Podcasts about ZK

In this episode, Austin chats with Mert about why privacy is becoming essential for crypto and on-chain finance. They discuss how ZK-based privacy works via shielded pools, commitments, proofs, and nullifiers, contrasting it with Monero's probabilistic obfuscation. Mert explains Zcash's renewed adoption through improved usability, macro and regulatory shifts, and fairer historical distribution. He argues privacy layers fail when they lack tangible benefits, and outlines a new fully on-chain, composable, atomic privacy protocol for Solana built with Light Protocol's compression approach, including permissionless and enterprise “zones” with configurable compliance features and reduced MEV via encrypted swaps.  00:00 - Why Privacy Matters  03:05 - Zcash And ZK Origins  06:26 - How Shielded Pools Work  09:56 - Why Zcash Broke Out  15:52 - Why Privacy Layers Fail  19:47 - Solana Privacy Protocol  22:57 - Composability Breakthrough  25:51 - Go-To-Market Plan  30:50 - Compliance And Zones  32:40 - Onchain Versus Off Chain  34:58 - Zcash And Solana's Future  40:29 - Bitcoin Privacy And Quantum  43:48 - Closing And Where To Find Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illia and Mert break down why the Zcash situation is a known ZK circuit trade-off and not the infinite mint catastrophe the market priced in, why Project Tachyon's formal verification is the most bullish upgrade in Zcash history, and why NEAR Intents generated $150K in a single volatile day, buying back NEAR while everyone else was selling.Illia Polosukhin is Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol, and Mert is Co-Founder of Helius, a leading Solana infrastructure platform.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 Zcash Exploit Or Not?00:41 ZK Circuit Risk Explained02:32 Why ZEC Price Dropped03:48 Zcash Sapling Pool 201905:22 No Infinite Mint Evidence06:31 Formal Verification Is Solution08:05 Project Tachyon Quantum Proof11:18 AI Vulnerability Armageddon Coming17:02 Zcash Optional Transparency Explained21:08 NEAR Intents ZEC Inflow24:35 Bear Case Worst Scenario30:01 NEAR Profits On Volatility33:43 Arthur Dumped NEAR ReactionGuest Socials:Mert Mumtaz X: https://x.com/mertHelius X: https://x.com/heliusHelius Website: https://www.helius.dev/Illia Polosukhin X: https://x.com/ilblackdragonNEAR Protocol X: https://x.com/NEARProtocolNEAR Protocol Website: https://www.near.org/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---APYX - Enhanced Digital Credit Yield, Onchain | On Track to Become the Largest Holder of STRC. https://apyx.fi/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

A critical bug in Zcash's Orchard shielded pool could have minted unlimited counterfeit ZEC — and it sat there for 4 years. The price has lost ~47% in three days. David walks through what happened, why ZK trust keeps mattering, and what it means for holders. Plus: Polymarket's UMA ruling that Strategy didn't sell Bitcoin (it did), and the end of the Bitcoin ETF outflow streak. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:11) Zcash Crash (14:53) Polymarket Strategy Drama (23:39) ETF Flows Update FOLLOW THE SHOW › David — https://x.com/dcanellis › The Breakdown — https://x.com/TheBreakdownBW › The Breakdown Newsletter — https://blockworks.com/newsletter/the-breakdown Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to the Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ DISCLAIMER As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.

The conversation covers updates on the Glam Amsterdam DevNet 4 launch, delegate inclusion on field calls, an update on EIP 7904, EAP 8188 discussing state tiering, and EAP 8182 proposing private transfers to Ethereum. The conversation covers innovative authentication methods, ZK proof and hardware wallets, credential proof separation, risk mitigation, synchronous composability, security and soundness mitigation, gas costs, supply side work, deactivation of self-destruct, and client feedback on execution API cases.TakeawaysGlam Amsterdam DevNet 4 launch updatesDelegate inclusion on field callsUpdate on EIP 7904EAP 8188: State tieringEAP 8182: Private transfers to Ethereum Innovative authentication methods allow users to bring their own authentication, ZK proofs enable hardware wallet authorization, and credential proof separation ensures synchronous composability.Deactivation of self-destruct functionality requires careful consideration of potential impact on existing contracts and use cases.Chapters00:00 Glam Amsterdam DevNet 4 Launch18:42 Update on 790437:30 EAP 8182: Private Transfers to Ethereum43:15 Credential Proof Separation57:17 Deactivation of Self-Destruct01:11:23 Client Feedback on Execution API Cases

