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 Fabian Gompf, Chief Executive Officer of the Web3 Foundation, created to nurture and steward technologies and applications in the field of decentralized web software protocols, particularly those that utilize modern cryptographic methods to safeguard decentralization for the benefit and stability of the Web3 ecosystem.Join them as they discuss:Polkadot's early daysPractical and impractical uses for blockchain technologiesModular versus monolithic blockchainsWhy enterprise giants are eyeing PolkadotHow Polkadot empowers its communityThe recent uproar about the Polkadot ecosystem’s treasury spendingAnd much more!Fabian brings vast experience in blockchain and decentralized technologies, having been VP at Parity Technologies before leading the Web3 Foundation. With degrees in electrical engineering and business administration, he is dedicated to advancing Web3 technologies and empowering users to own their data and control their digital lives. His efforts aim to develop innovative applications and support a fair, decentralized internet, aligning with the foundation's mission to enable the next billion users to embrace self-custody in Web3.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[00:00:18] From Oxford to Ethereum[00:05:38] Blockchain's evolution from cyberpunk dream to mainstream revolution[00:13:26] How Parity drives Polkadot's ecosystem forward[00:16:19] Modular versus monolithic blockchains[00:22:01] Why enterprise giants are eyeing Polkadot[00:26:52] Is blockchain gaming finally ready to go mainstream?[00:35:02] How Polkadot empowers its community[00:42:55] The Polkadot's treasury experiment that shook up the crypto world[00:48:38] What’s next for Polkadot’s future funding?[00:57:32] Why smaller, nimble teams succeed in Polkadot and EthereumPrevious 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 Ken Timsit, head of Cronos Labs, a Web3 startup accelerator focusing on decentralized finance and blockchain games, and on developing the Cronos chain ecosystem.Join them as they discuss:Crypto as a viable solution to modern bankingThe relationships between centralized exchanges and their blockchain ecosystem counterpartsHow politics influences the regulatory crypto environmentCronos’ tri-blockchain ecosystemLessons learned from building on the zkEVM and Cosmos tech stacksThe forthcoming Cronos triple yield-bearing thesis for the zkCRO tokenAnd much more!Ken Timsit is a seasoned professional with vast experience in the blockchain and Web3 industries. He previously served as Chief Revenue Officer at Consensys, a Management Committee Member at the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum, and Managing Director at ECKT.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of Saga, a protocol designed to simplify blockchain integration for game developers. Join them as they discuss:The challenges of onboarding Web2 indie game developers into the Web3 spaceHow Saga's 'Indie Summer' initiative supports game developers in building and launching Web3 gamesThe concept of cross-game economies and the benefits they offer to developers and playersSaga's approach to intellectual property collaborations and ensuring scalabilityAlternative monetization strategies for indie games on Saga that don't rely heavily on tokens or NFTsThe transformative potential of Web3 technologies in redefining gaming experiencesSaga's goals for Gamescom and the long-term impacts of the 'Indie Summer' initiativeThe future of Web3 gaming and how Saga is preparing to lead and adapt to changesAnd much more!Rebecca's diverse background in law, politics, and blockchain technology provides unique insights into the evolving landscape of Web3 gaming. Her passion for empowering individuals through technological innovation and democratizing financial services shines through in her leadership at Saga.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Laurent Benayoun, CEO of Acheron Trading, a financial services company that builds liquid markets for digital assets.Join them as they discuss:The rise of crypto-backed ETFs and their impact on the marketThe shift from trading pairs against Bitcoin to stablecoins like USDT and USDCAcheron Trading's role in providing essential liquidity to the crypto marketThe importance of staying ahead of evolving blockchain technologies and liquidity modelsEmerging trends in decentralized finance, including EVM-based models and Layer 2 solutionsThe uncertain future of crypto regulations and their potential implicationsAnd much more!Laurent joined Acheron Trading after the acquisition of HedgeTech. He is passionate about algorithmic trading strategies and market microstructure. In addition, Laurent serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Quantitative Finance, an expert for Alumni Ventures, an interviewer for the Master of Finance at Princeton, and a mentor for the Harvard Blockchain Incubator.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Kurt Hemecker, CEO of the Mina Foundation, the entity tasked with growing the ecosystem of the “world's lightest ZK blockchain.” Join them as they:Discuss the evolution of information and money-sharing protocols from Web0 to Web3Explore Kurt's journey through the tech industryDelve into the importance of ZK technology for privacy, identity, and scaling solutionsAnalyze the growth of the Mina ecosystem and opportunities for buildersExamine interoperability solutions offered by Mina's ZK technologyUnpack the significance of having a programmable ZK Layer 1 blockchainAnd much more!Kurt Hemecker is the CEO of the Mina Foundation. With a background that spans from the pre-internet era to the current Web3 landscape, Kurt has experience across significant roles in telecom, payments, and blockchain. He was part of the initial team of the Libra Association (later renamed DM), where he played a pivotal role in navigating regulatory challenges and advocating for stablecoins. Kurt's extensive knowledge and innovative vision in blockchain and zero-knowledge technology position him as a respected leader in the sector.