The Smart Economy Podcast: Real-World Blockchain Applications with Crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Eli Cohen, general counsel at Centrifuge, a platform for tokenized real-world assets.Join them as they discuss:The evolution from traditional finance to tokenized assetsHow T-Bills are being brought on-chainBuilding regulatory-compliant RWA infrastructureDesigning DAO governance for financial protocolsThe future of on-chain institutional asset managementBalancing innovation with complianceHow Centrifuge aims to create efficient securitization processesAnd much more!With vast experience spanning traditional finance, market infrastructure, and cryptocurrency regulation, Eli brings a unique perspective to the intersection of RWAs and blockchain technology. His distinguished career includes roles at CME Group, where he helped launch Bitcoin futures in Asia-Pacific, Block.one, and various positions working with financial regulators across multiple jurisdictions. For the past three years at Centrifuge, Eli has been instrumental in developing compliant frameworks for bringing traditional financial assets onto the blockchain while navigating complex regulatory environments across global markets.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Intro[03:00] Understanding the Two Categories of Real World Assets (RWAs)[34:09] The Microbrewery Model of Asset Tokenization[38:09] Hybrid Governance Structure for DeFi Platforms[48:29] Evolution of RWA Markets Beyond Treasury BillsPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

Zac Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Aztec, is a blockchain innovator with a rich background in particle physics. He delves into the evolution of zero-knowledge technology and its pivotal role in enhancing blockchain privacy. Zac shares insights on the development of a novel programming language for private smart contracts and the balance of moral legitimacy in privacy tech. He also discusses Aztec's ambitious plans for 2025 and the future landscape of decentralized privacy networks, highlighting the profound implications for digital identity.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Mingchao (Fisher) Yu, co-founder and CTO of Babylon Labs, a non-custodial staking protocol that uses the underlying value of Bitcoin to secure a variety of proof-of-stake networks.Join them as they discuss:How Bitcoin can secure PoS chains trustlesslyThe journey from 1,000 BTC to $3.3B+ TVLBuilding truly decentralized security marketsThe roadmap for Bitcoin's evolution in DeFiUniting traditional finance with crypto through BTCThe future of cross-chain security sharingReal institutional adoption insightsAnd much more!Fisher's career has spanned a variety of roles from deep technology systems engineering to leadership in blockchain innovations at Babylon, where he's currently steering efforts to integrate Bitcoin more fully into the decentralized finance landscape. Before Babylon Labs, Fisher was a managing director at Hash Laboratories, senior staff research engineer at Dolby Laboratories, and senior system engineer at InterfereX Communications.Episode Highlights:[00:01:57] Introduction to Fisher Yu and Babylon Labs' non-custodial staking protocol[00:16:32] Babylon's founding story and origin in late 2021[00:17:06] Evolution from merge mining to Bitcoin staking solution[00:23:11] Three target ecosystems: Cosmos, Ethereum rollups, Bitcoin rollups[00:27:27] Babylon's three-phase launch strategy[00:38:13] Current adoption metrics: 66.8K+ stakers, 74K delegations[00:42:57] Geographic restrictions and regulatory considerations[00:47:55] Discussion on Bitcoin centralization concerns[00:50:19] 2025 roadmap and vision for "Bitcoin DeFi genesis"[00:51:56] Contact information and community channelsPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Alexei Zamyatin, co-founder of BOB, a Layer 2 blockchain aiming to combine the security of Bitcoin with the versatility of Ethereum. Join them as they discuss:BOB's hybrid L2 architectureBridging Bitcoin and Ethereum infrastructureBitVM implementation strategyThree-phase development roadmapReaching 320k unique users$250M in DeFi TVLCross-chain deployment solutionsAnd much more!Alexei's work is focusing on expanding interoperability and capital efficiency across major blockchain platforms, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polkadot, and Cosmos. His flagship product, interBTC, embodies his vision by enabling Bitcoin's use across different blockchains while maintaining its key attributes: full collateralization, interoperability, and censorship-resistance. Prior to founding BOB, Alexei offered his expertise at Boston Consulting Group and conducted research at SBA Research, contributing significantly to digital assets and web3 governance.