The Rollup

ZK needs decentralized proving networks, or we're just moving trust to a new bottleneck. Same goes for L2s. In today's episode, we cover how EigenLayer attempts to create a new way to coordinate decentralized proving networks so no single entity controls the backbone of ZK systems. We sit down with zkSync co-inventor, Alex Gluchowski and EigenLayer founder, Sreeram to cover how modular sca...

In today's episode, we sit down with Intia co-founder, Zon, to talk about what Initia is cooking. The Initia team has been busy building their interwoven rollup ecosystem with 15 publicly announced rollups and a massive $26 million invested. Rollups on Initia have raised more than even Initia itself, showing clear interest. We look into Initia's VIP Program, why high staking rates are hurting DeFi...

The line between real humans and bots is blurring. In today’s episode, we chat with Terence Kwok, the founder of Humanity Protocol, to explore how they're balancing privacy and accountability. Humanity is using technology to read palm prints and vein patterns for verification, all without storing biometric data. This approach could offer a way for users to prove they’re not bots without compromisi...

In today's episode, we talk about the Bitcoin dilemma. Despite it being crypto's foundation, it mainly sits unused in cold storage wasting away any potential. Between high fees, slow transactions, and lack of use case, Bitcoin has struggled to evolve past being a store of value. We sit down with Rich Rines of Core DAO to learn how they are unlocking Bitcoin's potential towards delivering structure...

In today's episode, we cover what happens when you tokenize attention. We sat down with Yu Hu to get the inside story of how Kaito went from tracking crypto Twitter sentiment to dropping what might be the most widely distributed token in recent history. It's completely reshaping how value flows through the crypto social layer. Kaito leans into using market forces and onchain mechanics to cut throu...

In today's episode, we feature a conversation with the strategist behind Ethereum's early marketing initiatives—Amanda Cassatt. She covers her career progression towards becoming the influential figure who helped establish Ethereum as a recognized name in technology, rather than just a hacker project (as it was in its early days). Amanda takes us through her professional background from serving as...

Hong Kong is strategically positioning itself as a key web3 hub, and there are good reasons to watch what's happening there. A major highlight from Consensus Hong Kong is the quickly evolving regulatory landscape. Recently, Animoca Brands teamed up with Standard Chartered and Hong Kong Telecom to launch a regulated HKD stablecoin – one of the first with direct backing from a major bank and officia...

In today’s episode, we take a dive through the founders journey and what it’s like to run a massive crypto fund. Clearly, crypto cycles follow a pattern. Skepticism transforms into celebration, then a cooldown period, until something innovative emerges to change the landscape. Each of these cycle presents distinct opportunities. That is what we discuss in today's episode with Akshat Vaidya fro...

For today’s episode, we look to answer the question “Seriously. What happened to crypto?” alongside Kain. The landscape continues to evolve rapidly as underlying dynamics shift, narratives transform, capital redirects, and new market structures emerge. In today's episode, we sit down with Kain Warwick from Infinex to cover the state of the market and look at how low-float VC okens have decline...

Imagine Hyperliquid, but ZK. In today's episode, we cover the evolution of onchain trading and its core challenge: balancing speed with security. It's a constant trade-off in DeFi. Faster systems, like Hyperliquid, tend to lean towards centralization, while more secure ones often sacrifice performance. But there's a solution emerging: Boundless execution with ZK proofs. This gives traders CEX-leve...

In today's episode, we cover how regulation meets the greater crypto economy. Treasury tokens have evolved from concept to reality, now trading actively in DeFi markets with BlackRock and Securitize leading the transformation. By converting U.S. treasuries into blockchain assets with institutional backing, they're laying groundwork for wider adoption. We sat down with Robinson Burkey, Co-F...

In today’s episode, we explore the future of building infra for compliance, and the next era of investing following the massive infra wave of 2017-2024. Typically, in crypto there have always been tradeoffs… Want transparency? You lose privacy. Want privacy? Regulators get nervous. Join us as we chat with Wyatt from VanEck Ventures and Xiang Xie from Primus dive into how Primus is using ZKTLS and...

