Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

The key to crypto’s integration into mainstream use is reducing “friction.” Whether it’s downloading MetaMask, operating a crypto wallet, navigating peer-to-peer transactions, or even simply opening accounts with Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken, there’s a lot of ground for the average person to navigate right now. Ed Woodford is on a mission to speed crypto adoption by the public. And he just raised $105 million to fund that mission. He is working with some of the largest institutions in the world, including Bain Capital, to bring the Web 2.0 user experience to crypto’s decentralized world. Institutional interest is booming, and this factor could prove critical to building robust decentralized financial infrastructure capable of supporting use by the masses. Woodford, co-founder and CEO of ZeroHash, talks about next steps with Santiago Velez, co-founder and division lead of research and development of Block Digital. Recorded on January 13, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three recent filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office indicate Walmart is getting deeper into the metaverse. It plans to create its own cryptocurrency and to offer digital versions of its products via NFTs. Does this signal broader consumer adoption of digital assets and virtual experiences? Meanwhile, new partnerships and fresh acquisitions suggest that old-school and new-school companies are getting ready to service more consumers. Cami Russo and Robin Schmidt of The Defiant join Real Vision's Elaine Ly to share their insight. Recorded on January 19, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the art world is fast transitioning into the blockchain, artists wish to seize an opportunity to meet the demands of the parabolic growth of NFTs. From working with big power fashion brands like Prada and Chanel, Blair Breitenstein’s work has also graced the pages of Vogue and Tatler. When asked about why the pivot to NFTs, Breitenstein said, “I had to. Instagram was favoring video. I was way too dependent on them.” But as art meets tech and culture, how does an artist launch a full collection? Tune in to hear a candid conversation with Blair Breitenstein on how she went on a one-woman mission to single-handedly launch her NFT collection, the “1,989 Sisters.” Interviewed by Elaine Ly on January 6, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is your chance to benefit from an exchange of ideas between two brilliant modern thinkers. Mike Green, chief strategist and portfolio manager at Simplify Asset Management, is a well-known Bitcoin bear. On the other hand, Robert Breedlove, founder of the “What Is Money?” podcast, is one of its most vehement proponents. Their disagreements originate from deeper convictions surrounding the proper methods of organizing society and the economy: Laissez-Faire versus centrally planned. Real Vision senior editor Ash Bennington moderates this fiery debate between Breedlove and Green on the roles of money and the state. The discussion begins on Bitcoin and weaves into larger political and socio-economic topics within which Bitcoin could play a significant role. Recorded on January 7, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Privacy is a topic that can be somewhat confusing within crypto. While Bitcoin can be transacted anonymously, its ledger is public, and privacy is not guaranteed. This system has its benefits, but it’s not the best for storing or transporting sensitive information at the individual or corporate level. Sebastian Bürgel, founder of HOPR, is bolstering one of the core founding pillars of crypto, using blockchain to preserve anonymity. He and his team at HOPR are aiming to implement a blockchain solution that keeps the importance of privacy at the forefront. The use cases in the privacy-blockchain realm are numerous and continue to grow. Bürgel, as a founder and programmer himself, gives viewers a technologist’s insights into a rich and growing field. Interviewed by Ash Bennington on January 10, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this treat of an interview, Mike Dudas, partner at 6th Man Ventures and co-founder of LinksDAO, sits down with Raoul Pal, CEO and co-founder of Real Vision, for a wide-ranging discussion on the past and future of crypto. Mike has a particularly interesting background, having previously worked at Google, Disney, and Venmo before he founded the crypto research platform, The Block. Since then, Mike has been a pioneer in the space as he shares all his thoughts with us on everything from stablecoins, venture capital in crypto, as well as DAO governance — a particularly interesting subject since Mike recently founded LinksDAO. This is another classic interview and one you won't want to miss. Recorded on January 10, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Keys, co-founder and managing partner at DARMA Capital, is as bullish as they come on Ethereum. He believes Ethereum will soon become the basis for the global economy, and he wants to be responsible for helping to facilitate this. “I want to be part of the solution,” Keys says when asked why he doesn’t park his capital with a more traditional interest bearing vehicle. Tired of a system by which the masses must rely on a few global conglomerates as the brokers of trust, Keys and his team at DARMA would like to see such economic activity determined by an impersonal and objective arbiter. His passion palpable, he shares his plans to decentralize the globe, which include building the largest staking pool in the world. Interviewed by Ash Bennington on January 5, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raoul Pal joins Jessica Walker of @CoinMarketCap to discuss what might be in store for Crypto in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bitcoin’s carbon footprint is a hot topic and one of the few issues that Elon Musk and Elizabeth Warren can agree on, largely because it is a valid environmental concern. Cully Cavness, president and co-founder of Crusoe Energy, and crypto hedge fund guru Chase Lochmiller, CEO and co-founder of Crusoe Energy, have put their minds together to solve Bitcoin’s Achilles’ heel. Their solution: power Bitcoin mining rigs using excess natural gas. The logistics are tricky, but these two are uniquely suited for the job. Cavness comes from a career in energy and sustainability, and Lochmiller is one of the founding members of Olaf Carlson-Wee’s Polychain Capital. Tune in for the fascinating and revolutionary tale of how these two are using Bitcoin to improve the world. Interviewed by Ash Bennington on January 4, 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MetaMask has become one of the most ubiquitous applications in the DeFi world. Jacobc.ETH, lead of operations at MetaMask within ConsenSys, sees wallets and user interfaces as vital pipelines for adoption. Despite its success, it can be difficult to navigate for users who are not programming savvy. Jacobc.ETH recognizes this barrier to entry and is currently working on innovations to help solve this issue. The exponential growth of crypto can only continue if new users come aboard. Jacobc.ETH gives viewers an inside look into the projects underway at MetaMask. He also provides some broader use cases for crypto wallets in general, seeing them as an essential part of the larger ecosystem. Tune in for all this and some bonus thoughts on the Metaverse. Interviewed by Ash Bennington on January 3, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices