The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

This week, we spoke with Rob Viglione, Co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, to explore the groundbreaking potential of Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) in safeguarding digital privacy, bridging TradFi and DeFi, and creating income streams for consumers that empower them through the ownership of their own digital data. From balancing transparency and onchain privacy to the intersection of AI and Web3, Rob dives into the critical role cryptography will play in reshaping how we share and protect data. Learn how ZKPs can combat data misuse, empower individuals to monetize their information, and reimagine compliance as we step into a world where privacy is a fundamental human right. Key Highlights:1. How ZKPs protect medical records and financial history2. Will banks adapt, or become irrelevant?3. The role of cryptography in privacy-centric AI systemsDon’t miss this thought-provoking discussion packed with insights on the future of data, privacy, and decentralized innovation. Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro00:07 Podcast Teaser00:52 Hero Quote00:59 Introduction to Rob Viglione01:34 The beauty of ZKPs02:40 How to balance transparency and privacy onchain04:00 Why it’s so easy to overshare data04:50 Living in an age of constant data leaks06:34 The concept of wealth is fundamentally different now07:33 Google adopts ZKP to verify age09:00 A world of a trillion proofs09:30 How can Web3 handle growing volumes of proofs?10:09 Will Web2 relinquish their chokehold on our data?11:52 Monetizing data as an incentive to online privacy12:45 New opportunities for earning a living by monetizing your data14:14 The intersection of crypto and AI16:17 ZKPs and data protection18:00 ZKPs and AI in medical records and financial history20:18 How can ZKPs act as a safeguard against misuse in AI22:15 Hackers and scammers are a certainty; how do we fight them?22:36 Cryptography, ZKPs, and privacy-centric AI systems?25:13 Why is privacy a human right?26:25 Institutions, privacy, and Web326:45 Institutions coming onchain28:30 Better communicating privacy as a human right in the context of Web330:30 Will ZKPs change the way people interact with the internet?32:11 Marketing in the age of AI33:24 ZKPs and KYC35:40 Why ZKPs are bad for bad actors37:38 Government regulation vs. Web3 companies regulating the industry themselves39:00 It doesn’t make sense for politicians to be anti-crypto anymore41:53 Can ZKPs redefine compliance and how it’s enforced?43:13 How can ZKP tech support institutional privacy and consumer data?44:45 TradFi onchain as a stepping stone to DeFi46:39 Lightning round! Favorite existing use case for ZKP46:54 Lightning round! Favorite potential use case for ZKP48:04 Lightning round! Best advice for keeping your data safe online48:49 Closing statements and where to follow Rob

In this discussion, Megan Knab, cofounder and CEO of Franklin, dives into the transformative power of crypto payroll and stablecoins. With a background in finance, she skillfully tackles issues like crypto volatility and compliance with labor laws. The conversation spans the significant role of stablecoins in reshaping economies and how they can streamline payroll processes. Megan also sheds light on the balance between innovation and regulation, emphasizing the need for transparency and the potential of decentralized finance to enhance financial accessibility.

Shaw Walters, Founder of Eliza Labs and creator of an innovative OS for AI agents, shares his insights on the convergence of AI and cryptocurrency. He discusses how AI can enhance collaboration in organizations and transform the investment landscape through decentralized finance. Walters advocates for 'fairer-than-fair' token launches and emphasizes the need for genuine utility over hype. He also explores the challenges of market manipulation and the crucial role of community-driven innovation in shaping a better future for investing.

Patrick Amadon, an artist and digital activist, delves into the critical themes of digital privacy, censorship, and decentralized AI. He discusses how decentralized platforms, like Ethereum, can empower individuals and artists, while exploring the dangers of centralized AI. Amadon emphasizes the importance of digital disobedience in countering authoritarianism and protecting free speech. He highlights the need for innovative solutions to safeguard privacy and argues for a renewed focus on data ownership in the evolving tech landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Gus Grillasca, a cypherpunk and artist known for his work with Bitcoin Ordinals and NFTs, dives into the complex interplay between cryptocurrency and global economics. He critiques inflation as banker propaganda and shares his own journey navigating the challenges of finance in Europe as a Mexican artist. Topics include the future of Bitcoin as a treasury asset, the potential of crypto in Latin America, and the risks of meme coins compared to stable investments. Gus also emphasizes the importance of financial literacy in fostering blockchain adoption.

