Bitcoin Core contributor Peter Todd has joined the MARA Foundation as lead maintainer of Slipstream, the organization's private mempool service for Bitcoin miners. The appointment was announced Thursday.
Slipstream enables users to send Bitcoin transactions directly to MARA Pool without routing through Bitcoin's public peer-to-peer network. Because transactions remain private until confirmed in a block, the service protects transaction details and public key information from exposure before settlement.
The service gained attention following a July exploit of Coldcard hardware wallets that resulted in over $115 million in stolen user funds. By keeping transactions private during the confirmation process, Slipstream helps mitigate certain attack vectors that target unconfirmed transaction data.
In his new role, Todd will oversee development and operation of the service. "I most look forward to seeing what's possible on Bitcoin — using Slipstream as a proving ground for experimental development and protocol innovation," Todd said.
MARA's Slipstream has been used for various projects since drawing attention in 2024. The service has published large Ordinals inscriptions and supported research initiatives including Quantum Safe Bitcoin and Binohash, a mechanism designed to emulate covenants without requiring a soft fork.
Todd is a veteran Bitcoin developer with a history of contributions to Bitcoin Core. He co-authored BIP 125 on replace-by-fee transactions, created OpenTimestamps, and in 2024 launched Libre Relay, a Bitcoin Core fork featuring relaxed relay rules for non-standard transactions. Todd has advocated that mempool policy should align with market demands rather than restrict user behavior.
