Podcasts about smart contracts

Almost 9 years since the big split of the Bitcoin community, it's time to learn more about how the Bitcoin Cash chain developed. Calin Culianu is the creator of Fulcrum, an efficient privacy-preserving SPV client. Steve Thurmond is the most ardent advocate for Cash Stamps: a convenient paper wallet system that's used for gifting. Throughout the episode, more BCH community members will join to have the conversation that you will never hear on any other Bitcoin podcast. Time stamps: 00:01:09 Introducing Calin Culianu & Steve Thurmond 00:02:37 The Evolution of Bitcoin Cash 00:03:59 Who is Behind Bitcoin Cash Now? 00:06:34 Narratives and Misconceptions 00:07:53 Vlad's Perspective on the Fork 00:09:44 Bitcoin's Capture and Speculative Nature 00:11:48 Vlad's Journey with Lightning Network 00:16:07 Blockstream and the "Banker" Conspiracy 00:18:33 The Security Budget Debate 00:22:12 The Problem with IOU Systems like Lightning 00:24:02 Vlad's Disappointment with Onboarding 00:24:58 Ethereum's Rise Amidst Bitcoin's Infighting 00:27:52 The Bankers Won, But Crypto Still Exists 00:32:16 The Future of Bitcoin and Firing Core Devs 00:33:08 The Wall of Consensus in BTC 00:39:19 The Multi-Coin Future 00:42:48 Bitcoin Cash's Development Philosophy 00:49:08 Craig Wright's Controversial Involvement 00:55:16 The Impact of Contentious Forks 00:58:55 The Resilience of Bitcoin Cash 01:02:32 The Value of Open Source Competition 01:08:51 Greg Maxwell's Influence 01:12:00 The Ecash fork 01:25:02 Introducing New BCH Community Members 01:26:38 Building Smart Contracts on Bitcoin Cash 01:34:06 Why UTXO is Better than EVM 01:40:07 Can You Run a BCH Node? 01:41:07 The Flawed "Run a Node" Narrative 01:53:27 The Dangers of RBF and the Importance of 0-Conf 02:05:07 One-Minute Blocks Proposal 02:08:02 Finality and User Experience in Wallets 02:12:13 The "It's Just Money, Bro" Philosophy 02:41:39 What Can You Buy with BCH? 02:48:28 The Permissionless Nature of BCH 02:52:12 The Paradox of Layer Twos 02:57:18 The Stigma of Building on BCH 02:58:21 The Changing Culture of Bitcoin Cash 03:11:35 Ordinals and the "Spam" Debate 03:17:07 Would BCH Still Have a Nice Dev Culture If Michael Saylor Started Buying? 03:28:14 Quantum Computing and Satoshi's Coins 03:42:59 The Tail Emission Debate 03:50:11 The Culture is the Ultimate Defense 03:53:16 The Politicization of Bitcoin Development 03:59:26 Privacy and Fungibility 04:02:21 The Future of Privacy on BCH 04:36:12 Fulcrum: An Electrum Server Implementation 04:38:54 The Litecoin Question 04:49:13 The Difficulty of Recreating Bitcoin's Genesis 04:51:38 The Long-Term Bet on SHA-256 04:54:12 A Break and Introduction to Rosco 05:48:33 CashScript and Smart Contracts on BCH 05:55:22 BCH vs. Ethereum Smart Contracts 06:03:05 The UTXO Stack and Abstraction Layers 06:43:30 The Avalanche Pre-Consensus Question 06:45:51 The "Tax" Fork 07:04:06 The Failed Attack on Bitcoin Cash 07:08:58 The 2018 Inflation Bug Disclosure 07:22:46 The Michael Saylor Phenomenon 07:28:41 The Arrest of Roger Ver 07:39:28 Spending Crypto in the Real World 07:44:22 The End of Crypto-Friendly Spaces in Europe 07:52:05 Prediction Markets and Community Sponsorship 08:08:17 Robin Linus is Jealous of BCH Opcodes 08:09:50 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Keir Finlow-Bates is one of the most talented, mysterious and hirsute technicians in Web3, and he's identified a critical issue with Web3 today. You need to hear this...After tracking him down in frozen Finland, stalking him at a book signing in London, and buying all of his Amazon best-sellers to-date, he's agreed to join us on LinkedIn Live to share some important wisdom.We all know Smart Contracts are neither smart, nor (in most cases) contracts. But with the application of a little commercial and legal nouse, Keir recons he knows how to unlock billions in real world adoption for Blockchains?What's the secret, you say?... Well, you'd better join us to find out. And/or buy his latest book. Or both...Read the book here: https://mybook.to/sci

