The Rollup

Rune Christensen, the visionary founder of MakerDAO, now pivoting to Sky and USDS, joins early DeFi educator Lito Coen for an insightful discussion. They dive into the intricate landscape of cryptocurrency regulations, particularly the Genius Act's potential impact on stablecoins. Topics like DeFi interoperability, innovative financial products, and the future of on-chain user experiences take center stage. Listeners will find engaging insights on emerging trends, risk management, and the balance between user engagement and profitability in an evolving crypto ecosystem.

In this discussion, Ryne Saxe, founder of Eco and a pioneer in stablecoin interoperability, dives deep into the exciting yet complex world of stablecoins. He explores how fragmentation is creating unique opportunities, especially as new issuers challenge giants like Tether. Ryne elaborates on Eco's vision of becoming the 'Visa of stablecoins,' facilitating hassle-free transactions. He also highlights the role of purpose-built chains and compares bridging solutions, focusing on enhancing user experience and the potential for seamless interoperability across platforms.

This episode features Jason Yanowitz, co-founder of Blockworks, who dives into market cycles and institutional crypto investments. Bobbin Threadbare, from Myden, discusses innovative ZK technology and its role in scalability and privacy. Bitcoin core developer Jeff Garzik shares insights on making Bitcoin programmable through sidechains. Former Coinbase strategist Binji talks about pushing optimistic timelines in crypto projects. Together, they explore the future of stablecoins, the evolving crypto landscape, and the growing role of Bitcoin as a mature asset.

Felix Jauvin, aka 'Fejau', is a macro analyst and the host of the Forward Guidance Podcast, who dives deep into the intersection of fiscal policy and global markets. He explores how current tariff policies influence Bitcoin and gold, questioning what happens when anticipated investment strategies actually succeed. Jauvin highlights macro signals that savvy traders track, examines the potential of specific crypto companies to boost GDP, and discusses the implications of U.S. fiscal dynamics on emerging alternatives to dollar dominance.

Mike Dudas is a crypto venture capitalist at Six Man Ventures, focused on pioneering app-based blockchain innovations. He discusses the end of the era of valueless tokens, emphasizing a shift towards genuine value creation. Mike believes buyback models are becoming essential and criticizes overhyped infrastructure projects, advocating for consumer apps instead. He highlights the new crypto app economy where real revenue meets token utility, suggesting that we're entering a promising phase of accountability and innovative opportunities in the crypto space.

Anil Lulla, CEO of Delphi Digital, dives into AI's impact on crypto investment strategies. Robinson Burkey, an institutional expert from Wormhole, discusses the critical need for interoperability in driving crypto adoption. Dougie DeLuca from Figment shares insights on on-chain trading innovations, while Laurence Day, founder of Wildcat, reveals game-changing under-collateralized lending solutions. Together, they explore evolving market dynamics, strategic shifts in Ethereum, and the future of decentralized finance amidst a changing regulatory landscape.

Discover the fascinating shift in trading from mainstream liquidity pools to alternatives with lower fees. Explore the dynamic world of decentralized finance, focusing on yield farming opportunities and innovative protocols. Join an insightful chat with Vlad from Robinhood about the challenges at the intersection of traditional and crypto finance. Get the scoop on impending economic forecasts and global market shifts, while learning about innovative approaches in DeFi that blend gaming with community engagement for enhanced user experiences.

In this engaging conversation, Sid Gandhi, CEO and co-founder of PolyBase Labs, discusses his mission to empower users with true control over their money through Payy. He critiques traditional FinTech as merely a cosmetic upgrade. Sid sheds light on real issues like frozen payment accounts and financial inaccessibility. He reveals Payy’s innovative features such as gasless transactions and zero-fee on/off-ramping, aiming to transform how people manage and use their money in a more private and efficient manner.

Dive into the world of trading with insights from Flood, who discusses the dramatic rise and fall of traders, spotlighting the curious case of James Wynn. Explore the psychology that differentiates successful traders from those who crash. Unpack the potential of Hyperliquid and how it might outpace Solana and Binance. Hear predictions about institutional adoption and the future of crypto trading platforms, revealing the challenges ahead as innovation shapes this volatile landscape.

Kenny Li, who works at Manta, dives into the evolving landscape of DeFi and blockchain sustainability. He argues that the era of 'build it and they will come' is gone; projects now need real users and revenue to survive. Kenny discusses how integrated business models, along with insights from traditional finance, can drive mass adoption. He also highlights the diminishing relevance of Layer 2 solutions and why starting with centralized products may ease on-chain entry. Finally, he emphasizes a Robin Hood mindset for future projects.