Jon Kol is the co-founder of Hyperlane, an interoperability protocol. In this episode, Kol and Chaparro discuss the challenges and progress of blockchain interoperability, and how the industry may now be turning a corner. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:24 A year away 08:50 Interchange singularity 10:30 Bridge opportunities 13:32 Balancing speed and security 18:35 Poor UX, Poor DevX 20:11 Who’s the buyer? 26:52 Conclusion This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Bitkey Bitkey is the safe, easy way to own and manage bitcoin. Learn more at Bitkey.world The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters GUEST LINKS Jon Kol - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-kol-4bb37a9b/ Jon Kol on X - https://x.com/thePalenimbus Hyperlane - https://hyperlane.xyz/ Hyperlane on X - https://x.com/hyperlane

Joshua Lim is the co-founder of Arbelos Markets. In this episode, Lim and Chaparro discuss the crypto market surge sparked by Donald Trump's election as U.S. President. Lim sheds light on how the Trump administration's regulatory stance could pave the way for institutional investors to dive deeper ino the crypto space, potentially driving higher trading volumes and boosting liquidity across the ecosystem. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Macro Tailwinds 03:17 Flows & Volume 08:14 Market Opportunities 12:29 ETF Flows' Impact on Crypto 21:30 Crypto Credit Market 24:52 MicroStrategy's Strategy 27:37 Market Predictions 33:08 Banks & Crypto Adoption This episode is brought to you by our sponsors, Polkadot & Bitkey. The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters GUEST LINKS Joshua Lim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lim-1b27098/ Joshua Lim on X - https://x.com/joshua_j_lim Arbelos Markets - https://arbelos.xyz/ Arbelos Markets on X - https://x.com/arbelosxyz

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and Managing Partner of Skybridge. In this episode, Scaramucci and Chaparro discuss the recent U.S. Presidential election and its implications for the crypto industry. Scaramucci analyzes the factors that led to Kamala Harris's loss, naming crypto as a key factor. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:36 2024 Presidential Election Retrospective 04:16 Trump's Cabinet 07:37 The Future of the Democrats 11:29 Market's Response to Trump Victory 14:23 New SEC Chair 19:17 D.O.G.E 22:54 Closing Thoughts  This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Bitkey Bitkey is the safe, easy way to own and manage bitcoin. Learn more at Bitkey.world The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters GUEST LINKS Anthony Scaramucci on X - https://x.com/scaramucci Anthony Scaramucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anscaramucci/ Skybrdige on X - https://x.com/skybridge Skybridge - https://www.skybridge.com/  

dYdX founder Antonio Juliano discusses the evolution of dYdX and the broader DeFi landscape, highlighting the need for DeFi to move beyond copying tradfi products and build truly innovative applications made possible by decentralization. OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 01:33 DeFi's Development 04:24 dYdX Mega Vault AMM 05:32 dYdX Prediction Markets 08:47 High-Performance Blockchain Development 10:35 Appchain Drawbacks 12:47 dYdX vs. Hyperliquid 14:36 New dYdX Markets 17:11 Onchain RWA Derivatives 18:39 DEX Adoption Hurdles 21:24 Crypto Market Makers 22:22 dYdX Development Roadmap 23:47 Appchain Advantages This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins sheds light on Ethereum, Solana and finding the next "generational winners" in the crypto market. OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 01:47 Watkins' Crypto Journey 05:22 Syncracy's Liquid Strategy 06:51 Crypto Market Analysis 08:52 Ethereum's Underperformance 13:14 Long-Only 15:34 Picking Winners 20:38 SOL Trade 28:27 Bitcoin vs. Crypto 34:16 Market Cycle Analysis This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Ripple Head of Product Jasmine Cooper and Axelar Co-Founder Sergey Gorbunov discuss advancements in Real World Assets (RWAs), tokenization, and interoperability. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:12 Interoperable RWAs 04:18 Regulatory Clarity 08:09 RWA Tech Stack 11:37 White Labeling RWAs 13:05 Choosing a Chain 14:43 XRP Ledger RWA Experience 20:35 Asset Issuance 101 22:49 Global Accessibility of RWAs 26:05 Corporate Admin Crypto Adoption 27:26 Advancements in Interoperability 30:26 Axelar's Development Roadmaps 31:39 Institutional RWA FAQs 34:25 Closing Thoughts 35:55 Axelar Wrap-Up This is episode is sponsored by Axelar Foundation. Axelar is scaling chain abstraction to hundreds of new blockchains with its Mobius Development Stack (MDS). Find out more at axelar.network/mobius The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Justin Slaughter is the vice president of regulatory affairs at Paradigm. In this episode, Slaughter and Chaparro discuss the Democratic Party's performance leading up to and during the recent election, particularly in relation to the crypto industry. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:19 2024 Election Recap 04:47 Harris Campaign 07:50 Single-Issue Crypto Voters 11:13 Democratic Party Policy 22:48 Policy Flip-Flopping 26:49 Split Ticket Voters 36:37 New SEC Regime 43:01 Pro-Crypto Democrats 45:06 Predictions & Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Alex Gluchowski is the Co-Founder CEO of Matter Labs, a company focused on scaling Ethereum using zero-knowledge proofs, and Matthias Broner is their Head of Growth for Latin America. In this episode, Gluchowski and Broner discuss the QuarkID project in Buenos Aires, which uses zero-knowledge proofs to give citizens control over their digital identity and serve as a model for decentralized digital identity systems. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:25 Blockchain Scaling 07:19 Buenos Ares ZK-Powered 12:01 Government Innovation 16:40 DID Tech Stack 18:25 ZK 101 19:57 Impact on Argentinian 21:39 DID Expansion 25:59 Crypto's Utility 31:33 Development Roadmap 32:42 Public Services Onchain 34:50 DID Security 36:24 ZKsync Roadmap This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Robert Leshner is the CEO of Superstate, an asset management firm that tokenizes traditional financial assets like U.S. Treasuries and brings them onchain. In this episode, Leshner explains the advantages of tokenized assets, such as the ability to operate 24/7 and the increased composability with DeFi protocols. He also discusses the regulatory and macroeconomic tailwinds that have made this an opportune time to launch tokenized products. OUTLINE 00:00 Health & Routines 07:03 Superstate Overview 12:26 Growing DeFi with RWAs 15:22 RWA Revolution 24:24 Benefits of Tokenization 27:18 Onchain vs. Offchain Crypto Exposure 29:18 Real-time NAV Updates 38:16 Real-Time Settlement 41:01 Crypto's Role in TradFi 46:13 The Future of Finance 49:07 Crypto's Regulatory Climate 53:58 Superstate's Asset Roadmap 58:47 Personal Prioritization 62:27 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Erik Voorhees and Teana Baker-Taylor are co-founders of Venice, an open-source and uncensored AI chatbot and content generation platform. In this episode, the Venice co-founders discuss the vision and approach of their product in contrast to more restrictive and centralized AI models like ChatGPT. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Origin of Venice AI 02:37 'AI is like Bitcoin but scarier' 07:29 Proprietary AI Models 09:12 Regulatory Inefficiencies 11:16 Global AI Regulatory Regimes 16:46 AI Censorship 20:11 Moderation on Venice 25:01 Freedom vs Privacy 34:11 Venice Pricing Model 36:35 AI Agents 39:44 AI 'Rights' 50:37 Venice Roadmap 54:10 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Michael Shaulov is the Co-Founder & CEO of Fireblocks. In this episode, Shaulov discusses how Fireblocks' core business has evolved over the past few years, particularly in the area of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Business at Fireblocks 06:15 Fireblocks & Stablecoins 09:59 RWA TVL Growth 15:36 Institutional Stablecoin Adoption 25:22 TradFi's Adoption of Crypto Infrastructure 29:27 Onchain Identity Systems 38:10 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Sam Hallene and Aryan Sheikhalian are analysts at CMT Digital, a subsidiary of the CMT Group. In this episode, Hallene and Sheikhalian unpack the key trends they are observing in crypto's VC market, including the intersection of blockchain and AI and its implication for improving user data ownership, verified inference, and the use of blockchain to govern non-deterministic models. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 05:31 Current VC Landscape 07:02 VC Market Decoupling 12:11 PMF in Crypto 15:58 Non-Financial Use Cases 22:00 DeFi's Future 23:17 Tokenization Trends 29:13 Crypto Venture Market Forecast 35:56 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Sandy Peng is the co-founder of Scroll. In this episode, Peng discusses scaling Ethereum and particularly emphasizes the importance of business insight and experience outside of crypto in driving application-level innovation. OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 01:07 Peng's Journey to Scroll 04:27 Peng's Regulatory Background 07:52 Industry Headwinds 10:31 Ethereum Scaling Competition 15:00 Consumer Crypto Apps 16:49 Improving Crypto UX 23:06 Stepn's Success 26:11 ZK Advantages 29:45 Scroll's Roadmap 34:14 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

