Talking Tokens

On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Arianna Simpson, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) crypto, one of the most influential firms in tech and crypto.Arianna shares her journey from Facebook to founding her own venture fund, and eventually joining a16z. They discuss how the firm approaches early-stage web3 investments, what they look for in founders, and the sectors she’s most excited about, including stablecoins and decentralized AI infrastructure. She also talks about global adoption trends, navigating regulation, and why the next wave of blockchain innovation will be more user-focused than ever.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro: Who is Arianna Simpson? (01:20) - From Facebook to founding a crypto venture fund (04:10) - Joining a16z crypto and early-stage investment focus (07:15) - How a16z chooses which founders to back (10:05) - Key sectors on a16z’s radar: stablecoins, DeFi, infrastructure (13:00) - Why user experience will drive the next wave of adoption (15:45) - Global adoption trends and emerging markets (18:40) - Navigating regulation and policy changes (21:20) - Advice for founders entering the space now (24:15) - The role of storytelling in raising capital (27:10) - How founders can stand out to top investors (30:25) - Building resilience through market cycles (33:45) - Common mistakes early-stage founders make (36:40) - Final thoughts: stay adaptable, mission-driven, and boldYou 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 AJ Warner, Director of Strategy at Offchain Labs, the team behind Arbitrum, one of Ethereum’s top layer-2 blockchains with over $4B in TVL.AJ shares his journey from real estate lawyer to crypto strategist, and how a college connection led him to help build Arbitrum from the ground up. They discuss the unique "barbell" strategy powering both Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Orbit, why liquidity and composability are critical for growth, and how Arbitrum balances being a top public chain with enabling enterprises to launch custom blockchains.He also dives into the recent Robinhood partnership - from launching tokenized stocks on Arbitrum One to designing a dedicated Robinhood chain - and why powering fintech products with crypto rails might be the fastest path to mass adoption. Plus, AJ breaks down why some projects shouldn’t launch their own chain, how Arbitrum’s governance gives token holders real control over upgrades and revenue, and where L2 innovation is headed next.Timestamps(01:12) - From law to crypto via a college connection (04:04) - Building Arbitrum’s "barbell" product strategy (07:40) - Liquidity, composability & Arbitrum’s public chain advantage (10:19) - Stablecoin liquidity leadership: USDC, USDT, PayPal USD (12:48) - Arbitrum Orbit: Launching custom L3 chains (16:21) - Why Uber-style incentive models fail in crypto (20:59) - Who should (and shouldn’t) launch their own chain (24:44) - MEV, operating costs & economics of L2 ownership (28:50) - Opinionated blockspace: making the chain part of the product (33:09) - Governance, token holder control & the Arbitrum treasury (37:31) - Designing Robinhood’s on-chain strategy (39:16) - Why fintech products powered by crypto rails matter (42:52) - Making blockchain invisible (in a good way) (44:52) - Final advice: No shortcuts, just hard workYou 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 Emmett Hollyer, General Manager at Solana Mobile — the team behind Saga and now Seeker, crypto’s most ambitious attempt at a mobile-native device and ecosystem.They discuss how Solana Mobile went from 20K Saga phones to 150K Seeker phones sold, why web3 apps need a crypto-friendly App Store, and how mobile can fix broken user onboarding through tools like Seed Vault, Seeker ID, and in-phone token rewards. Emmett also explains how they’re battling bots, supporting new dApps, and preparing to launch a new token $SKR.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.Timestamps(00:00) - Solana Seeker: New Phone, New Vision (01:00) - From Saga to Seeker: 20K to 150K Phones Sold (03:11) - Why Solana Took Mobile Seriously Early (05:22) - Challenging the Duopoly: Apple vs Solana Mobile (07:20) - Secondary Device to Primary Phone: The Shift (08:23) - Seeker Season: Weekly App Incentives & Rewards (09:53) - Crypto-Friendly App Store With Zero Fees (12:01) - Will Non-Solana DApps Be Supported? (14:28) - Seeker ID: Unique Identity & Anti-Sybil Tools (18:46) - Will Seeker Tools Expand to Other Phones? (20:12) - Seed Vault & Key Vault Wallet Explained (24:10) - Global Shipping & Target Markets (26:42) - Tokenized Stocks in Wallet (xStock Feature) (30:57) - The SKR Token: When, Why, and How (34:42) - Seeker Flywheel & Ecosystem Growth Strategy (41:50) - Final Advice: Stay Small, Stay NimbleYou 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/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on XJacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinekTalking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on InstagramTalking 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 Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, one of the world’s top crypto exchanges. Under her leadership, Bitget has grown to 100M+ users across 150+ countries, with over $3 billion in daily trading volume and a thriving token ecosystem built around BGB.Gracy opens up about her journey from broadcast journalism to fintech and eventually crypto. She breaks down Bitget’s strategy for global growth, how BGB could be more than just an exchange token, and what they're building beyond trading — including wallets, partnerships, and education. They also discuss AI, regulation, token utility, and more women entering web3 leadership.