Learn Cardano Podcast

[00:00] Intro & ADA Price Surge  [01:33] Strike Finance Brings High APR  [05:26] Iagon OS Coming Soon  [07:21] Update on Iagon Legal PoC  [08:09] MPC Wallets for Cardano  [11:22] Cardano Foundation Reeve  [15:21] Cardano Spot ETF Update  [17:17] Project Catalyst Fund 14 to Go Ahead  [18:24] Updates from Hydra & Babel Fees  [20:52] Watch Catchups: Cardano's Economic Sustainability  [21:12] Charles on The Shawn Ryan Show  [21:56] Meldgate Legal Proceedings Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/8qU5apu-WZwWelcome back! After a short break, this week's episode brings you a massive update from the Cardano ecosystem. We kick off with the incredible growth of Strike Finance, which is now distributing over 2.88 million ADA in rewards annually to stakers. The platform's top traders have earned over $100k in just two weeks, highlighting how powerful DeFi on Cardano has become.We also cover updates from Iagon, including their new Cyclone OS – a plug-and-play system for decentralised storage that's designed for ease of use and future adoption by enterprise clients. Security and institutional access are front and centre with the Cardano Foundation's MPC wallet partnership with Anzens and CypherBC. By splitting private key control among multiple parties, this solution helps onboard institutional capital into Cardano DeFi with tokens like MIN and IAG.Then we look at Reeve, the Cardano Foundation's new blockchain-based financial reporting system. Reeve allows organisations to publish verifiable, on-chain reports. The Foundation used it to publish its own 2024 report, showcasing 659M ADA in assets. Other stories include:SEC's ETF delay and Grayscale's legal response.Project Catalyst Fund 14 preps for launch.Hydra and Babel fees advancing smoother token transactions.Meld's collapse and the legal fallout via MeldGate.com.Plus, we highlight new video resources from the Berlin Hackathon and Charles Hoskinson's recent interviews. Don't miss this essential update if you want to stay informed about Cardano's rapid evolution in 2025.

Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:28 – What are Babel Fees?01:56 – MLabs' Leaner Approach: Pisa02:24 – How Pisa Works02:52 – Wallet & DApp Integration Goals03:19 – Example Use Case04:19 – Pisa User Experience05:12 – Integration Options06:09 – Confirming ADA Is Still Used Under the Hood06:37 – SPO Involvement?07:34 – How Pisa Handles Transactions08:31 – What Users Receive09:30 – Pisa Fees & Revenue Model11:09 – Support for Long-Tail Tokens12:07 – Developer Integration Effort13:35 – Target Audience & SDKs14:05 – Pisa Launch Timeline14:33 – Upcoming CIP Standard15:27 – Closing RemarksIn this episode, I speak with Ben Hart, Chase, and Luke from MLabs about Pisa – their smart contract implementation of Babel fees on Cardano. Pisa allows users to pay for transaction fees, minimum ADA, and collateral using native tokens instead of ADA. The smart contract handles real-time token swaps behind the scenes and returns a ready-to-submit transaction. No changes to the Cardano ledger are required. SPOs are involved as normal, and there's no batching – just seamless UX. Developers can integrate Pisa with a few lines of code via HTTP API or an upcoming NPM package. Topics include:What Babel fees areHow Pisa improves the user experienceDifferences from other solutions like AquariumDeveloper integration and the planned CIPLaunch timelines and supported tokensPisa launches within 60 days and is set to improve onboarding for wallets, DeFi apps, and games across Cardano.

00:00 Midnight and Bitcoin DeFi to set Cardano soaring02:22 Massive Liquidty Injection03:22 Trigger ADA Fueled Activity  05:31 Increased Staking Participation  06:56 Self Custody  07:55 Wallet Numbers Skyrocketing  09:06 DEX Volume Exploding  09:57 Increased Fees and Network Usage  10:31 L2 Adoption  11:35 Newcomers  12:34 Delegate to My DRep Profile  13:06 Shoutout to Members  13:26 Stake Your ADA at ADAOZ  13:55 Listen on Spotify  Midnight and Bitcoin DeFi are about to transform Cardano — and in this video, we break down exactly how. Peter shares the top 10 impacts that these two major developments will have on the Cardano ecosystem. With the NIGHT token being airdropped into Cardano wallets and new Bitcoin-wrapping protocols entering the scene, users will see big changes in how they use and interact with DeFi on Cardano. Topics covered in this episode:Liquidity injection from Bitcoin holders and NIGHT token distributionADA usage increase as users pay for DeFi activityGrowth of Babel fee systems like Aquarium and FeeserMore users staking ADA, Bitcoin, and NIGHTUsers shifting to self-custody wallets to qualify for airdropsMillions of new wallets expectedDEX volume exploding from NIGHT and stablecoin swapsHigher network fees and congestion — but also more rewards for SPOsReal usage of Hydra and Mithril Layer 2 solutionsNewcomers joining Cardano and needing education and protectionWhether you're a long-time ADA holder or brand new to the ecosystem, this episode gives you the insights you need to prepare for what's next. Support the channel by delegating to the ADAOZ stake pool or delegating governance to Peter's DRep profile. Learn more at https://learncardano.io.

