In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Aaron Payas — partner at Hassans International Law Firm in Gibraltar, CFA charterholder, and former international footballer. From the early days of Gibraltar’s DLT licensing regime to holding a Bored Ape and co-leading one of the first fully SEC-approved token offerings, Aaron brings a unique blend of legal precision, mathematical logic, and personal passion to everything he touches.

Together, Yitzy and Aaron explore:

• Aaron’s path from math grad to fund lawyer to crypto specialist;

• The rise (and recalibration) of Gibraltar as a blockchain jurisdiction;

• Behind-the-scenes of INX — the first SEC-registered security token offering;

• Why Aaron went deep into NFTs and still proudly displays his Bored Ape;

• The maturing of the tokenization ecosystem — and why it hasn’t scaled yet;

• Honest takes on MiCA, regulatory arbitrage, and how startups should choose jurisdictions;

• How football, legal practice, and crypto law can all be driven by the same thing: passion.

And yes — Spurs fandom makes a guest appearance too.

Follow Aaron on LinkedIn and X (@AaronPayas) for more.

In this episode of Beyond the Code, I’m joined once again by Justin Wales, Head of Legal for the Americas at Crypto.com and author of the Crypto Legal Handbook — now in its newly released second edition.

Justin and I dive into:

• The real-world impact of the SEC's changing posture on crypto enforcement;

• Why version 2 of the Crypto Legal Handbook is more than just a light update — and how it was rewritten to reflect today’s evolving landscape;

• Crypto.com’s legal journey through Wells notices, proactive litigation, and ultimately a no-action letter;

• How the shift in administration is restoring confidence and innovation to the U.S. crypto ecosystem;

• The tension between traditional finance and crypto-native companies;

• Big Law, legal rankings, and why the current system of legal prestige is broken;

• And a candid take on what excites Justin about the future — including AI x crypto, real product innovation, and global regulatory convergence.

We also plug some amazing legal tools like Justin’s AI-powered GPT search tool for the Crypto Legal Handbook and Crystal, the AI platform purpose-built for crypto lawyers.

Whether you’re in-house, in practice, or just trying to understand the regulatory momentum in crypto today, this episode is essential listening.

🎧 Listen now.
📚 Grab the Crypto Legal Handbook v2 on Amazon.
📰 Subscribe to Justin’s newsletter at https://thecryptolegalhandbook.com/.
💬 Follow Justin on LinkedIn for his no-BS takes on crypto law and legal culture.

In this episode of Beyond the Code, I sit down with the brilliant and trailblazing Joni Pirovich — a lawyer, entrepreneur, and the mind behind Crystal, an AI-powered legal tool tailored for the crypto industry.

We trace Joni’s remarkable journey: from growing up on a mango farm in Australia to becoming one of the most forward-thinking crypto lawyers in the space. She shares how her passion for tax reform led her into international law, and eventually into crypto — long before it was cool.

Along the way, we talk about:

🔹 The origin story of bdas'l (pronounced "bedazzle"), her crypto-focused law firm;

🔹 What it was like advocating for blockchain-based tax reform at the OECD;

🔹 The evolution of crypto legal services and why “full stack” lawyering is essential;

🔹 The creation of Crystal — an AI tool trained on global crypto regulation and designed to support lawyers and compliance professionals;

🔹 What makes Crystal different from ChatGPT (hint: it's smarter at crypto);

🔹 Building for privacy, scalability, and the future of agentic compliance;

🔹 Visions of a future with Crystal Companion, an always-on co-pilot for DeFi and legal workflows;

Plus, we dive into the challenges of building in AI, the overlap with legal ethics, and what makes crypto still worth believing in.

Whether you're a lawyer, builder, or investor in the crypto space — this one’s packed with insight.

🎧 Explore Crystal: 💡 https://www.cryptococounsel.com

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👤 Follow Joni on LinkedIn: Joni Pirovich⁠

In this unforgettable episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Bitcoin OG and serial entrepreneur Charlie Shrem for a raw, unfiltered journey through the birth of Bitcoin, the collapse of early crypto infrastructure, and the deeply personal trials that shaped one of the industry's most iconic—and controversial—figures.

Charlie opens up about how a small Israeli charity called Tikvot led him to Bitcoin, the early anarchic energy of the online forums where Satoshi once roamed, and how he helped pioneer one of the world’s first Bitcoin exchanges, BitInstant, with nothing but bar mitzvah money and a handshake agreement.

They talk Mt. Gox, the founding of the Bitcoin Foundation, and how a single Skype message from Roger Ver changed the course of Charlie’s life. But this episode doesn’t shy away from the dark turns: Charlie reflects on the moment federal agents arrested him at JFK, his experience in solitary confinement, the fallout with his family and community, and the harrowing prison conditions that tested his spirit.

We also explore the redemption arc: house arrest in Pennsylvania, quiet reintegration into the crypto world, life on a boat, podcasting, venture investing—and a spiritual journey that defies binaries.

Topics Covered:

• How PayPal freezing donations led to discovering Bitcoin;

• The mechanics of BitInstant and why it succeeded;

• Mt. Gox, Silk Road, and the cracks in early crypto;

• Charlie’s arrest, conviction, and incarceration experience;

• Leaving Orthodoxy, family estrangement, and Jewish identity;

• Starting over, rebuilding wealth, and finding purpose;

This is more than a conversation about Bitcoin—it's a story about resilience, belief, exile, and finding your people on the internet.

🔗 Connect with Charlie: Website: charlieshrem.com Podcast: Untold Stories Twitter/X: @CharlieShrem

What if your law firm felt more like an art studio than a courtroom?

In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Vivek Jayaram, founder of Jayaram Law and one of the most creative minds in the legal space. They go deep on how Vivek built a law firm that refuses to look or act like one, why authenticity and originality are at the heart of his practice, and how he went from Big Law burnout to representing the most interesting names in tech, fashion, and digital art.

They talked about:

• 🎸 Growing up on guitar solos, Bulls championships, and indie film;

• 🎨 His early vision for a “law firm for creators,” long before it was cool

• 🧠 The firm’s unique mission to enable original ideas—not just win cases;

• 🧾 How Jayaram Law became a go-to shop for NFTs, and digital artists;

• 💥 Why your legal practice should feel more like a cultural movement than a service business.

Vivek also shares reflections on IP law, digital authenticity, and Vivek's wildly popular (and highly recommended by yours tuly) Taylor Swift IP Course, Blank Spaces.

Whether you're a lawyer, a founder, an artist—or all three—this is an inspiring look at what legal practice can look like when it breaks out of the mold.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Yitzy sits down with Dr. Shmuel Abramzon, Israel’s Chief Economist at the Ministry of Finance, to unpack his unique role at the intersection of policy, macroeconomics, and innovation.

They dive into the evolution of digital assets in Israel, what it really means to “regulate” crypto, and the story behind the Ministry’s landmark report on digital asset regulation.

Dr. Abramzon shares insights into the bureaucratic complexity of crafting policy, Israel’s cautious dance with stablecoin regulation, and his thoughts on the prospects of a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

From reflections on his time at RAND Corporation to a philosophical take on decentralization, this episode offers a rare look into how one of Israel’s top economic voices is navigating the future of crypto and fintech.

On March 26, 2025,⁠ ⁠Collider. VC⁠⁠ hosted⁠ ⁠Building Blocks 2025⁠⁠, as part of ETH TLV. Our host,⁠ ⁠Yitzy Hammer⁠⁠ was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.

In the last of the Building Blocks Conversations, Yitzy Hammer sat down with Adam Benayoun, managing partner at Collider, to unpack the highlights and aspirations emerging from Building Blocks 2025.

Adam recounts his journey from founding startups in France to steering crypto investments in Israel, offering candid reflections on the personal convictions that drive his work.

They dive into the unique hurdles of moving from entrepreneur to venture capitalist, the art of spotting novel blockchain business models, and the need for standardized legal frameworks to support sustainable growth.

Along the way, Adam makes a compelling case for greater inclusivity and collaboration within the VC community—and shares why he believes Israel is poised to become a leading global crypto hub. Tune in for an inside look at the legacy he’s building and the future he envisions for the ecosystem.

On March 26, 2025,⁠ ⁠Collider. VC⁠⁠ hosted⁠ ⁠Building Blocks 2025⁠⁠, as part of ETH TLV. Our host,⁠ ⁠Yitzy Hammer⁠⁠ was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.

Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy interviews Josh Schwartz, CEO and Co-Founder of FORDeFi, about bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems.

Josh shares his journey from Wall Street to Web3, and how ForDeFi is tackling the critical security, governance, and usability challenges in DeFi wallet infrastructure. We explore how institutional adoption is picking up pace, what regulators are (finally) getting right, and why the future of crypto lies in the seamless integration of TradFi and DeFi.