JPEG Store, long the biggest NFT marketplace in the Cardano ecosystem, is shutting down, which means NFT holders and project teams need to decide where their listings go next. In this episode, Peter walks through a practical migration from JPEG Store to WayUp and shows what the process looks like using a real wallet and live listings.The tutorial covers why this migration matters, how WayUp pulls in existing JPEG Store listings, what the wallet transaction is doing behind the scenes, and how to verify the contract movement on Cardanoscan. Peter also shares an important clarification on timing: even after the JPEG Store interface goes down, smart contract level migration may still be possible, but it is better to test before the UI disappears in case edge cases need manual relisting.Key Takeaways:- JPEG Store is shutting down, so NFT holders should review and migrate active listings before the interface goes offline.- WayUp offers a migration feature that can pull in existing JPEG Store listings and move them into a new marketplace contract.- The migration requires a wallet signature, so users should review the transaction addresses and metadata before confirming.- Cardanoscan can be used to verify that assets moved from the JPEG Store ask contract into the WayUp contract.- Supporting active marketplaces helps keep NFT trading infrastructure alive during a weak market cycle.- The JPEG Store website going offline does not necessarily mean NFTs are lost, because the assets remain in smart contracts.- There may still be contract mismatch edge cases, so testing the migration before the UI shutdown is the safest approach.Links & References:- Cardano Apps Directory: Wallets, DEXes, NFTs & More | Cardano: https://link.learncardano.io/JIJdb3- Add your Application | Cardano: https://link.learncardano.io/W52NlV- Cardano (ADA) Blockchain Ecosystem and Project Explorer: https://link.learncardano.io/k9zcxs- Adastack Ecosystem Explorer: https://link.learncardano.io/gdYxSdWebsite: https://link.learncardano.io/bQ68RcX/Twitter: https://link.learncardano.io/3a1QtvDisclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Nothing constitutes financial advice.DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or legal advice. I am not affiliated with, nor compensated by, the project discussed—no tokens, payments, or incentives received. I do not hold a stake in the project, including private or future allocations. All views are my own, based on public information. Always do your own research and consult a licensed advisor before investing. Crypto investments carry high risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. I am not responsible for any decisions you make based on this content.

For episode 251 of the Crypto Altruists podcast, we're excited to welcome David Machuche and Victor Muhagachi of NEDA Labs, and special Co-Host Jon Ruth of The Solar Foundation, for the final episode of our series exploring the Solar Savings Circles pilot in Tanzania. Today we go under the hood and explore the technology layer behind this partnership.In today's episode you'll discover:

