The Crypto Explorer - by Sygnum Bank AG: Recent Episodes
Aliya Das Gupta
The world of crypto can sometimes seem really complex - and it can feel intimidating to dive into! Join us on The Crypto Explorer, a podcast by Sygnum, the World's first Digital Asset Bank. In short, snappy episodes with industry leaders and sector specialists, we take a dive into the different aspects of an exciting, emerging asset-class. This is Future Finance – and if you want to understand why it matters and where to begin, this podcast is for you.
In Sygnum’s latest episode of The Crypto Explorer Podcast, host Aliya das Gupta speaks with Merlin Egalite, co-founder of Morpho, about how the protocol is reshaping lending in DeFi.
They discuss:
▪️ The origins of Morpho as a student project and the launch of Optimizer
▪️ How Optimizer reduced inefficiencies by offering better rates for both lenders and borrowers
▪️ The transition to Morpho V1 – building a permissionless, immutable infrastructure to solve trust and governance issues
▪️ What’s coming with Morpho V2: fixed-rate lending and more efficient liquidity use
▪️ Why simplicity, security and audits are critical for institutional adoption
▪️ Real-world integrations with fintechs, banks and exchanges like Coinbase
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
In this conversation, we explore how Impossible Cloud Network (ICN) is rethinking one of the biggest industries in tech: cloud computing. Sebastian Pfeiffer shares his journey into Web3, and how ICN is tackling the massive challenges of today’s cloud landscape.
We cover:
- What Impossible Cloud Network is and the problem it’s solving for enterprises and developers
- Why decentralized cloud infrastructure is more critical now than ever before
- The role of the $ICNT token—and how its utility extends beyond staking and governance
- How ICN differentiates itself in a crowded space of decentralized and traditional providers
- What “open and composable” really means for cloud services
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
Inside dYdX – Building the Future of Decentralized Perpetuals
In this episode, Charles D'Haussy, shares the journey of DYDX from its early days to becoming a leader in decentralized derivatives, and offers candid insights on the evolving landscape of DeFi, stablecoins, and the future of digital finance. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just curious about the next wave of financial technology, this conversation delivers clarity, inspiration, and a peek behind the curtain of one of the industry’s most ambitious projects.
Key Questions Explored:
- How did Charles first get introduced to crypto, and what drew him to DYDX?
- What sets DYDX apart in the crowded world of decentralized exchanges?
- How has DYDX evolved since its launch, and what were the challenges of building its own blockchain?
- What does the rise of stablecoins and private digital currencies mean for the future of money?
- How is DeFi making finance more accessible, and what unique value does it offer compared to traditional systems?
- What’s next for DYDX, and how does it plan to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market?
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
The Future of Decentralized Intelligence: In this episode, we dive into the neural heart of Bittensor — the open-source protocol powering a decentralized machine learning economy. Our guests Gustave Laurent and Antoine Planchon unpack what makes Bittensor different, how it rewards intelligence, and why it's capturing the attention of Web3 and AI builders alike.
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
This week, we’re joined by the founder of Hibachi.xyz to explore the shifting landscape of crypto trading. We dig into trustless infrastructure, what makes proof of solvency so critical, and how new tech is pushing DeFi closer to CEX-level speed and UX. We also get into the role of platforms like RISC Zero, Celestia, and Base—and what’s ahead for cross-chain liquidity and market structure.
We address questions like:
- What inspired the creation of Hibachi, and what gap in the market are you solving?
- Centralized exchanges still dominate trading volumes. What are the biggest challenges in shifting traders toward provable, trustless platforms?
- Speed and UX have been major blockers for DeFi adoption—how does Hibachi match or surpass the performance of traditional CEXs while maintaining decentralization?
- You’re leveraging technologies like RISC Zero and Celestia—can you break down how they enhance security and scalability for Hibachi?
- Multi-chain support is on your roadmap—how will Hibachi integrate with different ecosystems, and what challenges come with cross-chain liquidity?
- Where are we in this market cycle, and where do you see us going from here?
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
Staking is evolving fast—what’s next? In this episode, we dive into the state of staking with Kean Gilbert from Lido DAO, exploring key trends, institutional adoption, and the balance between decentralized and centralized solutions.
Questions we address include:
- Can you provide an overview of the current state of staking and the key trends you see in the market?
- What differences do you see between the retail and institutional markets?
- What are the main differences between centralized and decentralized staking approaches?
- How is Lido supporting the needs of institutional clients?
- What are some of the latest market innovations in liquid staking, and how do they enable products like staked ETPs to bridge DeFi and TradFi?
- Can you explain the concept of stVaults introduced in Lido V3?
- What's new on the staking horizon?
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
Is VC in 2025 a bull run, a reset, or something else? We sit down with Diana Biggs of 1kx to discuss what sets them apart, shifting capital trends, the IPO & M&A outlook, and the hottest sectors—from AI to Web3. Plus, how AI is changing venture, and the big question: profitability or growth? Tune in for expert insights on questions like:
- How would you describe the current state of the VC market? Are we in a bull run, a reset phase, or something else entirely?
- How do you work with start ups to ensure success beyond the funding round?
- What’s your take on the IPO and M&A landscape? Is 2025 shaping up to be a good year for liquidity events?
- What sectors or themes are you most excited about in 2025? (e.g., AI, Web3, ClimateTech, DeepTech, HealthTech)
- Has AI changed the way VCs source, evaluate, or support startups?
- What’s more important in 2025: profitability or aggressive growth?
- What’s your biggest piece of advice for founders looking to raise in this environment?
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
In this episode, host Deborah Tan-Pink dives into an important conversation with Aliya Das Gupta, SVP Business Development at Sygnum, and Hassan Ahmed, Country Director Singapore at Coinbase. Together, they explore how the crypto industry can foster diversity and inclusion to create a stronger, more innovative future.
From breaking down barriers in male-dominated spaces to actionable steps for driving inclusion, this episode sheds light on how diverse talents are key to transforming the crypto space.
Tune in for an inspiring discussion packed with insights on leadership, representation, and practical strategies to build a better, more inclusive blockchain ecosystem.
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
In this episode, we dive deep into the evolution of Solana, one of the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystems in the world. From its groundbreaking approach to scalability and low transaction costs to its vibrant developer and user community, Solana has established itself as a major player in the crypto space. We explore the rise of so-called “Solana-killers,” discuss the intersection of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) within its ecosystem, and examine Solana’s role in a multi-chain future
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
In "Let's talk Institutional Crypto'", podcast host Deborah Tan-Pink gets into the heart of institutional crypto with Samar Sen, Head of Asia-Pacific at Talos and Nicholas Foo, SVP of Trading at Sygnum Singapore.
Episode Highlights:
🔹 Beyond the investment thesis, are there certain aspects of crypto that most people aren't seeing or developing an appreciation for?
🔹 What are some of the major institutions doing in crypto? What does it mean for investors on both sides of the fence?
🔹 How are institutions getting more involved in the crypto space?
🔹 Quick-fire questions
Advertising. Read the disclaimer here: https://bit.ly/3YW7Gsf
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
Join us in this episode as we dive deep into the world of restaking with Freddie Allen from Eigen Labs and Lucas Schweiger from Sygnum. We explore the fundamental mechanics of restaking, its benefits for validators and delegators, and how restaking affects network security and decentralization. Questions we cover include:
- Can you walk us through the basic mechanics of how restaking works?
- What are the primary benefits of restaking for both validators and delegators?
- How does restaking impact the security and decentralization of a network?
- In what scenarios does restaking provide the most value to participants?
- What are the main risks associated with restaking, and how can they be mitigated?
- How does restaking compare to other incentive mechanisms, like yield farming or liquidity mining?
- How do you see the role of restaking evolving as the blockchain ecosystem matures?
- What other new innovations in the space are you excited about?
Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer
In the 4th podcast episode of Sygnum’s The Crypto Explorer, we look at the pressing issue of Ethereum’s scalability and explore the challenges and critical role of Layer 2 solutions.
Ryan De Souza from Offchain Labs and Rico Müller, Head of VC at Sygnum, discuss the current Layer 2 landscape and the dominance of Arbitrum with podcast host Aliya das Gupta.
