The Signal

In this episode of The Signal, Hugo Finkelstein, Co-Founder of Rise, joins us to share insights into the evolving world of crypto payroll. Learn how Rise is helping businesses globally manage payroll for remote teams, bridging the gap between traditional payment systems and the modern need for flexible, onchain solutions. Hugo dives into the compliance challenges, the adoption of stablecoins in emerging markets, and the future of payroll innovations. Don't miss this deep dive into the intersection of Web2 and Web3 payroll solutions and the exciting developments ahead! We hope you enjoy the episode! Rise: https://www.riseworks.io/ Hugo: https://x.com/hugfink Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Web2 and Crypto Payroll Challenges 00:37 Welcome to The Signal: Global Crypto Ecosystem Insights 01:55 Guest Introduction: Hugo Finkelstein's Journey into Crypto 08:10 The Rise of Crypto Payroll Solutions 11:22 Challenges and Solutions in Global Payroll 14:23 Future of Payroll: Stablecoins and Streaming Payments 20:18 Emerging Markets and the Impact of Crypto Payroll 27:38 User Experience and Onboarding with Rise 32:35 Future Plans and Market Expansion 36:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

Martin Carrica, the Founder of Mountain Protocol, dives into the transformative impact of stablecoins in the financial sphere, particularly in inflation-stricken Argentina. He shares personal insights on how locals use stablecoins as a hedge against economic turmoil. The chat highlights Mountain Protocol's unique yield-bearing stablecoin, USDM, designed to benefit users directly, unlike traditional options. They also touch on Bermuda's regulatory advantages and explore the future of stablecoins within conventional banking and the evolving crypto landscape.

In this episode, FP Lee from Sanctum joins us to discuss the potential of liquid staking in the Solana ecosystem. He explains the concept of liquid staking, the technical differences between Solana and Ethereum, and why liquid staking offers unique advantages.  The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities of building in the liquid staking space, including new use cases for liquid staking tokens (LSTs) beyond DeFi, such as crowdfunding and supporting creators. The episode also explores the different strategies and innovations of various Solana projects like Marinate and Jito, and how Sanctum aims to democratize LST creation.  Additionally, FP Lee shares his learnings from their token generation event (TGE), stressing transparency and fair pricing for retail investors. He concludes with a vision for the future where everyone holds their net worth onchain, supported by real-world use cases and a strong LST ecosystem. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Liquid Staking 01:14 Welcome and Guest Introduction 02:23 Understanding Liquid Staking on Solana 05:10 Comparing Liquid Staking on Ethereum and Solana 08:53 Challenges and Incentives for Liquid Staking 16:10 Innovative Use Cases for Liquid Staking 18:27 Sanctum's Unique Approach 27:01 Future of Liquid Staking and Governance Tokens 29:14 Deep Dive into Sanctum's Product 29:45 Introduction to Liquid Staking and Jupyter UX 30:16 The Concept of a Unified Liquidity Pool 31:09 The Reserve Pool and Its Advantages 31:42 Jupyter Router and Efficient Swaps 33:00 Infinity Pool: Solving Liquidity Issues 34:42 Risks and Unknowns in Liquidity Pools 37:22 Sanctum's Business Model and Growth Potential 41:59 The Token Generation Event (TGE) Strategy 49:14 Future Vision and Real-World Use Cases 55:32 Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

In this episode, we discuss a few of Michael's recent viral tweets. We briefly cover Robinhood's crypto strategy before moving on to key updates in the crypto market, explaining why we feel the current setup is bullish. We also debate whether Layer 2s should be included in Ethereum's ecosystem analysis. Additionally, we touch on the outcomes of crypto VC investments and the industry's narrative around governance tokens. We hope you enjoy the episode! Markets Update: https://x.com/JustDeauIt/status/1821191664154644804 Should L2s be included in Ethereum KPI data? (comps to networks like Solana): https://x.com/_ryanrconnor/status/1818385404078571768 Token Performance for Paradigm's Portfolio Projects: https://x.com/tokenterminal/status/1819752943933174213 Comparing L1 tokens to Equities: https://x.com/JustDeauIt/status/1810665134408269976 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 LinkedIn vs. Twitter Engagement 02:33 Robinhood's Crypto Strategy 06:12 Market Sentiment and Analysis 12:57 Macro Factors and Market Predictions 19:34 Stablecoins and Future Market Trends 22:49 Sentiment Indicators and Market Update 23:28 Blockchain Economics and Custom Chart Analysis 24:02 Debate on Including L2s in Blockchain Analysis 34:03 VC Investments and Token Performance 38:09 Governance Tokens and Value Accrual 43:49 Regulatory Overhangs and Market Dynamics 45:48 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Crypto Bull Market, Wall Street Crypto, Robinhood, Crypto VCs --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

In this episode, we dive into the impacts of recent political chaos in the U.S. and its effects on the financial markets. The discussion covers an update on the Bitcoin ETF,  including insights into the current buying activity, mining dynamics, and more. We also discuss the recent launch of Ethereum ETFs, and how we predict things will play out. The conversation also explores Ethereum's Q2 financials, the competitive landscape of L2s, and the future predictions for stablecoins and real-world assets. We hope you enjoy the episode! Timestamps 00:00 Political Chaos in the U.S. 03:42 Bitcoin ETFs and Market Dynamics 11:34 The "Trump Trade" 18:56 Ethereum ETFs Launch and Market Reactions 28:26 Ethereum Q2 Earnings and L2 Developments 39:54 Future of L2s and Token Economics 46:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Content --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

The podcast delves into Robinhood's venture into the crypto space, including its strategic partnerships and recent acquisition of Bitstamp. It compares Robinhood to Coinbase, discusses tokenized equities, and speculates on future directions. The episode explores the evolution of Robinhood, challenges in the onchain economy, and the potential for launching their own Layer 2 blockchain. Tune in for insights on fintech giants navigating the digital asset landscape.

