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

This episode was recorded at the third annual Ethereum Community Conference in Paris last week and we were joined by Gonçalo Sá, Co-founder of ConsenSys Diligence, Jérôme de Tychey, President of Ethereum France, and Cassidy Daly, Token Designer at Centrifuge. We discussed the issues surrounding centralization and DeFi in token governance, the security complexities of composability attacks like the ones we saw recently which leveraged flash loans, and of course, the coronavirus.Topics covered in this episode:Gonçalo and Cassidy discuss their talks at the EthCC eventThe current points of interest around centralization in DeFiDefining ecosystem decentralization guidelinesIssues with token governance in DAOsSecurity complexities of comparability attacks and the recent flash loansHow the Ethereum community is improving response times to attacksEthCC, hugs and coronavirusEpisode links:Ethereum Community Conference 3EthCC - TwitterJérôme de Tychey: “Opening Speech” at EthCCJérôme de Tychey: “Closing Speech” at EthCCFriederike Ernst: “Prediction Markets” at EthCCCassidy Daly & Abbey Titcomb: “Putting the 'De' back in 'DeFi'” at EthCCCassidy Daly: “The Gateway for Real-World Assets into the Blockchain Multiverse” at EthCCGonçalo Sá TwitterJérôme de Tychey TwitterCassidy Daly TwitterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Friederike Ernst. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/episodes/bonus-ethcc-3

We are joined by founder of TQ Tezos, Jacob Arluck. TQ Tezos is a company that works to advance the Tezos ecosystem by creating open source software and other public goods. It's been over two years since we last did an episode about Tezos and this was a good refresher on how that project is shaping up. We hear about the decentralized and permissionless nature of the Tezos infrastructure, the protocol development of Tezos, and how TQ is working to make Tezos more accessible.Topics covered in this episode:Decentralized nature of Tezos development and the teams that make up the ecosystemWho is funding Tezos protocol developmentPermissionless nature of the Tezos architecture and governance mechanismHow TQ is working to make Tezos more accessibleThe impressive number of development languages and issues around interoperability and comparabilityMichelson – the stack-based DSL (domain-specific language) and the shift towards Michelson 2.0The types of applications being built on TezosThe role of the Tezos Foundation and the Breitmans todayA look back on Tezos governance two years in, and the future of the protocolEpisode links: Amending TezosReflecting on Athens, the first self-amendment of TezosJacob Arluck MediumJacob Arluck TwitterTQ Tezos TwitterTezos TwitterEpicenter 2020 Audience SurveySponsors: 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/330

Joe Lallouz is the CEO of Bison Trails, who provide staking infrastructure for a variety of PoS blockchains. They have built a really impressive system for deploying nodes across multiple cloud services. In light of the $25m recently raised by Bison Trails, Joe shares their vision to build a better PoS ecosystem for everyone, the types of customer they run validators for, and the cutting edge stuff they're working on in terms of deployment, redundancy and key storage. We also hear their view on infrastructure centralization in PoS, protocol improvements, and Bison Trails' role with Libra Association.Topics covered in this episode:How Bison Trails got started and their vision to build a better proof of stake ecosystem for everyoneThe types of customer they run validators for and their approach to improving the productThe networks they support and their approach to adding new networksBison Trail’s technical infrastructure design and the cutting edge stuff they're working on in terms of deployment, redundancy and key storageHow the company thinks about infrastructure centralization in PoSThe company’s involvement in different crypto communities and discussions around protocol improvementsBison Trail’s role with Libra Association and how they are participating in the technical design of the protocolEpisode links: Bison Trails WebsiteBison Trails Raises $25M in Funding Round Led by Blockchain CapitalBison Trails - LibraBison Trails - Blockchain Capital BlogBison Trails TwitterJoe Lallous TwitterSponsors: ShapeShift: ShapeShift is the leading crypto platform offering zero-commission trading - https://shapeshift.com/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 Meher Roy & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/329

Income tax. Not a particularly exciting topic, especially when it comes to paying them. But something we all need to deal with nevertheless. We are all (or at least should be) aware of what our personal tax returns entail. But are you fully aware of the implications holding crypto can have on your tax filing?Clinton Donnelly, Founder of CryptoTaxAudit has done hundreds of tax returns for US citizens, both domestic and expatriated, and is an expert when dealing with filing crypto and Bitcoin taxes. He is also an Enrolled Agent, which means he meets the requirements of the IRS to represent taxpayers. Clinton has seen it all, and there's no situation too complicated. In our interview with Clinton, we explored the ins and outs of crypto taxes for US citizens – it was an information-rich conversation. US taxpayers who hold crypto will learn what they need to report to the IRS, as well as the practical, concrete actions one can take to make sure they are complying with the Tax Code of the United States of America.Topics covered in this episode:Your tax obligations are as a cryptocurrency holderWhat you need to report and how you can prepare a Bullet Proof tax returnHow to put yourself in ths shoes of a IRS tax auditorWhat to do if you get an IRS audit letter (hint don't panic)The biggest mistakes people make when filing their tax return and the risks they faceWhat to do if your crypto transaction history is messyWhat proactive steps you can take to improve your situationEpisode links: CryptoTaxAuditDonnelly Tax LawIRS Refused to Clarify Its Crypto Tax Guidance Isn’t Binding, US Watchdog SaysIRS Explains What Crypto Owners Must Know to File Taxes This YearClinton Donnelly, TwitterClinton Donnelly, LinkedinThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. This podcast episode was sponsored by CryptoTaxAudit.com.