Episode highlights:
🔹 The current state of Ethereum’s scalability challenges and why Layer 2 solutions are essential
🔹 Areas where Arbitrum is leading and why it stands out
🔹 Promising Layer 2 projects and what sets them apart in terms of innovation and adoption
🔹 How to approach fragmentation across Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions
🔹 Addressing concerns around the security and centralisation of Layer 2 solutions
🔹 The role of Ethereum’s upcoming upgrades like ETH 2.0 in supporting Layer 2
🔹 Arbitrum’s roadmap and key trends for the future of the Layer 2 ecosystem
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In "What it Means for a Market to be 'Crypto-Ready'", podcast host Deborah Tan-Pink quizzes Sim Yew Ng, Head of Wealth and Investment Solutions at Azimut and Benedict Yap, SVP of Asset Management at Sygnum Singapore, about the conditions and considerations required for a market to be "crypto-ready".
It has been more than 10 years since crypto entered the consciousness of the Singapore public and today, it remains a much-discussed issue whether investors here are ready to participate in the ecosystem.
Episode Highlights:
🔹 How has the crypto landscape in Singapore evolved since the introduction of crypto here?
🔹 Why certain segments continue to think the market is not ready for crypto
🔹 What does it mean for a market to be "crypto-ready"
🔹 Discussing the synergies between institutional adoption and retail participation
🔹 Are there any gaps in market that need to be addressed
🔹 Famous last words?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In "State of Crypto: The View from APAC", podcast host Deborah Tan-Pink joins Sean Lawrence, Head of APAC at Kaiko and Jason French, Head of Clients at Sygnum Singapore, in dissecting the state of crypto in the region and understanding the focus and concerns institutional investors have in their strategies for the markets here.
Prepare yourself for an energetic and engaging conversation, packed with light-hearted but valuable takes of crypto in the highly agile but heterogenous market that is the Asia-Pacific.
Episode Highlights:
🔹 Sentiments towards crypto in the APAC region
🔹 Which are the markets in APAC to watch and why
🔹 What about Singapore?
🔹 Kaiko sharing some interesting data about crypto in APAC
🔹 Sygnum on the considerations institutional investors are carrying into their strategies
🔹 How is this current bull cycle different from the bull cycles before
🔹 Famous last words?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Back from hiatus! Season 2 of The Crypto Explorer kicks off with Mihai Grigore - Director of Research at Messari and Katalin Tischhauser, Head of Research at Sygnum Bank. Together, they give us a State of the (crypto) Nation, examining key market trends and what to look out for in the year ahead. The questions include:
- What are the most significant trends in the crypto market today?
- How have recent regulatory changes impacted the crypto landscape, especially with the launch of the ETFs?
- What role do you see for DeFi in the future of finance?
- What emerging technologies are you most excited about in the blockchain space?
- What is your view on the layer 1 proliferation – where do we go from here?
- What do think of the new generation of high-yield algorithmic stable coins?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Stable coins continue to play a powerful role in the crypto sphere, so it was helpful to sit down with Teana Baker Taylor (Circle /USDC) and Thomas Eichenberger (CPO , Sygnum) to learn more about the growth in the space, addressing questions like:
- Is deriving stability from the tradfi markets the best way for the crypto ecosystem to evolve?
- How can players address issues around the stable coin market - e.g. transparency on backing assets?
- With the entry of new big Web2 market players, how does this evolve? Will we see co-existence or do you see a winner take all scenario?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In this episode, join us Dominic Williams (ICP) and Walter Strametz (CTO Sygnum) dive deep into the fascinating fusion of AI and Blockchain technologies. They explore the impactful use cases that distinguish them from classic blockchain applications, digging into the key intersections where AI and Blockchain converge, offering end users groundbreaking solutions. we look at questions like:
1. AI seems to be the hottest buzzword in tech - What sort of use cases do think have strong impact and how do they differ from classic blockchain use cases?
2. Where do you see the strongest intersection with AI and Blockchain? What are the key points of convergence between these two technologies in applications for end users?
3. Perhaps a steps further than pure use-cases – De-AI, or Decentralized AI is also catching headlines, why is this interesting to explore and what benefits does it offer it users?
4. Blockchain's smart contracts enable automated and trustless transactions. How can AI leverage smart contracts to automate processes, and what are the implications for different industries?
5. There are also suggestions around improving AI Data Security using blockchain, where do you see this being applicable?
6. What are some interesting applications listeners can already engage with, that are leveraging both technologies? How are these apps superior to their web 2 / non AI counterparts?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Join us this week as we explore how Venture Capital funds navigate the ups and downs of a sideways-moving crypto market. Where do market opportunities lie? and what strategies and insights do seasoned investors use ? how do they thrive in volatile conditions, adapting and seizing opportunities? Tune in to understand how VCs maneuver through the sideways trends and still manage to find diamonds in the blockchain bear season.
