Unchained

Mike Cahill, CEO of Douro Labs and an expert in both traditional finance and crypto, shares insights into the evolving world of oracles in decentralized finance. He discusses Pyth Network's innovative solutions for delivering real-time data and its upcoming Perseus upgrade. The conversation covers the challenges of oracle reliability, the significance of institutional data providers, and the remarkable growth of Pyth amidst the changing crypto landscape. Cahill also emphasizes Douro Labs' role in enhancing the network and the future potential of decentralized finance.

Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at the DeFi Education Fund, dives into the controversial indictment of Tornado Cash co-founders. She clarifies the government's position on money laundering allegations and challenges the understanding of blockchain by regulators. Tuminelli discusses potential implications of these charges for all software developers and whether they could signal the end of DeFi in the U.S. The conversation raises urgent questions about KYC processes and the essential balance between privacy rights and legal scrutiny in the crypto landscape.

Jesse Pollak, lead contributor at Base, a blockchain by Coinbase, shares insights on the platform's goal to onboard a million developers and a billion users. He highlights why it's still 'day one' for Base and discusses its advantages over other layer 2 solutions. The conversation dives into the rapid success of Friend.Tech, the influence of MEV bots on transactions, and the importance of innovative incentives to foster growth. Pollak also clarifies the competition and collaboration between Base and Optimism, shaping the future of decentralized applications.

Rune Christensen, cofounder of MakerDAO and a key player in decentralized finance, shares his journey from disillusionment with DAOs to leading innovative reforms. He discusses the ambitious 'Endgame Plan,' which aims to tackle voter apathy through alignment engineering, gamification, and incentives. Christensen also highlights the significance of governance boundaries and the strategic rebranding of MakerDAO with new tokens while maintaining core ones. He believes these changes could revolutionize the industry and create a stable future for DAOs.

Brian Klein, a partner at Waymaker, provides critical legal insights into the challenges facing Sam Bankman-Fried, now detained for attempting to intimidate witnesses. The dynamics of trial prep shift dramatically, raising questions about possible plea deals and delays. Meanwhile, Michael Del Castillo offers a recap of crypto’s turbulent landscape, highlighting ongoing SEC battles and industry shake-ups. The interplay between legal strategies and the evolving crypto scene makes for a riveting discussion.

Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO of Wintermute Trading, shares his expertise as a leading crypto market maker. He discusses strategies for navigating quiet crypto markets and highlights the dangers of 'zombie' exchanges. The conversation dives into Base’s rapid success and its implications for DeFi. They also explore how biometrics can secure crypto wallets and the looming threat of bank fraud in the AI era. Insights on the evolving landscape of trading firms and the parallels between friends.tech and BitClout add depth to this engaging discussion.

Anita Posch, a Bitcoin educator and founder of Bitcoin for Fairness, shares her mission to promote Bitcoin adoption in Africa. She discusses the essential role of Bitcoin in countries like Zimbabwe, highlighting its power to empower the marginalized. Anita reveals the scams faced by users in developing nations and the challenges posed by strict regulations. She emphasizes Bitcoin's importance for human rights, particularly for women, while critiquing Worldcoin's centralized nature. Her new educational program aims to foster financial literacy and independence.

José Fernández da Ponte, PayPal’s Senior VP of Blockchain and Crypto, dives into the launch of PYUSD, PayPal's new Ethereum-based stablecoin. He discusses the competitive landscape against Tether and Circle, and why stablecoins are crucial for remittances and B2B transactions. José emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance and transparency in building user trust. He shares insights on the potential of stablecoins in online gaming and addresses how PYUSD plans to differentiate itself while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.

This discussion dives into the unexpected quiet aftermath of the Curve hack, exploring the hacker's mixed messages and the ethics of doxing. The hosts ponder whether concentrated token ownership could reshape DeFi protocols. The enhanced DAI Savings Rate stirs memories of past stablecoin rollercoasters, provoking a debate about its potential risks. Plus, playful speculations unfold on the future of PayPal’s USD as the team navigates the complex intersection of traditional finance and cryptocurrency, all wrapped in humor and insight.

Alex Blania, co-founder of Worldcoin, shares insights into the project's ambitious goal of providing universal basic income through proof of personhood. He addresses the backlash regarding biometrics and privacy concerns, explaining how the iris scanning technology actually works. Alex discusses the rise of a black market for World IDs, the project's compliance with global regulations, and why understanding crypto isn't necessary for its success. He believes Worldcoin will be a transformative force in onboarding people to cryptocurrency.