The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

Diane Magince, Senior Marketing Officer at Biconomy.com, and Breno Sperandio, VP of Partnerships at Biconomy.com, dive into the recent Genius Act, highlighting its transformative impact on stablecoins and crypto exchanges. They discuss how this legislation fosters legitimacy and trust within the industry. The duo explores market trends, the convergence of Web3 and traditional finance, and the rising importance of mobile DeFi solutions. Their insights on innovative marketing strategies in a regulated environment also shed light on engaging users in this evolving landscape.

Jeff Garzik, Co-Founder of Hemi and a pioneer in the Bitcoin space, shares his insights into the evolving landscape of digital currency. He discusses the macroeconomic shifts driving Bitcoin's rise as a global reserve currency. Jeff explores innovative scaling solutions and the features of Hemi, emphasizing its unique security measures and integration with Ethereum. The conversation also highlights Bitcoin's potential in decentralized finance (DeFi) and the challenges it faces in programming and scalability, painting an optimistic future for BTCFi.

Join Hasu, a strategic advisor to Lido and Flashbots, as he dives into groundbreaking developments in Ethereum staking. Discover Lido's new dual governance system that enhances security and engagement among stakers. He explains the revolutionary Lido V3 upgrade, aimed at fostering decentralization and providing customizable staking options for both individuals and institutions. The conversation also covers Ethereum's pivotal role in DeFi and how innovations in staking can shape the future of programmable money.

Georgi Koreli, co-founder and CEO of Hinkal Wallet, dives into Web3 privacy solutions after his unique journey from professional wrestler to crypto innovator. He discusses the necessity of privacy in digital finance and introduces the concept of invisible wallets. The conversation covers the regulatory landscape in Europe, the importance of compliance, and the challenges posed by data breaches. Georgi highlights decentralized coordination as a path to enhancing privacy, pushing for innovations that protect user data while embracing the future of finance.

In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Michael Bentley, co-founder and CEO of Euler Labs, to explore one of the most remarkable comeback stories in DeFi history. From a devastating $200M exploit in 2023 to surpassing $1B in outstanding loans, Euler Labs has redefined resilience and innovation in the crypto space.Michael shares the emotional and technical challenges of navigating the exploit, the process of recovering funds, and the lessons learned along the way. We also dive into the evolution of Euler Labs, the launch of V2, and their groundbreaking innovations in DeFi lending, borrowing, and stablecoins.Whether you're a crypto enthusiast, a DeFi builder, or just love a good comeback story, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the future of decentralized finance.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:27 - Meet Michael Bentley: CEO of Euler Labs02:03 - The Early Days: From PhD to Crypto04:02 - Founding Euler Labs: Hackathon Beginnings08:10 - Innovations in DeFi Lending13:00 - The 2023 Exploit: What Happened?20:33 - Recovering $200M: Negotiating with the Hacker33:04 - Picking Up the Pieces: Team Resilience36:41 - Launching V2: A New Chapter42:29 - Differentiating Euler Labs in DeFi45:24 - The Future of DeFi: Institutional Adoption50:43 - Lessons for Founders: Resilience and Security52:24 - Closing Thoughts: The Hard Things Are Worth It

Steven Goldfeder, co-founder and CEO of Offchain Labs, shares insights on Arbitrum's success as a leading Ethereum Layer 2 solution. He discusses his journey from academia to pioneering blockchain, emphasizing the role of optimistic rollups in enhancing Ethereum's scalability. AJ Warner highlights the exciting partnership with Robinhood and the seamless integration of Arbitrum's technology. The duo engages in intriguing debates about ZK and optimistic rollups, the future of decentralized finance, and how Ethereum's Layer 2 solutions can significantly bolster the ecosystem.

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.