Endgame with Amanda Cassatt

What do billion-dollar asset managers really think about your token?Pranav Kanade manages Digital Assets Alpha Fund, an actively managed crypto strategy at VanEck, one of the world’s largest asset managers with over $116B in assets under management. In this episode, Amanda and Pranav unpack how traditional finance approaches the space, how they evaluate projects, what good tokenomics actually look like, and why most founders misunderstand what institutional investors care about.They dive into Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and even a few DePIN projects and dig into why some play well with capital allocators while others don’t stand a chance. Pranav shares what makes a token investable, how he thinks about liquidity, governance, and incentives, and what’s still broken in the DeFi–TradFi bridge.This episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes for a crypto project to earn the attention of a firm like VanEck and reveals how institutions really view the space.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Pranav's Journey from TradFi to Crypto03:04 Defining Good Crypto Investments05:59 The Importance of Tokenomics08:52 Buyback and Burn Mechanisms12:10 The Impact of Financialization on Technology15:01 Strategies for Token Generation Events18:13 Building Trust in Crypto Projects21:06 The Future of Multi-Token ETFs24:08 Exciting Developments in Tokenized Equities29:36 Tesla's Path to Robotaxis31:59 The Role of Centralized Exchanges32:54 User Experience in DeFi vs. TradFi34:32 The Future of Crypto and TradFi Integration38:01 The Ideal End State for Crypto40:15 Predictions in the Crypto Market41:45 AI Agents and Financial Transactions44:28 AI and Crypto Crossover Opportunities47:03 The Future of Stablecoins49:50 The Power Law in Currencies50:52 Quality of People in CryptoRESOURCES Pranav on X: @vaneckpk https://x.com/vaneckpk Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/45B9szUxVXEwfCDA6uRxwq?si=HT9XXqF9Q2CcM9hfLbmkVg Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440 Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

George Hotz, a renowned hacker and AI founder, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. He discusses how machines may shift economic value, emphasizing that humans will still hold importance in this new world. Topics include the critique of intellectual property in light of AI abundance, the need for high-skilled immigration to drive growth, and innovative approaches to hiring that prioritize skills over credentials. Hotz also warns against the societal impacts of digital addiction and highlights the importance of adapting to technology’s advancements.

Curtis Yarvin—founder of Urbit, political philosopher and  blogger formerly known as Mencius Moldbug, the man who coined the term “red pill” is known for his influence on thinkers like Peter Thiel and JD Vance. In this episode, he offers a critical analysis of America’s political and economic landscape. He critiques the MAGA movement, exploring the limits of democracy and the rise of oligarchy, the roots of Trump’s tariffs in mercantilist thinking, and the administration’s “vibe governing”.The conversation transitions to cryptocurrency, examining Bitcoin’s evolution, government regulation, and how Urbit could reshape digital identity. Curtis reflects on Urbit’s role in creating autonomous economic identities and the challenges of achieving product-market fit in web3.TIMESTAMPS00:00 The State of America: A Critical Examination07:59 Manufacturing and Economic Policy: A Mercantilist Perspective18:14 Power Dynamics: Authority, Democracy, and Oligarchy34:02 Vibe Governing: The Challenges of Modern Leadership34:53 Mercantilism: Successes and Failures40:41 The Future of Crypto and Bitcoin49:18 Urbit: A New Paradigm for Digital Identity01:08:30 The Vision for Autonomous Economic IdentitiesRESOURCESCurtis on X: https://x.com/curtis_yarvinSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

Having access to a bank account is synonymous with human rights.Stani Kulechov is a pioneer in decentralized finance and blockchain technology. He is the Founder and CEO of Avara, the software development company behind DeFi protocol Aave, stablecoin GHO, SocialFi tech stack Lens Chain and Family, the Ethereum wallet. In this episode, he joins Amanda to discuss the evolving dynamics between DeFi, traditional finance, and regulation. They explore Aave’s growth, the decentralization-versus-crentralization debate, and the evolving role of KYC in DeFi. Later, they dive into Ethereum’s technical roadmap in today’s shifting regulatory landscape, the impact of stablecoins, and the urgent need for innovation in crypto. Stani introduces Lens Chain, his latest venture in decentralized social media, and examines how web3 could reshape online interactions. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Understanding DeFi: Access and Opportunity03:13 The Limitations of Traditional Finance08:50 The Evolution and Future of DeFi11:59 Aave's Unique Position in the DeFi Landscape16:39 Building a Profitable DeFi Protocol21:29 Decentralization vs. Centralization in Finance24:02 The Future of KYC and Compliance in DeFi30:26 Ethereum's Technical Roadmap and Community Dynamics37:19 Expanding Aave Beyond Ethereum40:20 The Role of Stablecoins in DeFi45:09 Innovating Wallets for User Experience47:08 Decentralized Social Media: The Lens Protocol51:51 Navigating Politics and Regulation in CryptoRESOURCES:Stani on X: https://x.com@StaniKulechov Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

