The Smart Economy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ragnarok Digital, LLP
The Smart Economy Podcast features interviews with some of the most interesting people within the blockchain industry, working to make the new smart economy a reality.
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Alejo Pinto, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem, a product studio working toward global financial inclusion powered by blockchains.
Join them as they:* Discuss Pontem’s contribution to the evolving DeFi landscape * Unpack the suite of products under the Pontem Network umbrella * Examine how Pontem is building for a multi-chain world * Shine a light on the significance of enabling people to transact freely in crypto * Delve into the importance of building on the Move Virtual Machine * Dive into Pontem's strategies to abstract blockchain specifics from the end user * And much more!
Alejo Pinto is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem Network, a product development studio building Move, as well as EVM-compatible applications and products to enable a more developer- and user-friendly Web3. He has an extensive background in the tech industry, including a significant stint at IBM, where he gained valuable experience in blockchain applications. Alejo's journey into the cryptocurrency space began around 2014 when he first discovered Bitcoin. This sparked his interest in blockchain technology and its potential to transform economic interactions on the internet. His expertise extends beyond just technical knowledge; he is deeply involved in developing applications that leverage different blockchain architectures to enhance transactional freedom and efficiency across various networks.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Caspar Sauter, the Co-founder of Quantena and D8X Exchange, a perpetual futures decentralized exchange.
Join them as they:* Explore D8X’s mission and the importance of building decentralized financial machines * Discuss why D8X chose to focus on perpetual futures * Delve into how D8X is building white-label solutions for banks and financial institutions * Shine a light on the importance of cross-chain liquidity * Unpack the lessons learned from being live on two chains * Dive into the importance of privacy and oracle solutions in the DeFi space * Examine the impact of Bitcoin halving * Review the role of institutions in the crypto space * And much more!
Caspar Sauter is a seasoned expert in the field of quantitative economics with significant experience in the financial sector. Before co-founding D8X, a decentralized exchange focusing on perpetual futures, Caspar worked extensively at a large financial institution where he honed his skills in quantitative analysis and financial modeling. His academic background is equally impressive, marked by a PhD that explored the intersection of economics, political science, and social sciences, with a particular focus on the global distribution of emissions and economic activities. Caspar's transition from academia and traditional finance to the forefront of DeFi showcases his commitment to leveraging technology to create more transparent and fair financial systems. His work at D8X is particularly innovative, demonstrating his strategic vision of merging traditional financial mechanisms with the revolutionary potential of blockchain technology.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rowland Graus, Director of Product Management & Developer Relations at Agoric, a smart contract platform designed to enhance the usability of blockchain networks for end users.
Join them as they:* Explore Agoric's approach to blockchain and smart contracts * Discuss Agoric's specialized smart contract platform for JavaScript developers * Delve into Agoric's focus on cross-chain interoperability within and outside the Cosmos Interchain * Shine a light on key lessons learned from attracting new builders to the Agoric platform * Unpack how MetaMask leveraged Agoric's Hardened JavaScript toolkit for Snaps * Examine Agoric's approach to chain abstraction, simplifying cross-chain operations for users * Review Agoric’s vision for stablecoins and their integration into the ecosystem * Dive into Rowland’s perspective on the evolving blockchain developer landscape * And much more!
Rowland Graus is the Director of Product Management & Developer Relations at Agoric. Involved in the blockchain and crypto space since 2016, Rowland brings a strong background in economics and product management to his role. His professional journey is marked by a passion for innovation and the challenges of building new and transformative technologies in the evolving blockchain landscape. At Agoric, Rowland has been instrumental in advancing chain abstraction techniques that unify fragmented liquidity across blockchain networks. His leadership and deep understanding of economic principles drive the strategic development of Agoric’s products, aiming to keep the platform on the cutting edge of the smart economy.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Jon Trask, CEO and founder of Dimitra, an AgTech company that leverages cutting-edge technology to help farmers increase yields, reduce expenses, and mitigate risks.Join them as they:* Unpack how Dimitra leverages blockchain to empower farmers * Discuss the various technologies integrated by the Dimitra Platform * Delve into Dimitra's analytics value to governments and banks * Weigh in on the immediate impact of Dimitra's technology on various stakeholders * Shine a light on on-chain deforestation-related transactions estimates * Explore the many use cases and learning opportunities for farmers through the Dimitra application * And much more!
