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

Ye Zhang, co-founder of Scroll, discusses the efficiency of EVM-compatible zero knowledge provers and the timeline of ideating Scroll. They also talk about the challenges of hardware limitations for zk tech and the decision to make Scroll EVM-compatible. The podcast explores building the Scroll community, data availability, validiums and security tradeoffs, L2 bridges and interoperability, and the roadmap of Scroll.

Charles d'Haussy, CEO of dYdX Foundation, discusses the recent migration of dYdX V4 to a Cosmos appchain. Topics covered include order book decentralization, validator distribution, user experience, perpetual futures, dYdX's supported assets and permissionless markets, DeFi innovations, MEV mitigation, and the intersection of crypto and AI.

Nick Johnson, co-founder of Ethereum Name Service (ENS), discusses the current state of decentralized naming services, ENS use cases, interacting with Web2 DNS, L2 compatibility, bridging ENS to non-EVM L2s, Coinbase's cb.id, ENS and on-chain privacy, and the future of ENS.

The podcast discusses the issue of liquidity fragmentation in different blockchains and how Chainflip's JIT AMM aims to solve it. Simon Harman shares his background in crypto, the complexities of slippage and price risk in DeFi trading, the bridging functionality of Chainflip, the importance of having limited pairs for efficient liquidity, the role of validators in the Chainflip system, and the value of focus and long-term expectations in the crypto industry.

Guy Young, Founder of Ethena, discusses the stablecoin landscape and their synthetic eUSD, backed by staked ETH. Topics covered include stablecoin history, eUSD mechanics, insurance fund, depegging impact, CEX vs. DEX, fixed return rates, and risk factors.

Evgeny Yurtaev, CEO of Zerion, discusses challenges of building Web3 wallets, improving user experience while maintaining security, seed phrase storage, protecting users and potential attack vectors, supported blockchains and seamless bridging, MPC, and business models for Web3 wallets.

Back in 2017, there was no DeFi as we know it today, yet MakerDAO were already envisioning and building towards what they thought to be a certainty. The backbone of DeFi is represented by stable coins, and MakerDAO quickly understood this: they set out to build a decentralised stable coin, $DAI (and its precursor $SAI). Being collateral-backed, the smart contract needs to know the value of that collateral, but any off-chain price data is not readily available on-chain. This is where oracles come in and provide data feeds on-chain. MakerDAO’s internal oracle has been active since 2017 on Ethereum and has recently branched out, forming Chronicle. By using aggregated Schnorr signatures, Chronicle solves the problem of oracle cost-efficient scaling.We were joined by Niklas Kunkel, founder of Chronicle, to discuss the challenges and tradeoffs that oracles regularly face, and how Chronicle is solving them, continuing the ethos of early MakerDAO.Topics covered in this episode:Niklas’ background and the early days of MakerDAOHow MakerDAO evolved over time and the adoption of DAIMakerDAO’s core principlesWhy Chronicle branched out from MakerDAOOracle challenges & tradeoffsOracle validatorsBusiness model for oraclesProviding oracle services to different blockchainsSchnorr signaturesChronicle’s supported chains and oracle offeringsReal-world assets (RWA) and credit delegationEpisode links: Niklas Kunkel on TwitterChronicle on TwitterMaker DAO on TwitterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture & Felix Lutsch. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/516

Data immutability and transparency are key features that define a blockchain’s public ledger. However, while transactions are indeed transparent, information surrounding the blockchain’s infrastructure layer is not readily available. Since Ethereum’s Merge to PoS and the introduction of staking delegation, actionable data on the validator and client status quos became crucial for the wellbeing of the network. Rated Network aims to build a reliable ‘reputation system for machines’ forming the infrastructure layer, through better data curation and improved transparency.We were joined by Elias Simos, founder of Rated Network, to discuss data interpretation in blockchain infra and what conclusions can be drawn about validator performance, client diversity & much more.Topics covered in this episode:Elias’ background and founding Rated NetworkProviding transparency in blockchain infrastructure layerTapping into Ethereum’s data. The subjectivity of performanceThe consumer profile of Rated dataEthereum’s credible neutrality & client diversityEIP-7514 & managing Ethereum’s state bloatGovernance: dev council vs. on-chainExpanding Rated to other PoS networksEpisode links:Elias Simos on TwitterRated Network on TwitterThis episode is hosted by Felix Lutsch. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/515

Zero knowledge proof systems have found tremendous cryptographic utility in scaling blockchains, due to their ability to prove computational integrity, succinctly. However, despite recent advancements in ZKP R&D, their construction still requires special prover circuits. Their complexity is what gatekeeps zero knowledge technology to a select few astute teams. =nil; Foundation aims to challenge this status quo by providing an alternative through their zkLLVM circuit compiler and zk proof marketplace. By commoditising the production of custom proofs, =nil; Foundation unlocks an entire new range of applications employing zero knowledge technology. We were joined by Misha Komarov, co-founder of =nil; Foundation, to discuss the use cases and challenges of building the first marketplace for (outsourced) zero knowledge proofs.Topics covered in this episode:The vision behind =nil; FoundationUse cases for zk techzkLLVM circuit compilerHomomorphic encryption, ZKPs & privacy solutionsZKP marketplaceWhy proof markets (currently) run on DBMSMarketplace actorsProof generators vs. PoW minersInfrastructure challengesFuture roadmapEpisode links: Mikhail Komarov on Twitter=nil; Foundation on TwitterThis episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/514

Apart from its numerous financial applications, blockchain technology could also disrupt the gaming industry, causing a paradigm shift towards true digital ownership, one that would create new incentive models for both players, as well as developers. Up until recently, technological barriers seemed cumbersome for most game developers, but the advancements of layer 2 scaling solutions made on-chain integrations viable. Immutable set out to create an all-in-one platform for developers, empowering them to create a lush gaming ecosystem to seamlessly onboard Web2 players.We were joined by Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable, to discuss the state of Web3 gaming and Immutable's contribution to this paradigm shift.Topics covered in this episode:Robbie’s background and founding ImmutableThe pitfalls of centralised in-game asset marketplacesWeb3 game development challengesOnboarding the Web2 gaming sceneImmutable’s value propIntegrating Polygon’s zkEVM with the STARK-powered Immutable XImmutable SDK & DevExAppStore’s Web3 policiesImmutable PassportEnforceable royalties$IMXEpisode links:Robbie Ferguson on TwitterImmutable on TwitterGods Unchained on TwitterGuild of Guardians on TwitterThis episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/511