Dolgoživost je beseda, je stanje, o katerem v zadnjih letih vedno pogosteje govorimo. Ampak, a smo se kdaj sploh vprašali, kaj sploh je dolgoživost in kako jo doseči. Beseda ne nujno pomeni, da živimo več let, ampak predvsem, kako živimo ta leta. Pri ljudeh zdravo, vitalno, kakovostno staranje ni le posledica sreče ali genetike, temveč je tudi način življenja. Prehrana, gibanje, spanje, obvladovanje stresa, odnosi. Kako se torej že v mladosti pripraviti na starost, odgovarjamo skupaj s strokovnjaki. Sogovorniki: biotehnologinja dr. Ajda Marič, mikroplastika za zajtrk sociologinja dr. Anamarija Kejžar s Fakultete za socialno delo, profesor športne vzgoje dr. Vojko Strojnik s Fakultete za šport in klinična psihologinja ter strokovnjakinja za spanje dr. Vita Štukovnik s Filozofske fakultete UM. V Xpertizi, v kateri spoznavamo mlade na začetku kariere v znanosti, pa je tokrat z nami Ivana Drventić, ki se kot raziskovalka atmosferske kemije na Kemijskem inštitutu ukvarja s sledenjem rjavemu ogljiku v zraku in zmajuje z glavo ob tem, kako je zrak v Ljubljani onesnažen zlasti pozimi. Ivano je iz Hrvaške v Slovenijo – navkljub slabemu zimskemu zraku – pred nekaj leti pritegnila lepota naše prestolnice, kot pa boste slišali, pridno osvaja tudi znanje slovenščine. Dodatno gradivo in študije, omenjene v oddaji: Hidracija  Gibanje  Rak prebavil je povezan s prekomernim uživanjem predelanih mesnin  Dvosmerna povezava med spanjem in črevesno mikrobioto  Pogostost uživanja zelo predelane hrane v ZK  Dolgoživost je povezana s črevesnim mikrobiomom, druga študija in tretja študija  Stres in mikrobiota Preferenca rdeče prehrane  Spanje in staranje možganov, dodatna študija Spanje in demenca Spanje je glavni steber dolgoživosti Slabše spanje, večja smrtnost Poglavja: 00:02:00 Kako na dolgoživost vplivajo spanje, gibanje, prehrana, družba 00:04:26 Za zdravo mikrobioto moramo poskrbeti že v otroštvu 00:06:04 Vpliv mikrobiote na dolgoživost 00:07:07 Vpliv stresa na naš prebavni sistem 00:07:50 Pomanjkljiva hidracija, manj ugoden mikrobiom 00:12:24 Spanje je nujni temelj našega delovanja 00:13:45 Kaj se z našimi možgani dogaja ponoči, ko spimo? 00:15:53 Zdravo spanje 00:17:44 Naši možgani se starajo hitreje, če ne spimo 00:19:33 Kako izboljšati spanje z gibanjem, prehrano? 00:22:00 Študije kažejo, da nezdravo spanje napoveduje kasnejši kognitivni upad 00:23:00 Vpliv telesne aktivnosti na zdravje 00:23:30 Mišice so pomembne za ohranjanje imunskega sistema in kognitivnih sposobnosti 00:24:54 Hitrih rešitev pri telesni dejavnosti ni 00:25:50 Hormonska terapija pomlajevanja 00:27:03 Če ne športamo, začne naše telo nazadovati 00:28:45 V mladosti zgradimo mišice in jih potem ohranjamo 00:29:45 Fitnesi v domovih za starejše 00:31:42 Pogled na starost in staranje je še vedno negativen 00:32:32 Odgovornost posameznika in družbe pri načrtovanju starosti 00:34:08 Skrb za zaposlene je dolgoročna investicija, ki se obrestuje zaposlenim in zaposlovalcem 00:35:23 Področje dolgožive družbe zajema vse generacije 00:36:02 Pogosto ljudje ne razmišljajo o tem, kako se bodo starali, staranje zanikajo 00:39:14 Xpertiza: Ivana Drventić, raziskovalka atmosferske kemije na Kemijskem inštitutu

