

Messari's Unqualified Opinions
Messari
Crypto has real use cases - now. Learn about them here.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 14, 2020 • 45min
Being a Blockchain CEO in 2020 with Algorand CEO Steve Kokinos
Gone are the days when a blockchain network could launch quietly, coordinated over an online forum by an anonymous developer or when a small number of technically minded people could participate in a low-profile token sale. While the early days of Bitcoin and Ethereum came with their own inherent challenges, the high profile network launches of today come with a new set of concerns. How do you gain developer mindshare? How do proof-of-stake networks grapple with the threat of exchanges centralizing staking? What’s the best way to handle token distributions in today's investor driven landscape?
In this conversation, Ryan and Algorand CEO, Steve Kokinos discuss what it’s like to be at the helm of a newly launched smart contracting platform in 2020.
---
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Jan 8, 2020 • 1h 13min
Bitcoin’s Civil War & Toxic Maximalism with Samson Mow
In this episode, we take a walk down memory lane through Bitcoin’s chaotic early years. Required listening for anyone who got into the industry post 2017 and is missing context behind some of Bitcoin’s longest standing feuds and divisions.
We cover Samson’s origin story as a pivotal player throughout Bitcoin’s first civil war, the history of Blockstream (and associated conspiracy theories), the blocksize debate and the infamous New York Agreement. Samson also shares his gripes with the Ethereum community along with what he expects from the Lightning Network and smart contract functionality on Liquid in 2020.
---
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Dec 5, 2019 • 41min
The unintended consequences of platform economies with Matt Spoke
Matt Spoke is the founder and CEO of the Open Application Network, formerly known as Aion. In this discussion, Matt and Ryan discuss the OAN’s strategic shift to focusing on solving problems that exist within large online marketplaces. Matt lays out his vision for a future where YouTubers own their subscribers and can offer them discounts on Shopify or where drivers for Uber and Lift own their reputations and can use them to benefit on other online marketplaces.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Dec 3, 2019 • 28min
Public Blockchains for Enterprises with Oded Wertheim - CTO of Orbs
Oded Wertheim provides and update on Orbs, which is a project building public blockchain infrastructure designed for enterprises. In this conversation Oded details Orbs’s approach to collaborating with enterprises and how it differs from the private/permissioned approach taken by Hyperledger and R3’s Corda. Oded also lays out the problems that public chains solve for enterprises and how trust will be a standard feature built into the products of the future.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 26, 2019 • 40min
Building a store-of-value with Decred’s Jake Yocom-Piatt
Jake Yocom-Piatt is the project lead of Decred: a hybrid proof-of-stake/proof-of-work blockchain that re-thinks development funding, on-chain governance and consensus mechanisms. In this conversation, Jake discusses how his experience contributing to Bitcoin lead to the creation of Decred and how the project aims to compete as one of the top store-of-value chains. Jake and Ryan discuss Decred’s roadmap, including its integration of the lightning network, additional privacy features and more.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 21, 2019 • 54min
Simon Taylor, Co-Founder of 11:FS
Ryan interviews Simon Taylor, Co-Founder of 11:FS.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 19, 2019 • 23min
Max Pertosovskiy, Head of Growth at Waves
Ryan interviews Max Pertosovskiy, Head of Growth at Waves.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 14, 2019 • 48min
Chris McCann, Founding Partner at Proof of Capital
Qiao Wang, Director of Product at Messari, interviews Chris McCann, Founding Partner at Proof of Capital.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 12, 2019 • 43min
Dovey Wan, Founding Partner of Primitive Ventures
Qiao Wang, Director of Product at Messari, interviews Dovey Wan, Founding Partner of Primitive Ventures.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io

Nov 7, 2019 • 35min
Mo Dong, CEO of Celer
Qiao Wang, Director of Product at Messari, interviews Mo Dong, CEO of Celer.
This episode is sponsored by Voyager, a fast and 100% commission-free app that lets you trade more than 20 top cryptocurrencies. Sign up at investvoyager.com/messari to earn $25 in free Bitcoin when you download the Voyager iOS app and create an account.
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with your colleagues & friends, rate, review, and subscribe.This podcast is presented by BlockWorks Group. For exclusive content and events that provide insights into the crypto and blockchain space, visit them at: https://www.blockworksgroup.io