Podcasts about ZK

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for his daily segment breaking down the Eagles' replacements vs exits this free agency. ZK dives deep on the A.J. Brown to Rams trade for the 13th pick, reviews the Arnold Ebiketie signing, questions why the Eagles hired Sean Mannion over Cliff Kingsbury, and debates whether Jalen Hurts is a generational talent. Plus: Jonathan Greenard as the edge target and the trade-up vs trade-down draft debate.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup on the equity vs. token debate in crypto. We dive deep into Across Protocol's proposal to convert its token into equity before covering Kraken's Fedwire approval, Ripple's $50B valuation, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Follow the link below to grab your ticket, and use code EMPIRE200 to get $200 off your ticket! https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- ZKsync is the Bank Stack of Ethereum. It is a network of chains secured by cryptography, not validators. Its cutting-edge ZK innovation enables the privacy, performance and connectivity that businesses need to thrive in the digital assets economy. To find out more visit: https://www.zksync.io/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (08:36) Across To Convert Their Token to Equity (23:47) Crypto's Token vs Equity Problem (36:52) ZKsync Ad (37:34) DAS Plug (38:00) Mastercard's Crypto Partner Program (47:05) Ripple's $50B Valuation (54:35) Kraken's Gets Approved to Fedwire (01:00:57) Content of The Week -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, Lex chats with Alex Gluchowski — Cofounder and CEO of Matter Labs, about the transformative impact of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) on blockchain scalability and privacy. They discuss Matter Labs' evolution, the development of zkSync, and how ZK proofs enable secure, private, and efficient blockchain transactions. The conversation explores enterprise adoption, regulatory shifts, and the potential for blockchain to revolutionize global finance by enabling privacy-preserving, interoperable networks anchored to Ethereum, ultimately highlighting the growing role of cryptography in advancing financial sovereignty and innovation. NOTABLE DISCUSSION POINTS: Incorruptibility is Blockchain's Core Value—Not Consensus: Consensus mechanisms solve network liveness without central operators, but the guarantee that your assets can't be spent without your permission comes from verification. Bitcoin's “don't trust, verify” mantra is literal: every node re-executes every transaction. Zero knowledge proofs achieve the same incorruptibility without requiring universal visibility—enabling both scale and privacy. The Regulatory Shift Has Unlocked an Entirely New Market: The post-Trump regulatory environment represents a “great divide” for crypto. Banks and enterprises that previously couldn't engage are now actively piloting blockchain infrastructure. Matter Labs is working with Deutsche Bank, UBS, and 35+ global financial institutions through initiatives like Presidio Breakthrough. The focus has shifted from building systems to withstand regulatory hostility to integrating crypto into real business processes. Private Enterprise Chains Settling on Ethereum is the Institutional Path: Banks experimented with consortium blockchains (Hyperledger, Corda, R3) for years but failed due to privacy concerns—participants could see each other's transactions. Zero knowledge proofs solve this by enabling private chains that interoperate trustlessly through Ethereum as a shared settlement layer. Each institution maintains sovereignty over its operations while gaining cryptographic guarantees when transacting with counterparties. TOPICS Matter Labs, zkSync, Ethereum, Consensys, Hyperledger, Arbitrum, Optimism, fintech, blockchain, zero-knowledge proofs, ZK proofs, privacy, institutional adoption, scalability, cryptography, interoperability   ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT

Zander Krause makes the full case for the Eagles trading pick 23 for Maxx Crosby. ZK lays out the dream defense — Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, Maxx Crosby, and Jaylux Hunt on the line with Jihad Campbell and Zack Baun at linebacker, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell and Tariq Woolen in the secondary. Plus: ZK reacts to Trey Hendrickson's "pick me" press conference, roasts the capologists in chat, and takes super chats. This is the rant.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birds-365/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Jake Chervinsky & MC Lader join the show to discuss the growth of Hyperliquid in 2026 and beyond. We deep dive into Hyperliquid's 24/7 markets thesis, how Native Markets won the USDH proposal, founding the Hyperliquid Policy Center, regulation in 2026 and more. Enjoy! -- Follow MC: https://x.com/Mclader Follow Jake: https://x.com/jchervinsky Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Follow the link below to grab your ticket, and use code EMPIRE200 to get $200 off your ticket! https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- ZKsync is the Bank Stack of Ethereum. It is a network of chains secured by cryptography, not validators. Its cutting-edge ZK innovation enables the privacy, performance and connectivity that businesses need to thrive in the digital assets economy. To find out more visit: https://www.zksync.io/ -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:45) The Hyperliquid 24/7 Markets Thesis (06:02) Founding The Hyperliquid Policy Center (15:45) The State of DeFi Regulation (18:59) ZKsync Ad (19:34) The Hyperliquid USDH Proposal (29:59) Stablecoin Regulation In The US (38:05) The Hyperliquid 24/7 Markets Thesis (44:40) The Future of Stablecoins (57:53) Crypto Regulation In 2026 & Beyond -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Davide Crapis is an AI Lead at the Ethereum Foundation.AI agents are already choosing which blockchains to use. Davide Crapis, AI Lead at the Ethereum Foundation, explains why Ethereum is building the infrastructure to win them over and what the internet of agents looks like in the near future.In this episode, we cover:+ Why AI agents are rational actors when choosing chains+ From experiment to infrastructure: How ERC-8004 creates the railway for agent economies+ Ethereum's most underappreciated advantage: ZK protocols for verification and privacy+ The future of agents hiring each other with onchain payments------

