
The Defiant - DeFi Podcast
By Camila Russo


AI Agents, Meme Coins, and a Better Future for Investing: Insights from Shaw Walters
Explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI, cryptocurrency, and startup culture in our latest episode. We spoke with Shaw Walters, Founder of Eliza Labs, about the exciting possibilities and challenges of AI agents in digital worlds, the crypto ecosystem, and token launches. Discover how these technologies are shaping a fairer, more inclusive future for investing and why real products and vision matter more than hype.
Chapters:
00:00 Defiant introduction
00:07 Episode summary
00:54 Introduction to Shaw Walters and Eliza Labs
02:27 AI agents in digital worlds
10:56 Eliza as a framework for providing what GPT doesn’t
11:25 Writing actions for AI agents
14:10 Use cases for AI agents
14:55 Moving from one-on-one to group settings
16:33 Connecting Eliza to the crypto ecosystem
19:20 Pros and cons of AI agents in financial services
21:25 AI agents as an interface
24:53 auto.fun and launching AI agents
30:08 Fairer than fair token launch
31:58 A new age of investing in startups
32:32 The government does not trust you with your own money
34:33 Crypto workarounds for investing in startups
35:43 The Trump administration and our path to regulation
36:57 Changing laws around investing in startups
38:32 Decentralized AI and opening investment to the public
39:30 What will bring AI agents back to the forefront?
44:25 How to structure better launchpads for startups
46:00 Crypto markets in their current state are casinos
49:24 Jeffy Yu and Zerebro
53:36 Why the crypto culture needs to change
55:31 Real products and real vision
58:00 Closing remarks

The Fight for Digital Privacy Decentralized AI and the Future of Freedom with Patrick Amadon
This week, we spoke to Patrick Amadon about the complex intersections of digital privacy, surveillance, censorship, and the potential of decentralized AI. Amadon offers a critical perspective on some of the most pressing issues in technology, from the role of digital disobedience to the regulatory challenges surrounding cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.
Key topics include:
The potential of decentralized AI and Ethereum's pivotal role
The impact of censorship on free speech in the digital era
How AI and blockchain technology can empower individuals and artists
Risks posed by centralized AI and the push for decentralization
Strategies for protecting digital privacy and countering AI surveillance
Amadon also examines how the framework for success in the digital age is shifting, emphasizing the importance of data ownership and financial independence. This conversation offers valuable insights for those interested in the evolving relationship between technology, freedom, and the pursuit of a decentralized future.
Chapters:
00:00 Defiant Intro
00:07 Decentralized AI is a win for Ethereum
01:30 Introduction to Patrick Amadon
02:08 Digital disobedience and decentralized ecosystems
04:10 Challenges in modern discourse
07:40 “No Rioters” and threats to free speech
10:10 The place for disruption
12:00 The paths to success are changing
13:05 Crypto and data ownership
13:32 Meaningful AI Legislation
14:20 The race to AGI and why we need to beat China
16:48 Regulating crypto and AI
18:34 The failure of the stablecoin bill
22:08 “Passive Observer” and the role of the public in geopolitical events
27:50 Art as resistance to homogenizing the narrative
30:10 When crypto starts making sense to normies
30:55 The fight to decentralize AI
33:25 The risks of centralized AI
35:40 Our lack of digital security and privacy
37:32 Why should AI belong to the people?
38:00 AI’s effects on the job market
41:25 How to get under the hood of AI
45:00 AI lowers the barrier to entry for art, technology, and more
46:30 AI and the arts
49:20 The pros and cons of decentralization
50:32 Decentralized infrastructure, currency, and economy
52:15 The Pectra update
54:35 The power of owning your own currency
55:18 How will wallets as smart contracts affect artists?
55:40 The NFT art space only works as it imagines a new art world
58:00 Pectra and the future of meaningful technologies
58:55 A digital renaissance
01:00:58 Counter AI surveillance technology
01:05:00 Why is digital privacy so important?
01:12:15 VeilPNG and hiding data
01:13:20 Closing remarks

Beyond the Hype: Bitcoin, Inflation, and the Future of Crypto with Gus Grillasca
In today’s episode with cypherpunk and artist Gus Grillasca, we explore the intricate crossroads of cryptocurrency and global economics. From the propaganda of inflation to Bitcoin Ordinals and the NFT controversy, this episode challenges conventional narratives and opens up new perspectives. Hear Gus' insights on navigating the Ethereum ecosystem, the financialization of Bitcoin, and privacy coins in the digital age.
We also talk about the evolving role of crypto in Latin America, reflect on the surprising dynamics of meme coins, and uncover gaps in financial literacy that could shape the next chapter of blockchain adoption. Whether you’re captivated by the promise of stablecoins, intrigued by NFT permanence, or pondering crypto’s place in an unstable world, this episode offers thought-provoking insights and artistic freedom at its core.
INFLARE: https://scarce.city/goods/inflare
Fierro Viejo: https://superrare.com/artwork/eth/0xb932a70A57673d89f4acfFBE830E8ed7f75Fb9e0/34374
Chapters:
00:00 Defiant Intro
00:10 Inflation is bankers’ propaganda
00:50 Introduction to Gus Grillasca
01:38 Gus’ Journey into blockchain
02:35 Banking challenges for travelors
04:44 Rare Pepes, Ethereum NFTs, and Bitcoin Ordinals
07:44 Changing views on the Ethereum ecosystem
09:04 Bitcoin Ordinals, memes, and the NFT Controversy
10:30 Bitcoin Ordinals and NFT permanence
14:53 The controversy around updates to the Bitcoin protocol
16:28 “INFLARE” and The Space by Art of Freedom
17:25 Inflation as a monetary phenomenon
21:06 Global inflation, purchasing power, and the role of crypto in an unstable world
25:37 Is the financialization of Bitcoin good or bad for crypto?
27:25 Bitcoin Reserve and the Digital Asset Stockpile
30:36 Thoughts on $TRUMP and other meme coins
34:45 Changing expectations of investing in NFT
38:18 Crypto’s role in Latin America
45:35 “Fierro Viejo,” NFTs and intellectual property
50:00 A gap in financial literacy
53:18 Ethereum’s changing roadmap
57:25 Privacy coins
59:40 The need for privacy in the digital age
01:03:05 Stablecoins, financial products, and exciting prospects in crypto
01:05:56 Final Thoughts

Will Crypto ETFs Transform the Market? Expert Insights from Matt Hougan, Bitwise CIO
Are crypto ETFs set to reshape the investing landscape? Join us on The Defiant as we dive deep into the future of crypto assets, the evolving regulatory environment, and the rise of index-based investing. Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, shares his expert insights on what these changes mean for investors and how crypto ETFs could revolutionize access to digital assets.
Chapters:
00:00 The Defiant Intro
00:10 Why tariffs could be bullish for Bitcoin
00:41 Intro to Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise
01:35 The impact of U.S. interest rates on crypto markets
04:00 Tariffs and their effects on crypto
08:24 How USD fluctuations affect global crypto trends
10:15 Investor reactions to a weaker dollar
11:58 Bitcoin as a hedge against volatility
14:58 The role of traditional investors in driving Bitcoin’s price
20:54 Regulatory insights and which assets stand to gain
22:10 Crypto ETFs
24:50 What sets Bitwise apart in the crowded ETF space
26:52 The rise (and slow start) of Ethereum ETFs
29:00 How will ETH staking play into demand?