In this insightful discussion, Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise and a thought leader in crypto assets, dives into the transformative potential of Bitcoin and crypto ETFs. He analyzes how economic factors like tariffs and interest rates impact the cryptocurrency market, emphasizing Bitcoin's evolution from a risk asset to a safe haven. The conversation also touches on Ethereum ETFs, investor demand influenced by staking, and how index-based investing is reshaping access to digital assets. The future looks bright, with significant growth on the horizon for crypto investments.

Amira Valliana, Head of Deepin at the Solana Foundation, discusses her background in policy from the White House to the blockchain space. She highlights how decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) can revolutionize real-world applications and reshape traditional business models. Valliana explores the intersections of blockchain and policy, the Helium project for improved internet access, and the incredible potential of decentralized AI in overcoming big tech challenges. Tune in for valuable insights into the future of decentralized infrastructure.

Lending and borrowing onchain has quickly become one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing sectors in Decentralized Finance (DeFi). Among the leaders in this space is Maple Finance, a platform that has already facilitated over $800M in assets, showcasing the growing adoption and practicality of tokenized private credit for institutions. By bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems, Maple Finance is demonstrating how institutions can leverage blockchain technology for more efficient and transparent lending solutions.In an insightful conversation, Camila Russo sat down with Maple Finance’s CEO, Sid Powell, to delve into the potential of real-world assets (RWAs) within DeFi, the evolving role of stablecoins in this ecosystem, and strategies to unlock new lending markets onchain. Their discussion highlights the rapid innovations taking place in the DeFi space and sheds light on the future of decentralized credit markets.

Explore the future of intellectual property on the blockchain in this insightful interview with Jason Zhao. Discover how Story Protocol is revolutionizing the way creators protect, share, and license their work. By bringing IP and copyright onchain, the protocol streamlines the process, ensures compliance with state and national laws, and secures rights in an innovative, transparent manner. Perfect for Web3 creators and blockchain developers ready to push boundaries and unlock new possibilities.Chapters00:00 - Intro: Jason Zhao, Co-founder and Chief Protocol Officer at Story Protocol 00:45 - How Story Protocol is revolutionizing IP management on blockchain 01:16 - Case study: Acquiring Justin Bieber's "Peaches" song rights 02:34 - The vision: Making IP as programmable as stablecoins 05:15 - Jason's background: From AI at DeepMind to blockchain 08:58 - Story's technical architecture: Custom Layer 1 blockchain 11:13 - Proof of Creativity Protocol explained 13:15 - Storing full IP rights and metadata (beyond NFTs) 18:47 - Legal framework and enforceable IP licenses 21:36 - Mainstream IP vs. native Story Protocol IP 24:07 - DeFi integration: Royalties and liquid IP markets 27:31 - How creators monetize their work on Story 29:50 - Tokenomics and the Big Bang staking event 33:51 - Roadmap: IP Portal and future upgrades 37:23 - David Goyer (Dark Knight trilogy) launching new IP on Story 38:28 - Fraud prevention and attestation services 45:02 - Staking mechanics and validator system 49:08 - Meme coins and IP-backed tokens 54:20 - The long-term vision: "HTTP for IP"✨ Check out our new website ✨https://thedefiant.io/🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pric...🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers herehttps://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_sourc...✊ Follow The DefiantTwitter:  / defiantnews  Discord:  / discord   Instagram:  / thedefiant.io  Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews📬 Contact our Newsroomeditorial@thedefiant.io🤝 Sponsorships & Partnershipssponsors@thedefiant.io#TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

Will Robinson, VP of Engineering at Coinbase, shares insights on bridging centralized and decentralized finance. He discusses the launch of Bitcoin-backed USDC loans via Morpho, a game changer for Bitcoin holders seeking liquidity. Robinson introduces cbBTC as a new alternative to WBTC, explaining its advantages and mechanics. He emphasizes the significance of cross-chain interoperability and safety in lending. The conversation also touches on Coinbase's mission to democratize finance and the evolving role of meme coins in the crypto landscape.