Podcasts about smart contracts

Trust has always been the invisible architecture beneath brands, institutions, and markets. But today, that architecture is shifting. For the past decade, we've moved through distinct eras of trust. First came consequence brands, which positioned themselves around measurable moral impact. Then came emotion-led brands, where what felt right became the guiding force. Now we appear to be entering a third era, where trust is built not on credentials or transparency, but on visible sacrifice and embodied virtue. As institutional continuity weakens and shared reality fragments, credibility reorganizes around individuals. “Proof of knowing” carries less weight than “proof of doing.” Degrees, affiliations, and institutional endorsements are no longer sufficient signals. Instead, audiences look for lived experience, personal risk, and skin in the game. At the same time, many of the platforms designed to increase transparency have reduced everyday vulnerability. But true trust requires vulnerability. As a result, trust is reemerging in smaller, more intimate spaces where shared stakes and emotional exposure create safety. In this episode of Unseen Unknown, Jasmine and Jean-Louis explore how trust systems evolve, why incremental positioning feels insufficient in the current cultural climate, and what this shift means for founders and brands trying to remain credible. When trust becomes the product itself, the rules change. Links to interesting things mentioned in this episode and further reading: The Futures That Just Died (Concept Bureau) We're Desperate For Potency (Concept Bureau) Edelman Trust Barometer Reports (Edelman) Who Can You Trust?: How Technology Brought Us Together and Why It Might Drive Us Apart (Rachel Botsman) Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right (Arlie Russell Hochschild) Gallup is stopping its Presidential Approval tracking (The New York Times) The great nonpartisan divide that's plaguing Americans (Axios) Check out our Substack for more brand strategy thinking, and our community Exposure Community.

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Jake Hamilton, founder of Groundwire and Nockbox, to explore zero-knowledge proofs, Bitcoin identity systems, and the intersection of privacy-preserving cryptography with AI and blockchain technology. They discuss how ZK proofs could offer an alternative to invasive identity verification systems being rolled out by governments worldwide, the potential for continual learning AI models to shift the balance between centralized and open-source development, and why building secure, auditable computing infrastructure on platforms like Urbit matters more than ever as we face an explosion of AI agents and automated systems. Jake also explains Nockchain's approach to creating a global repository of cryptographically verified facts that can power trustless programmable systems, and how these technologies might converge to solve problems around supply chain security, personal data sovereignty, and resistance to censorship.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Groundwire and Knockbox02:48 Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proofs06:04 Government Adoption of ZK Proofs08:55 The Future of Identity Verification11:52 AI and ZK Proofs: A New Era14:54 The Role of Urbit in Technology18:03 The Impact of COVID on Trust20:51 The Evolution of AI and Data Privacy23:47 The Future of AI Models26:54 The Need for Local AI Solutions29:51 Interoperability of Knockchain and BitcoinKey Insights1. Zero-Knowledge Proofs Enable Privacy-Preserving Verification: Jake explains that ZK proofs allow you to prove computational outcomes without revealing the underlying data. For example, you could prove you're over 18 without exposing your full identity or driver's license information. The proof demonstrates that a specific program ran through certain steps and reached a particular conclusion, and validating this proof is fast and compact. This technology has profound implications for age verification, identity systems, and protecting privacy while maintaining necessary compliance, potentially offering a middle path between surveillance states and complete anonymity.2. Government Adoption of Privacy Technology Remains Uncertain: There are three competing motivations driving government identity verification systems: genuine surveillance desires, bureaucratic efficiency seeking, and legitimate child protection concerns. Jake believes these groups can be separated, with some officials potentially supporting ZK-based solutions if positioned correctly. He notes the EU is exploring ZK identity verification, and UK officials have shown interest. The key is framing privacy-preserving technology as protection against "the swamp" rather than just abstract privacy benefits, which could resonate with certain political constituencies.3. The COVID Era Destroyed Institutional Trust at Unprecedented Scale: The conversation identifies COVID as potentially the largest institutional trust-burning event in human history, with numerous institutions simultaneously losing credibility with large portions of the population. This represents a dramatic shift from the boomer generation's default trust in authority figures and mainstream media. This collapse is compounded by the incoming AI revolution, creating a perfect storm where established bureaucracies cannot adapt quickly enough to manage rapidly evolving technology, leaving society in fundamentally unmanageable territory.4. Centralized AI Models Create Dangerous Dependencies: Both speakers acknowledge growing dependence on centralized AI services like Claude, with some users spending thousands monthly on tokens. This dependency creates vulnerability to price increases and service disruptions. Jake advocates for local AI deployment using models like DeepSeek R1, running on personal hardware to maintain control and privacy. The shift toward continuous learning models will fundamentally change the AI landscape, making personal data harvesting even more valuable and raising urgent questions about compensation and consent for training data contribution.5. High-Quality Training Data Is Becoming the Primary AI Bottleneck: Stewart argues that AI development is now limited more by high-quality training data than by compute power. The industry has exhausted easily accessible internet data and body-shop-style data labeling. Companies are now using specialized boutique services with techniques like head-mounted cameras for live-streaming world model training. This scarcity is subtly driving price increases across AI services and will fundamentally reshape the economics of AI development, with implications for who controls these increasingly powerful systems.6. Urbit Offers a Foundation for Trustworthy Computing: Jake positions Urbit as essential infrastructure for the AI age because its 30,000-line codebase (versus Unix's three million lines) can be understood by individual humans. Its deterministic, purely functional, and strictly typed design aims for eventual ossification—software that doesn't require constant security patches. This "tiny and diamond perfect" approach addresses the fundamental insecurity of systems requiring monthly vulnerability patches. In an era of AI agents and potential prompt injection attacks, having verifiable, comprehensible computing infrastructure becomes existentially important rather than merely desirable.7. Nockchain Creates a Global Repository of Provable Truth: Jake's vision for Nockchain combines ZK proofs with blockchain technology to create a globally available "truth repository" where verified facts can be programmatically accessed together. This enables smart contracts or programs gated on combinations of proven facts—such as temperature readings from secure devices, supply chain events, and payment confirmations. By using Nock's abstract, simple design optimized for ZK proof generation, the system can validate complex real-world conditions without exposing underlying data, creating infrastructure for coordinating action based on verifiable private information at global scale.

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Lars van der Zande, founder and CEO/technical architect of Inkwell Finance, for what Lars describes as his first-ever podcast appearance. The conversation covers a wide range of blockchain infrastructure topics, including Lars's work with Sui and Solana blockchains, the innovative capabilities of Ika's programmatic wallets and blockchain of signatures, and how Inkwell Finance is building revenue-based financing solutions for on-chain entities—from AI agents to protocols. They explore the evolving landscape of crypto regulation, the merging of traditional finance with blockchain technology, the future of decentralized legal systems, and how the user experience barrier is being lowered through technologies that eliminate constant transaction signing. Lars also discusses Inkwell's embedded financing approach and their pre-seed fundraising round.Links mentioned:- Inkwell's website: inkwell.finance- Inkwell on Twitter: @__inkwell- Lars on Twitter: @LMVDZandeTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Inkwell Finance and Technical Architecture02:06 Understanding Sui and Solana: Blockchain Dynamics05:55 The Role of Ika in Inkwell Finance11:51 Leviathan: Revenue Generation and Financing in Crypto17:38 The Future of AI Agents and Programmatic Wallets23:23 Smart Contracts: Legal Implications and Future Directions25:06 The Future of Inqvil Finance25:42 Decentralization and Its Evolution27:32 The Merging of Traditional and Crypto Systems29:33 Global Financial Dynamics and Market Reactions31:48 The Collapse of Traditional Financial Systems32:46 Jurisdictional Shifts in the Crypto World33:59 Legal Systems and Blockchain Integration35:57 On-Chain Credit and Financial Opportunities39:29 The Role of AI in Finance41:30 Learning from Peer-to-Peer Lending History43:14 Disruption in Insurance and Risk Management44:54 On-Chain vs Off-Chain Data46:54 The Evolution of the Internet and Blockchain49:12 Future Subscription Models in BlockchainKey Insights1. Ika's Revolutionary Blockchain Signature Technology: Lars discovered Ika, a blockchain of signatures built on Sui that enables any blockchain transaction to be signed without revealing the underlying message. Using patented 2PC MPC technology, Ika splits key shares across validators and encrypts them in transit, performing complex cryptographic operations that allow smart contracts on Sui to generate signatures for transactions on any other blockchain. This eliminates the need to build separate smart contracts on each blockchain, fundamentally changing how cross-chain interactions work and opening possibilities for truly interoperable decentralized applications.2. Programmatic Wallets vs Traditional Wallets: Traditional wallets like MetaMask require manual user approval for every transaction through a front-end interface, but Ika's D-wallet introduces programmatic wallets with policy-based controls embedded in smart contracts. These wallets can execute transactions based on predetermined conditions checked against on-chain data like Oracle prices, without requiring individual user signatures. For example, a Bitcoin D-wallet can hold native Bitcoin without wrapping or bridging to a custodian, and smart contract policies determine when and how that Bitcoin can be transferred, creating unprecedented security and automation possibilities for decentralized finance.3. Inkwell's Revenue-Based Financing Model: Inkwell Finance is building Leviathan, a revenue-based financing platform for on-chain entities including protocols, AI agents, and individual traders with verifiable track records. Borrowers receive capital based on their on-chain performance metrics like sharp ratio and drawdown, with loan repayment automatically deducted from their revenue stream. The profit split structure allocates approximately 60% to borrowers, 30% to lenders, and 10% split between Inkwell and integrating platforms. This creates a sustainable lending model where flight risk is minimized through D-wallet policy controls that restrict how borrowed capital can be used.4. Wallet-as-a-Protocol and the Future of User Experience: The crypto industry is moving toward embedded wallet solutions that eliminate the friction of traditional wallet management, with Wallet-as-a-Protocol representing the next evolution beyond services like Privy and Dynamic. Unlike current embedded wallets that lock users into specific applications, Wallet-as-a-Protocol enables single sign-on across multiple applications while users maintain control of their keys. Combined with app-sponsored gas fees, this approach allows non-crypto-native users to interact with blockchain applications without knowing they're using crypto, removing the biggest barrier to mainstream adoption and creating web2-like user experiences on web3 infrastructure.5. AI Agents as Financial Entities: AI agents are emerging as revenue-generating entities with on-chain transaction histories that create verifiable track records for creditworthiness assessment. Inkwell Finance is specifically targeting this market, recognizing that AI agents will need wallets and capital to operate effectively. The programmatic nature of D-wallets pairs perfectly with AI agents, as policy controls can restrict agent behavior to specific smart contract interactions, preventing unauthorized fund transfers while allowing automated trading or revenue generation. This creates a new category of borrower that operates 24/7 with completely transparent performance metrics, fundamentally different from traditional loan recipients.6. Cross-Chain Liquidity Without Asset Transfer: Ika's technology enables users to take loans against revenue generated on one blockchain and deploy that capital on entirely different blockchains without moving their original liquidity positions. For instance, someone earning yield on Sui's Fusol protocol could borrow against that revenue stream and deploy capital on Solana opportunities, effectively creating multiple on-chain businesses that generate their own credit scores and revenue to service debt. This ability to read state across different blockchains from within smart contracts opens possibilities for multi-chain strategies that don't require withdrawing capital from productive positions, maximizing capital efficiency across the entire crypto ecosystem.7. The Convergence of Traditional Finance and Crypto Infrastructure: The regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving with initiatives like the Genius Act and Clarity Act creating frameworks where traditional financial systems merge with crypto infrastructure through mechanisms like stablecoins backed by US treasuries. Companies are increasingly establishing entities in the United States to access capital networks and Delaware's established legal framework while issuing tokens through jurisdictions like Switzerland. This hybrid approach, combined with emerging concepts like Gabriel Shapiro's "cybernetic agreements" that make smart contract parameters legally enforceable in traditional courts, suggests the future isn't pure decentralization but rather a sophisticated integration of on-chain and off-chain legal and financial systems.