The National Football Show with Dan Sileo — NFL news, debate, and hot takes. ZK joins Dan Sileo on the National Football Show and unloads on the Eagles offense — Jalen Hurts' pocket presence, why Aaron Rodgers is a different animal, the happy-feet problem, and ZK's blunt demand: 'I want a quarterback who can throw the football.' Subscribe for daily NFL coverage.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Yan Liberman and Can Gurel as they speak with Samed Düzçay, founder of Tori, a yield protocol bringing institutional-grade delta-neutral strategies on-chain. Samed shares his journey from mining Bitcoin as a child to building and exiting a successful SaaS company, eventually identifying a massive gap in the stablecoin yield market. They dive into the mechanics of the "carry trade," exploring how Tori captures spreads in emerging markets while hedging out local currency risk. Samed explains the protocol's multi-layered security approach, its real-time auditability through ZK-proofs, and how tokenization unlocks yield-enhancing "loops" that were previously impossible in traditional finance. 

This week, Alex Pruden & Philip Martin join the show to discuss Bitcoin's rising quantum threat. We deep dive into what is the risk from quantum, what to do with Satoshi's coins, will we see a Bitcoin fork, how does DeFi mitigate hacks, how to protect your privacy and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Alex: https://x.com/apruden08 Follow Philip: https://x.com/SecurityGuyPhil Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- This episode is brought to you by Fidelity Crypto. Learn more at https://Fidelity.com/crypto Fidelity Crypto was built in-house with over a dozen years of crypto experience. So you can trade crypto and stocks in one place at Fidelity, backed by industry-leading security. Fidelity Crypto. We're here to help you feel good about investing in crypto. Crypto is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets, NA, is not insured by FDIC or SIPC and includes risk of complete loss. Securities offered by Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC. Member NYSE, SIPC. -- 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 (01:02) The Quantum Computing Risk (08:50) Bitcoin's Quantum Risk (12:20) Fidelity Crypto Ad (12:55) What To Do With Satoshi's Coins? (35:12) Fidelity Crypto Ad (35:52) The Biggest Threat to Bitcoin (38:35) How Does DeFi Mitigate Hacks? (46:27) Are Stablecoins At Risk To Quantum? (50:15) ZKsync Ad (50:49) How To Secure Your Privacy (54:57) What's The Timeline For Quantum? -- 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.

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup to discuss the latest DeFi exploit of KelpDAO which saw $290M in funds exploited. We deep dive into how to resolve the recent exploits in DeFi, the rivalry between Kalshi and Polymarket, will the Clarity Act pass and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- This episode is brought to you by Fidelity Crypto. Learn more at https://Fidelity.com/crypto Fidelity Crypto was built in-house with over a dozen years of crypto experience. So you can trade crypto and stocks in one place at Fidelity, backed by industry-leading security. Fidelity Crypto. We're here to help you feel good about investing in crypto. Crypto is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets, NA, is not insured by FDIC or SIPC and includes risk of complete loss. Securities offered by Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC. Member NYSE, SIPC. -- 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 (02:25) The Fallout From KelpDAOs Exploit (18:08) Fidelity Crypto Ad (18:43) Crypto Is At An Inflection Point (39:10) Fidelity Crypto Ad (39:51) Kalshi & Polymarket Push To Launch Perps (01:00:58) ZKsync Ad (01:01:33) Will The Clarity Act Pass? (01:04:53) What Is USDai? (01:09:52) 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.

