The Scoop
The Scoop is The Block's flagship podcast covering finance and technology industries through interviews with top thought leaders, cultural icons, and industry veterans. Host Frank Chaparro brings new guests every week, diving into breaking news and topics ranging from NFTs to the impact of DeFi on Wall Street and Bitcoin's role in the economy.
Episodes
Series Finale: Mike Dudas on how stablecoins are eating Wall Street
Mike Dudas is the Managing Partner of 6MV and former CEO of The Block.
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by Mike Dudas for Frank's final episode of the program. Frank and Mike discuss The Block's history, the evolution of the crypto space over the years, and how payments and stablecoins have emerged as one of crypto's killer use cases.
OUTLINE
00:00 - Introduction
02:11
Bitcoin becoming global reserve asset 'sooner' than most think - David Bailey
David Bailey is the CEO of Bitcoin Inc.
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by David Bailey to discuss the growing adoption of Bitcoin by nation-states and institutions, with Bitcoin heading towards becoming a reserve asset and political force. They also discuss Michael Saylor's Microstrategy, and Bitcoin's separation from the broader crypto market.
OUTLINE
00:00 - Preside
Barry Silbert on crypto's evolution and why Bittensor may be the next Bitcoin
Barry Silbert is the Founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group and Yuma.
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by Barry Silbert to discuss his journey through the evolution of the crypto market, how his experience with the 2008 financial crisis shaped his approach to investing, and why he thinks Bittensor may be the next Bitcoin.
OUTLINE
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Spons
Gold revaluation could lead to US treasury buying Bitcoin sooner than expected - Coinbase Exec
Sebastian Bea is the President of Coinbase Asset Management.
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Bea to discuss how Bitcoin's recent market behavior is driving increased institutional interest and portfolio integration, signaling a potential shift in Bitcoin's role from a high-volatility tech proxy to a store of value like gold. Bea and Chaparro also touched on a potential mo
Austin Federa's DoubleZero is rewiring the internet to supercharge crypto
Austin Federa is a co-founder of DoubleZero.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Federa to discuss how the current public internet infrastructure bottlenecks blockchain performance, and how DoubleZero looks to address this by leveraging underutilized fiber optic cables to create a dedicated global network to support higher performance.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:02 - Sponsor
John Wu on Avalanche’s edge in the race for enterprise adoption
John Wu is the President of Ava Labs.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Wu to discuss Avalanche’s growing institutional appeal, the rise of blockchain gaming, and how his background in traditional finance shaped his approach to building in crypto.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Sponsor break02:11 - John Wu’s tradfi background06:36 - Taking crypto seriously09:27 - Ava Labs’
Tariffs, tokenization and institutional adoption with Flowdesk CEO Guilhem Chaumont
Guilhem Chaumont is the Co-Founder and CEO of Flowdesk.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, joined Chaumont at the Flowdesk office in Paris to discuss market volatility driven by tariffs, crypto’s convergence with traditional finance, and the evolving role of digital assets in institutional portfolios.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction00:43 – Sponsor break01:43 – Flowdesk03:14 – Tariffs and Market
Nick Matthew on memecoins, stablecoins & crypto’s shift to ‘fintech 2.0’
Nick Matthew is an investor with Standard Crypto.In this episode, Matthew joins The Scoop to discuss the current state of the crypto market, noting that investment opportunities still exist despite macro downturns. Matthew also contrasts the rise of stablecoins with memecoins, and the potential for crypto to consolidate and shift its evolution towards building 'Fintech 2.0' rather than w
Arthur Breitman on tokenizing the 'red hot' Uranium market
Arthur Breitman is the Co-Founder of Tezos.In this episode, Breitman joins The Scoop to discuss the launch of uranium.io, a new marketplace for trading uranium powered by blockchain technology that looks to make investing in uranium more accessible to retail investors. The conversation also touched on geopolitical and technological tailwinds that could drive greater demand for nuclear ene
Kyle Samani's bull case for Solana and how Ethereum may get left behind