Jon Trask is the CEO and founder of Dimitra. With a background in programming and cryptography, John has been involved in the blockchain space since 2011. He has extensive experience in supply chain management and has worked with various organizations and governments to implement blockchain solutions in the agriculture sector. Jon has worked for companies like ISO - International Organization for Standardization, the Blockchain Research Institute, and the Government Blockchain Association.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andreas Brekken, the Founder of SideShift, a non-custodial exchange dedicated to seamless onboarding and user privacy.
Join them as they:* Unpack the evolution of exchanges in the past 10 years * Discuss Andreas’ foray into crypto and building his first exchange * Delve into the rise of SideShift * Shine a light on the importance of user privacy and zero registration * Weigh in on building a blockchain company for bull and bear cycles * Explore SideShift’s recent successes and the future * And much more!
Andreas Brekken is the founder of SideShift. He is also the founder and writer of the weekly Shitcoin.com Newsletter and Co-Host of the Shitcoin.com Podcast. With a background in programming, Andreas has been involved in the cryptocurrency space since 2011. He built his first exchange, Justcoin, from scratch in 2013 and worked as a software engineer at Kraken.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Philippe Schommers, the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis, an entity that has been at the forefront of building decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since its inception in 2015.
Join them as they:
- Unpack the history of the Gnosis ecosystem and its various products
- Discuss how Gnosis Chain is similar to, but different from, the Ethereum Chain
- Shine a light on the importance of building MEV resistance into its core protocol
- Delve into how governance impacts infrastructural development
- Weigh in on the various technical aspects of Gnosis Chain and the broader ecosystem
- And much more!
Philippe Schommers is the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis. With a deep understanding of blockchain technology and its potential, Philippe has played a crucial role in the development of Gnosis' various products and services. He is known for his expertise in Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions, as well as his contributions to the Gnosis Chain.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski speaks with Peyman Momeni, CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, to uncover the vital role privacy plays in decentralized systems. They delve into the urgent need for privacy solutions to combat the negative perceptions surrounding this technology. Peyman shares his unique perspective shaped by his experiences in Iran, where access to open finance is restricted. Discover how Fairblock prioritizes ease of use for developers and seamless cross-chain integration.Join them as they:* Explore how privacy technologies can protect user data and facilitate financial freedom within DeFi protocols. * Examine ways enhanced privacy features revolutionize governance structures. * Uncover groundbreaking potential within the gaming sector when privacy is at the forefront. * Discuss the challenges and strategies to overcome resistance to privacy solutions in the crypto space. * Analyze the importance of collaboration between developers and privacy innovators for mainstream adoption. * And much more!
Peyman Momeni is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, a leading innovator in privacy-preserving blockchain applications. His mission is driven by a deep understanding of the consequences arising from a lack of individual privacy and its impact on people's lives. Peyman and his team are dedicated to creating solutions that empower users, enhance the functionality of blockchains, and pave the way for widespread adoption of privacy-centric Web3.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Sunny Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of VeChain Foundation, the Foundation tasked with growing VeChainThor, an enterprise-grade L1 public blockchain platform, aiming to spearhead a digital revolution through sustainable and highly scalable smart contract technologies.Join them as they:* Shine a light on Web3’s potential for real-world impact * Discuss Sunny’s journey into the blockchain space * Unpack the importance of the VeChain enterprise * Delve into the criticality of community engagement * Weigh in on the state of the blockchain industry and the path towards mass adoption. * And much more!
Sunny Lu is the CEO and Co-Founder of the VeChain Foundation. He entered the blockchain space in 2013 and has since played a pivotal role in applying blockchain technology to real-world enterprise solutions. With a past as the Chief Information Officer for global brands such as Louis Vuitton, Sunny has used his expertise to bridge technology with business, leading VeChain to become one of the most reputable platforms in the blockchain industry.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Parker McCurley, Co-Founder and CEO of DecentDAO, a builder collective creating DAO, DeFi, and other Web3 toolings and services for institutional and retail clients.Join them as they:* Discuss lessons learned from navigating multiple crypto cycles * Examine the inner workings of DecentDao * Shine a light on DecentDao’s Ethereum ethos * Unpack DecentDao’s product offerings * Weigh in on the educational value of open-source communities * Delve into Parker’s journey into the blockchain space * And much more!