This episode of The Scoop features Bitget Wallet COO Alvin Kan, and two builders from the TON ecosystem — Catizen co-founder Ricky Wong and Miles, a core team member of Tomarket. The conversation explores how Telegram's large user base is enabling rapid adoption and growth of Telegram 'Mini Apps' on top of the TON blockchain. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:29 TON Overview 03:06 TON's Advantages 06:21 TON's Future 08:29 Catizen's Hyper Adoption 10:30 Tomarket Overview 12:34 Ton Ecosystem Collaboration 15:54 Building on TON 17:14 TON's Consumer Focus 20:56 TON User Behavior 24:45 User Retention 27:59 TON Roadmap 31:47 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Vishal Gupta is the co-founder and CEO of TrueX — a new stablecoin-native trading platform. In this episode, Gupta unpacks how TrueX aims to provide a "stablecoin-native" trading experience with segregated custody, primarily targeted at institutional clients in the United States. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:50 TrueX Overview 11:13 Exchange Innovation 14:42 Institutional Client Trading Needs 17:52 Stablecoin Collateral 19:21 TrueX Matching Engine 23:11 Segregated Service Offerings 25:52 TrueX Funding 27:41 Broker Adoption 31:06 Crypto's Credit Market 33:51 True Markets Roadmap 35:50 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Steve Kurz is the Global Digital Head of Asset Management at Galaxy Digital. In this episode, Kurz and Chaparro discuss the current state and future of crypto asset management, including the challenges and opportunities in the industry. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:53 Refining Market Structure 03:36 Galaxy Strategy 06:31 TradFi Capital Allocators 09:17 Future Products 13:26 Galaxy PMF 15:05 Crypto Lending 17:11 Regulatory Climate 19:40 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

David Ripley is the CEO of Kraken. In this episode, Ripley discusses Kraken's strategic expansion into institutional services, including custody and lending. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:57 Institutional Crypto Services 07:22 FTX Fallout 11:02 Institutional Adoption 15:25 Crypto Credit Crisis 17:10 Crypto Banking 19:14 Regulatory Environment 22:39 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

This episode of The Scoop was recorded with former chairperson of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton. Chaparro and Clayton discuss how the crypto industry has evolved since Clayton's tenure as head of the SEC. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Crypto's Evolution 03:42 Crypto Securities & Crypto Commodities 07:02 Token Fundraising 09:57 US Crypto Exchanges 11:12 2022 Crypto Credit Crisis 12:47 The Future of Finance 15:05 Short Selling 16:08 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

This episode of The Scoop was recorded with US Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Falcon X Global's Head of Revenue and Business Austin Reid live at the SALT Conference in Jackson Hole. Senator Scott and Reid discuss the growing political interest in crypto and digital assets in the United States, and the need for better education that clearly conveys the value proposition of this new form of technology. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Crypto's Political 03:05 Trump's Crypto Shift 04:23 US Regulatory Landscape 08:06 Crypto's 'Branding' 16:23 Bipartisan Crypto Support 18:23 Harris' Crypto Policy 19:48 SEC Leadership Change This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Carlos Domingo is the founder and CEO at Securitize. Earlier this year, Securitize partnered with BlackRock to launch the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL). In this episode recorded live at last week's SALT Conference, Domingo discusses the successful launch of BUIDL and highlights the growing institutional adoption of tokenized treasuries over stablecoins. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Blackrock & BUIDL 02:13 Strengthening Crypto Collateral 05:50 Tokenization Evolution 09:04 Crypto UX 11:16 BUIDL Target Audience 13:53 TradFi in Crypto 17:03 Tokenization Value Prop 19:05 Securitize Roadmap This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Anthony Scaramucci serves as both the founder and managing partner of Skybridge Capital, as well as the founder and chairman of SALT Conferences.  