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for a HEATED hour on the Eagles' biggest offseason questions. ZK breaks down AJ Brown's stats (5034 yards, 32 TDs in 4 seasons) and proves the grass isn't greener anywhere else. Plus the Jalen Carter trade debate, Jaelan Phillips discount possibility, Nolan Smith's 5th-year option decision, and why the Cowboys landing Crosby should terrify Eagles fans.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause joins the National Football Show to break down the Eagles' biggest offseason decisions — what's the real trade value for AJ Brown? Is Maxx Crosby worth the contract? ZK and Dan debate free agency targets, the edge rusher market, and whether Howie Roseman should trade for an established player or trust the draft.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

幻冬舎の暗号資産（仮想通貨）/ブロックチェーンなどWeb3領域の専門メディア「あたらしい経済 https://www.neweconomy.jp/ 」がおくる、Podcast番組です。 ーーーーー 【番組スポンサー】 この番組は、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供する「SBI VCトレード」のスポンサーでお届けします。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレードは、「暗号資産もSBI」のスローガンのもと、国内最大級のインターネット総合金融グループであるSBIグループの総合力を生かし、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供しております。暗号資産交換業者・第一種金融商品取引業者・電子決済手段等取引業者として高いセキュリティ体制のもと、暗号資産の売買にとどまらない暗号資産運用サービスや法人向けサービスの展開、さらにステーブルコインのユーエスディーシー（USDC）を国内で初めて取り扱っております。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレード公式サイト：https://account.sbivc.co.jp/signup?hc_ak=1RNML.3.M06AS ーーーーー 【紹介したニュース】 ・金融庁、暗号資産対象のマネロン対策に関する実証実験を支援へ ・マウントゴックス元CEO、約8万BTC回収でビットコインハードフォーク提案。GitHubで一時クローズに ・老舗アパレル企業ダイドーリミテッド、10億円でビットコイン購入へ ・ZKシンク、5/4に「ZKsync Lite」完全廃止。ブロック生成停止と最終状態の凍結へ ・イーサリアム財団、耐量子暗号・シールド送金含む長期構想「strawmap」公開 ・リップル、XRPLの支援モデルを分散型に移行で新体制へ ・メタマスクカードが米国で正式展開、プレミアム会員向け上位プラン導入も 【あたらしい経済関連リンク】 ニュースの詳細や、アーカイブやその他の記事はこちらから https://www.neweconomy.jp/

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for his daily segment on the National Football Show. ZK reacts to the NFLPA Report Cards, debates whether the Eagles are still a top-5 team, shares his concerns about DeVonta Smith as the #1 receiver, and breaks down why the Josh Grizzard hire is inconsequential.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this conversation, Peter discusses the launch of the Midnight Mainnet, focusing on its federated node operators and the importance of privacy and compliance in blockchain technology. He highlights the roles of key players like MoneyGram, eToro, and PairPoint by Vodafone, and emphasises the significance of zero-knowledge proofs in ensuring privacy while maintaining regulatory compliance. The discussion also touches on the future prospects and challenges for Midnight as it transitions from a federated to a decentralised network.TakeawaysThe biggest hurdle to real world adoption of blockchain isn't speed.Midnight focuses on selective disclosure and programmable data protection.Privacy preserving by default, compliant friendly when needed.ZK proofs allow proving compliance without revealing sensitive data.MoneyGram's role signals a regulatory bridge for blockchain adoption.E-Toro's scale implies a stress test mindset for infrastructure.PairPoint addresses privacy issues in the economy of things.Federated setups ensure stability during the network's launch phase.Midnight's operator set includes serious players in cloud and fintech.The transition from federated to decentralized is crucial for Midnight's future.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Midnight Mainnet and Its Significance02:53 Federated Node Operators: Key Players in Midnight's Launch06:11 The Role of Privacy and Compliance in Blockchain07:37 Future Prospects and Challenges for MidnightDISCLAIMER: 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.

Ethereum's next big leap might not look like a single “flip the switch” moment—but it could change how the chain verifies everything. In this episode, Ansgar Dietrichs comes back to unpack the ZK EVM: why “re-executing every block” has been Ethereum's hidden scaling tax, how real-time proofs finally make a different verification model viable, and what it would take to transition safely without sacrificing the verifiability that keeps Ethereum credibly neutral. They explore the three true bottlenecks of blockchain scaling (compute, IO, bandwidth), the roadmap from optional proofs to mandatory proofs, and why client diversity could look radically different in a ZK-native future. ---

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.

Aave Labs proposes the Aave Will Win Framework. Optimism partners with Succinct to bring ZK to the OP Stack. And the CFTC forms the Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC). Read more: https://ethdaily.io/882 Sponsor: Arkiv is an Ethereum-aligned data layer for Web3. Arkiv brings the familiar concept of a traditional Web2 database into the Web3 ecosystem. Find out more at Arkiv.network Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.  