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Tyler Cloutier, founder of Clockwork Labs and creator of SpaceTimeDB. They explore how SpaceTimeDB functions as more than just a database—it's essentially a distributed operating system that merges server logic with data storage, enabling real-time applications and time-travel capabilities. The conversation ranges from the technical architecture of databases and operating systems to the philosophy of distributed systems, touching on everything from Unix and Linux to how SpaceTimeDB could revolutionize AI-generated software deployment. Tyler explains how their system reduces the complexity of building real-time applications, makes deployment simpler for both humans and AI agents, and why games like their MMORPG BitCraft Online drove them to create this new infrastructure. They also discuss the future of the internet, the role of bots in gaming, and how SpaceTimeDB fits into the broader landscape of cloud computing alongside tools like Cloudflare, Vercel, and Docker. For more information, visit spacetimedb.com or check out Clockwork Labs on GitHub and Twitter.Timestamps00:00 Stewart introduces Tyler Cloutier, founder of Clockwork Labs, discussing the origin of SpaceTimeDB's name inspired by Einstein's theory and its time travel capabilities that store all operations indefinitely05:00 Tyler explains SpaceTimeDB as more of an operating system than a database, using tables instead of file systems while running code in a sandboxed environment with full atomic properties10:00 Discussion of how SpaceTimeDB replaces both Node.js and Postgres by merging web server and database functionality, eliminating separate deployment concerns15:00 Tyler explains JavaScript execution through Chrome's V8 engine and JIT compiling, leading to Node.js creation for server-side JavaScript development20:00 Explanation of stateless web servers versus stateful game servers, and why games require in-memory state management for real-time performance25:00 Tyler introduces reducers and real-time subscriptions, questioning why more applications aren't real-time when state changes should update immediately30:00 Discussion of Facebook as essentially a text-based MMO, comparing social media architecture to game server requirements and the need for unified systems35:00 Tyler explains ACID properties in databases: atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable, using game item trading examples40:00 Comparing SpaceTimeDB to smart contract systems without cryptocurrency or global consensus, positioning it as a smart database with centralized trust45:00 Tyler reveals SpaceTimeDB uses 43% fewer tokens than Postgres for AI-generated applications, making it valuable for vibe coding platforms50:00 Conversation shifts to bots in games and proof-of-human concepts, with Tyler proposing biometric systems and discussing potential in-person gaming applications55:00 Closing discussion about tracking AI-driven traffic through UTM parameters and finding SpaceTimeDB at spacetimedb.comKey Insights1. SpaceTimeDB is fundamentally a database that runs application code directly inside it, combining what traditionally required separate systems like Postgres and Node.js. Users compile their application logic into WebAssembly or JavaScript and upload it to run within the database itself. This architecture provides high performance because the entire server backend operates inside the database environment. The system also features time travel capabilities, storing every operation and change to data persistently and indefinitely, allowing users to set application state back to any earlier point in time. This makes SpaceTimeDB more accurately described as an operating system rather than just a database, where the abstraction is that everything is a table rather than a file.2. The inspiration for SpaceTimeDB came from building BitCraft Online, an MMORPG where all players exist in a single persistent world and rebuild civilization together. Traditional MMO backends required complex custom solutions to handle real-time state, with game servers storing state in memory and periodically writing to databases. This complexity existed because games cannot afford the latency of constantly delegating to distant databases like traditional web applications can. SpaceTimeDB solved this by making the database fast enough to handle real-time requirements directly, eliminating the need for separate game servers. This same performance advantage that benefits games also applies to web applications, which is why SpaceTimeDB evolved from a game-specific tool to a general-purpose platform.3. SpaceTimeDB functions as a distributed operating system where each database acts like a process in an actor model system, similar to Erlang or Scala Akka. Databases can send messages to other databases and be spawned across a cluster for horizontal scaling. This represents an overlay operating system running on top of Linux rather than competing with it, providing a distributed abstraction across many machines while Linux handles device drivers and hardware support. The vision is for the cloud to function as a single enormous computer running one operating system, where developers simply publish their programs without managing separate services, deployment, routing, networking, or persistence infrastructure.4. The real-time capabilities of SpaceTimeDB address a fundamental limitation in how most web applications work today. Traditional web servers are stateless, delegating all state to databases and accepting network round-trip latency for each request, which is why users often must refresh pages to see updates. SpaceTimeDB allows queries to be subscribed to, maintaining open connections that stream changes whenever query results update. This makes applications like Discord, Facebook, or banking systems naturally real-time without requiring page refreshes. The historical accident that more things are not real-time represents a problem SpaceTimeDB solves by unifying the web world with the game world's real-time requirements.5. SpaceTimeDB implements ACID properties—Atomic, Consistent, Isolated, and Durable—ensuring database operations are reliable and safe. Atomic means operations either fully happen or not at all, preventing issues like item duplication in games when trading between players. Consistent means declared invariants like unique usernames are always enforced. Isolated means concurrent operations do not interfere with each other. Durable means changes persist even if computers restart, with varying levels from in-memory on one machine to disk storage across multiple geographic locations. These properties are managed through reducers, functions inspired by React Redux that fold changes into application state incrementally.6. For AI and large language models, SpaceTimeDB offers significant advantages in building and deploying applications. Testing showed that creating applications with SpaceTimeDB uses 43% fewer tokens compared to Postgres implementations, costs less, has fewer bugs, and is easier to extend. This matters because the primary cost for vibe coding platforms is tokens. As more software gets written in the next twelve months than ever before, there is insufficient focus on infrastructure required to run all this AI-generated software. SpaceTimeDB positions itself as ideal for LLMs to target because of its simplified deployment model where developers just publish code and the system handles everything behind the scenes.7. SpaceTimeDB can be understood as a smart contract system without cryptocurrency or global decentralized consensus. Like blockchain smart contracts, it executes code with atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable properties, but avoids the expense and slowness of requiring all computers worldwide to agree on everything. Instead, it offers centralized trust where users trust Clockwork Labs not to modify deployed contracts, rather than the trustless but extremely costly blockchain approach. This makes it functionally similar to Cloudflare's durable objects but with full relational database capabilities. The system exists before the networking layer where Cloudflare operates, handling deployment, server, and database functions while Cloudflare could provide DDoS protection in front of it.

