Unchained

Diogenes Casares, founder of Klyra Protocol, and Ryan Yi, an investment expert from Coinbase Ventures, dive into the fierce competition between Coinbase and Robinhood. They explore how both companies are transforming the fintech landscape with tokenized assets and their distinct strategies. Discussion includes liquidity challenges for Ethereum, the role of stablecoins, and how user engagement may determine dominance in the market. With insights into perpetual contracts and regulatory impacts, the future of onchain fintech looks more thrilling than ever!

Steven Goldfeder, co-founder of Offchain Labs, discusses Robinhood's decision to build on the Arbitrum tech stack, highlighting how this move could bridge traditional finance and decentralized systems. He explores the benefits of scalability and customization that Arbitrum offers. Meanwhile, Calvin Hamilton dives into the peculiar $59 million bet on whether President Zelensky wore a suit, unveiling the complexities and controversies surrounding vague betting rules and media influence. Together, they reveal insights into the evolving world of crypto and online betting.

Jon Charbonneau, co-founder of DBA and a crypto provocateur, joins Ryan Watkins, co-founder of Syncracy Capital and a token expert, to dive into Robinhood's bold move with its new blockchain for tokenized stocks. They debate the implications of 24/7 trading and leverage dynamics in the evolving perp wars between Robinhood and Coinbase. The conversation shifts to Solana’s pioneering ETF, tackling the intersection of decentralization and corporate ambitions, all while questioning the future of proof-of-stake systems and the broader crypto landscape.

In this conversation, Thomas Uhm, Chief Commercial Officer at the Jito Foundation and former Jane Street veteran, shares insights on crypto's intersection with traditional finance. He discusses the rise of tokenized stocks and how perpetual contracts (perps) might dominate the market. Uhm emphasizes that perps could transform trading and sneak into traditional finance. The dialogue also touches on the potential of altcoin ETFs and the critical role of liquid staking in the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investment.

In this engaging discussion, Hasu, strategic advisor to Lido and mechanism design expert, joins co-founder Vasiliy Shapovalov to delve into Lido's groundbreaking dual governance model. They explore how this new system empowers stakers, enhances security, and could potentially attract institutional investors back to ETH staking. The conversation covers the mechanics of the governance overhaul, its implications for the value of LDO tokens, and what this shift means for the future of decentralized finance.

In this discussion, Lee Bratcher, the President and Founder of the Texas Blockchain Council, reveals the groundbreaking $10 million strategic Bitcoin reserve initiated by Texas. He shares insights on the bipartisan support that made it possible and explores the rationale behind the specific funding amount. Bratcher emphasizes the crucial roles of custody and compliance and speculates on whether other states might follow Texas's lead. He also discusses the competitive landscape for Bitcoin custodians and the implications for public Bitcoin ownership across the U.S.

Vladimir Novakovski, CEO & Founder of Lighter, a zk-powered DEX, dives into the fierce CLOB wars, aiming to challenge Hyperliquid. He discusses the new Token Transparency Framework from Blockworks and the pressing issues of disclosure in crypto—where most projects prefer silence over transparency. The conversation also touches on the implications of Circle's meme-driven stock fluctuations and the ongoing evolution of decentralized exchanges, highlighting the role of zero-knowledge proofs in fostering fairness.

Joining the discussion are Anthony Scaramucci, Founder of SkyBridge and ex-Trump admin member, Alex Kruger, macro expert from Asgard, and Noelle Acheson, author of the 'Crypto Is Macro Now' newsletter. They delve into how geopolitical conflicts impact crypto and traditional markets. Scaramucci reveals insights from Larry Fink about Bitcoin. The panel debates the fate of stablecoins amid U.S. regulations and speculates on the timing of altcoin ETF approvals, all while exploring the intricate dance between politics and market reactions.

Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO and founder of AZA Finance, has a wealth of experience navigating the fintech landscape in Africa. She discusses how stablecoins are revolutionizing cross-border commerce and why many new entrants struggle to gain traction. Elizabeth highlights that liquidity, rather than technology, will be key to success in this evolving market. She also shares the remarkable journey of AZA from a Nairobi Bitcoin exchange to a significant player in fintech, reflecting on the transformative power of mobile money and crypto in the region.

Jesse Pollak, Head of Base and Coinbase Wallet, shares insights on JPMorgan's groundbreaking launch of the JPMD deposit token for institutional clients on the Base platform. The discussion highlights why major players like JPMorgan and Shopify are moving to blockchain, the distinctions between deposit tokens and stablecoins, and how the infrastructure is finally poised for institutional adoption. Jesse also touches on the impressive scaling of Base and Coinbase's plans to enhance user access to on-chain assets, addressing skepticism around Ethereum's role in this transformation.