Follow Building in Public Podcast: https://x.com/builtnpublicpod Mahesh and guest host John Wu sit down with Austin King, CEO of Omni Labs, to explore the future of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi). Austin shares his journey from Harvard College to building and selling his first company to Ripple, reflecting on the lessons from the 2017 crypto boom that shaped his vision for blockchain interoperability. He discusses innovative design trends like "intents and solvers," which simplify cross-chain transactions for users, and Omni Labs’ mission to abstract blockchain complexities, enabling seamless participation in the on-chain economy. Austin also opens up about leadership challenges, including pivoting after significant fundraising, and emphasizes the value of transparency, collaboration, and a strong support network. The conversation concludes with insights into the evolving crypto landscape and Austin's vision for a neutral and open economic system.

Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:31 - Introduction to Omni and Solvernet 01:30 - Austin King's Journey from Harvard to Crypto 03:02 - Identifying the Need for Interoperability 05:20 - The Ripple Acquisition Story 06:43 - Understanding the XRP Community 10:19 - Misunderstandings About XRP and Ripple 14:24 - Cults and Communities in Crypto 16:21 - Building Omni and Its Vision 20:56 - The Importance of Interoperability 23:24 - Pivoting After Fundraising 28:01 - Support Networks for Founders 30:33 - Conviction in Decision-Making 33:37 - Overview of the Omni Token and Network 39:04 - Defining Success in the Crypto Space 41:34 - Long-Term Vision for Crypto Development Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.