

The Smart Economy Podcast: Real-World Blockchain Applications with Crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs
Ragnarok Digital, LLP
The Smart Economy Podcast features interviews with some of the most interesting people within the blockchain industry, working to make the new smart economy a reality.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2024 • 49min
Surviving the Ups and Downs: Building a Resilient Non-Custodial Exchange with Andreas Brekken of SideShift
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andreas Brekken, the Founder of SideShift, a non-custodial exchange dedicated to seamless onboarding and user privacy.Join them as they:Unpack the evolution of exchanges in the past 10 yearsDiscuss Andreas’ foray into crypto and building his first exchangeDelve into the rise of SideShiftShine a light on the importance of user privacy and zero registrationWeigh in on building a blockchain company for bull and bear cyclesExplore SideShift’s recent successes and the futureAnd much more!Andreas Brekken is the founder of SideShift. He is also the founder and writer of the weekly Shitcoin.com Newsletter and Co-Host of the Shitcoin.com Podcast. With a background in programming, Andreas has been involved in the cryptocurrency space since 2011. He built his first exchange, Justcoin, from scratch in 2013 and worked as a software engineer at Kraken. 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

Mar 13, 2024 • 51min
Building a Faster, Cheaper Blockchain: Gnosis Chain Explained with Philippe Schommers of Gnosis
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Philippe Schommers, the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis, an entity that has been at the forefront of building decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since its inception in 2015.Join them as they:Unpack the history of the Gnosis ecosystem and its various productsDiscuss how Gnosis Chain is similar to, but different from, the Ethereum ChainShine a light on the importance of building MEV resistance into its core protocolDelve into how governance impacts infrastructural developmentWeigh in on the various technical aspects of Gnosis Chain and the broader ecosystemAnd much more!Philippe Schommers is the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis. With a deep understanding of blockchain technology and its potential, Philippe has played a crucial role in the development of Gnosis' various products and services. He is known for his expertise in Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions, as well as his contributions to the Gnosis Chain.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

Feb 28, 2024 • 54min
Building Privacy-First Blockchain Solutions: A Conversation with Peyman Momeni of Fairblock
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski speaks with Peyman Momeni, CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, to uncover the vital role privacy plays in decentralized systems. They delve into the urgent need for privacy solutions to combat the negative perceptions surrounding this technology. Peyman shares his unique perspective shaped by his experiences in Iran, where access to open finance is restricted. Discover how Fairblock prioritizes ease of use for developers and seamless cross-chain integration.Join them as they:Explore how privacy technologies can protect user data and facilitate financial freedom within DeFi protocols.Examine ways enhanced privacy features revolutionize governance structures.Uncover groundbreaking potential within the gaming sector when privacy is at the forefront.Discuss the challenges and strategies to overcome resistance to privacy solutions in the crypto space.Analyze the importance of collaboration between developers and privacy innovators for mainstream adoption.And much more!Peyman Momeni is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, a leading innovator in privacy-preserving blockchain applications. His mission is driven by a deep understanding of the consequences arising from a lack of individual privacy and its impact on people's lives. Peyman and his team are dedicated to creating solutions that empower users, enhance the functionality of blockchains, and pave the way for widespread adoption of privacy-centric 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.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

Feb 14, 2024 • 57min
Bridging Blockchain Innovation and Real-World Utility with Sunny Lu of VeChain
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Sunny Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of VeChain Foundation, the Foundation tasked with growing VeChainThor, an enterprise-grade L1 public blockchain platform, aiming to spearhead a digital revolution through sustainable and highly scalable smart contract technologies.Join them as they:Shine a light on Web3’s potential for real-world impactDiscuss Sunny’s journey into the blockchain spaceUnpack the importance of the VeChain enterpriseDelve into the criticality of community engagementWeigh in on the state of the blockchain industry and the path towards mass adoption. And much more!Sunny Lu is the CEO and Co-Founder of the VeChain Foundation. He entered the blockchain space in 2013 and has since played a pivotal role in applying blockchain technology to real-world enterprise solutions. With a past as the Chief Information Officer for global brands such as Louis Vuitton, Sunny has used his expertise to bridge technology with business, leading VeChain to become one of the most reputable platforms in the blockchain industry.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

Jan 31, 2024 • 54min
Bridging Institutions and Decentralized Networks: Decent's Approach with Parker McCurley
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Parker McCurley, Co-Founder and CEO of DecentDAO, a builder collective creating DAO, DeFi, and other Web3 toolings and services for institutional and retail clients.Join them as they:Discuss lessons learned from navigating multiple crypto cyclesExamine the inner workings of DecentDaoShine a light on DecentDao’s Ethereum ethosUnpack DecentDao’s product offeringsWeigh in on the educational value of open-source communitiesDelve into Parker’s journey into the blockchain spaceAnd much more!Parker McCurley is the Co-Founder and CEO of DecentDAO. With a background in software development and a passion for cryptocurrency, Parker has been involved in the industry since 2017. At DecentDAO, he is dedicated to building privacy-focused tools for institutional DeFi and is committed to the vision of decentralizing the financial system.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