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:44) - From TV anchor to fintech investor to Bitget (04:39) - How Bitget grew to 100M+ users & 150+ countries (07:53) - How BGB aims to be more than an exchange token (10:12) - Bitget Wallet, education, and expanding access (13:31) - Gracy’s early investments: BTC, ETH & XRP in 2015 (16:58) - Why she left traditional finance for Web3 (20:47) - How she became CEO after investing in Bitget Wallet (24:09) - Women in Web3: representation, storytelling & risk-taking (28:46) - Brand building, community trust & emerging markets (33:17) - The future of BGB & Bitget’s next big bets (37:52) - Final advice: be visible, lead with mission, tell your storyYou 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/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on XJacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinekTalking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on InstagramTalking 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 sat down with Hong Sun, head of institutions at Core. Core is a bitcoin-secured, EVM-compatible L1 powering a new wave of BTCFi apps, stablecoin adoption, and yield primitives without requiring bitcoin to leave holders’ wallets.Hong walks through how Core uses bitcoin time locks to enable staking and yield generation, what "dual staking" means for institutional safety and returns, and how Core partners with firms like Maple Finance, Copper, and DeFi Technologies to operationalize BTCFi. He breaks down the rise of liquid staking for bitcoin, how spot ETFs paved the way for the next wave of bitcoin adoption, and what new builders can expect from Core’s Rev+ model.They also discuss how BTCFi is changing institutional strategies, bitcoin-as-treasury dynamics, and the future of composable bitcoin collateral in both DeFi and traditional finance.Timestamps(0:00) - Who is Hong Sun & what is Core? (0:54) - From Paxos to BTCFi: Hong's journey (2:01) - Why bitcoin yield matters for adoption (2:34) - Yield without custody risk: Time locks explained (4:03) - LSD-BTC and tokenizing yield (5:44) - ETF buyers vs. yield seekers: the next wave (6:51) - How institutions are thinking about BTC yield (8:12) - Why time locks minimize risk (10:25) - Tax efficiency & regulatory clarity (11:08) - From gold to fixed income: Bitcoin's new narrative (13:14) - Allocating bitcoin in portfolios (15:01) - Is bitcoin the new real estate? (17:14) - Growth of BTCFi across L1s (19:28) - Core as infra for Bitcoin utility (21:30) - New products: wBTCY, Rev+ (23:29) - Sharing gas fees with builders (24:37) - The stablecoin connection to BTCFi (26:28) - Monetizing distribution for issuers (27:27) - Incentives for builders & devs on Core (29:33) - Educating institutions on safe BTC yield (32:24) - BTCFi: treasuries, ETFs & traders (34:08) - Positive carry for market makers (35:25) - What dual staking unlocks (38:13) - BTCFi TAM & billion-dollar upside (40:23) - Composable Bitcoin in traditional finance (42:15) - Liquidity, volatility & macro impacts (44:14) - Hong’s advice: think big, build aligned systemsYou 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 this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with Simon Davis, co-founder and CEO of Mighty Bear Games, and Martin Masser, head of growth at TON Foundation. The two combined forces to shape the future of gaming and digital collectibles inside Telegram. Simon breaks down the story behind Mighty Action Heroes and why his studio pivoted to build on TON. Martin shares how TON-powered Telegram apps are quietly onboarding millions, often without users realizing they’re even interacting with crypto. The discussion covers the new wave of airdrop farming games, why collectibles and mini-apps matter, and what mass adoption in web3 could look like. Plus: advice on growth, why frictionless UX beats hype, and practical tips for breaking into crypto.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (01:08) - What’s the REAL connection between Telegram and TON? (03:30) - How Simon and Martin got started in web3 & gaming (05:34) - What actually makes a good web3 game? Audiences, fun, yield, and “crypto speculators” (08:05) - Why onboarding is broken—and how Telegram/TON plan to fix it (09:08) - Using Telegram Collectibles as social and onboarding gateways (13:16) - Users don’t care about chains or tech. They just want fun, easy games (16:05) - Growth hacks: using AI bots and community agents for user acquisition (18:07) - Social apps, sticker NFTs, and why “crypto” is better hidden behind the scenes (22:09) - The next wave: Brand partnerships, new utility, and sticker store innovations (27:14) - Challenges: Airdrop farmers, awareness gaps, and what still needs building (36:14) - Lessons & advice: Stay curious, get into the weeds, and “provide value” if you want in (43:04) - Final tips for security, jobs, and how to really impress in crypto📢 Subscribe & FollowSubscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with Henri Stern, co-founder and CEO of Privy, the wallet infrastructure powering over 75 million accounts across major platforms like Hyperliquid, Blackbird, and Farcaster.Recently acquired by Stripe in June 2025, Privy continues to operate independently while scaling its innovative wallet solutions. Henri shares the vision behind simplifying crypto onboarding for developers and users alike, bridging the gap between onchain and offchain worlds. Discover how Privy’s embedded wallet technology and focus on user experience are accelerating new financial product innovations, and why seamless integration across chains like Ethereum, Solana, and Base is key to mass adoption.⏱️ Timestamps(0:00) - Intro (0:50) - Who is Henri Stern? (2:40) - Henri’s crypto journey and founding Privy (3:37) - Solving the onchain/offchain gap with embedded wallets (4:44) - The Stripe acquisition: alignment and fast process (7:45) - Benefits of operating within Stripe’s ecosystem while remaining independent (10:30) - Developer tooling focus vs. consumer crypto products (14:00) - Growth ambitions and courting larger customers (18:20) - Accelerating adoption by non-crypto fintechs and enterprises (22:00) - Wallets as social and financial super apps (27:00) - The future of wallets as digital identity and ubiquitous infrastructure (36:00) - Founder advice: focus, simplicity, and building what users understand📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. Leave a review if you like the show! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have financial interests in assets or companies discussed. Not investment advice.