Kyle Samani is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Multicoin Capital.In this episode, Samani discusses the current state of the crypto market and venture capital funding in the industry. Samani highlights areas which he believes are key investment opportunities, and lays out why he sees a brighter future for Solana in on-chain finance over Ethereum.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:32 Sponso
DeFi should feel 'magical' for average consumers, says Coinbase product director behind new bitcoin-backed loans
Michael Rihani is the director of products at Coinbase and one of the chief architects behind Coinbase's new bitcoin-backed loan product for everyday consumers.In this episode, Rihani explains how Coinbase's new loan product is designed to make DeFi feel 'magical,' and how this fits into Coinbase's broader strategy of bringing the power of blockchain technology to a global audience.OUTLIN
Generalist VCs unpack the risks and rewards of bootstrapping liquidity with tokens
In this episode, host Frank Chaparro is joined by M13 General Partner Latif Peracha and M13 Principal Mark Grace.The conversation explores the risks and opportunities presented by crypto's volatile liquid tokens, as well as the need for crypto founders to balance short-term liquidity with long-term potential when it comes to bootstrapping.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:17 Sponsor Shoutouts03
‘A good day for DeFi’ - Cody Carbone on DC's rapid crypto policy shift
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by The Digital Chamber President Cody Carbone.In this episode, Chaparro and Carbone discussed the current U.S. policy landscape for the crypto industry under the new Trump administration. With growing bipartisan support and regulatory clarity, the conversation highlights how crypto is becoming a mainstream political issue with significant econo
How to build the ultimate crypto conference with Paris Blockchain Week's Michael Amar
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Paris Blockchain Week Chairman Michael Amar.In this episode, Chaparro and Amar discussed the origin and development of Paris Blockchain Week. Amar shared anecdotes of the various challenges and milestones reached over the years, and gave tips on curating a top-tier crypto conference.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:56 - Sponsor break02:49 - Mic
'Massive' stablecoin adoption is reshaping payments in emerging markets
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Yellow Card Financial CTO and Co-Founder Justin Poiroux.In this episode, Chaparro and Poiroux discussed the rapid adoption of stablecoins in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. They explore how stablecoins are solving cross-border payment issues, and how Yellow Card is looking to bridging the gap between the developing world and the gl
How Crypto, AI and Robotics are converging into the future economy with Matt Graham
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Ryze Labs Founder and Managing Partner Matthew Graham.In this episode, Chaparro and Graham discussed the intersection of the crypto market, AI, and robotics, with Graham highlighting several key technological advancements that could have a profound impact on how the markets function and alter humanity's role in them.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction
Memes and 'madness' are taking mindshare from a real industry - Jeff Dorman
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Arca CIO Jeff Dorman.In this episode, Chaparro and Dorman discussed the disconnect between market sentiment and the developments in the crypto space. Dorman goes over the actual use cases of the crypto ecosystem and how they are being drowned out by memecoins and scandals, highlighting that big outside players are beginning to get on board.
Banks are looking to get started in DeFi - Aya Kantorovich
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by August Co-Founder and CEO Aya Kantorovich.In this episode, Chaparro and Kantorovich went over the state of crypto capital markets, the resilience of DeFi during market downturns, and how banks are looking to get started in DeFi.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:08 From banking to crypto 02:30 Why institutions avoid DeFi 05:33 How institutions imp
David Marcus on building Bitcoin’s global payment network with Lightspark
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Lightspark Co-Founder and CEO David Marcus.In this episode, Chaparro and Marcus discuss the vision and technology behind scaling Bitcoin as a global payment network. Marcus explained how new developments, including stablecoins on Bitcoin, could transform worldwide financial systems and directly lead to an increase of GDP.OUTLINE00:00 Introdu
SonarX and AWS weigh in on managing the blockchain data deluge
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by SonarX Founder Patrick Kim, SonarX Global Head of BD Jesse Bornstein, and Senior Web 3 Specialist at AWS, Everton Fraga.In this episode, Chaparro, Bornstein, Fraga and Kim discussed the challenges of managing and consuming the exponential growth of blockchain data across multiple chains. Patrick, Jesse, and Everton explained how the prolifer
