

Lightspeed
Blockworks
Lightspeed is a podcast for those interested in how crypto can solve real problems and create products users love. It's a callback to the garage days of Silicon Valley, where builders pushed the limits of hardware and software to build world-changing products. We interview the projects and founders that will make this same impact today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
Privy CEO: Why Did Stripe Acquire Privy? | Henri Stern
Henri Stern, Co-founder and CEO of Privy, sheds light on the recent acquisition of his company by Stripe. He discusses the evolution of Privy and its strategic fit within Stripe's crypto ambitions. Henri explores the potential of embedded wallets and stablecoins as executable programs, emphasizing their role in enhancing user experiences. He also addresses the pathway for broader merchant adoption, the importance of a multi-chain future, and how competition from stablecoins will challenge traditional payment networks.

Oct 1, 2025 • 52min
Solana Gets Even Faster With Robin A. Nordnes
Robin A. Nordnes, the Founder and CEO of Raikou, shares insights from his recent $13.5 million fundraising success. He discusses the innovative solutions Raikou offers for guaranteed, fast transaction inclusion on Solana. Nordnes explains why he transitioned from Ethereum, highlighting Solana's community resilience and technical advantages. The conversation delves into the economic incentives for validators, the significance of pre-confirmation tickets, and the potential impact of Raikou on the broader crypto ecosystem.

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 11min
The State Of Solana, Frankendancer & Crypto's Bullish Catalyst's | Ian Unsworth
Ian Unsworth, co-founder of Kairos Research and a key contributor at Blockworks, dives into the latest insights on the Solana ecosystem. He discusses Solana's growth potential and the impact of regulatory developments as bullish catalysts for crypto. Unsworth also analyzes stablecoins on Solana and the innovative FOGO project, which enhances validator performance. With a focus on Frankendancer and the evolving landscape of tokenomics, this conversation is packed with thought-provoking insights that shape the future of blockchain.

Sep 23, 2025 • 50min
The Solana Bull Thesis & Pantera's DAT Strategy | Cosmo Jiang
Cosmo Jiang, General Partner at Pantera Capital, delves into the firm’s bullish outlook on Solana, highlighting their significant investment of over $1 billion in SOL. He discusses the launch of Helius, a new digital asset treasury company focused on Solana, emphasizing the benefits of public DATs over private investments. Cosmo also outlines the competitive landscape for DATs, innovative financial engineering methodologies, and the operational intricacies involved in managing a treasury to maximize returns. A must-listen for crypto enthusiasts!

Sep 19, 2025 • 54min
The Future Of Onchain Capital Markets Is On Solana | Chris Chung
Chris Chung, co-founder and CEO of Titan, brings his expertise in low-latency analytics and traditional finance to the forefront of on-chain trading. He dives into Titan's recent $7 million seed round and discusses the future of capital markets on Solana. Chung emphasizes the unique routing edge of Titan and its zero-commission model, while also tackling technical challenges and the vision for transparent on-chain price discovery. The conversation touches on Titan's game-changing products and their impact on the evolving landscape of decentralized exchanges.

14 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 58min
Collector Crypt: Onchain Capital Markets On Solana | Tuomas Holmberg
Tuomas Holmberg, Co-founder of Collector Crypt, discusses the future of onchain collectibles built on Solana. He dives into the innovative features of Collector Crypt, including its randomized card lottery and the emotional ties collectors have with their cards. The conversation also covers integrating DeFi with trading cards, the evolution of trading culture, and the advantages of Solana over other platforms. Lastly, Holmberg touches on the future of live streaming in digital card gaming and its potential to engage new audiences.

19 snips
Sep 12, 2025 • 59min
Sanctum Founder: Solana's Liquid Staking Future | FP Lee
FP Lee, co-founder of Sanctum and innovator in liquid staking on Solana, dives into the future of DeFi. He discusses how Sanctum is carving out its niche in the liquid staking market and the economic benefits of BN Sol. Learn about the challenges and opportunities within the evolving landscape of staking, touching on topics like innovative governance models and the launch of Sanctum V2. FP also highlights the potential for new products and a trading bot for meme coins, showcasing the dynamic nature of the Solana ecosystem.

Sep 9, 2025 • 54min
SEC Commissioner: A New Era For Crypto In The U.S | Hester Peirce
Hester Peirce, known as CryptoMom, is an SEC Commissioner advocating for clearer crypto regulations. She discusses the current state of U.S. crypto regulation and the challenges of balancing innovation with investor protection. The conversation touches on the SEC's collaboration with the CFTC, novel DeFi solutions like Katana, and the need for open dialogue in the crypto community. Peirce emphasizes the importance of flexible regulations to foster marketplace growth while addressing issues raised by centralized entities.

Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 4min
Solana's Next Big Catalyst | Brandon Potts
Brandon Potts, a partner at Framework Ventures and crypto investment expert, dives into the future of Solana's ecosystem. He explores opportunities surrounding decentralized autonomous tokens (DATs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as potential catalysts for growth. The conversation touches on the transformative power of stablecoins in modern finance and their impact on liquidity, while also discussing the relationship between DeFi and digital asset tokens. Potts emphasizes the importance of innovative branding and effective storytelling in attracting investment to the evolving crypto landscape.

Sep 2, 2025 • 60min
Solana DeFi Summer Is Coming | Sang Kim
Sang Kim, Co-founder of Fragmetric and a key player in the Solana DeFi ecosystem, shares insights on the future of decentralized finance. He explains the innovative liquid restaking protocol and its components, as well as the potential of decentralized autonomous tokens (DATs) to reshape yield generation. Sang also discusses crypto culture in Korea, the phenomenon of the 'kimchi premium,' and how local dynamics differ from the U.S. market. He offers a glimpse into upcoming innovations, including yield-bearing stablecoins to enhance user experience.