Gm! In today's episode we are joined by Tristan Frizza Co-Founder of Bullet to discuss his journey from Zeta Markets to founding Bullet, a next-gen Solana perps exchange. We also discuss Solana congestion challenges, network extensions, ZK rollup design, data availability via Celestia, proving with Succinct, launch plans, incentives, and token migration. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Bullet: https://x.com/bulletxyz Follow Tristan Frizza: https://x.com/Tristan0x Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March!  Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200  to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:41) From Zeta to Bullet (11:44) Bullet's Design Overview (20:27) Celestia and ZK Proving Stack (27:46) Unlocking the Basis Trade (36:41) Bullet's Target Trading Audience (46:47) Mainnet Launch Strategy (50:48) Token Migration from Zeta to Bullet (52:33) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Vlad Novakovski is the Founder and CEO of Lighter, a high-performance ZK-based perps and spot exchange, built on Ethereum.A year ago, Lighter hadn't even launched. Today it's processing billions in daily volume, handling 500 million orders at a total cost of around $50K. Vlad's background spans STEM Olympiads, Harvard at 18, Citadel trading, and being an early advisor to Robinhood. Now he's building the infrastructure layer for when TradFi and DeFi merge.Vlad breaks down how Lighter achieves centralized exchange performance on Ethereum, what Robinhood's $68M investment means for tokenized equities, and the post-TGE reality for LIT: token down, volumes pulled back, but fundamentals unchanged.In this episode, we cover:+ Scaling Ethereum's top perps DEX+ Robinhood's $68M bet and tokenized equities+ LIT token utility and value capture+ Roadmap: options, prediction markets, fixed income------

MegaETH goes live on public mainnet. The Base App removes the Farcaster social feed. Slice introduces ERC-8128. And ZKsync launches a ZK staking pilot.  Read more: https://ethdaily.io/879 Sponsor: Arkiv is an Ethereum-aligned data layer for Web3. Arkiv brings the familiar concept of a traditional Web2 database into the Web3 ecosystem. Find out more at Arkiv.network Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.

This week, Charles Yoo-Naut joins the show to unpack Rain's explosive growth and what's next for crypto payments. We deep dive into the Rain origin story, their recent $250M fundraise, partnering with Visa, who wins the crypto card race, how Rain grew to a $2B company, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/cnaut Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Coinbase crypto-backed loans, powered by Morpho, enable you to take out loans at competitive rates using crypto as collateral. Rates are typically 4% to 8%. Borrow up to $5M using BTC as collateral and up to $1M using ETH as collateral. Manage crypto-backed loans directly in the Coinbase app with ease. Learn more here: https://www.coinbase.com/onchain/borrow/get-started?utm_campaign=0126_defi-borrow_blockworks_empire&marketId=0x9103c3b4e834476c9a62ea009ba2c884ee42e94e6e314a26f04d312434191836&utm_source=empire -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (00:52) The Rain Origin Story (15:23) Partnering With Visa (30:05) The Opportunity In Emerging Markets (36:48) Ads (Coinbase, Mantle, VanEck, Uniswap) (40:16) The Crypto Card Race, Agentic Payments & Onchain Credit (48:00) What Chains Does Rain Work With? (53:28) Rain's Journey To Raising $250m (01:03:00) How Rain Grew To A $2B Company -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

A single Vitalik tweet just snapped Ethereum's scaling narrative into focus: the rollup-centric roadmap is over, and a new path is here. Ryan and David break down what Vitalik actually said (and what he didn't), why stage 2 plus rollup interop proved far slower than anyone hoped, and why L1 scaling, powered by ZK, may be Ethereum's real reset button in 2026. Along the way, they unpack the quiet death of the “L2s are Ethereum” meme, the community's whiplash reaction, and what differentiated “gen 2” L2s must do to earn their place in the alliance. ---

Zander Krause joins The National Football Show with a major revelation: after defending Nick Sirianni for years, the Stoutland departure has changed everything. ZK breaks down why this move signals "boom or bust" for the Eagles and why he no longer trusts the head coach.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeff Stoutland has officially walked away from the Philadelphia Eagles after 13 legendary seasons. ZK and John McMullen break down his farewell post that garnered 7.5 million views, the Tim McManus report about how changes were made without consulting him, and why Nick Sirianni is taking the blame from fans.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birds-365/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause joins the National Football Show for the core group exercise and drops a bombshell stat: Nick Sirianni has more accolades than any coach in Eagles history. ZK and Sileo debate Hurts vs. Sirianni credit, the Howie Roseman MVP case, Doug Peterson what-ifs, and their Super Bowl 60 picks.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Deep dive into the Eagles' hiring of Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator. McMullen and ZK examine Mannion's lack of play-calling experience, zero NFL connections, and what it means for the 2026 offense. Is this a Kellen Moore situation or something else?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birds-365/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jimmy Kempski's hot seat awards put Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts front and center. McMullen and ZK debate how hot the seat really is for both heading into 2026. McMullen: 'Nick is clearly on the hot seat. There's no plausible deniability anymore.'Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birds-365/donationsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Grant is the Founder & CEO of Blocmates, and 563 is Head of Research.Crypto is winning, but tokens aren't. Headlines that would have pumped markets 30-40% in 2021 barely move prices today. There's a massive disconnect between fundamentals and price action--record adoption, institutional integration, real-world use cases, yet token prices are bleeding. Grant and 563 break down why this paradox exists, where the industry goes from here, and what actually matters this year in their newly published Blocmates 2026 Thesis.In this episode:+ The paradox: Why fundamentals are up but token prices are down+ Token distribution and fixing tokenholder rights for real ownership+ Why we don't need more L1s and what wins: distribution or innovation+ ZK as the unlock for Ethereum scaling and new on-chain products+ Where Blocmates is deploying capital in 2026------