Parker McCurley is the Co-Founder and CEO of DecentDAO. With a background in software development and a passion for cryptocurrency, Parker has been involved in the industry since 2017. At DecentDAO, he is dedicated to building privacy-focused tools for institutional DeFi and is committed to the vision of decentralizing the financial system.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Nathan Windsor, the CEO and Co-Founder of Landslide Network, an IBC-enabled Avalanche subnet that allows any Cosmos-based dApp to run natively on the Avalanche network.Join them as they:* Unpack the differences between Avalanche and Cosmos at a protocol level * Shine a light on the power of the IBC Protocol * Weigh in on the strength of an Avalanche-Cosmos bridge * Examine the role of permissioned and permissionless Blockchain networks * Discuss Nathan’s journey into the blockchain space * And much more!
Nathan Windsor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Landslide Network. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, business leader, and blockchain enthusiast with a track record of founding and scaling technology companies.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Bell, the CEO and Co-Founder of Turbofish, a team working on Nomic, a layer one blockchain that offers a decentralized, non-custodial Bitcoin bridge into the Cosmos ecosystem.Join them as they:* Shine a light on Nomic’s mission * Weigh in on the issue with Bitcoin’s untapped liquidity * Unpack the technical aspects of Nomic * Examine the broader implications of bridging the gap between Bitcoin and other ecosystems * Discuss Matt’s journey into the crypto space
And much more!Matt Bell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Turbofish. Matt has been involved in the crypto industry since 2011 and has worked at various crypto companies, including Protocol Labs, where he contributed to the development of IPFS and Filecoin.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matthew Commons, President of the Verified USD Foundation, an independent entity accountable for USDV, dedicated to nurturing a stablecoin ecosystem that enables equitable value-sharing of benefits among its community of contributors.Join them as they:* Weigh in on the Verified USD Foundation’s vision of building a next-generation stablecoin * Delve into the inner workings of the Verified USD Foundation * Examine the impact of permissionless stablecoins on the next wave of users * Unpack the technical aspects of the ColorTrace algorithm * Shine a light on the Verified USD Foundation’s mission to bridge centralized and decentralized finance * Discuss Matthew’s journey into the crypto space
And much more!Matthew Commons is President of the Verified USD Foundation, Founder and President of Commons Partners, and the Co-Founder of Cambridge Blockchain. His experience as a successful founder, CEO, and CFO includes leading global expansion, raising capital, and building strategic partnerships with institutions such as PayPal, Goldman Sachs, Digital Currency Group, Foxconn, and Kleiner Perkins.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Gabe Frank, the Founder of Arcade.xyz, a DeFi protocol on Ethereum that specializes in NFT lending. It operates as a non-custodial Web3 application and financial “super app” for NFTs and other unique on-chain assets.Join them as they:* Weigh in on the current state of the NFT space * Discuss Gabe’s journey into crypto * Delve into the mechanics of NFT lending on Arcade * Explore the technical infrastructure and integration of Arcade’s platform * Weigh up the importance of KYT and transaction monitoring * Examine the role of the Arcade DAO * Shine a light on the future of NFT lending * And much more!
Gabe Frank is the Founder of Arcade.xyz and the Co-Founder and CEO of Non-fungible Technologies. He has been involved in the crypto space since 2018 and has experience in custodial services and institutional digital asset wallets, having previously worked at BitGo and Curve.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Austin Federa, Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation, an organization dedicated to the decentralization, growth, and security of the Solana network. Join them as they:* Discuss Solana’s resilience in the face of adversity * Shine a light on the unique features of the Solana ecosystem * Weigh in on the recent Validator Health Report * Delve into Solana’s growing network performance * Explore Solana’s recent partnerships with Visa and Shopify * Weigh up the importance of social consensus and governance * Examine the future of Solana and the blockchain industry * And much more!
Austin Federa is the current Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation. He is also the host of the Solana Foundation’s podcast, Validated. Austin previously served as Head of Communications at Solana Labs.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Fig, Co-Founder of Squid, a cross-chain liquidity and messaging router built on Axelar, that enables seamless transactions between different blockchains , and allows applications to implement fast, secure, and seamless cross-chain logic into their products. Join them as they:* Discuss how cross-chain infrastructure enhances the resiliency of blockchains * Explore Fig’s journey into blockchain * Delve into the challenges and opportunities of multi-chain user experiences * Unpack Squid's role in connecting different chains * Shine a light on the value of security and speed in cross-chain transactions * Weigh in on Squid’s future * And so much more!
