Who should run dedicated chains and why

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs. John discusses Avalanche’s approach to scaling through purpose-built L1s, how dedicated infrastructure supports institutional and enterprise adoption, and why many organizations are shifting toward onchain-first products.

The conversation explores Avalanche’s burn-based token model, the role of instant finality in real-world asset tokenization, and how stablecoin clarity is shaping global strategies heading into 2026. John also breaks down regional differences across Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S., and shares insights on Avalanche’s priorities for users, transactions, and L1 distribution.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com

Timestamps

(00:00) - Why the industry still struggles with token purpose

(01:00) - John Nahas returns to the show

(02:11) - Avalanche’s approach vs Ethereum and Solana

(03:30) - Why the industry lacks clear onchain applications

(04:52) - Purpose-built L1s and long-term scalability

(06:24) - How Avalanche’s many L1s work together

(08:16) - What early assumptions about “everyone needing a chain” got wrong

(11:59) - How Avalanche handles shifting market narratives

(15:26) - AVAX burn mechanism and value accrual

(18:02) - Tokenization momentum and institutional partnerships

(23:56) - Stablecoin clarity and 2026 adoption trends

(35:25) - Avalanche’s top priorities: users, assets, transactions

(37:01) - Strengthening Avalanche’s identity and narrative

Essentials

You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/

Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.