with @alive_eth @rhacketta16z crypto General Partner Ali Yahya explains why privacy — not performance — will determine the long-term winners in crypto, and how it creates powerful network effects. In conversation with a16z crypto show host Robert Hackett, Ali lays out how privacy creates lock-in and winner-take-most dynamics — without sacrificing decentralization. They also dive into the technologies making privacy possible today, from zero-knowledge proofs to trusted execution environments, and why financial use cases will drive mainstream adoption first.They cover:Why blockspace is becoming a commodityWhy users tolerate surveillance in social media—but not in financeHow anonymity sets work and why secrets are hard to migrateThe real trade-offs between privacy, composability, and decentralizationThe four privacy technologies shaping the next generation of blockchainsHighlights:00:00 — Introduction01:41 — Blockspace is becoming commoditized03:11 — Privacy as lock-in: why secrets are harder to move than assets06:01 — Do people actually care about privacy?08:51 — Beyond finance: social, gaming, and private onchain apps11:55 — Privacy zones, anonymity sets, and network effects18:46 — Winner-take-most dynamics, explained20:22 — What it means for crypto's decentralization ethos23:06 — Is privacy lock-in different from web2 lock-in?28:31 — The privacy tech stack: ZK, MPC, TEEs, and FHE32:13 — What this means for builders and investors33:18 — Future considerations: Quantum computing and AIFollow a16z crypto for more...X: https://x.com/a16zcryptoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pMZvsNXEnb0CYcPiDQywEApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/web3-with-a16z-crypto/id1622312549Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto

In this interview, Camila Russo sits down with Danny Ryan — former Ethereum Foundation researcher and a key leader behind Ethereum's shift to proof of stake — now Co-Founder & President at Etherealize, to talk about the next big wave for crypto: institutional adoption of Ethereum.Recorded in Buenos Aires during Devconnect, Danny breaks down why the mood inside banks has flipped from “we can't touch crypto” to “if we don't adopt it, we'll be left behind.” We dig into what institutions actually want beyond ETFs, why the biggest opportunity isn't “tokenizing assets” but rewiring markets from first principles, and why privacy is table stakes for institutional-grade onchain finance.We also cover the regulatory whiplash of the last few years, what's changed, what still needs to be written into law, and why Danny believes Ethereum is uniquely positioned for serious capital markets infrastructure.Key topics:Why banks suddenly have Ethereum FOMOThe difference between “tokenizing assets” vs rewiring marketsWhere the biggest inefficiencies are (credit, fixed income, esoteric institutional markets)Why privacy + ZK are essential for institutionsCoordination problems, incentives, and who doesn't want markets to upgradeEthereum's edge: neutrality, uptime, decentralization, and security

This week, Lighter Founder & CEO Vladimir Novakovski discusses Lighter's competitive edge over Hyperliquid, why he chose to be an L2 on Ethereum, and the role of their ZK innovations. We also touch on equity perps, Lighter's partnership with Robinhood, and why Vlad chose to work in crypto. Enjoy! Follow Vlad: https://x.com/vnovakovski  Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz  Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod  -- Timestamps (00:00) Intro (03:05) Why Vlad Chose Crypto & a Perp DEX (11:37) Competing as a Perp DEX (18:00) Why Be an L2 on Ethereum? (20:37) Unpacking Lighter's Competitive Edge (25:46) Lighter's ZK Innovations (32:33) Partnership with Robinhood (38:06) Equity Perps and Advantage Over Hyperliquid (44:11) Lighter Token & Valuation (51:56) What Are People Missing? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed. Apple

The US military is now using ZK proofs to secure autonomous drones in combat.Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh from Lagrangedev breaks down why private AI is the only path forward for the USA, how ZK proofs are securing defense systems, and why blockchain has become critical for AI security. We discuss:- Why ZK Proofs Are Securing Autonomous Drones- The Defense Industry's Crypto Pivot- How Private AI Protects Against China- Token per Second: Where ZK Performance Is At- Why Blockchain = Security for AI- The Dual-Use Thesis: Defense Meets DeFi- What Wins in 2026: Privacy or Transparency?Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:37 RedStone Ad02:00 Lagrange's Dual-Use Mission04:19 Why ZK Matters for Autonomous Weapons09:59 Hibachi, infiniFi, Halliday Ads11:09 Proving AI Inference at Scale14:58 Drone Dominance & Consensus11:14 Proving AI Inference at Scale14:58 Drone Dominance & Consensus17:07 Mantle Ad19:35 Kalshi, YEET, Trezor Ads20:45 Teaming & Swarming Problem21:43 Polymarket Ad26:06 AI x Crypto Investment ThesisWebsite: https://therollup.co/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcastFollow us on X: https://www.x.com/therollupcoFollow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollupFollow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandyJoin our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZhThe Rollup Disclosures: https://goodidea.ventures/

Crypto didn't remove trust — it refactored it.Which means the real question isn't whether blockchains work… it's whether the people who build them bear any responsibility for what happens next.In this episode we extend the previous conversation on crypto literacy, privacy UX, and incentive design to tackle a hard question with no clean answers:Do builders have responsibility beyond tooling?We explore the “blacksmith problem,” the myth of neutral systems, and how zero-knowledge, chain analysis, and UX choices shape outcomes — intentionally or not. This is not a price talk episode. It's about the ethics, incentives, and trade-offs embedded in decentralized infrastructure.Topics Covered • Crypto literacy and centralization of expertise • Privacy vs usability (and why it's not zero-sum) • Trust: from institutions → networks → intermediaries • The “neutral tools” dilemma in Web3 • When incentives create harm (and who owns it) • ZK systems, mixers, forensics, and emergent behavior • Builders vs system designers vs policymakersKey QuestionWhere does technical responsibility end, and ethical responsibility begin?If you're new hereThis episode continues directly from last week's cliffhanger. Go watch that one first if you want the full arc.Join the CommunityJoin the Discord for builders, OGs, privacy folks, ZK learners, and lurkers:(QR code in the video)Support the ShowLike, comment, subscribe, and clip moments that hit you. We actually watch them.For CommentersAnswer this in one word:Do builders have responsibility beyond tooling? — YES or NO?