Fig is the Co-Founder of Squid, a cross-chain infrastructure platform in the Axelar ecosystem. Prior to building Squid, Fig was initially drawn to a career in medicine due to its intricate systems and the chance to positively impact lives, but he quickly realized that its stringent oversight dampened his innate creative spirit. Seeking an avenue to channel his artistic and technical inclinations, he ventured into music and coding. In the world of crypto, Fig found a harmonious blend of intricate systems, boundless creativity, and an environment that valued merit and innovation. The decentralized ethos of the blockchain space appealed to his sensibilities, guiding him to the forefront of the industry.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Michael O'Rourke, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocket Network and CEO of Grove. A powerful gateway to the decentralized world, Grove is a blockchain data platform built on top of Pocket Network, providing apps with reliable, performant, and cost-effective access to blockchain data. Backed by 20,000+ independent, globally distributed nodes, Grove enables teams to deliver a multi-chain user experience at scale.Join them as they:* Discuss how decentralized infrastructures empower users and companies * Delve into the importance of decentralization in combating nation-state attacks on networks * Explain the need for decentralized systems to differentiate supply and demand to enable businesses to build on both sides of the infrastructure * Unpack the intricacies of the Grove infrastructure and RPC nodes * Shine a light on the DePIN revolution and its impact on the future of the industry * Weigh in on Grove and Pocket Network’s role in the DePIN ecosystem * Discuss Michael’s journey into scalable, decentralized infrastructure * And so much more!
Michael O'Rourke is the Co-Founder & CEO of Pocket Network and CEO of Grove, a blockchain data platform built on top of Pocket Network, providing apps with reliable, performant, and cost-effective access to blockchain data. Prior to building Pocket Network, he owned and operated a blockchain development agency, and was on the ground level of Tampa Bay’s largest Bitcoin/Crypto meetup and consultancy, Blockspaces, with a focus on teaching developers Solidity. Michael first got into Bitcoin in 2013, and his interests quickly grew much deeper. In 2016, writing smart contracts and making discoveries in API services for Ethereum gave Michael a unique perspective on what is required to provide a vertically and horizontally scalable infrastructure service in a decentralized manner.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Bonart Mati, Chief Growth Officer of Obligate. Obligate allows companies to issue on-chain bonds and commercial paper to receive funding from investors in a regulated DeFi environment.Join them as they:* Shine a light on the unstoppable nature of DeFi and blockchain technology * Discuss Bonart’s journey from fintech to DeFi * Weigh in on the importance of regulation and legal frameworks in the DeFi space * Delve into tokenization and its potential to revolutionize capital markets * Explore the potential of on-chain bonds for regulated decentralized applications (dApps) * Discuss the future of the blockchain and crypto industry * And so much more!
Bonart Mati is currently the Chief Growth Officer of Obligate, a platform and marketplace that helps companies issue on-chain bonds and commercial paper to obtain funding from a variety of different investors. With a background in fintech and finance, Bonart has extensive experience in the industry, including working at Deutsche Bank and GE. He joined Obligate in 2021 and is passionate about leveraging blockchain technology to solve real-world problems and make finance more inclusive.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO, the official decentralized organization developing the Core blockchain network, a Bitcoin hash-powered and EVM-compatible blockchain. Join them as they:* Discuss Rich’s journey from working at Coinbase to joining Core DAO * Shine a light on the importance of account abstraction and self-custody for mainstream crypto adoption * Touch on the blockchain trilemma * Explore the Satoshi Plus consensus protocol, which combines proof of work and proof of stake to prioritize decentralization * Weigh in on the multi-chain thesis and the interoperability of different blockchain networks * Delve into Core DAO's dedication to building a decentralized community * And much more!
Rich Rines is currently a Contributor at Core DAO, which is at the forefront of blockchain innovation by crafting the Core blockchain network. He is also the Founder of AutoReach, a game-changing sales dialer that augments connect rates by over 30% and multiplies talk time by more than 300%, ensuring enriched interactions with prospects. Rich previously led engineering initiatives surrounding money movements at Coinbase. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Chen Zhuling, CEO and Founder of RockX, Asia’s leading enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure and non-custodial staking provider.Join them as they:* Talk about the early days of Bitcoin in Asia * Delve into building a delegated proof of stake blockchain network * Explore the evolving market driven by dApp usage * Shine a light on the role of staking in securing blockchain networks * Weigh in on the opportunities and constraints of liquid staking * Discuss how institutional clients can join a distributed validator network * Discuss the future of staking as a service
Chen Zhuling is the CEO and Founder of RockX, a non-custodial staking and access node API provider. He is also the Co-Founder of Aelf, a cloud-powered public blockchain for businesses. With a background in engineering and strategy consulting, Zhuling has been involved in the crypto space since 2017 and is passionate about building infrastructure for the blockchain industry.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO
- Staking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockX
- The Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of Obligate
The Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy.