Congressman Emmer: Gensler's actions towards the crypto industry were illegal
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Congressman and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.In this episode, Chaparro and Emmer discussed President Trump's first weeks in office, the Democrat's missteps with voters in general and on crypto, and alleged waste and fraud in government spending.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction and Super Bowl Recap02:13 Crypto Policy and Political Dynamics07:11 Ide
Here's how QuickNode is enabling enterprises to enter the crypto ecosystem
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by VP of Product at QuickNode, Josh Neuroth.In this episode, Chaparro and Neuroth explored the rapid growth and increased adoption of blockchain by traditional financial institutions. They also unpacked QuickNode’s role in providing high-performance infrastructure to support both emerging blockchain projects and enterprise adoption.OUTLINE00:00
Caitlin Long says Trump's crypto moves could upend the public payment network
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Custodia Bank Founder and CEO Caitlin Long.In this episode, Chaparro and Long discussed the state of crypto banking, the potential restructuring of regulations under the Trump administration, and the Federal Reserve's stance on crypto.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction1:39 Powell’s crypto remarks3:02 Custodia and the Fed7:19 Trump’s crypto executive
Hedge fund manager explains just how spot ETFs fundamentally altered crypto markets
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Cambrian Asset Management President Tony Fenner-Leitão.In this episode, Chaparro and Fenner-Leitão discussed his firm's approach to the crypto market, which involves using machine learning and data-driven models. They also touched on the impact of increased institutional participation and regulatory changes in the crypto space and how these
Story Protocol's Jason Zhao explains how AI is going to transform the $60 trillion IP industry
The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Story Protocol Co-Founder Jason Zhao.In this episode, Chaparro and Zhao discussed the inefficiencies and challenges in the current IP landscape, and how Story aims to address these by allowing creators to monetize and license their IP in a more open and efficient manner, especially in the context of the rise of AI.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction
How Wall Street prime brokers could ignite crypto's largest expansion yet
The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by LMAX Group CEO David Mercer.In this episode, Chaparro and Mercer discussed the accelerating institutional adoption of crypto, with major banks entering the market and driving stability, maturity, and significant capital inflows. They also explored how improved interoperability between tradfi and crypto could increase adoption by enabling more
Tom Schmidt on why this cycle is different for venture
The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by Dragonfly Partner Tom Schmidt.In this episode, Chaparro and Schmidt discussed the cryptocurrency market acting as an institutional asset class moving into 2025, and how this cycle has been different for venture captial operating within the space. OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:39 Crypto as an institutional asset11:47 Crypto market idiosyncrasies1
The Scoop's year-end special: from memecoins to Microstrategy and outlook for 2025
The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by The Block's CEO Larry Cermak, Editor-in-Chief Tim Copeland, and Foresight Centures Co-Founder Forest Bai for a year-end special.In this episode, Chaparro, Copeland, Bai and Cermak covered a myriad of pertinent topics in the crypto market, including the factors that lead to a successful ecosystem, underexposure to bitcoin relative to memecoins
Linking ‘the King and Queen of Crypto’: here's how Hemi's layer 2 connects bitcoin and ethereum
Jeff Garzik is the CEO of Hemi Labs, a modular Layer 2 protocol that integrates Bitcoin and Ethereum.In this episode, Garzik and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss Hemi and its "proof-of-proof" security model, and Garzik shares his views on the future of multi-chain interoperability and the evolution of decentralized governance models.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction and Hemi overview03:17 -
Here’s how Bitcoin can restore its 'sense of adventure and innovation' with DeFi