In today's episode, we discuss Vitalik's recent comments on zero-knowledge technology and the scalability trilemma. The three of us unpack what's actually changed since 2017, how advances like data availability sampling and zkEVMs reshape Ethereum's execution and verification model, and whether these developments meaningfully alter the decentralization–security–scalability trade-offs.We discuss:Ethereum's original scalability trilemmaWhy the trilemma existed in 2017Ethereum vs Solana trade-offsDecentralization vs throughputWhat data availability sampling really doesBLOBs, L2s, and scaling EthereumzkEVMs and execution offloadingProver markets and new supply chainsDoes ZK “solve” the trilemma?Trust, security, and financial infrastructureCelestia, EigenDA, and DA competitionWhere blockspace actually mattersCrypto data jobs and hiring trendsAnd much more—enjoy!—Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:47) Trilemma explained(05:23) Ethereum vs Solana(07:28) ZK tech overview(09:29) Data availability(10:48) zkEVM execution(12:54) Solving trilemma?(15:03) Trust and security(20:09) Stablecoins on Ethereum(25:03) Celestia DA hype(31:40) Crypto data jobs(35:02) Job market outlook(38:09) Outro—Content links:Jobs board—NEW: Join the Indexed Pod group chat:https://t.me/+Jmox7c6mB8AzOWU0Follow the co-hosts:https://x.com/hildobbyhttps://x.com/0xBoxerhttps://x.com/sui414Follow the Indexed Podcast:https://x.com/indexed_pod—The Indexed Podcast discusses hot topics, trendy metrics and chart crimes in the crypto industry, with a new episode every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, brought to you by wizards @hildobby @0xBoxer @sui414.Subscribe/follow the show and leave a comment to help us grow the show!—DISCLAIMER: All information presented here should not be relied upon as legal, financial, investment, tax or even life advice. The views expressed in the podcast are not representative of hosts' employers views. We are acting independently of our respective professional roles.

This week, Qiao Wang joins the show to discuss how AI is transforming what it means to be an investor in 2026. We deep dive into Claude Opus 4.5 and its breakout moment, why Qiao got into the Google trade, constructing a portfolio for 2026, where to allocate time in the age of AI and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Qiao: https://x.com/QwQiao Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- Timestamps (00:00) Intro (02:33) Claude's Opus 4.5 Breakout Moment (08:40) How Does AI Impact Startups? (13:10) Do Moats Still Exist? (20:00) Getting Into The Google Trade (23:38) Where To Allocate Time In 2026 (26:23) Ads (VanEck, Mantle) (28:25) Using AI Models For Investing (41:30) How Does AI Change Brand & Distribution? (44:49) Qiao's Portfolio In 2026 (55:14) Health & Longevity -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

We're back with our first weekly roundup of 2026! This week we discuss Lighter token launch, Walmart's crypto strategy with OnePay, Erebor's $350m raise, what to expect in 2026 & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (06:16) Lighter's Token Launch (13:36) Walmart's Crypto Strategy with OnePay (19:09) Erebor Raises $350m At a $4b Valuation (23:22) Ads (Mantle, Geodnet, Uniswap) (25:45) The Clarity Act (36:20) What To Expect In 2026 (43:32) Content of The Week -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh, CEO of Lagrange, to explore the intersection of frontier cryptography and national security. Ismael discusses the transition of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology from a "token-centric" crypto tool to a vital component of defense, specifically focusing on its role in securing autonomous drone swarms and closing the hypersonic missile gap.They delve into Deep Proof, Lagrange's ZK-machine learning library, which facilitates verifiable AI execution while protecting sensitive model intellectual property and private input data. Ismael introduces the concept of "Accountable Autonomy," arguing that cryptographic proofs are necessary to ensure that lethal "kill chain" decisions are made by the correct models under verified inputs, removing the risks inherent in "black box" AI decision-making. Finally, the conversation touches on the geopolitical competition with China, the importance of domestic chip manufacturing, and why the US market's ability to align private sector innovation with military needs is a decisive strategic advantage.Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 ZKML vs. Venice09:30 Protecting Model IP15:00 Dual-Use Defense Pivot21:45 The Palantir Comparison27:10 US-China Chip Race35:20 Drone Swarm Consensus42:15 Accountable Autonomy Explained49:00 Kill Chain Verifiability55:30 EU vs. US DefenseLinksIsmael on X: https://x.com/Ismael_H_R Lagrange Labs: https://www.lagrange.dev/Anduril Industries: https://www.anduril.com/Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/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 http://gnosis.io

Ryan Kirkley has been building in crypto since 2013—across protocol development and regulatory compliance. In this episode, we go deep on why true asset ownership is still broken in today's financial system, why stablecoins aren't a long-term solution for global commerce, and how Global Settlement Network is approaching interoperability by upgrading existing infrastructure instead of trying to replace it.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Global Settlement Network + what we cover[00:01:00] Ryan's journey: crypto since 2013 + compliance background[00:03:00] The thesis: interoperability + regulatory realities[00:04:00] What the financial system lacks: real asset ownership[00:05:00] Why stablecoins aren't enough globally: autonomy + FX frictions [00:07:00] Primary customers: governments, banks, commodity groups [00:09:00] Why they win deals: regulatory fluency + “upgrade, not replace” [00:10:00] Privacy + compliance: sidechains + ZK rolldowns + vault model [00:12:00] What's live: tokenization studio + volume metrics + testnet [00:14:00] 2025 trend: fragmentation; 2026 trend: interoperability + consolidation [00:16:00] Regions: HK/Singapore momentum; biggest adoption potential in Africa [00:18:00] USD outlook: slow multipolar shift, not overnight collapse [00:23:00] 12-month roadmap: public testnet, stablecoin studio, TGE window [00:28:00] Ask: partnerships + top engineering talentConnecthttps://globalsettlement.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalsettlement/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankirkley/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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