In this episode recorded live at last week's SALT Conference in Jackson Hole, Chaparro and Scaramucci discuss the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election and the rising importance of the 'crypto vote.' OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 04:16 2024 Election 14:19 Presidential Crypto Policy 15:58 Donald Trump 19:59 China Policy 25:05 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Caitlin Cook is the director of growth at the onchain fitness platform Moonwalk Fitness. In this episode, Cook shares how Moonwalk is attempting to build a consumer crypto app that helps people hit their health goals through daily step competitions. Moonwalk plans to tap into fitness communities, influencers, and corporate wellness programs to attract a broader non-crypto audience. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:12 Moonwalk Overview 02:56 Consumer Crypto Apps 21:44 Moonwalk's GTM Strategy 23:32 Moonwalk's Roadmap 27:17 Daily Exercise 32:16 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Diogo Mónica is the founder and executive chairman of Anchorage Digital, and a general partner at Haun Ventures. In this episode, Chaparro and Diogo discuss how culture and intensity are crucial in building successful teams and companies in the crypto industry. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:44 Macro & Geopolitical Risks 04:39 Buying the Dip 06:20 VC Conviction 09:20 Mónica's Background 18:19 Startup Culture 23:58 Building Crypto Companies 26:13 Advice for Founders 33:44 2024 VC Landscape 38:19 Consumer Crypto Apps 41:31 Crypto x AI 47:11 Predictions This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Smokey the Bera is the pseudonymous co-founder of Berachain — a Layer 1 network that raised $100 million in a Series B back in April. In this episode, Chaparro and Smokey discuss how memetics influences community building, and unpack Berachain's innovative 'proof of liquidity' consensus, where users earn governance tokens by contributing liquidity to the ecosystem. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:42 Berachain Conception 14:08 Ecosystem 'Politics' 15:58 The Power of Memetics 20:31 Tri-Token Model 27:43 Layer-1 "BD War" 32:39 Smokey's Inspiration 35:02 Aligning Incentives 39:17 Identifying Passion 42:49 Berachain Roadmap This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Nick van Eck is the co-founder and CEO of Agora — a stablecoin issuer that raised a $12 million seed round led by Dragonfly in April.  In this episode, Van Eck explains how Agora's AUSD is attempting to innovate the centralized stablecoin using a neutral, customer-first perspective. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Bootstrapping a Stablecoin 06:09 Stablecoin Issuers 09:24 Agora's Strategy 10:43 Market Structure Changes 16:10 'Tokenization' Taxonomy 20:12 Stablecoins & Instant Settlement 21:49 Agora's Roadmap This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Jeff Lunglhofer is Coinbase's Chief Information Security Officer. In this episode, Lunglhofer highlights common techniques used by malicious actors in the crypto space and offers suggestions on how to avoid these threats. The crypto industry lost $336 million in the first quarter of 2024 due to hacks and fraud, according to blockchain bug bounty platform Immunefi. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Malicious Actors 03:32 Data Leaks 09:30 Scammer Psychology 10:19 Red Flags 12:57 Phising Frequency 15:06 Victim Recourse 17:57 Security Best Practices 23:21 Scammer Trends 26:46 Coinbase's Security 30:20 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Wesley Pryor is the founder of Acheron Trading — a crypto market maker operating in the space since 2018. In this episode, Pryor discusses the role of market makers in the context of token market debuts, and explains the nuances of market making in the crypto space, where assets are highly volatile and lack established processes. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:40 Institutional Trading 11:19 Institutional Adoption 17:02 Market Opportunities This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Kaledora Fontana Kiernan-Linn is the co-founder of Ostium — a startup that facilitates the trading of digitized commodities perpetual swaps. In this episode, Kaledora discusses Ostium's integration of perpetual swaps with real-world assets, highlighting the maturation of digital asset trading. The conversation also addresses technical and structural challenges in creating perpetual-like instruments, emphasizing the need for robust onchain data systems. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Ostium Overview 02:26 RWA Landscape 04:45 Post-Covid Market 06:17 Geopolitical Risk 08:17 Ostium Value Prop 13:04 RWA Perps 15:11 Ostium Architecture 26:50 Onchain Price Oracles 34:42 Price Data Innovations 37:19 Predictions This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Anton Katz is the co-founder and CEO of Talos — a one-stop shop for institutional digital asset trading. In this episode, Katz shares how large buy-side institutions such as hedge funds and asset managers are entering the crypto market, and why a lack of asset diversity is keeping others sidelined. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:40 Institutional Trading 11:19 Institutional Adoption 17:02 Market Opportunities This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Willem Schroé is the founder of Botanix Labs — a development team building an EVM-compatible Layer 2 on Bitcoin that allows users to deploy Ethereum smart contracts on the Bitcoin network. In this episode, Schroé discusses the development of Bitcoin Layer 2s and the potential for Bitcoin-native ecosystems to become major platforms for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Bitcoin L2 Landscape 08:48 Improving Bitcoin L2s 12:16 Bitcoin Applications 15:07 The Future of BitcoinFi 16:18 The Future of Ethereum 17:24 Bitcoin L2 Attack 18:36 Bitcoin L2 User Profile 21:00 Bitcoin RWAs 23:53 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Avi Zurlo is the chief product officer at the =nil; Foundation — a cryptography firm building a zkEVM Layer 2 on Ethereum. In this episode, Zurlo discusses the importance of horizontal scaling in the crypto space and the need for blockchain technology to solve societal issues of trust and transparency. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:15 L2 Competition 04:22 =nil;'s Architecture 06:41 Scaling for Mass Adoption 08:56 Horizontal Scaling 14:34 Scaling Solutions 19:41 Accelerating Mass-Adoption 24:18 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Justin Sun is the founder of Tron and Tron DAO. In this episode, Sun discusses his recent legal victory in the People's Court of China against a media group that published false and defamatory content about him. Sun emphasizes the importance of the court ruling in dispelling rumors and further establishing the legitimacy of cryptocurrency in China. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Sun's Legal Victory in China 03:55 Defamation Article 05:19 Sun's Legal Argument 08:12 What's Next? 09:39 Market Outlook 11:44 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Luke Youngblood is a former Coinbase employee and one of the founding contributors to the onchain finance protocol Moonwell. Recently, Moonwell became one of the first apps to integrate Coinbase's new smart wallet. In this episode, Youngblood explains how smart wallets solve major crypto onboarding pain points — and could be the key to bringing over a billion people onchain. OUTLINE 00:59 Moonwell Overview 02:21 Youngblood's Background 04:56 DeFi Summer 07:42 Smart Wallets 09:54 Smart Wallet Security 13:58 Onchain Economy 17:12 Crypto App Developers 24:40 Moonwell's Mission 32:36 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Sidney Powell is the CEO and co-founder of Maple Finance — a decentralized finance platform that facilitates loans. In this episode, Powell discusses the evolution of crypto's decentralized lending market, the challenges faced by centralized exchanges, and the strategic vision behind Maple's new permissionless lending product, Syrup. OUTLINE 00:53 Maple Overview 02:06 Permissionless DeFi 04:00 DeFi 2.0 06:12 Derisking DeFi 09:44 DeFi Creditworthiness 11:19 DeFi Lending Robustness 13:48 Crypto Lending Market 19:04 Maple's Strategy 21:12 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Monica Long is the President at Ripple. In this episode, Long discusses the growth and expansion of Ripple's business, the impact of the SEC's decision on XRP, the upcoming launch of a stablecoin, and more.  OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Ripple Updates 02:55 Regulatory Status of XRP 04:46 Ripple Product Offerings 08:14 Ripple & Payments 09:06 Ripple's Stablecoin 19:30 Ripple & RWAs 21:41 Institutional Paradigm Shift 24:52 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

