The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, Uniswap founder Hayden Adams joins us right as the UNIfication (Unification) proposal has moved to a final governance vote—a sweeping plan from Uniswap Labs + the Uniswap Foundation that would activate protocol fees, introduce a programmatic UNI burn, and realign how value accrues across the Uniswap ecosystem. We go deep on what’s actually inside the proposal (and what isn’t), why this moment feels like the end of one DeFi era and the start of another, and how years of “regulation by enforcement” shaped Uniswap’s product decisions—down to Hayden’s firsthand experience with debanking, legal pressure, and the chilling effect on builders. What we coverWhy UNIfication is being pitched as a once-in-a-cycle reset for UniswapThe real mechanics of the fee switch(es) (plural) and how the “token jar” burn design worksThe perceived tension between UNI token holders vs. equity/VC value capture and whether this vote changes thatWhy Uniswap wants to shift from “best frontend” to protocol-first infrastructure (APIs, ecosystem engineering, aggregator hooks)How Unichain fits into the broader strategy—and what “near-free trading” could mean in practiceGovernance backlash: is Uniswap becoming more centralized or more decentralized?Context: the vote is live! Hayden shared that the UNIfication proposal is now in the final governance vote stage.Subscribe for more founder-level conversations at the intersection of DeFi, regulation, and market structure.

In this episode of The Defiant podcast, Camila Russo sits down in Buenos Aires (Devconnect) with Marissa Foster (Product, Ethereum Foundation) and Yoav Weiss (security researcher, Ethereum Foundation) to unpack The Trustless Manifesto and the Ethereum Interop Layer (EIL), why “trust assumptions” are quietly creeping into Ethereum’s stack, and what it will take to preserve Ethereum’s core values while making UX actually usable.We dig into the hidden places users are forced to trust intermediaries, from cross-chain interoperability and solvers to something most people never question: RPCs. Then we get practical: the guests walk through the EIL, a new approach to cross-chain UX that aims to deliver one-signature interop without introducing new trust assumptions, plus why the wallet becomes the center of the user’s security model.Finally, we zoom out: how should wallets warn users, what does “walkaway test” really mean, and why institutions may end up being one of the strongest forces pushing crypto toward less counterparty risk.Topic list: • Why Ethereum’s next phase is “mainstream adoption” — and why that raises the stakes • The Trustless Manifesto: what it is, why it was written, and what it’s trying to prevent • Where trust assumptions sneak in: bridges, interop protocols, sequencers, oracles • RPCs as a giant blind spot: “we trust RPCs blindly” and why that can have real-world consequences • Trustlessness vs UX: why “great values + bad UX” can still lose users • “You can’t build something trustless on top of something that isn’t trustless” • What users should demand — and why it can’t require everyone to be a security expert • How “beat” frameworks help: L2BEAT, upcoming interop criteria, and Walletbeat • The walkaway test: what happens if the team/server/intermediary disappears (or turns hostile)? • L2 sequencers: permissioned vs permissionless, censorship risk, and practical exit paths • Cloud dependencies (Cloudflare outage) and what it reveals about today’s “decentralized” apps • Ethereum Interop Layer (EIL) explained: one-signature, wallet-centric, self-executing interop • Why “solvers open the envelope” — and how EIL avoids that trust model • Liquidity providers, vouchers, and how users pay gas cross-chain without the usual friction • Standards and coordination: wallets, L2s, and dapps all need to meet in the middle • The HTTP analogy: Ethereum today as the “pre-HTTP internet” and what seamless interop could unlock • Institutions and counterparty risk: why big players may push hardest for trust-minimized infrastructure • What’s next: testnet learnings, audits, standards, wallet integrations, and 2026 mainnet targetExplore The Defiant ✨📰 Websitehttps://thedefiant.io/✉️ Free Daily Newsletter https://thedefiant.io/newsletter/defi...🤑 Weekly Premium Newsletter https://thedefiant.io/newsletter/defi...✊ Follow The DefiantX/Twitter: https://x.com/DefiantNews📬 Contact our Newsroomeditorial@thedefiant.io🤝 Sponsorships & Partnershipssponsors@thedefiant.io#TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

