The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

Join Stuart Popejoy, CEO of Kadena and ex-head of JP Morgan’s blockchain division, as he unveils Kadena's bold $50 million grant program aimed at fostering innovation. They dive into scalability challenges within blockchain, highlighting Kadena's unique Chainweb architecture that promises stability and growth. Stuart shares insights from his journey in traditional finance to the forefront of blockchain, emphasizing the importance of integrating real-world assets and inspiring a proactive crypto user base for broader adoption.

Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, dives into the revolutionary world of tokenized stocks and the rollout of an Ethereum Layer 2 using Arbitrum technology. He discusses how Robinhood is set to offer tokenized U.S. stocks in the EU, pushing boundaries in fintech. Tenev also tackles regulatory challenges and the potential of crypto to serve as a backbone for global finance, all while emphasizing a human-centric approach to engagement and innovation in decentralized finance.

Vikram Arun, CEO of Superform, sheds light on stablecoin yield strategies and the transformative power of DeFi. He addresses the sustainability of 20% on-chain yields and the critical role of Web3 technology in enhancing automation. The conversation also dives into the implications of the GENIUS Act on the crypto landscape, exploring how regulation can shape innovation. Arun emphasizes the evolving perception of stablecoins and the need for financial literacy in this dynamic market, highlighting the integration of crypto into everyday finance.

Emin Gün Sirer, CEO and Founder of Ava Labs, is a pioneer in blockchain technology, particularly known for his work on the Avalanche protocol. In this discussion, he reveals how Avalanche's innovative consensus mechanism sets it apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum. Emin explores the challenges of centralization, the advantages of multi-chain scaling, and how Avalanche fosters interoperability. He also dives into the future of stablecoins in relation to central banks and highlights the rising interest and activity within the Avalanche ecosystem.

Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial and founder of the Proof of Stake Alliance, shares valuable insights into the rising trend of Ethereum Staking ETFs. He discusses the regulatory landscape and its evolving dynamics on Capitol Hill. The conversation highlights how these ETFs could democratize crypto investments, improve staking yields, and enhance security for individuals. Weiss also examines the role of institutions in shaping staking infrastructure and the significance of liquidity for everyday users in this transformative financial landscape.

Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, discusses how traditional finance is evolving with crypto. She highlights groundbreaking projects like onchain money market funds and explores the transformative potential of DeFi in supply chain and asset management. Kaul also addresses the obstacles posed by regulation and the exciting future of integrated financial services, emphasizing that every company could soon embrace crypto as a standard. Tune in for insights into the innovative landscape reshaping global finance.

Alex Estorick, Editor in Chief of Right Click Save, dives into the transformative world of NFTs and digital art. He discusses the convergence of art and finance, exploring how NFTs challenge traditional art categorization. The rise of meme coins as cultural artifacts connects financial phenomena to artistic expression. Estorick also highlights the diverse perspectives within the crypto community and the evolving challenges artists face with royalties. Lastly, he envisions a future where artists leverage DeFi tools and regain control over their digital creations.

In this engaging discussion, Tomasz Stańczak, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation and early team member of Flashbots, shares transformative insights on Ethereum's evolution. He highlights the foundation's efforts to improve communication and transparency while addressing community feedback. Tomasz dives into strategic initiatives for ecosystem growth, emphasizing the significance of Layer 1 and Layer 2 relationships. He envisions Ethereum as a hub for a global economy, balancing user needs and core values, and outlines innovative treasury strategies to enhance support for developers.

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.