For today’s episode, we take a deep dive into native rollups. While rollups improved Ethereum's scaling, they introduced key challenges like centralized control, MEV extraction, buggy execution, and fragmented liquidity across layers. Luckily, there's a new method aiming to maintain rollup benefits while eliminating these issues. Native rollups and based sequencing offer a solution. By int...

Bitcoin has dominated crypto, but has remained largely inactive in DeFi. While ETH and Solana lead in onchain activity, a significant amount of BTC remains unused. BitVM introduces a solution. Unlike traditional custodians or multi-sig bridges, it provides a trust-minimized approach to integrating BTC with DeFi – expanding Bitcoin's utility beyond just a store of value. We spoke with Alexei (B...

Moving between chains is a hassle. Whether you're swapping, bridging, or managing liquidity across ecosystems, users face clunky interfaces, slow execution, and unnecessary risks. What if that friction disappeared? Enter Shogun, a trading platform that makes every chain feel like one. Using intent-based execution, automated routing, and solver-driven auctions, Shogun lets traders move assets s...

For today's episode, we dive deep into the the intersection of AI and crypto, and discuss how this sector has produced more hype than results (so far). While both fields promise decentralization, combining them effectively has proven challenging. Most projects either centralize AI decision-making or create token systems without clear utility. Bittensor is taking a different approach to this pr...

The stablecoin landscape is evolving as DeFi and traditional finance continue to merge. Today we chat with Sam Kazemian from Frax to break down what's happening in the space. We'll dive into their new FRX USD launch and explore an interesting idea: using stablecoins to bridge the gap between crypto and U.S. treasuries. Sam also walks us through how Frax is rethinking stablecoin design to make yiel...

AI and crypto are finally converging beyond just trading bots. Purpose-built chains like Ritual are enabling AI-powered smart contracts that can adapt in real-time – think automated trading strategies that adjust to market conditions or DeFi positions that manage themselves. In our chat with Ritual founders Anish and Saneel, they explained how they're making AI decisions verifiable onchain. Th...

For today’s episode, we are digging up our latest knowledge of AI and DeSci. Yesnoerror is flipping the script on research validation. Instead of traditional AI fact-checkers, they're letting the research community influence what gets verified next. Their AI agent, as co-founder Ben Parr explains, digs through millions of papers catching details human reviewers might overlook. Every check is t...

Blockchain systems face limitations with large complex datasets, as smart contracts weren't designed for intensive computations. Space and Time addresses this with their ZK Co-Processor, enabling smart contracts to process complex calculations while maintaining security. This opens up practical applications: loyalty programs with historical tracking, personalized lending rates, and verifiable trad...

Zero-knowledge proofs are evolving from complex cryptographic tools into practical blockchain solutions. Like the evolution from mainframe computers to smartphones, ZK proofs are transforming how we approach crypto technology. RiskZero and Irreducible are leading this change through innovations in binary fields and hardware acceleration, making ZK proofs as accessible as email. Their advancements...

Today's episode takes a deep dive into the next era of Bitcoin, the network, and BTC the asset. As Bitcoin transitions from retail speculation to institutional adoption, new infrastructure is quietly reshaping its capabilities. Stacks stands at the forefront of this evolution. BitVM and its iterations are progressing faster than expected, turning theoretical discussions into practical solutions. W...

For today's episode, we discuss the rise of Aave and a new era of crypto in America. Trump is President! Aave turns 5! We caught up with Aave founder Stani Kulechov and Chaos Labs' Omer Goldberg to talk about the Trump Effect on DeFi, what's new in Aave V4, and where DeFAI is headed. World Liberty Finance, the Trump Family DeFi business set to launch later this year, will provide a whi...

Today, we're diving deep into Optimism's Superchain with Mark Tyneway, who's been leading efforts to revolutionize how blockchain networks interact. Mark shares insights from his work with the Ethereum Interop Forum and breaks down why we might be overcomplicating decentralization. The Superchain vision? Making different blockchain networks work together as seamlessly as apps on your phone. No mor...

For today's episode, we explore whether or not the saying: "Most DeSci projects today are just ICOs in a lab coat" is truth or an overexaggeration. When Tarun Chitra dropped this line during our chat, the Pump. Science founder Benji Lebowitz nearly hopped out of his seat. What followed was one of the most fascinating debates we've had on the show about where crypto tools meet scientific research....