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

Genesis Mining is a leading hash power provider offering cloud cryptocurrency mining as a service. They offer mining for Bitcoin, Zcash, Dash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Monero and serve over 2 million users in 100+ countries. The company was formed in 2013 and saw tremendous growth in its seven years in operation. In the mining business, process optimization, controlling costs, and vertical integration are key. Crypto prices, difficulty adjustments, hardware availability – all can have an impact on profits. Co-founder & CEO Marco Streng shares how he built his company from the ground up, and is now expanding beyond crypto to address other profitable markets in cloud computing.Topics covered in this episode:Marco's background and how he started Genesis MiningThe biggest challenges they faced in the early daysThe company's cost structures and vertical integrationWhy they got into cloud computing and the applications of GPUsThe major shifts in the mining industry since they were foundedThe ecological footprint of miningWhy people would buy cloud mining and its profitability opportunitiesThe risk of mining centralizationBitcoin halving and the impacts of this on the mining industryMarco's views on Proof of StakeEpisode links: Genesis Mining websiteBitcoin Halving - What to Expect as a MinerGenesis GroupGenesis CloudGenesis Mining TwitterMarco Streng TwitterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/338

Aave is building a suite of non-custodial DeFi tools that allow users to earn interest on their deposits and borrow assets. Earlier this year, Aave released its Flash Loans feature, which is drumming up a lot of excitement in the ecosystem. Flash Loans have a number of applications like executing liquidations or refinancing and require no collateral on the part of the borrower. As we have seen since they were introduced, they have also been used by malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in some DeFi protocols. Nevertheless, this powerful tool is an important “money lego” component that enables various new use cases. Stani Kulechov, Aave Founder & CEO, and Marc Zeller, Integrations Lead, explain their vision for the Aave protocol as an essential part of the DeFi ecosystem.Topics covered in this episode:Stani and Marc's backgrounds and how they became involved in cryptoMarc's previous project, Variabl, and why it failedHow Aave came out of EthLendSwitching from an OTC model to a pooled modelYield hacking and other DeFi use casesWhat the Flash Loan is and why it is usefulHow one can do DeFi refinancing with Flash LoansThe Flash Loans attacks which happened in FebruarySmart contract security and how the community should response to attacksWhy privacy is DeFi is desirable, but also hard to doEpisode links: Aave Protocol websiteSneak Peek at Flash LoansFlash Loans - One Month InAave TwitterStani Kulechov TwitterMarc Zeller TwitterSponsors: Least Authority: Register for Security Sessions on April 30th to learn about security audits for your blockchain project - https://leastauthority.com/meetupShapeShift: ShapeShift is the leading crypto platform offering zero-commission trading - https://shapeshift.com/This episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/337

The Plasma Group was a not for profit research group focussing on layer-2 scaling on Ethereum. Optimism is a new Public Benefit Corporation that builds on the lessons of the Plasma research and is implementing Optimistic Rollups. This solution scales Eth 1.x and offers near-instant transaction finality on Ethereum, while providing over 100x transaction throughput. Jinglan Wang and Karl Floersch, co-founders of Optimism, explain the transition to this new entity and its goals moving forward.Topics covered in this episode:Jinglan and Karl's backgrounds and how they came to work togetherHow the Plasma Group and all of the Plasma research evolved into OptimismFunding of Optimism through Gitcoin, and the lessons learned from donation fundingWhat are Optimistic Rollup and how they achieve scalingHow to make an Optimistic Rollup chainOptimistic Rollups compared to other scaling solutions like Truebit, sharding and zkRollupsHow Optimistic Rollups fit within the Eth 2.0 roadmapThe role of an aggregator and how to become oneSubmitting transactions, the fees involved, and different finality levelsProblems that could arise from mining transactions on incorrect statesWho is using the OVM alpha and what's next for the projectEpisode links: Optimism WebsitePlasma Group WebsiteIntroducing the OVM - Plasma Group Blog""Ethereum Smart Contracts in L2: Optimistic Rollup - Plasma Group BlogA New Way to Scale - Optimized Optimistic Rollup — IDEX BlogOptimism TwitterJinglan Wang TwitterKarl Floersch TwitterSponsors: Least Authority: Register for Security Sessions on April 30th to learn about security audits for your blockchain project - https://leastauthority.com/meetupThis episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/336