Join them as they:* Talk about Rusty’s journey to Calaxy
* Weigh in on the rise of Web3 and the resurgence of the Metaverse
* Delve into how Calaxy is building a platform to empower creators
* Shine a light on the importance of user experience in Web3
* Unpack how Calaxy is contributing to the future of the creative economy
* Discuss network characteristics for social media platforms
* Explore what’s on the horizon for Calaxy
Rusty Matveev is the Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy, a next-generation social marketplace revolutionizing creator monetization and fan engagement by connecting them through curated content, communication forums, and digital collectibles. Rusty has a background in entrepreneurship, investing, and software development.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
Episode Notes In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo. Join them as they:
- Talk about Andrew's background in financial markets and early interest in blockchain
- Weigh in on the significance of self-sovereignty in holding digital assets
- Delve into Censo’s approach to providing self-custody and key management solutions
- Shine a light on the role of hierarchical key management in providing organizational control
- Explore the significance of mobile phones and biometric authentication in the Censo ecosystem
- Discuss the opportunities and constraints in building open-source solutions for institutional clients
- Delve into the future of self-sovereign digital asset management
Andrew Lawrence is the CEO and Co-Founder of Censo, a pioneering FinTech company that provides self-custody and private key management solutions for organizations to better manage and protect their digital assets. Andrew has a diverse background in financial markets and has been involved in the crypto space since 2012.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter/X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Episode Highlights:
[00:02:12] Recognizing the Power of Blockchain - Andrew’s journey into the world of blockchain began in 2012 when he stumbled upon the Bitcoin whitepaper. As a veteran of the financial markets, he immediately recognized the potential of blockchain technology. He saw a powerful parallel between the organization of blockchains and the mutual balances and credit systems used in traditional finance. This realization sparked his interest and set him on a path to explore the possibilities of blockchain technology.
[00:10:44] The Importance of Self-Sovereignty - Andrew strongly believes that the core principles of self-sovereignty and decentralization are imperative for the success and longevity of the crypto ecosystem. Historically, value was stored in tangible entities like gold or food, always under the custody of a centralized entity. Fast forward to today, where digital assets offer inherent self-sovereignty. Yet, intriguingly, many organizations still opt for centralized solutions to manage their digital assets, primarily due to regulatory constraints and the complexities surrounding key management. Historically, central custodians provided an easier, though potentially risky, solution. Even with recent security lapses in digital asset custodians, many choose them due to their convenience. To truly harness the potential of the crypto movement, Andrew believes in the need for decentralization and self-sovereignty.
[00:25:04] Censo: Seedless Sovereignty in Key Management - Censo allows users and organizations to have total sovereignty over their keys and assets, while eradicating the complexities and vulnerabilities traditionally associated with key management. Their solution is built on open-source, decentralized software that runs on clients' hardware, ensuring full control and non-extractability of keys. This system interacts with on-chain policy engines, such as those on the Ethereum and Polygon Protocols. It establishes a secure trust connection between keys and users' mobile devices, with encryption safeguarded by the phones' hardware security modules (HSM). The unique feature of Censo's approach is its seedless key management. If a user loses a key, it can be cryptographically reconstructed via a multi-approver transaction.
[00:29:09] Empowering the Censo Ecosystem: The Pivotal Role of Mobile Phones and Biometric Authentication - The Censo ecosystem integrates mobile phones as the core of its security approach. According to Andrew, mobile phones are the most secure individual computing devices available due to their hardware security modules (HSMs) from which keys cannot be extracted. Moreover, the Censo system ties a user's identity to key signing through biometric authentication. The system operates in two parts: a web app for initiating transactions and mobile phones for signing and approving them. The biometric gating of the phone's secure enclave ensures the keys remain inaccessible and secure. This entire mechanism guarantees that sensitive activities demanding trust are controlled by the users via their phones or contracts.