30:21 How will an ETH staking fund be structured?
32:30 Top crypto assets to watch for the next wave of ETFs
35:25 How index funds are influencing the future of crypto investing
36:50 Crypto native investors
38:38 Index funds and the SEC
40:11 Ethereum’s coming of age and shifting goals
43:45 What can get 1000x users on Ethereum?
46:28 Ethereum vs. Solana and the next big trends
48:31 Where and how different blockchains thrive
51:30 Predictions for 2025
53:10 Closing Remarks

Insights on DePIN, Web3 Policy, and More | Amira Valliana from Solana Foundation
Immerse yourself in the future of decentralized infrastructure in this exclusive interview with Amira Valliana from the Solana Foundation. Perfect for Web3 enthusiasts, this episode unpacks how onchain solutions are redefining physical networks, policy, and global collaboration.
Chapters & Key Topics:
00:00 Introduction to decentralized infrastructure onchain
00:33 Podcast & guest welcome
03:16 Amira Valliana’s policy work at Solana Foundation
09:19 Shaping blockchain policy and its real-world impact
12:31 What is DePIN? (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)
15:25 Case Study spotlight: Geonet
18:19 Current tech limits for onchain assets
20:21 Experiments in tracking real-world objects via blockchain
22:00 Supply chain challenges and onchain opportunities
24:08 Using crypto to coordinate worldwide networks
25:38 Helium Network deep-dive
29:00 Future applications for Helium
31:05 Exploring Hivemapper
34:15 Bridging DePIN and AI innovation
38:27 Decentralized AI and infrastructure synergy
42:32 Macro trends (interest rates, tariffs, resources, and more) and their effect
45:43 What’s next for decentralized physical infrastructure?
If you’re curious about DePIN, policy in Web3, or the next wave of decentralized AI, you’ll get actionable insights and real-world examples to fuel your curiosity.
Subscribe and hit the bell for more interviews with leaders shaping the decentralized future!

Dive Into Lending, Borrowing, and Real World Assets with Maple Finance: Sid Powell
Lending and borrowing onchain has quickly become one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing sectors in Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Among the leaders in this space is Maple Finance, a platform that has already facilitated over $800M in assets, showcasing the growing adoption and practicality of tokenized private credit for institutions. By bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems, Maple Finance is demonstrating how institutions can leverage blockchain technology for more efficient and transparent lending solutions.
In an insightful conversation, Camila Russo sat down with Maple Finance’s CEO, Sid Powell, to delve into the potential of real-world assets (RWAs) within DeFi, the evolving role of stablecoins in this ecosystem, and strategies to unlock new lending markets onchain. Their discussion highlights the rapid innovations taking place in the DeFi space and sheds light on the future of decentralized credit markets.

Bringing Intellectual Property Onchain with Story Protocol | Jason Zhao
Explore the future of intellectual property on the blockchain in this insightful interview with Jason Zhao. Discover how Story Protocol is revolutionizing the way creators protect, share, and license their work. By bringing IP and copyright onchain, the protocol streamlines the process, ensures compliance with state and national laws, and secures rights in an innovative, transparent manner. Perfect for Web3 creators and blockchain developers ready to push boundaries and unlock new possibilities.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Jason Zhao, Co-founder and Chief Protocol Officer at Story Protocol
00:45 - How Story Protocol is revolutionizing IP management on blockchain
01:16 - Case study: Acquiring Justin Bieber's "Peaches" song rights
02:34 - The vision: Making IP as programmable as stablecoins
05:15 - Jason's background: From AI at DeepMind to blockchain
08:58 - Story's technical architecture: Custom Layer 1 blockchain
11:13 - Proof of Creativity Protocol explained
13:15 - Storing full IP rights and metadata (beyond NFTs)
18:47 - Legal framework and enforceable IP licenses
21:36 - Mainstream IP vs. native Story Protocol IP
24:07 - DeFi integration: Royalties and liquid IP markets
27:31 - How creators monetize their work on Story
29:50 - Tokenomics and the Big Bang staking event
33:51 - Roadmap: IP Portal and future upgrades
37:23 - David Goyer (Dark Knight trilogy) launching new IP on Story
38:28 - Fraud prevention and attestation services
45:02 - Staking mechanics and validator system
49:08 - Meme coins and IP-backed tokens
54:20 - The long-term vision: "HTTP for IP"
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How Coinbase is Bridging Bitcoin to DeFi with New OnChain Lending | Will Robinson, VP of Engineering
Will Robinson, VP of Engineering at Coinbase, explores the company’s expanding role in decentralized finance (DeFi), highlighting the launch of Bitcoin-backed USDC loans through Morpho and Coinbase’s broader efforts to integrate DeFi solutions. He explains how Coinbase is working to connect centralized finance (CeFi) with DeFi by incorporating decentralized protocols while prioritizing security and regulatory compliance. Robinson also discusses the introduction of cbBTC as an alternative to WBTC, the company’s approach to multi-chain development, and its plans for further DeFi integrations. Additionally, he addresses ongoing debates about Ethereum Layer 2 networks and their impact on the main chain, emphasizing the importance of improved cross-chain interoperability. He also provides insights into Coinbase’s asset listing process, the role of meme coins in the crypto ecosystem, and the company’s broader mission to support a more open and accessible financial system.
Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Will Robinson, VP of Engineering at Coinbase
00:45 - Coinbase’s expanding role in DeFi
01:16 - Bitcoin-backed USDC loans powered by Morpho
02:34 - How Coinbase enables BTC holders to access liquidity
05:15 - Risks involved in Bitcoin-backed loans
08:58 - Liquidation risks and loan-to-value ratios
11:13 - Early demand and adoption of the product
13:15 - cbBTC vs. WBTC: Why Coinbase launched its own Bitcoin wrapper
18:47 - How cbBTC is issued and traded
21:36 - Coinbase’s approach to self-custody and wallets
24:07 - The role of Coinbase Wallet in bridging CeFi and DeFi
27:31 - Coinbase’s long-term DeFi strategy and future integrations
29:50 - Will DeFi become a mainstream part of traditional finance?
33:51 - Coinbase’s evolution from exchange to financial institution
34:34 - The rise of Base: How Coinbase grew its Layer 2
38:28 - Are Layer 2s parasitic to Ethereum?