We address questions like:
- What is your investment thesis – what are you most bullish on in the market today?
- In an era with no free money and tempered growth, how has the investment outlook changed?
- Data says 2023 has had the lowest number of crypto startups being set up – why is this and how do you guys deal with it?
- What is the role of VCs in existing portfolio companies? Especially in slower market times?
- What are key green flags from a start up that makes you immediately interested?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In this episode, we'll delve into the world of enterprise blockchain. We'll explore the role of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) and its impact on standardization and adoption. Our guests, Tom Lyons and Dan Burnett will discuss the latest trends in enterprise blockchain, developments, and the challenges enterprises face during implementation. we address questions like
- How is the EEA different from the Ethereum Foundation? what purpose does it serve in the ecosystem?
- In 2017 we saw a lot of activity with R3 and Corda and the EEA , but at least I haven’t heard a lot since then, what is new in the world of enterprise blockchain?
- On the topic of standardization - What are the main trends you are seeing in the enterprise/business Ethereum world?
- What are you working on now that you are most excited about?
- What are the key challenges enterprises face around implementation? How do you help address these?
- If you had a call to action for our listeners, what would it be?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In this podcast we were excited to dive into the world of cryptocurrency regulation, with a particular focus on the ground-breaking Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MICA). Join Luka Mueller and Firas Habach, two esteemed experts in the field, as they demystify the complex landscape of crypto regulations and shed light on the profound impact MICA has on the future of digital assets.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Switzerland and blockchain: This episode is part of a limited series produced in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise and Home of Blockchain.swiss, which aims to highlight the successful implementation of blockchain technology across finance, industry, and NGOs. In this episode, we talk to Tatjana Meier, Blockchain Practice Leader at IBM Switzerland, and Ali Habbabeh, Web 3.0 Product Manager at Roche, about how blockchain technology transforms supply chain management, where its benefits and challenges are, and unique opportunities the Swiss market presents when it comes to implementing blockchain technology in supply chain management. Do you want to know more about business opportunities in the blockchain industry and the digital ecosystem in Switzerland? Get in touch at www.s-ge.com/en/blockchain and www.HomeofBlockchain.swiss.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Switzerland and blockchain: This episode is part of a limited series produced in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise and Home of Blockchain.swiss, which aims to highlight the successful implementation of blockchain technology across finance, industry, and NGOs.
In this episode, we talk to Philipp Cottier, Managing Partner at L1 Digital, and Mathias Imbach, Co-Founder and Group CEO at Sygnum, about the financial and banking environment around cryptocurrencies and what role Swiss financial institutions play in the global adoption of crypto. Do you want to know more about business opportunities in the blockchain industry and the digital ecosystem in Switzerland? Get in touch at www.s-ge.com/en/blockchain and www.HomeofBlockchain.swiss.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Switzerland and blockchain: This episode is part of a limited series produced in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise and Home of Blockchain.swiss, which aims to highlight the successful implementation of blockchain technology across finance, industry, and NGOs.
In this episode, we talk to Karin Lorez, Founder of Lorez Legal and Scale Compliance, and Alexander Brunner, President of Home of Blockchain.swiss, about the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency in Switzerland, how it has evolved, and why it is so successful. Do you want to know more about business opportunities in the blockchain industry and the digital ecosystem in Switzerland? Get in touch at www.s-ge.com/en/blockchain and www.HomeofBlockchain.swiss.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Switzerland and blockchain: This episode is part of a limited series produced in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise and Home of Blockchain.swiss , which aims to highlight the successful implementation of blockchain technology across finance, industry, and NGOs. In this episode, we talk to Sandro Knöpfel, Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Cardano Foundation, and Alvaro Cosi, Communications Manager at Switzerland for UNHCR, about how humanitarian organizations can benefit from blockchain technology.
Do you want to know more about business opportunities in the blockchain industry and the digital ecosystem in Switzerland? Get in touch at Blockchain Hub Switzerland | S-GE and www.HomeofBlockchain.swiss.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Every year Sygnum publishes a Digital Asset Outlook report, explaining events of the last year and the banks outlook for the year ahead. Understanding that not everyone can access or consume a full 28-page report, this year, we decided to summarize it down to a quick, simple 30 minute podcast to highlight key takeaways.