Jan 17, 2024 • 52min
Landslide Network: Bridging the Gap Between Avalanche & Cosmos with Nathan Windsor
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Nathan Windsor, the CEO and Co-Founder of Landslide Network, an IBC-enabled Avalanche subnet that allows any Cosmos-based dApp to run natively on the Avalanche network.Join them as they:Unpack the differences between Avalanche and Cosmos at a protocol levelShine a light on the power of the IBC ProtocolWeigh in on the strength of an Avalanche-Cosmos bridgeExamine the role of permissioned and permissionless Blockchain networksDiscuss Nathan’s journey into the blockchain spaceAnd much more!Nathan Windsor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Landslide Network. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, business leader, and blockchain enthusiast with a track record of founding and scaling technology companies. 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

Jan 3, 2024 • 52min
Decentralized Bridges: Nomic's Vision for Connecting Bitcoin and Cosmos with Matt Bell
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Bell, the CEO and Co-Founder of Turbofish, a team working on Nomic, a layer one blockchain that offers a decentralized, non-custodial Bitcoin bridge into the Cosmos ecosystem.Join them as they:Shine a light on Nomic’s missionWeigh in on the issue with Bitcoin’s untapped liquidityUnpack the technical aspects of Nomic Examine the broader implications of bridging the gap between Bitcoin and other ecosystemsDiscuss Matt’s journey into the crypto spaceAnd much more!Matt Bell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Turbofish. Matt has been involved in the crypto industry since 2011 and has worked at various crypto companies, including Protocol Labs, where he contributed to the development of IPFS and Filecoin.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

Dec 20, 2023 • 55min
Building a Next-Generation Stablecoin: The Vision of Verified USD Foundation with Matthew Commons
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matthew Commons, President of the Verified USD Foundation, an independent entity accountable for USDV, dedicated to nurturing a stablecoin ecosystem that enables equitable value-sharing of benefits among its community of contributors.Join them as they:Weigh in on the Verified USD Foundation’s vision of building a next-generation stablecoinDelve into the inner workings of the Verified USD FoundationExamine the impact of permissionless stablecoins on the next wave of usersUnpack the technical aspects of the ColorTrace algorithmShine a light on the Verified USD Foundation’s mission to bridge centralized and decentralized financeDiscuss Matthew’s journey into the crypto spaceAnd much more!Matthew Commons is President of the Verified USD Foundation, Founder and President of Commons Partners, and the Co-Founder of Cambridge Blockchain. His experience as a successful founder, CEO, and CFO includes leading global expansion, raising capital, and building strategic partnerships with institutions such as PayPal, Goldman Sachs, Digital Currency Group, Foxconn, and Kleiner Perkins. 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

Dec 6, 2023 • 54min
Arcade: Unlocking Liquidity through NFT Lending with Gabe Frank
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Gabe Frank, the Founder of Arcade.xyz, a DeFi protocol on Ethereum that specializes in NFT lending. It operates as a non-custodial Web3 application and financial “super app” for NFTs and other unique on-chain assets.Join them as they:Weigh in on the current state of the NFT spaceDiscuss Gabe’s journey into cryptoDelve into the mechanics of NFT lending on ArcadeExplore the technical infrastructure and integration of Arcade’s platformWeigh up the importance of KYT and transaction monitoringExamine the role of the Arcade DAO Shine a light on the future of NFT lending And much more!Gabe Frank is the Founder of Arcade.xyz and the Co-Founder and CEO of Non-fungible Technologies. He has been involved in the crypto space since 2018 and has experience in custodial services and institutional digital asset wallets, having previously worked at BitGo and Curve. 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

Nov 22, 2023 • 1h 1min
The Power of One Global State Machine with Austin Federa, Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Austin Federa, Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation, an organization dedicated to the decentralization, growth, and security of the Solana network. Join them as they:Discuss Solana’s resilience in the face of adversity Shine a light on the unique features of the Solana ecosystemWeigh in on the recent Validator Health ReportDelve into Solana’s growing network performanceExplore Solana’s recent partnerships with Visa and ShopifyWeigh up the importance of social consensus and governance Examine the future of Solana and the blockchain industryAnd much more!Austin Federa is the current Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation. He is also the host of the Solana Foundation’s podcast, Validated. Austin previously served as Head of Communications at Solana Labs.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