In der Bonusfolge zum fünfzigsten Jubiläum geht es zunächst um Certificate Transparency. Die ist mittlerweile ein wichtiger Bestandteil der weltweiten PKI und jede Änderung kann unerwartete Folgen haben. Christopher erzählt dann kurz, was Cyberkriminelle jetzt tun, um resilienter gegen Strafverfolger zu werden: Blockchain ist das Stichwort der Stunde für ALPHV und Co. Und Sylvester berichtet, wie KI-generierte Sicherheitsmeldungen das Ende der "Bug-Bounty"-Programme bei cURL und womöglich anderen Opensource-Projekten einläuten. Um die einstündige Zusatzfolge abzurunden, gibt es auch noch eine Meinung zur neuen Sicherheitslücke in einem uralten Protokoll.

What powers the infrastructure behind your favorite Web3 protocols? In this episode, I chat with Simon from Keeper Hub—an open-source platform that automates smart contract workflows and monitors wallets. We dive deep into the invisible backbone of crypto: DevOps. From saving 30% in gas fees to building AI-driven automations, Simon shares how Keeper Hub is quietly revolutionizing how developers build in Web3. If you've ever overlooked DevOps, this episode will change your mind.⏱️ Key Takeaways with Timestamps[00:41] Simon's journey from Linux tinkerer to DevOps in crypto[03:58] Origin of Keeper Hub from MakerDAO days[06:03] What Keeper Hub actually does: automation and monitoring[07:37] Real-world savings: 30% gas fee optimization[09:14] AI's impact on the developer landscape[13:03] Why DevOps is the invisible hero in Web3[17:16] Biggest misconception about DevOps[19:03] Workflows in Keeper Hub: "Zapier for Web3"[22:15] Spotlight on Tempo and the stablecoin narrative[25:00] Could 402X standards replace Stripe?[27:35] AI trends to watch in 2026[30:33] Why community is key in crypto[34:10] Keeper Hub's roadmap and how you can get involvedConnect with KeeperHubWebsite: https://keeperhub.com/Platform: https://app.keeperhub.com/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@KeeperHubX (Twitter):  https://x.com/KeeperHubAppGitHub:  https://github.com/techops-services/keeperhubDiscord: https://discord.gg/G2sbPd46Rs⚠️ DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Dal 2017 si parla di blockchain nel turismo, ma i tempi non erano maturi. Oggi qualcosa è cambiato: Stripe ha acquisito Bridge per 1,1 miliardi di dollari, gli USA hanno legalizzato le stablecoin con il Genius Act, e l'infrastruttura è finalmente pronta. In questa puntata, Luca De Giglio - pioniere del Web3 travel in Europa - spiega:Perché i costi di trasferimento denaro nel travel sono 3-5 volte superiori ad altri settoriCome le stablecoin possono ridurre costi, tempi e frizioni nei pagamenti B2BIl concetto di "denaro programmabile": smart contract, escrow automatici, assicurazioni istantaneePerché gli agenti AI useranno naturalmente le crypto invece delle carte di creditoIl passaggio epocale dalla scrittura del codice alla scrittura delle specificheUna conversazione che connette tre rivoluzioni: blockchain, stablecoin e intelligenza artificiale.Link: https://stablecoins.tripscommunity.com/

Coming soon, we explore how tokenisation is set to revolutionise the global economy.Joined by "friend of the pod" Marvin Barth of Seriously, Marvin? and Thematic Markets, we chat with digital assets specialists Dr Ian Hunt and Steve Whyman.  We expose the "absurd" complexity and cost added by traditional intermediaries in the financial sector. Discover how blockchain technology acts as the ultimate disintermediator, democratising access to markets by allowing individuals to invest mere pence into equities, bonds, and private asset funds.We dive into:• The geopolitical impact of self-executing contracts, reducing reliance on traditional jurisdictions like the UK for global transactions.• The rise of dollarised stablecoin economies in emerging markets such as Venezuela, Nigeria, and Argentina.• Critical predictions regarding the potential "end of the European Union" and financial events that could make the Silicon Valley Bank collapse look minor by comparison.Tune in to understand why financial markets designed for intermediation are facing a huge disruptive test. Keywords: Tokenisation, Blockchain, Fintech, Disintermediation, Stablecoins, Global Economics, Investment, Smart Contracts.Brought to you by Progressive Equity. 

What does it take for an entrepreneur to recognize—and embrace—a groundbreaking technological innovation, especially when skepticism is the initial reaction? In this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood explores this very question with special guest Anthony Scaramucci, diving deep into the evolution of trust, disruption, and adoption in the world of digital assets.Anthony Scaramucci, a renowned financier and author, candidly shares his decade-long journey from Bitcoin skeptic to blockchain advocate. Known for his roles in finance and politics, he details his transformation, inspired by his persistent curiosity and the pivotal influence of friends such as Michael Saylor. As the founder of Skybridge Capital and the author of The Little Book of Bitcoin and his latest book, Solana Rising, Anthony Scaramucci offers a unique perspective on making complex ideas accessible to mainstream investors.This episode covers the fundamentals of Bitcoin and blockchain, why cryptocurrency may be the “perfect money,” and how legacy institutions are slowly but surely embracing this technology—even as old systems resist change. Listeners will gain insight into the mechanics behind crypto, its potential to revolutionize everyday transactions, and the challenges that remain. If you're wondering how digital currency fits into the future of entrepreneurship or curious about how big banks and regulators are shifting their stance, this conversation is an absolute must-listen. To get the latest from Anthony Scaramucci, you can follow him below!https://www.linkedin.com/in/anscaramucci/https://www.instagram.com/scaramucci/?hl=enThe Little Book of Bitcoin: What You Need to Know that Wall Street Has Already Figured OutSolana Rising: Investing in the Fast Lane of Cryptohttps://www.skybridge.com/ https://www.salt.org/  Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.comDo Good While Doing WellLearn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.comAnd don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

Chenfeng Wei is a PhD student at the University of Manchester, where he researches formal guarantees for large language models. Today he joined us to talk about his latest work exploring bugs in smart-contracts. This is a really interesting project at the intersection of explainable AI, smart contract debugging/security, and cybersecurity/symbolic analysis, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

U.S. weighs private companies' cyberwarfare roles China: stop using US and Israeli cybersecurity software DeadLock uses smart contracts to hide work Thanks to our episode sponsor, ThreatLocker Want real Zero Trust training? Zero Trust World 2026 delivers hands-on labs and workshops that show CISOs exactly how to implement and maintain Zero Trust in real environments. Join us March 4–6 in Orlando, plus a live CISO Series episode on March 6. Get $200 off with ZTWCISO26 at ztw.com.  