Gabriel Shapiro is an independent attorney who has spent the last two years focusing on the tokens and crypto. He has published several pieces diving deep into US Securities Law, in which he shares his vision and philosophy for how Tokenized Networks should be regulated. In light of the recent “safe harbor” framework proposed by SEC Commissioner Hester Pierce, Gabriel offers his thoughts and suggests how these measures could be improved in a way that would benefit the entire industry.Topics covered in this episode:Gabriel’s background and how he got into the blockchain spaceWhat motivated Gabriel to write his series of postsWhy Securities Laws in the US appear more complex than other countriesThe classifications we give tokens - commodities, currenciesThe Howey Test and how it applies in the crypto spaceWhat the Exchange Act 1984 is and the impact this has on companies that issue securitiesWhy crypto networks not complying with the Securities Law aren’t being punishedWhat is wrong in the blockchain industry and what it has to do with Securities LawGabriel’s philosophy and how Securities Law should be applied when issuing tokens and launching networksThe Safe Harbor proposal - what it is, how it defines things like decentralization and network maturityGabriel’s thoughts on how things can be improvedEpisode links: ZeroLaw WebsiteTokenizing Corporate Capital StockAn open letter to SEC Commissioner Peirce on token safe harborsSize Does Matter — Part 1, Gabriel ShapiroSize Does Matter — Part 2, Gabriel ShapiroSize Does Matter — Part 3, Gabriel ShapiroSize Does Matter — Part 4, Gabriel ShapiroEthereum’s ‘Bazaar’ Development Model Will Pay Off in 2020Hester Peirce: Tell Me How to Improve My Safe Harbor ProposalPreston Byrne: Peirce’s Safe Harbor Proposal Would Be Hilarious if It Weren’t so SeriousZeroLaw TwitterGabriel Shapiro TwitterEpicenter Meetup at EthCCEpicenter 2020 Audience SurveySponsors: Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterNervos: 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 & Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/328

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is continuing on its remarkable path to the broad adoption of permissionless financial services. While many people celebrated passing $1 billion locked in DeFi products at the start of February 2020, only a week later, an additional $200 million had entered the ecosystem.DeFi products thus far have proven useful to early adopters with the resilience and knowhow required to navigate the often clunky user experience of Web 3.0. Companies like Argent are building the interface and user experience essential for the masses, with a vision to bring a billion people into the future of finance.Itamar Lesuisse, Co-founder and CEO of Argent, joins us to discuss his vision of the future of DeFi, and the necessity to build products that enable intuitive, secure, and permissionless access to finance for anyone with a smartphone.Topics covered in this episode:Itamar's background and journey to cryptoCreating a Web 3.0 product for mass adoptionRestoring a wallet with Argent GuardiansThe DeFi products accessible in Argent todayAccommodating DeFi products on protocols other than EthereumBuilding a business model for wallet productsWho Argent's users are, and the DeFi products they useSolving mass adoption of crypto with a frictionless on- and off-rampItamar's vision of the future of DeFi and the role Argent will playEpisode links:ArgentEarning interest has never been easier - MediumItamar Lesuisse - TwitterArgent - TwitterArgent - MediumDownload Argent and skip the waitlistEpicenter Meetup at EthCCEpicenter 2020 Audience SurveySponsors:Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterStatus: 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/327

While recent blockchain launches seem to leverage various Proof of Stake consensus mechanisms, some believe Satoshi’s consensus mechanism is optimal for distributed protocols. As decentralized ledgers jockey to become the chain of choice for enterprises looking to leverage blockchain technology, projects are looking to offer a solution that maximizes security, decentralization, and transaction throughput. Kevin Wang, a Co-founder of Nervos, joins us to discuss why Proof of Work was implemented as the consensus mechanism for the network. To enable greater flexibility for application developers, Nervos created a Common Knowledge Base (CKB) to focus on the security of assets, enabling a complementary layer of Virtual Machines (VM) to scale and facilitate computation.Kevin also discusses the active initiatives underway with the Nervos Grants Program to foster ecosystem development and encourage developers to evolve the permissionless network.Topics covered in this episode:Kevin’s background at IBM, his open source development, and journey to cryptoWhat the blockchain scene is like in Hangzhou, ChinaWhat’s unique about Nervos, and the importance of each layer within the networkIntroducing Nervos’ consensus mechanism, NC-MaxWhy Nervos decided to implement Proof of WorkExplaining the Common Knowledge Base (CKB), and its significance in the Nervos networkHow developer experience is in the Nervos ecosystemThe economic model of CKB, Nervos’ native tokenProgress of the network, and a call for developers to consider the recently announced Nervos Grants ProgramEpisode links: The Nervos Network homepageNervos Network on TwitterWhy We Love Nakamoto Consensus - Nervos BlogNervos CKB in a Nutshell - Nervos BlogNervos developer resourcesNervos Telegram channelNervos grant informationSponsors: Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/326