AZTEC Protocol is a protocol that enables private transactions on Ethereum. At its core, AZTEC is an Ethereum contract, otherwise known as the AZTEC Cryptography Engine. The protocol uses a zero-knowledge proof system, allowing users to effectively create shielded representations of tokens, which can then be sent and redeemed for the underlying token. CEO and CTO, Tom Pocock and Zac Williamson have plans to build AZTEC into a fully functional DeFi stack with which all kinds of trades, swaps, and financial operations will be possible, with privacy.Topics covered in this episode:How Tom and Zac met and founded AZTEC ProtocolWhat AZTEC is and what problem is solvesHow AZTEC enabled transactions work in practice from a user perspectiveThe challenges of making DeFi systems like MakerDAO fully privateHow ERC-20 tokens could be issued as private tokensThe AZTEC trusted setup ignition ceremonyZKPs for privacy vs scaling solutionsGrowing the privacy ecosystem and getting people excited about privacyThe security guarantees of using AZTEC and other ZKP systemsEpisode links: AZTEC ProtocolAZTEC Protocol - SDKAZTEC Protocol - research papersAZTEC Protocol TwitterTom Walton-Pocock TwitterZac Williamson TwitterReset EverythingSponsors: Least Authority: Register for Security Sessions on April 30th to learn about security audits for your blockchain project - https://leastauthority.com/meetupStatus: A multi-purpose communication tool that combines a peer-to-peer messenger, secure crypto wallet, and web3 browser - https://status.im/This episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/335

Ryan Sean Adams is the Founder of Mythos Capital, a crypto fund and staking provider for “big fish” stakeholders. He also writes the popular DeFi newsletter, Bankless. In addition to providing excellent insights about the ecosystem, Bankless takes a very practical approach to leveraging DeFi. Ryan shares strategies and encourages readers to complete action items to utilize the full potential of decentralized finance and become bankless. He also hosts a podcast by the same name with David Hoffman.Topics covered in this episode:Ryan's background as a tech entrepreneur and how he got involved in cryptoLaunching ​Mythos Capital and the thesis behind this fundThe importance of becoming “bankless” to preserve self-sovereigntyWhat good analogies we can use to describe DeFi and the use of clear terminology to describe cryptoassetsThe power and advantage concentrated in centralized exchangesTrustless nature of Ethereum vs. BitcoinThe role of nation-states in the DeFi ecosystem as it continues to growThe idea that “Eth is money” and Eth as a store of value asset in EthereumThe impact of Covid19 on the economy and crypto marketsThe future of Ethereum and BitcoinEpisode links: Mythos CapitalBankless newsletterBankless podcastRyan Sean Adams on MediumMythos Capital on TwitterRyan Sean Adams on TwitterReset EverythingSponsors: Least Authority: Register for Security Sessions on April 30th to learn about security audits for your blockchain project - https://leastauthority.com/meetupThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/334

In another of our bonus episodes recorded at EthCC in Paris, we caught up with Jason Goldberg, CEO and Founder of Pepo and Ost, and James Dyer, Co-founder and Head of Product at Decrypt. At the time of recording Decrypt were about to announce they were launching their own token that rewards audience engagement, built on Ost technology. We chatted to Jason and James about this relationship, the problems solved by these monetization models, the link between Pepo and Decrypt tokens, and DeFi, and what the future holds for media and tokens.Topics covered in this episode:Background of Jason and JamesDecrypt's affiiation with ConsenSysThe issues and problems being solved with the respective monetization modelsThe levers Pepo are using to ensure users trust the platform and promote growth in the ecosystemThe reasons Decrypt chose Ost to build their platform onThe different components of the Ost toolkit and how these are leveragedThe technology involved with getting tokens to sponsor a 'season'How Pepo and Decrypt market themselvesThe bridges between Pepo and Decrypt tokens, and DeFiHow good UX standards of the wallet are reached, in particular the recovery wallet featureOvercoming the challenges of civil attacks and malicious actsThe future of media and tokens and what the new models look likeEpisode links: PepoOstDecryptOst Powers Decrypt Token for Media EngagementPepo TwitterOst TwitterDecrypt TwitterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture.

What will the World look like when capital is no longer scarce? In his book, World After Capital, Albert Wenger makes the case that technological progress throughout the ages (foraging, agrarian, industrial) brought a change in scarcities. As society transitions from the Industrial Age to the Age of Knowledge, scarcities will also shift – human attention will become our most valued scarce resource.Albert Wenger is a Managing Partner at the VC firm Union Square Ventures. A graduate of Harvard and MIT, he holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology. Before joining USV, he founded several companies in the aughts, and was the President of del.icio.us when the company was sold to Yahoo! in 2005.Topics covered in this episode:His motivations for writing “World After Capital”How the properties of near-zero marginal cost and universality are unique to the digital ageHuman attention as the primary scarce resource in the Knowledge AgeThe shift towards the Knowledge Age and the role of capital in the futureCovid19 as a catalyst for positive societal change, and things like universal basic incomePotential upsides for crypto in the current economic crisisThe asymmetry between technological progress and privacyEpisode links: Union Square VenturesWorld After CapitalContinuations by Albert WengerPutting the Economy in Suspended Animation: A ProposalWorld After Capital: Laying a Foundation (Regulation & Self-Regulation)Albert Wenger TwitterReset Everything Virtual Conference – April 29thSponsors: Status: A multi-purpose communication tool that combines a peer-to-peer messenger, secure crypto wallet, and web3 browser - https://status.im/This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/333