Euro Numérique : Pourquoi le vote du 4 mai 2026 est si important Par Régis BAUDOUIN Le 4 mai 2026 restera sans doute dans les livres d'histoire comme le jour où l'Europe a enfin pris les commandes de son destin monétaire à l'ère du numérique. Ce jour-là, la Commission Européenne validera le cadre technique et législatif de l’Euro Numérique. Loin des discours alarmistes ou des fantasmes de surveillance, ce projet ambitieux est une mise à jour digitale indispensable de notre économie. Il s’agit de transformer nos smartphones en véritables coffres-forts souverains, capables de transporter du “cash dématérialisé” avec la même simplicité que la monnaie physique. Cette capacité s’ajoute aux solutions de paiement actuelles, ce n’est pas une restriction, c’est une émancipation. Tout le monde ne partage pas cette vison moderniste de la monnaie. L’Euro digitale ne tue pas le monnaie physique. C’est une nouvelle solution de paiement. Actuellement déjà les paiements en monnaie physique sont limités (1500 € entre particuliers et 1000 € entre professionnels) pour limiter le travail dissimulé et les blanchiment. Cela ne va pas changer. Le Cash numérique L'Euro Numérique n'est pas une énième application bancaire, c'est une révolution de l'infrastructure même des transactions numériques. Pour la première fois, la Banque Centrale Européenne (BCE) met à disposition des citoyens une monnaie numérique qui possède les mêmes propriétés que les espèces : elle est gratuite, universelle, et surtout, elle ne dépend pas de la santé financière d’une banque privée. Ce n’est pas non plus une crypto monnaire. Les Piliers Techniques de l’Euro Numérique Comment la BCE créée de la monnaie numérique ? Le Niveau 1 (BCE) : La Banque Centrale gère le “Grand Livre” (Ledger). Elle émet la monnaie et assure l’intégrité globale du système. Contrairement au Bitcoin, ce n’est pas une blockchain publique mais un registre centralisé ultra-sécurisé capable de traiter des dizaines de milliers de transactions par seconde. Le Niveau 2 (Intermédiaires) : Ce sont les banques commerciales et les établissements de paiement qui gèrent la relation client, ouvrent les portefeuilles (wallets) et assurent la vérification d’identité (KYC). Mais la véritable innovation technologique réside dans le paiement “offline”. Grâce à l’interopérabilité des puces NFC et au protocole CPACE, vous pouvez désormais régler vos achats de téléphone à téléphone, sans aucune connexion internet. Une résilience technologique majeure qui garantit que, même en cas de panne réseau ou de cyberattaque massive, l’économie européenne continue de respirer. Dans la limite des montants autorisés en numérique. La puce sécurisée est caractéristique la plus attendue de 2026. Elle utilise l’élément sécurisé (Secure Element) des smartphones et des cartes à puce. La transaction se fait via NFC (Near Field Communication) ou Bluetooth Low Energy. Les fonds sont transférés directement d’une puce à l’autre sans passer par le réseau. Cette puce est déjà présente dans vos smatphones, le problème était jusqu’ici son accessibilité. Chez Apple : Jusqu’à récemment, la puce NFC et le Secure Element étaient “fermés” (réservés exclusivement à Apple Pay). Sous la pression de la Commission Européenne (via le Digital Markets Act ou DMA), Apple a dû ouvrir l’accès au NFC à des tiers en Europe. L’Euro Numérique en profite : Grâce à cette ouverture forcée, l’application officielle de votre banque (ou celle de l’Eurosystème) pourra utiliser la puce sécurisée de votre iPhone pour payer en Euros Numériques, sans passer par Apple Pay. Pour ceux qui n’ont pas de smartphone récent ? La BCE a prévu deux alternatives pour ne laisser personne de côté : La Smart Card (Carte à puce) : Une carte physique ressemblant à une carte bancaire, mais dotée d’une puce spécifique capable de stocker une valeur “offline”. On pourra “charger” cette carte avec son téléphone ou à un distributeur. Le SIM-based Secure Element : Pour certains téléphones plus anciens, la sécurisation pourrait passer par la carte SIM (si elle est de type “GlobalPlatform”), bien que cette solution soit moins privilégiée que le SE intégré au téléphone. Comme