Like previous crypto winters, those actually building the ecosystem have been working diligently to create applications with industry-changing potential. The year 2020 may prove to be the year of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), with many exciting projects re-creating financial products common to the world of traditional finance, in the open and permissionless blockchain space. Synthetic assets enable exposure to the price action of an asset without actually holding the underlying asset. Kain Warick is the Founder of Synthetix, a company creating synthetic assets for DeFi, enabling exposure to fiat currencies, commodities (gold and silver), and cryptocurrencies. They have large aspirations to create synthetic assets for many more things, including traditional equities. Synthetic equities in DeFi is a massive opportunity that demands everyone's attention. Once traditional equities become accessible in DeFi, anyone in the world with internet access will be able to gain exposure to financial products currently only available to the privileged few with access to markets like the Nasdaq or NYSE.Topics covered in this episode:Kain’s eclectic background and his path to cryptoWhy the world needs synthetic assetsRetrospection on the Synthetix crowdsaleHow Synthetix worksThe SNX token and its governancePrice stability and the collateralization ratioThe price oracle, and a battle with front-running botsThe long-term vision of SynthetixHow Kain believes DEXs will compete with centralized exchanges in the futureEpisode links: Synthetix WebsiteSynthetix on TwitterThe Synthetix BlogSynthetix DashboardSynthetix on DiscordSynthetix on ViewBaseSynthetix 2020 RoadmapBending Metal on Amazon (Kain's sci-fi book)Sponsors: 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/grantsPepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterStatus: 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/325

Many within the cryptofinance industry have been patiently waiting for regulatory oversight to deliver the clarity required for institutional adoption. Recent updates by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which issues guidelines for 200 countries and territories, attempts to apply the same rules and regulations required of traditional finance to the world of virtual currencies. Yaya Fanusie's background as an intelligence analyst at the CIA, and research on the national security implications of cryptocurrencies, provide valuable insight into the necessity of regulation in the space to mitigate the risk of bad actors. Yaya discusses the history and evolution of “Know Your Customer” and where he believes the industry is heading as it faces policymakers who attempt to regulate such rapid technological change.Topics covered in this episode:Yaya’s background in the CIA and how he became interested in bitcoinBitcoin from a national security perspectiveHow terrorist organizations leverage cryptocurrencies for fundingThe evolution of AML/KYC and complicance regulation in the financial sectorThe cost of AML/KYC on business and societyTrying to regulate rapid technological changePrivacy in communication vs. Privacy in paymentsThe travel rule and how it affects cryptofinancial companiesCryptocurrencies over the next decadeEpisode links: Yaya Fanusie's websiteYaya Fanusie on TwitterFinCEN’s Regulations to Certain Business Models Involving Convertible Virtual CurrenciesFoundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) PodcastStronger AML Enforcement Might Actually Save Crypto (FDD)Crypto Rogues (FDD)Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (European Commission)Cryptocurrency AML StrategiesKYC in Stablecoins (Bits on Blocks)Rhythm of Wisdom PodcastSponsors: Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/324

The blockchain trilemma is the generally accepted concept that it's not possible to scale public and permissionless blockchains without compromising on security, decentralization, or both. While the industry seems focused on building Layer 2 solutions to scale the transaction capacity of public networks, Algorand believes it has solved the trilemma, offering a network that scales without compromise to security or decentralization. Silvio Micali, Algorand's Founder and Head of Research, as well as the company's CEO, Steven Kokinos, discuss the project's background, recent protocol upgrades, and how Algorand will create a great ecosystem for developers.Topics covered in this episode:Silvio’s path from academia to blockchain entrepreneurshipWhat Algorand addresses that other blockchains don’tThe blockchain trilemma: security, decentralization, scalabilityHow Algorand mitigates risk present on other blockchainsThe TEAL smart contract language and how it's uniqueBuilding primitives: atomics swaps, asset issuance, and a smart contract language called TEALApplications and use-cases for AlgorandThe Algorand FoundationWhat’s next for AlgorandEpisode links: Algorand WebsiteWhitepaperAlgorand on TwitterAlgorand on MediumAlgorand on YouTubeAlgorand Year in Review (YouTube)Sponsors: Status: A multi-purpose communication tool that combines a peer-to-peer messenger, secure crypto wallet, and web3 browser - https://status.im/Cosmos: Compete to win 100,000 ATOM by building and running Cosmos Zones - https://cosmos.network/goz/Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/323