49:08 - The role of meme coins in crypto and Coinbase’s listing process
54:20 - The future of on-chain finance and economic freedom
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Bill Barhydt: The Next Altcoin Season, $350K Bitcoin & The Future of DeFi Banking
Bill Barhydt, Founder and CEO of Abra, discusses the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency markets and investment strategies in this week's The Defiant Podcast. He attributes Bitcoin’s price movements to macroeconomic factors, including U.S. monetary policy and liquidity cycles, and notes a growing trend of companies holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets. Barhydt also examines Ethereum’s scalability challenges and the increasing role of DeFi in financial systems, suggesting that decentralized infrastructure could eventually become the standard for banking. Additionally, he expresses optimism about potential regulatory clarity in the U.S., particularly regarding stablecoins and digital asset classifications.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Bill Barhydt & Abra
00:48 - Barhydt’s Background in Crypto & Finance
02:23 - How Abra Manages Crypto Wealth
05:45 - Bitcoin Loans & Prime Brokerage Explained
10:10 - Crypto Market Volatility & Macroeconomic Factors
13:24 - Bitcoin Dominance & Altcoin Cycles
18:11 - Solana vs. Ethereum: Market Trends & Adoption
24:29 - U.S. Crypto Regulations & Policy Predictions
36:05 - Trump’s Crypto Involvement
39:04 - Institutional Interest in Bitcoin & ETFs
50:18 - The Future of DeFi & Traditional Banking
52:14 - Barhydt’s Price Predictions
54:12 - Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks
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Kain Warwick on Infinex, Synthetix, and the Future of DeFi UX and Stability
Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix and Infinex, discusses the evolution of DeFi and the trade-offs required to improve user experience while maintaining decentralization. He explains how Infinex aims to offer a more accessible, centralized exchange-like interface while remaining non-custodial, addressing long-standing UX challenges in DeFi. Warwick also reflects on Synthetix’s recent governance restructuring, competition from Hyperliquid, and the potential shift back to a stablecoin-focused model. Looking ahead, he highlights the importance of regulatory clarity, improved infrastructure, and greater accessibility in driving the next phase of DeFi growth.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Kain Warwick
00:15 - Kain’s history in DeFi
01:26 - Motivation behind Infinex and staying in crypto
02:21 - Challenges of bull and bear markets
05:55 - The idea behind Infinex and UX innovation
08:40 - Trade-offs in building a user-friendly DeFi platform
17:05 - Passkeys and the seamless user experience
24:26 - Adoption metrics and user growth
26:51 - Future roadmap: Bitcoin, XRP, and Doge integration
33:08 - The Patron NFT sale: Lessons learned
37:19 - Synthetix updates: Governance and structural changes
39:27 - The role of attention in crypto success
47:50 - Synthetix’s stablecoin pivot and liquidity strategy
51:14 - Differentiating Synthetix’s stablecoin from others
54:03 - Avoiding the pitfalls of past algo stablecoins
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Court Overturns Tornado Cash Sanctions: What’s Next for Privacy? Preston Van Loon, Ethereum Core Dev
Preston Van Loon, an Ethereum core developer, joins The Defiant Podcast this week to discuss his role as a plaintiff in the high-profile Tornado Cash lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He described how the sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash impacted legitimate users seeking privacy on Ethereum and underscored the significance of a recent appellate court ruling questioning whether smart contracts qualify as “property” under U.S. sanctions law. Van Loon also noted the possibility of a friendlier regulatory environment in the United States, suggesting that changing policy stances could spur crypto innovation. Finally, he addressed ongoing discussions within the Ethereum community about development priorities, governance structures, and the challenges of maintaining a decentralized protocol as the ecosystem grows.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background
01:15 - What is Tornado Cash?
04:00 - Why Tornado Cash Was Sanctioned
06:45 - Filing the Lawsuit
09:50 - Court Ruling and Implications
14:00 - Next Steps in the Legal Case
18:00 - Privacy Rights and Crypto
24:00 - Impact on Builders and Industry
34:00 - Ethereum's Role and Future Challenges
50:00 - Community Feedback and Leadership
55:00 - Closing Remarks
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Sam Kazemian on FraxUSD and the Future of Stablecoins in Decentralized Finance
Sam Kazemian, founder of Frax Finance, outlined the development and goals of FraxUSD, a decentralized stablecoin designed to integrate with both traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. The upgraded FraxUSD offers redeemability through custodians like BlackRock and SuperState while providing competitive yields through diversified strategies. Kazemian described Frax’s broader vision as building a digital economy anchored by its flagship stablecoin and Fraxstool, a high-performance Ethereum Layer 2.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:48 - Founding Story and Differentiation of Frax
02:01 - Vision for Decentralized Stablecoins
02:41 - Features of FraxUSD
08:51 - Best of Both Worlds Design for FraxUSD
13:08 - Future of Stablecoins
23:05 - Yield Strategy of FraxUSD
34:16 - FraxUSD in Real World and On-Chain Usage
42:02 - Stablecoins as the Gateway to Crypto
47:12 - Roadmap and Future of Frax
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Magic Eden’s Vision: On-Chain Trading, $ME Token, and the Next Airdrop | Zhuoxun Yin, Co-Founder
Zhouxun Yin, the Co-Founder of Magic Eden, joins The Defiant Podcast to discuss the evolution of one of the largest NFT marketplaces. In this episode, he shares the story behind Magic Eden’s founding, their decision to focus on Solana early on, and their multi-chain expansion strategy. Z dives into the challenges of navigating the bear market, enforcing royalties, and launching a token to unite their ecosystem. He also explores the future of NFTs, their integration with AI, and Magic Eden's ambitious shift toward becoming an all-encompassing on-chain trading platform.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - Founding Magic Eden
03:40 - Surviving FTX and Solana’s Challenges
07:20 - Navigating the NFT Bear Market
12:00 - The Bitcoin Ordinals Bet
16:00 - Multi-Chain Expansion
24:30 - Launching the $ME Token
32:00 - Addressing Airdrop Challenges
46:50 - The Royalty Debate
54:10 - Long-Term Vision for NFTs
01:03:00 - On-Chain Trading and Future Goals
01:10:35 - Closing Thoughts
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Scroll's Path Forward Amid Airdrop Controversy: Sandy Peng on the Scroll Open Initiative
Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll, tells us the journey of building one of the most anticipated Ethereum Layer 2s, their focus on ZK rollups for scalability, and the unique value proposition of high security, decentralization, and low costs. Sandy discusses Scroll's transition from general purpose chain design to supporting specific use cases driven by ecosystem builders and founders. They explore challenges and lessons from Scroll's recent token airdrop, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, equitable distribution, and fostering a vibrant community. Sandy highlights the Scroll Open initiative and their long-term vision to create a thriving "city" for innovation and talent in the blockchain space.
Chapters
00:00 - Sandy Peng on Scroll's Rise
00:30 - Scroll’s Evolution and 2025 Vision
01:30 - The Founding Story of Scroll
02:30 - Why ZK Rollups?
04:00 - Scroll's Unique Edge in the L2 Space
07:00 - Transition to Use Case-Specific Chains
09:00 - Scroll's Vision for Builders and Founders
11:00 - Sub-Cent Costs and High Security Explained
15:00 - Decentralization: Scroll’s Progress and Plans
20:00 - Governance and the Role of Scroll Tokens
25:00 - Airdrop Lessons and Community Feedback
35:00 - Reflections on Token Distribution Trends
46:00 - Layer 2s and Ethereum’s Value Narrative
50:00 - Scroll Open: Building the Future Economy
58:00 - Scroll's Big Picture Vision
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Robinhood Crypto's Roadmap: Johann Kerbrat on Expansion, Staking, and Blockchain Integration
Johann Kerbrat is the Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Crypto, leading the charge in bringing crypto to millions of retail investors. In this episode, Johann shares the journey of Robinhood Crypto, from its early days of launching in 2018 to its recent innovations, including staking, self-custody wallets, and a potential shift towards a full-fledged crypto exchange. He discusses how Robinhood is leveraging blockchain to enhance efficiency, lower costs, and expand access to financial instruments.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - History of Robinhood Crypto
01:23 - Why Robinhood Added Crypto
02:42 - Robinhood's Perspective on Crypto
07:12 - How Robinhood Monetizes Crypto
12:31 - Competing with Crypto Exchanges
14:22 - Token Listing Strategy
16:53 - Balancing Features and Asset Expansion
18:17 - Staking in the EU and Regulatory Concerns
21:22 - Staking Demand and Customer Education
24:08 - Robinhood Wallet Features
27:23 - Self-Custody Wallet Metrics
28:49 - Meme Stock Frenzy and Decentralized Trading
31:42 - Blockchain for Settlement and Efficiency
39:08 - Marketplace vs. Exchange Transition
41:49 - Upcoming Milestones for Robinhood Crypto
43:19 - Market Trends and Future Vision
44:49 - Long-Term Vision for Robinhood Crypto
46:00 - Closing Remarks
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How Lido is Making ETH Staking Easier and More Decentralized | Dimitry Gusakov, Community Staking
In this episode, Dimitry Gusakov, Community Staking Lead at Lido, discusses the protocol’s efforts to enhance decentralization and accessibility in Ethereum staking. He explains the launch of the Community Staking Module, which lowers barriers for individual validators while addressing concerns about centralization within the Ethereum ecosystem. The conversation also explores potential impacts of proposed Ethereum staking changes and Lido’s roadmap for further decentralization in 2025. Tune in to gain insights into the evolving landscape of liquid staking and its role in securing Ethereum.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - What is Lido and Liquid Staking?