New and emerging digital technologies are connecting previously siloed areas of finance. The convergence of traditional finance with digital assets, the rapid evolution of blockchain and AI, and the growing influence of cyber risks across sectors will create both challenges and opportunities.  In this episode, we speak with Moody's experts to understand the risks, innovations, and financing needs shaping global financial markets. Learn more at https://www.moodys.com/outlooks  Host: William Foster, Senior Vice President, Sovereign Risk, Moody's Ratings  Guests: Fabian Astic, Managing Director, Global Head of Digital Economy, Moody's Ratings; Lesley Ritter, Senior Vice President, Cyber Credit Risk, Moody's Ratings Related Research: Cyber Risk – Global -- 2026 Outlook - Cyber threats will intensify as AI tools proliferate 8 Jan 2026Digital Economy – Global – 2026 Outlook - Digital finance links diverse market segments, raising efficiency, risks 05 Jan 2026Digital Transformation – Global – Digitalization reshapes private credit, emerging markets, transition finance 01 Dec 2025Cyber Risk – Global - Weak artificial intelligence governance practices pose growing risk of data breaches 01 Oct 2025 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Siddharth Ugrankar, CEO & Co-Founder, Qila.ioBlockchain has long been associated with hype and experimentation, but its real value is now emerging in highly regulated environments like banking, insurance, and financial services. As institutions prioritise security, compliance, and transparency, enterprise-grade blockchain is becoming a practical foundation for next-generation financial infrastructure.  In this episode, Vriti Gothi speaks with Siddharth Ugrankar, CEO and Co-Founder of Qila.io, to unpack how blockchain can strengthen trust in banking systems, the role of private blockchains in CBDCs and cross-border settlements, and how tokenisation and smart contracts are reshaping financial markets. They also discuss India's evolving regulatory stance on data localisation and explore real-world use cases where blockchain is already delivering measurable impact across BFSI.

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Mike Bakon to explore the fascinating intersection of hardware hacking, blockchain technology, and decentralized systems. Their conversation spans from Mike's childhood fascination with taking apart electronics in 1980s Poland to his current work with ESP32 microcontrollers, LoRa mesh networks, and Cardano blockchain development. They discuss the technical differences between UTXO and account-based blockchains, the challenges of true decentralization versus hybrid systems, and how AI tools are changing the development landscape. Mike shares his vision for incentivizing mesh networks through blockchain technology and explains why he believes mass adoption of decentralized systems will come through abstraction rather than technical education. The discussion also touches on the potential for creating new internet infrastructure using ad hoc mesh networks and the importance of maintaining truly decentralized, permissionless systems in an increasingly surveilled world. You can find Mike in Twitter as @anothervariable.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Hardware and Early Experiences02:59 The Evolution of AI in Hardware Development05:56 Decentralization and Blockchain Technology09:02 Understanding UTXO vs Account-Based Blockchains11:59 Smart Contracts and Their Functionality14:58 The Importance of Decentralization in Blockchain17:59 The Process of Data Verification in Blockchain20:48 The Future of Blockchain and Its Applications34:38 Decentralization and Trustless Systems37:42 Mainstream Adoption of Blockchain39:58 The Role of Currency in Blockchain43:27 Interoperability vs Bridging in Blockchain47:27 Exploring Mesh Networks and LoRa Technology01:00:25 The Future of AI and DecentralizationKey Insights1. Hardware curiosity drives innovation from childhood - Mike's journey into hardware began as a child in 1980s Poland, where he would disassemble toys like battery-powered cars to understand how they worked. This natural curiosity about taking things apart and understanding their inner workings laid the foundation for his later expertise in microcontrollers like the ESP32 and his deep understanding of both hardware and software integration.2. AI as a research companion, not a replacement for coding - Mike uses AI and LLMs primarily as research tools and coding companions rather than letting them write entire applications. He finds them invaluable for getting quick answers to coding problems, analyzing Git repositories, and avoiding the need to search through Stack Overflow, but maintains anxiety when AI writes whole functions, preferring to understand and write his own code.3. Blockchain decentralization requires trustless consensus verification - The fundamental difference between blockchain databases and traditional databases lies in the consensus process that data must go through before being recorded. Unlike centralized systems where one entity controls data validation, blockchains require hundreds of nodes to verify each block through trustless consensus mechanisms, ensuring data integrity without relying on any single authority.4. UTXO vs account-based blockchains have fundamentally different architectures - Cardano uses an extended UTXO model (like Bitcoin but with smart contracts) where transactions consume existing UTXOs and create new ones, keeping the ledger lean. Ethereum uses account-based ledgers that store persistent state, leading to much larger data requirements over time and making it increasingly difficult for individuals to sync and maintain full nodes independently.5. True interoperability differs fundamentally from bridging - Real blockchain interoperability means being able to send assets directly between different blockchains (like sending ADA to a Bitcoin wallet) without intermediaries. This is possible between UTXO-based chains like Cardano and Bitcoin. Bridges, in contrast, require centralized entities to listen for transactions on one chain and trigger corresponding actions on another, introducing centralization risks.6. Mesh networks need economic incentives for sustainable infrastructure - While technologies like LoRa and Meshtastic enable impressive decentralized communication networks, the challenge lies in incentivizing people to maintain the hardware infrastructure. Mike sees potential in combining blockchain-based rewards (like earning ADA for running mesh network nodes) with existing decentralized communication protocols to create self-sustaining networks.7. Mass adoption comes through abstraction, not education - Rather than trying to educate everyone about blockchain technology, mass adoption will happen when developers can build applications on decentralized infrastructure that users interact with seamlessly, without needing to understand the underlying blockchain mechanics. Users should be able to benefit from decentralization through well-designed interfaces that abstract away the complexity of wallets, addresses, and consensus mechanisms.

Alex Chepurnoy is a cryptographer & researcher who famously wrote a Bitcoin client in Haskell in only 3600 lines of code. He is currently working on Ergo, a proof of work blockchain which improves upon Bitcoin's design in order to achieve smart contracts and DeFi. How does it work? Let's find out! Time stamps: 00:01:11 Introducing Alex Chepurnoy 00:01:51 Alex's Bitcoin Discovery & Early Development 00:02:37 Namecoin, SmartContract.com, and Cardano Involvement 00:05:15 Satoshi Theories & Code Analysis 00:07:00 Rewriting Bitcoin & Distributed Systems Perspective 00:08:39 Consensus Protocols & Altcoin Proliferation 00:10:20 Bitcoin's Early Appeal & Peer-to-Peer Motivation 00:14:08 Bitcoin's Revolutionary Monetary Model 00:15:45 Staying in Crypto: Problems to Solve 00:17:19 Bitcoin as Digital Gold & Smart Contracts 00:21:29 Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Contractual Capabilities 00:23:02 Ergo's Approach: Contracts & Protocol Upgrades 00:26:56 Namecoin's History & Technical Innovations 00:31:10 Merged Mining & Sidechain Politics 00:34:35 Early Bitcoin Contributions & BTC Scala Client 00:38:49 Conference Presentations & ZeroJoin 00:41:49 Demurrage, Storage Rent, and Bitcoin Upgrades 00:45:01 NFTs, Inscriptions, and Bitcoin Community Divisions 00:50:10 Hard Forks, Immutability, and Ethereum Classic 00:55:17 Markets, Transaction Fees, and Bitcoin's Security Budget 00:57:59 Lightning Network Limitations & Off-Chain Cash 01:01:58 Challenging Bitcoin's Scaling & Off-Chain Solutions 01:06:38 Ergo's Protocol Design & Civil War Lessons 01:08:25 Ergo's Innovations for Bitcoin 01:15:38 Quantum Resistance & Hard Fork Challenges 01:19:51 Consensus Cleanup & Upgrade Difficulties 01:23:10 Community Proposals & Development Gridlock 01:25:07 Alex's Tech Stack & Personal Devices 01:31:07 Satoshi's Identity & Coding Style 01:38:34 NXT, Bitcoin 2.0, and Ethereum's Success 01:45:35 Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake 01:50:44 Philosophy of Proof of Work & Fair Distribution 01:53:09 VCs, Token Dumps, and Proof of Work Revival 01:54:16 Proof of Stake Attacks & Network Resilience 01:59:20 Ergo's Network Parameters & Smart Contracts 02:21:17 Privacy Features: Mixers & Stealth Addresses 02:28:40 Monetary Policy, Emission, and Pre-mine 02:34:09 Monero vs. Zcash: Community & Funding 02:48:03 Bridging Blockchains & Rosen Bridge 02:51:04 Peer-to-Peer Finance & Smart Contract Design 02:53:57 Future Vision: Interconnected PoW Blockchains 02:56:41 Double Merged Mining Sidechains 03:17:45 Community Resources & Getting Involved 03:20:11 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Dennis O'Connell, President ERC-3643, sat down with me at Chainlink SmartCon to discuss how the ERC3643 Association, a non-profit organization, is helping to standardize the tokenization market via ERC-3643.Brought to you by ✅ VeChain is a versatile enterprise-grade L1 smart contract platform https://www.vechain.org/

Sponsor: UniswapCitadel has sparked uproar with a letter calling on the SEC to regulate DeFi protocols as exchanges. But the company's requests may not be totally unreasonable. In this episode of DEX in the City, hosts Jessi Brooks, Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, and Vy Le dig into Citadel's controversial letter and how it is a reminder that “crypto is a bubble.” They also discuss how the CFTC and SEC are in a “race to the top,” plus Jessi explains how AI agents can exploit smart contracts they haven't been trained on for just $1 apiece. Plus, Vy calls on the crypto community to support Samourai developers. Hosts: Jessi Brooks, General Counsel at Ribbit Capital Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, General Counsel at StarkWare TuongVy Le, General Counsel at Veda Links: Unchained: Kraken Valued at $20 Billion After $200 Million Raise From Citadel Securities CFTC Approves Spot Crypto Trading on U.S. Exchanges CFTC's New Pilot Allows BTC, ETH and USDC as Derivatives Collateral Samourai Wallet Founders Could Serve 5 Years for $237 Million Laundering Samourai pardon petition  Timestamps:

