Talking Tokens

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with David Phelps, Co-Founder of JokeRace, an onchain platform that wants to turn governance, incentives, and community engagement into lightweight, fun, and highly participatory experiences. David breaks down why governance has failed in most crypto communities, how JokeRace simplifies participation, and why real utility often comes from small, low-friction interactions rather than complex systems.They also discuss how communities can design better incentives, what JokeRace has learned from thousands of contests, and why the future of onchain engagement depends on experimentation, humor, and user-driven creativity. David also walks through his recent Base controversy, what he actually meant in his comments vs how it was interpreted online. He also talks about expectations placed on L2s, foundations, and application teams building in public.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:27) - Devconnect Buenos Aires and public-access events (02:08) - How someone buying substances introduced David to crypto (03:07) - Discovering programmable money and why it “changes everything” (04:13) - Bitcoin vs Ethereum and how Bitcoin creates value (07:04) - Stablecoins, USD dominance, and crypto’s internal contradictions (09:23) - Why DAOs failed and how that led to the creation of JokeRace (10:29) - Participation, incentives, and why governance must be fun (12:27) - Subjective prediction markets and competition inside JokeRace (15:32) - Tribalism, rivalry, and true community psychology (19:06) - Who actually uses JokeRace and how mainstream users onboard (21:36) - Governance failures, branding, and why DAOs aren’t entertaining (32:03) - The Base controversy: what David meant vs what people heard (35:09) - Why chains must be opinionated and focused, not “for everyone” (44:22) - Token launches, market makers, and structurally short deals (49:03) - David’s best advice on being online and embracing authenticity EssentialsYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Eunice Giarta, Co-Founder of Monad, a new blockchain that just launched on mainnet. Eunice explains Monad’s design philosophy, the team’s focus on distribution and decentralization, and why the public token sale with Coinbase represents a new approach to retail access.They also discuss Monad’s viral airdrop campaign, the team’s long-term vision for performance on EVM, and what the launch means for developers building DeFi, gaming, consumer apps, and new real-time experiences onchain.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Why distribution and decentralization matter for Monad (00:17) - Introduction to Eunice Giarta & Monad’s launch week (01:42) - How the team prepared for mainnet and the Coinbase public sale (02:36) - Why Monad chose a public token sale model (03:10) - Day-1 validator distribution and network participation (04:18) - Rethinking token sales and reaching new audiences (05:39) - The viral airdrop: design, gamification, and community reaction (08:22) - Keeping new users engaged & building long-term community value (11:02) - Why launch another L1? Eunice’s differentiation argument (12:38) - Monad’s origin story and the idea of “Solana speed on EVM” (14:45) - How performance engineering shaped Monad’s architecture (17:21) - Competing or coexisting with Ethereum and Solana (19:47) - What will launch on Monad: DeFi, order books, gaming, betting (22:19) - Expected number of apps live at mainnet (22:57) - The roadmap for Monad (25:28) - How Monad changes design constraints for developers (27:11) - Expanding into payments, remittances & stablecoin infrastructure (29:57) - What healthy long-term ecosystem growth looks like (31:00) - Real-time settlement & long-term vision for blockchain (32:04) - Final advice from EuniceYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs. John discusses Avalanche’s approach to scaling through purpose-built L1s, how dedicated infrastructure supports institutional and enterprise adoption, and why many organizations are shifting toward onchain-first products.The conversation explores Avalanche’s burn-based token model, the role of instant finality in real-world asset tokenization, and how stablecoin clarity is shaping global strategies heading into 2026. John also breaks down regional differences across Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S., and shares insights on Avalanche’s priorities for users, transactions, and L1 distribution.