

Unchained
Laura Shin
Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 21, 2019 • 1h 9min
How to Trade on Crypto Exchanges Without Fear of Hacks - Ep.120
Sharon Goldberg, CEO of Arwen and a computer science professor at Boston University, dives into revolutionary strategies for secure trading on crypto exchanges. She explains how Arwen's protocol protects coins from hacks, contrasting it with decentralized exchanges. The conversation explores custody options, smart contract integrations, and the importance of interoperability in crypto security. Goldberg also imagines how innovative solutions like Arwen could have prevented past exchange hacks, making for a fascinating discussion on the future of cryptocurrency trading.

May 14, 2019 • 1h 13min
Parity's Jutta Steiner and Gavin Wood on Polkadot, Substrate and the Frozen Funds - Ep.119
Jutta Steiner, CEO of Parity Technologies, and Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum, dive into the innovative Polkadot network and its solutions for scalability and interoperability. They discuss the advantages of building on Polkadot's parachains versus Ethereum's dapps. The conversation also touches on Substrate as a platform for creating custom blockchains and the ongoing challenges of frozen funds in the crypto ecosystem, emphasizing the need for community-driven solutions to unlock them.

May 7, 2019 • 55min
How Tagomi Makes Large Crypto Trades Cheaper and More Efficient - Ep.118
Jennifer Campbell, co-founder of Tagomi and former venture capitalist, along with COO Kevin Johnson, who has extensive experience in electronic trading, unveil the future of institutional crypto trading. They discuss how Tagomi streamlines large trades, akin to 'Kayak.com' for crypto. The duo compares current trading practices to traditional finance, explores the role of advanced technology in achieving 'best execution', and highlights the importance of security and custody in crypto assets. Trends like staking and decentralized exchanges are also on the table, showcasing the evolving landscape.

Apr 30, 2019 • 1h 5min
Want to Connect Blockchains? Cosmos Has Tools for Coders - Ep.117
Jae Kwon, founder of Tendermint, and Ethan Buchman, cofounder and technical director at Cosmos, unveil the revolutionary Cosmos network designed for blockchain interoperability. They discuss how Tendermint serves as a consensus mechanism akin to an operating system for blockchain. The conversation delves into the secure communication facilitated by the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC) and explores the complexities of governance and validation in a proof-of-stake environment. Prepare for insights on both innovation and security in the evolving blockchain landscape.

Apr 23, 2019 • 1h 7min
Charlie Lee on How Litecoin Can Be Truly Successful - Ep.116
Charlie Lee, the innovative creator of Litecoin and known as SatoshiLite, dives into his journey of launching Litecoin and the significance of its fair launch. He discusses his decision to sell all his holdings and addresses the misconceptions surrounding it. Lee shares his vision for Litecoin's future, including thoughts on stablecoins and potential private payment features. He highlights the importance of usability in cryptocurrency and emphasizes how Litecoin aims to be integrated into everyday transactions.

Apr 16, 2019 • 1h 3min
Why Beam Thinks Businesses Will Use Its Cryptocurrency - Ep.115
Alexander Zaidelson, CEO of Beam, shares insights into his work on this privacy-focused cryptocurrency built on the MimbleWimble protocol. He discusses Beam's uniqueness compared to Grin and delves into the importance of confidentiality in everyday transactions. Zaidelson explores strategic partnerships for adoption and addresses how Beam aims to balance privacy with regulatory compliance. He also highlights the challenges of venture capital in crypto and the future landscape of scalable, user-friendly cryptocurrencies.

Apr 9, 2019 • 1h 9min
Grin: A More Private, Lighter Bitcoin - Ep.114
Daniel Lehnberg and Michael Cordner, core members of Grin developing the MimbleWimble protocol, dive into the philosophy and privacy enhancements of Grin, a cryptocurrency aiming to be lightweight and community-driven. They discuss Grin's perpetual inflation model and its ambitions as digital cash, contrasting it with Bitcoin's fixed supply. The duo also highlights innovative transaction methods that prioritize anonymity and explores Grin's unique governance and funding model, emphasizing community engagement and transparency.

Apr 2, 2019 • 1h 5min
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce on Why You Shouldn't Have to Be Rich to Get Rich - Ep.113
Hester Peirce, known as 'Crypto Mom,' is an SEC Commissioner advocating for a balanced approach to cryptocurrency regulation. In the discussion, she dives into the complexities of Bitcoin ETFs and the SEC's decision-making process, revealing the dynamics among commissioners. Peirce explains the differences between security and utility tokens, emphasizing the need for regulatory clarity. She also addresses the importance of innovation in the crypto space while ensuring investor protection, making a compelling case for why financial opportunities shouldn't be limited to the wealthy.

Mar 26, 2019 • 1h 23min
Vitalik Buterin on Whether or Not Ethereum Is 'Blowing It' - Ep.112
Vitalik Buterin, the visionary creator of Ethereum, discusses the platform's competitive landscape and the inevitability of losing its lead in the blockchain space. He addresses the challenges of Ethereum 2.0, including funding issues for developers and community sentiments about inflation funding. Buterin also dives into the MolochDAO experiment, expressing skepticism about its investment potential. With illuminating insights, he explores the balance between individualism and community in the Ethereum ecosystem, reflecting on the future of decentralized finance.

Mar 19, 2019 • 1h 5min
MolochDAO: Could This Decentralized Autonomous Organization Help Ethereum Scale Faster? - Ep.111
Ameen Soleimani, CEO of Spankchain, shares insights on the MolochDAO, a decentralized organization aimed at funding Ethereum's development. He explains how MolochDAO operates, emphasizing the importance of collaborative governance and transparency. The discussion explores the impact of DAOs on Ethereum's scalability, addressing the potential for inflation funding and diversification of accepted tokens. Ameen also highlights the evolving dynamics within Ethereum's community and governance, advocating for unity and inclusivity in the ecosystem.