We caught up with Joseph Lubin, Founder of ConsenSys, at this year's EthCC. It has been over a year since he last came on the show, and we wanted to get his take on what has been happening in the ecosystem since then. We talked about the ConsenSys reorganization, interoperability between public and permission blockchains and the opportunities there, government-backed stable coins and the possibilities of nation-states building their own, DeFi and the phenomenal growth in the ecosystem, his predictions for 2020, and thoughts on the challenges facing Eth2.0.Topics covered in this episode:A look back on the past year since we last had Joe on the showThe ongoing ConsenSys reorganistaionJoe's views on the recent Twitter discussion that “Ether is the ConsenSys token”Interoperability between public and permission blockchains and the opportunities thereGovernment-backed stable coins and the possibilities of nation-states building their ownThe evolving naratives around EthereumJoesph's vision on how DeFi compliments the existing financial systemJoseph's predictions for 2020The challenges ahead for Eth 2.0Episode links: ConsenSysJoe Lubin on Epicenter (episode 269)EY and ConsenSys Announce Formation of Baseline Protocol Initiative to Make Ethereum Mainnet Safe and Effective for EnterprisesJoseph Lubin TwitterConsenSys TwitterReset Everything virtual eventThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/ethcc-joe-lubin

In this episode we are joined by David Hoffman, Chief of Operations at RealT, a company which tokenizes realestate assets into security tokens. He is also well known for numerous pieces he has written on Ethereum and DeFi and is co-host of the POV Crypto podcast. Hear us as we talk about his writings, how tokenizing real estate assets works, Bitcoin on Ethereum, the feedback loop problem and effects of the USD in DeFi, and a debate on whether Ether is an asset.Topics covered in this episode:What RealT is and how tokenizing real estate assets worksUsing the Uniswap protocol for tradingThe thesis behind David's “Defining Ether as an Asset” postThe crypto-economics economics of Bitcoin on Ethereum (tBTC, wBTC)The feedback loop problem in DeFiThe effects of the USD price on volatility in DeFiThe argument that Ether is a ”triple-point asset”The utility value of EthereumRebutting the argument the Ethereum will eat all of the world's valueEpisode links: RealTDefining Ether as an AssetEthereum is an Emergent StructureEther Is EquityEther: A New Model for MoneyPOV Crypto PodcastReset Everything EventRealT TwitterDavid Hoffman TwitterPOC Crypto Podcast TwitterSponsors: Nervos: If you’re a developer or project seeking funding for an innovative idea, check out the Nervos Grants Program today - https://www.nervos.org/grantsThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/332

This week we have a special episode on the entire globe's most talked about topic, the Corona Virus. We are joined by guest Ryan Selkis, CEO of Messari. Ryan was one of the first people in the space to start talking about Covid19 and has been very vocal on this subject on Twitter and his newsletter since the crisis began in January. We discuss how this virus has become so deadly and the current health and economic conditions, containment and protecting yourself, how the markets, crypto and startups have been affected, and what is yet to come.Topics covered in this episode:How Ryan become so interested in the Corona VirusThe current global health and economic impact of Covid19The provisions Ryan is making personally and on a company levelMessari's plans for virtual events over the coming weeksA deeper look into the global financial impact of Covid19What does this all have in store for startupsThe stimulus being put in place in the US and its monetary effectsThe current state of the marketsThe long term effects from a societal perspectiveRyan's prediction on what happens nextEpisode links: Ryan Selkis TwitterRyan's List of Must Follow Expert Accounts on TwitterTBI/Messari 2019-nCoV TrackingCoronavirus: Why You Must Act NowRIP Moon TimesMessari Corona Coverage & ResourcesMainnet Events, by MessariDonald G. McNeil Jr.Google Sheets - create and edit spreadsheets online, for free.Epicenter 2020 Audience SurveySponsors: Status: A multi-purpose communication tool that combines a peer-to-peer messenger, secure crypto wallet, and web3 browser - https://status.im/ShapeShift: ShapeShift is the leading crypto platform offering zero-commission trading - https://shapeshift.com/This episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/331