Epicenter - Learn about Crypto, Blockchain, Ethereum, Bitcoin and Distributed Technologies

Florian Glatz, blockchain.lawyer, is one of the most knowledgeable OG's at the intersection of crypto and law. He was last on the show 6 years ago when we talked in great detail about smart contracts and the DAO. We welcomed him back to discuss the regulatory environment, with a focus on Europe. We covered key topics like the recently floated Proof of Work ban, Travel of Funds Regulation (TFR), and Markets in Crypto-assets (MiCA) regulation. We also discussed the European Crypto Initiative, a new lobby organization that Florian co-founded, which is advocating for crypto-friendly regulation on a European level.Topics covered in this episode:What Florian got wrong about DAOs when he was on the show in 2016The story of the Geman blockchain association Bundesblock that Florian co-founded and was president ofThe European Crypto Initiative - Why a European-level organization is neededThe most important regulatory questions facing crypto todayWhy crypto taxation is a particularly challenging issueHow will competition between different nation states play out?Whether we will see the rise of new nation states or digital nationsEpisode links: Episode 125 - Defining a Legal Framework for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO)The Sovereign individualblockchain.lawyerFlorian on TwitterSponsors: Chorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/422

Multicoin Capital is a thesis-driven investment firm that invests in the crypto space. They manage a hedge fund and a venture fund, investing across both public and private markets. Since their founding in 2017, they have become known for their high returns.We were joined by founders Kyle Samani and Tushar Jain, for Multicoin's third visit on the show, to chat about how they came together to form Multicoin, their current investment thesis and how it has evolved, and the road ahead in the blockchain ecosystem.Topics covered in this episode:Tushar and Kyle's backgrounds and what led to MulticoinWhy did they choose to create an investing company?Their current investment thesis and how it has evolvedMulticoin's decision to not invest in certain lucrative projectsHow they chose what to invest inThe Proof of Physical Work thesisThe process of how they select an investment and the strategy behind their portfolioProjects they regret not investing inA prediction of how the blockchain ecosystem will look in three yearsDominance of DeFiEpisode links:Episode 361 with KyleEpisode 223 with Kyle and TusharProtocols dont capture value, DAOs manage risk - thesisMulticoin on TwitterKyle on TwitterTushar on TwitterSponsors:ParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterChorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneThis episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/441

Regen Network is a blockchain focused on ecological regeneration and reversing climate change. Their aim is to reinvent the economics of agriculture so that farmers are seen not only as food producers, but also as land stewards. Regen Network serve as the foundation on which which other projects and protocols may build upon and harness to execute their own climate-focused business models. Using a distributed ledger and modern remote sensing technology, the Regen team are creating new tools allowing humanity to reconnect with the environment.We were joined by CEO & Co-founder of Regen, Gregory Landua, to chat about what has motivated him to create Regen. We took a deep dive into how Regen Network works and especially discussed carbon credits and the Nature Carbon Ton (NCT), a novel carbon credit token they are launching.Topics covered in this episode:Gregory's background and what motivated him to create RegenWhy he chose to build Regen on CosmosWhat are carbon credits and how is their impact measured?How the Nature Carbon Ton (NCT) token works and what is the vision for how it evolvesThe 2 modules Regen have built on Cosmos SDK - Ecocredits and DataRegen 4.0 - what is coming next?Episode links:Regen websiteRegen on MediumRegen on TwitterGregory on TwitterSponsors:Chorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/440

Brian was joined by Felix Lutsch, CCO of Chorus One, for a discussion of what is going on in crypto today. The discussion included the evolving Proof-of-Stake landscape, the role of and trends around liquid staking and interoperability. They also discussed the crypto markets and the possible impact of a changing macro environment with increasing inflation.Topics covered in this episode:Felix's background and how he got into cryptoHow the staking landscape is evolvingThe increasing complexity within the staking industry and the impact this will bring, including compliance and MEVLiquid staking - where it is today and where it is headedInteroperability - IBC adoption, Terra, composabilityCrypto markets - inflation and predicting the futureEpisode links: Chorus OneChorus One on TwitterFelix on TwitterThe Q-Trap by Arthur HayesSponsors: Chorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/439