Edan Yago is the co-founder and CEO of BitcoinOS, a Layer 2 platform and "operating system" for Bitcoin.In this episode, Yago and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss BitcoinOS and how Bitcoin can evolve from being just “digital gold” into a fully programmable, global ledger for ownership and financial innovation.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction
02:17 – Bitcoin and digital property rights
04:40
Here's how Meanwhile is trying to unleash the multitrillion dollar insurance industry onto bitcoin
Zachary Townsend is the co-founder and CEO of Meanwhile, a life insurance company for the crypto economy.In this episode, Townsend and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss Meanwhile's model of Bitcoin-denominated life insurance and the advantages of this approach vs. traditional dollar-denominated insurance policies, such as protection against inflation and the ability to borrow against the
Breaking down crypto's shifting lending landscape with Arch co-founder Himanshu Sahay
Himanshu Sahay is the Co-Founder and CTO of Arch.In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Sahay and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss the evolution of crypto lending after the 2022 market turmoil and Arch's approach to expansion and collateral.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:16 Intro to Arch 03:15 Shifting collateral standards 07:33 The state of crypto credit12:48 New administra
Samantha Bohbot explains what distinguishes top fund managers from the rest
Samantha Bohbot is the Chief Growth Officer & Partner of RockawayX, a blockchain-focused venture capital fund.In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Bohbot and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss discuss challenges facing European firms compared to their American counterparts, and RockawayX's credit fund and developing opportunities in DeFi.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:36
Crypto’s markets have matured but there’s still inefficiencies to profit from, says crypto veteran David Wells
David Wells is the founder and CEO of Enclave Markets, an institutional-grade digital asset trading platform that bills itself as the first Fully Encrypted Exchange (FEX).In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Wells and Chaparro discuss Enclave's model, the maturing crypto market and the potential for more sophisticated trading strategies and liquidity.OUTLINE00:00 Introduc
Abra CEO Bill Barhydt discusses what it takes to build a successful business in an exponentially growing industry
Bill Barhydt is the founder and CEO of Abra, a global platform for digital asset prime services and wealth management.In this episode recorded live at Emergence, Barhydt and Chaparro discuss how building a successful crypto businesses requires careful navigation of complex legal and regulatory hurdles, and how this process might change under the upcoming Trump administration.OUTLINE 00:00
Interoperability may be 'turning a corner' with Hyperlane co-founder Jon Kol
Jon Kol is the co-founder of Hyperlane, an interoperability protocol.In this episode, Kol and Chaparro discuss the challenges and progress of blockchain interoperability, and how the industry may now be turning a corner.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction04:24 A year away08:50 Interchange singularity10:30 Bridge opportunities13:32 Balancing speed and security18:35 Poor UX, Poor DevX20:11 Who’s the
Josh Lim on how Trump’s election is opening the door for institutional crypto adoption
Joshua Lim is the co-founder of Arbelos Markets.In this episode, Lim and Chaparro discuss the crypto market surge sparked by Donald Trump's election as U.S. President. Lim sheds light on how the Trump administration's regulatory stance could pave the way for institutional investors to dive deeper ino the crypto space, potentially driving higher trading volumes and boosting liquidity acros
Anthony Scaramucci explains how the Democrats flopped on crypto
Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and Managing Partner of Skybridge.In this episode, Scaramucci and Chaparro discuss the recent U.S. Presidential election and its implications for the crypto industry. Scaramucci analyzes the factors that led to Kamala Harris's loss, naming crypto as a key factor.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction00:36 2024 Presidential Election Retrospective 04:16 Trump's Cabi
dYdX is launching a new liquidity feature that’ll make it easier to spring up new tokens
dYdX founder Antonio Juliano discusses the evolution of dYdX and the broader DeFi landscape, highlighting the need for DeFi to move beyond copying tradfi products and build truly innovative applications made possible by decentralization.OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 01:33 DeFi's Development 04:24 dYdX Mega Vault AMM 05:32 dYdX Prediction Markets 08:47 High-Performance Blockchain Development 10:35 A
Ryan Watkins unpacks the bull case for Solana and what’s driving crypto markets
Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins sheds light on Ethereum, Solana and finding the next "generational winners" in the crypto market.OUTLINE00:00 Intro 01:47 Watkins' Crypto Journey 05:22 Syncracy's Liquid Strategy 06:51 Crypto Market Analysis 08:52 Ethereum's Underperformance 13:14 Long-Only 15:34 Picking Winners 20:38 SOL Trade 28:27 Bitcoin vs. Crypto
Here’s why RWAs are hitting an inflection point with Axelar and Ripple
Ripple Head of Product Jasmine Cooper and Axelar Co-Founder Sergey Gorbunov discuss advancements in Real World Assets (RWAs), tokenization, and interoperability.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:12 Interoperable RWAs 04:18 Regulatory Clarity 08:09 RWA Tech Stack 11:37 White Labeling RWAs 13:05 Choosing a Chain 14:43 XRP Ledger RWA Experience 20:35 Asset Issuance 101 22:4
Paradigms VP of Regulatory Affairs breaks down why Harris lost - and what Trump's win means for crypto
Justin Slaughter is the vice president of regulatory affairs at Paradigm.In this episode, Slaughter and Chaparro discuss the Democratic Party's performance leading up to and during the recent election, particularly in relation to the crypto industry.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 03:19 2024 Election Recap 04:47 Harris Campaign 07:50 Single-Issue Crypto Voters 11:13 Democratic Party Policy 22:4
Here’s how Argentina is leading the charge on digital identity with ZK tech
Alex Gluchowski is the Co-Founder CEO of Matter Labs, a company focused on scaling Ethereum using zero-knowledge proofs, and Matthias Broner is their Head of Growth for Latin America.In this episode, Gluchowski and Broner discuss the QuarkID project in Buenos Aires, which uses zero-knowledge proofs to give citizens control over their digital identity and serve as a model for decentralized
Institutional familiarity with DeFi is on the rise, says Superstate's Robert Leshner
Robert Leshner is the CEO of Superstate, an asset management firm that tokenizes traditional financial assets like U.S. Treasuries and brings them onchain.In this episode, Leshner explains the advantages of tokenized assets, such as the ability to operate 24/7 and the increased composability with DeFi protocols. He also discusses the regulatory and macroeconomic tailwinds that have made t
It doesn’t matter if AI scares you, it’s inevitable
Erik Voorhees and Teana Baker-Taylor are co-founders of Venice, an open-source and uncensored AI chatbot and content generation platform.In this episode, the Venice co-founders discuss the vision and approach of their product in contrast to more restrictive and centralized AI models like ChatGPT.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:43 Origin of Venice AI02:37 'AI is like Bitcoin but scarier'07:29
Stablecoins and RWAs are onboarding TradFi to crypto, says Fireblocks CEO
Michael Shaulov is the Co-Founder & CEO of Fireblocks.In this episode, Shaulov discusses how Fireblocks' core business has evolved over the past few years, particularly in the area of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 00:56 Business at Fireblocks 06:15 Fireblocks & Stablecoins 09:59 RWA TVL Growth 15:36 Institutional Stablecoin Adoption 25:22 Tr
CMT Digital investors unpack how crypto's VC landscape has transitioned from mania to maturity
Sam Hallene and Aryan Sheikhalian are analysts at CMT Digital, a subsidiary of the CMT Group.In this episode, Hallene and Sheikhalian unpack the key trends they are observing in crypto's VC market, including the intersection of blockchain and AI and its implication for improving user data ownership, verified inference, and the use of blockchain to govern non-deterministic models.OUTLINE00
Amid a crowded sector, Scroll's Sandy Peng says L2 ecosystem success hinges on having a quality team
Sandy Peng is the co-founder of Scroll.In this episode, Peng discusses scaling Ethereum and particularly emphasizes the importance of business insight and experience outside of crypto in driving application-level innovation.OUTLINE00:00 Intro01:07 Peng's Journey to Scroll04:27 Peng's Regulatory Background07:52 Industry Headwinds 10:31 Ethereum Scaling Competition 15:00 Consumer Crypto App
How TON's Telegram distribution strategy is bringing millions of new users onchain
This episode of The Scoop features Bitget Wallet COO Alvin Kan, and two builders from the TON ecosystem — Catizen co-founder Ricky Wong and Miles, a core team member of Tomarket.The conversation explores how Telegram's large user base is enabling rapid adoption and growth of Telegram 'Mini Apps' on top of the TON blockchain.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:29 TON Overview 03:06 TON's Advantag
Former Coinbase exec launches stablecoin-native crypto exchange