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Thinking about investments in a bear market can be challenging!
To address the fallout from the events of 2022, and how they changed the approach to risk management and portfolio strategy, we were happy to sit down with AM experts, Charles-Henry Monchau (Syz Bank) and Fabian Dori (Sygnum) to break it all down.
We looked at questions like:
- Why do you think crypto needs to be a part of your portfolio?
- How / and why can crypto positions be integrated into traditional portfolios?
- It's been a difficult year in Crypto – how has this changed your outlook and approach?
- Addressing tradfi concerns and with crypto exposure – including smart contract risk and regulatory uncertainty?
- Can crypto still be considered a diversifier for traditional portfolios?
- How to value crypto investments – compared to the traditional world?
- What are roadblocks that you face with crypto adoption?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
The events of 2022 have emphasized the need and growth for truly decentralized, Web 3 solutions. However, the success of Web3 solutions is heavily reliant on community, which is largely driven by marketing. So, it was a pleasure to sit down with Massimo Moretti (CEO and Founder of Signvm accelerator) and Dom Castley (CMO, Sygnum) to understand what it takes to build a successful brand in Web3. We explored questions like:
- What are key factors for growth in web3? What's different from the traditional world ?
- Why is community in web 3 so strong, and how do you build it?
- What are newer aspects to growth in web3, like metaverse presence, Discord, lens and airdrops?
- What role do traditional social media and paid media continue to play?
- What are easy mistakes to avoid, but people don’t often do?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Managing your own crypto assets is challenging enough in a calm market. As the crypto world faces waves of turbulence this November, we were happy to sit down with Christoph Simmchen (Safe ecosystem) and Martin Burgherr (Sygnum) to make sense of how to assess and use different custody solutions.
- In this new background of FTX market events, how has your view of custody solutions in the market changed?
- How do you think regulation will change? What in your view would be a welcome change?
- The use case for custody used to be pure custody, now its more about defi and staking – how do you think this evolves?
- On a more personal level, what are key factors and risks you consider when working with custody providers?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
The Layer Two wars are heating up! Across the crypto ecosystem are rumblings of cutting edge Zero-Knowledge technology being developed and when they officially hit the market. So we were delighted to sit down with Omar Azhar from Matter Labs (zkSync) and Rico Muller (Sygnum) to understand Layer 2s, and the evolution from plasma chains, side chains and optimistic roll ups to zero knowledge proofs and the arrival of Layer 3s. Its a technical subject, but an important one to understand! We look at questions like:
- Why do we need to scale? What are different approaches to scaling?
- What are Zero-Knowledge rollups and why is everyone so excited about them?
- What does the Layer 2 ecosystem look like? And how come everyone made big ZK announcements at the exact same time?
- How does this effectively change our engagement with web3?
- How do you aim to address the fragmentation of liquidity with all the new solutions in the market?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substi...
Have you ever wondered why crypto projects are valued the way they are? Or how VCs make decisions in a sea of interesting projects? Tune in, as we sit down with David Toh from Mirana Ventures and Luca Burlando from Sygnum Bank to figure out how VCs deploy capital, and how this changes in a bear market.
We explore questions like:
- When considering crypto investments, what are the key factors you consider?
- In what ways do you think these differ from non-crypto investments?
- How do you compare cases for token investments vs equity investments?
- There has been some criticism of centralization caused by VCs in the decentralized crypto universe – what are your thoughts on this?
- For founders, bear markets are often called build market, how does that impact the investment environment?
- What are red-flags for you, when considering an investment case?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Right now, all everyone cares about in crypto is the MERGE. When the second largest blockchain transitions from PoW to PoS, people argue that this is the largest development in crypto since the advent of smart contracts in 2014!
So of course, we had to sit down with Francesco Andreoli and Matt Nelson from Consensys and the Ethereum Foundation and Admir Opardija from Sygnum, to unwrap what exactly this means, and what changes for you! We explore questions like:
- What is the merge – and why is everyone so excited?
- How does this change the way I interact with eth?
- What about the PoW chain – are you anxious about the fork?
- What are the most annoying misconceptions about the Merge?
- What are the next big steps ahead? Which ones are you most looking forward to?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
Bear season = Build season.