Anoma is a set of protocols that puts privacy front and center. It aims to facilitate “Self-Sovereign Communities” by providing tools that grant increased control to individuals and communities governing their day-to-day interactions and activities. We were joined by co-founders Adrian Brink and Christopher Goes, to help unravel the complex offering that is the Anoma Network. Hear as we chat about why they created Anoma, some use cases to explain how it works, and the roadmap going forward.Topics covered in this episode:What led Adrian and Christopher to starting their own PoS blockchainWhat 'undefining money' actually meansHow Anoma worksThe Namada blockchainMulti asset shielded pools - why aren't they used more often?A deep dive into the technical components of AnomaThe relationship between Anoma and NamadaThoughts on FATF and recent moves to make sending KYC information with transactions mandatoryTimelines for upcoming launchesEpisode links: AnomaDiscordAnoma on TwitterAdrian on TwitterChristopher on TwitterSponsors: Tally: Tally is a new wallet for Web3 and DeFi that sees the wallet as a public good. Think of it like a community-owned alternative to MetaMask. - https://epicenter.rocks/tallycashCowSwap: CowSwap is a Meta-Dex Aggregator built by Gnosis. It taps into all on-chain liquidity - including other dex aggregators such as Paraswap, 1inch and Matcha - offering the best prices on all trades. It provides some UX perks (no gas costs for failed transactions!) and protects traders against MEV. - https://epicenter.rocks/cowswapThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/438

Leveraging the Cosmos SDK, Evmos is the first IBC-compatible EVM-based blockchain, bringing composability, interoperability, and fast finality to Ethereum. While much of the Cosmos ecosystem has embraced CosmWasm to deploy smart contracts, Evmos brings EVM capabilities to the Interchain and allows developers to write contracts in Solidity, the most widely used language in crypto. While the Evmos launch was halted in early March due to a critical vulnerability and a failed chain upgrade, the project is highly anticipated by the Cosmos community as it promises to bring speed, scale, and interoperability to Ethereum. This week, Sebastien was joined by the co-founder of Evmos, Federico Kunze Küllmer, to chat about the innovation that Evmos is bringing to the EVM ecosystem and the long-term vision for the project.This episode is an excerpt of an extended interview with Federico released on The Interop, a new podcast hosted by Sebastien Couture. To hear the full interview and subscribe to The Interop, check the episode links.Topics covered in this episode:Fede's background and how he got into cryptoThe early days at Tendermint and contributing to Ether MintThe delayed launch of the Evmos upgrade and how that has affected the projectWhat innovation does Evmos bring to the EVM now and in the futureEvmos' interoperability with other chainsBridges and the issue asset fungibilityHow sovereign chains will interact with smart contracts or addresses on EvmosWhat DeFi applications will be launched on EvmosStandout features of the token modelIs fragmentation on the Interchain a good approach?Episode links: Hear the full interview on The Interop podcastEvmosEvmos on TwitterFederico on TwitterSponsors: ParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterChorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/437

After more than three years in the making, Laura Shin has just released her first book, The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze. In it she dives into the history of Ethereum and the 2017 ICO craze by telling the tale of the early tensions and power struggle that defined Ethereum's founding. It gives the inside story of The DAO, and depicts 2017's global initial coin offering tidal wave that boosted prices and fortunes. Laura Shin, former Forbes journalist, podcast host, and now author, joined us for a fascinating chat about the research that went into the book (including the 200+ interviews), revealing the infamous Ethereum hacker, and how the book has been received and her future plans for another.Topics covered in this episode:Laura's background and how she got into cryptoWhy did Laura choose to write this book?Researching for the book and the people she interviewedLaura's takeaways about the Ethereum foundersThe reveal of the hacker and the reactions from those close to themThe Ethereum 'Shadow Government'The importance of Vitalik to Ethereum today and where he might be headed nextWhere are the other co-founders of Ethereum now?What's next for Laura?Episode links: Buy the bookLaura ShinThe Unchained PodcastLaura on MediumLaura on TwitterSponsors: CowSwap: CowSwap is a Meta-Dex Aggregator built by Gnosis. It taps into all on-chain liquidity - including other dex aggregators such as Paraswap, 1inch and Matcha - offering the best prices on all trades. It provides some UX perks (no gas costs for failed transactions!) and protects traders against MEV. - https://epicenter.rocks/cowswapThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/436

