Decentralized Voices

AI startups got $242 billion of investment capital in Q1 2026. Is this a bubble about to burst? Daria talks with Anna Magiera, Managing Director at ICLUB and an expert in private equity, venture capital, and angel syndicates. Anna goes beyond the AI headline and breaks down the investment categories most people are sleeping on: real-world asset tokenization, privacy infrastructure, vertical AI too...

Are you feeling the pressure of the "never-ending" tech cycle? In this episode, we dive deep into why tech founders burn out and how the rapid pace of AI evolution is creating a new wave of AI anxiety and chronic stress. Daria is joined by Stephanie Lal, a Nervous System Architect, to explore the science of burnout, the limits of the human body in a high-speed digital world, and practical biohacki...

Most people assume their online activity is private. It isn't, and in Web3, the illusion runs even deeper. In this episode, Daria sits down with Mykola Siusko, co-founder of Web3Privacy Now, a global non-commercial movement building the infrastructure for a truly private internet. Born in the post-Soviet world, shaped by pirate culture and digital activism, Mykola spent years inside the surveillan...

In this episode, Daria sits down with Mashal Waqar, CMO at Octant, Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East honoree, and co-author of the State of Web3 Grants Report. Mashal shares her unconventional journey — from cybersecurity and co-founding a media platform with millions of readers, to launching the first femtech startup in the Middle East, and ultimately becoming a leading voice in Ethereum public good...

Don't come to Web3 unless you're from the US: ~70% of jobs are US-based. Builders in Africa, Latam, and SE Asia are locked out. Meet Solene Daviaud, founder of Dev3pack, who is changing that: 500+ active builders, 25+ countries, local chapters launching across 3 continents. In this episode, she breaks down the hard truth behind the Web3 job market, why big blockchain companies pay for onboarding n...

Ivan Maltsev, co-founder of Nomadz, built a Solana-based travel aggregator. In this episode, Ivan breaks down how traditional platforms pocket roughly 30% on every booking while returning expired coupons as "loyalty rewards", and how Nomadz replaces that with an onchain travel identity. Daria and Ivan are also get into what it took to win the Solana Mobile hackathon, launch on the Seeker phone, an...

Would you trust AI with your money? 🤖💸 In this episode, Daria welcomes Dariia Porechna, a cryptographer, former Wolfram Research engineer, and co-founder of EternaX, for a rapid-fire "Bullish or Bullshit" session on the hottest takes in AgentFi, DeFi, and startup culture. Key Takeaways: 🔸 80% of blockchain transactions are already bots 🔸 Only 1% of crypto holders use DeFi 🔸 2026 is the best t...

In this episode of Decentralized Voices, Daria interviews Erica Kang, founder of KryptoPlanet (formerly KryptoSeoul), organizer of BUIDL Asia and ETHSeoul, and GP at Black Dragon Capital, about what works in web3 community building: 🔸 building trust in a low-trust market 🔸 making events sustainable without turning into a shill-fest 🔸 scaling from a local scene (Seoul) to global presence (Lisbon...

Ethereum L2s are exploding, enterprises are finally paying attention, and DAOs are going through an identity crisis. In this episode, Daria talks with Krzysztof Urbański , blockchain researcher and head of governance & partnerships at L2BEAT , about what’s happening across the Ethereum scaling and governance landscape. Drawing on 20+ years in IT and deep experience with financial infrastructur...

Dima Buterin — entrepreneur, philosopher, and lifelong learner. Many know him as the father of Ethereum’s co-creator, Vitalik Buterin, but Dima’s story stands powerfully on its own. From his early ventures in software to deep reflections on freedom and human potential, Dima brings a rare combination of tech curiosity and personal growth. In this episode, we’ll discuss the challenges of modern soci...

Ethereum’s Devconnect 2025 in Buenos Aires could become the Web3 event of the year, maybe even the decade. It will take place November 17-22 in a hybrid, city-scale format: a central venue at La Rural featuring 10 stages and 40+ independently programmed events, plus the inaugural Ethereum World’s Fair -- eight districts where Web3 newcomers can set up a wallet, on-ramp into crypto, and even buy fo...

Meet Kevin Jones, a Developer Relations Engineer at Edge & Node and The Graph, and a long-time advocate for Ethereum. His journey from photographer to web3 evangelist is anything but conventional. In the new episode on Decentralized Voices, Daria and Kevin discuss: 🔸 How to create authentic developer relationships in the Ethereum ecosystem 🔸 The evolution of DevRel and the power of mentorshi...

