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

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

Governance within any community has been a work in progress for humanity's history. The blockchain ecosystem continues to develop and offer an alternative to today's centralized powers. With this, distributed projects and technologies will need to enact clear governance to ensure viable competition with the streamlined decision-making processes present in today's institutions. The absence of codified governance in Bitcoin may be one of its most significant traits, signaling to the world its predictability due to its inability to change drastically. New projects like Edgeware, however, hope to encode the rules of governance on-chain and ensure a transparent process for stakeholders wishing to participate. Edgeware is a smart contract platform built on Polkadot's Substrate. Focused on developing community-owned governance tools, Edgeware is a distributed project where participants use the tools themselves to vote, delegate, and fund each other to upgrade the network. While initially developed by Commonwealth Labs, Edgeware at launch will be entirely managed by the community, which holds 90% of the tokens and resulting influence.Topics covered in this episode:What attracted Dillon to crypto and why he co-founded Commonwealth LabsMulti-chain governanceHow Edgeware is uniqueBuilding Edgeware on Polkadot’s SubstrateRetrospection from the soft-launch of EdgewareWhat a “lockdrop” is, and why Edgeware had oneThe issues and controversy around the Edgeware launch and lockdropThe zero-day fork of Edgeware, StraightedgeThe future of EdgewareEpisode links: Edgeware HomepageCommonwealth HomepageRelaunch: A Clean Genesis for EdgewareEdgeware White PaperEdgeware blockchain launch gets hijacked by rival fork - DecryptEdgeware Participation StatisticsStraightedgeHey Straightedge - Conspiratus episodeEdgeware on TwitterEdgeware on DiscordEdgeware White PaperSponsors: 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/322

Charlie Shrem became fascinated with Bitcoin in 2011 but grew frustrated with the hassle of buying it from the leading exchange at the time, Mt. Gox. To make the process faster and more convenient, Charlie created BitInstant in 2012. BitInstant quickly grew and by 2013 became responsible for processing a third of all Bitcoin transactions. This was with the help of Roger Ver and the Winklevoss twins, who were his seed investors, and Erik Voorhees, who led their marketing efforts. The success of BitInstant was short-lived. In a time where Bitcoin's primary applications were price speculation and buying things on the Silk Road, Charlie spent time in prison after a lack of customer due-diligence attracted the attention of the law enforcement. Our conversation with Charlie recounts the Bitcoin industry at its beginning, his time in prison, and what he is doing now that he's able to continue his work as a Bitcoin advocate.Topics covered in this episode:Learning of Bitcoin on IRC in 2011The Bitcoin community in the early daysCollaborating with competitors to grow the ecosystemFrustration with Bitcoin infrastructure in 2011Why Charlie decided to create BitInstantMeeting Roger Ver, Erik Voorhees, and the Winklevoss TwinsCharlie’s time in prison and its effect on his personal lifePodcasting and daily life after prisonEpisode links: Untold Stories WebsiteUntold Stories on Apple PodcastsBitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and RedemptionCharlie and Best Selling Author Ben Mezrich Discuss Bitcoin's History60 Minutes Podcast - Sunday, May 19, 2019 with Charlie ShremCrypto.IQCharlie Shrem on TwitterSponsors: 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 & Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/321

With global commerce and finance continuing to digitize, the world’s borders are seemingly becoming more fluid, even as physical walls are built. How does this globalization affect the sovereignty of nation-states and their ability to democratically direct their own economic future? In a panel moderated by Epicenter host, Sunny Aggarwal, we explore the interpretation of monetary policy from a global context, discuss the morality of impacting other nations, and the potential for new technologies to offer alternatives in a dollar-dominated world. The conversation includes Jae Kwon, CEO of Tendermint; John P Conley, Professor at Vanderbilt University; Steve Randy Waldman, Author of Interfluidity, and Baek Kim, Senior Associate at Hashed.Topics covered in this episode:A moral perspective on making monetary policy that is beneficial to one nation, and detrimental to anotherWho matters when determining externalities in governmental policiesThe possibility of a fiscal union without a monetary oneUSD stablecoins promoting the notion that the US should control the world’s monetary policyComparing the Libra to the EuroEpisode links: Dani Rodrik's Blog: The inescapable trilemma of the world economyEuro and Rodrik's TrilemmaInterfluidity Blog - Steve Randy WaldmanJohn Conley Macro WTF TalkSteve Randy Waldman Macro WTF TalkJae Kwon | TwitterSteve Randy Waldman | TwitterJohn P Conley | TwitterJohn P. Conley Personal WebsiteSponsors: Pepo: Meet the people shaping the crypto movement - https://pepo.com/epicenterThis episode is hosted by Sunny Aggarwal. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/320