Vishal Gupta is the co-founder and CEO of TrueX — a new stablecoin-native trading platform.In this episode, Gupta unpacks how TrueX aims to provide a "stablecoin-native" trading experience with segregated custody, primarily targeted at institutional clients in the United States.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction04:50 TrueX Overview11:13 Exchange Innovation14:42 Institutional Client Trading Needs17
Galaxy exec says Wall Street intermediaries are 'proactively pushing the bitcoin story'
Steve Kurz is the Global Digital Head of Asset Management at Galaxy Digital.In this episode, Kurz and Chaparro discuss the current state and future of crypto asset management, including the challenges and opportunities in the industry.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:53 Refining Market Structure 03:36 Galaxy Strategy 06:31 TradFi Capital Allocators 09:17 Future Products 13:26 Galaxy PMF 15:05
Here's how Kraken is positioning for crypto's institutional era
David Ripley is the CEO of Kraken.In this episode, Ripley discusses Kraken's strategic expansion into institutional services, including custody and lending.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 03:57 Institutional Crypto Services07:22 FTX Fallout11:02 Institutional Adoption15:25 Crypto Credit Crisis17:10 Crypto Banking19:14 Regulatory Environment22:39 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by
Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton says the crypto industry is 'pushing US market infrastructure forward'
This episode of The Scoop was recorded with former chairperson of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton.Chaparro and Clayton discuss how the crypto industry has evolved since Clayton's tenure as head of the SEC.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 00:54 Crypto's Evolution 03:42 Crypto Securities & Crypto Commodities 07:02 Token Fundraising 09:57 US Crypto Exchanges 11:12 2022
A conversation with US Senator Tim Scott and FalconX's Austin Reid on the future of crypto in the US
This episode of The Scoop was recorded with US Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Falcon X Global's Head of Revenue and Business Austin Reid live at the SALT Conference in Jackson Hole.Senator Scott and Reid discuss the growing political interest in crypto and digital assets in the United States, and the need for better education that clearly conveys the value proposition of this new form of te
Tokenized treasuries will dethrone stablecoins as the institutional collateral of choice: Securitize
Carlos Domingo is the founder and CEO at Securitize.Earlier this year, Securitize partnered with BlackRock to launch the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL).In this episode recorded live at last week's SALT Conference, Domingo discusses the successful launch of BUIDL and highlights the growing institutional adoption of tokenized treasuries over stablecoins.OUTLINE00
Anthony Scaramucci on the importance of not alienating the crypto vote
Anthony Scaramucci serves as both the founder and managing partner of Skybridge Capital, as well as the founder and chairman of SALT Conferences. In this episode recorded live at last week's SALT Conference in Jackson Hole, Chaparro and Scaramucci discuss the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election and the rising importance of the 'crypto vote.'OUTLINE00:00 Intro 04:16 2024 Election 14:1
Gamifying fitness: Moonwalk wants to turn user tasks into tokenized rewards
Caitlin Cook is the director of growth at the onchain fitness platform Moonwalk Fitness.In this episode, Cook shares how Moonwalk is attempting to build a consumer crypto app that helps people hit their health goals through daily step competitions.Moonwalk plans to tap into fitness communities, influencers, and corporate wellness programs to attract a broader non-crypto audience.OUTLINE00
Diogo Mónica on building company 'cult-ure' and lessons for startup founders
Diogo Mónica is the founder and executive chairman of Anchorage Digital, and a general partner at Haun Ventures.In this episode, Chaparro and Diogo discuss how culture and intensity are crucial in building successful teams and companies in the crypto industry.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 03:44 Macro & Geopolitical Risks 04:39 Buying the Dip 06:20 VC Conviction 09:20 Mónica's Background 1
Meet Berachain: a new Layer 1 born from a community built around bear NFTs
Smokey the Bera is the pseudonymous co-founder of Berachain — a Layer 1 network that raised $100 million in a Series B back in April.In this episode, Chaparro and Smokey discuss how memetics influences community building, and unpack Berachain's innovative 'proof of liquidity' consensus, where users earn governance tokens by contributing liquidity to the ecosystem.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction
How Agora aims to disrupt the stablecoin market by turning digital dollars into public goods
