Ethereum’s Comeback, Solana’s Upgrades, Plasma’s Token Sale, and the Rise of Zora | Livestream

11 snips

Jul 28, 2025

Ian Unsworth, a research powerhouse from Kairos Research, and Mark Arjun from Blockworks delve into the exciting world of crypto. They discuss Ethereum's strong comeback and staking dynamics amidst rising ETF flows. Solana's upgrades, including scalability improvements, are highlighted too. The conversation shifts to Plasma's token sale and its implications for the market. Zora's innovative monetization models and its resurgence in the crypto space spark intriguing insights on user engagement and market sentiment, making this a must-listen for crypto enthusiasts.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Macro Sentiment: Urgency and Risks

Macro sentiment is shifting towards owning risk assets due to fiat's declining value and monetary expansion.
Markets reflect urgency to pump assets though opinions frequently swing, highlighting uncertainty in policy and investing.

INSIGHT

Ethereum's Progress and Price Drivers

Ethereum's ecosystem is evolving with increased gas limits and new upgrades like Denkun and Fusaka.
Price surges are driven more by treasury flows and ETFs than technological milestones so far.

INSIGHT

Institutional ETH Yield Strategies

Institutional treasury codes stake Ethereum heavily, competing to maximize per-share returns.
They may soon diversify into on-chain vaults and lending to boost yield beyond basic staking.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This week, we cover market sentiment, Ethereum’s roadmap and staking dynamics amid rising ETF and treasury flows, and Solana’s recent network upgrades, including CU limit increases and client diversity. We also discuss Zora’s monetization model and growth, Plasma’s token sale and stablecoin strategy, and broader questions about crypto monetization and network design. Thanks for tuning in!

As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.

Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and real yield, by redirecting chain revenue back to active DeFi users. The 1 billion KAT campaign is live. Bridge and deposit directly into vaults in one simple click and start earning immediately on your ETH, BTC, USDC, and more.

Go to app.katana.network to check it out.

Ledger, the global leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors 0xResearch! As Ledger celebrates 10 years of securing 20% of global crypto, it remains the top choice for securing your assets. Buy a LEDGER™ device now and build confidently, knowing your precious tokens are safe.

Buy now on https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00.

Marinade is the premier staking delegation platform on Solana, bringing billions in liquidity and security to the Solana network, and connecting SOL holders to the best staking rates.

Since launching in 2021, Marinade has expanded their suite of products to provide solutions for both DeFi users and TradFi, including liquid and native staking, as well as direct enterprise integrations.

To learn more about Marinade, follow the link below: https://marinade.finance/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=podcast

Follow Ian: https://x.com/Ian_Unsworth

Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg

Follow Marc: https://x.com/marcarjoon

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio

Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

Join the 0xResearch Telegram group: https://t.me/+z0H6y2bS-dllODVh

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:11) Market Outlook

(5:52) Ethereum's Resurgence

(16:04) Ads (Katana & Ledger)

(16:55) Solana's Upgrades

(36:55) Ads (Katana & Ledger)

(37:49) Plasma's Token Sale

(52:49) Marinade Ad

(53:42) Is Zora the Future of Finance?

Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place

Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/

Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter

Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch 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. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.