DiffuseTap Podcast

What sparked India’s rapid fintech evolution? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Neha Singh, Co-Founder of Tracxn, about the rapid rise of India’s fintech sector, the synergy of government and private efforts, and key takeaways for the US fintech scene.

How is the changing landscape of VC impacting the exit strategies for startups? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Michael Blakey, Managing Partner at Cocoon Capital, about the true drivers of VC decision-making, the often-overlooked impact of their advisory roles, and the speculative nature of their investments, particularly in the high-stakes tech landscapes.

What separates the most successful VCs from the rest? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Asher Siddiqui, General Partner at Sukna Ventures, about the common myths in launching a VC firm, the essential contributions from GPs, and success strategies employed by top VCs to thrive in this competitive field.

Could Bitcoin’s adoption of ordinals shift the power dynamics in the crypto world Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Amanda Terry, Co-Founder & COO at OnChainMonkey, about what Bitcoin ordinals are, how they compare to NFTs on Ethereum, and what it could mean for the art industry.

How long will crypto remain tethered to the inefficiencies of traditional finance? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Matt Scharpf, Director of Business Development at Cboe Digital, about what tradfi elements are present in every crypto product, why crypto still needs old tradfi processes to participate in the market, and who will lead the way in a truly crypto-led finance framework.

Are we on the cusp of a DeFi 2.0 era? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked David Martin, Head of Institutional Coverage at FalconX, about how the DeFi customer base has changed in the last 3 years, how ETFs have impacted the space, and what happened to crypto perpetual futures and options.

Could an investment banker underwriter make or break a token launch? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Gary Sheynkman, Venture Partner at Further Ventures, about how critical investment banker underwriters are for launching new tokens, how fintech companies incubate with their first client, and what makes the micro PE model more effective than a traditional incubator.

How can organizations ensure women have a clear path to leadership? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Dennis Mellen, CEO of Full Throttle Leadership, about the persisting challenges to creating inclusivity in the workplace, what we need to do to diversify entire industries, and building fair pay expectations for all genders.

What are data availability companies and why are they so valuable? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Edwyn Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of MultiAdaptive, about the concept of data availability and where it came from, what new projects are enabled by this surprisingly old idea, and why businesses in this area have impressively high valuations.

Could a lack of back office muscle be a major roadblock for institutional investment in crypto? Next on DiffuseTap, we ask Norman Hannawa and Perry Woodin of NODE40 about what back office tools traditional finance has but crypto doesn’t, how having underdeveloped tool infrastructure can stifle innovation in crypto, and what innovative solutions are available in this space.

How close are AI agents to becoming as smart as humans? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Jason Sosa, Founder and CEO of Azara.AI, what state of the art AI agents can do, which companies are leading the AI agent revolution, and the best and worst case scenarios of AI agents becoming a part of our daily lives.

What lessons can U.S. traders learn from South Korea to seize lucrative arbitrage opportunities? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Jiho Kang, Partner at Antler, about why crypto arb trading in South Korea has become so popular worldwide, why forex and crypto regulations in South Korea make it hard to execute these trades, and some successful arb strategies we’ve seen so far.

What happens when your citizenship is only digital and not physical? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Lauren Razavi, Director of Special Projects at SafetyWing, about the benefits of becoming a citizen of a digital country, what is the target market for these types of services, and why a standard citizenship is not enough today.

Can AI-powered education truly reach everyone, everywhere, and teach anything? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari, Inc. and Chairman of ExoDexa Holdings, Inc., about the biggest problems with online learning today, the growing market for AI-powered teaching solutions, and the vast possibilities for personalized, scalable education.

Do you know the origins of the data that powers the AI you use every day? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Jeff Turner of Chapman University and Kate Lynch of NeoSpace about what is ethical or unethical about LLMs today, how gaps in data make AI biased, and what has happened to AI LLMs in the last year that make decentralization important now.

In a world of “fake it till you make it,” can blockchain separate the career pros from the posers? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Dror Gurevich, Founder and CEO of Velocity Career Labs, about putting proof of expertise on the blockchain, who will be able to enter and validate this information, and how non-institutional expertise can be tracked on the blockchain.

Did tradfi “miss” the crypto boom on purpose or by accident? Next on DiffuseTap, we ask Ken Arnold, Managing Director at Everglades Parkland Advisors, about what has kept traditional finance on the fence about crypto, what needs to change for wealth managers to get started, and what macro changes will make crypto investable.

