
The Defiant - DeFi Podcast
The internet of money is being built with blockchain technology and without banks. We call it DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, and this is where you can hear the builders and users of this cutting edge world tell their stories first hand. Hosted by Camila Russo.
Latest episodes

6 snips
Nov 25, 2024 • 1h 15min
Deep Dive into Ethereum's Beam Chain: Exclusive Insights with Researcher Justin Drake
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.

19 snips
Nov 4, 2024 • 1h 2min
"‘By 2025, Ethereum Will Feel Like One Unified Network" | Hart Lambur
Hart Lambur, co-founder of Across Protocol and UMA, dives into Ethereum interoperability and user experience. He discusses how Across aims for fast asset transfers across Ethereum layer twos using an innovative 'intent architecture.' Lambur highlights upcoming account abstraction upgrades, emphasizing their potential to unify the Ethereum network by 2025. The conversation covers the importance of seamless transactions and addresses challenges like gas fees and scalability, making a compelling case for a more cohesive blockchain ecosystem.

Oct 28, 2024 • 35min
ZKsync 3.0: Elastic Chain and the Future of Scalable Web3 with Matter Labs’ Nana Murugesan
Nana Murugesan, President of Matter Labs and former VP of Business Development at Coinbase, joins Camila Russo in this week’s podcast to discuss the latest updates from ZKsync, including the recently launched Elastic Chain. He explains how ZKsync’s approach to interoperability and customization aims to make Web3 infrastructure as seamless as Web2, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly experiences for mainstream adoption. Nana also highlights Matter Labs' partnership with Buenos Aires to bring ZK-backed digital identity to millions of citizens, showcasing a promising model for government and Web3 collaboration. Finally, he shares upcoming milestones for ZKsync, with new chains and collaborations in Latin America, gaming, and the creator economy.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction
0:17 - ZKsync and Elastic Chain
2:57 - Evolution of ZKsync
5:22 - Interoperability and Customizability in Web3
7:30 - User Experience
10:16 - The Role of Governments in Blockchain Adoption
14:41 - Digital Identity on the Blockchain
17:18 - Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Matter
21:02 - Cost and Throughput Advantage of ZKsync
25:07 - UX and Interoperability Challenges
27:05 - ZKsync in Latin America
30:05 - Upcoming Projects on Elastic Chain
32:39 - Future Focus for Matter Labs
33:46 - Closing Remarks
This episode was sponsored by:
NEAR: https://redactedbangkok.ai/?utm_source=thedefiant&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=defiant&utm_content=newsletter
Stellar: https://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcast
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#TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

Oct 21, 2024 • 42min
From Rock Bottom to Success: How Bitcoin Saved Dylan Kawalec's Life
In this week’s podcast, Dylan Kawalec, Head of Developer Relations at Goat Network, discusses the Goat Founders Club, which is a new initiative aimed at empowering developers and entrepreneurs to build on the Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystem. He explains how the program incentivizes builders through a unique points reward system that can be converted into tokens, fostering a more developer-centric community. Dylan also dives into the technical aspects of the Goat Network, including its decentralized sequencer model and use of zero-knowledge rollups, to enhance Bitcoin's scalability and interoperability. Lastly, he shares his personal story of how Bitcoin transformed his life, highlighting his unwavering passion and optimism for the future of the network.
Chapters
00:00 - Dylan Kawalec and GOAT Network
00:16 - What is the GOAT Founders Club?
03:46 - About GOAT Network: Bitcoin Layer 2 Overview
05:12 - Differentiation from Other Layer 2s
07:00 - Founders Club Tracks for Developers
11:03 - Governance Token: Future Role of GOAT Token
12:28 - Role of Bitcoin on GOAT Network
15:07 - Sequencer Model and Bridging to Other Chains
21:00 - Dylan’s Personal Bitcoin Story
24:56 - Inspiration Behind Founders Club
42:11 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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📬 Contact our Newsroom
editorial@thedefiant.io
🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships
sponsors@thedefiant.io
#TheDefiant #DeFi #Decentralized #Finance #Blockchain #Web3

Oct 14, 2024 • 49min
Why Sui is Skyrocketing: Price Surge & Growing Ecosystem | Adeniyi Abiodun, Mysten Labs
Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder of Mysten Labs and a key player in the Sui blockchain, shares insights on how Sui aims to be a global coordination layer for the internet. He delves into its unique scaling solutions and the innovative Move programming language, contrasting it with traditional frameworks. Abiodun discusses Sui's recent price surge and its potential impact on DeFi and gaming. He tackles decentralization challenges while envisioning mass adoption and enhancing user experience, positioning Sui as a transformative force in the blockchain landscape.

