

Empire
Blockworks
Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 8, 2024 • 1h 20min
Why Bandwidth is Still Undervalued in Crypto | Logan Jastremski
Logan Jastremski, founder of Frictionless Capital, dives into the intricacies of high-throughput blockchains and their crucial role in crypto. He highlights the superiority of integrated solutions like Solana over Ethereum, addressing scalability challenges and the potential of emerging chains such as Sui and Aptos. Logan emphasizes the necessity of bandwidth and compute power for future developments and stresses the importance of building user-friendly products to drive mass adoption in the evolving crypto landscape.

Oct 4, 2024 • 1h 20min
A Founder’s Mindset, DePIN’s Breakthrough, and Stablecoin Models | Roundup
Santi and Jason dive into their journeys as founders and investors, emphasizing adaptability in business. They discuss the rapid growth of DePIN and payment solutions on Solana, alongside innovative approaches in the crypto landscape. The conversation shifts to the intriguing dynamics of prediction markets and political betting. Plus, they analyze BitGo's unique stablecoin model and its potential market impact. With humor, they reflect on personal experiences in tech and conclude with a teaser for the upcoming Permissionless event, highlighting the intersection of politics and blockchain.

Oct 1, 2024 • 1h 16min
Why Crypto's Capital Allocation is Broken | Jordi Alexander
Jordi Alexander, a crypto expert, dives deep into the flaws of capital allocation in the cryptocurrency realm. He reveals how misaligned incentives and short-term thinking hinder progress. Jordi critiques the superficial branding that drives poor investment decisions and highlights the essential shift needed for projects like Mantle to thrive. He also discusses the benefits of strategic, long-term vesting periods and the importance of community knowledge for navigating the intricate crypto landscape. Prepare for an insightful look into the future of cryptocurrency!

Sep 28, 2024 • 1h 22min
Hivemind: Conference Circuit, VC Coin Comebacks, and Crypto's Next Narrative
The team dives into insights from major crypto conferences, highlighting innovations in Solana's ecosystem and the dynamic world of gaming. They discuss the surprising comeback of VC coins and their performance against memecoins. The conversation shifts to Bitcoin's potential new heights and how the upcoming U.S. election might influence regulatory changes in crypto. Overall, the podcast captures the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, offering a blend of market trends, gaming innovations, and investment strategies.

5 snips
Sep 27, 2024 • 1h 3min
Why We're Uncomfortably Bullish on Crypto | Roundup
Santi and Jason share their surprising bullish outlook on cryptocurrency despite market fluctuations. They discuss Kamala Harris's recent pro-crypto statements and their potential impact. Insights from major blockchain events reveal a gap between online sentiment and real-world development. The conversation highlights the Helium network's impressive metrics and the future of business integration with blockchain technology. Listeners gain a perspective on transforming traditional industries and long-term investment strategies in the evolving crypto landscape.

Sep 26, 2024 • 59min
Time To Lock In With Chiefingza | 1000x
In this discussion, Chiefingza, a regular voice in the crypto scene, shares insights on current market cycles and the impact of upcoming elections on trading. He dives into the dynamic atmosphere at a major crypto conference and explores innovations in decentralized AI. Chiefingza also analyzes competitive blockchain trends, particularly among layer ones like Sui and Solana. Notably, he discusses his trading strategies and the unique attributes of emerging investments in the altcoin market.

7 snips
Sep 24, 2024 • 1h 49min
The Case for a New Internet | Curtis Yarvin & Jake Brukhman, Urbit
Curtis Yarvin, founder of Urbit, and Jake Brukhman, a key figure in the project, discuss the urgent need to rethink the internet's structure. They delve into the journey from its decentralized roots to a centralized model, highlighting the decline of online communities. Yarvin introduces Urbit as a remedy for compromised digital sovereignty and explores concepts like accountable monarchy in governance. The duo also contemplates the implications of true ownership in the blockchain era and how innovations like personal servers can reshape user experiences.

Sep 20, 2024 • 52min
Asia's Crypto Boom, Stablecoin Wars, and Crypto's Global Shifts | Roundup
The discussion kicks off with insights from Token2049 in Singapore, highlighting the staggering growth of Asian crypto exchanges. There's a deep dive into emerging yield-generating stablecoins and the stark differences in user adoption between Asia and the West. The hosts reflect on founder fatigue within the crypto community and explore Singapore's unique governance model. They also touch on innovative platforms reshaping decentralized applications and the evolving landscape of venture capital in the crypto space.

9 snips
Sep 18, 2024 • 52min
Time To Be Bullish? | 1000x Live
Dive into the intricate world of crypto trading, where the art of timing plays a crucial role. Discover strategies for navigating Bitcoin's market dynamics influenced by Federal Reserve rate cuts. Is Ethereum the new XRP of this cycle? Explore the renaissance of decentralized finance and the balance between opportunity and risk in the ever-evolving landscape. Find out how active trading can shine amidst market volatility and the importance of diligent research as you adapt to trends.

Sep 17, 2024 • 1h 15min
Are We Overhyping AI in Crypto? | Casey Caruso & Mohamed Baioumy
Join Casey Caruso, a contributor investigating decentralization and AI, and Mohamed Baioumy, an expert in AI and cryptocurrency, as they explore the intriguing blend of these technologies. They discuss how decentralization could democratize AI and tackle privacy challenges. Insights into latency sensitivity and the importance of local computing are shared. They also highlight the potential of cryptocurrency in solving real-world problems and encourage a shift towards practical, consumer-focused applications in the AI space.