Sponsor: UniswapCitadel has sparked uproar with a letter calling on the SEC to regulate DeFi protocols as exchanges. But the company's requests may not be totally unreasonable. In this episode of DEX in the City, hosts Jessi Brooks, Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, and Vy Le dig into Citadel's controversial letter and how it is a reminder that “crypto is a bubble.” They also discuss how the CFTC and SEC are in a “race to the top,” plus Jessi explains how AI agents can exploit smart contracts they haven't been trained on for just $1 apiece. Plus, Vy calls on the crypto community to support Samourai developers. Hosts: Jessi Brooks, General Counsel at Ribbit Capital Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, General Counsel at StarkWare TuongVy Le, General Counsel at Veda Links: Unchained: Kraken Valued at $20 Billion After $200 Million Raise From Citadel Securities CFTC Approves Spot Crypto Trading on U.S. Exchanges CFTC's New Pilot Allows BTC, ETH and USDC as Derivatives Collateral Samourai Wallet Founders Could Serve 5 Years for $237 Million Laundering Samourai pardon petition  Timestamps:

Vivek Raman, Co-Founder and CEO of Etherealize, sat down with me at Chainlink SmartCon to discuss how Etherealize is helping institutions connect to the Ethereum ecosystem.Brought to you by

Full details on the latest Red Sox Free Agency News, Red Sox SIGN CATCHER Connor Wong to a 1 year deal!! Good or Bad move? Listen to Red Seat Radio on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/corbin201 Listen to Red Seat Radio on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-seat-radio/id1742853634 Watch This Next: https://youtu.be/Fw0Nf9IYNxo?si=mbWwlXnAc6YXloz9 Check out The Red Seat Radio Merch Shop: https://redseatradio.myspreadshop.com/ Become a Member of Red Seat Radio Today: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3qF_2cpQMGCpM5oDWaZQw/join Connect With Red Seat Radio on Social: https://twitter.com/redseatradio https://discord.com/invite/eAjQpUkDaV https://www.instagram.com/redseatradio/ #redsox #baseball #mlb #mlbb #redseatradio #milb #sportsnews About: Today we are breaking down the latest Red Sox News that includes signing the Red Sox catcher Connor Wong to a very SMART Contract! So We take a look at why The Red Sox may have wanted to make this move, why this move could indicate that the Red Sox are planning on TRADING for a catcher at some point in 2026 and what kind of impact this roster move could make on the 2026 Red Sox offseason! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blockchain and Smart Contracts in Estate Planning with F. Keats Boyd III Hosts Brad Wright and Michael Connaughton are joined by Attorney F. Keats Boyd III Keats is President of Boyd & Boyd, P.C. in Hyannis, MA, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of Estate, Trust & Retirement Planning. He is also working to streamline estate planning by utilizing Blockchain, Smart Contract and NFT technology. They discuss: -What Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and NFTs are -How they can be used to make estate settlement more efficient -The security and privacy questions surrounding the technology -Whether Keats, who is admitted to argue in front of the Supreme Court, has ever done so F. Keats Boyd III Website: https://www.boydandboydpc.com/

El artículo 36 del Data Act, ya en vigor, da validez a los contratos inteligentes o “Smart Contracts” para facilitar los intercambios de información entre dispositivos IoT (conectados en el “internet de las cosas”). Su uso se remonta sin embargo al nacimiento de Ethereum en 2015 y la expansión consiguiente del blockchain fuera del ámbito de las transacciones financieras, permitiendo el desarrollo de flujos contractuales complejos en lenguajes como Solidity.Catalina Ramon Santandreu, jurista especializada en nuevas tecnologías, ha analizado la aplicación de estos mecanismos a la automatización de ciertas compensaciones por retrasos en vuelos. También ha tenido ocasión de programar un Smart Contract en Solidity.Referencias:* Catalina Ramon Santandreu en LinkedIn* Reglamento de datos (Data Act) de la UE (HTML, castellano)* Lawrence Lessig: Code is law. On liberty in cyberspace (2000, inglés)* Solidity (documentation): Introduction to Smart Contracts (inglés)* Aplicación de los Smart Contracts en Legal Tech (Universidad Europea) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mastersofprivacy.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Project Chatter podcast, Val and Dale welcome Kevin O'Grady, a director at Cognitive, who shares his extensive experience in project management, particularly in the built environment. The conversation delves into the practical applications of blockchain technology in construction, the importance of carbon tracking, and the emerging role of sustainable aviation fuel. Kevin provides insights into how these technologies can enhance project delivery and efficiency, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities they present. The episode emphasizes the need for transparency and collaboration in the industry, as well as the importance of measuring and improving carbon emissions.TakeawaysKevin O'Grady has a diverse background in project management and engineering.Blockchain can enhance transparency and trust in project delivery.Carbon tracking is essential for sustainable project management.Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is gaining traction but faces infrastructure challenges.AI can play a significant role in tracking project progress and carbon emissions.Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for successful project outcomes.The construction industry needs to adapt to new technologies for better efficiency.Measuring carbon emissions is vital for improving sustainability in projects.Project wallets could revolutionize payment transparency in construction.Innovation in the industry is driven by the need for better practices and technologies.Chapters04:24 Kevin O'Grady's Journey in Project Management07:33 Transitioning from Engineering to Commercial Management09:21 Technological Innovations in Project Management13:12 The Role of Digital Twins in Project Delivery17:20 Understanding Blockchain Technology20:58 Blockchain Applications in Construction27:43 Exploring Real-World Use Cases for Blockchain30:23 Tokenization in Construction Payments32:03 Linking Progress and Blockchain34:54 Smart Contracts and Payment Automation36:51 Challenges in Implementing Blockchain39:42 The Role of Profit Margins in Construction43:03 Carbon Measurement and Blockchain43:32 Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Its Challenges

Sci-fi titan Neal Stephenson, whose Snow Crash coined the term "metaverse" and Cryptonomicon sketched the contours of crypto, joins Friederike to talk about his foray into championing empowering creators with direct micropayments and IP sovereignty, without the data-exploiting enclosures of Web2, with Lamina1 as its co-founder. Neal unpacks his detached craft plausible worlds that inadvertently blueprint reality while cautioning against Web3's traps: Criminal stigma, abysmal UX alienating normies, and risks of becoming surveillance superhighways or bank shiny toys. Spotlighting Lamina 1's launch with "Artifact" (a Weta-forged sci-fi game), he envisions success as creative output flourishing where blockchain fades to the background. Topics discussed in this episode:(00:00) Introduction to Decentralization and Blockchain(01:20) The Role of Storytelling in Technology Prediction(03:48) The Balance of Optimism and Pessimism in Fiction(06:27) Web3: Promises and Pitfalls(08:36) The Evolution of the Web: From Decentralization to Centralization(13:37) Metrics for a Decentralized Web(15:55) Lamina One: A New Vision for the Metaverse(23:44) Creating a Financial Layer for the Creator Economy(25:08) Legal Implications of Smart Contracts(27:38) The Strength of Smart Contracts(31:04) Decentralization vs. Centralization in the Creator Economy(36:21) The Decline of Centralized Platforms(41:23) Financialization and the Creative Economy(45:47) The Future of Web3 and User Experience(51:17) Potential Failure Modes of Web3Links mentioned in this episode: Neal Stephenson, Co-founder Lamina1: https://x.com/nealstephenson Lamina 1: https://lamina1.com/home Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at gnosis.io This episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst.

"O smart contract é como uma máquina de Coca-Cola: você coloca a moeda e sai a Coca. Se acontecer X, ele vai dar Y. Sem interação humana" - Fabiano Miranda No décimo episódio do Hipsters.Talks, PAULO SILVEIRA , CVO do Grupo Alun, conversa com FABIANO MIRANDA , CTO da Soul Up, sobre o uso real de blockchain nas empresas, smart contracts e como essa tecnologia está transformando programas de fidelidade. Uma conversa reveladora sobre blockchain além do hype, com aplicações práticas e um olhar para o impacto socioambiental.  Prepare-se para um episódio cheio de conhecimento e inspiração! Espero que aproveitem :) Sinta-se à vontade para compartilhar suas perguntas e comentários. Vamos adorar conversar com vocês!