This is the second installment of a miniseries sponsored by Axelar and featuring co-host Sergey Gorbunov, co-founder of Axelar — you can find part 1 with Eigen Layer's Sreeram Kannan here. In this episode, Chaparro and Gorbunov are joined by Mysten Labs co-founder and chief cryptographer Kostas Chalkias to discuss the potential of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to revolutionize the blockchain space. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:27 ZK-proof overview 08:45 Adoption of zk-proofs 15:33 Standardizing zk-proofs 22:27 Advice for builders 27:57 ZK & AI 35:55 How ZK improves UX 45:00 Predictions This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, Axelar. Axelar is scaling interoperability to connect hundreds of new blockchains anticipated in the Ethereum L2 ecosystem. Find out more at axelar.network/layer2 The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Matthew Graham is the founder and managing partner of Ryze Labs — the crypto VC firm formerly known as Sino Global.  In this episode, Chaparro and Graham discuss the state of the stablecoin market and the potential impact of stablecoins on the global financial system. Graham also highlights the importance of stablecoins in emerging markets and the potential for stablecoins to enhance financial inclusion. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:47 Ryze Portfolio Positioning 03:25 Stablecoin Opportunities 10:17 Stablecoins & Emerging Markets 13:00 Stablecoins & US Dollar Dominance 18:08 Financial Inclusion 20:21 Remittances 22:03 Political Paradigm Shift 26:42 Stablecoin Risks 28:20 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Avara — the software development company behind some of web3's biggest projects, including Aave and Lens. In this episode, Kulechov gives an overview of the modular architecture underpinning the recently announced Lens Network and explains how a modular design is essential to helping Web3 social applications scale. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Onchain Media 03:40 Lens Scaling Research 07:17 Security Considerations 09:42 Lens Network Architecture 12:58 Tech Stack Considerations 18:42 Web3 Social App Developers 20:36 Lens Network Migration 22:52 Developments in Web3 Social 26:36 Web2 vs. Web3 29:15 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Ric Edelman is the founder of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP). In this episode, Edelman discusses the importance of financial advisors in the crypto space and emphasizes the need for advisors to understand and embrace crypto to serve their clients' best interests. OUTLINE 0:00 Introduction 04:46 Financial Advisors & BTC 09:38 Bitcoin Adoption Curve 14:02 Shifting FA Perspectives 22:44 Logistics of BTC Allocation 30:51 Updating Portfolio Thoery 34:30 Ric's BTC Price Target 38:01 Residual Skeptics 42:28 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Jeff Dorman is Arca's Chief Investment Officer. In this episode, Chaparro and Dorman discuss the recent approval of the spot ether ETFs and how it opens the door for institutional investors to engage with the Ethereum ecosystem. The discussion also highlights the importance of regulatory clarity and the shifting sentiment towards crypto in Washington.  OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 02:34 ETH ETF Approval 06:02 Wall Street Onchain? 12:05 ETH ETFs & Market Structure 17:53 ETH Headwinds & Underperformance 21:28 Altcoin ETFs? 25:27 Crypto's Crowded VC Landscape 34:32 Liquid Crypto Funds 41:47 Traditional Hedge Funds & Crypto This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Kristin Smith is the CEO of Blockchain Association and Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge Capital. In this episode, Smith and Scaramucci discuss the impact of crypto policy and politics on recent events, including the ETH ETF win, bipartisan support, and the influence of Trump and Biden. The discussion highlights the significance of the crypto voter, the evolving stance of the White House, and the potential impact on elections. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Political Paradigm Shift 05:57 Biden WH Crypto Policy 08:09 Crypto 'Voting Bloc' 13:02 Trump's Crypto Flip Flop 16:33 Biden's Crypto Strategy 23:17 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Kain Warwick is the co-founder of the DeFi protocol Synthetix, and a partner at the crypto VC firm Bodhi Ventures. In this episode, Warwick discusses the brokenness of the traditional venture capital model and how it has led to the emergence of new fundraising mechanisms in the crypto space. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Warwick's Crypto Journey 02:37 Synthetix History 04:47 RWA Trends 11:42 Tokenized Commodities 15:15 Crypto VC Trends 25:19 Airdrop Mechanism Design 27:56 Points 31:12 Early-Stage Inefficiencies 40:49 Deal Flow This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens on stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Paolo Ardoino is the CEO of Tether. In this episode, Ardoino discusses the strategic vision of Tether and its expansion into new business units, including AI and education. The current market cap of Tether's primary product USDT is hovering around $110 billion. OUTLINE 00:00 Tether & Disintermediation 08:12 Tether’s New Strategies 17:44 Macroeconomics & USDT Growth 21:07 Tether’s Reserves 25:00 Tether Gold 27:22 AI Revolution 33:07 Tether’s AI Division 38:30 Tokenized RWAs 43:47 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens on stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Jake Brukhman is the founder and CEO of CoinFund. In this episode, Brukhman explores the intersection of AI and blockchain technologies and their impact on consumers, and shares his thoughts on the saturation of the early-stage crypto VC market. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:33 CoinFund's Structure & Strategy 05:56 Early vs. Late Stage Crypto Venture 16:37 Crypto AI & DePIN 28:35 Crypto DePIN 32:51 Tokenomics & PMF 37:00 Interoperability Trends 41:14 Shifting LP Expectations 46:50 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens on stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Denelle Dixon is the CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation — the primary development team supporting the Stellar blockchain. In this episode, Dixon emphasizes the potential of blockchain technology to transform financial services in low- to medium-income countries, particularly in Africa and South America. She also addresses the need for policymakers to create a supportive environment for the industry and the importance of asset issuance and payments in creating equitable access to the global financial system.   This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Polkadot Polkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more head to polkadot.network The Block Community The Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens on stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunity The Block Newsletters The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe visit theblock.co/newsletters

Luke Hoersten is the founder and CEO of Bitnomial — a derivatives exchange that aims to replace the underlying rails of the global commodities trading market with crypto. Bitnomial has obtained regulatory approval for an exchange license, a clearinghouse license and a brokerage license, making them the first business to have all three licenses under one roof. In this episode, Hoersten discusses the technical innovation to collateral management and trading offered by crypto and the future of collateral management in the crypto derivatives market.  OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 04:36 Bitnomial's Licenses 05:48 Bitnomial's Product Suite 07:46 Competition 12:09 Phases of Crypto Collateral 19:01 CME Marketshare 21:07 Importance of Derivatives 24:55 Future of Crypto Derivitives 32:18 Onshore vs. Offshore Derivatives 35:09 TradFi Perps 37:37 Closing Thoughts

Zaheer Ebtikar is the founder and CIO of Split Capital. In this episode, Ebtikar discusses the opportunity of liquid crypto investment strategies and the challenges faced by crypto venture firms, including crowded markets and longer lock-up periods. OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 05:14 Evolution of Crypto Venture 08:12 Nuances of Liquid Crypto Funds 10:58 Liquid Fund Capital Allocators 13:59 Crypto Market Inefficiencies 17:38 Shifting Fundamentals 20:38 Impact of ETFs 22:49 Market Opportunities 37:02 Closing Thoughts

Max Boonen is the founder of PV01 — a platform that allows issuers to access capital and for investors to purchase debt using blockchain. In this episode, Boonen discusses the challenges of accessing debt capital markets and the potential of tokenization in the crypto space, including the paradigm shift from provider-based markets to token-based markets in DeFi. PV01 uses a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to buy one bond and issue a token that represents the bond. This token is both a representation of a bond and a bond itself.

Mike Cagney is the co-founder and CEO of Figure Markets. In this episode, Cagney discusses the need for a 'marketplace of everything,' the potential for equity trading on the blockchain, and more. OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 07:21 The 'Everything' Platform 12:16 Onchain Equities Trading 17:50 Institutionalization of Crypto 27:12 DeFi Lending 29:59 Rebuilding Crypto's Credit Markets 33:51 Wall Street Appetite for ATS 36:28 Regulatory Considerations 38:09 Closing Thoughts