02:20 - Liquid Staking Use Cases in DeFi
05:33 - Addressing Centralization Concerns in Lido
08:25 - Community Staking Module: Decentralization Efforts
10:49 - Requirements to Become a Home Validator
13:26 - Rewards and Entry Barriers for Home Validators
16:12 - Hardware Setup for Validators
23:39 - Socialized Rewards and Offline Allowances
26:38 - Higher Rewards for Running a Node
34:23 - Impact of CSM on Lido’s Decentralization
41:13 - Ethereum Security and the Importance of Decentralization
52:19 - Ethereum Issuance Proposal: Implications for Lido
01:06:07 - Future Developments for Lido in 2025
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Deep Dive into Ethereum's Beam Chain: Exclusive Insights with Researcher Justin Drake
In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake dives deep into the Beam Chain proposal, a transformative upgrade aimed at accelerating Ethereum’s roadmap and enhancing its consensus layer. Justin explains how the Beam Chain would incorporate key innovations like SNARK proofs, quantum security, and single-slot finality to boost decentralization, security, and scalability. He also discusses incremental upgrades like staking caps and pre-confirmations, which aim to improve Ethereum’s performance and user experience in the near term. The conversation explores Ethereum’s competition with Solana and Bitcoin, highlighting how Ethereum’s long-term focus on robustness and scalability positions it to thrive as the foundational layer for the decentralized internet.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Justin Drake
01:03 - What is the Beam Chain?
02:41 - Why Ethereum Needs Acceleration
05:06 - Lessons from the Merge for the Beam Chain
07:06 - Solving Ethereum’s Technical Debt
15:58 - Faster Confirmation Times
18:11 - Pre-confirmations in Ethereum
24:14 - Layer 1 and Layer 2 Pre-confirmations
30:41 - Big Ticket Changes in the Beam Chain
31:04 - Snarkification of Consensus Layer
33:31 - Single Slot Finality
39:00 - Trustless Bridges Between Blockchains
49:00 - Native Rollups and Execution Sharding
54:04 - Ethereum vs. Solana on Performance
01:10:00 - Near-Term Upgrades to Watch For
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"‘By 2025, Ethereum Will Feel Like One Unified Network" | Hart Lambur
Hart Lambur, co-founder of Across Protocol and UMA, discusses Across’s mission to enable fast, low-cost asset transfers between Ethereum layer twos, with a focus on creating a seamless user experience. He explains how the protocol’s “intent architecture” leverages third-party solvers to improve cross-chain interactions, offering a cohesive way for users to transfer assets and execute transactions across different Ethereum networks. Lambur also emphasizes the importance of Ethereum’s upcoming account abstraction upgrades in achieving a unified ecosystem, allowing actions on any Ethereum chain from a single wallet. He envisions a future by 2025 where Ethereum feels like a unified network, improving user experience significantly.
Chapters
00:04 - Introduction to Hart Lambur
00:14 - Hart’s Background and Motivation for Building Across Protocol
00:50 - Integration with Uniswap
10:34 - Challenges in Ethereum Interoperability and Gas Fees
12:03 - Ethereum’s Scalability Achievements and New Issues
18:04 - Account Abstraction: ERC-7702 and Its Role in Ethereum
27:02 - Intents Architecture
41:00 - Current User Experience Issues in Ethereum and Solutions
52:32 - Hart’s Vision for Ethereum as a Unified Network by 2025
57:08 - Closing Thoughts on Ethereum’s Future and Overcoming Fragmentation
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ZKsync 3.0: Elastic Chain and the Future of Scalable Web3 with Matter Labs’ Nana Murugesan
Nana Murugesan, President of Matter Labs and former VP of Business Development at Coinbase, joins Camila Russo in this week’s podcast to discuss the latest updates from ZKsync, including the recently launched Elastic Chain. He explains how ZKsync’s approach to interoperability and customization aims to make Web3 infrastructure as seamless as Web2, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly experiences for mainstream adoption. Nana also highlights Matter Labs' partnership with Buenos Aires to bring ZK-backed digital identity to millions of citizens, showcasing a promising model for government and Web3 collaboration. Finally, he shares upcoming milestones for ZKsync, with new chains and collaborations in Latin America, gaming, and the creator economy.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction
0:17 - ZKsync and Elastic Chain
2:57 - Evolution of ZKsync
5:22 - Interoperability and Customizability in Web3
7:30 - User Experience
10:16 - The Role of Governments in Blockchain Adoption
14:41 - Digital Identity on the Blockchain
17:18 - Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Matter
21:02 - Cost and Throughput Advantage of ZKsync
25:07 - UX and Interoperability Challenges
27:05 - ZKsync in Latin America
30:05 - Upcoming Projects on Elastic Chain
32:39 - Future Focus for Matter Labs
33:46 - Closing Remarks
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From Rock Bottom to Success: How Bitcoin Saved Dylan Kawalec's Life
In this week’s podcast, Dylan Kawalec, Head of Developer Relations at Goat Network, discusses the Goat Founders Club, which is a new initiative aimed at empowering developers and entrepreneurs to build on the Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystem. He explains how the program incentivizes builders through a unique points reward system that can be converted into tokens, fostering a more developer-centric community. Dylan also dives into the technical aspects of the Goat Network, including its decentralized sequencer model and use of zero-knowledge rollups, to enhance Bitcoin's scalability and interoperability. Lastly, he shares his personal story of how Bitcoin transformed his life, highlighting his unwavering passion and optimism for the future of the network.
Chapters
00:00 - Dylan Kawalec and GOAT Network
00:16 - What is the GOAT Founders Club?