This week, Logan Jastremski joins the show to discuss his current crypto thesis in 2026. We deep dive into who wins the competition for onchain trading volume between Solana and Hyperliquid, are L1s overvalued, Logan's highest conviction bets in 2026 and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Logan: https://x.com/LoganJastremski Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (01:02) Logan's Crypto Thesis in 2026 (05:30) Are L1s Overvalued? (16:02) Solana vs Hyperliquid (29:40) ZKsync Ad (30:15) Why Was Hyperliquid So Successful? (43:35) Opportunities In 2026 (50:35) The Tesla Thesis (56:54) Can Twitter Scale To A Finance Platform (01:02:20) Which Would You Own: BTC vs NVDA (01:05:28) Final Thoughts -- 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.

The Ethereum Economic Zone (EEZ) is a framework co-funded by the Ethereum Foundation, Gnosis, and Zisk to unify fragmented Layer 2 (L2) networks into a cohesive, synchronous ecosystem. Announced at EthCC, it uses real-time zero-knowledge proofs to enable atomic, single-transaction interactions between Ethereum mainnet and participating L2s without bridges.Guests: Jordi Baylina & Friederike ErnstLearn More About EEZ ➜ https://bit.ly/ETHEZ00:00 intro00:30 Ethereum Economic Zone EEZ02:20 Real-Time zk03:34 Day 01 Partners04:10 How Users Will Benefit06:54 L2 Silos & Private Chains08:38 Nation State Chains09:25 Uniswap & Unichain10:13 Non-EVM Chains?12:03 Why wouldn't Solana choose EEZ13:27 Block Time Speed & Finality14:18 Polygon?15:04 Institutional Private Chains coming15:45 Timeline16:10 Future Ethereum Upgrades17:02 Hacks & exploits on centralized systems19:22 outro#Crypto #Ethereum #ETH~More Powerful Ethereum Coming This Summer

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as the S&P hits a new all time high. We then deep dive into Tether's $150M recovery plan for Drift, Kraken's $200M raise, the impact on Microstrategy's $STRC, why have L2s underperformed and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (03:11) State of The Market (12:40) The Hyperliquid Thesis (25:18) ZKsync Ad (25:52) Tether's $150M Drift Recovery Plan (28:17) The SEC's New DeFi Guidance (32:05) Microstrategy's $STRC (34:50) Kraken Raises $200M From Deutsche Börse (40:53) Why Have L2s Underperformed (53:19) 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.

EVE Frontier's hackathon deconstructed, Limit Break's first game, Xociety pauses, SANDchain completes testnet phase 1.[00:15] Deconstructing EVE Frontier x Sui $80,000 hackathon [03:19] There were 123 submissions. Largest categories were bounty boards, insurance, gate tolls. [07:20] Data was another key theme - escrow-style systems for buying and selling information.[10:05] 25% of submissions were sketchy, either weak, irrelevant, or unserious.[17:49] Limit Break has announced DigiDaigaku-themed mobile match game Puzzle Panic. [28:06] It's seems like a Trojan horse for Limit Break's deeper web3 NFT and token stack.[30:21] PC web3 shooter Xociety has halted development.[35:15] The team is attempting to restructure with a more web2 focus using the Xociety IP. [38:03] Sandbox's ZK-based SANDchain L2 has completed its first testnet phase.

This week, Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic & Luca Prosperi join the show to discuss what's next for DeFi in 2026. We deep dive into why are rates so low in DeFi today, how to mitigate risk, the growth of stablecoins, the fallout from Drift's exploit, the opportunity for prediction markets and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Adrian: https://x.com/adcv_ Follow Luca: https://x.com/LucaProsperi Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- Referenced in the show: https://kitchen.steakhouse.financial/ # 68 | The Physics of On-Chain Lending (I): https://dirtroads.substack.com/p/68-the-physics-of-on-chain-lending?triedRedirect=true -- 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 (03:42) Why Are Rates in DeFi So Low? (16:32) The Physics of Onchain Lending (24:33) ZKsync Ad (25:16) The Biggest Risk In DeFi Today (52:58) What's Next For DeFi In 2026 & Beyond? (01:02:18) How To Mitigate Risk In DeFi (01:09:43) Fallout From Drift's $280M Exploit (01:15:15) Prediction Markets (01:19:52) What's Exciting In Crypto Today? -- 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.

