Gm! This week we're joined by Charlie Noyes & Bam Azizi to discuss Meshs's $82M Series B raise. We deep dive into the Mesh origin story, how to unlock crypto payments, why the world needs stablecoins, crypto's multichain future & the biggest opportunity in 2025. Enjoy!

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ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available.

To learn more about ZKsync, visit http://www.zksync.io

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Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

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- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(06:47) The Mesh Origin Story

(14:12) Ads (ZKSync)

(15:17) How To Unlock Crypto Payments

(19:39) The Stablecoin Thesis

(25:52) Ads (ZKSync)

(26:57) What’s Next For Stablecoins?

(31:55) Will Tether Continue To Dominate?

(36:18) Ads (Falcon x, Bitwise, Mantle)

(38:50) Why The World Needs Stablecoins

(44:50) Crypto’s Multichain Future

(47:23) Stablecoin Adoption In 2025

(49:16) Crypto’s Biggest Opportunity In 2025

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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire 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. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

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