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.