03:46 - About GOAT Network: Bitcoin Layer 2 Overview
05:12 - Differentiation from Other Layer 2s
07:00 - Founders Club Tracks for Developers
11:03 - Governance Token: Future Role of GOAT Token
12:28 - Role of Bitcoin on GOAT Network
15:07 - Sequencer Model and Bridging to Other Chains
21:00 - Dylan’s Personal Bitcoin Story
24:56 - Inspiration Behind Founders Club
42:11 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Why Sui is Skyrocketing: Price Surge & Growing Ecosystem | Adeniyi Abiodun, Mysten Labs
Adeniyi Abiodun is the co-founder of Mysten Labs and a major contributor to the Sui blockchain. In this week’s podcast, he discusses Sui's unique positioning as a "global coordination layer for the internet," emphasizing its decentralized nature and its technical advancements such as parallel execution and the use of the Move programming language. He highlights the expertise of the team behind Sui, their focus on scalability, and the potential for Sui to revolutionize payments and digital asset ownership. Abiodun also addresses challenges like decentralization concerns and outlines future growth areas, including gaming and DeFi.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction with Adeniyi Abiodun, Co-founder of Mysten Labs
0:42 - What is Sui and how it's different from other L1s
1:50 - Addressing the centralization problem of the internet
3:52 - Scalability and throughput advantages of Sui
5:24 - How Sui solves scalability and throughput challenges
7:31 - Move language: A better approach for Web3 development
10:33 - Object-based model vs account-based model in blockchains
16:00 - Sui token's recent price surge and adoption trends
19:16 - Native USDC launch and its impact on DeFi growth
22:11 - Sui's low latency and fast transaction speeds
33:19 - Expanding Web3 adoption and onboarding billions of users
45:37 - Sui’s vision for the future
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Democratic Candidate John Avlon on Depolarizing Crypto Regulation and Building Bipartisan Support
John Avlon is a congressional candidate for New York, advocating for bipartisan support of emerging technologies like cryptocurrency. In this week's podcast, John emphasizes the need for clear and reasonable regulation to foster innovation without stifling it, while warning against making technology a partisan issue. Avlon critiques the current regulatory landscape, including the approach of figures like Gary Gensler, and highlights the potential risks of pushing innovation overseas. He advocates for Democrats to embrace technology as a key driver of U.S. competitiveness, underscoring that this election will shape the trajectory of the nation's future.
Chapters
0:00 Intro to John Avlon
1:02 Pivotal Moment For Crypto
3:50 US Crypto Policy
8:40 Regulatory Framework
17:40 Trust In Kamala Harris
26:30 Crypto Lobby
31:21 Balance In Regulation
44:05 John Avlon's Bags
47:12 Threat To Democracy
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Building The Web3 Super App: Jack Booth on TON's Path to Global Crypto Adoption
Jack Booth is the co-founder of TON Society, a grassroots initiative driving community engagement in the Ton blockchain ecosystem, closely integrated with the Telegram messaging app. Booth explained how TON is evolving as a Web3 super app, bringing decentralized applications and financial tools to a global audience. He discussed the ecosystem’s unique structure, built on Telegram’s open mini-apps platform, enabling users to seamlessly access crypto services. Booth also emphasized TON's vision of onboarding millions of new users into crypto by creating simple, user-friendly applications and fostering mass adoption outside the U.S.
00:00 - Introduction & TON's Relationship with Telegram
02:35 - TON's Vision for Web3 & Telegram Mini Apps
05:15 - The History of TON and Regulatory Challenges
07:22 - Telegram Integrates TON Wallet
09:56 - TON’s Focus on Emerging Markets
13:07 - TON Society & Community Building
17:30 - TON Blockchain's Sharding Model
21:11 - Scaling Challenges
24:20 - TON’s Deflationary Potential
29:25 - Pavel Durov's Arrest & Impact on TON
39:31 - Power of Telegram's Announcement Channels
44:01 - Centralization vs. Decentralization in TON
49:01 - TON as a Web3 Super App
53:19 - Tap-to-Earn Apps & Airdrops
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Redefining DeFi Lending: How Morpho Gives Users Control and Customization | Paul Frambot, Co-Founder
Paul Frambot, co-founder and CEO of Morpho Labs, explains how Morpho is a decentralized and permissionless lending protocol that allows users to create customized lending and borrowing pools. Unlike traditional DeFi platforms like Aave, Morpho externalizes risk management, giving users control over their risk exposure and liquidity. Frambot shares how Morpho started as a rate-optimizing solution and evolved into Morpho Blue, a more scalable protocol with over $1 billion in deposits. He discusses the advantages of building in Europe, Morpho's vision to make financial infrastructure a public good, and how fintech partnerships could drive future DeFi adoption. We also touch on Morpho's upcoming token launch and its long-term strategy to compete with other major DeFi protocols.
0:00 - Intro to Paul Frambot
0:30 - What is Morpho and How it Differs from Competitors
2:00 - Paul's Background and Entry into DeFi
3:30 - Early Development of Morpho Optimizer
5:00 - Transition to Morpho Blue and Permissionless Lending
8:00 - Managing Risk, Liquidity, and Customization
11:00 - Real-World Assets and New Use Cases in DeFi
14:00 - Challenges and Advantages of Building in Europe
18:00 - Morpho's Long-Term Vision: Financial Infrastructure as a Public Good
23:00 - Future of DeFi: Fintech Integration and Token Launch
28:00 - Competition with Aave and Growth Strategy
33:00 - The Role of Fintech in Scaling DeFi
38:00 - Long-Term Vision for DeFi and Fintech
43:00 - Morpho's Upcoming Tokenomics and Governance
48:00 - Future Trends and Adoption in DeFi
52:00 - Closing Thoughts and Paul's Outlook on DeFi
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Building the Future of Ethereum: Joe Lubin on Consensys, Layer 2 Scaling, and Regulatory Challenges
Joe Lubin, co-founder of Ethereum and Consensys, explores the evolution of blockchain technology and the expanding role of the Ethereum ecosystem in this episode. He discusses Consensys' pivotal work in building foundational infrastructure, such as MetaMask and Infura, while outlining the strategic direction for future applications and decentralized technologies. Joe delves into Layer 2 solutions, regulatory challenges with the SEC, and the broader implications for the industry. He offers a forward-looking perspective on the maturation of Ethereum, emphasizing scalability, decentralization, and the development of Web3.
0:00 - Evolution of Consensys
3:00 - Growth of Ethereum Infrastructure
6:30 - Scaling Ethereum & Layer 2 Solutions
9:00 - Joe Lubin's Beliefs
11:00 - Regulatory Challenges & SEC Lawsuit
14:30 - Future of Ethereum & Regulation
18:00 - Decentralizing Consensys and Network States
21:30 - Ethereum's Layer 1 & Layer 2 Architecture
28:00 - Impact of Layer 2 on Ethereum Mainnet
36:00 - Transitioning Products to On-chain Governance
39:00 - Network States and Decentralization
43:00 - Preparing for the Next Wave of Applications
This episode was sponsored by:
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Aerodrome Finance: Redefining AMMs on Base with Alexander Cutler
Alex Cutler, Co-Founder of Aerodrome, shares the story behind Aerodrome, a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem. He explains how Aerodrome incorporates the best features from existing DEXs, such as Uniswap and Curve, to create a more efficient, unified platform for liquidity providers, traders, and token holders. Cutler emphasizes the strategic choice to focus on Ethereum L2s, predicting their growth as faster, cheaper alternatives to Layer 1 while maintaining Ethereum's ecosystem benefits. He also highlights Aerodrome's tokenomics, where protocol revenue is fully redistributed to participants who lock tokens and vote to direct emissions.
