Unchained The Chopping Block: Why Everyone Is Talking About EigenLayer - Ep. 497
May 25, 2023
Sreeram Kannan, Founder of EigenLayer and former professor, shares insights on how he transitioned from academia to the crypto space. He discusses EigenLayer's role in providing decentralized trust on Ethereum, explaining complex ideas like merge mining in a simple manner. The conversation unveils the potential of restaking to fund new projects without multiple tokens and examines the risks associated with Ethereum's security model. Kannan also addresses Vitalik Buterin’s concerns about validator corruption and the implications for the blockchain community.
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Sreeram's Path to Crypto
- Sreeram Kannan's PhD focused on peer-to-peer wireless systems, but he felt it lacked real-world impact.
- He transitioned to computational genomics before finally finding his place in crypto.
Crypto as Coordination
- Crypto is a "coordination superhighway," facilitating human coordination like internet is for information.
- It acts as a commitment engine, increasing our ability to build things together.
EigenLayer's Purpose
- EigenLayer allows Ethereum's "policemen" (validators) to protect not just government buildings (core protocol), but also stores (other projects).
- This expands the scope of Ethereum's security.