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Why the industry still struggles with token purpose (01:00) - John Nahas returns to the show (02:11) - Avalanche’s approach vs Ethereum and Solana (03:30) - Why the industry lacks clear onchain applications (04:52) - Purpose-built L1s and long-term scalability (06:24) - How Avalanche’s many L1s work together (08:16) - What early assumptions about “everyone needing a chain” got wrong (11:59) - How Avalanche handles shifting market narratives (15:26) - AVAX burn mechanism and value accrual (18:02) - Tokenization momentum and institutional partnerships (23:56) - Stablecoin clarity and 2026 adoption trends (35:25) - Avalanche’s top priorities: users, assets, transactions (37:01) - Strengthening Avalanche’s identity and narrativeEssentialsYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Ben Coverston, Founding Engineer at Temporal, a Solana-based R&D firm focused on blockchain performance, and cofounder of Harmonic.The conversation explores Harmonic, a new open block-building system designed to make Solana’s transaction sequencing more efficient, decentralized, and transparent. Ben discusses how the system creates a competitive marketplace for block builders, improves inclusion latency, and could help Solana reach 1 million transactions per second while maintaining decentralization.They also talk about the lessons he learned from Solana’s early struggles, the evolution of validator coordination, and how Harmonic’s work brings the network closer to functioning like an “onchain Nasdaq.”This episode is a part of the Solana Sessions campaign that Token Relations and the Talking Tokens podcast are doing, diving into founders’ journeys and startups building on Solana. Check out the accompanying newsletter on ⁠www.token-relations.xyz⁠This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Intro: Solana’s progress & how Temporal fits in (01:03) - Creating an “onchain Nasdaq” for Solana (02:15) - Ben’s background: from math & CS student to interning at Citadel (03:19) - What drew him from traditional finance to crypto (04:11) - First impressions of Solana’s speed and performance (05:25) - Why Ben left HFT firms to build in decentralized finance (06:20) - Problems with centralized markets and the appeal of DeFi transparency (07:04) - How Solana achieved real efficiency and low fees (08:50) - Understanding more about Harmonic (10:15) - Why sequencing and inclusion latency matter for DeFi apps (11:35) - Standardizing Solana’s transaction rules with ACE (Application Controlled Execution) (13:13) - Why open sequencing helps apps like DEXs and liquidators (14:04) - Bringing predictability and competition to Solana’s block production (15:32) - How multiple builders competing improves network throughput (16:51) - The goal: Solana reaching 10 to 100x throughput with stability (18:06) - Long-term potential can be 1 million TPS and sustainable decentralization (19:22) - How open sequencing improves inclusion, latency and efficiency (20:57) - Building trust between validators, builders, and applications (22:13) - Preventing toxic block-building practices (23:46) - Why transparency and fairness increase validator revenue (25:04) - What “success” looks like for Solana developers and apps (26:33) - Why Solana’s user and institutional adoption is accelerating (28:10) - The role of liquidity providers and market competition (29:12) - Institutional capital, DeFi adoption & network maturity (31:04) - Advice from Ben: ignore short-term noise, keep building (32:33) - Closing thoughts & future of open blockchain designYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ⁠ Apple Podcast:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141⁠Follow us on X Jacquelyn:⁠ https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek⁠ Talking Tokens:⁠ https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens⁠Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/⁠Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, and AJ Warner, Chief Strategy Officer at Offchain Labs, the team behind Arbitrum.The conversation explores how Robinhood is bringing U.S. equities onchain through tokenization, starting in Europe, and what that means for global investors. Johann explains how the initiative grew from Robinhood’s crypto division into a larger effort to make stocks, ETFs, and other financial assets tradeable onchain 24/7, while AJ discusses the infrastructure powering it on Arbitrum and how it connects to Ethereum for security.They discuss how tokenized equities can reduce settlement times, improve transparency, and unlock new use cases like lending pools and fractional investing. The two also touch on regulatory coordination, compliance frameworks, and when “tokenization” itself might disappear as everything financial moves to blockchain rails.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:13) - What tokenization really means (02:27) - Stablecoins as crypto’s first large-scale tokenization success (03:20) - How Robinhood began exploring onchain equities (04:16) - Building for European users & why they started outside the U.S. (05:12) - Scaling from 2 assets to over 400 tokenized stocks and ETFs (06:18) - Robinhood plans for its own blockchain, “Robinhood Chain” (07:20) - AJ on Arbitrum’s role and the value of flexibility in blockchain design (09:00) - Supporting both public and private chains for compliance needs (10:13) - Why Ethereum remains the settlement layer of choice (11:35) - Making blockchain invisible to end users (12:46) - Lessons from stablecoins & how 24/7 trading changes market structure (14:10) - Regulatory challenges and why flexibility across jurisdictions matters (16:07) - Tokenized equities vs. other RWAs like real estate (17:18) - How users will benefit from instant settlement & fractional ownership (18:40) - Private market tokenization and the OpenAI, SpaceX model (20:23) - The path toward democratizing private equity access (22:00) - When tokenization becomes mainstream (and stops being a buzzword) (23:10) - Why Robinhood and Arbitrum see the next decade as onchain finance’s inflection point (25:42) - Final thoughts: collaboration, compliance, and scalabilityYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Torab Torabi, CEO of Move Industries, the team behind Move Network, a new blockchain ecosystem built on the Move language.Torab opens up about the challenges of rebuilding after Movement Labs’ internal fallout, how the company restructured, and why the new chapter is focused on transparency, community, and global accessibility. He shares insights into how Move Industries handled its market-maker incident, is working on regaining developer trust, and how it retained over 90% of its team through the transition.The discussion also explores how Move Network aims to serve the “unbanked” through mobile-first design, why RWAs and TVL metrics often miss the point, and how the company’s developer-first philosophy and new “Move University” initiative are preparing the next generation of builders.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.comTimestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:02) - From Movement Labs to Move Industries: What really happened (02:18) - The market maker fallout and how the team responded (03:25) - Binance investigation, buybacks & rebuilding community trust (04:50) - The emotional toll & decision to stay through the crisis (06:15) - Team resilience: 90% retention through uncertainty (07:50) - Advice from investors and industry peers during turmoil (09:30) - Lessons learned on transparency and rebuilding credibility (10:46) - Why the team sees “Move Industries” as a true fresh start (12:04) - The People’s Chain: banking the unbanked through mobile access (14:26) - Torab’s personal story: from the Bay Area to blockchain (17:10) - Designing real-world crypto use cases for underserved regions (19:02) - Why crypto needs its “Apple Pay moment” (20:36) - Overcoming UX barriers and gas fee limitations (22:22) - Targeting 100M users through better mobile design (25:01) - Building for younger, financially native generations (27:04) - How Move Network is positioning as a sovereign Layer-1 (28:25) - Challenges of Move language adoption and developer shortage (30:03) - Launching Move University to train new developers (32:07) - Why RWAs are overhyped and what metrics actually matter (34:12) - Vanity metrics, TVL inflation & measuring real onchain activity (36:09) - The velocity of money as a better health indicator for chains (38:22) - Developer-first initiatives and global activation hubs (40:20) - Move Alliance and financial alignment within the ecosystem (42:10) - Defining success for Move Industries’ next era (44:00) - Building “crypto that doesn’t feel like crypto” (46:02) - Final advice: resilience, relationships, and long-term thinkingEssentialsYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

Shane Molidor, founder and CEO of Forgd, shares his expertise in tokenomics and market dynamics. He discusses the staggering 70% failure rate of token launches, often due to poor liquidity and founders' misunderstandings of market-making. Shane advocates for transparency and better standards in the industry, urging projects to prioritize fundamentals over hype. He highlights how Forgd is changing the game with data-driven insights, fostering healthier market practices, and guiding founders through the complex capital markets landscape.

In this discussion, Qiao Wang, founding partner at Alliance DAO and an early-stage crypto investor, delves into the evolving landscape of crypto startups. He emphasizes how the focus is shifting to real-world utility, particularly with stablecoins and AI-driven tools. Qiao shares insights on the resurgence of U.S.-based founders and highlights emerging trends in B2B cross-border payments. He also addresses the importance of staying niche before expanding globally and the role of AI in ensuring better product design and market strategies.

