The Crypto Explorer - by Sygnum Bank AG

Inside dYdX – Building the Future of Decentralized PerpetualsIn this episode, Charles D'Haussy, shares the journey of DYDX from its early days to becoming a leader in decentralized derivatives, and offers candid insights on the evolving landscape of DeFi, stablecoins, and the future of digital finance. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just curious about the next wave of financial technology, this conversation delivers clarity, inspiration, and a peek behind the curtain of one of the industry’s most ambitious projects.Key Questions Explored:How did Charles first get introduced to crypto, and what drew him to DYDX?What sets DYDX apart in the crowded world of decentralized exchanges?How has DYDX evolved since its launch, and what were the challenges of building its own blockchain?What does the rise of stablecoins and private digital currencies mean for the future of money?How is DeFi making finance more accessible, and what unique value does it offer compared to traditional systems?What’s next for DYDX, and how does it plan to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market?Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer

The Future of Decentralized Intelligence: In this episode, we dive into the neural heart of Bittensor — the open-source protocol powering a decentralized machine learning economy. Our guests Gustave Laurent and Antoine Planchon unpack what makes Bittensor different, how it rewards intelligence, and why it's capturing the attention of Web3 and AI builders alike. Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer

Thibault B, co-founder of Hibachi, dives into the future of decentralized trading. He reveals how trustless infrastructure and proof of solvency are critical in shifting traders from centralized exchanges. Fast-paced discussions cover cutting-edge technologies like RISC Zero and Celestia, which bolster security and scalability. Thibault explores the obstacles to mainstream DeFi adoption and shares insights on cross-chain liquidity. Amid market downturns, he emphasizes the need for resilience and innovation in the evolving crypto landscape.

In this discussion, Kean Gilbert, a contributor to Lido DAO focusing on institutional adoption of ETH, shares insights into the rapidly evolving world of staking. He highlights key trends influencing both retail and institutional marketplaces and contrasts decentralized versus centralized staking solutions. Kean explains Lido’s innovative offerings, including the introduction of stVaults in Lido V3 and how liquid staking solutions like staked ETPs are bridging DeFi and TradFi. He also addresses the challenges that institutional players face in navigating this landscape.

Is VC in 2025 a bull run, a reset, or something else? We sit down with Diana Biggs of 1kx to discuss what sets them apart, shifting capital trends, the IPO & M&A outlook, and the hottest sectors—from AI to Web3. Plus, how AI is changing venture, and the big question: profitability or growth? Tune in for expert insights on questions like: How would you describe the current state of the VC market? Are we in a bull run, a reset phase, or something else entirely? How do you work with start ups to ensure success beyond the funding round? What’s your take on the IPO and M&A landscape? Is 2025 shaping up to be a good year for liquidity events? What sectors or themes are you most excited about in 2025? (e.g., AI, Web3, ClimateTech, DeepTech, HealthTech) Has AI changed the way VCs source, evaluate, or support startups?What’s more important in 2025: profitability or aggressive growth? What’s your biggest piece of advice for founders looking to raise in this environment? Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer

In this episode, host Deborah Tan-Pink dives into an important conversation with Aliya Das Gupta, SVP Business Development at Sygnum, and Hassan Ahmed, Country Director Singapore at Coinbase. Together, they explore how the crypto industry can foster diversity and inclusion to create a stronger, more innovative future.From breaking down barriers in male-dominated spaces to actionable steps for driving inclusion, this episode sheds light on how diverse talents are key to transforming the crypto space.Tune in for an inspiring discussion packed with insights on leadership, representation, and practical strategies to build a better, more inclusive blockchain ecosystem.Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer

Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, discusses her journey from private equity to the innovative world of Web3. She highlights Solana's rapid evolution, unique scalability features, and its vibrant community. The conversation delves into the challenges posed by so-called 'Solana-killers' and the interplay between traditional finance and decentralized finance. Additionally, Lily reflects on the philosophical shifts in how we perceive money and the future innovations that could further redefine the crypto landscape.

Samar Sen, Head of Asia-Pacific at Talos, and Nicholas Foo, SVP of Trading at Sygnum Singapore, dive deep into the evolving world of institutional crypto. They explore how major institutions are reshaping the crypto landscape and the implications for investors. The conversation also touches on the growing educational needs for both institutions and retail investors, highlighting the crucial tipping point for cryptocurrency adoption. Plus, they tackle rapid-fire questions revealing their insights on misconceptions and future trends in digital assets.

Join us in this episode as we dive deep into the world of restaking with Freddie Allen from Eigen Labs and Lucas Schweiger from Sygnum. We explore the fundamental mechanics of restaking, its benefits for validators and delegators, and how restaking affects network security and decentralization. Questions we cover include: Can you walk us through the basic mechanics of how restaking works?What are the primary benefits of restaking for both validators and delegators?How does restaking impact the security and decentralization of a network?In what scenarios does restaking provide the most value to participants?What are the main risks associated with restaking, and how can they be mitigated? How does restaking compare to other incentive mechanisms, like yield farming or liquidity mining?How do you see the role of restaking evolving as the blockchain ecosystem matures?What other new innovations in the space are you excited about? Read the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer

In the 4th podcast episode of Sygnum’s The Crypto Explorer, we look at the pressing issue of Ethereum’s scalability and explore the challenges and critical role of Layer 2 solutions.Ryan De Souza from Offchain Labs and Rico Müller, Head of VC at Sygnum, discuss the current Layer 2 landscape and the dominance of Arbitrum with podcast host Aliya das Gupta.Episode highlights:🔹 The current state of Ethereum’s scalability challenges and why Layer 2 solutions are essential 🔹 Areas where Arbitrum is leading and why it stands out 🔹 Promising Layer 2 projects and what sets them apart in terms of innovation and adoption 🔹 How to approach fragmentation across Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions 🔹 Addressing concerns around the security and centralisation of Layer 2 solutions 🔹 The role of Ethereum’s upcoming upgrades like ETH 2.0 in supporting Layer 2 🔹 Arbitrum’s roadmap and key trends for the future of the Layer 2 ecosystemRead the disclaimer here: https://www.sygnum.com/disclaimer