aucune donnée ne remonte au serveur central au moment de l’achat, la confidentialité est totale pour les petits montants du quotidien ( ces montants sont plafonnés pour éviter le blanchiment). Pour éviter que l’Euro Numérique ne soit trop complexe à gérer, la BCE a inventé ces mécanismes de vase communicant entre le Wallet de votre compte bancaire classique: Waterfall (Cascade) : Si vous recevez 100€ en Euro Numérique mais que votre portefeuille est déjà au plafond (fixé dans le projet autour de 3 000€ pour éviter la fuite des dépôts bancaires), le surplus est automatiquement transféré sur votre compte bancaire classique. Reverse Waterfall : Si vous achetez un objet à 50€ mais que vous n’avez que 20€ sur votre wallet Euro Numérique, le système “pioche” automatiquement les 30€ manquants sur votre compte bancaire lié pour valider l’achat instantanément. Attention, la BCE refuse le terme de “monnaie programmable” (qui pourrait expirer), mais elle autorise les paiements conditionnels. Exemple fonctionnel : Vous pouvez programmer le déblocage d’un paiement Euro Numérique uniquement lors de la livraison d’un colis (Smart Contracts simplifiés). Usages B2B : Paiements automatiques lors de la validation d’une étape de production en usine (Industrie 4.0). Se libérer de la dépendance Visa / Mastercard Pourquoi un tel investissement ? L’euro numérique est un enjeux de souveraineté. Aujourd’hui, plus de 70 % des transactions par carte, en Europe, transitent par des réseaux privés américains. Cette dépendance est une faille stratégique. En cas de tensions géopolitiques extrêmes, un simple “clic” outre-atlantique pourrait paralyser nos terminaux de paiement. L’Euro Numérique est notre bouclier de souveraineté. En bâtissant une infrastructure 100 % européenne, nous garantissons que nos flux financiers restent sous notre juridiction. Pour les commerçants, c’est aussi la promesse de frais de transaction réduits, brisant le duopole actuel pour offrir une alternative publique et performante. Vie privée : Le rempart du règlement de 2026 C'est ici que le débat devient passionnant. Contrairement aux idées reçues, l’Euro Numérique est conçu pour offrir plus de confidentialité que nos cartes bancaires actuelles. Le règlement voté ce 4 mai impose une “ségrégation stricte des données”. Pour les petits paiements du quotidien (mode offline), la BCE ne voit jamais qui achète quoi. Le niveau d’anonymat est équivalent à celui d’un billet de banque. Pour les transactions en ligne, si votre banque connaît votre identité pour des raisons de lutte contre la fraude, la BCE, elle, ne voit qu’un flux financier anonymisé. Contrairement aux modèles des GAFAM, l’Euro Numérique n’a pas pour vocation de monétiser votre comportement d’achat, mais de sécuriser votre liberté de payer. Il faut rappeler ici que toutes vos transactions Apple pay, Google pay… sont utilisées pour tracer vos dépenses, vous habitudes et vos comportement. Ces données sont vendues et échangées entre grands acteurs de l’économie. L’Europe se dote enfin d’une moyen de paiement souverain publique. L'Euro Numérique ne signe pas la fin du cash physique — qui reste un droit — mais il offre une alternative moderne, sécurisée et surtout libre de toute influence étrangère. En 2026, posséder des Euros Numériques, c'est posséder un morceau de souveraineté européenne dans sa poche. Une étape de plus vers une société numérisée et dématérialisée. Sources Banque Centrale Européenne (BCE) : Rapport d’étape de mars 2026 sur la phase de préparation et les partenariats avec les organismes de normalisation (ECPC, Berlin Group). Source : ECB – Progress on the digital euro project (2026) Commission Européenne : Proposition de règlement du 28 juin 2023 (base légale pour le vote de mai 2026) définissant le statut de cours légal. Source : Commission Européenne – Digital Euro Package Banque de France / CNIL : Avis sur le respect de la vie privée et les tests de paiement “offline”. Source : CNIL – Euro numérique et protection des données Premiers pas avec les cryto monnaies Article XY Magazine The post L'euro numérique arrive dans votre smartphone first appeared on XY Magazine.