My interview with Eowyn Chen, CEO of Trust Wallet. - Trust Wallet surpasses 210M users globally  - Growing adoption of stablecoins for remittances  - Balancing ease of use and full control in self-custody  - The future of data ownership and digital identity  - Why self-custody is a fundamental right in the U.S.  - How blockchain, not wallets, may become banks' true competitor  Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/3LmwUuU  

In this episode of The Crazy Wisdom Podcast, Stewart Alsop talks with Jacob Hall and Kyriakos Skiouris, co-founders of Agingo, about the evolution of blockchain from linear ledgers to volumetric, multi-agent architectures. Together they explore how concepts like sovereignty, auditability, and immutability can redefine trust, governance, and digital agency in both human and artificial systems. The conversation touches on blockchain's philosophical and technical frontiers—what an “AGI for blockchain” might mean, why immutability will matter in the age of AI, and how decentralization could restore autonomy without chaos. You can learn more about Agingo and their upcoming talks at agingo.com and reach them via support@agingo.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Stewart Alsop welcomes Jacob Hall and Kyriakos Skiouris of Agingo, setting the stage for a conversation on blockchain as a paradigm shift beyond crypto.05:00 They explore trust, contracts, and the difference between real-world agreements and smart contracts, questioning how sovereignty depends on auditability.10:00 The guests reflect on Bitcoin's origins, Satoshi's intent, and the ideological fractures that shaped crypto's culture and early altruism.15:00 They discuss manipulation, value, and how blockchain technology parallels alchemy—transforming belief into perceived value.20:00 The idea of social imaginaries emerges, using everyday systems like traffic lanes as metaphors for collective trust and order.25:00 The talk moves toward digital etiquette, communication decay, and the cultural lag behind technological acceleration.30:00 Agingo introduces the concept of volumetric blockchain, multi-agent validation, and four-dimensional nanochains replacing linear ledgers.35:00 They unpack volumetric security, the tesseract metaphor, and blockchain as a living system mirroring consciousness.40:00 Discussion turns to blockchain as language and history, linking immutability, perception, and meaning.45:00 Business use cases arise—tokenized films, compliance, and real-world asset representation on decentralized infrastructure.50:00 They imagine blockchain as infrastructure for AGI, distributed systems modeled after nature's intelligence.55:00 Closing reflections on centralization, sovereignty, and the need for open, non-binary conversations about trust and autonomy in the digital age.Key InsightsBlockchain's next evolution is volumetric, not linear. Jacob Hall and Kyriakos Skiouris argue that traditional blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum are “choo-choo trains”—linear systems limited by their own history. Agingo's model introduces volumetric blockchain, where multiple agents and dimensions of time operate simultaneously, allowing for more secure, adaptive, and physics-like computation.Sovereignty depends on auditability at speed. True digital sovereignty, they suggest, isn't just owning your data but being able to verify it instantly. If you can't audit a transaction or vote in real time, you've lost control of it. Fast, transparent auditability becomes the foundation of autonomy and trust in digital systems.Language, contracts, and blockchains are all ledgers of meaning. The conversation reframes contracts as linguistic and symbolic structures—records of shared trust. Blockchain, in this light, is not just code but a living language that keeps history intact and immutable, anchoring truth in a world of mutable data.Bitcoin's promise was idealistic, but its structure is fragile. Hall recalls the early altruism of the Bitcoin community, contrasting it with the dogmatic, profit-driven culture that followed. The failure to evolve past linear design and ideological rigidity mirrors historical schisms in religion and governance.Immutability will become essential in the AI era. As AI systems learn to rewrite their own data, humans will crave immutable records. Blockchain's permanence provides a safeguard against subtle, undetectable shifts in digital reality—an anchor for truth as models become more autonomous.Volumetric systems mirror consciousness. Their design mimics the distributed, multi-agent nature of the human brain. Just as neurons work in parallel, a volumetric blockchain processes data through overlapping agents that validate one another, creating a kind of digital nervous system with emergent intelligence.Decentralization must include cultural and ethical intelligence. True progress, they conclude, isn't just technical—it's cultural. Without new forms of etiquette, communication, and mutual respect, decentralization risks reproducing the same hierarchies it seeks to replace. Blockchain's next leap must integrate human values with technological sovereignty.

کتاب «کارمندی مرده» (Employment Is Dead) ادعای بزرگی را مطرح می‌کند: دوران کارمندی به پایان رسیده است و آینده‌ای غیرمتمرکز، انسانی‌تر و مبتنی بر فناوری‌های جدید در انتظار ماست. در این قسمت پادکست منسان، نگاهی عمیق به این ایده می‌اندازیم و بررسی می‌کنیم که آیا واقعاً باید با کارمندی خداحافظی کنیم یا نه. خلاصه‌ای از مباحث مطرح شده: 00:00 معرفی کتاب Employment is Dead 04:25  چهار موج بزرگ که آینده کار را تغییر می‌دهند 14:29  قرارداد هوشمند (Smart Contract) چیست و چگونه اعتماد را متحول می‌کند؟ 21:29   متاورس در محیط کار: از «دوقلوی دیجیتال» تا آنبوردینگ در پارک مجازی 27:06 سازمان مستقل غیرمتمرکز (DAO) چیست؟ (شرکتی بدون رئیس) 37:40 آینده رزومه چیست؟ --------------------------------------- حامی این قسمت: راهکارهای سازمانی شاتل  «همراه کسب و کارها در مدیریت خدمات ارتباطی» ارائه دهنده سرویس VoIP سازمانی: تلفن ثابت شرکت، همیشه و همه‌جا بر بستر اینترنت لینک: www.shatel.ir/b2b/phone-for-business صفحه اینستاگرام --------------------- نویسنده کتاب: Josh Drean, Deborah Perry میزبان: آرشام نوید تهیه‌کننده: حدیث اسماعیلی ---------------------------------------     منابع تکمیلی: کتاب Employment is Dead --------------------------------------- ✅ پشتیبانی مالی از منسان ☑️ وبسایت منسان ✅ نسخه تصویری در یوتیوب منسان ☑️ کانال تلگرام منسان  

My interview with Brett King, futurist and author of Branch Tomorrow. - How fintechs have overtaken traditional banks in customer reach - The rise of autonomous banking and tokenized assets - Why legacy systems can't support real-time, AI-driven finance - The critical role of stablecoins and digital payments networks in this transformation - What bankers must do to stay relevant in the next decade Powered by Phoenix Group Powered by Phoenix Group The full interview is also available on my YouTube channel: YouTube: http://bit.ly/3WtDKRI  

Crypto has officially entered the closing table. In this episode, Crosby and Zina break down how full end-to-end real estate transactions—paid entirely in digital currency—are actually happening. Learn how title and escrow companies are navigating volatile assets, smart contracts, and an evolving web of regulations to make crypto closings secure, compliant, and real.   What you'll learn from this episode How hybrid platforms like Propy merge blockchain with traditional escrow frameworks What full tokenized real estate looks like through Roofstock onChain Reasons why smart contracts are changing escrow and what risks still exist The biggest regulatory and tax hurdles for crypto-based transactions Key risks title firms face: custody, compliance, and counterparty exposure How crypto tools today may become tomorrow's security standard across the industry   Resources mentioned in this episode Propy Roofstock onChain Coinbase Prime Internal Revenue Service FinCEN.gov Office of Foreign Assets Control   Connect With UsLove what you're hearing? Don't miss an episode! Follow us on our social media channels and stay connected.  Explore more on our website: www.alltechnational.com/podcast Stay updated with our newsletter: www.mochoumil.com Follow Mo on LinkedIn:  Mo Choumil Stop waiting on underwriter emails or callbacks—TitleGPT.ai gives you instant, reliable answers to your title questions. Whether it's underwriting, compliance, or tricky closings, the information you need is just a click away. No more delays—work smarter, close faster. Try it now at www.TitleGPT.ai. Closing more deals starts with more appointments. At Alltech National Title, our inside sales team works behind the scenes to fill your pipeline, so you can focus on building relationships and closing business. No more cold calling—just real opportunities. Get started at AlltechNationalTitle.com. Extra hands without extra overhead—that's Safi Virtual. Our trained virtual assistants specialize in the title industry, handling admin work, client communication, and data entry so you can stay focused on closing deals. Scale smarter and work faster at SafiVirtual.com.

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop talks with Agustin Ferreira, founder of Neurona, an AI community in Buenos Aires. Their conversation moves through Argentina's history with economic crises and the rise of crypto as an alternative to failing institutions, the importance of Ethereum and smart contracts, the UX challenges that still plague crypto adoption, and how AI and agents could transform the way people interact with decentralized systems. They also explore the tension between TradFi and DeFi, questions of data privacy and surveillance, the shifting role of social networks, and even the cultural and philosophical meaning of decentralization. You can learn more about Agustin's work through Neurona on Twitter at Neurona.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:05 Agustin shares how Argentina's economic crises and the Corralito shaped interest in Bitcoin and Ethereum, with smart contracts offering a way out of broken systems.00:10 They compare Bitcoin's simplicity with Ethereum's immutability and programmability, opening new use cases beyond money transfers.00:15 The discussion shifts to crypto's UX problem, from jargon and wallets to agents and AI smoothing the user experience, with projects like Gina Wallet and Gigabrain.00:20 Stewart's frustrations with NFTs and bridging tokens highlight why validators, restaking, and cross-chain complexity still matter for decentralization.00:25 Agustin reflects on TradFi merging with DeFi, the risk of losing core values, and how stablecoins and U.S. interest could spark a spike in crypto markets.00:30 They broaden into Web 2.0's walled gardens, the need for alternatives, and how AI, data privacy, and surveillance raise urgency for decentralized systems.00:35 Social networks, culture, and hypercapitalism come into focus, with Agustin questioning fantasy online lives and imagining more conscious connections.00:40 The conversation turns philosophical, exploring religion-like markets, self-knowledge, and the hope for technology that feels more human.00:45 Stewart and Agustin discuss off-grid living, AI as a tool for autonomy, and space exploration shaping future generations.00:50 Agustin brings in the metaverse, both its potential to connect people more deeply and the risk of centralization, closing with Neurona's mission in Buenos Aires.Key InsightsOne of the strongest themes Agustin brings forward is how Argentina's long history of economic crises and the Corralito in 2001 created a natural openness to crypto. For his generation, trust in the peso was destroyed early, and holding dollars became the norm. This made decentralized alternatives like Bitcoin and later Ethereum feel less like speculation and more like survival tools.Ethereum's introduction of smart contracts represented a decisive leap from Bitcoin's simple ledger into programmable, immutable agreements. For young Argentines, this opened a space to innovate and build projects that weren't dependent on fragile local institutions, and it felt like a path to opportunity in the midst of recurring instability.Agustin emphasizes that crypto still has a major UX problem. From confusing jargon to multiple wallets and bridges, it's far from intuitive. He sees AI agents playing a transformative role in making transactions and investments seamless, removing technical friction so people can use crypto without even realizing the complexity beneath it.Bridging across blockchains reveals both the promise and challenge of decentralization. Tokens must be locked, represented, and validated across chains, and while this creates resilience, it also adds layers of risk. Agustin hopes the future will feel “like magic,” where these processes disappear from the user's view.The rise of TradFi players in DeFi is double-edged. On one hand, it accelerates maturity and scale, but on the other, it risks eroding the original ethos of decentralization. Agustin worries about lost principles yet also anticipates a surge of new DeFi projects and stablecoin adoption driven by U.S. financial interests.Beyond finance, the conversation turns to the politics of data privacy and surveillance. Agustin argues that much of the motivation for decentralized systems is to resist manipulation, polarization, and weaponization of personal information—issues that AI will amplify unless paired with decentralized alternatives.Finally, both Stewart and Agustin reflect on culture, social networks, and even the metaverse. Agustin critiques hypercapitalism's fantasy-driven platforms and envisions technology that enables more authentic human connection. Whether through off-grid living, space exploration, or decentralized metaverse communities, he sees a need to balance innovation with deeper human and philosophical questions about freedom and meaning.

