The Rollup

Austin Barack, the founder of Relayer Capital, shares insights into the evolving landscape of DeFi. He discusses how to distinguish genuine product-market fit from fleeting trends and the significance of stablecoin regulation in catalyzing growth. Barack emphasizes the shift toward revenue-focused investing, indicating a maturing market. He also highlights key metrics for evaluating DeFi networks, such as trading volume and user engagement, while touching on innovative developments like Liquid Restaking and the impact of new token launches on ecosystems.

Ram Kumar is a core contributor at Open Ledger, focusing on blockchain solutions to enhance transparency, while Eowyn Chen leads user experience at Trust Wallet, the largest mobile wallet. They dive into how AI is reshaping wallet interfaces and the security risks associated with AI-powered wallets. The conversation highlights the need for customization in decentralized finance tools and critiques the effectiveness of generic AI in this space. They advocate for a compensation model to reward data contributors, emphasizing community engagement and the future of digital asset management.

Corey Caplan, co-founder of Dolomite, dives into the transformative landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi). He discusses how money markets are evolving into full-service prime brokerages, focusing on unique efficiencies for survival. Corey highlights the shift from empty promises to genuine value in DeFi, driven by institutional interest. The conversation covers the challenges of user experience, the necessity for multi-chain interactions, and innovative models like Asset Runes that add real utility to platforms. This evolution promises a bright future for DeFi in 2025!

Karia Samaroo, founder of WonderFi and xTAO, discusses his journey post-acquisition by Robinhood. He delves into how AI tokens could bridge the gap between retail investors and institutional players. The potential of Bittensor as a decentralized AI solution captures attention, alongside forecasts for xTAO's ambitious plans in 2025. Karia also explores strategies for managing treasury assets amid crypto volatility and the evolving landscape of the cryptocurrency market, emphasizing collaboration and innovative growth strategies.

Kyle Reidhead, co-founder of Milk Road, Karia Samaroo, co-founder of WonderFi, and Matt Katz from Caldera, bring a wealth of knowledge on crypto landscapes. They discuss the emergence of BitTensor, drawing parallels to Bitcoin's early days while emphasizing strategic investment models. The trio also delves into Canada’s challenging regulatory environment for crypto, highlighting the impact on innovation. Insights into DAOs, digital asset treasuries, and the recent launch of the ERA token provide listeners with a comprehensive look at the future of blockchain.

Mike Silagadze, CEO of Ether.fi, shares his journey pivoting from infrastructure to consumer-focused DeFi solutions. He emphasizes the importance of building meaningful apps that genuinely benefit users, including innovative tools like cashback lotteries. The discussion also delves into the challenges of achieving product-market fit in crypto, the rise of neobanking, and how strategic vertical integration can enhance capital efficiency. Mike’s insights lay the groundwork for a more user-friendly future in decentralized finance.

Arjun Bhuptani, the founder of Everclear, shares insights on the booming cross-chain ETH transactions that are driving significant institutional interest. He reveals how Everclear surpassed $1 billion in volume by becoming a crucial clearing layer for these transactions. The conversation dives into the complexities of blockchain interoperability and underscores the importance of transparency in digital asset treasury companies. Arjun also discusses the lessons learned from past market failures and the vast opportunities that lie ahead for ETH adoption.

Join John Adler from Celestia, a visionary in blockchain technology, as he introduces his bold "proof of governance" concept, challenging traditional proof of stake. He argues that staking inflates yields and creates unfair validator dynamics. Discover how his model could reduce issuance by 20-40x and make burning fees feasible. John also critiques Ethereum's staking and governance, advocating for equal voting power among validators. Get ready for a deep dive into the future of tokenomics and the role of governance in enhancing crypto ecosystems!

Arjun Bhuptani, an expert in digital asset flows, highlights the institutional appeal of Ethereum and the innovative Everclear clearing product. John Adler, known for his work on Celestia, discusses a proof of governance proposal that could revolutionize Layer 2 scaling solutions. The conversation dives into market trends, the challenges of cross-chain transactions, and how decentralized finance is changing capital management. They emphasize the need for transparency and community-driven governance in the evolving crypto landscape.

James Hunsaker from Monad, an expert in blockchain efficiency, navigates the complexities of decentralized exchanges. He discusses why latency and economic incentives are the real stumbling blocks for crypto adoption, rather than just transaction speeds. Hunsaker challenges conventional thinking about high-frequency trading in a blockchain context and emphasizes the need for better infrastructure to meet user demands. He also explores the economic dynamics of Layer 1 networks and critiques the integration of cryptocurrency in consumer payments.