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Introduction[02:17] Bitcoin's Value Beyond market cap: global reach and brand recognition[04:52] Community Evolution From maximalism to innovation acceptance[11:05] Background Story Namecoin to Bitcoin bridges research at Imperial College[19:27] BitVM Overview Core technology enabling BOB's security model[24:58] Trust Trade-offs Balancing institutional vs technical risk in Bitcoin[41:09] Growth Metrics 320k users, $250M TVL since May 2023 launch[49:30] Strategic Phases Three-phase plan from ETH L2 to Bitcoin settlement[53:16] Future Vision Balancing institutional adoption with cypherpunk roots[56:16] Community Call Invitation for user feedback and engagementPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Lombard co-founder Jacob Phillips.Join them as they discuss:How Bitcoin's market capitalization is an ideal solution for DeFi's need for liquidityThe differences in the mentality of deploying Bitcoin as an asset into DeFi versus deploying other assets like EtherBuilding on the Babylon staking protocolUpcoming Lombard releasesAnd much more!Jacob brings a wealth of experience from his time at Perennial Labs and as an investor at Polychain Capital, deeply enriching our understanding of how Bitcoin can become a more dynamic player in the DeFi space. Lombard is integrating Bitcoin with decentralized finance, offering solutions such as its flagship product, LBTC—a yield-bearing, cross-chain, liquid Bitcoin, backed 1:1 by BTC.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Introduction[00:03] Episode introduction and overview with Jacob Phillips of Lombard[02:34] Bitcoin's historical challenges in DeFi and recent market evolution[05:20] Catalysts behind Bitcoin's building renaissance[12:18] Jacob's journey from crypto skeptic to Polychain Capital[31:34] Lombard's growth to $1B TVL and key partnerships[36:50] Shifting the Bitcoin holder mindset toward yield generation[41:18] Technical overview of Lombard Ledger and BFT chain development[47:54] User acquisition and institutional adoption strategy[51:39] Institutional perspectives on Bitcoin DeFi adoptionPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by LunarCrush co-founders Joe Vezzani and Jon Farjo.Join them as they discuss:How social media metrics can help determine the appetite for specific digital assetsThe metrics and categories that LunarCrush followsHow AI has improved the team's ability and processesThe forthcoming rise of AI agentsAnd much more!Joe is a Web3 entrepreneur and CEO of LunarCrush. With 15 years of experience, Joe has expertise in financial analysis, accounting, creative production, sales, business development, pricing strategy, customer acquisition, product management, M&As, fundraising, hiring, and more. Previously, Joe held leadership roles at companies like INNOCEAN USA, LifeLine Response, Owens Corning, and Draftfcb.Jon is an experienced digital strategy leader with a focus on Web3, AI, marketing, branding, and social media. As Chief Product Officer at LunarCrush, he drives innovation and creates solutions that will hopefully resonate with users. Previously, Jon held leadership roles at companies like Veritone, INNOCEAN USA, The Buddy Group, and Metagenics.Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Intro[00:02:25] Social media data vs traditional market indicators[00:04:06] Correlation between social metrics and market movements[00:07:50] Analysis of successful meme coins and community tokens[00:10:26] Founders' crypto origin story[00:14:04] LunarCrush evolution since 2018[00:24:33] AI integration and team efficiency[00:30:04] Future of AI agents in crypto trading[00:34:28] Major client partnerships[00:40:38] Emerging social media platforms[00:48:54] Polymarket impact and social metrics[00:53:22] 2025 predictions and Bitcoin trends[00:58:00] Closing remarks and platform informationPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Mounir Benchemled, founder and CEO of ParaSwap, a platform in the decentralized finance landscape.Join them as they discuss:The features ParaSwap is bringing to the DeFi spaceToken approvals and securityRegulatory landscape of DeFiHybrid approaches to customer acquisition in DeFiThe future of decentralized exchangesAnd much more!With a background rich in software development and blockchain technology, Mounir has not only led ParaSwap to raise $5.7 million from top-tier crypto investors but has also recently taken on the CEO role at Laita Labs, aiming to push the boundaries of DeFi products and infrastructure.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Intro[02:30] Discussion of what DeFi got right/wrong and stablecoins as the biggest success[05:44] Mounir shares his journey from Bitcoin in 2012 to leaving his CEO role in 2017[10:58] B2B pivot: From retail focus to 85% partner volume integration[17:13] Regulatory landscape: EU's DeFi-friendly stance vs US restrictions[22:33] Chain expansion: Scaling beyond Ethereum to BSC, Polygon and L2s[26:04] ParaSwap Delta: New gasless, intent-based trading solution[29:19] March 2024 exploit: $24K initial breach leads to larger recovery mission[37:30] Hacker negotiations: Recovering 80% of funds through on-chain tracking[44:26] MEV insights: How the exploit improved MEV resistance strategies[46:19] OTC trading: Peer-to-peer and RFQ protocol capabilities[49:29] Token mechanics: PSP token utility and staking benefits[50:30] Airdrop lessons: Candid take on 2021 airdrop timing and mistakesPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Anthony Day, head of strategy and marketing at Midnight, a Layer 1 protocol developed by Input Output (IOHK).Join them as they discuss:The importance of data protection and privacy more broadly and on-chainWhy Web3 needs to be professionalized for mass adoptionThe value of blockchain for enterprise and large-scale entitiesHow Midnight is building itself to be a fourth-generation blockchain networkThe multi-asset model for MidnightHow the team is creating tools to onboard traditional and Web2 developersAnd much more!With a rich background in blockchain and Web3 technologies since 2016, Anthony has helped spearhead digital transformations across large organizations and startups. His extensive leadership experience in companies like Deloitte, IBM, and Parity Technologies has given him a unique perspective on integrating decentralized technologies into commercial and scalable business models.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Intro[02:17] The hidden cost of data sharing[07:58] Web3’s dark side[10:30] How blockchain won over Anthony[15:28] Why some companies won’t go on-chain[20:16] Why Web3 needs to professionalize for mass adoption[29:38] How crypto is changing finance[34:18] Betting big on Midnight and Web3[38:52] Building the fourth-generation blockchain network[47:35] Why building privacy tech in the U.S. is a regulatory tightrope[51:07] The night & dust dual-token model[53:54] Countdown to Midnight launchPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Ganesh Swami, CEO and co-founder of Covalent.Join them as they:Explore the three facets of AI in blockchain: decentralized training, inference, and dataAnalyze Covalent's role in bridging Web2 and Web3 technologiesDiscuss the evolution of blockchain data needs from 2017 to the presentExamine the development and importance of the Ethereum Wayback MachineUnpack the challenges and opportunities in blockchain infrastructureDelve into the future of AI and blockchain integrationAnd much more!Ganesh Swami is the CEO and co-founder of Covalent, a company that started as a data analytics provider and has evolved into a comprehensive infrastructure services provider. With a background in physics and pharmaceutical research, Ganesh brings a unique perspective to blockchain technology and its potential for creating transparent, verifiable systems.Episode Highlights:[00:01:11] The three facets of AI in blockchain[00:06:09] Ganesh's journey into crypto and blockchain[00:10:07] Evolution of blockchain data needs[00:31:22] Covalent's clients and use cases[00:36:45] Supporting multiple blockchain networks[00:46:38] The Ethereum Wayback Machine and blockchain resilience[00:57:27] Future outlook and reasons for optimismPrevious guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by JP Thor, Founder of THORChain, a network that facilitates native asset settlement between Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Cosmos Hub, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin.Join them as they discuss:How THORChain is building a more interconnected DeFi ecosystemThe possibilities of cross-chain liquidityWhy SwapKit could be the key to decentralized wallet integrationThe role of RUNE in facilitating more secure and efficient cross-chain transactionsAnd much more!JP is a founder, engineer, entrepreneur, and explorer. He was part of the Air Force and studied Aeronautical Engineering, graduating at the top of his year in 2009 with First Class Honors. After finishing his pilot training, he began Fighter training in 2012. In 2013, JP transitioned to crypto. In 2018, he began building THORChain under the pseudonym “Leena” along with a team of 5 engineers. Within 18 months of launching, THORChain reached a market value of $1 billion.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts; instructions on how to do this are here.Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Introduction[00:00:28] How close are we to mainstream crypto adoption?[00:02:56] From fighter jets to Bitcoin[00:17:40] Why liquidity is the answer[00:23:07] How THORChain approaches cross-chain swaps[00:29:40] How THORChain keeps your crypto safe[00:31:17] Is RUNE the secret ETF of crypto?[00:33:07] Why SwapKit could be the key to decentralized wallet integration[00:36:56] Censorship in decentralized networks[00:41:18] The secrets behind THORChain's resilient codebase[00:45:04] What the Kujira Alliance means for THORChain's app layer[00:50:41] The future of secure crypto transactions[00:55:11] Where can you find JP?Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.Check out our three most downloaded episodes:Laying the Groundwork for a Billion-User Blockchain with Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAOStaking the Future: From Blockchain Beginnings to Institutional Innovations with Chen Zhuling of RockXThe Unstoppable Nature of Blockchain: A Conversation with Bonart Mati of ObligateAttention all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://fame.so/nnt-guestThe Smart Economy Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at fame.so