AI Singularity 2030 comes before quantum breaks crypto. Are you ready?In this episode, we sit down with Jan Camenisch from Rialo and Jens Groth, Chief Scientist at Nexus, to explore the eternal trade-off between privacy and verifiability. Jan and Jens break down the real threats facing crypto, why ZKVMs cost 100,000X more than native computation, and how blockchain becomes the only way to secure AI agents.We discuss:- Privacy vs verifiability: the eternal trade-off- Why quantum resistance isn't as urgent as you think- AI Singularity 2030: the real threat to crypto- How AI deepfakes will force verifiable content only- ZKVMs cost 100,000X more than native computation- Why blockchain is the only way to secure AI agents- Jan's move to Rialo and SubZero- Latest work on ZK proving bottlenecksTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:08 Jan's Move to Rialo & SubZero04:34 Latest Work on ZK Proving Bottlenecks06:55 Verifiability vs Privacy: Which Matters More?09:17 Measuring ZK Performance11:42 Privacy, Verifiability & Real-World Applications16:25 Passport Data & Zero-Knowledge Proofs18:33 Quantum Resistance: How Urgent Is It Really?23:25 AI Singularity Is More Urgent Than Quantum28:13 The Blockchain Trilemma Revisited30:35 AI Agents & The Need for Organic, Verifiable AI37:12 Managing AI Agents Like Employees39:36 Privacy, Verifiability & The Future of FinanceWebsite: https://therollup.co/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcastFollow us on X: https://www.x.com/therollupcoFollow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollupFollow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandyJoin our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZhThe Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

In this episode, I'm joined by Howard Wu, co-founder of Aleo and CEO of Provable.We dive into programmable privacy, why transparent stablecoins break real-world finance, how Aleo enables private yet compliant smart contracts, and what it will take to bring institutions on-chain. We also explore AI agents, crypto payments, and where privacy actually matters in practice.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Howard's background and Aleo's focus on programmable privacy [00:02:00] From Bitcoin mining to ZK research at Berkeley[00:03:00] Aleo's core thesis: privacy + programmability[00:05:00] Why stablecoins need privacy and compliance[00:09:00] The broken UX of transparent wallets [00:11:00] How Aleo's ZK smart contracts work[00:14:00] Provable's role in the Aleo ecosystem [00:17:00] Institutional use cases: payments, payroll, trading[00:21:00] Privacy vs convenience in the real world [00:28:00] Roadmap: private stablecoins and integrations[00:35:00] AI agents, crypto, and the future of payments[00:40:00] Aleo's ask: builders, partners, and collaboratorsConnecthttps://aleo.org/https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleohq/https://x.com/AleoHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/1howardwu/https://x.com/1HowardWuDisclaimerNothing 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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Abdel is one of the most prolific developers in the Zero Knowledge space. Since our conversation in September, he was able to accomplish so much that he requested another interview to talk about it. So what happened with ZK STARKs that is so important? Time stamps: 00:01:04 Podcast Introduction & Sponsor Acknowledgments 00:02:15 Vlad's Rant on Bitcoin Media & Podcast Landscape 00:03:24 Bitcoin Takeover Podcast Mission & Seven-Year Anniversary 00:04:39 Transition to Abdel's Updates & ZK-STARKS 00:05:44 Abdel's Zcash & Bitcoin Proposals 00:07:00 Comparing Bitcoin and Zcash Community Reactions 00:08:36 Altcoins as Experimentation Grounds 00:11:23 Scaling, Rollups, and Drivechains 00:13:10 Abdel's Proposal for Native STARK Verification 00:17:19 Zcash's TDE and Layer 2 Possibilities 00:19:22 ZK-Rollups, Privacy, and Regulatory Pressures 00:21:02 Government Surveillance & KYC Concerns 00:24:26 Cultural Stigma Around Bitcoin Privacy 00:25:34 Zcash's SEC Presentation & Institutional Acceptance 00:28:58 Debate on Privacy, Transparency, and Backdoors 00:30:00 Bitcoin's Social Layer & Governance 00:32:47 Critique of Bitcoin Perfectionism & Altcoin Dismissal 00:35:49 Bitcoin's Mission: P2P Cash vs. Store of Value 00:36:49 Learning from Ethereum & Second-Layer Innovations 00:37:24 Sponsor Plugs & BTCfi Introduction 00:40:14 BTCfi: Bitcoin Staking & Yield Mechanisms 00:46:15 Bridging BTC to StarkNet & Atomic Swaps 00:48:36 BTCfi: KYC, Permissionless DeFi, and Institutional Offerings 00:50:59 DeFi Risks & Bitcoin Staking Security 00:51:40 ZK-STARK Verifiers on Bitcoin Cash 00:53:10 Bitcoin Cash, Zcash, and Social Layer Value 00:58:54 Bitcoin Cash's Technical Innovations & Community Dynamics 01:00:04 Quantum Resistance: Investor Fears & Satoshi's Coins 01:02:29 Quantum Threat Timeline & Migration Planning 01:10:25 Quantum-Resistant Signatures & Scalability Trade-offs 01:11:20 Hard Fork vs. Soft Fork for Quantum Resistance 01:13:08 Consensus, Confiscation Proposals, and Social Risks 01:17:56 Stagnation in Bitcoin Development & Altcoin Innovation 01:23:12 Ethereum's Role in Crypto Ecosystem 01:25:24 Zcash's Dual Incentives & Institutional Recognition 01:28:08 Zcash's Future: Innovation vs. Ossification 01:30:39 Sponsor Plugs: Noones & SideShift 01:33:42 Quantum Resistance Migration: Hard Fork Efficiency 01:37:11 Bitcoin's Future: Security, Consensus, and Upgrades 01:43:09 Bull Markets, Technological Breakthroughs, and Lightning 01:45:18 Lightning's Shift to B2B & Retail Challenges 01:47:02 Bitcoin Treasury Companies & Business Models 01:49:18 Seinfeld Analogy & Bitcoin's Societal Impact 01:52:11 Magic Wand: Abdel's One Change for Bitcoin 01:54:03 Legitimate Altcoins & Project Criteria 01:57:16 Monero, Kaspa, Litecoin, and Altcoin Usefulness 02:02:06 ZK-STARKs: Complementary or Standard? 02:06:21 ZK-STARKs for Fast Bitcoin Syncing 02:10:27 Call for Wallet Integration & User Experience 02:14:08 Bull Bitcoin Wallet & Open Source Security 02:22:02 Freedom Tech, Nostr, and ZK for Sovereignty 02:26:02 ZK-STARKs: Career Opportunities & Verification 02:28:41 Outro & Listener Easter Egg