Oct 8, 2024 • 52min
Democratic Candidate John Avlon on Depolarizing Crypto Regulation and Building Bipartisan Support
John Avlon, a Congressional candidate from New York, discusses the critical need for bipartisan support in cryptocurrency regulation. He emphasizes the importance of clear, reasonable rules that encourage innovation while preventing partisan divides in technology. Avlon critiques the current regulatory environment, calling for collaboration between lawmakers and experts. He argues that the U.S. must remain competitive globally and warns against pushing innovation overseas, highlighting the impact upcoming elections will have on democratic processes.

Oct 1, 2024 • 1h 9min
Building The Web3 Super App: Jack Booth on TON's Path to Global Crypto Adoption
Jack Booth, co-founder of TON Society, discusses the transformative potential of the TON blockchain, closely linked to Telegram. He highlights how TON aims to become a Web3 super app, simplifying access to decentralized services for a global audience. Booth also delves into TON's deflationary model, community-building efforts, and the significance of emerging markets. He emphasizes user-friendly applications designed to onboard millions to crypto and examines the balance of decentralization within the ecosystem.

Sep 24, 2024 • 55min
Redefining DeFi Lending: How Morpho Gives Users Control and Customization | Paul Frambot, Co-Founder
Paul Frambot, co-founder and CEO of Morpho Labs, explains how Morpho is a decentralized and permissionless lending protocol that allows users to create customized lending and borrowing pools. Unlike traditional DeFi platforms like Aave, Morpho externalizes risk management, giving users control over their risk exposure and liquidity. Frambot shares how Morpho started as a rate-optimizing solution and evolved into Morpho Blue, a more scalable protocol with over $1 billion in deposits. He discusses the advantages of building in Europe, Morpho's vision to make financial infrastructure a public good, and how fintech partnerships could drive future DeFi adoption. We also touch on Morpho's upcoming token launch and its long-term strategy to compete with other major DeFi protocols.
0:00 - Intro to Paul Frambot
0:30 - What is Morpho and How it Differs from Competitors
2:00 - Paul's Background and Entry into DeFi
3:30 - Early Development of Morpho Optimizer
5:00 - Transition to Morpho Blue and Permissionless Lending
8:00 - Managing Risk, Liquidity, and Customization
11:00 - Real-World Assets and New Use Cases in DeFi
14:00 - Challenges and Advantages of Building in Europe
18:00 - Morpho's Long-Term Vision: Financial Infrastructure as a Public Good
23:00 - Future of DeFi: Fintech Integration and Token Launch
28:00 - Competition with Aave and Growth Strategy
33:00 - The Role of Fintech in Scaling DeFi
38:00 - Long-Term Vision for DeFi and Fintech
43:00 - Morpho's Upcoming Tokenomics and Governance
48:00 - Future Trends and Adoption in DeFi
52:00 - Closing Thoughts and Paul's Outlook on DeFi
This episode was sponsored by:
NEAR: https://redactedbangkok.ai/?utm_source=thedefiant&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=defiant&utm_content=newsletter
Stellar: https://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcast
✨ 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

Sep 16, 2024 • 48min
Building the Future of Ethereum: Joe Lubin on Consensys, Layer 2 Scaling, and Regulatory Challenges
Joe Lubin, co-founder of Ethereum and Consensys, dives into the transformative power of blockchain technology. He highlights the crucial work Consensys is doing with tools like MetaMask and Infura while discussing innovative Layer 2 solutions and their scalability impact. Joe addresses the regulatory challenges posed by the SEC, stressing the need for a flexible framework that supports innovation. He also shares insights on the future of Ethereum and the importance of fostering decentralized economies in an evolving landscape.

Sep 9, 2024 • 1h 4min
Aerodrome Finance: Redefining AMMs on Base with Alexander Cutler
Alexander Cutler, Co-Founder of Aerodrome, shares insights on creating a decentralized exchange within the Ethereum Layer 2 ecosystem. He discusses the strategic advantages of Layer 2s over Layer 1, especially in bear markets. The conversation highlights Aerodrome's innovative features, which enhance liquidity provider rewards and governance through a unique tokenomics structure. Cutler emphasizes strong partnerships, including with Coinbase, and predicts significant growth in decentralized finance as they redefine automated market makers.
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