[00:38:17] Pros and Cons of Building Open-Source for Institutions - Building open-source solutions for institutional clients presents both opportunities and challenges. Opportunities lie in fostering trust through transparency, enabling flexibility in solution design, and carving out commercial avenues, such as closed-source components that enhance user experience. However, the transition from a closed-source model to an open one can strain the original business framework. Further constraints emerge from ensuring sufficient decentralization, navigating intricate regulatory requirements like those imposed by entities like the IRS, and maintaining seamless access while preserving commercial interests. Thus, building open-source solutions for institutional clients requires balancing transparency and decentralization against commercial interests, user experience, and regulatory challenges.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Zac Townsend, CEO and co-founder of Meanwhile, the first and only life insurance company denominated in Bitcoin. Discussion topics include using technology to improve institutional processes, how life insurance can ensure Bitcoin’s longevity, the product Meanwhile offers and the types of customers they seek, and how life insurance can be a part of a balanced financial portfolio.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter/X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Jesper Johansen, CEO and co-founder of Northstake, which builds streamlined and regulatory-compliant staking products for institution-grade investors and clients. Topics include the significance of MiCA legislation in Europe, building businesses off Proof-of-Stake blockchain networks, how Northstake provides secure staking services to institutional clients, and plans to launch an ETH staking-based alternative investment fund.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter/X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs, a global blockchain incubator comprised of blockchain developers, product managers, researchers, traders, and former founders. Topics discussed include getting Bitcoin in 2013, lessons learned as a VC in the EOS ecosystem, the four P’s of incubating a new business, and recently launched Cumberland Labs products.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Holly Wood, Director of Business Development at Boson Protocol. Topics discussed include working with grassroots creatives and big brands, how Web3 launches have similar vibes to brand launches for verticals like streetwear, the prevalence of in-house Web3 teams and staff at big brands, and phygitals/digi-physical items.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Oliver Linch, CEO of Bittrex Global. Topics discussed include the difference between Bittrex Global and Bittrex, Bittrex Global’s forthcoming conversations with US regulators, and various different regulatory guidelines across different jurisdictions in the world.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Aaron Kaplan, founder and co-CEO of Prometheum. Topics of discussion include wanting to build a regulatory-compliant exchange in 2013, how he felt like a crazy person talking about securities laws during the ETH ICO, incubating Prometheum, how Prometheum is posed to be the first regulatory compliant digital asset custodian in the US, and the path forward for crypto in the US.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Lars Seier Christensen, Chairman at Concordium Foundation. Topics discussed include building an online trading platform in the early days of the internet, new technology and adoption cycles, the importance of digital identification, discovering Bitcoin, and how Concordium seeks to provide certain features that other blockchains don’t natively provide.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this special episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan talks to ecosystem representatives at the Neo booth during Consensus 2023. It was Neo’s second consecutive year exhibiting at the event, which is among the premier North American events for the blockchain industry.
The main attraction at the booth was the OneBand ring, which was cryptographically bound to an ITEM NFT. Once a ring was acquired, holders were able to unlock themed design elements to a LIZARD NFT by scanning the ring at the various Neo ecosystem project stations.
Join us in listening to representatives from GhostMarket, NGD Enterprise, Perlin Finance, AxLabs, COZ, Flamingo Finance, and Greenfinch. Topics discussed include what they are working on, the success of the OneBand ring, how the event onboarded new Neo community members, their thoughts after meeting the community at the event, and aspirations for Consensus 2024.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO and co-founder of RELM Insurance. Topics discussed include the role alternative insurance providers play in cutting edge industries from crypto to psychedelics to eSports to longevity, how regulatory bodies can help establish unique insurance opportunities, the various factors that Relm evaluates when underwriting, and why larger insurance entities aren’t jumping to insure innovative companies.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Gregor Žavcer, Executive Director of Swarm. Topics discussed include what the blockchain space was like in 2015, the importance of decentralized storage in Web3, data ownership and privacy, interesting use cases, and how Swarm operates.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this special edition of the Smart Economy Podcast, where we take you on a journey through ETH Denver 2023, held Colorado, USA. For this this episode, we visited the ETH Denver event and spoke with a diverse group of people in the blockchain space.
Throughout our conversations, we explore various perspectives on the current state of the crypto space, the benefits of in-person events, the evolving culture of blockchain, and the driving forces that led individuals to join this rapidly evolving industry.