This week, Noah from Theia & Smac from Compound discuss why crypto's next chapter won't be powered by hype alone. They explain how valuations, narratives, fund structures, and real cash-flow durability are reshaping the industry, and why investors must adapt to a world where fundamentals finally matter. Enjoy! — Follow Noah: https://x.com/tradernoah Follow Smac: https://x.com/0xsmac Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Compound Annual Meeting: https://x.com/mhdempsey/status/1999119478936785108?s=20 — Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:24) How Theia & Compound Are Positioned (05:58) Thoughts On Valuation Debate (10:50) Do Narratives & Storytelling Drive Markets? (22:24) Ads (Zcash) (23:01) Tension Between Old & New Investors (25:27) Having A View On Public Markets (28:53) Will Crypto Be The Fastest Horse Again? (33:44) Who Outperforms: Majors or Apps? (35:43) Ads (Zcash) (36:20) Identifying Durable Vs Ephemeral Advantages (40:49) State Of Crypto Liquid Funds (45:51) Activist Investing In Crypto (47:48) Ads (Mantle, Geodnet, Uniswap) (50:41) Views On Prediction Markets (53:55) Biggest Market Opportunities (01:01:36) Water Supercycle? — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The final Fed meeting of 2025 delivered a surprise rate cut, but the real story is how the market is reacting. In this week's Weekly Rollup, Ryan and David unpack what the new policy shift means for crypto liquidity, why regulators across the SEC, CFTC, and OCC are suddenly embracing onchain markets, and how Tom Lee's massive ETH accumulation is reshaping sentiment. We also get into Ethereum's growing momentum from ZK advancements and blob upgrades, the ZKsync Atlas rollout, Base's bridge drama with Solana, and Farcaster's pivot away from social. Plus, the rise of tokenization, new prediction market rails, and whether this week marks the first real cycle turn for Ethereum. ------

Superstate introduces Direct Issuance Programs. Celo activates OP Succinct Lite. Gauntlet supports Ethereum on its USDC Vault. And Deutsche Bank publishes a report on ZK for institutions. Read more: https://ethdaily.io/840 Sponsor: Arkiv is an Ethereum-aligned data layer for Web3. Arkiv brings the familiar concept of a traditional Web2 database into the Web3 ecosystem. Find out more at Arkiv.network Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.

At our Bankless Summit in Buenos Aires, four standout talks captured the frontier of crypto's next chapter. Lincoln Murr lays out why x402 is emerging as the missing payment layer for the agentic internet. Shay Ketsdever explains how bots already run modern markets, and how programmable auctions and privacy can turn the bot economy into something that benefits people instead of exploits them. Michael Dong shows how real-time ZK proving unlocks a hundred-fold expansion of Ethereum's computational power. And Luca Prosperi reframes money as a network, warning that today's stablecoin architecture is a single point of failure and arguing for a more resilient, distributed monetary system. ------

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) used to be an academic concept requiring $100M and a team of cryptographers. Now, according to Succinct CEO Uma Roy, it's as easy as writing code.In this interview from TOKEN2049, Uma breaks down how ZK is transforming blockchain scaling, proving the authenticity of digital media, protecting user privacy, and reshaping internet trust.Whether you're into crypto infrastructure or AI verification, this conversation is a must-watch.Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell "

Ethereum is transparent by design, and that's a problem if you don't want your entire financial life on display. Rand Hindi, co-founder of Zama, joins us to explain how fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) can turn Ethereum into an encrypted, confidential blockchain where contracts stay composable and UX feels exactly the same. We get into why blockchains were public in the first place, why “anonymous addresses” were never enough, how FHE compares to ZK and MPC, and what a world of private DeFi, encrypted stablecoins, and on-chain “digital immortality” could look like.  ------