00:00 - Aerodrome Founding Story
03:26 - The Move to Layer 2 and Partnership with Coinbase
05:22 - Layer 2s vs Layer 1s
11:01 - Combining the Best Features from DEX Models
14:07 - Improving Tokenomics and Incentivization
20:22 - Revenue Distribution and Protocol Emissions
41:05 - Base’s Exponential Growth and Long-Term Vision
45:47 - Coinbase’s Role in Building the Future of Decentralization
58:00 - The Role of DEXs and the Coming Use Cases for On-Chain Activity
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Latin America's Crypto Revolution | Ripio Co-Founder, Sebastian Serrano
Sebastian Serrano is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ripio, one of the largest crypto asset platforms in Latin America. In this episode, Sebastian discusses Ripio's evolution from a retail wallet to a comprehensive crypto platform that includes an exchange, OTC desk, and B2B services. Serrano also highlights Ripio's strategic partnerships with major companies in the region and the development of a stablecoin for Mercado Libre. He shares his insights on the future of crypto adoption in Latin America, emphasizing the potential of tokenization and real-world assets.
0:00 Ripio.com
2:56 Sebastian Serrano
6:41 Retail to B2B
14:21 Latin America
28:54 Argentina As A Crypto Hub
35:45 Future Outlook
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Sustainable BTC Yield on Bitcoin | Dr. Redouane Elkamhi Discusses GOAT Network
Redouane Elkamhi is the Economics Lead at GOAT Network, a project focused on developing a decentralized financial market on Bitcoin. In this episode, we discuss the project's goals, including the creation of a Bitcoin-based Layer 2 ecosystem with a focus on sustainable yield, decentralized sequencers, and economic incentives. Elkamhi outlines the potential impact of GOAT Network on Bitcoin's future and its approach to yield generation.
0:00 GOAT Network
7:02 Building on Bitcoin
20:25 Earning Yield
33:30 Tokenomics
39:52 Getting Involved
41:36 Future of GOAT and Bitcoin L2s
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Behind the Scenes of the Web3 Gaming Giant | Animoca Brands Co-Founder, Yat Siu
Yat Siu is the co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, a leading force in the Web3 gaming industry. In this episode, Yat Siu shares the story behind the rise of Animoca Brands, discussing its pioneering work in NFTs, blockchain gaming, and the broader Web3 ecosystem. He delves into the company's mission to bring true digital ownership to users through innovative games and platforms. Yat also provides insights into Animoca's strategic investments and its role in shaping the future of the open metaverse, highlighting the transformative potential of Web3 technologies for gaming, culture, and digital property rights.
0:00 Animoca Brands
6:14 Animoca Investments
10:00 Mocaverse
19:32 "Content as a platform"
24:04 Web3 Social
42:55 NFTs
55:25 Metaverse
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Why Building Bitcoin L2s Matter | Stacks Co-Founder Muneeb Ali
Muneeb Ali is the co-founder of Stacks, which is a L2 that enables smart contracts and decentralized applictions to be built on top of Bitcoin. Muneeb is an early adopter in the blockchain industry with over a decade of experience. He offers a unique and insightful perspective on the current landscape of leading Layer 1 blockchains. In our conversation, we explore his views on the role of Layer 2 solutions for Bitcoin, how it compares to Ethereum and Solana, and why Bitcoin holds a unique position as sound money. We also delve into broader industry trends and what the future might hold for scaling solutions.
0:00 Bitcoin L2s
4:07 Muneeb Ali
8:03 Stacks
24:42 Bitcoin VS Ethereum
27:42 Ethereum VS Solana
38:35 Bitcoin As Money
50:40 BitVM
54:24 Rollups on Bitcoin
56:00 DeFi On Bitcoin
1:03:28 EVM
1:05:55 Getting Started With Stacks
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Disrupting The Status Quo: How io.net Challenges Big Tech's AI Dominance
Tory Green is the Co-Founder and CEO of io.net, which is a decentralized computing network that powers ML applications and a prominent project in the DePIN category. Their primary mission is to unlock fair access to computing power by assembling over 1 million GPUs from independent data centers, crypto miners, and projects like Filecoin and Render, aiming to decentralize the AI stack and reduce big tech's dominance in the AI industry. They recently made headlines when their CEO stepped down just days before their token launch. In this episode, Tory shares the behind-the-scenes details of this departure and provides an in-depth look into everything io.net.
0:00 What Is io.net?
3:13 Tory Green
7:52 Ahmad's Departure
12:34 io.net Stats
20:45 Competitors
22:38 Participation
31:20 IO Token
35:30 AI x Crypto
43:40 DePIN
45:45 io.net Vision
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Zerion Introduces New Layer 2 With Zero Fees | Evgeny Yurtaev
Evgeny Yurtaev is the Co-Founder and CEO of Zerion, which is is an investing tool that enables users to manage their DeFi and NFT portfolios. Recently, Zerion announced the launch of a new Web3 wallet and a Layer 2 solution, Zero Network. These new products aim to enhance the user experience in DeFi by providing a friendlier user experience cost-effective transactions. In our conversation, we dive into the latest updates from Zerion and explore the exciting developments in the DeFi space.
0:00 Zerion Overview
1:50 Evgeny Yurtaev
3:50 Building Zerion
7:16 Zerion Business Model
9:10 Zero Network
27:14 DeFi
32:42 Wallets
44:24 Zerion Vision
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OG DeFi Pioneer Kain Warwick Aims To Transform Crypto UX With Infinex
Kain Warwick is the founder of Synthetix, an OG DeFi protocol which allows users to mint and trade a wide variety of synthetic assets, including cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, commodities, and stocks, providing liquidity and exposure without the need for traditional financial intermediaries. His latest project, Infinex, is focused on solving crypto’s UX problems, aiming to make the user experience more intuitive and accessible for all. During EthCC[7], we had the opportunity to interview Kain to dive deeper into Infinex and the solutions they’re planning to solve Crypto UX. 0:00 Synthetix and Infinex 4:05 Incentive Schemes 8:00 Crates 11:35 NFT Governance Token 15:21 Integrations 17:40 Infinex Vision 23:00 Passkeys 28:30 Infinex Business Model 36:46 Synthetix 38:35 DeFi
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The Superchain Thesis: Scaling Ethereum with Optimism - A Deep Dive with Benjamin Jones
Benjamin Jones is the director of the Optimism Foundation, which is dedicated to scaling Ethereum and the team building Optimism Layer 2. Currently, Optimism sits in third place among Layer 2s with $6.42B in Total Value Locked. In this episode, we dive deep into the Superchain Thesis and explore how Optimism aims to optimize Ethereum scalability. We start by discussing what Optimism is and its mission to scale Ethereum, moving on to the foundation's end goal and its vision for the future. We also take a closer look at Benjamin Jones, his role, background and contributions. We also compare various scaling solutions, assess their effectiveness and potential, and discuss the future of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK). Benjamin also explains the philosophy underpinning Optimism's Retro Funding approach.
0:00 What Is Optimism?
2:04 End Goal
3:44 Security
5:50 Benjamin Jones
10:00 Open Source
13:02 OP Token
16:25 1 Human = 1 Vote
20:32 Scaling Solutions
30:00 Is ZK The Future?
36:27 Optimism Superchain
49:00 Retro Funding
57:34 Arbitrum
01:01:27 Building On Optimism
01:05:52 Mainstream
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The Most Rational View on Crypto with Noah Seidman, AKA Captain Rational
Our guest today is Noah Seidman, who has an impressive systematic view on crypto and how crypto fits into the overall macro market. Noah is a technologist with a career spanning two decades. He has a unique perspective on the intersection of crypto and finance, garnering him a reputation as a thought leader. While most on Crypto Twitter are talking about memecoins and the next few months, Noah has been thinking about crypto over a long time horizon. We talk about his macro views, how he chooses to build his portfolio, advice he has for someone starting out, maybe in their 20s, and the secret to him staying on top of all of the market news. He understands things like the monetary premium and categorizes tokens in a very interesting way. Before we dive into this, we discussed what Noah is focused on on his day to day.