00:00 How many tokens will be distributed?02:20 Do ETH Stakers in LIDO get NIGHT Airdrop?03:11 Is Unstaked ADA Not Eligible?04:24 Why Do I Need a New Wallet for the Destination Address?06:39 Is ADA on Exchanges included in the Airdrop? 08:36 Centralised Exchange Support for Cardano Native Tokens10:08 How much ADA is in the Snapshot? 12:07 How many NIGHT tokens will I get?12:40 Wallet verifying process to claim tokens 15:23 Verify the wallet by sending a transaction to your own wallet18:38 What about liquidity providers?20:15 When is the Midnight Mainnet launch? 22:21 Got a question? Leave a comment.

The Midnight GlacierDrop is finally here, and in this episode, I break down everything you need to know about claiming your NIGHT tokens.Midnight is a new privacy-focused blockchain built by IOG, featuring two key tokens: NIGHT (a utility and governance token) and DUST (a non-transferable shielded resource for private transactions).This episode walks through the entire claim and redemption process, eligibility requirements, and why the staggered release of NIGHT is designed to prevent token dumping. The GlacierDrop claim is open to holders of ADA, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, AVAX, and BAT based on a snapshot taken on June 11, 2025. ADA holders receive the largest allocation—50% of the eligible airdrop supply. You'll need to connect your wallet to the official GlacierDrop portal when it launches and claim within a 60-day window.After that, unclaimed tokens move to the Scavenger Mine phase, followed by a long-term Lost & Found period that spans four years. Redemption of NIGHT tokens follows a 360-day vesting schedule with unlocks every 90 days, starting randomly within the first 90 days post-claim.Each redemption requires a transaction on Cardano, so be ready to cover network fees.Also, Cardano SPOs can earn NIGHT by participating in Midnight's block production. Delegators to those pools will benefit too—so be sure to speak with your SPO. 

Fluxpoint Studio is bringing AI-powered trading to Cardano with the launch of A.D.A.M, an autonomous portfolio balancing and liquidity provisioning tool.By integrating their agentic intelligence engine, A.D.A.M can analyse real-time on-chain and social data to optimise trades. The tool launches in phases and operates non-custodially, supporting trading on platforms like Strike Finance and potentially others, such as Flow. Find out how it works and what it costs to get started.

In this episode, Peter dives into an important development for Cardano governance: the release of a new decentralised voting tool by the Cardano Foundation. This open-source platform, accessible at voting.cardanofoundation.org, enables DReps (Delegated Representatives), SPOs (Stake Pool Operators), and Constitutional Committee members to vote on-chain using a streamlined interface.Critically, the tool supports multisig wallets and stores immutable voting rationales on IPFS via integrations with Endmaker or custom IPFS providers. The release comes at a crucial time, as the existing community-built voting tool, GovTools, is facing funding challenges. GovTools wasn't included in the latest Intersect budget, leaving its continued development uncertain. A 100k ADA maintenance grant will keep the tool functional for now, but future progress depends on renewed community support.Peter walks through how the Cardano Foundation's tool works, outlining the step-by-step process from inputting your DRep ID to signing and submitting your vote. The new interface simplifies rationale submission, removing the need for GitHub uploads and allowing users to use Endmaker API tokens or even custom storage like Iagon.Crucially, the entire voting tool is open source and can be run locally or on private infrastructure, which ensures the resilience and decentralisation of Cardano governance. If hosted tools like GovTools go offline, users can still vote independently. This tool complements other platforms in the governance ecosystem like Tempo Vote, Governance.space, and the Cardano Forum, but it's one of the few to offer full voting capabilities.Peter applauds the Cardano Foundation for their contribution to the ecosystem's decentralisation and encourages the community to explore this new tool to strengthen participation in on-chain governance.

In this episode, Peter breaks down a major announcement from Iagon, a decentralised cloud storage provider building on Cardano, which has seen its IAG token spike in price following news of a collaboration with CloudCourt and advisory support from the Ford Motor Company. The partnership explores a proof of concept aimed at storing sensitive legal data using decentralised infrastructure—a key use case for compliance-heavy industries.The solution being tested combines off-chain encrypted data storage with on-chain access control and audit trails, helping meet stringent data protection regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. This hybrid design ensures data sovereignty (e.g. storing data within national borders), robust security, and long-term cost savings compared to traditional centralised solutions. The concept is particularly relevant for law firms and large corporates that need to manage vast volumes of confidential legal documents like depositions and trial transcripts.Peter explains that Ford's involvement—while in an advisory capacity—brings valuable enterprise-level perspective, especially given its extensive legal operations. This project not only validates Iagon's use of blockchain for regulated environments, but also marks a significant milestone for Cardano in attracting Fortune 50-level interest.To top it off, there's a teaser: a second Fortune 50 company may also be involved in the near future. Speculation points towards the healthcare sector, given the solution's alignment with HIPAA compliance needs.Overall, this collaboration signals the growing maturity of Cardano's enterprise utility, showcasing how decentralised storage and blockchain can be practically applied in sensitive, high-compliance sectors.

