Unchained

The hosts dive into the shocking $600 million Ronin bridge hack, highlighting the role of social engineering in the breach. They discuss the valuation issues surrounding bridged assets, underscoring the importance of robust security. The complexities of governance in decentralized protocols are also explored, particularly with Convex Finance. The instability of the USDN stablecoin sparks a debate on algorithmic stablecoins and their risks. Lastly, they touch on the merging landscapes of crypto and stock trading, celebrating recent industry milestones.

Mike Brock, General Manager at TBD, dives into the world of decentralized finance, sharing his skepticism about the popularity of decentralized applications. He details how TBD's DEX will operate without relying on traditional blockchains and the importance of building crypto on-ramps. Brock recounts his humorous recruitment story by Jack Dorsey and discusses his journey into Bitcoin. He emphasizes the vital role of digital identity infrastructure and explains why TBD won't utilize tokens, instead focusing on efficiency and liquidity.

This episode features Arjun Bhuptani, founder of Connext and a bridging technology expert. He delves into the infamous Ronin bridge hack, which saw over $600 million stolen, highlighting the role of social engineering and multisig vulnerabilities. Arjun discusses the sophistication of the hacker, potential reimbursement for victims, and various attack vectors that threaten cross-chain bridges. He outlines the need for innovative bridge designs to bolster security in decentralized finance, making a compelling case for future enhancements in the crypto landscape.

Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs and director at Luna Foundation Guard, discusses exciting developments in the crypto space. He reveals plans to partially back UST with Bitcoin, aiming to stabilize the $15 billion stablecoin. Kwon shares his vision for creating a fungible labor market where developer working hours could become tokenized assets. He also tackles the sustainability of Anchor's interest rates and the transformative power of DAOs in optimizing capital allocation. It's a deep dive into innovative finance with a dash of crypto politics!

Andy Beal, head of ecosystem development at Forta and author of the 30,000 Feet newsletter, addresses the heated debate within the Juno Network. The community is proposing to confiscate up to 98.5% of a whale's tokens after concerns about its overwhelming influence emerged. Beal explains how the Juno airdrop created a dominant holder and discusses the implications of such a governance decision on decentralization and fairness. He shares his insights on the community's vote and the various courses of action being considered.

This week, crypto insiders dive into the intriguing world of digital assets with Do Kwon. He reveals his high-stakes betting strategies on LUNA and shares insights on navigating the tumultuous Crypto Twitter landscape. The discussion turns to NFTs, exploring how they could revolutionize content publishing, alongside Yuga Labs' latest moves in the space. With critiques on play-to-earn games and predictions on Facebook's NFT ambitions, the conversation highlights the dynamic evolution of crypto and its cultural implications.

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol, and George Kikvadze, executive vice chairman at BitFury Group, leverage their deep ties to Ukraine’s tech landscape to discuss the profound impact of cryptocurrency during the ongoing conflict. They delve into the reasons behind crypto's popularity in Ukraine, the staggering amount raised, and various avenues for donations. The conversation also highlights how crypto has evolved from humanitarian aid to military support, showcasing the resilience of the Ukrainian crypto community in a time of crisis.

In their first podcast appearance, Punk6529, a prominent voice on Crypto Twitter, digs deep into the NFT realm. They discuss Yuga Labs' acquisition of CryptoPunks and Meebits, highlighting how CryptoPunks set the standard for profile picture projects. Punk6529 shares insights on the potential utility of IP rights in fostering community engagement and the contrasting innovations of Bored Ape Yacht Club versus CryptoPunks. The conversation navigates the cultural significance of NFTs and the evolving landscape of digital ownership.

Chase Chapman, co-founder at Decentology and active DAO contributor, shares her insights on the transformative power of DAOs. She discusses how these organizations redefine traditional work structures and the significance of inclusivity, particularly for women in crypto. Chase critiques the use of terms like "permissionless" in DAO contexts and suggests that community values should guide governance. She also explores the intricacies of compensation models, challenges in DAO management tools, and the intriguing intersection of DAOs and NFTs.

Chris Harland-Dunaway, a freelance reporter for The Verge known for his investigative work on cryptocurrency, dives into the murky world of Justin Sun, the controversial founder of Tron. They discuss Sun's dramatic escape from China and the enigmatic 'Operation Couch Cushions,' linking him to insider trading and potential evasion of U.S. securities laws. Harland-Dunaway reveals insights from 15 anonymous sources and touches on a grand jury investigation, all while addressing Sun's daring claims in response to these serious allegations.