On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sat down with Chris Yin, Co-founder and CEO of Plume Network — a blockchain built for real-world assets (RWAs). Backed by Brevan Howard, Haun Ventures and others, Plume launched mainnet in June 2025 and already accounts for over half of all RWA holders in crypto.Chris shares how Plume went from a structured product app to a full L2 chain, why most tokenized assets fail, and what it takes to make RWAs actually usable. From community-led DeFi to bottoms-up UX, he breaks down Plume’s strategy for bringing the next billion users onchain and why traction beats headlines.Timestamps(0:00) - What is Plume Network? (1:32) - Chris’s background: DeFi summer, yield farming, and app-layer insights (2:15) - Why most tokenized assets fail: no usage, no velocity (4:03) - Why Plume had to build its own chain (5:42) - Tokenization isn’t enough — here’s what else matters (8:01) - RWAs as crypto’s biggest opportunity (bigger than all DeFi) (9:33) - Stable yield, composability, and how users interact with assets (12:16) - What makes tokenized assets actually usable (14:00) - Top-down vs bottoms-up tokenization (16:00) - Mineral Vault onboarded 80K holders in a month (19:12) - Plume’s Phase 2: onboarding non-crypto users (20:30) - Why real traction > flashy launches (22:41) - The real numbers behind RWA growth (25:50) - Plume’s 2025 goal: $1B in clean, onchain RWA value (27:48) - Structured products will unlock the next wave (30:50) - Long-term vision: an onchain BlackRock (32:10) - It’s not about one asset — it’s the full stack (36:36) - Honoring Co-Founder Eugene Chen (39:25) - Final advice: focus long-term, but adapt fastYou 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: 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 Stephen Hess, founder of Metaplex and director of the Metaplex Foundation — the protocol that powers 99% of tokens and NFTs created on Solana. What ERC-20 is to Ethereum, Metaplex is to Solana — but it’s also much more than that.They discuss how Metaplex helped define the NFT era, what the new Genesis platform brings to onchain token launches, and why memecoins, stablecoins, and real-world assets are converging into a single unstoppable wave. Stephen shares insights from his early Solana Labs days, breaks down the hard lessons from its Candy Machine protocol, and explains why true transparency and permissionless innovation are the keys to the future of crypto capital markets.TIMESTAMPS(0:00) - Metaplex's Dominance on Solana: 99% of NFTs and Tokens (1:26) - Stephen's Background: Solana Labs, NFTs, and Infrastructure (5:00) - Candy Machine Era → Genesis: Evolving Token Launch Standards (7:03) - Standardizing Onchain Token Offerings with Transparency (10:00) - Why Most Token Launches Are Broken — and How to Fix Them (14:00) - Tokenomics, Project Types, and Launching With Integrity (17:13) - Metaplex By the Numbers: 10M Wallets, $10B in Value (18:22) - Beyond Memecoins: DeFi, Stablecoins, and App Layer Growth (20:15) - Startups Will Launch Onchain — Here's What That Looks Like (24:26) - Token Market Oversaturation? Why He’s Bullish Anyway (26:04) - IPO vs Permissionless: What 'Onchain' Really Means (29:25) - Regulation, Timeline, and Real Assets Coming to Crypto (30:43) - NFTs: Rebuilding After Fatigue, One Community at a Time (33:06) - Why NFTs Still Matter and the Hidden Strength of Their Ecosystems (34:52) - What Makes a Good Crypto Product — and a Better Founder (37:09) - Final Advice: Stay Scrappy, Stay on Day One, Stay BuildingYou 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: 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.

Tzvi Wiesel, co-founder and CEO of BAXUS, is revolutionizing the alcohol market through tokenization. He shares insights on tackling pricing inefficiencies and how whiskey collections can be transformed into on-chain collateral. Tzvi explains why he chose Solana for its transactions and the importance of building trust in the marketplace. Discover the potential for leveraging high-value spirits as loan collateral and learn about the global liquidity opportunities in a booming $2 trillion industry. Community engagement and brand loyalty are also key themes throughout the discussion.