Join us for an in-depth conversation with Steven Goldfeder, Co-Founder and CEO of Offchain Labs, the parent company of Arbitrum—the leading Ethereum Layer 2 solution by Total Value Locked (TVL).

In this episode, we explore:

How optimistic rollups work and their role in Ethereum's scalability
The ZK vs. optimistic rollup debate
The future of Ethereum L2s and their impact on the Ethereum ecosystem
Steven’s insights on DeFi growth, ETH vs. BTC, and the importance of neutrality in tech stacks

The episode kicks off with a special clip from AJ Warner, Co-Founder of Arbitrum, recorded at EthCC, before diving into Steven’s journey into blockchain and his vision for the future of Ethereum scalability.

00:00:00 – Why Ethereum Made Rollups Too Cheap to Ignore

00:00:31 – Meet AJ Warner, Co-Founder of Arbitrum (Live from EthCC!)

00:00:45 – Robinhood’s Big Crypto Announcement: What It Means for Ethereum

00:06:10 – Transition to Steven Goldfeder: The Visionary Behind Arbitrum

00:07:05 – Steven’s Journey: From Academia to Blockchain Pioneer

00:13:24 – Optimistic Rollups 101: How They Supercharge Ethereum

00:21:06 – ZK vs. Optimistic Rollups: The Great Debate

00:29:34 – How Ethereum L2s Are Strengthening the Ethereum Mainnet

00:36:20 – What More Can Ethereum Do to Support L2s?

00:38:57 – The Status of Stage 2 L2s: What’s Next?

00:40:12 – Enshrining L2s: The Future of Ethereum Scalability

00:40:25 – Infrastructure Trade-Offs: Making the Right Choices

00:46:35 – Bridging the Gap: Interoperability Between L1s and L2s

00:51:38 – What Sets Arbitrum Apart from the Competition?

00:56:51 – Neutrality and Fairness: The Cornerstones of Tech Stacks

01:04:52 – DeFi’s Next Chapter: Steven’s Predictions for ETH, BTC, and Beyond

01:08:37 – Closing Thoughts: The Road Ahead for Ethereum and Arbitrum

Don’t miss this deep dive into the world of Ethereum Layer 2s and the innovations shaping the future of blockchain.

Special Episode - Interview with Paul Bielatowicz, May 2025