Empire

Mike Belshe, CEO and co-founder of BitGo and longtime Silicon Valley technologist who led BitGo into regulated financial services and an IPO. He walks through ringing the NYSE bell and the IPO process. He explains why going public was strategic, discusses allocation choices and retail/on-chain distribution, and reframes BitGo as crypto infrastructure, covering staking, trading, settlement, and replacing bank rails.

Sal (Salvador), venture investor and EV3 co-founder focused on Deep Infrastructure, discusses the rising DePIN thesis and why some networks are finally compounding. He breaks down InfraFi and bringing real money onchain. Conversation also covers the Hyperliquid RWA boom, metals-driven volumes, fintechs moving onchain, and which projects might scale to IPOs.

Sun Raghupathi, co-founder of Veda, builds multi-protocol vault infrastructure. John Zettler, Director of Product at Kraken, leads on-chain vault integrations. They discuss vault mechanics, how vaults package DeFi lending and yield, risk management and curator roles. They cover business models, differences from CeFi yield products, and the path to bringing vaults to mainstream users.

This week, the hosts dive into the rapid acceleration of AI and its transformative influence on venture capital and SaaS. They unpack the implications of the CLARITY Bill, while BitGo's controversial IPO valuation raises eyebrows. Polygon's strategic acquisitions aim to enhance their payment capabilities, and the challenges facing decentralized social platforms spark an engaging debate. Additionally, Larry Fink emphasizes the importance of tokenization as a national priority, rounding out a fascinating discussion.

Dive into the rollercoaster ride of Bitcoin’s recent price shifts! The team dissects the macro influences affecting markets and shares insights on Solana's potential. Discover why Lighter's declining price could still represent an attractive investment. The contrasting views on privacy coins Monero and Zcash spark intriguing debates. Lastly, explore the cyclical nature of market phases and strategies for navigating the crypto landscape. Don't miss these thought-provoking perspectives!

Chris Maurice, Co-founder and CEO of Yellow Card, dives into the transformative potential of stablecoins in Africa's financial landscape. He discusses the compliance infrastructure Yellow Card offers for over 50 currencies and the challenges emerging-market corporates face with dollar access. Maurice emphasizes the shift from Bitcoin to USDT for payments, driven by customer preferences, and explains how partnering with local banks can modernize payment systems. He also touches on the regulatory landscape and the future of institutional adoption in the region.

In this engaging discussion, Vladimir Novakovski, Founder and CEO of Lighter, shares insights from his journey transitioning from traditional finance to crypto. He explains Lighter’s edge over Hyperliquid, emphasizing the advantages of being an Ethereum L2. Vladimir also dives into the significance of ZK technology, their partnership with Robinhood, and the potential for equity perps in the market. With an exciting vision of merging TradFi and DeFi, this conversation is packed with fascinating perspectives on the future of finance.

Discover how Claude Code is revolutionizing product development, allowing non-tech users to prototype like pros. Explore the dynamics of supply and demand in crypto and the unique advantages that companies like Rain have in the market. Delve into predictions for 2026, along with the roles of AI and stablecoins in B2B transactions. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of venture capital and the shifting needs of startups in this tech-driven era.

Qiao Wang, cryptocurrency investor and founder of Alliance, shares insights on how AI is reshaping investment strategies for 2026. He discusses the breakthrough capabilities of Claude Opus 4.5 in coding tasks and highlights AI's potential for driving productivity in startups. The conversation dives into 'vibe coding,' the erosion of software moats for startups, and the implications of AI on VC and founder dynamics. With a portfolio shift towards stocks and Bitcoin, Qiao stresses the importance of authenticity in social media amid a rapidly changing landscape.

This week, the hosts dive into Lighter's Token launch and its unique strategy compared to competitors, alongside Walmart's ambitious OnePay rollout aimed at enhancing customer financial services. They discuss Erebor's impressive $350 million valuation and the digital banking landscape. The conversation also touches on the rise of stablecoins and their impact on community banks, highlighting how blockchain technology is paving the way for financial innovation and real-world asset management. Join them for insights into the future of crypto and banking!