Vlad Novakovski joins The Rollup to break down the Lighter EVM launch, the valuation disconnect vs. HyperLiquid, and why the future of finance runs on DeFi rails.Vladimir Novakovski is the co-founder of Lighter, a ZK-powered on-chain exchange built on Ethereum for trading perps, spot, and tokenized assets with zero fees for retail users.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:45 Lighter EVM Explained04:20 Volatility & Risk Management07:30 Regulatory Strategy & Architecture11:15 Fee Model & Retail Focus13:40 Sequencer vs. Localized Ingestion18:00 Verifiability Over Decentralization20:10 Telegram Wallet Partnership24:30 Zero Fees & Revenue Model27:00 Lighter vs. Hyperliquid Valuation31:20 Winner Take All or Winner Take Most?34:00 TAM Expansion & Tokenized Assets38:45 Three Upcoming UnlocksWebsite: 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/robbiek__Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandyJoin our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZhThe Rollup Disclosures: https://goodidea.ventures

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup to discuss the biggest problem within DeFi today. We then deep dive into Anthropic's announcement of Mythos, the state of crypto fundraising, the biggest winners in crypto today, are we buying the dip and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (03:32) Why Is DeFi Unattractive? (26:45) ZKsync, Blockworks IR (28:16) Anthropic Announces Mythos (49:46) What's Happening In Crypto Fundraising? (57:34) The Biggest Winners in Crypto Today (01:04:45) Are We Buying The Dip? (01:13:35) 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.

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo to break down Jalen Hurts' contract reality — no guaranteed money after this season. ZK argues the Eagles haven't started 'life after Hurts' yet but they're more open to it than ever. Plus: Howie Roseman's stubbornness on the AJ Brown trade, the backup QB style debate, RPO usage declining league-wide, and why the Eagles need to draft offensive linemen in the first two rounds.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause unloads on Dianna Russini after the Mike Vrabel hot tub photos. ZK won't do business with people who cheat on their spouse — and he says every report Russini has ever filed on AJ Brown should go straight in the trash can. Plus: the conspiracy that the Patriots are using Russini to tamper for AJ Brown, reactions from JAKIB Nation, and what the NFL shield is really worth.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause and John McMullen debate whether Diana Russini's reporting on AJ Brown has manipulated his trade value for the Patriots' benefit. McMullen says she should be fired if the Vrabel allegations are true, while ZK argues her coverage has the power to shift the narrative. Plus, is Howie Roseman truly unmanipulatable?Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo on the National Football Show for nearly an hour to break down everything happening with the Philadelphia Eagles. ZK and Sileo go deep on the Jalen Hurts debate, the AJ Brown trade timeline, the Eagles offseason direction, and ZK's six NFL Draft sandbox picks for the Eagles. With 16 days until the draft, this is must-watch Eagles content from two of the loudest voices in Philly sports.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Charles Cascarilla joins the show to discuss the current state of crypto and the future of Paxos. We deep dive into Paxos' origin story and business model, the growth of stablecoin payments, whether Paxos may look to IPO in 2027, Charles' advice for founders and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Charles: https://x.com/chadcascarilla Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (02:03) The State of Crypto Today (22:24) How To Fix The U.S Debt Problem (32:24) ZKsync Ad, Blockworks IR (33:56) Behind The Paxos Business Model (43:32) Why Binance's $BUSD Would Have Been The Largest Stablecoin (50:12) The GENIUS Act & The Global Dollar Network (59:46) Agentic Payments (01:05:32) Will Paxos IPO? (01:17:06) Advice For Founders -- 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.