In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize, following the company’s announcement that it will go public through a SPAC merger valuing it at $1.25 billion and the launch of a tokenized fund with BNY.The conversation explores why Securitize chose to go public now, how the move fits into its broader mission of bringing real-world assets onchain, and what it means for the growing tokenization market. Carlos discusses the regulatory process behind going public, the importance of transparency and governance for institutional partners, and why he believes tokenization is entering a period of real adoption after years of experimentation.They also cover Securitize’s new tokenized collateralized loan obligation (CLO) fund, the company’s partnership with BNY and Grove, and how these collaborations are paving the way for more yield-bearing products to come onchain.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:00) - Why going public strengthens governance, transparency, and trust (02:10) - How Securitize’s decision came together after Circle’s successful IPO (03:30) - The regulatory process behind the SPAC merger and SEC approval timeline (05:19) - The return of the IPO market and why crypto companies are leading it (06:36) - Why early public listings can instill discipline in growing companies (07:57) - How Securitize’s IPO may accelerate partnerships with major institutions (08:48) - Expanding internationally and building a stronger balance sheet (09:26) - Focus regions: U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the Middle East (10:13) - Lessons from the process: internal alignment and preparation (11:06) - Launching a tokenized fund with BNY and Grove’s $100M investment (12:23) - Why CLOs and yield-bearing assets are the next phase of tokenization (13:05) - How Grove integrates the tokenized CLO into its ecosystem (14:21) - The structure of the partnership between Securitize, BNY, and Grove (15:35) - Stable yields, risk management, and diversification opportunities (16:01) - Why 2025 could mark a tipping point for large-scale tokenization (16:50) - Industry outlook about competition, collaboration, and exponential growth (17:17) - Final thoughts: building credibility and tokenizing traditional financeYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink and former Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock.Joseph shares how he went from leading BlackRock’s digital asset strategy to running one of the first publicly listed digital asset treasuries on Nasdaq. He explains what inspired him to leave BlackRock after 20 years, how institutional demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum has evolved and what makes a good DAT.They dive deep into Ethereum’s role as the global settlement layer for finance, why tokenization is the next major market structure shift, and how SharpLink’s treasury model creates exposure to Ethereum, while actively managing yield through staking and DeFi.Joseph also discusses regulation, market cycles, tokenized equities, and the growing interest from Asia-based institutions.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:06) - Life after 20 years at BlackRock & how his role at SharpLink began (02:47) - Building BlackRock’s digital asset division and early learnings (04:28) - Why institutional adoption took time: regulation & infrastructure gaps (05:53) - ETF demand, client-first strategy & product-market fit for crypto (07:55) - Who’s really driving today’s crypto markets: investors vs traders (09:11) - Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins dominate institutional portfolios (10:39) - Ethereum as the programmable settlement layer for global finance (12:19) - Stablecoins, tokenization & the trillion-dollar opportunity ahead (13:24) - Institutions entering DeFi and why the rails are shifting fast (14:09) - What Ethereum’s consistency, security & liquidity mean for investors (15:25) - Tokenization: which assets should actually move onchain (17:00) - How stablecoins threaten bank margins but benefit the U.S. economy (18:34) - Treasury management & the opportunity for onchain balance sheets (19:34) - SharpLink’s mission: institutional access to Ethereum exposure (21:12) - Turning ETH into a productive asset through staking and DeFi (23:03) - Building an institutional team with trust & long-term credibility (25:22) - Market cycles, ETH accumulation & thesis-driven treasury strategy (27:48) - Managing a Nasdaq-listed crypto company responsibly (30:12) - Lessons from BlackRock: transparency, controls & investor trust (32:58) - The rise of other digital asset treasuries & what sets SharpLink apart (35:03) - Global expansion: insights from Korea, Singapore & Hong Kong (38:15) - How Asia’s retail energy outpaces Europe’s institutional caution (41:10) - What he learned from 70+ investor meetings across four continents (43:03) - Why DeFi collaboration matters more than competition (45:09) - Final advice: play the long game, manage risk, and lead with integrityYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.