Cardano DeFi is heating up this winter with a flurry of activity across lending, perpetuals, stablecoins, and community engagement.Strike Finance has now opened liquidity provisioning for users, allowing ADA holders to deposit funds that fuel leverage trading on the platform. This significantly boosts available liquidity and increases max position sizes. Liquidity providers and $STRIKE stakers benefit from trading fees, with usage metrics already trending upward.Flow, a new perpetual lending platform on Cardano, is currently holding a token sale. With 5 million ADA raised in just one day, community demand is clear. The platform promises loans without maturity dates and will enable users to use the $FLOW token for staking, governance, and pool creation. The token sale is pro-rata and fully decentralised, with a 68% public allocation.A major proposal is also making waves—allocating $100 million USD worth of ADA from the Cardano Treasury into stablecoins, Bitcoin, and other assets to create a sovereign wealth fund. Advocates see this as a critical move to inject liquidity and kickstart Cardano DeFi. Concerns remain around sell pressure and execution, but overall sentiment seems to favour the plan as a needed catalyst.USDM's Jillian provided valuable insight into how yield works in fiat-backed stablecoins, explaining how platforms like Coinbase offer interest through profit-sharing agreements, while issuers like Moneta Digital (behind USDM) are legally prohibited from doing the same directly. USDM needs to reach 150–200 million AUM to begin yielding returns via DeFi partners like Minswap or Liquid.On the lighter side, SNEK.FUN continues to innovate with new community tools including live wallet-linked chat during token sales. They're also launching 1,111 unique figurines, each signed by the artists who brought them to life—blending digital culture with physical collectables.Finally, Peter announces a limited-edition CardanoPress Wapuu pin giveaway for anyone with a live CardanoPress-powered site. Only 25 will be made, a nod to both the WordPress and Cardano communities.

Discover how Australian crypto investors are utilising self-managed super funds (SMSFs) to gain greater control over their retirement savings. In this episode, SMSF specialist Natalia Clack explains the benefits and risks of holding digital assets like Bitcoin in your super, how to do it compliantly, and what the proposed $3 million unrealised capital gains tax could mean for your future. Essential listening for anyone serious about managing their own retirement and crypto portfolio.We cover:What an SMSF is and who it suitsHow crypto can be stored compliantly within an SMSFWhat you can and can't do with Bitcoin in your superThe risks, compliance burdens, and audit requirementsWhy the $3M tax threshold could be devastating for someHow to plan ahead, and whether family trusts may offer a better future pathIf you're an Australian investor serious about managing your retirement and incorporating crypto into your long-term strategy, this is a must-watch. Contact Natalia at https://bit.ly/441p6Vr

This week in the Cardano ecosystem: SNEK partners with IOG, Amaru secures the first treasury withdrawal under the new governance model, and Strike Finance continues its DeFi surge with 40k ADA daily revenue. Explore how Cardano's governance, meme culture, and perpetual platforms are accelerating. Plus, updates from FluidTokens, Bodega, Danogo, Flow, and more.

A recent court ruling in Victoria, Australia, could fundamentally change how Bitcoin—and potentially other cryptocurrencies—are taxed in the country. In a landmark decision during a criminal case involving a former AFP officer who stole 81.6 BTC, the magistrate ruled that Bitcoin should be treated as "cash" rather than property or an asset like shares or gold.If upheld through appeals, this single classification change would dismantle the current ATO framework that has applied Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to crypto disposals since 2014. Under current ATO rules, selling, gifting, trading, or using cryptocurrency to purchase goods all count as CGT events. But if Bitcoin is legally deemed as cash, these transactions would no longer incur capital gains tax. The decision opens up the possibility of tax refunds dating back to 2019—estimated to total as much as $1 billion. It could also dramatically simplify crypto reporting requirements in Australia. The judgment is based on the idea that exchanging Bitcoin is no different from swapping physical cash (like trading a $20 note for two $10s), which is a non-taxable event.If upheld, this case sets a legal precedent with the potential to influence not just Australian law but other countries that share similar common law traditions. The episode breaks down key details from the court proceedings, reactions from the tax community (highlighting commentary from @taxinvestaccounting on Instagram), and what this might mean for crypto users and investors in Australia. It's a space to watch closely, as the ATO is expected to appeal the ruling. If it eventually reaches the High Court of Australia, the outcome could reshape the future of crypto taxation across the country.

This week's Cardano update covers everything from the Draper U pitch day to major infrastructure changes like Mithril syncing and multi-language node implementations. With over 932M ADA flowing out of exchanges, speculation is growing around a possible price surge. Peter also explores Strike Finance's liquidity growth, VyFinance's UI upgrade, and governance changes that could reshape Cardano's funding structure. Emurgo's push into real-world assets via Midnight adds another layer to Cardano's evolving ecosystem.

This episode dives deep into a huge week of Cardano ecosystem updates. Strike Finance expands perpetual futures, Fluid Tokens rolls out Babel fee infrastructure, Flux Point acquires Saturn Swap, and Iagon grows to 26PB of storage. Plus, Liquid's lending features, Tokyo's Bitcoin integration, and more. Essential listening for Cardano DeFi followers.