We discuss the challenges and rewards of communicating complex blockchain concepts to those outside the field and delve into the collaborative and supportive nature of the blockchain community that fosters innovation. As the industry matures, we examine the changing dynamics and culture within the community and how in-person events play a crucial role in building relationships and fostering collaboration among remote team members.
We hope you'll enjoy the wide range of insights, stories, and experiences shared in this episode. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Jackson Zeng, CEO of Caleb & Brown. Topics discussed include getting into crypto through game item marketplaces, starting a company in a blossoming industry without a clear regulatory outlook, how Caleb & Brown offer personalized services for their clients, and the types of assets their clients are interested in.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Brendan Sullivan, CPO of Dacoco - the creator of Alien Worlds. Topics discussed include how his professional journey through tech and product management led to building DAO technology at Dacoco, the democratization of content, the various use cases for DAOs, and the grants for builders to create in the Alien Worlds ecosystem.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sarah Thiam, a developer advocate for Filecoin VM at Protocol Labs. Topics discussed include lessons learned from her previous experience in both the government and enterprise, the significance of combining smart contracts with decentralized storage, supporting teams that are new to the ecosystem, and protocol agnosticism for the multi-chain future.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sakhib Waseem, CTO of Astra Protocol. Topics discussed include how his background in banking impacted his perspective on blockchain, where the financial industry is today with regards to implementing blockchain technology into their tech architecture, and the role Astra plays in decentralized identity solutions.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Al Morris, founder of Koii Network. Topics discussed include empowering users by giving them control over their data, building a decentralized internet, rewarding users for contributing resources, the various iterations of the Koii Network, and upcoming releases.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sid Powell, CEO and co-founder of Maple Finance. Topics discussed include his background in debt capital markets at a bank and conversely on the client side at a lending business, the conceptualization of Maple Finance to its 2021 launch, the types of institutional clients Maple Finance seeks, and offering loans backed on assets that aren’t correlated with crypto.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Seamus Donoghue, Chief Growth Officer at METACO. Topics discussed include lessons learned working for an exchange in 2017 and 2018 during the ICO craze, how well-defined regulations positively impact crypto companies, how banks are looking into blockchain-based solutions, the outlook institutions are developing for crypto’s future, and how METACO services its institutional clients.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Willy Ogorzaly, Head of Decentralization at Fox Foundation. Topics discussed include his first startup and how that parlayed into getting acquihired by the then centralized ShapeShift, what it was like working through a bear market while ShapeShift was also facing an existential and philosophical dilemma, how the new ShapeShift DAO operates, and building a community among decentralized builders.
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Chad Barraford, a core developer at THORChain. Discussion topics include the importance of a decentralized multi-chain swapping protocol, the risks associated with blockchain-to-blockchain bridges, THORChain’s synthetic assets versus wrapped assets on other networks, and the protocol's economic security model.
51:48 - "Lending Design"
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Graven Prest, a co-founder of GeoWeb. Discussion topics include non-technical roles in tech-oriented startups, how local blockchain communities can empower new industry entrants, GitCoin grants rounds, the melding of information sharing and open geospatial networks, how GeoWeb intends to evolve over time, and use cases for the platform.
Episode NotesIn this special episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we have compiled student thoughts from Neo's recent "Decoding Web3" US campus tour. Topics include the importance of blockchain clubs, what the students found particularly interesting about Neo, what they took away from presentations held by prominent Neo ecosystem representatives, and much more!
Episode NotesIn this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Derrek Coleman, a Community Steward at ETH Denver. Topics discussed include finding work in Web3, the types of positions that DAOs most often need to fill, the history of ETH Denver and the types of projects that have arisen from past events, the hackathon and prizes available, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Len Sir, Investment Lead at MEXC M-Ventures and Labs. Topics discussed include the vast roles a VC plays in the incubation of ideas and projects, the focus areas of M-Ventures and Labs, his insights into Neo's recent "Decoding Web3" university tour, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Chase Devens, a Research Analyst at Messari. Topics include his philosophy on garnering the next wave of Web3 businesses, how the ethos of decentralization shapes Messari's principles, the process of creating content and information for Messari's clients, the multi-chain thesis, the role regulations will have in the Web3 space, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with James Weybourne, Chief Design Officer of COZ. Topics include his background and industry awards for design in the health technology space, the psychology behind good UX design, how collaborative processes with various stakeholders make for successful UX design, his outlook on blockchain’s mainstream adoption, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Writing Coach Chris Sowers. Topics include how his side hustle has evolved and grown to coaching more than a dozen writers, how blockchain can be used to reduce friction in remote working and traditional industry, how people in this industry working for the betterment of society positively changed his perceptions of the technology, and more.