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/shadow-warrior-the-need-for-pax-indica-malacca-was-blocked-1001-years-ago-hormuz-is-choked-now-14005673.htmlIn 1025 CE, exactly 1,001 years ago, Emperor Rajendra Chola sent an armada (probably the largest fleet in history before the advent of steam) 4,000 kilometers clear across the Indian Ocean. It was on a mission strangely familiar to us in 2026: open up a critical strait that was being choked by a littoral state. The thalassocratic SriVijaya Empire of Sumatra was closing the strait and imposing tolls, as well as winking at a little piracy.The strait in question then was Malacca. The Chola goal: to reopen Indian trade with Southeast Asia and China. Remarkably, the Cholas were not interested in territorial conquest, only in freedom of navigation.It is ironic that today, it is again a question of free trade, that shibboleth that has been waved about for decades (although that was a euphemism for ‘managed trade that benefits the West').The difference between then and now? The salient fact is that Rajendra Chola was able to open Malacca with his wooden ships. With all his aircraft carriers and F-35s and missiles, President Trump is unable to open Hormuz. This must mean something, although reasonable people may differ on what that is. My claim is that it means India has the opportunity, in fact the need, to step into the breach.Maritime trade is severely disturbed today, and it is increasingly a disaster for innocent bystanders bereft of oil and gas. And it is increasingly the Indian Ocean that matters: specifically the sea-lanes from Hormuz to Malacca, which handle a significant portion of both oil/gas trade and goods trade globally.Geo-politics and geo-economics, Mahan's and Spykman's theoriesIt is a reasonable conjecture that the locus of power has shifted over the centuries: in the 19th century, the Atlantic was supreme; in the 20th century, the Pacific; and in the 21st century, the most important ocean is the Indian Ocean. Asia has returned to center stage. In support of this assertion, see how the economic center of gravity of the world has returned to the vicinity of India, after the European colonial interlude.It is therefore appropriate to ask what it would take for India to regain its former keystone role in the Indian Ocean. Of course geography offers it to the country on a platter. From both Alfred Thayer Mahan's theory of naval power, and from Nicholas Spykman's Rimland theory, India could be, or should be, the dominant power in the region: it is almost literally India's ocean.Mahan's ideas, updated for today, suggest that a strong navy should protect a large merchant marine fleet, manage trade, and control choke-points. The preferred hardware may have changed from battleships to aircraft carriers and especially nuclear submarines these days, but the basic idea remains: speak softly but carry a big stick with a force-projection navy.Spykman's Rimland theory seems more appropriate in current circumstances than the Heartland theory popularized by Halford MacKinder. The Eurasian land mass may well be subject to control by a coastal hegemon or an alliance that controls the sea lanes and choke points. Despite pipelines and rail-borne containers, maritime trade still dominates.Spice Route >> Silk RoadA stark reminder of this is the comparison between the fabled ‘Silk Road' and the ancient ‘Spice Route'. Despite all the breathless propaganda about the Silk Road, it is abundantly clear that sea-borne trade was an order of magnitude greater, because a caravan of 500 camels, braving deserts, bandits and so on across central Asia couldn't possibly carry more than 100 tons of goods; whereas an ocean-going stitched teak ship, like a single uru from Beypore, Kerala, could easily carry 400 tons. And the monsoon winds provided predictable, seasonal propulsion.India's prowess was built on the monsoons. By mastering the seasonal winds, Indian mariners turned the ocean into a highway. This made India the supreme trading power. Merchants from Rome and Egypt traded with Chinese and Southeast Asian counterparts on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, leaving behind troves of coins as evidence.The SwitchThe remarkable thing is that these merchants did not even need to meet each other physically, because India provided the “multi-protocol switch”: translating their diverse needs and offering the conveniences of an entrepot, while also itself producing coveted, high-value products such as black pepper. For example, a Greek buyer could buy something from a Chinese seller, and settle the transaction using Indian credit.And how did India do it? By providing the “switching fabric”, such as the ports, the credit systems, and the security, that allowed these disparate worlds to exchange products and wealth without ever meeting.This is much like what a network gateway such as TIBCO does for packets of different kinds of data (in passing, how appropriate that TIBCO was founded by an Indian-American, Vivek Ranadive!). Hardware switches, eg. from Cisco Systems, have been around for a while, but TIBCO abstracted that functionality in software to connect those with different protocols.India already has many of the ingredients of the switching fabric in the India Stack. Using protocols like UPI, e-KYC, Account Aggregation, Central Bank Digital Currency, and ONDC, especially along with distributed-ledger blockchain-based Smart Contracts, it should be possible to provide end-to-end transparent and reliable multi-party trade support which complements the SWIFT payment system. Complement, not necessarily replace.The same pattern held with India's age-old trade system. The ports were on the Malabar Coast, such as Muziris; on the Coromandel coast, such as Arikkamedu; and on the Konkan Coast, such as Bharuchcha. The credit systems were run by temples which acted as both bankers and venture capitalists for the trading guilds. The security: well, that's what Rajendra Chola demonstrated in 1025 CE.Alas, medieval India lost its maritime focus. So did China. Both became insular, and were overwhelmed by invaders, including Turkics and Europeans. In India's case, the Turkic invaders were land-focused powers, although there were isolated maritime attempts (e.g. the Maratha Navy, Travancore defeating the Dutch in an amphibious battle at Colachel in 1741, etc.)Now, however, there are new ports. The most interesting is the Port of Trivandrum (Vizhinjam). This deep-water container transhipment port is only 10 nautical miles away from the Hormuz-Malacca sea lanes, and now when Dubai is closed, it reportedly has a backlog of a hundred container ships waiting to be berthed. Then there is the upcoming Vadhavan container port in Maharashtra, and the Galathea Bay container port in Great Nicobar, which overlooks the mouth of Malacca.Pax Indica todayThe modern idea of Pax Indica borrows from both perspectives: hard power and a switch. An Internet search brings up the fact that it was my friend Bapa Rao and I who first started talking about it in terms of India being the benevolent hegemon in the Indian Ocean, way back in the 1990s.Later, Shashi Tharoor wrote in his 2011 book Pax Indica that it could be “a peace system based on cooperation, stability, and rule‑based order in Asia and beyond, in which rising India helps shape the rules of the road rather than impose its will through hegemony.” That is, along roughly the same lines as the “multi protocol switch” or entrepot concept.Pax Indica is not an empire; it is an ecosystem. There are three aspects: military power, the full exploration of the multiprotocol switch, and the port-led development policy. Bapa Rao and I will consider these in a future article. Briefly, though, here is what these entail.* Project Power: Use a 3-carrier, 18-24-submarine navy to ensure no single power can close the ocean's gates.* Enable Trade: Use the Digital India Stack to act as the “Multi-Protocol Switch” for a fragmented world, plus super-ports like Vizhinjam (Trivandrum).* Secure the Choke Points: Be ready, like the Cholas, to act decisively when a “Srivijaya-style” blockade threatens the common good.Hard power needs to come through the acquisition of a blue water navy: at least three aircraft carrier groups, one for the Arabian Sea (Hormuz), one for the Bay of Bengal (Malacca), and one in maintenance, refit and upgrades.Even though drones and missiles have rendered them less dominant than in earlier times, carrier groups are still important for air superiority and power projection. But an ever-more critical factor is “area denial” by nuclear attack submarines (SSBN) that can launch second strike nuclear missiles as part of the “triad”, of which India should have at least three to four. In addition, there should be at least a dozen silent AIP-equipped diesel-electrics for securing straits, and at least 6-12 SSN (possibly leased) to enhance blue-water reach.“The IOR must become an Indian lake,” said General Raj Shukla on X. I agree: Not as a territory of conquest, but as a sanctuary of trade, where India sits at the center, as the protocol provider that makes world trade work again, as in millennia past.1500 words, 27 Apr, 2026Here's the notebookLM.google.com AI-generated video about this article: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