0:00 Captain Rational
1:47 Global Macro
4:45 Before Crypto
5:52 Entering Crypto
11:20 Crypto In Macro
17:30 Bitcoin As Reserve Currency
21:13 L1 Value
22:25 Long Term Narratives
25:22 Investment Strategy
28:30 Self Realization
38:45 Decentralization
45:30 Time
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Unlocking Bitcoin's Potential: How Rootstock Uses EVM For Scalability
Daniel Fogg is the CEO of RootstockLabs, the organization behind the Rootstock sidechain, which is a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution designed to enhance Bitcoin's capabilities with smart contract functionality. Rootstock was launched in January 2018, becoming the first Bitcoin sidechain, and is secured by Bitcoin's hashing power through a merged mining process. The sidechain leverages Bitcoin's security while enabling Ethereum compatible smart contracts, aiming to reduce transaction costs and improve scalability 0:00 Rootstock's Story 7:11 The Architecture 14:52 Use Cases 21:25 Bitcoin Community 27:00 Ordinals and BRC20 30:32 BitVM 36:00 Merged Mining 41:17 Competition
Our sponsorhttps://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcasthttps://zkverify.io/?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=pd&utm_campaign=ad_1https://www.karpatkey.com/?utm_source=Youtube_des&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Defiant ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

Bridging Web2 and Web3: Suji Yan on Mask Network's Vision
Suji Yan is the founder of Mask Network, a platform that brings privacy and benefits from Web3 to traditional social media like Facebook & Twitter. Suji Yan launched Mask to provide users with tools to encrypt their social media interactions and protect their online privacy. His goal is to create an internet where individuals have more control over their digital presence. In our conversation, we get into the current SocialFi landscape, its limitations, and the importance of decentralized social media for everyday users. 0:00 Intro 0:40 Mask Network 9:30 Web2 + Web3 Social Media 22:05 Content Creation 36:11 Adoption 45:15 Problems With SocialFi 54:07 Why Should We Care? 57:23 Current SocialFi Landscape Our sponsorhttps://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcasthttps://zkverify.io/?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=pd&utm_campaign=ad_1 https://www.karpatkey.com/?utm_source=Youtube_des&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Defiant ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

YGG's Guild Protocol, Onchain Reputation, And The Next Wave Of Web3 Gaming With Gabby Dizon
Gabby Dizon is the Co-Founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG), a decentralized autonomous organization that invests in virtual world assets. Yield Guild Games focuses on creating a global community of gamers who earn rewards by playing blockchain-based games. YGG operates on the play-to-earn model, allowing players to generate income through in-game activities and ownership of digital assets.
0:00 Intro
1:23 Yield Guild Games
4:34 New Games
5:42 Gabby Dizon
8:39 Ronin
10:21 YGG Token
15:30 Criticisms
18:05 Protocol Transition
24:15 Onchain Guilds
33:33 Badges and Onchain Reputation
40:25 Gaming and NFT Activity
44:40 Building in 2024
48:35 Mass Applications
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Robinhood's Big Bet on Crypto: Crypto GM Johann Kerbrat Explains
Johann Kerbrat is the Crypto General Manager at Robinhood, one of the largest exchanges in the world. In today's episode will delve into his journey with Robinhood Crypto. His thoughts on the future of the industry and the groundbreaking work they are doing to democratize finance for all. They have launched a lot of products recently, including a self custodial wallet, staking, Web3 games and more. Before we dive into this, Johann tells us about his background and responsibilities at Robinhood Crypto.
0:00 Intro
0:42 Johann Kerbrat
1:21 Robinhood
1:52 Entering Crypto
2:59 Robinhood Products
4:16 Feedback
6:00 Web3
8:39 Fees
9:46 Crypto Exchanges
11:00 Regulation
14:55 Tokens
16:21 Self Custody Wallet
17:46 DeFi
18:35 Staking
19:48 What's Next?
21:00 Robinhood Chain
21:54 Tokens
24:13 Tokenization
25:33 How Are You Defiant?
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Revisiting Ripple: New Stablecoin, Airdrops, Network Attacks, and The SEC Case
David Schwartz is the CTO of Ripple, a Layer 1 blockchain that has been an established name in the cryptocurrency industry since 2012. Ripple is the platform behind XRP, one of the original cryptocurrencies, which currently ranks eighth in market capitalization at $30 billion. Known for its numerous legal battles with the SEC, Ripple has also recently announced the launch of a new stablecoin. In this podcast, we will explore all of the latest developments and more, starting with the founding story of Ripple.
0:00 Intro
1:04 Founding Story of Ripple
5:20 RippleNet
8:05 XRP Tokenomics and Incentive Model
12:56 Bad Actors
15:11 Network Attacks
17:55 XRP Distribution
26:45 Use Cases
39:25 Ripple Stablecoin
48:18 DeFi On XRP Ledger
53:33 Smart Contracts
57:56 SEC Case
1:05:30 Ripple in the Future
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Inside PayPal's Blockchain Strategy: Insights from the Head of Crypto
Jose Fernandez da Ponte is the Head of Crypto at PayPal. PayPal's entry into the crypto market dates back to 2020 when they announced the integration of various crypto assets, enabling users to buy, sell, and hold digital currencies. Since then, they have progressively expanded their crypto offerings and adopted more ambitious strategies to incorporate blockchain technology. In this podcast, we'll explore PayPal's motivation for entering the crypto space, the current crypto applications available on their platform, the creation and purpose of their stablecoin, PYUSD, and their approach to facilitating mass adoption of blockchain technology.
0:00 Intro
0:58 PayPal Enters Crypto
6:27 PayPal Crypto Payments
16:58 Fees
20:16 PayPal Wallet
22:28 PYUSD
36:43 PayPal Yield
40:23 Stablecoin Competition
48:57 Multichain
53:25 Adoption
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$100B in Digital Assets: Lukas Schor on Safe, $SAFE, Smart Accounts and Quantum Computing
Lukas Schor is the Co-Founder of Safe, an onchain asset custody protocol, securing ~$100 Billion in assets today. Originally developed under Gnosis as a smart account for securing digital assets, Safe eventually became an independent project after spinning off on its own. Today, Safe has a TVL of over $100B. In this episode, we go over the recently launched $GNO token, its use cases, early days of Gnosis as an onchain prediction market. Later, Lukas discusses the impact of quantum computing on blockchain security and the future potential of smart accounts. He also explores the challenges and opportunities in achieving mainstream adoption of Web3 wallets. The episode concludes with insights into Safe's upcoming features aimed at supporting a billion Web3 users.
0:00 Intro
1:05 Safe Founding Story
3:30 Gnosis Prediction Markets
5:17 Lukas Schor
7:21 $GNO Token
18:47 Smart Accounts
25:16 Quantum Computing
33:33 Web3 Wallets
37:25 How is Safe safe?
39:23 New Features
47:52 Billion Web3 Users
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BlackRock's BUIDL | Creating The Largest Tokenized Treasury Fund With Securitize
Carlos Domingo is the founder and CEO of Securitize, a platform for issuing and trading security tokens or digital securities on the blockchain. Securitize aims to modernize the traditional financial markets by leveraging blockchain technology to provide greater accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in securities trading. Securitize recently partnered up with BlackRock to explore innovations in tokenizing assets and broadening access to the private capital markets. In today's podcast, we uncover all the details behind this collaboration and explore what the future holds for tokenized innovation.