Are digital artists becoming the lottery ticket of the investment world? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Michael Masucci, Director at EZTV Online Museum, about what has happened in the digital arts space in the last 70 years, whether NFTs are a distribution platform or an art form, and how investors can discover digital assets that could increase in value.

Can crypto unlock a new era of data control and… can consumers finally be fairly paid for their data? last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Andrew Chen, Co-Founder of Graffle, about owning data versus using free data from the internet, how data provenance would change if all data was on-chain, and how regulators are addressing key risk factors in data management.

Can self-custody and sophisticated wallets shield your crypto from new hacker tricks? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Cody Brown, Founder of Security Research Group, about how crypto cyber security has changed in the last year, what the characteristics of hacks are today, and what investors can do to protect themselves.

Can we transition all treasuries and stocks onto the blockchain? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Ryan McRobert and Ryan Mitteness of Fenwick & West about whether tokenized and on-chain stocks and treasuries are better, who wants to put treasuries on-chain in the first place, and what are the technical and regulatory hurdles to make it happen.

What is the secret sauce to a successful startup? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Jiho Kang, Partner at Antler, about how to tell whether a founder is bound to fail or to succeed, why some founders quit early and others persevere, and what lessons can be learned from failed founder partnerships.

What does it take to find the next unicorn? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Jennifer Byrne, General Partner at Grit Capital Partners, about how to spot hot technology trends early on and take advantage of them, what are the characteristics of a startup that could execute the next big thing, and how to manage risk when investing in brand new innovations.

Are hybrid products the key to unlocking broader institutional crypto adoption? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Cato Felan III, Co-Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner at La Hoja Capital Partners, about what hybrid digital asset and TradFi products are, what purpose they serve in the investment marketplace, and what the technical complexities of offering these products are.

Zero-fee money transfers: Future reality or just a fintech fantasy? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Todd Crosland and Fiona Naughton of CoinZoom how they are eliminating high money transfer fees, why the average person pays so much in fees today, and how CoinZoom is able to profit from a 0% money transmission fee business model.

Can our tax dollars accelerate innovation in sustainable food? Next on DiffuseTap, we ask Ian Hedrick, Founder of City Farmers, why the agriculture department is investing $3B into the food sector, whether a non-profit structure is well suited for farming innovation investments, and discuss the ethicality of de-risking farming and sustainability investments with tax and philanthropy money.

Can we ever defy astronomical prices in space ventures? Last time on DiffuseTap, we ask Kate Lynch and Mike Scardera of NeoSpace about how space technology has evolved in the last decade, what impact Elon Musk and others have made on the space economy, and the main factors that contribute to the high cost of developing and launching space tech. Then they will dive into the future of affordability and space infrastructure.

How can traditional supply chains make the most of the blockchain revolution? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Todd Ziegler, Founder and CEO of TruckCoinSwap, about how Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) works, how transportation and supply chain are optimized on a blockchain infrastructure, and which exchanges use this model.

Can crowds crack the code of illness prediction? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Brigitte Piniewski, HealthTech Founder at BlockHealth, about how blockchain could be game-changing for the healthcare industry’s predictive capabilities, how AI can help make health data more actionable, and which groups are taking the lead in health data innovation.

After the 2022 crypto shakeup, how has the hunt for top talent changed? Last time on DiffuseTap, we ask Emily Landon and Trevor Talley of The Crypto Recruiters about the crypto talent market of the last 18 months, red flags to look out for as people from collapsing firms have flooded the market, and whether TradFi people are cut out of crypto leadership roles.

Did you know that Master Accounts are the Achilles’ heel of a fair US banking system? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Zev Shimko, Co-Founder at Custodia Bank, about why banks set up a master account with the Fed, why they are so important… why they’re not available to Fintechs, and how master account access has impacted the digital asset banking industry more than you’d think.

Is the future of Bitcoin mining a gold rush? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Todd Esse, Founder of HashWorks Digital Industries, about how a crypto mining fund operates through crypto winters, how it hedges against energy costs, and whether the rise of Bitcoin prices can revive flailing mining companies.

Are AI Chatbots just another tech bubble? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Ryan Leusch, Founder of Unchain3d, about the different phases of the AI industry, how the technology could evolve this rapidly over the last year, and why ChatGPT just isn’t enough.

Will 2024 be the year when crypto products rule the industry growth story again? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Stevie Cline, Managing Director at Vol. 1 Ventures, about emerging crypto projects poised to disrupt the market, critical factors leading to the downfall of certain protocols, and the evolving role and performance of NFTs in the current financial year.