How can we build technology that's not only innovative, but truly safe for its users—especially in a world of rapid AI and crypto development? This episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast explores the critical intersection of safety, user empowerment, and digital progress in today's tech landscape. Our guest, Karima Williams, is a leader in crypto and AI who has brought communities together, educated newcomers, and, following personal adversity, created Crash Out Diary—a wellness app designed to help people regulate emotions and find support online. In this wide-ranging conversation, you'll learn about practical safety strategies for both crypto and AI applications, hear Karima's vision for human-first technology, and get inspired by her drive to create tools that meet users where they are. If you care about the ethical side of tech and want real stories from the front lines, this episode is a must listen.   To get the latest from Karima Williams, you can follow her below! https://www.linkedin.com/in/idodigitalmedia/ https://www.crashoutdiary.xyz/   Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing! Website: www.marciadawood.com Do Good While Doing Well Learn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.com And don't forget to follow us wherever you are! Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.apple Spotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotify LinkedIn: 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

In this episode, we explore the critical importance of contract verification for security, transparency, and trust in the Ethereum ecosystem. Kaan Uzdogan from Sourcify shares insights into how open-source verification can prevent scams and improve overall ecosystem health and discusses the future role of AI and standardized practices.

Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink, joined me to discuss the company's Ethereum treasury strategy and the future of ETH.Topics: - BlackRock's Digital Asset adoption - Sharplink's Ethereum Treasury - Ethereum adoption by TradFi - Tokenization marketBrought to you by 

Chad Masterson & Charlie Plainview are the co-founders of OPNET: a protocol that brings smart contracts, DeFi & stablecoins to Bitcoin's base layer. No tokens, wrappers, or bridges are required. But how does it really work & how is it different from Omni, Counterparty, and Citrea? Time stamps: Time stamps: 00:00:36 Introducing Danny and Chad from OPNET 00:01:37 Defining OP NET and Consensus Protocols 00:03:19 Comparison to Counterparty and EVM Compatibility 00:05:39 Technical Implementation: Witness Field and Bitcoin Compliance 00:07:32 Leveraging Bitcoin's Native Scripting 00:09:03 Problems with Meta Protocols and Off-Chain Indexers 00:12:48 Potential for DeFi and Institutional Use 00:14:07 Layer Two Limitations and Liquidity Issues 00:15:35 Scaling and High Fee Environment 00:20:52 Stablecoins and OP 20 Token Standard 00:23:18 Freedom, Use Cases, and Bitcoin's Limitations 00:27:36 Critique of Liquid and Bridging Solutions 00:31:38 Lightning Network, Taproot Assets, and Payments Use Case 00:34:49 Bitcoin Yield, Loans, and Productive Capital 00:37:44 Criticism from Bitcoin Maximalists: Spam and Competing Tokens 00:42:06 Spam, UTXO Bloat, and Account-Based Model 00:44:51 Miner Incentives, MEV, and Transaction Ordering 00:50:04 Sponsor Plugs and Giveaway 01:04:52 OP NET's Target Audience and User Adoption 01:13:00 Bitcoin's Role: Peer-to-Peer Cash or Financial Layer? 01:23:00 Permissionless Innovation and Resilience 01:26:39 Emergent Use Cases and Historical Parallels 01:30:16 Airdrops, Incentives, and Early User Rewards 01:32:33 Security and Comparison Between OP-20 and BRC-20 01:34:18 Live DeFi Applications and Fee Experience 01:36:53 AI Coding FUD and Development Process 01:39:51 Decentralization, Node Operation, and Team Size 01:42:26 Final Questions: Criticisms, Wallets, and How to Try OP NET 01:45:37 Outro and Thanks