Nick van Eck is the co-founder and CEO of Agora — a stablecoin issuer that raised a $12 million seed round led by Dragonfly in April. In this episode, Van Eck explains how Agora's AUSD is attempting to innovate the centralized stablecoin using a neutral, customer-first perspective.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction02:29 Bootstrapping a Stablecoin06:09 Stablecoin Issuers09:24 Agora's Strategy10:43
Coinbase CISO breaks down common crypto scam tactics and how to protect yourself
Jeff Lunglhofer is Coinbase's Chief Information Security Officer.In this episode, Lunglhofer highlights common techniques used by malicious actors in the crypto space and offers suggestions on how to avoid these threats.The crypto industry lost $336 million in the first quarter of 2024 due to hacks and fraud, according to blockchain bug bounty platform Immunefi.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01
Inside the market structure of crypto token launches with Acheron Trading founder Wesley Pryor
Wesley Pryor is the founder of Acheron Trading — a crypto market maker operating in the space since 2018.In this episode, Pryor discusses the role of market makers in the context of token market debuts, and explains the nuances of market making in the crypto space, where assets are highly volatile and lack established processes.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction04:40 Institutional Trading11:19 Ins
The 'perpetual-ification' of all assets is coming onchain, says Ostium co-founder
Kaledora Fontana Kiernan-Linn is the co-founder of Ostium — a startup that facilitates the trading of digitized commodities perpetual swaps.In this episode, Kaledora discusses Ostium's integration of perpetual swaps with real-world assets, highlighting the maturation of digital asset trading.The conversation also addresses technical and structural challenges in creating perpetual-like ins
Institutions want more crypto asset diversity, says Talos CEO
Anton Katz is the co-founder and CEO of Talos — a one-stop shop for institutional digital asset trading.In this episode, Katz shares how large buy-side institutions such as hedge funds and asset managers are entering the crypto market, and why a lack of asset diversity is keeping others sidelined.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction04:40 Institutional Trading11:19 Institutional Adoption17:02 Market
DeFi and stablecoins are coming to the Bitcoin ecosystem
Willem Schroé is the founder of Botanix Labs — a development team building an EVM-compatible Layer 2 on Bitcoin that allows users to deploy Ethereum smart contracts on the Bitcoin network.In this episode, Schroé discusses the development of Bitcoin Layer 2s and the potential for Bitcoin-native ecosystems to become major platforms for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.OUTLINE00:00
How =nil; Foundation aims to horizontally scale Ethereum with zkSharding
Avi Zurlo is the chief product officer at the =nil; Foundation — a cryptography firm building a zkEVM Layer 2 on Ethereum.In this episode, Zurlo discusses the importance of horizontal scaling in the crypto space and the need for blockchain technology to solve societal issues of trust and transparency.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 02:15 L2 Competition 04:22 =nil;'s Architecture06:41 Scaling fo
Justin Sun weighs in on his legal victory and the changing perceptions of crypto in China
Justin Sun is the founder of Tron and Tron DAO.In this episode, Sun discusses his recent legal victory in the People's Court of China against a media group that published false and defamatory content about him.Sun emphasizes the importance of the court ruling in dispelling rumors and further establishing the legitimacy of cryptocurrency in China.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:37 Sun's Legal
Why Coinbase's new smart wallet could be a watershed moment for crypto UX
Luke Youngblood is a former Coinbase employee and one of the founding contributors to the onchain finance protocol Moonwell.Recently, Moonwell became one of the first apps to integrate Coinbase's new smart wallet.In this episode, Youngblood explains how smart wallets solve major crypto onboarding pain points — and could be the key to bringing over a billion people onchain.OUTLINE00:59 Moo
Maple's Sidney Powell explains how DeFi is making institutional yield more accessible
Sidney Powell is the CEO and co-founder of Maple Finance — a decentralized finance platform that facilitates loans.In this episode, Powell discusses the evolution of crypto's decentralized lending market, the challenges faced by centralized exchanges, and the strategic vision behind Maple's new permissionless lending product, Syrup.OUTLINE00:53 Maple Overview 02:06 Permissionless DeFi 04:
Ripple's upcoming stablecoin will 'complement' XRP, says Ripple President Monica Long