As the crypto universe recovers from recent turbulence - it is a good time to revisit the power of the tech stack. In discussion with Ralf Kubli from Casper Labs and Dominic Lohberger from Sygnum Bank, we dig into the interesting applications for blockchain in the finance world, and the power of smart financial contracts: far beyond defi as we know it today! This is unchartered, unexplored territory - so of course, full of immense possibility! We dig into questions like:
- What are some interesting ways smart contracts have been used to fuel further blockchain innovation?
- Where do we see possible use cases for smart contracts in financial infrastructure?
- Derivatives on chain – how can smart contracts be applied in there?
- What are the dangers of decentralized financial smart contracts?
- How can you address non-chain data needed for fulfillment of contracts?
- Current systems seems work fine, but what’s the big bonus of moving on chain?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
In a turbulent market environment, it seems wise to revisit the fundamentals. Thinking about investing in crypto is already challenging during exciting bull markets - and when we see multiple black swan events play out, things get a lot harder.
So, it made sense to sit down with Mike Taormina from Indexcoop and Stefan Edelman from Sygnum Bank, to look at different ways the megatrend can be assessed - and consider simplified ways to develop broad exposure. We looked at questions like:
- What megatrends or sectors do you see within crypto?
- Considering DeFi as one of the biggest trends, where do you see the opportunities for investors?
- How do you approach the building of an index?
- How can an investor get exposure to different sectors? Active vs. Passive; Diversified solutions vs. Single token selection
- How did the both of you approach building a diversified portfolio across crypto?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
At its origins, crypto was designed to live outside of government regulation. However, the last decade has seen slow but clear frameworks evolve in regulating with Web3. At the forefront of this evolution has been Luka Mueller (MME) - starting from the set up of the Ethereum foundation in Zug back in 2014. In our new episode, we speak to Luka and Magdalena Boskic (Head of Regtech at Sygnum) about how crypto regulation unfolded and how it continues to evolve as the market grows, covering topics like:
- Early days of crypto regulation: setting up the ETH foundation
- How has regulation in the crypto world evolved since 2017
- Governing the ungovernable: Regulation by definition is a centralized endeavor; How successful can it be in the world of crypto?
- We have seen regulators race to keep up with crypto. But do we perhaps need law 2.0 and not just an update of our aging legal frameworks to cope with the opportunities the technology provides? Are smart contracts the future of legal work?
- Anonymity in crypto: the current political climate has seen crypto be blamed as a vehicle to circumvent sanctions - what do you think?
Have you also been a bit bewildered by all the big headlines about major luxury brands engaging with NFTs? Seeing Dolce and Gabbana, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Burberry all jumping into the fray, we decided it was time to sit down with Kelly Vero and Elena Baltaga, to understand the market opportunity, how NFTs are standardized, and what kind of role NFTs can play in the luxury market, exploring questions like:
- What makes a good NFT?
- What is the point of standardizing NFTs? Isnt the point of Web3 to have open markets?
- How do traditional companies enter and use the NFT market, beyond just marketing?
- What are good examples we have seen of effective usage / what upcoming uses are you excited about?
- What are the possibilities for luxury brands in particular to engage? Why should they care? Skeptics would say this just a cash grab?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
NFTs have created whole new world of possibilities for a series of new use cases: from the worlds of gaming and art to product and brand engagement. There is something here for everyone, and so to learn more about it, we sat down with Jan Albers from Tezos and Nigel Fillep from Sygnum Bank, to explore the idea of NFTs and the opportunities they create.
We dove into questions like:
- What is an NFT - and why do you think they're important?
- Use cases developing for NFTs – combined with physical assets vs. only used on the Metaverse
- How do traditional companies enter and engage with NFTs, beyond just marketing?
- Discovering new customer journeys with NFTs: Use cases still in development
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
With all the exciting opportunities around of the Metaverse, it was about time to sit down with Adam DeCata from Decentraland and Darius Mouktarzadeh, and dive into it.
Exploring its origin and evolution, we take a look at how Web 3 impacts applications and use cases for the metaverse, considering questions like:
- How would you define the metaverse? How is this different from SIMs / WoW (open world games from the early 00s)? I could own stuff there too!
- What is the point of virtual ownership? Both in terms of land / collectibles?
- What sort of use cases do you see emerging in the metaverse? business use cases / social networks
- Why does the metaverse need a blockchain infrastructure? What are the benefits of decentralizing this?
- How do you see the synergies of NFTs, metaverse, blockchain based games – how will they all play together?