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with David Lachmish, co-founder of Ika, to explore the cutting-edge world of decentralized cryptography and its real-world applications. They cover the foundational problem of zero-trust custody and interoperability in crypto, breaking down why most people end up relying on centralized custodians despite crypto's original promise of removing third-party trust, and how Ika's novel 2PC-MPC cryptographic protocol addresses this with decentralized wallets (d-wallets) that require both the user and the Ika network to generate a signature. The conversation also touches on AI agents and the critical need for access control guardrails when agents handle real financial transactions, the philosophical parallels between crypto's growing pains and the early internet, decentralized governance and its potential to reshape how societies make decisions, and a surprising look at how decentralized certificate authorities could dramatically improve everyday internet security. David also gives a first public mention of an upcoming privacy-focused project called Encrypt.Links mentioned:- Ika website: https://ika.xyz- Ika on X: https://x.com/iкаdotxyz- David Lachmish on X: https://x.com/d3h3d_- Encrypt (upcoming project): https://encrypt.xyzTimestamps00:00 - David Lachmish introduces Ika and DWallet Labs, explaining their cybersecurity and cryptography background led them to solve zero trust custody and interoperability.05:00 - The d wallet concept is revealed as a decentralized signing mechanism controlled jointly by user and network, requiring new cryptography breakthroughs.10:00 - Crypto's philosophical parallels to early Internet are drawn, framing scams and misuse as inevitable growing pains of transformative infrastructure.15:00 - Wallet abstraction and agent constraints are explored, comparing future seamless crypto interaction to modern WiFi versus early modem connections.20:00 - Public key cryptography's binary ownership problem is explained, leading into MPC secret shares and Fireblocks' centralized access control tradeoffs.25:00 - 2PC MPC protocol is introduced as Ika's breakthrough, enabling decentralized policy enforcement without trusting any single entity.30:00 - Decentralized governance via token staking and code as law is discussed, contrasting corporate representative governance with crypto's direct decision-making.35:00 - Futarchy prediction markets and decision trees are connected to knowledge graphs, tracing humanity's accelerating governance transition.40:00 - Automation's historical parallels are examined, arguing AI's displacement of lawyers and developers mirrors every prior technological revolution.45:00 - Bitcoin and Ethereum's uncertain futures are assessed alongside Ika's positioning in custody and interoperability infrastructure.50:00 - Zero trust interoperability is explained, revealing how bridges create dangerous honeypots that Ika eliminates through native cryptographic control.55:00 - MetaMask's limitations for agents are detailed, contrasting stored private keys against Ika's policy-enforced guardrails for agentic transactions.60:00 - HumanTech's Wallet as a Protocol is presented as a practical way to give agents spending policies while maintaining user cryptographic control.65:00 - Decentralized certificate authorities emerge as Ika's broader cybersecurity vision, eliminating single points of failure across the entire Internet.Key Insights1. Zero Trust Custody and Interoperability: David and his cofounders at DWallet Labs identified that most cryptocurrency is held by centralized custodians, which contradicts crypto's core purpose of removing third-party trust. They set out to create "zero trust custody and zero trust interoperability" — systems where users maintain cryptographic control without sacrificing usability or relying on any single entity.2. The D-Wallet Primitive: Ika is built around a new cryptographic concept called a "d-wallet" — a decentralized wallet controlled jointly by the user and a decentralized network. A signature cannot be generated without the user's participation, meaning even if all network operators are compromised, they cannot act unilaterally. This required inventing new cryptography called 2PC-MPC.3. Access Control as the Missing Layer: Traditional crypto wallets operate on binary ownership — you either have full control or none. The d-wallet model introduces programmable access control policies enforced by a decentralized network, enabling features like spending limits and whitelisted addresses without trusting a centralized company like Fireblocks.4. Bridges Are Crypto's Biggest Security Vulnerability: Interoperability across blockchains typically requires trusting a bridge, which creates a honeypot for hackers. Ika eliminates this by allowing users to natively control assets on multiple chains simultaneously, maintaining cryptographic guarantees without a trusted intermediary.5. AI Agents Need Cryptographic Guardrails: Giving AI agents control over crypto wallets like MetaMask is dangerous due to hallucination and prompt injection risks. Ika enables agents to operate within strict, code-enforced policies — they can transact autonomously but cannot exceed boundaries set by the user, combining automation with genuine security.6. Decentralized Governance as a Structural Advantage: Ika operates as a permissionless network where two-thirds of token-staking operators control the protocol's direction. Even the founding team cannot unilaterally change the network, making governance transparent and resistant to capture — a meaningful contrast to closed, corporate-controlled systems.7. Decentralized Certificate Authorities as a Future Application: Beyond crypto, David envisions d-wallets solving broader cybersecurity problems. Today's internet relies on a handful of certificate authorities whose compromise would break global web security. A decentralized certificate authority built on Ika's infrastructure would require attacking hundreds of operators simultaneously, representing a fundamental upgrade to how trust is managed across the internet.

AI is getting dangerously good at smart contract security. Faster than crypto is ready for. Alpin Yukseloglu joins Bankless to break down EVMBench (built with OpenAI), a benchmark testing whether AI agents can detect, patch, and exploit real fund-draining bugs and why the jump from ~12–13% exploit-finding to 70%+ could rewrite today's security assumptions. We unpack what that “70%” really means, why crypto's verifiability is an ideal training ground, why AI labs haven't prioritized crypto data yet, and what a 24/7 blackhat vs whitehat AI arms race means for DeFi. ---

Most buyers are still doing due diligence like it's 2015. And the ones who know how to use AI? They're finding better deals, faster, and you'd never even know they were looking. In this episode, Jaryd sits down with Haytham Allos, M&A strategist, AI specialist, and one of the minds behind one of the world's first AI-powered law firms, to pull back the curtain on what's actually happening right now at the intersection of artificial intelligence and buying businesses. And it gets wild. We're talking AI agents that evaluate deals. Smart contracts that close them. Fractionalised ownership that lets someone invest in a business for as little as $50. A future where your AI agent negotiates with the seller's AI agent, and a human just says yes or no at the end. But before we get there? Haytham breaks down what's happening right now. Why most buyers are still flying blind, why AI without the right prompting is actually dangerous in a deal, and the one thing that kills more mergers than bad financials ever will. You'll discover why prompt engineering is the most underrated skill in acquisitions today, how to use AI to get an unfair edge in due diligence without replacing your gut instinct, and exactly where the smart money is already moving. This isn't theory. This is where M&A is heading, and the buyers who understand it now are going to own the next decade. Hit play. Your competition probably already has.

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/

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

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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 -

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.