In a fascinating conversation, Morgan Krupetsky, VP of OnChain Finance at Ava Labs, dives into Avalanche's mission to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain. He discusses how Avalanche’s architecture supports unique blockchain designs for institutions and explores the rising trend of tokenization of real-world assets. Morgan highlights the integration of AI with blockchain, the importance of native interoperability, and how stablecoins act as a gateway for efficient on-chain investments, solidifying Avalanche as a leader in the evolving multi-chain landscape.

In a riveting discussion, Robert Leshner, founder of Superstate and co-founder of Compound, shares his vision for bringing real-world assets on-chain. He highlights the growing institutional interest in tokenized T-bills and equities. Leshner argues that regulatory changes have unlocked a wave of tokenization, ensuring both canonical and wrapped stocks can thrive. The conversation delves into how DeFi can serve as the backbone of traditional finance, while exploring the evolution and future of tokenized markets. Buckle up for a journey into on-chain finance!

In this discussion, Alex Katz, CEO of Kerberus, a Web3 security company, tackles the notion that 'Do Your Own Research' is no longer enough in a rapidly evolving crypto landscape filled with sophisticated scams. He highlights the risks of mobile crypto, such as address poisoning and malware, while advocating for automated security solutions that protect users by default. Katz also shares insights on Kerberus' track record of zero-user losses and envisions a future where robust safeguards allow everyone, including the elderly, to navigate Web3 safely.

Explore the dynamic journey of Avalanche as it navigates through market fluctuations, focusing on rebuilding DeFi protocols. Hear about groundbreaking upgrades like Octane and Etna aimed at reducing fees, and the advancements in Interchain Messaging for enhanced blockchain interoperability. Discover how Avalanche is targeting institutional clients by providing tailored Layer 1 solutions and strategizing to draw in traditional finance flows. The emergence of a robust on-chain financial system combines lending, staking, and trading, setting the stage for mainstream adoption.

May Zabaneh, VP of Product for Crypto at PayPal, dives into the exciting world of PYUSD, PayPal's new stablecoin. She explains how it aims to lower cross-border payment costs and enhance financial inclusion. Their proprietary stablecoin supports faster transactions within PayPal and Venmo, positioning itself for international expansion. The conversation also touches on merchant adoption, the blend of DeFi with traditional finance, and the vital role of interoperability in digital payments. Zabaneh even hints at how AI can revolutionize commerce with stablecoins!

Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands and a visionary in Web3 and gaming, shares insights on digital identity and the future of altcoins. He unveils plans for a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, emphasizing its potential to combat digital fraud. Siu discusses the creation of the Mocaverse, a system allowing verifiable identities across chains, and argues that altcoins might collectively eclipse Bitcoin due to their innovation and utility. He also predicts that upcoming games, like GTA 6, will drive mainstream adoption of crypto in gaming.

Ahmad Shadid, a former quant trader turned founder of O.xyz, explores groundbreaking concepts in AI and decentralized networks. He shares the transformative potential of vibe coding, which enables rapid product development at 20x speed. The discussion delves into the ideas of sovereign superintelligence and AI-managed organizations, questioning the balance between automation and human leadership. Ahmad also highlights emerging security challenges in this fast-paced development landscape, predicting an explosion of startups as barriers diminish.

Luigi D’Onorio DeMeo, a product leader at Ava Labs, explores Avalanche's innovative blockchain technology. He discusses how randomized consensus enables sub-second finality and balances decentralization with speed. Luigi unveils the 'city of chains' model, emphasizing customizable Layer 1 solutions and inter-chain messaging for liquidity sharing. He also highlights the appeal for enterprises and the importance of measuring decentralization through validator counts. The conversation touches on real-world applications, financial inclusion, and the future of programmable finance.