain times.

At Bitfinex, a core part of our mission is to build the tools and infrastructure that empower people to access Bitcoin on their own terms. That includes supporting technologies that reinforce Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer ethos — from open APIs to Lightning integrations to decentralised communication layers. If we can lower the barriers and raise the level of understanding, Bitcoin’s success takes care of itself.

Innovation & CompetitionWhere do you see the greatest potential for innovation within Bitfinex as a leading cryptocurrency exchange?

The greatest potential for innovation at Bitfinex lies in building tools that make financial sovereignty practical and scalable. That means continuing to push the boundaries of performance, security, and openness — not just for traders, but for developers, creators, and communities.

We’re not just a trading platform. Bitfinex is evolving into a high-performance financial technology stack — from lightning-fast APIs for programmatic traders to peer-to-peer protocols that empower free communication and connectivity. One area I’m particularly excited about is integrating P2P infrastructure to build resilience in regions where traditional access to financial tools is limited or under threat.

That’s where real innovation happens — at the edge, where technology meets people’s everyday needs. Whether it’s enabling micropayments via Lightning or building censorship-resistant protocols through projects like Holepunch, our focus is on expanding access, not just liquidity.

Bitcoin MaxiWould you consider yourself a Bitcoin maximalist? If yes, why? If no, why not?

I ultimately believe that Bitcoin is unique — it’s the only truly decentralised, unstoppable asset in the world. It’s ruled by math, not committees. No other network offers that level of predictability, resilience, and trust. That said, I also believe in building tools that serve real people. At Bitfinex, we work across many layers of the ecosystem — from Bitcoin to Lightning to emerging technologies — because our mission is to give users choice, security, and freedom.

Bitcoin is the foundation, the north star, but innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when we take that ethos — decentralisation, openness, and sovereignty — and apply it across everything we build. So no, I don’t reject everything that isn’t Bitcoin. But I do believe Bitcoin is the benchmark — the idea that pushes us to think bigger and build better.

Bridging the DivideWhat lessons from Bitcoin’s “early days” do you wish new entrants knew?

I think one of the most important lessons from Bitcoin’s early days is that this movement was never just about price — it was about principles. Bitcoin emerged as a response to systemic failure. It was a rebellion against opacity, censorship, and the idea that you need permission to own your own money.

Back then, there was a raw energy — a sense of building something for the people, by the people. Today, it’s easy to get distracted by memes, hype cycles, or yield farming, but the core lesson remains: resilience, privacy, decentralisation — these are not features, they are the foundation. If you’re new to the space, I’d encourage you to look beyond the surface. Bitcoin is not just an investment — it’s a technological and philosophical framework for freedom.

Bitcoin EthosHow do you balance Bitcoin’s core ethos with the broader Web3/DeFi ecosystem?

Bitcoin’s core ethos — decentralisation, self-sovereignty, censorship resistance — is the north star. It’s the foundation that everything else in this space should be measured against. At Bitfinex, we take that ethos seriously, not just in what we support, but in how we build. That said, I’m also a technologist. I believe experimentation is healthy, and that the broader Web3 and DeFi ecosystem can offer meaningful innovations — but only if those innovations align with the values that made Bitcoin possible in the first place.

Transparency, user control, and robustness over hype. So the balance is this: we engage with new technologies, but we filter them through the lens of Bitcoin’s principles. If a tool or protocol enhances individual freedom and resilience, we’ll explore it. If it compromises those values, we leave it behind.

Community & CollaborationWho are the most impactful Bitcoin relationships you have in the ecosystem and how do you maintain/nurture them over time?

The most impactful relationships I’ve built in the Bitcoin ecosystem are with people who are focused on building — the developers, educators, and organisers who care deeply about protecting Bitcoin’s core values. Some are public figures, others prefer to stay behind the scenes, but they’re all committed to moving the space forward with integrity. What connects us is a shared commitment to decentralisation, resilience, and freedom. We learn from each other, challenge each other, and support each other through real-world action, not just words.

These relationships are built over time through consistency. I focus on showing up, listening, contributing meaningfully, and staying aligned with the principles that brought us into this space in the first place. That’s how trust is built — through work and shared vision.

RoadmapWhat’s the most impactful service on Bitfinex’s roadmap at the moment and why?

One of the most impactful areas on our roadmap right now is strengthening our institutional-grade infrastructure. We’re seeing growing interest from hedge funds, asset managers, and even traditional trading firms that want exposure to digital assets — but they need reliability, speed, and compliance-ready tools to operate at scale.

At Bitfinex, we’ve always prioritised performance. But now we’re layering on more robust APIs, deeper liquidity across pairs, advanced risk controls, and stronger reporting tools to meet the expectations of professional investors. This isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about continuing to deliver on the standards we set years ago. Bitfinex is one of the original exchanges in the digital assets industry, and we’ve built our reputation on resilient, battle-tested technology that has withstood more than a decade of market volatility.

Bringing more institutional capital into Bitcoin and digital assets is a key part of maturing the ecosystem. We’re building for that future — where traditional and decentralised finance converge without compromising the principles that make this space unique.

Advice to NewcomersWhat advice would you give to a fresh Bitcoiner aiming to leave their mark on the ecosystem?

My advice is simple: focus on building, not branding. The early Bitcoin community wasn’t driven by marketing — it was driven by conviction, code, and a deep belief in freedom. If you’re entering this space to make a name for yourself, start by contributing something useful. Write code, educate others, help improve open-source projects, or build tools that solve real problems.

Don’t chase hype. Bitcoin is deliberate, and resilient — and that’s by design. To leave your mark, you have to align with that rhythm. Study the history, understand the values, and be prepared to work in the shadows for a while before you’re recognised. The people who shaped Bitcoin the most didn’t ask for attention — they earned trust over time.

This ecosystem rewards those who stay curious, stay humble, and keep showing up. That’s how impact is made.

Legacy & ReflectionWhen Bitcoin has reached global adoption, how would you like your contribution to Bitcoin’s history to be remembered?

I don’t need my name written into Bitcoin’s history. What matters most to me is that I contributed to building systems that made Bitcoin more accessible, more resilient, and more useful to everyday people. If I’ve helped strengthen the foundations — whether through technology, infrastructure, or education — that’s enough.

Bitcoin’s story isn’t about any one person. It’s about a global community that believed in an idea and kept building, even when it was hard, even when it was unpopular. If my role in that was helping others find their way into the ecosystem, or giving them the tools to stay sovereign and secure, I’ll consider that a legacy worth leaving.

SatoshiIf you could go back in time and ask Satoshi just one question, what would it be?

I would probably ask Satoshi if he had any clue that he was about to ignite a financial revolution. Because that’s what Bitcoin is – proof that the people can upend the financial status quo and bring about balance and resilience that our global economy needs so desperately. This is only the beginning.

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