Ryan Rugg, Global Head of Digital Assets for Citibank's Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS), discusses their approach to integrating Web 2.0 and 3.0. She shares insights on Citi Token Service, a new solution designed to provide 24/7 liquidity and borderless transactions, and explains how it simplifies user experience by obfuscating blockchain complexity. Key Takeaways:  The future potential of digital assets and blockchain technology in transforming financial services and enabling faster, more efficient transactions globally The importance of regulatory compliance and collaboration with regulators to ensure responsible innovation The value of daily standups in driving agile development Mutual learning opportunities between traditional finance institutions and Web 3.0 projects Guest Bio: Ryan Hugg is the Global Head of Digital Assets for Citibank's Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS), helping clients streamline treasury, payments, and commerce. She recently led the launch of Citi Token Services, a blockchain-based solution enabling 24/7 liquidity transfers and integrating tokenized deposits and smart contracts into Citi's global network. Previously, Ryan led IBM's Americas blockchain team, advising clients on tokenization, identity, and sustainability strategies. Her team helped launch New York's Excelsior Pass, a digital health wallet used by millions, now serving as a model for other credential systems. A passionate advocate for diversity in leadership, she has led multiple initiatives to advance female representation, and mentors emerging leaders toward executive roles. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all! Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together. The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API. Music by: Ari Dvorin Produced by: Sam Laliberte  

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Juan Samitier, co-founder of DAMM Capital, for a wide-ranging conversation on decentralized insurance, treasury management, and the evolution of finance on-chain. Together they explore the risks of smart contracts and hacks, the role of insurance in enabling institutional capital to enter crypto, and historical parallels from Amsterdam's spice trade to Argentina's corralito. The discussion covers stablecoins like DAI, MakerDAO's USDS, and the collapse of Luna, as well as the dynamics of yield, black swan events, and the intersection of DeFi with AI, prediction markets, and tokenized assets. You can find Juan on Twitter at @JuanSamitier and follow DAMM Capital at @DAMM_Capital.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:05 Stewart Alsop introduces Juan Samitier, who shares his background in asset management and DeFi, setting up the conversation on decentralized insurance.00:10 They discuss Safu, the insurance protocol Juan designed, and why hedging smart contract risk is key for asset managers deploying capital in DeFi.00:15 The focus shifts to hacks, audits, and why even fully audited code can still fail, bringing up historical parallels to ships, pirates, and early insurance models.00:20 Black swan events, risk models, and the limits of statistics are explored, along with reflections on Wolfram's ideas and the Ascent of Money.00:25 They examine how TradFi is entering crypto, the dominance of centralized stablecoins, and regulatory pushes like the Genius Act.00:30 DAI's design, MakerDAO's USDS, and Luna's collapse are explained, tying into the Great Depression, Argentina's corralito, and trust in money.00:35 Juan recounts his path from high school trading shitcoins to managing Kleros' treasury, while Stewart shares parallels with dot-com bubbles and Webvan.00:40 The conversation turns to tokenized assets, lending markets, and why stablecoin payments may be DeFi's Trojan horse for TradFi adoption.00:45 They explore interest rates, usury, and Ponzi dynamics, comparing Luna's 20% yields with unsustainable growth models in tech and crypto.00:50 Airdrops, VC-funded incentives, and short-term games are contrasted with building long-term financial infrastructure on-chain.00:55 Stewart brings up crypto as Venice in 1200, leading into reflections on finance as an information system, the rise of AI, and DeFi agents.01:00 Juan explains tokenized hedge funds, trusted execution environments, and prediction markets, ending with the power of conditional markets and the future of betting on beliefs.Key InsightsOne of the biggest risks in decentralized finance isn't just market volatility but the fragility of smart contracts. Juan Samitier emphasized that even with million-dollar audits, no code can ever be guaranteed safe, which is why hedging against hacks is essential for asset managers who want institutional capital to enter crypto.Insurance has always been about spreading risk, from 17th century spice ships facing pirates to DeFi protocols facing hackers. The same logic applies today: traders and treasuries are willing to sacrifice a small portion of yield to ensure that catastrophic losses won't wipe out their entire investment.Black swan events expose the limits of financial models, both in traditional finance and crypto. Juan pointed out that while risk models try to account for extreme scenarios, including every possible tail risk makes insurance math break down—a tension that shows why decentralized insurance is still early but necessary.Stablecoins emerged as crypto's attempt to recreate the dollar, but their design choices determine resilience. MakerDAO's DAI and USDS use overcollateralization for stability, while Luna's algorithmic model collapsed under pressure. These experiments mirror historical monetary crises like the Great Depression and Argentina's corralito, reminding us that trust in money is fragile.Argentina's history of inflation and government-imposed bank freezes makes its citizens uniquely receptive to crypto. Samitier explained that even people without financial training understand macroeconomic risks because they live with them daily, which helps explain why Argentina has some of the world's highest adoption of stablecoins and DeFi tools.The path to mainstream DeFi adoption may lie in the intersection of tokenized real-world assets, lending markets, and stablecoin payments. TradFi institutions are already asking how retail users access cheaper loans on-chain, showing that DeFi's efficiency could become the Trojan horse that pulls traditional finance deeper into crypto rails.Looking forward, the fusion of AI with DeFi may transform finance into an information-driven ecosystem. Trusted execution environments, prediction markets, and conditional markets could allow agents to trade on beliefs and probabilities with transparency, blending deterministic blockchains with probabilistic AI—a glimpse of what financial Venice in the information age might look like.

Bitcoin et crypto : arnaque, bulle ou révolution monétaire ?Cette semaine sur le podcast, on reçoit Mélissa Fortin, professeure et chercheuse spécialisée en comptabilité et en cryptomonnaie, pour enfin comprendre comment tout ça fonctionne. On aborde le minage de bitcoin, les applications concrètes de la blockchain, les NFT dans la musique, les fraudes, et même comment déclarer ses gains à Revenu Québec. Au programme: - Pourquoi le bitcoin est vu comme une idéologie quasi religieuse - Comment fonctionne la blockchain (expliqué simplement) - Les usages concrets des NFT : musique, art, immobilier - Le rôle du minage et ses impacts énergétiques - Ce que Revenu Québec et l'ARC surveillent (vraiment) sur tes cryptos 

For episode 582 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Diego Gutierrez, Chairman & Co-Founder of Rootstock, the world's most secure smart contracts platform, built on Bitcoin. The Rootstock blockchain enables EVM-compatible smart contracts designed for building a freer, fairer, and more decentralized world. ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(0:30) Who is Diego Gutierrez?(3:34) Bitcoin in Argentina(8:28) Rootstock in 2025(13:13) Bitcoin DeFi(20:02) Rootstock at Permissionless(22:34) Website, socials & community

Deepak Garg, CCO at M2, gives insights on what it takes to run a regulated digital asset platform in Abu Dhabi under FSRA oversight. From licensing and market abuse controls to Travel Rule compliance, DeFi risk management, and tax reporting readiness, this episode is packed with practical tips for compliance leaders.

