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

Wyre is a leading fiat-to-cryptocurrency and payment infrastructure company for the cryptocurrency ecosystem. In blockchain time, Wyre has been around forever -- it was founded in 2013. Wyre leverages blockchain to facilitate cross-border payments, bridging the gap between traditional payment processing and digital assets. Focusing on developers, the company provides easy-to-integrate APIs which enable thousands of developers to bring cryptocurrency to the masses. The company has “on-ramped” over 15 million end users to their partners and has processed over $10B in payments since inception.We were joined by Co-founder and CEO Yanni Giannaros, and Director of Crypto Strategy Jamal Raees, to chat about payments applications in general and in web3, how Wyre works on a technical and business level including regulatory constraints, their recent acquisition by Bolt, and the roadmap for the platform.Topics covered in this episode:The history of Wyre and the changes they have seen in the space over the past 10 yearsYanni and Jamal's backgrounds and how they metA technical overview of WyreThe challenges of running an onrampBolt's recent acquisition of WyrePayments applications in web 3 - what works and what doesn'tThe Wyre business model and feesThe jurisdictional restrictions for using Wyre and Yanni and Jamal's thoughts on the current regulatory environmentThe future of crypto interfacesThe Wyre roadmapEpisode links: WyreWyre on TwitterYanni on TwitterJamal 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/449

Arbitrum is a Layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain which helps reduce high transaction gas fees. Arbitrum uses a multi-round optimistic rollup that regularly checks in with Ethereum’s main chain. OG cypherpunk and ex deputy CTO of the USA, Ed Felten, is one of the creators of Arbitrum. He joined us for an in depth chat about how transactions are processed on the protocol, who validates them, what the security guarantees are, and how the economics will work in the longer term.Topics covered in this episode:Ed's background (including his time as deputy CTO of the USA!) and what led him to creating ArbitrumA walk back to pre-blockchain cryptoWhy Arbitrum chose to build on top of EthereumWhat are roll-ups and what's the user experience with them on Arbitrum?A deep dive into how transactions work on ArbitrumHow nodes work on the platformTransaction fees on ArbitrumHow is Arbitrum designed differently to Optimism?Arbitrum and bridges to ETH and other assetsHow will different scaling solutions co-exist in the future?Episode links: ArbitrumArbitrum on TwitterEd 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 Ho: Tally Ho 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/tallycashSteakwallet: Steakwallet is your new favorite multi-chain, mobile wallet. Tired of having a different wallet for every chain? Get Steakwallet today and get the power of Web 3 across all chains right at your fingertips: https://steakwallet.fi/ -This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/448

Connext is a crosschain liquidity network that speeds up fully-noncustodial transfers between EVM-compatible crosschains (xapps) and L2 systems. Connext works in tandem with nomad bridge technology, enabling fast transfer of value between blockchains and interchain DeFi protocols. Their goal is to create a world where users never need to know what chain or rollup they're on, and developers can build applications that utilize resources from many chains/rollups simultaneously. We were joined by Connext founder Arjun Bhuptani to chat about bridge technology in general, Connext's pivot from state channels to bridges, their recent partnership with Nomad, and what is coming next.Topics covered in this episode:Arjun's background and how he got into the spaceArjun's involvement with the Moloch DAOWhat is Connext?The history of interoperabilityConnext and the bridges they utilizeConnext's partnership with NomadBridge hacksFinality and rollbacks - dealing with reorgs and probabilistic finalityWhat is Connext's capital efficiency modelEpisode links: ConnextNomadConnext / Nomad partnershipConnext on TwitterArjun on TwitterSponsors: Tally Ho: Tally Ho 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/tallycashChorus 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 Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/447

MetaMask is the de-facto standard self-custodial wallet for Ethereum. It started off as a web browser extension on chromium. More recently, it also launched a mobile app. MetaMask allows you to interact with decentralized applications (dapps) natively.We were joined by Dan Finlay, Founder & Group Manager at MetaMask, to chat about the motivation for building MetaMask, the security of the platform, decentralization, the future of seed phrases and much more!Topics covered in this episode:Dan's background and how he got into the spaceThe journey of creating MetaMask ConsensysWhy this was built as a browser extensionMetaMask mobile: What’s the scope? How do people use it?Number of MetaMask accounts, funds stored in MetaMask wallets and some use casesSecurity on the platformThe future of seed phrasesHow thinking has shifted from smart wallers to EoA's with enhanced capabilitiesWhat is MetaMask Snaps?When will we see the MetaMask token?Episode links:MetaMaskForumTwitterDan 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/cowswapSteakwallet: Steakwallet is your new favorite multi-chain, mobile wallet. Tired of having a different wallet for every chain? Get Steakwallet today and get the power of Web 3 across all chains right at your fingertips: https://steakwallet.fi/ -This episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst & Felix Lutsch. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/446"

