Has Crypto Become TradFi Rebranded? | Gabriel Shapiro

Crypto was supposed to be the escape hatch. So why does it increasingly feel like it’s being absorbed by the very systems it set out to challenge?

In this candid conversation, Amanda Cassatt sits down with cyberpunk crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro about the “fintech-ization” of crypto, where the industry stands in the post-Gary Gensler era and the fading relevance of the four-year cycle.

Is crypto a tool for resisting power, or just a more efficient version of traditional finance waiting to be regulated into submission? 

Regulation isn’t a complete negative for the space; Gabriel believes that certain aspects, such as antitrust law, are beneficial. But while some laws age like a fine wine, others aren’t as relevant as technology evolves.

Amanda and Gabriel also discussed KYC and how it’s evolving, zero-knowledge proofs, and what Tornado Cash did wrong. 

Timestamps: 

00:00 Current State of Crypto and Market Cycles

02:53 The Debate on Decentralization vs. Centralization

05:47 The Role of Government and Regulation in Crypto

08:43 Crypto as an Alternative to Traditional Legal Systems

11:49 The Impact of Incumbent Protection on Innovation

15:03 The Future of Crypto in a Regulated Environment

17:51 The Importance of Privacy and Programmability in Crypto

26:18 The Imperative of Privacy in Crypto

34:52 Navigating Legal Compliance and Privacy

39:41 The Dilemma of Civil Disobedience

46:24 The Future of KYC in Crypto

48:40 Zero Knowledge Technology and Its Potential