Is Ethereum staying true to its ideals?Ameen Soleimani—founder of SpankChain, summoner of MolochDAO, contributor to Tornado Cash, and now leading 0xbow—has spent years building tools that test the boundaries of decentralization and financial privacy. In this episode, he joins Amanda to explore Ethereum’s shifting values: what’s been preserved, what’s been sacrificed, and what’s at stake as the network grows.They discuss the political and ethical tensions behind privacy tools like Tornado Cash and how Ameen’s latest project, 0xbow, is rethinking privacy for a post-sanctions world. With Privacy Pools, users can prove their funds aren’t linked to illicit activity—offering a new path forward for compliant anonymity onchain.As regulators step in and institutional actors gain influence, this episode asks: Can Ethereum remain neutral? Can it scale without centralizing? And can privacy survive in the spotlight?A direct, unsentimental look at the future of Ethereum—and the values worth fighting for.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Ethereum's Direction and Ideological Shifts05:06 Intellectual Honesty in Blockchain Evaluation11:17 Privacy Tools and the Ethics of Hacking18:01 Privacy in Financial Transactions and Tools22:18 Institutional Influence on Blockchain Development25:10 Balancing Ideals and Reality in Ethereum28:07 The Role of Neutrality in Geopolitical Contracts30:36 Decentralization: Ethereum vs. Other Blockchains35:42 Cultural Capture: The Influence of Ideology44:00 Paths Forward for Ethereum's Culture and LeadershipRESOURCES: Ameen on X: https://x.com/ameensol 0xbow: https://0xbow.io/Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What if gaming guilds in the Philippines are already preparing for the future of work the rest of the world hasn’t seen coming?Gabby Dizon, Co-Founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG), shares how digital labor is evolving at the intersection of gaming, AI, and crypto. As automation threatens traditional jobs, guilds are becoming early experiments in agile, creative, globally distributed work. This episode explores how these communities are adapting—and what they reveal about where human labor will still matter in an AI-driven world.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Crypto Gaming Journey02:58 The Rise of Axie Infinity and Play-to-Earn06:03 The Emergence of Guilds in Gaming09:12 Building YGG: The Guild of Guilds12:06 The Impact of the Bull Market and Subsequent Crash14:46 Rebuilding and Teaching Digital Literacy18:03 The Future of Work in Web3 and BPO Comparison22:05 The Value Flow in Global Gaming Markets25:41 Sustainability in Web3 Gaming28:42 Human Input in AI and Gaming32:34 The Future of Work and Guilds39:05 Agility in Labor Markets40:45 Humanism in the Age of AIRESOURCES: Gabby on X: https://x.com/gabusch/ YGG on X: https://x.com/YieldGuild Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQProduced by Haynow Media: https://haynowmedia.com/Related Tags:gabby dizon,how i run a successful dao with gabby dizon of yield guild games,gaming guilds,crypto gaming guilds,gaming guilds crypto,how i run a successful dao with gabby dizon,run a successful dao with gabby dizon yield guild games,gabby dizon yield guild games,top 5 gaming guilds,top 3 gaming guilds,web3 gaming guilds,best gaming guilds,how to run a successful dao with gabby dizon yield guild games,gabby dizon axie infinity,gaming guilds explained#guilds , #gaming , #ai , #yggdrachronicle , #GabbyDizon, #blockchaingaming , #playtoearn , #nfts , #gamingcommunity , #esports , #digitaleconomy , #virtualassets , #gamingindustry , #web3 , #gamedevelopment , #metaverse , #cryptogaming , #gamefi , #p2egames , #virtualreality

The world is changing at an accelerating pace—Endgame is here to make sense of it. Hosted by Amanda Cassatt, founder of Serotonin, this podcast brings you conversations with the visionaries driving breakthrough technologies and shaping the future. Join Amanda as she unpacks the trends, innovations, and paradigm shifts defining our time. Where is this all going? Let’s figure it out together.Subscribe:Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassattSerotonin on X: https://x.com/serotoninEndgame on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast