Episodes

  • How Crypto Solves the Global Money Problem | Paul Bances, Paypal
    Jul 16 2024
    In this episode, Paul Bances, VP of Market and Business Development at PayPal Crypto, discusses the evolution of global money movement and PayPal's stablecoin answer. He explains the inefficiencies in traditional payment systems and how stablecoins can address these issues. Bances also delves into PayPal's strategy behind launching pyUSD, its potential impact on various payment scenarios, and the company's vision for the future of digital payments. The conversation also covers the regulatory landscape, the choice of blockchain platforms, and the broader implications for global commerce and financial inclusion. Thanks for tuning in! - - Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024. Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io. - - Step into MyPrize—the online multiplayer casino that lets you battle your friends and play alongside creators. On MyPrize, you're invited to get rowdy and share every victory and defeat with your pals. Because we know the only thing more fun than beating the house is beating your friends. Get started with $20 free when you deposit or purchase of $10 or more: https://myprize.com/invite/Empire - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:03) How Does Money Move? (06:31) Delayed Settlement Risk (10:04) Cross Border Stablecoin Unlock (17:23) History of Paypal Crypto Strategy (25:42) Stellar Ad 926:34) pyUSD Design Decisions (32:43) Stablecoin Landscape (35:26) Global & Market Opportunity (45:50) Why Solana Over L2s or Alt L1s (48:53) Political Climate Impact (54:01) Optimistic pyUSD Endgame - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • What Makes Crypto Conferences Valuable | Roundup
    Jul 12 2024
    Today's episode dives deep into the world of crypto conferences, exploring their evolving role in the industry. Santi unpacks his recent EthCC Brussels experience, while Jason unearths the rise of side events at crypto conferences. They debate the true value of these gatherings for networking, deal-making, and industry progress. The conversation also touches on market dynamics, VC scandals, and future predictions, providing a comprehensive view of the current state of the crypto ecosystem. Resources GasApp https://x.com/gasappteam https://x.com/nikitabier - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay. By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications. Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: (00:00) Surviving Brussels (06:24) Conference Dynamics (14:56) Social Incentive Layer (25:01) Funny YouTube Comments & Fear of Sharks (28:47) Germany BTC Selling (32:07) Sei Ad (33:04) Polygon Ad (34:13) NVIDIA vs Coinbase Stock (38:29) Eclipse Adviser Token Debacle (44:56) Where are we in the Cycle - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    56 mins
  • Why Crypto Needs Better Insurance Models | Drew Patel, Karak
    Jul 9 2024
    In this episode, Drew, co-founder of Karak, discusses the evolution of crypto security from DeFi insurance to restaking. He explains Karak's multi-chain support and diverse collateral types. The conversation also covers the challenges of DeFi insurance, the potential of restaking to lower security costs for projects, and the importance of creating sustainable yield sources. Drew also shares insights on Karak's development philosophy, the risks associated with restaking, and his vision for the future of crypto risk management. Thanks for tuning in! - - Follow Drew: https://x.com/Dewpey Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay. By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications. Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:23) Insurance Security in Crypto (12:32) Onchain Insurance Bull Case (22:09) Karak Restaking PMF (26:24) Risks of Restaking (31:02) Size of the Restaking Market (41:04) Sei Ad (42:02) Polygon Ad (43:12) Free Market Restaking (49:17) DSS Curation & Risks (55:17) Karak Traction (01:11:14) Measuring Karak Success - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Crypto's Next Layer 1 With Smokey The Bera | 1000x
    Jul 5 2024
    This week, we invite Smokey The Bera to the show for a discussion on one of crypto's most anticipated Layer 1's... Berachain. We deep dive into building through the bear market, infra vs apps, proof of liquidity & much more. Enjoy! -- Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases. Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs -- Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:46) The Berachain Origin Story (9:58) Base Layer Apps & Chain Security (13:58) Perennial Ad (15:30) Infra vs Apps (24:54) Building Berachain In The Bear Market (32:58) What Defines Success? (43:42) Proof Of Liquidity (51:19) Crypto Fatigue -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x 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. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr
  • Why GPS Needs Crypto to Evolve | Mike & Christopher, GEODNET
    Jul 5 2024
    This episode explores GeodNet, a DePIN project aiming to enhance GPS accuracy from meters to centimeters. Founder Mike Horton and investor Christopher Perkins discuss how GeodNet leverages blockchain to build a global network of satellite miners, providing high-precision location data for various industries. They delve into the project's tokenomics, potential use cases ranging from precision agriculture to autonomous vehicles, and the challenges of bridging Web2 and Web3 in infrastructure development. The conversation also touches on the future of DePIN projects and the importance of community building in the crypto space. Thanks for tuning in! - - Follow Christopher: https://x.com/perkinscr97 Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikeahorton Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all. Get started at: portal.arbitrum.io - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Mantle recently launched their airdrop program "Rewards Station" to holders of its native token, $MNT. The Rewards Station program distributes pre-sale token allocations or listed token to $MNT holders who stake their $MNT. Check out the rewards station: https://www.mantle.xyz/rewards-station - - Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana. https://blckwrks.co/Marinade - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) What is GEODNET? (10:07) Why Web3 & Not Web2 (15:24) Coinfund Investment Thesis (25:040 Adoption at Scale (33:51) Marinade Ad (34:56) Polygon Ad (36:05) Mantle Ad (36:54) Geodnet End Game (41:59) Market Demand (50:16) Future of DePin Valuation (55:58) Importance of Chain Selection - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Ryan Selkis on the Existential Struggle for Crypto in the U.S.