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Max Hillebrand, CEO of zkSNACKs, a development team dedicated to building and implementing privacy solutions in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Join them as they:Shine a light on the importance of privacy in BitcoinUnpack the cypherpunk ethosDelve into why and how cypherpunks continue to thrive amid regulatory challengesAnalyze how Bitcoin is embracing the evolution of open-source innovationsDiscuss the historical context of money and the need for a stable digital currencySpeculate on the road ahead for privacy and innovationAnd much more!Max Hillebrand is the CEO of zkSNACKs. With a deep understanding of Austrian economics and the cypherpunk ethos, Max has been actively involved in advancing technologies that foster financial privacy and security. Under his leadership, zkSNACKs has worked on creating cutting-edge tools like the Wasabi Wallet, emphasizing the importance of open-source software and freedom of information in the digital age.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Leising, Co-founder of DeCential Media, a publication committed to telling the stories of founders, builders, and visionaries in the decentralized economy. Join them as they:Shine a light on the power of personal narratives in blockchain innovationExplore Matt’s journey from Bloomberg to DeCential MediaUnpack the DAO Hack and the birth of Ethereum's resilienceAnalyze the challenges of traditional journalism in crypto mediaDelve into the future of blockchain innovation from a storyteller’s perspectiveDiscuss Matt’s book, 'Out of the Ether'Examine DeCential Media's approach to blockchain storytelling and independenceAnd much more!Matt Leising is the co-founder of DeCential Media. With a background in journalism, specifically at Bloomberg News, Matt has extensive experience in reporting on Wall Street and financial markets. He began covering crypto in 2015 as one of the first mainstream journalists to understand what the breakthrough of blockchain technology could mean for finance, culture, and industry in general. His expertise lies in the Ethereum blockchain world, where he knows the people who invented and then built the world’s most-used blockchain. He’s written extensively on the intersection of Wall Street and decentralized finance and how new peer-to-peer systems can change the way the current internet works. He’s one of the foremost experts on the Ethereum DAO hack and is the author of ‘Out of the Ether, the Amazing Story of Ethereum and the $55 Million Heist That Almost Destroyed It All’.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Pavel Sinelnikov, Developer Relations Lead at ZKM, a network focusing on zero-knowledge virtual machines (ZKVM) for universal settlement.Join them as they:Discuss lessons learned in Ethereum growth and applying them to BitcoinAnalyze the importance of Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) co-existingUnpack the different types of L2 rollupsDelve into the ethos of decentralization and how ZKM applies that to its sequencer networkUnpack how ZKM offers Sustainable Yield GenerationShine a light on ZKM’s decentralized sequencer network and the security that it offersAnd much more!Pavel Sinelnikov is the Developer Relations Lead at ZKM. With a strong background in blockchain technology and a keen interest in decentralized systems, Pavel has previously worked with notable blockchain projects like Metis, where he was instrumental in developer relations and ambassador coordination. He has also provided educational components on decentralized finance (DeFi) to prominent financial institutions like the Royal Bank of Canada.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Meg Lister, General Manager of Grants Labs at Gitcoin, a platform that has helped to disseminate grant funding to more than 4,000 projects within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors.Join them as they:Discuss the catalytic effect of transparent funding mechanismsAnalyze the success rates in grant fundingUnpack the evolution of Gitcoin and the emergence of 2.0Delve into the balance between centralized and decentralized processes in GitcoinUnpack quadratic funding and the role of community contributions in GitcoinShine a light on Meg's perspective on finding a career aligned with personal missionsAnd much more!Meg Lister is the General Manager of Grants Labs at Gitcoin, where she spearheads initiatives aimed to revolutionize grant funding through the use of blockchain technology. With a background in philosophy and environmental studies, Meg transitioned from a traditional tech career to the crypto industry, driven by a desire for transparency and equity in funding mechanisms. Meg's work emphasizes community-driven solutions and strategic use of open-source resources to foster a more just and accountable global ecosystem. Beyond her role at Gitcoin, Meg contributes to the broader crypto community through mentorship initiatives and as a key participant in industry discussions on policy and innovation at local and global levels.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.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

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Alejo Pinto, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem, a product studio working toward global financial inclusion powered by blockchains.Join them as they:Discuss Pontem’s contribution to the evolving DeFi landscapeUnpack the suite of products under the Pontem Network umbrellaExamine how Pontem is building for a multi-chain worldShine a light on the significance of enabling people to transact freely in crypto Delve into the importance of building on the Move Virtual MachineDive into Pontem's strategies to abstract blockchain specifics from the end userAnd much more!Alejo Pinto is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem Network, a product development studio building Move, as well as EVM-compatible applications and products to enable a more developer- and user-friendly Web3. He has an extensive background in the tech industry, including a significant stint at IBM, where he gained valuable experience in blockchain applications. Alejo's journey into the cryptocurrency space began around 2014 when he first discovered Bitcoin. This sparked his interest in blockchain technology and its potential to transform economic interactions on the internet. His expertise extends beyond just technical knowledge; he is deeply involved in developing applications that leverage different blockchain architectures to enhance transactional freedom and efficiency across various networks.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.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