The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

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.

Bill Barhydt, Founder and CEO of Abra, shares his expertise on the crypto landscape, covering macroeconomic influences on Bitcoin and the trend of companies holding it on their balance sheets. He discusses the challenges faced by Ethereum and the future of DeFi, suggesting it may replace traditional banking. Barhydt expresses optimism about upcoming U.S. regulations for stablecoins and digital assets, while predicting Bitcoin could reach $350,000, and highlights the rising interest in alternative cryptocurrencies.

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix and Infinex, dives into the evolution of decentralized finance. He discusses Infinex’s user-friendly interface that balances accessibility and decentralization. Warwick shares insights on the recent governance changes at Synthetix and the competition with Hyperliquid. He emphasizes the need for regulatory clarity and improved infrastructure to drive DeFi growth. Looking ahead, he hints at future integrations with Bitcoin, XRP, and Doge, while also reflecting on liquidity strategies and the lessons learned from past stablecoin initiatives.

Preston Van Loon, an Ethereum core developer and plaintiff in the Tornado Cash lawsuit, discusses the implications of recent court rulings on privacy and cryptocurrency. He highlights how sanctions on Tornado Cash affected legitimate users and the significance of treating smart contracts as property under U.S. law. Van Loon envisions a friendlier regulatory environment that could boost crypto innovation. He also explores governance challenges within the Ethereum community, emphasizing the need for decentralization and transparency as the ecosystem evolves.

Sam Kazemian, founder of Frax Finance and innovator in decentralized stablecoins, discusses the vision behind FraxUSD. He explains its unique design combining features of both traditional finance and DeFi, with partnerships that bolster user appeal. Kazemian highlights the role of custodians like BlackRock to enhance redeemability and the strategy for maximizing yield amidst market fluctuations. He envisions a future where stablecoins could seamlessly integrate into traditional banking, reshaping economic activity through new financial models.

Zhouxun Yin, the Co-Founder of Magic Eden, joins The Defiant Podcast to discuss the evolution of one of the largest NFT marketplaces. In this episode, he shares the story behind Magic Eden’s founding, their decision to focus on Solana early on, and their multi-chain expansion strategy. Z dives into the challenges of navigating the bear market, enforcing royalties, and launching a token to unite their ecosystem. He also explores the future of NFTs, their integration with AI, and Magic Eden's ambitious shift toward becoming an all-encompassing on-chain trading platform. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Founding Magic Eden 03:40 - Surviving FTX and Solana’s Challenges 07:20 - Navigating the NFT Bear Market 12:00 - The Bitcoin Ordinals Bet 16:00 - Multi-Chain Expansion 24:30 - Launching the $ME Token 32:00 - Addressing Airdrop Challenges 46:50 - The Royalty Debate 54:10 - Long-Term Vision for NFTs 01:03:00 - On-Chain Trading and Future Goals 01:10:35 - Closing Thoughts Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ https://www.goat.network/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll, tells us the journey of building one of the most anticipated Ethereum Layer 2s, their focus on ZK rollups for scalability, and the unique value proposition of high security, decentralization, and low costs. Sandy discusses Scroll's transition from general purpose chain design to supporting specific use cases driven by ecosystem builders and founders. They explore challenges and lessons from Scroll's recent token airdrop, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, equitable distribution, and fostering a vibrant community. Sandy highlights the Scroll Open initiative and their long-term vision to create a thriving "city" for innovation and talent in the blockchain space. Chapters 00:00 - Sandy Peng on Scroll's Rise 00:30 - Scroll’s Evolution and 2025 Vision 01:30 - The Founding Story of Scroll 02:30 - Why ZK Rollups? 04:00 - Scroll's Unique Edge in the L2 Space 07:00 - Transition to Use Case-Specific Chains 09:00 - Scroll's Vision for Builders and Founders 11:00 - Sub-Cent Costs and High Security Explained 15:00 - Decentralization: Scroll’s Progress and Plans 20:00 - Governance and the Role of Scroll Tokens 25:00 - Airdrop Lessons and Community Feedback 35:00 - Reflections on Token Distribution Trends 46:00 - Layer 2s and Ethereum’s Value Narrative 50:00 - Scroll Open: Building the Future Economy 58:00 - Scroll's Big Picture Vision Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

Johann Kerbrat, VP and GM of Robinhood Crypto, shares insights from his journey in revolutionizing crypto for retail investors. He discusses Robinhood's evolution since 2018, their innovative features like staking and self-custody wallets, and future aspirations towards a full crypto exchange. Johann emphasizes how blockchain integration enhances efficiency while addressing regulatory concerns and user education in staking. The conversation highlights the dramatic rise in trading volume and the company's strategy to expand its DeFi offerings for improved customer experience.

In this episode, Dimitry Gusakov, Community Staking Lead at Lido, discusses the protocol’s efforts to enhance decentralization and accessibility in Ethereum staking. He explains the launch of the Community Staking Module, which lowers barriers for individual validators while addressing concerns about centralization within the Ethereum ecosystem. The conversation also explores potential impacts of proposed Ethereum staking changes and Lido’s roadmap for further decentralization in 2025. Tune in to gain insights into the evolving landscape of liquid staking and its role in securing Ethereum. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - What is Lido and Liquid Staking? 02:20 - Liquid Staking Use Cases in DeFi 05:33 - Addressing Centralization Concerns in Lido 08:25 - Community Staking Module: Decentralization Efforts 10:49 - Requirements to Become a Home Validator 13:26 - Rewards and Entry Barriers for Home Validators 16:12 - Hardware Setup for Validators 23:39 - Socialized Rewards and Offline Allowances 26:38 - Higher Rewards for Running a Node 34:23 - Impact of CSM on Lido’s Decentralization 41:13 - Ethereum Security and the Importance of Decentralization 52:19 - Ethereum Issuance Proposal: Implications for Lido 01:06:07 - Future Developments for Lido in 2025 Our sponsors https://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcast http://supra.com ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

Justin Drake, an Ethereum Foundation researcher, offers a deep dive into the groundbreaking Beam Chain proposal aimed at enhancing Ethereum's roadmap. He discusses innovations like SNARK proofs and single-slot finality, crucial for boosting decentralization and scalability. The conversation highlights incremental upgrades and addresses Ethereum's competition with Solana and Bitcoin, emphasizing its long-term commitment to robustness. Justin also touches on pre-confirmations and upcoming enhancements that promise to elevate Ethereum's performance and user experience.