Worldcoin is a start-up trying to engineer widespread adoption for its cryptocurrency by giving away tokens. Sound too good to be true? Depends how you look at it (literally). Participants must be willing to have their eyes scanned on registration by a proprietary iris scanner dubbed 'orb'. Worldcoin says the scan is necessary to prove that users are human and to verify they only register once. The start-up has attracted big investors but it has also raised concerns among an increasingly privacy-conscious public with some labeling it a MLM. We were joined by co-founder and CEO, Alex Blania, who explained the idea behind Worldcoin and the aspect of UBI, the current number of orbs in circulation and users, and he addresses the criticisms they have faced so far. Worldcoin is due to launch later this year.Topics covered in this episode:Alex's background and how he got into cryptoThe idea behind Worldcoin and the aspect of UBIHow does the orb work?How they have reacted to some of the criticism regarding privacy and onboardingA deep dive into how the protocol worksThe incentive mechanism with WorldcoinAn overview of Worldcoin usersThe corporate structure of WorldcoinRegulatory issuesEpisode links: WorldcoinWorldcoin on TwitterAlex on TwitterSponsors: Chorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/435

Helium is a global, distributed network of long-range wireless coverage hotspots for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, powered by the Helium blockchain. Community run hotspots create 'The People’s Network' and they are rewarded with $HNT, the native cryptocurrency of the network, through the Proof-of-Coverage mechanism. Helium has managed to build the largest P2P network with over 600,000 hotspots and is now starting to deploy other networks like a 5g cellular network.We were joined by Founder and CEO of Helium, Amir Haleem, to chat about how Helium works and the most interesting use cases, how the Proof-of-Coverage mechanism allows the community to participate, and the road ahead for the network.Topics covered in this episode:What is a wireless network and what makes them so interestingThe objective of HeliumThe use cases Amir is most interested inHow cellular networks are utilizedHelium and censorship resistanceThe architecture of the Helium NetworkProof-of-coverageThe HNT and Data Credit tokensThe possibility of Helium becoming interoperable and hosting smart contractsThe biggest challenges in Helium's futureEpisode links: HeliumHelium on TwitterAmir on TwitterSponsors: Gnosis Safe: Gnosis Safe is a smart wallet for securely managing digital assets and allows you to define customized access permissions. - https://epicenter.rocks/gnosissafeTally: Tally is a new wallet for Web3 and DeFi that sees the wallet as a public good. Think of it like a community-owned alternative to MetaMask. - https://epicenter.rocks/tallycashThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/434

Axelar is a highly scalable, decentralized blockchain that aims to connect all existing blockchains. The proof of stake network, built on the Cosmos-SDK, allows application developers to choose the best blockchain to deploy their applications and use Axelar’s cross-chain communication protocols to lock, unlock, and transfer assets between networks, as well as communicate with applications on other blockchains. Co-founder and CEO of Axelar, Sergey Gorbunov joined us to chat about his experience working on Algorand, the importance and future of interoperabilty protocols, and the vision behind Axelar.Topics covered in this episode:Sergey's background and how he got into cryptoThe lessons he learnt from his time at AlgorandWhy and how Axelar was builtThe future of interoperabilty protocolsWhat are security challenges around interoperabilityInteroperability use cases beyond token transfersAtomic transactions with AlexarThe road ahead for AxelarEpisode links: Axelar SiteAxelar DiscordAxelar on TwitterSergey on TwitterNonconventional Podcast by Ela CrainSponsors: ParaSwap: ParaSwap aggregates all major DEXs and makes sure you beat the market price at every single swap and with the lowest slippage - paraswap.io/epicenterChorus One: Chorus One runs validators on cutting edge Proof of Stake networks such as Cosmos, Solana, Celo, Polkadot and Oasis. - https://epicenter.rocks/chorusoneThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/433