    Jul 2 2024
    In this episode, Jason and Mike are joined by Ryan Selkis, Founder and CEO of Messari Crypto, for a discussion on the intersection of crypto and US politics. They discuss the recent presidential debate, Ryan’s journey into the political arena, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s impact on crypto regulatory policy. They also dive into the importance of political engagement from the crypto community, and Selkis’ strategic initiatives. Finally, they cover why Democrats took an anti-crypto stance, the best case outcome for crypto regulatory policy, and how U.S. political parties evolve over time. Thanks for tuning in! -- Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Ryan: https://x.com/twobitidiot Follow Michael: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_ Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw —- Arbitrum is a game-changer for daily Ethereum's users and developers, offering top applications and lower fees. As the leading scaling solution with 600+ apps, explore Arbitrum’s Portal to find your perfect fit. Interact with the home of DeFi, a flourishing NFT and creator ecosystem, and a rapidly growing Web3 gaming hub – Arbitrum has it all. Get started at: portal.arbitrum.io —-- Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana. https://blckwrks.co/Marinade —- Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants — Stay up to date with Mantle campaigns! https://meth.mantle.xyz/campaigns Eligible $mETH holders will accumulate EigenLayer points on Mantle for as long as EigenLayer’s point initiatives are still ongoing —-- (00:00) Intro (02:18) The Presidential Debate (11:37) Focusing on Politics as a Crypto Founder (27:19) SBF's Impact on Regulatory Policy (33:15) How Important is Crypto in the Presidential Election? (36:200 Lead up to Ryan's Mar-a-Lago Visit (43:37) Marinade Ad (44:43) Polygon Ad (45:52) Mantle Ad (46:41) Ryan's Perspective on the Blockworks Op-ed (54:39) Should Crypto Be Apolitical? (01:05:29) The Democrats Motivation for Being Anti Crypto (01:21:05) What's the Best Case Outcome for Crypto Regulatory Policy? (01:32:09) Addressing Common Issues Voters Have With Trump (01:38:02) How U.S. Political Parties Change Over Time (01:45:33) Why RFK Jr. Should Drop Out and Endorse Trump —-- 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr and 56 mins
  • Debating Ethereum’s Big Decision | Roundup
    Jun 28 2024
    This episode dives deep into the current state and future of Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin. Michael Ippolito and Marc Arjoon join us to discuss Bitcoin L2s, Solana Blinks, and debate the importance of user experience versus decentralization. They analyze whether blockchains are truly converging, the impact of cultural differences between chains, and what might drive mainstream crypto adoption. Thanks for tuning in! Resources https://x.com/_charlienoyes/status/1806097184951320689 - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Michael: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_ Follow Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay. By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications. Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Stay up to date with Mantle campaigns! https://meth.mantle.xyz/campaigns Eligible $mETH holders will accumulate EigenLayer points on Mantle for as long as EigenLayer’s point initiatives are still ongoing - - Marinade is the leading Solana staking service that spreads your stake across 100+ top validators, distributes MEV rewards, and provides automatic downside protection with new Protected Staking Rewards. Choose to liquid stake for mSOL for use in DeFi, or delegate your stake through Marinade Native, which gives you full custody of your SOL and no smart contract risk. Max performance for you, max performance for Solana. https://blckwrks.co/Marinade - - Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction & Vampire Yano (04:41) Santi Invests in Mega ETH (07:29) Is ETH Capitulating? (21:10) Is Ethereum Actually Decentralized? (30:56) Most Important Things of Blockchains (36:25) Sei Ad (37:22) Marinade Ad (38:26) Polygon Ad (39:35) Mantle Ad (40:24) L2 User Acquisition Sta (53:37) Future of Bitcoin (01:00:30) Convergence of Blockchains (01:12:48) Biggest Blockchain Apps (01:17:52) Solana Blinks - - 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, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • Surviving Crypto's Summer Chop | 1000x
    Jun 27 2024
    In this episode, Avi and Jonah dissect the summer's choppy market. They reveal strategies for surviving range-bound trading, discuss the impact of upcoming ETFs, and debate the future of altcoins. The duo shares personal trading experiences, psychological tips, and unexpected insights - from institutional flows to clicking digital hamsters. Learn how to find alpha in a sideways market and prepare for potential moves ahead. Thanks for tuning in! We'll drop a new 1000x episode on Empire's RSS feed and the 1000x YouTube channel every two weeks. Hit the links below and give us a follow! - - Perennial is an on-chain derivatives protocol built from first principles to be a DeFi primitive. The core protocol is minimalist, flexible, and efficient, allowing Perennial to mold to the needs of many different users & use cases. Perennial has a super efficient core protocol that lets LPs use native maker leverage — allowing $1mn in TVL to back to $5-10mn in Open interest. Trade and LP at: https://perennial.finance/1000x Social: https://x.com/perenniallabs - - Timestamps: (0:00) Are We Back? (9:59) Perennial Ad (11:31) Why Avoid Overtrading (17:45) Timing Market Re-entry (28:13) Is ETH ETF Priced? (32:20) Altcoin Season Odds (42:28) What to Trade Now? - - Follow Avi: https://twitter.com/AviFelman Follow Jonah: https://twitter.com/jvb_xyz Follow 1000x: https://twitter.com/1000xPod Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FuSarX Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on 1000x 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. Avi, Jonah and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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    53 mins