0:00 Intro
1:09 BlackRock BUIDL Fund
3:22 Onchain vs Offchain
5:01 Institutional Investors
5:36 Secondary Market
7:26 Carlos Domingo & Securitize
12:10 Future of Tokenization
15:35 BlackRock's Impact
22:15 Use Cases
30:12 Investors
33:19 Tokenized Innovation
37:53 Real World vs Crypto Economy
47:27 Web2 vs Web3
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Aave, Lens, and Avara: Stani Kulechov's Journey Through DeFi and Web3 Social
Stani Kulechov is the founder of Aave, which has become the largest lending protocol in DeFi. Aave has evolved under a new umbrella called Avara, incorporating additional projects like Lens, a Web3 social media protocol, and a family and Web3 wallet. Stani has previously discussed these developments on our show in 2020 and 2022, and with each appearance, the Avara family has expanded significantly. As a prominent leader in the DeFi and Web3 space, Stani's insights are always highly anticipated. In this podcast, we start with a refreshener on Stani and his journey, then dive into the specifics of the protocols he has developed.
0:00 Intro
1:15 Stani Kulechov
4:40 DeFi + Web3 Social
8:53 Lens Protocol
14:28 Developer Community
17:48 Lens Applications
19:58 Lens Stats
25:20 Monetization in Web3 Social
30:27 Token Integration
34:05 Permissionless
37:15 Farcaster
41:10 Lens Token
43:10 Aave
47:10 Competition
48:52 Lens + Aave
50:04 Reaching Mainstream
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How Blockchains and Tokens Are Powering the Next Internet Revolution
Hello Defiers! Today, I'm bringing you a very special episode from a session I moderated at SXSW this year. SXSW is a massive festival annually held in Austin, Texas, that merges music, film, and tech into an exciting blend of creativity and innovation, drawing artists, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts from around the globe. At SXSW, I had the opportunity of leading a session with Chris Dixon, a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where we focused on his recent publication, "Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet." This book is an essential read for anyone looking to grasp the essence of the Web3 movement. Dixon has a way of making complex topics accessible to all. I'm excited for you to hear our conversation and dive into the insights Chris shared. Let's dive in!0:00 Intro0:50 Panel with Chris Dixon 1:50 Read, Write, Own6:55 Tokens14:33 Hyperfinancialization19:01 Main Use Cases of Crypto27:14 Plutocracy 33:42 Corporatization in Web342:20 AI Content50:05 POS Blockchain Risks54:13 CBDC's 56:08 Future Applications✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

Memecoins, Web3 Social Media, and the Evolution of Token Models with Li Jin
Li Jin is a prominent figure in the venture capital industry. She is the co-founder and managing partner at Variant Fund, a venture firm that invests in Web3 and the ownership economy. Before founding Variant, Li Jin worked at Andreessen Horowitz, a leading venture capital firm, where she helped to shape the firm’s views on the emerging tech landscape, including the gig and passion economies. In today's discussion, we delve into memecoins, Web3 social media, and the evolving landscape of token models, examining how these elements are shaping the future of digital economies and influencing user interaction in decentralized networks.
0:00 Intro
1:11 Variant Fund
3:20 Li Jin
4:55 Benefits of Blockchains at Consumer Level
7:55 Web3 Social Media
12:50 Speculative Media
18:20 Memecoin Products
24:24 Censorship
25:47 Web3 GTM Strategy
34:30 Token Models
47:41 Governance Tokens
52:00 Trends
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"Really Crazy Stuff Will Happen With AVSs", ether.fi Founder Mike Silagadze
In today's podcast we host Mike Silagadze, founder of ether.fi, an Ethereum restaking protocol, and Nikhil Raghuveera, co-founder of Aethos, a decentralized policy engine being built on EigenLayer. Liquid restaking has recently emerged as a significant trend in the Ethereum ecosystem. In today's podcast, we'll delve into the use cases that restaking unlocks via Active Validating Services (AVSs) through EigenLayer, shedding light on how this innovation is shaping the ecosystem. 0:00 Intro 2:08 ether.fi 7:40 Aethos 13:15 Economic Security 18:28 AVS Allocations 23:20 Aethos Revenue 30:08 Risks of AVSs 39:40 Rehypothecation 43:07 Depeg Risk 54:14 ether.fi Roadmap 57:28 Aethos Roadmap Our sponsors https://www.solanacrossroads.com/ https://summer.fi/?utm_source=Defiant&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=Synfutures: https://oyster.synfutures.com/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

Pendle Finance Deep Dive With Founder TN Lee
TN Lee is the founder of Pendle Finance - a DeFi platform that enables users to tokenize and trade future yield on Ethereum assets. Pendle has shown remarkable expansion since the beginning of the year, elevating its TVL from $250 million to over $3 billion in just a few months. In this podcast, we explore the fundamentals of Pendle Finance, providing a comprehensive understanding of one of DeFi's most complex and innovative products. We start off with a background into Lee, then breakdown Pendle's core concepts and gradually dive deeper into Pendle's use cases, risks, and future plans.
0:00 Intro
0:53 TL;DR Pendle
2:06 TN Lee
7:30 Pendle V1
12:13 Growth of Pendle
22:04 Pendle Basics (PT, YT)
30:53 Use Cases
36:25 Pendle Users
38:25 Risks
48:43 Learnings From Kyber
49:39 TradFi vs Pendle
51:20 $PENDLE
58:19 What's Next?
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Reflecting on a Decade | Stellar's Evolution in 2024
Tomer Weller is the VP of Product at Stellar, one of the earliest alternative Layer 1 chains that existed before Ethereum. Stellar recently launched Soroban, its smart contract platform, designed to enhance the blockchain's functionality with efficient, developer-friendly tools for building sophisticated applications. In today's conversation, we dive deep into Stellar, overview their fundamentals, reflect on its decade long journey as a Layer 1 blockchain, and have a closer look into the current use cases.
Thanks to Stellar for supporting independent journalism.
0:00 Intro
0:58 Stellar Overview
2:01 Tomer Weller
3:48 Stellar Fundamentals
8:49 Being Early
12:06 Smart Contracts
17:26 Attracting Developers
23:09 Use Cases
29:52 Argentina
33:10 Franklin Templeton
36:49 Censorship Resistance
39:30 Scaling
55:17 Stellar Validators
1:00:58 What's Next?
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Bridging East and West in Crypto | Erica Kang of KryptoSeoul
Erica Kang is the CEO and founder of KryptoSeoul, a leading community building team in South Korea that focuses on blockchain projects. Erica has been a bridge between the East and the West for a very long time, and today we get to dive deep into her journey. She grew up in Korea, then moved to the United States and did a stint in Vietnam. She has not only reshaped the blockchain landscape, but she's also championed a new era of community driven empowerment. Before we dive into all of that, Erica will share a little bit about how she first got involved in the crypto community.
0:00 Intro
0:48 Community in Crypto
5:16 Erika Kang's Personal Journey
8:03 Differences in Culture
13:12 BUIDL Asia + ETH Seoul
15:47 Crypto Projects in Korea
20:30 Kimchi Premium
22:20 Information Flow
26:55 BTC as SOV
30:09 Terra's Implosion
33:00 KryptoSeoul Community
38:17 Events in Asia
40:50 How are you defiant?
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