- How long until the metaverse ‘exists’?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
What are stable coins? and why does an ecosystem so determined to achieve decentralisation still rely on them? In conversation with Nadia Alvarez from Maker Dao, and Nestor Palao from Sygnum Bank we dive into the role of stable coins in def and how the market is evolving, particularly with the rise of CBDCs and governments experimenting with crypto.
- What is the role of stable coins in the crypto market, particularly in defi-lending?
- How does a DAO-driven stable coin differ from other more centralized players in the sector?
- How does a decentralized coin that is independent survive against the upcoming CBDCs?
- Do stable coins offer a potential solution for markets where the economies are less stable?
Disclaimer
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
What is yield farming? Why might this be a game changer in managing your money? In conversation with Julien Bouteloup (Founder of StakeDao) and Graham Nelson (Defi at Sygnum) we look at yield farming in the world of Defi, diving into questions like:
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How is the yield actually generated? what opportunities exist beyond simple lending pools?
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People are able to make higher yields using inefficiencies in the market - am i already too late to the game?
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Does this have the potential to harm to average retail clients? How do retail users coexist with Powerusers & degens?
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With the recently sky-high transaction fees, how can defi go to the masses? Whats the easiest way to get started?
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
What is "Custody" really, in the world of crypto?
In conversation with the Founder and CEO of METACO, Adrien Treccani and Sygnum Custody expert Thomas Brunner, we look at the world of crypto custody, and why choosing where to hold your crypto assets isn't as simple as you think. This episode looks at questions like:
- What does custody mean in crypto? How does it differ from traditional banking
- Hot, cold, warm, HSM, MPC, Institutional custody vs private ledger – what makes the most sense, why?
- Biggest mistakes and challenges in custodizing crypto?
- How the industry is moving from simple custody to defi, staking and DAO Governance
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
How does Asset Management work in the world crypto?
In conversation with the Founder of 21shares and Amun AG, Hany Rashwan and Sygnum AM expert Katalin Tischhauser, we look at how crypto Asset Management differs from the traditional world, how the two can be combined, and the quest for alpha when markets are increasingly democratised. This episode looks at questions like:
- How does crypto AM differ from the traditional world of asset management?
- Does the crypto world even need traditional AM?
- How would you combine traditional and crypto AM?
- Dealing with market volatility - What are some approaches to hedging?
- How do you find alpha when everyone can have direct exposure / stake / access to derivatives?
- Where do you see the most market potential? What sectors do you think are currently underserved?
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
What is a DEX!? Why do Decentralised exchanges matter?
A conversation with the founder of CURVE, Michael Egorov and Sygnum CCO Martin Burgherr, looking at the origins of defi and DEXs, their impact in the world today. Simplifying concepts like Bonding Curves, impermanent loss and composability from the world of Defi, this episode dives into questions like:
- What are Dexs and why do they matter?
- Yield bearing products have been a struggle for tradfi but seem to be everywhere in crypto. Why?
- Do you think there are hidden risks in crypto? Or are traditional markets just that inefficient?
- What is the future role for DEXs, and their evolution? How will they co-exist with tradfi?
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
A conversation with Peter Wuffli & Mathias Imbach, two pioneers of the crypto and banking world, exploring the origins of crypto banking, the evolution of financial services and experiences at the edge of industry-changing innovation.
- Why Crypto Banking?
- Crypto banking environment vs traditional banking
- Institutionalisation and evolution of financial services
- Personally changing perceptions of crypto
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.
A conversation with Patrick Heusser & Dominic Lohberger, two experts in the crypto trading world, discussing the emergence of a new asset class, exploring how it differs from the traditional finance space and the challenges involved on what has been an eventful journey.
- What's exciting about this space? Why do you choose to be here?
- Crypto trading vs brokerage in the traditional world
- The role of brokers in with automation of the industry
- The role of derivatives in traditional markets vs crypto?
- Challenges and Unexpected blocks along the journey into crypto
Because Sygnum is a bank and some of the information in the podcast relates to financial and investment topics, we want you to understand that we do not create a bank client relationship with you when you listen to the podcast. By listening to the podcast, you agree that the information on this podcast does not constitute professional advice and no bank-client or other relationship is created between you and Sygnum. Do not consider the podcast to be a substitute for obtaining advice from a qualified investment advisor. The information in the podcast may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. All information you hear is never considered to be a solicitation for any purpose, in any form or content.