Alisia Painter is co-founder and COO at Botanix Labs, builder of the Botanix blockchain that serves as a Layer 2 on bitcoin. Botanix brings EVM compatibility and smart contract programmability to bitcoin, opening the door for new types of financial products and services on bitcoin. We discuss how Alisia's experiences working in Brazil introduced her to bitcoin and, more importantly, convinced her that bitcoin needs to function as more than just digital gold if it's going to fulfill its potential. You can connect with Alisia on Linkedin----------------------Brazil Crypto Report is presented by AveniaIf you're building a wallet, a crypto consumer app, or a global payment platform, Avenia is your bridge to Latin America. Instantly connect to PIX, SPEI, and CBU using stablecoins — with one API. No banks. No FX desks. No SWIFT. Move money globally, with full compliance and real-time settlement. Learn more at avenia.io.-----------------------------------------------P2P.me is the fastest way to buy and sell crypto in Brazil using Pix: direct, secure, and fully onchain.Backed by Multicoin and Coinbase Ventures, P2P.me offers a compliant on and off ramp with, ZK-KYC, and no hidden fees.You can easily use P2P.me to pay PIX QR codes in Brazil using your USDc balance. Topup, scan and pay.Visit ⁠br.p2p.me ⁠to get started and earn $50 per operation limit.------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. With special guests: Avichal Garg, Managing Partner at Electric Capital, and Tomasz K. Stańczak, Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation. This week we get into one of the most pivotal moments in Ethereum's history — from the Tornado Cash verdict and its chilling implications for developers, to Wall Street's growing embrace of ETH through the launch of ETHZilla. The crew unpacks how this trial could redefine developer liability, why Ethereum's narrative is shifting toward institutional adoption, and what the next decade could look like for the world's most versatile blockchain. Whether you're here for the legal drama, the market moves, or the inside scoop from Ethereum's top builders and investors, this episode delivers the sharp analysis, big-picture context, and unfiltered hot takes you've come to expect from The Chopping Block. Show highlights

Simplicity, a scripting language so simple that it can fit on a t-shirt, has finally launched on Liquid after a decade of development. Andrew Poelstra, who works as director of research at Blockstream, explains how it works & why it's good for Bitcoin. Time stamps: (00:00:50) Introducing Andrew Poelstra (00:01:45) Simplicity: Now Live on Liquid (00:02:12) Elements and Liquid's Technical Evolution (00:03:09) Is Simplicity a Response to Solidity? (00:05:40) Simplicity's Programming Model & Rust Inspiration (00:08:04) Demo Applications and Simplicity Playground (00:10:03) Why Not Stick with Bitcoin Script? (00:11:48) Bitcoin Script's Limitations and Quirks (00:19:14) Simplicity's Capabilities: Computation & Covenants (00:22:26) Formal Verification and Multi-Language Implementations (00:25:21) Machine-Checkable Proofs and Contract Safety (00:29:07) Covenants, OP_CAT, and Script Extension Fears (00:33:26) Simplicity as a Future Script Extension Path (00:34:31) Ethereum's Design Mistakes & Simplicity's Approach (00:53:00) Simplicity's Lateness and Ethereum's Rise (01:01:12) Simplicity's Usability and Adoption Challenges (01:04:18) Potential Use Cases for Simplicity: Vaults, Business Logic, Quantum Signatures (01:08:06) Wallets and Simplicity Integration (01:16:30) Simplicity vs. Soft Forks for New Opcodes (01:19:01) Jets: Optimizing Simplicity with Native Code (01:22:44) Collider Script and High-Cost Emulation (01:24:44) Resource Limits and Transaction Size (01:29:34) Non-Scammy, Technologically Interesting Altcoins: Monero, Zcash, Grin, and Sia (01:33:14) Where to Learn More About Simplicity

In this intense and eye-opening episode of the Hard Asset Money Show, Christian Briggs delivers a hard-hitting deep dive into the rising tide of central bank digital currency (CBDC), smart contracts, and asset tokenization. What does it really mean when your home, bank account, or investments are turned into digital tokens on a blockchain—controlled by third parties and governed by private keys? From Ripple's role in global CBDC infrastructure to Apple and Neuralink's mind-controlled payment tech, Briggs explores how the world is racing toward centralized, programmable money. Are we witnessing the end of financial privacy and free-market capitalism as we know it? And more importantly—what can you do now to protect your wealth and your rights? If you think this is the future, you're already behind. This is the now. Tune in and get ahead before the switch flips.

ERC-7710: Smart Contract DelegationERC-7710 introduces standardized interfaces to allow consistent delegation of capabilities from smart contracts to other contracts or externally owned accounts (EOAs).Authors: Ryan McPeck, Dan Finlay, Rob Dawson, Derek ChiangResources:------------------ EIP-7710 on Ethereum.org- Ethereum Magicians Discussion- Presentation SlidesRelated Links:------------------ ERC-7715: Grant Permissions from Wallets- ERC-7715 Magicians DiscussionPlaylists:------------------ Pectra PEEPanEIP Playlist- General PEEPanEIP PlaylistFollow on Twitter:--------------------------- Dan Finlay- Pooja Ranjan- Vaelyn (Coordination)- Edited by AkashTopics Covered:-------------------------00:00 - Quick Recap00:42 - PEEPanEIP Intro00:56 - Introduction01:17 - About ERC 771002:25 - Dan Introduction06:00 - Simona talks about EthCluj08:00 - Presentation on ERC-771008:43 - Agenda09:02 - 01 The Current State14:23 - 02 A Different Model19:37 - 03 How?38:54 - 04 Embedded Accounts & The Future45:20 - Try out ERC-7710 and a draft of ERC-771547:19 - Q&A Section47:54 - Can ERC-7710 proceed without ERC-7579?49:40 - Risk of centralized Delegation Manager implementation?52:55 - Security edge cases or misuse potential?57:45 - Is ERC-7710 ready to move to review status?59:59 - Rapid Fire Section01:02:08 - Message to Community01:02:47 - Closing Words by Pooja-------------------------#ERC7710 #ERC7715 #Ethereum #PEEPanEIP

Decentralized finance feels like the future. This category of financial services is built on blockchain technology and transacted solely in crypto. It's executed by automated programs called “smart contracts,” which helps reduce costs. And advocates say DeFi is more democratic: Everyone involved is just an anonymous node on the blockchain, making favoritism impossible. But how will it really play out? Some tell the Boston Fed's podcast, Six Hundred Atlantic, that it requires too much tech savvy to be truly inclusive. Others worry about the safety of a “trustless system,” where the lack of an intermediary could make DeFi vulnerable to people with bad intent. And skeptics doubt decentralized finance can remain decentralized at all.   View the presentations New York University professor Hanna Halaburda and UC-Berkeley professor Christine Parlour submitted for the Boston Fed's 68th Economic Conference. Watch the panel they participated in, titled “Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), and Smart Contracts: Hope or Hype?”

I, Stewart Alsop, am thrilled to welcome Xathil of Poliebotics to this episode of Crazy Wisdom, for what is actually our second take, this time with a visual surprise involving a fascinating 3D-printed Bauta mask. Xathil is doing some truly groundbreaking work at the intersection of physical reality, cryptography, and AI, which we dive deep into, exploring everything from the philosophical implications of anonymity to the technical wizardry behind his "Truth Beam."Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps01:35 Xathil explains the 3D-printed Bauta Mask, its Venetian origins, and its role in enabling truth through anonymity via his project, Poliepals.04:50 The crucial distinction between public identity and "real" identity, and how pseudonyms can foster truth-telling rather than just conceal.10:15 Addressing the serious risks faced by crypto influencers due to public displays of wealth and the broader implications for online identity.15:05 Xathil details the core Poliebotics technology: the "Truth Beam," a projector-camera system for cryptographically timestamping physical reality.18:50 Clarifying the concept of "proof of aliveness"—verifying a person is currently live in a video call—versus the more complex "proof of liveness."21:45 How the speed of light provides a fundamental advantage for Poliebotics in outmaneuvering AI-generated deepfakes.32:10 The concern of an "inversion," where machine learning systems could become dominant over physical reality by using humans as their actuators.45:00 Xathil's ambitious project to use Poliebotics for creating cryptographically verifiable records of biodiversity, beginning with an enhanced Meles trap.Key InsightsAnonymity as a Truth Catalyst: Drawing from Oscar Wilde, the Bauta mask symbolizes how anonymity or pseudonyms can empower individuals to reveal deeper, more authentic truths. This challenges the notion that masks only serve to hide, suggesting they can be tools for genuine self-expression.The Bifurcation of Identity: In our digital age, distinguishing between one's core "real" identity and various public-facing personas is increasingly vital. This separation isn't merely about concealment but offers a space for truthful expression while navigating public life.The Truth Beam: Anchoring Reality: Poliebotics' "Truth Beam" technology employs a projector-camera system to cast cryptographic hashes onto physical scenes, recording them and anchoring them to a blockchain. This aims to create immutable, verifiable records of reality to combat the rise of sophisticated deepfakes.Harnessing Light Speed Against Deepfakes: The fundamental defense Poliebotics offers against AI-generated fakes is the speed of light. Real-world light reflection for capturing projected hashes is virtually instantaneous, whereas an AI must simulate this complex process, a task too slow to keep up with real-time verification.The Specter of Humans as AI Actuators: A significant future concern is the "inversion," where AI systems might utilize humans as unwitting agents to achieve their objectives in the physical world. By manipulating incentives, AIs could effectively direct human actions, raising profound questions about agency.Towards AI Symbiosis: The ideal future isn't a human-AI war or complete technological asceticism, but a cooperative coexistence between nature, humanity, and artificial systems. This involves developing AI responsibly, instilling human values, and creating systems that are non-threatening and beneficial.Contact Information*   Polybotics' GitHub*   Poliepals*   Xathil: Xathil@ProtonMail.com

Preston Van Loon, Ethereum Core Developer at Offchain Labs, joined me to discuss the impact of the Pectra upgrade to the Ethereum network.Topics:- Benefits of the Pectra upgrade- How the upgrade impacts Layer 2s- Upcoming Ethereum upgrades - Why major institutions build on Ethereum - Arbitrum overview - Future of Web advertising and monetization - US Crypto OutlookShow Sponsor -

Vitalik Buterin is the creator of Ethereum, but he's also a true Bitcoin maximalist. In this episode, Vitalik tells his story as a bitcoiner, explains why he built Ethereum, and makes use of his knowledge to predict the future of the two networks. Time stamps: Introducing Vitalik (00:01:00) Vitalik's Early Involvement with Bitcoin (00:02:22) Writing for Bitcoin Weekly (00:03:01) Bitcoin's Early Fees and Transaction Model (00:06:45) Evolving Understanding of Bitcoin (00:09:15) Bitcoin Cash and the Scaling Debate (00:10:25) Dark Wallet Project (00:14:06) Coinjoin and Privacy Innovations (00:16:41) Colored Coins and Bitcoin 2.0 (00:21:05) Transition to Ethereum Development (00:21:58) Current Layer Two Innovations (00:24:11) Scaling and Privacy Innovations (00:25:55) Ethereum's Early Criticism (00:27:05) EVM's Role in Smart Contracts (00:28:11) Challenges of Parallelization (00:29:23) Sandboxing and Security (00:30:24) Future Scaling Ideas (00:34:49) Ethereum vs NXT vs Counterparty vs Omni/Mastercoin (00:35:37) Lessons from Ethereum's Success (00:37:07) The DAO Hack and Community Resilience (00:43:16) Ethereum's Network Effect (00:45:43) Ethereum's Ecosystem Resilience (00:49:35) Decentralization vs. Scalability (00:50:41) Critique of Ethereum Killers (00:51:21) Layer One and Layer Two Dynamics (00:52:53) SideShift (00:53:21) How Vitalik Cancelled Craig Wright (00:54:51) Current Characters in Bitcoin (00:58:03) Daniel Kravisz's Views on Craig Wright (00:59:04) Manipulative Tactics in Dating Advice (01:00:34) NoOnes: Marketplace for Global South (01:01:19) Bitcoin.com News Evolution (01:02:40) Bitcoin Magazine is Now Pro Trump (01:04:37) Libertarian Shifts in Crypto (01:05:03) Ethereum Domain Name Registrations (01:06:09) Layer Two Scaling Decision (01:08:08) Hardware Requirements for Ethereum Node (01:10:45) Philosophical Questions on Scaling (01:12:01) The Dystopia Scenario (01:13:03) Importance of Full Nodes (01:14:24) Technological Innovations (01:15:27) Running Full Nodes in Ethereum (01:16:30) Privacy and RPC Trust (01:17:28) Adapting Ethereum to New Cryptography (01:19:53) Scaling Debate in Ethereum (01:22:04) Respect for Ethereum's Approach (01:23:15) Zcash and Ethereum Collaboration (01:25:00) Challenges for Zcash (01:27:04) Impact of Developer Actions (01:28:01) Scaling Solutions in Bitcoin and Ethereum (01:30:43) Defining Rollups vs. Sidechains (01:31:40) Security Implications of Drivechains (01:34:03) Transition to Proof of Stake (01:36:19) ZK Coins and Shielded Client Side Validation (01:37:53) Thoughts on TheStandard.io (01:40:03) Backing Up Coins and Holding Keys (01:42:11) Evolution of Multi-Sig Technology (01:46:43) Privacy (01:48:14) Concerns About Centralized Data Collection (01:51:10) Impact of Snowden Revelations (01:53:35) Privacy as a Key Aspect of Decentralization (01:55:49) Ethereum's Cypherpunk Roots (01:57:07) Feedback from Cypherpunks on Ethereum (02:00:42) The Inspiration Behind DAOs (02:02:07) AI and DAOs (02:02:40) Vitalik's Public Image and Price Pressure (02:02:55) Media Attention and Its Impact (02:03:43) Decentralization and Attention (02:04:03) Price Influence and Market Dynamics (02:04:59) Focus on Ethereum's Values (02:06:01) Historical Use Cases of Ethereum (02:08:28) Next Bull Market Narrative (02:09:38) DeFi Ecosystem as a Proven Use Case (02:09:45) Political Instability and Financial Security (02:12:05) Polymarket, Prediction Markets and Mainstream Adoption (02:12:20) Zero Knowledge Proofs and Privacy (02:14:20) Roger Ver (02:15:23) Principles of Freedom and Privacy (02:22:57) Critique of Blockstream's Liquid (02:24:00) Bitcoin's Role in Decentralization (02:26:15) Transition to RISC-V (02:27:37) Adoption of RISC-V (02:28:36) Redesigning Ethereum in A Time Travel Scenario (02:31:30) Challenges in Ethereum's Development (02:32:45) Ethereum and Bitcoin Relationship (02:37:02) Complementarity of Bitcoin and Ethereum (02:38:40) Does Vitalik Still Use Bitcoin? (02:41:21) Lightning Network (02:42:06) Standardization of LN Invoies (02:43:20) Privacy Concerns with Bitcoin (02:45:42) Running Lightning Nodes (02:46:52) Home-Based Bitcoin Solutions (02:48:12) Tribalism in Crypto Communities (02:48:53) Ethereum's Evolution and Ideals (02:50:06) Collaboration Between Bitcoin and Ethereum (02:51:10) Diverse Blockchain Future (02:51:45) Is Vitalik a Bitcoin Maximalist? (02:52:59) Community Values and Challenges (02:53:45) Cultural Dynamics in Cryptocurrencies (02:56:05) Layer Two Solutions for Bitcoin (02:59:31) Vitalik's Online Presence (03:00:25) Closing Remarks and Future Guests (03:01:36)

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, I, Stewart Alsop III, speak with David Packham, CEO and co-founder of Chintai, about the real-world implications of tokenizing assets—from real estate and startup equity to institutional finance and beyond. David shares insights from his time inside Goldman Sachs during the 2008 crash, his journey into blockchain starting in 2016, and how Chintai is now helping reshape the financial system through compliant, blockchain-based infrastructure. We talk about the collapse of institutional trust, the weirdness of meme coins, the possible obsolescence of IPOs, and the deeper societal shifts underway. For more on David and Chintai, check out chintai.io and chintainexus.com.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!Timestamps00:00 – David Packham introduces Chintai and explains the vision of tokenizing real world assets, highlighting the failure of early promises and the need for real transformation in finance. 05:00 – The conversation turns to accredited investors, regulatory controls, and how Chintai ensures compliance while preserving self-custody and smart contract-level restrictions. 10:00 – Discussion of innovative asset models like yield-bearing tokens tied to Manhattan real estate and tokenized private funds, showing how commercial use cases are overtaking DeFi gimmicks. 15:00 – Packham unpacks how liquidity is reshaping startup equity, potentially making IPOs obsolete by offering secondary markets and early investor exits through tokenization. 20:00 – The focus shifts to global crypto hubs. Singapore's limitations, US entrepreneurial resurgence, and Hong Kong's return to crypto leadership come up. 25:00 – Stewart and David discuss the broader decentralization of institutions, including government finance on blockchain, and the surprising effect of CBDCs in China. 30:00 – They explore the cultural dimensions of decentralization, including the network state, societal decline, and the importance of shared values for cohesion. 35:00 – Wrapping up, they touch on the philosophy of investment vs. speculation, the corruption of fiat systems, and the potential for real-world assets to stabilize crypto portfolios.Key InsightsTokenization is transforming access to financial markets: David Packham explains how tokenizing real-world assets—like real estate, private debt, and startup equity—can unlock previously illiquid sectors. Through blockchain, assets become tradable, accessible, and transparent, with innovations like fractional ownership and yield-bearing tokens making markets more efficient. Chintai, his company, enables this transformation by providing compliant infrastructure for institutions and investors to engage with these assets securely.The era of IPOs may be nearing its end: Packham suggests that traditional IPOs, with their delayed liquidity and gatekeeping, are becoming obsolete. With blockchain, companies can now tokenize equity and provide liquidity earlier in their lifecycle. This changes the game for startups and investors alike, enabling ongoing access to investment opportunities and exits without needing to go public in the conventional sense.The crypto industry is maturing beyond speculation: Reflecting on the shift from the ideologically driven early days of crypto to the speculative fervor of ICOs, NFTs, and meme coins, Packham calls for a return to fundamentals. He envisions a future where crypto supports real economic activity, especially through projects that build infrastructure for compliant, meaningful use cases. Degenerate gambling, he argues, may coexist with more serious ventures, but the latter will shape the future.Decentralization is challenging traditional power structures: The conversation touches on how blockchain can reduce favoritism and control in financial systems. Packham highlights how tools like permissioned ledgers and smart contracts can enforce fairness, resist corruption, and enhance access. He contrasts this with legacy systems, which often protect elite interests, drawing on his own experience at Goldman Sachs during the 2008 crisis.Global leadership in crypto is shifting: While Singapore positioned itself as a key crypto hub, Packham notes its lack of entrepreneurial culture compared to the U.S. and China. He observes that regulatory openness is important, but business culture and capital depth are decisive. The U.S. has reemerged as a key player, showing renewed interest and drive, while Hong Kong and China continue to move boldly in this space.The societal impact of financial technology is profound: The episode explores how blockchain might influence governance and societal organization. From the potential tokenization of government operations to more transparent fiscal policies, Packham sees emerging possibilities for better systems—though he warns against naive techno-utopianism. He reflects on the dual-edged nature of technologies like CBDCs, which can enhance transparency but also increase state control.Cultural values matter in shaping the future: The conversation ends on a philosophical note, examining the tension between decentralization, cultural identity, and immigration. Packham emphasizes that shared values and cultural cohesion are crucial for societal stability. He challenges idealistic notions like the “network state” by pointing out that human nature and cultural alignment still play a major role in the success or failure of social systems.

For episode 511, Head of Marketing Neil Fitzhugh joins Brandon Zemp to discuss TAP Protocol, which is enabling advanced programmability, bringing DeFi, smart contracts, and decentralized applications directly to the Bitcoin network. Its mission is to create the most secure and programmable infrastructure on Bitcoin, transforming it from a static store of value into a dynamic blockchain ecosystem.

Join me as I sit down with David Johnston, a crypto pioneer, Morpheus contributor, and early investor in decentralized tech. We discuss his journey from Bitcoin's early days to shaping Ethereum, Web3, DeFi, and AI-driven smart agents.