In this episode of The Signal, we're joined by Joe Flanagan, Co-Founder of Maple Finance. The discussion covers Maple Finance's innovative approach using smart contracts to streamline institutional debt issuance and enhance transparency in financial markets. Joe explains the process of originating and tokenizing debt onchain, providing insights into the borrowers and the underwriting process.  The conversation also introduces Syrup, Maple's new platform aimed at making institutional yields accessible to a broader DeFi audience. Joe details the reasons behind the token transition to SYRUP, the expected yields, and the future opportunities for Maple Finance. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:38 Guest Introduction: Joe Flanagan from Maple Finance 01:15 Overview of Maple Finance 03:36 Why Crypto? 05:40 How Maple Finance Works 06:01 Borrowers and Underwriting Process 09:03 Lending Products and Rates 11:21 Supply Side and Lenders 13:39 Business Model and Fees 15:00 Introducing Syrup: New Product Launch 24:51 Syrup Token and Community Engagement 29:18 Future Markets and Conclusion If you’re interested in checking out Maple’s new Syrup product you can do so at the link here: https://syrup.fi/lend?access-code=JD3PU with code JD3PU Please note that The DeFi Report has no formal affiliation with Maple Finance and was not compensated to share the episode or links. Lending in DeFi is not risk-free. We encourage you to conduct your own research before putting any capital at risk. We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol. #TheSignal #MapleFinance #Syrup

In Episode 9 of The Signal, we into into a market update, discuss our approach to due diligence and research in the crypto space, and provide a comprehensive analysis of Hivemapper, a decentralized physical infrastructure network on Solana. Join us as we explore the market's current state, the Federal Reserve's recent moves, and the implications for crypto. We also share detailed insights into Hivemapper's business model, token economics, and potential for growth. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to evaluate crypto projects and the future of DePin networks. 00:00 Introduction to Hivemapper and Market Potential 00:49 Welcome Back to The Signal Podcast 01:15 Market Update and Fed Meeting Insights 09:43 Analyzing On-Chain Data and Market Sentiment 22:40 Understanding Hivemapper's Disruptive Potential 35:45 Exploring Uber's Potential Involvement 35:59 Web 2 vs Web 3: Future of Mergers and Acquisitions 36:51 Introduction to Hivemapper's Product 37:06 Earning with Hivemapper Dash Cams 39:05 Hivemapper's Data Product and Tokenomics 40:31 Global Mapping Progress and Contributors 42:11 Token Economics and Market Dynamics 52:46 Financials and Team Behind Hivemapper 01:00:51 Risks and Future Prospects 01:07:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol. #TheSignal #Hivemapper #DePin

In this podcast, experts compare Bitcoin and Ethereum as different economies, discuss their technical differences, token economics, and market valuations. They analyze onchain metrics, inflation rates, and security considerations. The episode provides insights on investment portfolios and why direct comparisons can be misleading.

In episode 7 of The Signal, we discuss the evolving landscape of crypto regulation, marked by last week's approval of the first Ethereum ETF and significant policy movements in Congress. We're joined by George Leonardo from Cap Hill Crypto to gain insights into recent legislative activities and the implications of revamped regulatory frameworks on the industry. Key topics include the SEC's SAB121, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT 21) the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, and the potential political influences driving these changes. The episode also dives into Ethereum's network effects and economic dynamics compared to Bitcoin, as well as broader market implications of an ETF, and how investors should be thinking about portfolio construction. 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Historic Week in Crypto Policy 01:48 Meet George Leonardo from Cap Hill Crypto 03:25 Understanding SAB121 and Its Implications 06:02 Congressional Review Act and Crypto Regulation 07:17 Democratic Engagement in Crypto Policy 12:18 The Financial Innovation and Technology Act (FIT 21) 18:38 Decentralization and Digital Commodities 22:36 Impact of Congressional Movements on Crypto Lawsuits 24:54 Banning Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) 27:50 Ethereum ETF Approval: A Game Changer 31:03 Political Influences on SEC Decisions 36:28 Implications of Ethereum's Unique Economics 38:59 Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Key Differences 42:40 Future Outlook for Ethereum and Crypto Market 50:20 Technological Revolutions and Crypto's Turning Point 53:15 Conclusion and Future Content --- Show Resources: Sign up for Cap Hill Crypto policy updates: https://www.caphillcrypto.com/ Follow George Leonardo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-leonardo-aa841423/ We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.