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo to break down the Eagles' offensive crisis. ZK explains why the offense wasn't good enough, debates whether Sean Mannion will actually commit to a full Shanahan overhaul, and delivers a bold prediction: if the Hurts-Eagles divorce happens, it will be uglier than Carson Wentz.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we're back with another roundup covering whether it's time to buy the dip, crypto's VC mass extinction event, the state of secondary markets, Drift's $280M exploit, Bitcoin's quantum threat and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (05:34) Time To Buy The Dip? (10:42) Crypto's VC Mass Extinction Event (23:55) Crypto's Token Reset (39:25) ZKsync Ad (40:07) Blockworks Investor Relations (40:58) Drift Exploited For $280M (59:28) Bitcoin's Quantum Threat (01:10:18) 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.

ZK and John McMullen close the show with a deep dive into the ESPN article's most damning stats — 77 of Hurts' 110 career TDs came against man coverage, AJ Brown disappears vs zone, and the passing offense has been bottom-five two straight years. Plus: McMullen explains the journalism behind anonymous sources, the Brandon Graham mystery press conference, and why this is truly an adapt-or-else moment for the Eagles franchise quarterback.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

ESPN's Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler drop a bombshell report on the Eagles' offensive dysfunction — Jalen Hurts pushing back on scheme changes, the infamous four verticals playoff call, and why the passing game has calcified. ZK and John McMullen break it all down on the same morning Jeffrey Lurie praised Hurts at the owners meetings.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for the full ZK segment. Zander makes the case for Nick Sirianni — two NFC titles, a Super Bowl, a .700 win rate — and challenges fans who trash him from their couches. The Phil Jackson comparison: every great coach is a product of great players. Is Nick any different?Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Randi Hindi joins The Rollup live from DeFi Day in Cannes to make the case for Fully Homomorphic Encryption over ZK and TEEs, why permissioned blockchains will lose to public chain, and more.Rand Hindi is the CEO and co-founder of Zama, the leading builder of Fully Homomorphic Encryption infrastructure for public blockchains. The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:37 Permissioned vs. Permissionless01:11 Intranets Lost. So Will They.02:07 FHE Beats ZK & TEEs05:12 FHE & ZK Together?06:30 Privacy on Ethereum L2s07:31 Credibly Neutral Infrastructure08:59 Shielding Assets on Ethereum09:12 Mainnet & L2 Plans10:02 T-REX $100B Partnership11:24 The $120T Opportunity12:08 T-REX Chose Public Chain13:46 Why T-REX Excites Rand14:50 What's Next for ZamaWebsite: 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/robbiek__Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandyJoin our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZhThe Rollup Disclosures: https://goodidea.ventures

For episode 704 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Rolf Versluis, Co-Founder at Horizen. Horizen Labs is a blockchain technology company founded in 2019 that specializes in zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography and Web3 engineering. The company builds infrastructure, tools, and custom blockchain solutions designed to enhance privacy and scalability for real-world enterprise and decentralized applications.

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo to break down Howie Roseman's PR response on AJ Brown at the NFL owners meetings and why the Eagles may lack trade leverage. ZK and Dan go deep on the June 1st cap hit split — $14M vs $40M all at once — and map out every Eagles contract extension coming in the next two years.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Dmitry Tokarev joins the show to discuss how he built one of crypto's largest institutional custody platforms. We deep dive into the Copper origin story, what's broken with crypto custody today, Dmitry's new venture (Bron) and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Dmitry: https://x.com/tokarev_d Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (05:14) The Copper Origin Story (14:55) How To Scale a Company (19:07) ZKsync Ad (19:50) Blockworks Investor Relations (20:40) Building Bron: How To Fix Crypto Custody (34:18) Why Bron Is Launching a Token (43:10) Lessons Learned From Fundraising (48:35) What To Own 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, Rob and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, I sit down with Renee Davis from OpenMatter to explore the intersection of AI agents and blockchain infrastructure. We discuss why 51% of internet traffic is already agents, the critical security vulnerabilities in tools like OpenClaw, and how multi-party computation (MPC) enables privacy-preserving machine learning. Renee explains why crypto is essential for the agent economy—hint: credit cards can't handle micro-transactions like a two-cent payment. We also dive into OpenMatter's three pillars: masked computing, MatterML, and DataVisor, plus what's coming in the next 12 months. If you're building with AI agents or curious about the convergence of Web3 and AI, this conversation is packed with insights. --- CONNECT ---OpenMatter: https://onboard.openmatter.network--- KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS ---• [01:42] Renee's journey from enterprise analytics to DAOs and AI• [03:11] AI and NLP have been around for decades—longer than most realize• [04:42] OpenMatter solves agent hosting, ZK safety checks, and output compliance• [08:17] Multi-party computation (MPC) explained: collaborative computing without sharing raw data• [10:08] 51% of internet traffic is already agents or bots• [14:42] Why agents need crypto: credit cards can't do micro-transactions like X402 can• [16:29] DataVisor: one-click agent deployment with OpenClaw, IronClaw, ZeroClaw templates• [19:17] Security guardrails for agents are still underdeveloped• [21:52] OpenMatter is built on lattice-based cryptography—post-quantum safe• [24:35] AI startups are in a bubble; many hinge on token prices from Claude or OpenAI• [28:03] Roadmap: mainnet launch, MPC updates, MatterML SDK release, and hackathons---DISCLAIMER---Nothing 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/