In the high risk crypto world, how do you insure high exposure companies like… FTX US? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Christian Davies, Global Head of Distribution and Innovation at Relm Insurance Ltd., about the standards insurance companies should set for crypto insurance, some creative crypto insurance products that are available now, and why Relm insured FTX US but not ftx.com.

What does it take to seize the next big wave in Asian investments? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Chok Ooi, Senior Partner at AgilityIO, about the pivotal changes that have unfolded in investing in Asia, the trailblazers who are seizing the region’s best opportunities, and why others might be missing out.

New coins are launched daily but… who really determines which asset is a security and which is not? Next on DiffuseTap, we ask Pat Daugherty, Partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, we explore the legal and regulatory dynamics of digital assets classification, the broader implications for the SEC’s role in the crypto space, and the potential impact of crypto-related cases currently under judicial scrutiny.

How is blockchain enhancing fan experiences beyond the world of crypto? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Manuela Seve, CEO and Co-Founder at Alphaa.io, about whether consumer good companies are still looking to adopt blockchain tech in 2024, how sports organizations are using tokenization to engage fans, and how companies like Alphaa.io are helping olympic teams nurture their fanbase.

Why hasn’t the revolutionary wave of on-chain assets swept the entire investment landscape yet? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Kumar Ujjwal and Nathan Paitchel of DwellFi about how the on-chain asset management space has evolved through the years, which real world assets are suitable for tokenization and which aren’t, and what are the barriers to entry for investing in on-chain real world assets.

What if the next big financial wave is hiding in the micro realm? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Bryce Paul, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Tower 18 Capital, about what happened to micro coins in 2023, how they’re valued, and why now may be the time to add them to your portfolio.

Does blockchain technology hold the key to eradicating greenwashing in renewable energy investments? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Gabby Kusz and Chris Kohler of Innovo Markets Inc. about ensuring transparency in the pursuit of a greener future, the critical need for standardization in renewable energy investing, and how the culprits of greenwashing can be held accountable using blockchain.

Can growth companies in emerging markets like LatAm thrive without being on the bleeding edge? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Ali Jamal, Founding Partner at First Check Ventures, about how Latin American startups can return an outsized ROI, how currency fluctuations and government stability affect the investment risks, and whether we are seeing a shift from the valley to the rest of the world.

Is the UAE poised to become the new global crypto powerhouse? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked GRIP (DIFC) CEO V. Gowribalan and Chairman of the Board Tony Pettipiece about how the UAE crypto economy is structured, important milestones in UAE’s crypto regulation, and why some consider the country a “gray” market for crypto.

Is the fate of crypto in Washington decided by politicians or by financial giants behind the scenes? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Christina Sciotto, Interim Executive Director at Global DCA, about who leads crypto regulation on the Hill, why crypto initiatives could be put on hold during the election year, and the biggest bill in progress in Washington today.

In the fast-evolving world of digital assets, who determines value: the brokers, the market, or the technology itself? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Fernando Martínez Fernandez, CEO at Nonco, about how the role of crypto broker has changed in the last year, what technical innovations have taken place, and regulatory hurdles that crypto brokers are facing today.

How do you define the value of a community, and who gets to extract it? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Maggie Love, Founder of SheFi, about the core foundational elements that make a thriving community, how to engage members to generate value for all stakeholders, and what differentiates a high value from a low value community.

Is the energy transition a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity, or are we heading for an overhyped bubble? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Robert Ethier, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Impact Science Ventures, about what the energy transition movement is, which major players are dominating this market opportunity, who the underdogs are, and what mistakes investors are making when considering investing in the energy transition space.

Is state-level regulation the key to unlocking the full potential of crypto in the U.S., or a dangerous experiment that could spawn scams and risky bets? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Arry Yu, Executive Director at U.S. Blockchain Coalition, about how state legislation can drive crypto regulation forward in the US, what opportunities exist in defining crypto rules on a state level, and the risks that come with state-level regulation for local crypto businesses.

Artificial intelligence is driving innovation like never before. But what happens when AI meets crypto? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Xiaochen Zhang, CEO of FinTech4Good, about where AI and crypto intersect, which companies are leading the pack in this field, and what other sectors could benefit from this newfound synergy.

Can we truly build a brighter future by reshaping our cities, and if so, how? Last time on DiffuseTap, we asked Erick Brimen, Partner at NeWAY Capital, about the link between cities and wealth generation, why cities no longer serve the purpose they were meant to originally, and what creating a new city looks like.