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) allows users to register .eth domain names, which can be used natively in some browsers and all Ethereum wallets. It provides a solution to long crypto addresses with a human-friendly format, analogous to DNS domain names that point to IP addresses. There are now 1.1 million registered domains on ENS.Nick Johnson, Lead Developer of ENS, was last on the show 5 years ago when ENS had just been created. We had him back on to give us an update on how the project had evolved and to chat about the kinds of content ENS domains point to, the ENS token airdrop, the governance of the platform, and the road ahead, particularly with respect to scaling solutions and spiralling Ethereum gas costs.Topics covered in this episode:What is Domain Name Service (DNS)?How do you register a top level domain?The relevance of ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)The kinds of content ENS domains point to and some use casesThe fees associated with .eth domainsThe ENS token airdropGovernance - how the process of using delegates workedThe kinds of decisions delegates have made so farTrading ENS tokensNick's views on the major challenges facing the ethereum ecosystem todayEpisode links:Episode 183 - ENS – A Global Naming System for EthereumICANNENSENS GovernanceENS on TwitterNick 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/445

Aave is an open-source moneymarket protocol. An Ethereum native, it's deployed on Avalanche and Polygon, with more than $1 billion deposited on each. V3 is now live on seven different blockchains, including Fantom, Arbitrum, Optimism and Harmony. Aave, which has a decentralized governance system, collects about $50 million in revenue per year to its treasury through its various activities, which makes it self-sustainable. Two years after his last visit to the show and after the recent Aave 3.0 release, we had Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave, back on to chat about governance within the DeFi space, his new project Lens Protocol, and the road ahead for not only his projects, but also the ecosystem as a whole.Topics covered in this episode:In view of the situation this week with Terra and UST, we hear Stani's take on stable coins and stable coin mechanisms and how this has evolved over timeNew collateral - how a collapse of an asset can affect lending marketsGovernance within Aave and DeFi protocols in generalHow interoperability looks for a lending protocolStani's new project LensProtocol - the composable and decentralized social graphWhy have other decentralized social networks not managed to take off?Stani's recent ban from Twitter #freestaniThe roadmap for both Aave and Lens over the next 2 yearsWhat is coming next for the ecosystem?Episode links: AaveLens ProtocolAave on TwitterLens on TwitterStani on TwitterSponsors: Steakwallet: Steakwallet is your new favorite multi-chain, mobile wallet. Tired of having a different wallet for every chain? Get Steakwallet today and get the power of Web 3 across all chains right at your fingertips: https://steakwallet.fi/ - 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/cowswapTally Ho: Tally Ho 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 Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/444

Chun Wang started mining Bitcoin in 2011 and later created F2Pool, one of the leading Proof-of-Work mining pools. Despite his deep involvement in Proof-of-Work, Chun also recognized the transformative impact of Proof-of-Stake and started stakefish. stakefish has become one of the leading staking provider.Chun joined us to talk about his journey and reflections on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Proof-of-Stake. We also dove into the topic of humans becoming a multi-planetary species and whether Bitcoin's consensus could be modified to allow mining on different planets.Topics covered in this episode:Chun's background and how he got into cryptoWhy he created the mining pool F2PoolThe biggest differences between running validators like stakefish vs a mining pool like F2PoolWhat led him to build stakefishChun's views on EthereumWhy Bitcoin is more decentralized than EthereumThe future of Proof-of-StakeStakefish's Ethereum staking productChun's thoughts of MEV and how will stakefish deal with it in the futureMaking Bitcoin multiplanetaryEpisode links: stakefishF2Poolstakefish on TwitterChun 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 Ho: Tally Ho 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/tallycashSteakwallet: Steakwallet is your new favorite multi-chain, mobile wallet. Tired of having a different wallet for every chain? Get Steakwallet today and get the power of Web 3 across all chains right at your fingertips: https://steakwallet.fi/ -This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/443

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