Monica Long is the President at Ripple.In this episode, Long discusses the growth and expansion of Ripple's business, the impact of the SEC's decision on XRP, the upcoming launch of a stablecoin, and more. OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:50 Ripple Updates02:55 Regulatory Status of XRP04:46 Ripple Product Offerings08:14 Ripple & Payments09:06 Ripple's Stablecoin19:30 Ripple & RWAs21:41
Demystifying the benefits of zero-knowledge proofs with Mysten Labs co-founder Kostas Chalkias
This is the second installment of a miniseries sponsored by Axelar and featuring co-host Sergey Gorbunov, co-founder of Axelar — you can find part 1 with Eigen Layer's Sreeram Kannan here.In this episode, Chaparro and Gorbunov are joined by Mysten Labs co-founder and chief cryptographer Kostas Chalkias to discuss the potential of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to revolutionize the blockchain
Stablecoins will keep winning because they are a 'fundamentally better product,' says Ryze Labs Matthew Graham
Matthew Graham is the founder and managing partner of Ryze Labs — the crypto VC firm formerly known as Sino Global. In this episode, Chaparro and Graham discuss the state of the stablecoin market and the potential impact of stablecoins on the global financial system.Graham also highlights the importance of stablecoins in emerging markets and the potential for stablecoins to enhance financ
How Lens Network is leveraging zkSync's tech to achieve mainstream scale
Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Avara — the software development company behind some of web3's biggest projects, including Aave and Lens.In this episode, Kulechov gives an overview of the modular architecture underpinning the recently announced Lens Network and explains how a modular design is essential to helping Web3 social applications scale.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction02:00 Onch
Financial advisors in the US are finally warming up to Bitcoin
Ric Edelman is the founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP).In this episode, Edelman discusses the importance of financial advisors in the crypto space and emphasizes the need for advisors to understand and embrace crypto to serve their clients' best interests.OUTLINE0:00 Introduction04:46 Financial Advisors & BTC09:38 Bitcoin Adoption Curve14:02 Shifti
Wall Street should market Ethereum as the crypto 'app store,' says Arca CIO Jeff Dorman
Jeff Dorman is Arca's Chief Investment Officer.In this episode, Chaparro and Dorman discuss the recent approval of the spot ether ETFs and how it opens the door for institutional investors to engage with the Ethereum ecosystem.The discussion also highlights the importance of regulatory clarity and the shifting sentiment towards crypto in Washington. OUTLINE00:00 Introduction02:34 ETH ETF
Crypto's political paradigm shift
Kristin Smith is the CEO of Blockchain Association and Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge Capital.In this episode, Smith and Scaramucci discuss the impact of crypto policy and politics on recent events, including the ETH ETF win, bipartisan support, and the influence of Trump and Biden.The discussion highlights the significance of the crypto voter, the evo
Crypto OG Kain Warwick on how early-stage investing is broken
Kain Warwick is the co-founder of the DeFi protocol Synthetix, and a partner at the crypto VC firm Bodhi Ventures.In this episode, Warwick discusses the brokenness of the traditional venture capital model and how it has led to the emergence of new fundraising mechanisms in the crypto space.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:41 Warwick's Crypto Journey02:37 Synthetix History04:47 RWA Trends11:42
Tether's next big bet is on AI, says CEO Paolo Ardoino
Paolo Ardoino is the CEO of Tether.In this episode, Ardoino discusses the strategic vision of Tether and its expansion into new business units, including AI and education.The current market cap of Tether's primary product USDT is hovering around $110 billion.OUTLINE00:00 Tether & Disintermediation08:12 Tether’s New Strategies17:44 Macroeconomics & USDT Growth21:07 Tether’s Reserve
Crypto VCs are slowly transitioning into generalists
Jake Brukhman is the founder and CEO of CoinFund.In this episode, Brukhman explores the intersection of AI and blockchain technologies and their impact on consumers, and shares his thoughts on the saturation of the early-stage crypto VC market.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:33 CoinFund's Structure & Strategy05:56 Early vs. Late Stage Crypto Venture16:37 Crypto AI & DePIN28:35 Crypto
The crypto industry is refocusing on the uses of its tech stack, says Stellar Development Foundation CEO
Denelle Dixon is the CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation — the primary development team supporting the Stellar blockchain.In this episode, Dixon emphasizes the potential of blockchain technology to transform financial services in low- to medium-income countries, particularly in Africa and South America.She also addresses the need for policymakers to create a s