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup live at DAS to discuss our takeaways from the conference. We deep dive into the institutional bull market, the state of angel and venture investing in crypto, Western Union's stablecoin pivot and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://x.com/theempirepod -- 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 (00:48) Takeaways From DAS (07:16) Is Crypto in a Bull or Bear Market? (13:55) Angel Investing and Crypto Venture Capital (24:48) ZKsync Ad (24:24) Blockworks Investor Relations (26:13) Western Union's Stablecoin Flywheel (33:17) The Bear Case For Stablecoins (38:30) Final Takeaways From DAS (43:25) Sports Betting On Prediction Markets (48:15) Audience Questions (52:10) 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.

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for the full ZK segment — breaking down Eagles offensive line draft targets, the 2026 safety class, and reacting to the Myles Garrett contract restructure. Plus the debate over whether the Eagles can truly compete in 2026 and what Howie Roseman needs to do before the draft.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Real Bitcoin was just sent to the Cardano blockchain as a native token — no bridge, no wrapping, no custodian. The Charms protocol uses recursive zero-knowledge proofs to “beam” assets between Bitcoin and Cardano trustlessly. On March 18, 2026, eBTC (Enchanted Bitcoin) landed on Cardano as a CNT. Weeks earlier, ADA, SNEK, and USDM were beamed from Cardano to Bitcoin.In this video, I break down exactly how Charms works, why Cardano's eUTXO model was the foundation for the protocol, and what this means for Bitcoin DeFi on Cardano. Plus updates on the Pyth Oracle hackathon, Strike perpetuals launch, and Midnight's mainnet launch week.

In this episode, we sit down with the team behind MegaETH to discuss the launch of their mainnet and the vision for a new generation of high-performance Layer 2 blockchains. We explore how MegaETH is pushing block times into the millisecond range, what that means for onchain markets, and why ultra-low latency could fundamentally change blockspace auctions and transaction ordering. The conversation also covers token utility, sequencer incentives, fraud proof security, and why the long-term endgame for rollups is real-time ZK proving. We also dive into the practical challenges of building high-performance crypto infrastructure — from co-location and distributed RPC networks to designing an ecosystem that can actually take advantage of that speed.    To learn more about MegaETH, check out:  https://www.megaeth.com/  https://rabbithole.megaeth.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we're back with another weekly roundup to discuss the current state of markets as conflict in Iran continues. We then deep dive into Hyperliquid's announcement with S&P, how to value Hyperliquid, Tempo's mainnet launch, Kraken's reported IPO delay & 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 (02:08) State of The Market (09:38) ZKsync Ad (10:20) DAS Plug (10:46) S&P Licenses S&P 500 Perps on Hyperliquid (24:45) Tempo & Agentic Payments (47:02) Kraken's IPO Delay (50:45) 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.

Zander Krause joins Dan Sileo for his daily segment. ZK reacts to Tony Bruno, breaks down the Eagles 2026 win total, debates roster concerns, and gets into it with Dan over the Eagles offensive identity under Sean Mannion.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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

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.

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. ---