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Joshua McDougall, President of Slow Ninja. Topics include his journey developing across blockchains, the philosophy of building fun games and how they can unknowingly onboard new users to Web3, building a gaming protocol that integrates the composability of other dApps in the Cosmos ecosystem, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Andrew Jekimochev, Community Lead of Blockchain Cuties Universe. Topics include the nuances between traditional and blockchain-based game development, the origin of BCU, how the community shapes the project, how the blockchain-gaming space has evolved over time, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Nicolas Choukroun, CEO of Metaisland. Topics include the various ways blockchain will be implemented in the game, his extensive background in the gaming space, what it was like to stumble upon cryptocurrency in the early days of the internet, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Ace, co-founder of UFO Gaming. Topics include the role UFO Gaming's community has with the direction of the project, airdrop events for NFTs and utility tokens, how UFO Gaming seeks to become the Steam platform for blockchain games, and much more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Grace Gui, CMO of Jsquare. Topics include her background in the legal field, the international appeal cryptocurrency offers, how broader macro trends impact cryptocurrency markets, the differences between market cycles, current and future trends she’s monitoring, philosophical differences of different VC firms, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Jessica Levesque, Executive Director of C4. Topics include her background in education, where blockchain education gets it right and improvements that can be made, the community development aspects of blockchain ecosystems, how C4's certifications are created and updated, how the blockchain industry has become more diverse in the past couple of years but still has room to grow, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Dr. Wendy Charles, CSO of BurstIQ. Topics include her background in health policy and compliance, how blockchain technology improves health industry practices, the increasing rights individuals have over their health data, how COVID changed healthcare appointments, the growing changes in how organizations and governments view blockchain, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Danielle Wall Elliott, COO of Nayms. Topics include her background and time at ShapeShift, the decentralization of ShapeShift as a corporation, how the cryptocurrency space has changed since 2014, the insurance industry becoming more digital, the types of clients Nayms seeks to insure first, the inclusivity cryptocurrency inherently offers, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Odd Røland and Adrian Fjellberg, lead maintainers of Flamingo Finance. Topics include their background in Web 2, the shifting mindsets people have in their relationships with finance, cross-chain and other features on Flamingo's roadmap, the FLUND staking token, how meme coins can activate an ecosystem, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Psykeeper, the founder of Saffron Finance. Discussion topics include trade-offs of being an anonymous founder, his outlook on DeFi's opportunities and constraints, preferences for building in bear markets, multi-asset tranching systems, using stablecoin yield for insurance funds, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Snake Plissken, the Chief Administrative Officer at Elk Finance. Discussion topics include how the DeFi platform achieves cross-chain interoperability, Elk Finance’s impermanent loss protection, the types of contracts it deploys, using NFTs for access to cross-chain proxy token services, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with William Song, founder of Lyrebird. Topics discussed include Terra’s collapse and how it changed his perception of “defending the peg,” how Lyrebird will adapt and potentially move forward with a fractionally backed stablecoin, the importance of using yield-generating assets for collateral in the Bowerbird lending protocol, using Neo’s native oracle network, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Andrew Redden, a founding member of PleasrDAO. Discussion topics include his background as a developer in the ETH ecosystem, his perspective on what DAOs are, what one should consider when championing a proposal in a DAO, the process and emotions of purchasing items at auction, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Yev Muchnik, founder of Launch Legal. The pair discuss her journey into the legal field and blockchain, the differences between projects in bull and bear markets, the various types of DAOs Yev has advised, participating in DAOs related to humanitarian efforts and employee services, DAO tooling, the future of DAOs, and more!
Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Claude Müller and Guil Machado, Senior Software Engineers at AxLabs. The trio discussed their open-source code philosophy, the thought processes that went into the development of the GrantShares DAO, how individuals can propose projects for DAO funding, the project proposal life cycle, and more!
Episode Notes In the inaugural episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Jon ShapeShift, co-founder and former COO of the ShapeShift exchange. The pair discuss ShapeShift's decision to shut down as a corporate entity and migrate entirely to a DAO model.