The DeFi Decoded Podcast

Join Alex Tapscott as he decodes the world of crypto with special guest Eric Piscini, CEO of Hashgraph. Listen in as they discuss Eric's early work building Deloitte's blockchain practice, why enterprises initially leaned toward private and permissioned systems, how today's focus has shifted from "buying blockchain" to buying real solutions, what makes Hedera's 32-member Governing Council model distinctive (including governance, validators, and industry-spanning adoption), how regulatory clarity in the U.S. and Europe is shaping institutional engagement, and how interoperability, hybrid architectures (public + private), stablecoins, tokenization, and developer traction could define the next phase of enterprise blockchain adoption.

Join Alex Tapscott as he decodes the world of crypto with special guest Thomas Uhm, Chief Commercial Officer at the Jito Foundation and Advisor to Jito Labs. Listen in as they discuss what Abu Dhabi Finance Week and Solana Breakpoint reveal about institutional crypto sentiment, why ADGM is emerging as a serious hub for digital asset regulation and capital formation (with major players spanning BlackRock, Circle, Tether and more), how Solana's market structure is evolving through Jito's block-building, priority-fee "tips," and the upcoming BAM framework for application-controlled execution, what MEV is and how networks can reduce harmful forms of it while still securing validators, why Solana's performance under large DDoS pressure reinforces the "internet capital markets" thesis, and what 2026 could bring—from JitoSOL liquid-staking ETFs (and an options-driven structured products wave) to Breakpoint landing in London.

Join Andrew Young as he decodes the world of crypto with special guest Rachel Mayer, VP of Product at Arc. Listen in as they discuss Circle's launch of Arc as a USDC-centric layer one network designed for predictable gas fees, instant finality, and compliant privacy, the rapid shift in stablecoin regulation and the impact of the GENIUS Act, the rise of non-USD stablecoins and tokenized FX markets, how RWAs, Morpho-style vault structures, and tokenized treasuries could reshape global capital flows, and why Arc's architecture, interoperability strategy, and potential transition to delegated proof-of-stake position it as a core platform for the next wave of institutional onchain finance.

Join Alex Tapscott and Andrew Young as they decode the world of crypto with special guest Federico Brokate, Global Head of Business Development at 21Shares. Listen in as they discuss the rapid rise of Bitcoin ETFs from IBIT's record-breaking launch to today's shifting mix of retail and institutional holders, the tension and interplay between DATs and ETFs as vehicles for crypto exposure, how new SEC generic listing standards have opened the door to products on Solana, Ethereum, XRP, Doge and even staked assets, the case for index and basket strategies such as top-10 ex-Bitcoin products and future active and factor-based crypto ETFs, why this cycle's "Bitcoin up, everything else lagging" dynamic is reshaping how investors think about diversification and power-law outcomes in digital assets, and how jurisdictions from Brazil and South Korea to Saudi Arabia are building regulated ETF frameworks that could broaden global access to the asset class.

Join Alex Tapscott and Andrew Young as they decode the world of crypto. Listen in as they discuss the recent selloff in AI-led equity markets and how shifts in Fed cut expectations and data-center-driven capex are rippling into Bitcoin and crypto, the White House's AI "Genesis" push and the emergence of AI as systemically important infrastructure, the rise of AI-generated "slop" content and hyper-personalized ads versus a potential backlash toward tech detoxing, why Bitcoin still looks structurally attractive amid ongoing fiscal debasement and generational rotation from gold, and how improving fundamentals in Ethereum and DeFi, mispriced app tokens, and the evolution of DATs and ETF-like structures could create asymmetric opportunities for institutional investors.

Join Alex Tapscott as he decodes the world of crypto with special guest Seamus Rocca, Executive Director and CEO of Xapo Bank. Listen in as they discuss Xapo's evolution from the original Bitcoin cold-storage pioneer to a fully regulated private bank, its focus on serving emerging market clients seeking safety in Bitcoin and U.S. dollars, the integration of stablecoins and yield-bearing accounts as a bridge between crypto and traditional banking, the implications of Bitcoin ETFs and digital asset treasuries for institutional adoption, and how Xapo's conservative, Bitcoin-first model is redefining what private banking looks like in the digital age.

Dive into the recent crypto flash crash, where a single tweet sparked a liquidation cascade, revealing vulnerabilities in leverage and liquidity. Discover why Bitcoin and Ethereum are recovering while altcoins struggle due to flawed tokenomics and pressure from exchange listings. Learn about the rise of on-chain trading platforms and how TradFi integration may address liquidity issues. Plus, explore the significance of new ETFs for institutional access and the evolving dynamics of digital-asset-treasuries as they navigate a turbulent market.

Join Alex Tapscott and Andrew Young as they decode the world of crypto with special guest Nick Cannon, VP of Growth at Gauntlet. Listen in as they discuss the rapid institutionalization of DeFi and the rise of onchain asset management, Gauntlet's evolution from a risk modeling firm to a leading vault curator overseeing $1.6B in capital, the convergence of tokenized real-world assets through partnerships with Securitize and Apollo, shifting risk dynamics and security trends across DeFi protocols, the implications of the U.S. Genius Act for stablecoins and yield-bearing assets, and how Solana and other emerging ecosystems are driving the next phase of onchain growth and institutional participation.

Join Alex Tapscott and Andrew Young as they decode the world of crypto with special guest Tim Draper, Founder and Managing Partner of Draper Associates. Listen in as they discuss the forces reshaping our world. Tim shares why he views Bitcoin as a hedge against bad governance, how founders should diversify their treasuries after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and why stablecoins are accelerating crypto adoption. Tim explores the next frontiers of innovation, from healthcare and finance to space and transportation, and how AI, gene editing, and blockchain are driving a new wave of entrepreneurship. They also dive into liquid democracy, prediction markets, and the rise of decentralized networks in a multipolar world. The episode closes on a hopeful note: with blockchain's "perfect trust," the future of global commerce looks faster, fairer, and more open than ever.

Join Alex Tapscott and Andrew Young as they decode the world of crypto. Listen in as they discuss the fading premiums and potential consolidation wave in DATs following the Strive-Semler merger this past week, the liquidity and centralization risks emerging in altcoin DATs, the evolving debate over stablecoin regulation from the GENIUS Act to the CLARITY Act as bank lobbying intensifies, how banks might fit into a stablecoin-driven financial system, the surge of crypto IPOs with Circle, Gemini and BitGo, the custody economics underpinning institutional adoption, Coinbase's forthcoming Base token and what it could mean for valuation, and more.