How much do you know about the biggest crypto heists that changed the industry forever? How did an 18-year-old hacker steal millions, and who were the people who protected the funds? The “Code Is Law” movie brings to light what was hidden for years! This episode with Daniel Luca, Tech Partner at Eden Block VC and film contributor, gives a raw look at the biggest crypto heists in history and the ha...

In this episode of Decentralized Voices, Daria sits down with Henri Lieutaud, Head of Ecosystem at the Starknet Foundation , for a deep dive into how Starknet is building the backbone of the next onchain economy. From the bold vision behind BTCFi — a trustless Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem — to the creation of initiatives like Founders/Devs Basecamp and Starktagon, Henri shares how Starknet empowers deve...

What's the hardest part of building crypto products and how to develop a product combining organic growth and paid incentives? Daria welcomes Vadym Nesterenko — a DeFi researcher, product manager, startup investor, and a great person she has known since 2018, back when web3 was simply called crypto. In this episode, we discuss product management playbook for DeFi, the cold-start problem in startup...

In this episode of Decentralized Voices, Daria sits down with Aixa, who leads the ecosystem at Sophon and Bachi , who heads brand and community at Rootstock, to bust 10 biggest myths in crypto marketing. From “build it and they will come” to “airdrops create loyalty,” the trio dives into 10 of the most viral takes from crypto twitter, debunking, confirming, and laughing along the way. Discover:
...

In this episode of Decentralized Voices, Daria Volkova speaks with Gracie Lin, CEO of OKX Singapore, about her journey from fintech and mobility to leading the local office at one of the world’s largest crypto platforms in Singapore. Gracie shares how OKX is building for users in Singapore, why trust and compliance are at the core of growth, and how the company is preparing for Token2049, with a f...

What makes oracles the backbone of DeFi? In this episode, we sit down with Niklas Kunkel , founder of Chronicle and one of the builders of MakerDAO , to uncover how oracle infrastructure powers DeFi, RWAs (real-world assets), and the next wave of Web3 adoption. 👉 You’ll learn: Niklas’ journey IBM → MakerDAO → Chronicle Why oracles are the Achilles’ heel of every DeFi protocol The rise of tokenize...

Want to break into Web3 marketing or hire the perfect marketer? In this episode, Daria chats with Lindsay Casale, CMO at Pi Squared. Lindsay shares insider tips on landing jobs, avoiding hiring mistakes, and building a powerful network in crypto. You’ll learn: 🔸 The biggest hiring mistakes startups make 🔸 Which type of marketer you need at each stage of your company 🔸 Tips for building connecti...

At Devconnect Buenos Aires, the blockchain world gathers for innovation, deals… and secrets. Anna’s search for the truth about the mysterious Vault 25 draws her into masked meetings, hidden agendas, and a night on the Rio de la Plata she’ll never forget! Who controls Vault 25, and why is it “too hot for GitHub”? Enjoy the second part of the first-ever crypto noir where dark protocols, AI technolog...

This week, on the Decentralized Voices podcast, Daria is excited to have Francisco Pinto, Protocol Lead at Request Network. In this episode, we’ll discuss the DeFi trends and challenges, non-technical skills in protocol development, and is there anything Web3 teams could learn from the wine business. Key takeaways: How to build DeFi products using Japanese lean concept Best non-technical skills in...

This week the entire Ethereum ecosystem celebrates 10th anniversary of the Ethereum mainnet 🎉 Decentralized Voices is part of the community. Daria is happy to have Mayra Castillo, People Operations Expert from the Ethereum Foundation. In this episode, Daria and Mayra discuss hiring culture and employer branding in Web3, red flags for candidates during the hiring process, and the most important sk...

This week, on the Decentralized Voices podcast, Daria is excited to have Dr. Muriel Médard, co-founder and CEO of Optimum. Muriel and Daria discuss building a product with high-performance memory for the World Computer, the intersection of deep tech and community growth, career development for women, and parenthood in tech and science. Muriel shares her insights on the technological necessity of d...

In this episode of the Decentralized Voices podcast, Daria interviews Ryne Saxe, CEO of Eco, discussing the evolution of stablecoins, the mission of ECO, and the importance of user experience in the crypto space. Ryne shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in building a stablecoin platform, the story behind the name Eco, and the vision for the future of money. The conversation also to...

Bhaji Illuminati, CEO of Centrifuge, is the new guest on the Decentralized Voices podcast. Centrifuge is the real-world asset tokenization platform that brings the power of onchain finance to asset managers and investors. Bhaji has rich experience scaling early-stage companies into market leaders and bringing together traditional finance and decentralized technology. She’s definitely a role model,...