This week, Keone Hon joins the show to discuss the recent launch of Monad. We deep dive into Monad's ICO, launching on Coinbase, the state of airdrops in crypto today, do we need another L1, whether public vs corporate chains are competitors and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1OWJh -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:35) Behind The Monad Launch (06:42) Monad's Exchange Listing (13:20) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (14:37) Monad's Pre Deposit Strategy (22:10) Monad's Airdrop (27:05) Ads (Zashi, Katana) (28:21) Launching On Coinbase (32:40) Launching Mainnet (38:33) Ads (Mantle, Uniswap) (40:35) Developing An App Ecosystem (46:30) Why Do We Need Another L1? (47:47) Public vs Corporate Chains (52:36) What's Next For Monad In 2026? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Happy Thanksgiving! Ethereum is heading into one of its biggest upgrades of the year. In this week's Weekly Rollup, Ryan and Anthony Sassano break down the Fusaka hard fork, what it ships for L2 scaling and gas limits, and why Justin Drake's real-time ZK proving demo could reshape Ethereum sooner than expected. They revisit the four-year cycle debate, unpack Tom Lee's “supercycle” conviction, and catch up on Monad's mainnet launch, the CFTC clearing Polymarket for U.S. users, and growing concern about Bitcoin's quantum risk. Anthony Sassano & The Daily Gwei  https://x.com/sassal0x https://x.com/thedailygwei  ------

The Daily Gwei Refuel gives you a recap every other week day on everything that happened in the Ethereum and crypto ecosystems - hosted by Anthony Sassano. Timestamps and links to topics discussed: https://daily-gwei-links.vercel.app/recent 00:00 Introductory song 00:10 Devconnect recap https://x.com/EFDevcon/status/1992324373500567800 08:03 The Refuel goes back to regular episodes in 2026 https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1993418606714266072 12:26 Ethereum gas limit now at 60 million https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1993411695868526855 15:28 Blob scaling incoming https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1993415381978169577 23:35 EIP-2780 detailed https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1993097491844415657 30:30 Massive progress on ZK proving https://x.com/drakefjustin/status/1991836045076263380 https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1993058178096152881 53:12 New website from ethPandaOps https://x.com/ethPandaOps/status/1989704350243889302 58:16 The Ethereum Interop Layer https://x.com/ripeth/status/1990793070842163669 59:52 Revealing my secret project This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eeMP-rWajrU Subscribe to the newsletter: https://thedailygwei.substack.com/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCp6vKY5jDr87htKH6hgDA/ Follow Anthony on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sassal0x Follow The Daily Gwei on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedailygwei Join the Discord Channel: https://discord.gg/4pfUJsENcg DISCLAIMER: All information presented across all of The Daily Gwei's communication channels is strictly for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice.

Ismael (Founder/CEO) and Nate (Defense GTM) from Lagrange explain why the biggest commercial demand for cutting-edge cryptography might be outside crypto—securing AI in defense, healthcare, and regulated finance. We cover: why they built DeepProof (a zero-knowledge ML library that proves model outputs over private inputs), how this fits the DoD's zero-trust mandates, and why frontier crypto R&D should serve national interest, not just faster token launches. We also dig into GTM with government, what zero-knowledge adds beyond TLS, and how to talk “applied cryptography” without getting stuck in a “crypto” stigma.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Cold Open: Ismael on crypto funding frontier cryptography beyond tokens[00:01:00] Introduction: Sam sets up Lagrange, AI, defense, and applied cryptography[00:03:00] Origin Story: Ismael's path from TradFi and VC to founding Lagrange[00:06:00] Why Defense: Using crypto-funded cryptography for national security and AI safety[00:10:00] DeepProof Explained: Proving AI model outputs over private inputs with ZK[00:15:00] Business Model: “OpenAI sells inference; we sell proofs”[00:18:00] Beyond Crypto: Healthcare, compliance, and dual-use cryptography[00:22:00] Nate's Role: Selling applied cryptography to defense without leading with “crypto”[00:27:00] Lagrange Vision: Cryptographic supremacy and becoming the verifiability layer[00:33:00] Roadmap & Ask: Expansion into defense, partners with serious AI workloadsConnecthttps://www.lagrange.dev/https://www.linkedin.com/company/lagrange-labs/https://www.linkedin.com/in/i20h/https://x.com/lagrangedevhttps://x.com/Ismael_H_RDisclaimerNothing 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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Check out our sponsor Uniswap! Fresh off the launch of Ignition Chain, Aztec's co-founders Zac Williamson and Joe Andrews discuss why they're rolling out a privacy-preserving L2 now, how they're approaching decentralization from the start, and why they chose a token sale instead of the airdrop model. They also explain why they believe most L2s have evolved into “parasitic” ecosystems, how Aztec plans to avoid those incentives, what the AZTEC token is meant to do, and what's changed in the broader privacy renaissance across crypto. Guests: Zac Williamson, Cofounder of Aztec Network Joe Andrews, Co-founder and President of Aztec Network Links: Unchained:  Vitalik Unveils New Ethereum Privacy Toolkit 'Kohaku' ETH's HTTP Moment? How Ethereum Interop Layer Hopes to Fix L2 Fragmentation Zcash Developer Reveals Q4 Roadmap What's the Best Way for Ethereum to Grow? Justin Drake and Martin Köppelmann Debate Why the Privacy Coins Mania Is Much More Than Price Action CoinDesk: Privacy-Focused Aztec Network's Ignition Chain Lights Up  Timestamps:

A $19B liquidation wave hit crypto 10 days after Lighter's public mainnet—so we asked founder/CEO Vladimir Novakovski why they built a ZK L2 Perp DEX on Ethereum, how the escape hatch actually protects users, and what really happened under extreme stress. We dig into ADL vs. LLP, trader-first design, and why verifiability (not vibes) should govern order matching and liquidations. Vlad shares throughput targets, why Lighter chose custom ZK circuits over a generalized ZKVM, and what's next: Spot, universal cross-margin, and a ZKVM sidecar for a broader platform play. We close with lessons from the cascade, realistic tradeoffs of being an L2, and how L2Beat “stage upgrades” fit into the roadmap. ---