
Unlayered
Think beyond Ethereum and dive deep into the world of next generation blockchains. Join us as we engage with founders, engineers, researchers, investors, and critics of high-throughput, low-fee, parallelized blockchains like Solana, Monad, Sei, and more. Unlayered is for crypto natives eager to stay updated with the latest developments, complementing shows that focus primarily on Ethereum and its layered scaling approach.
Latest episodes

Oct 22, 2024 • 1h 6min
How DePIN Will Help Power Virtual Power Plants & The AI Revolution I Fredrik Ahlgren (Sourceful)
This week, Dave speaks with Fredrik Ahlgren (@frahlg) from Sourceful, who are trying to use DePIN tokenomics incentives to create a global green-energy Virtual Power Plant. Green energy is going to be an increasingly important topic in the years ahead with the rise of both AI and global warming, and Fredrik feels that crypto token incentives are exactly what is needed to start onboarding the masses. We also touch on the future of energy, especially in a post-Superintelligence world.
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Episode Resources
Follow Fredrik : https://Twitter.com/frahlg
Follow Sourceful : https://Twitter.com/srcful
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Fredrik’s Route From Academia To DePIN
(7:56) - Issues With Existing Energy Systems
(20:37) - Which Actions Do Sourceful Wish To Incentivize
(28:40) - Advantages Over Centralized Competitors
(31:10) - Business Models For Sourceful
(35:26) - Token Demand Side
(38:37) - GTM Strategy and Thinking About Regulations
(44:23) - Will Nuclear Make Up A Large Part Of Future Energy Mix
(49:38) - How Will AI Change Energy Consumption
(55:36) - Will Energy Become A Digital Commodity Post AI Super-Intelligence
(1:02:44) - Next Steps

Oct 9, 2024 • 57min
How Blinks Will Transform Crypto UI And Help Showcase AI Agents I Chris Osborn (Dialect)
This week, we sit down with Chris Osborn (@aliquotchris) from Dialect - one of the founders of the hugely ambitious Blinks protocol which allows for crypto actions to appear seamlessly on existing web2 social media platforms. Whilst many have mused on possible applications of this tech, from prediction markets to fundraising - we delve deeper with Chris into possible second order effects of this breakthrough technology and discuss how it might form the backbone of a new SDK primitive, or even how Blinks might become the de facto front page for AI Agents in the future.
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Episode Resources
Follow Chris : https://Twitter.com/aliquotchris
Follow Dialect : https://Twitter.com/saydialect
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - What Is A Blink
(8:40) - Can Blinks Spread To All Social Media Platforms
(12:35) - Future Use Cases
(21:22) - Combining Blinks and AI Agents
(27:44) - Blinks As Next Gen Of SDKs
(34:32) - How Does Dialect Benefit From Blinks
(37:32) - Can Elon Turn Blinks Off
(40:15) - Lessons From Dialect’s Messaging App
(46:37) - Which Apps Excite Chris
(50:26) - Will Decentralized Messaging Apps Achieve PMF Post Durov Arrest

Sep 30, 2024 • 24min
How DRiP Is Upending Web 2 Creator Revenue Models I Vibhu, DRiP - Recorded At Breakpoint 2024
This week, Sal sits down with Vibhu (@Vibhu), the founder of DRiP for a live interview recorded at the 2024 Breakpoint Conference in Singapore. DRiP has transformed how people view NFTs and forced the market to move on from the 10k PFP meta to an abundant new mindset. Vibhu talks about DRiP's superior earning potential vs Web2 incumbents, their new iOS app, upcoming permissionless creator onboarding and where he sees the project in 5 years time.
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Episode Resources
Follow Vibhu : https://Twitter.com/Vibhu
Follow DRiP : https://Twitter.com/DRiP_Haus
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - What Is DRiP
(2:45) - How To Onboard
(3:38) - DRiP’s Earning Potential
(8:54) - Are NFTs Dead
(12:47) - DRiP’s New iOS App
(17:59) - How To Solve Discovery
(21:06) - How Does DRiP Make Money

Sep 23, 2024 • 51min
HyperLiquid & Crypto's Defi Renaissance I Sunny Shi (@Defi_Monk) - Messari Research
This week, Dave sits down with Sunny Shi (@Defi_Monk) from Messari to discuss his recent report on Hyperliquid and do a deep dive on the most popular perp dex in crypto. Hyperliquid boasts performance similar to its centralized competitors, does more trading volume than all the other per dexes combined, and will imminently launch one of the most anticipated token launches pf recent times. Yet there are many detractors labelling the L1 as centralized as Binance. Check out the episode to find out who's right.
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Episode Resources
Follow Sunny : https://Twitter.com/Defi_Monk
Follow Messari : https://Twitter.com/MessariCrypto
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Sunni's Route From TradFi To Crypto
(4:23) - Which Apps Have PMF?
(10:34) - What Has Drawn Users To Hyperliquid
(14:02) - Why Has DYDX Struggled To Compete
(18:01) - How Decentralized Should Perp Dexes Be?
(24:39) - How Market Makers Are Prioritized
(35:22) - Curation Of Assets On The Dex
(39:04) - Lack of VCs
(47:05) - How Can L1 Apps Like Drift Compete

Sep 16, 2024 • 1h 8min
Why $ETH Value Accrual Is Dead & Bitcoin's Days Are Numbered I Bullpen Roundup w/ 0xBreadGuy
In this week's Bullpen Roundup, we are joined by @0xBreadGuy who brings his analytical and spicy Twitter takes to the podcast medium. We discuss Eth's continued search for a credible value accrual narrative, why DA commoditization is inveitable, which L2's builders should be focusing on, any reasons to remain bullish on Eth, and whether Btc will lose its number 1 status within the next 5 years...
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Episode Resources
Follow Bread : https://Twitter.com/0xBreadGuy
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Are L2s Net Negative For Eth?
(7:29) - Is DA Valuable?
(15:32) - One Sided Relationship From L2s
(21:41) - Which L2s To Build On
(28:55) - Reasons To Be Bullish Eth?
(33:33) - Is Chain Abstraction Overhyped?
(40:44) - Eth DA Will Never Be Sufficient
(44:37) - L2 Incentives To Become An L1
(49:25) - Where Is Bread Aligned
(53:17) - End State Architecture For L1s
(55:01) - State Of The Market
(1:01:09) - Is Bitcoin A Special Snowflake?

Sep 2, 2024 • 1h 9min
Why Eth Needs To Scale The L1 To Remain Relevant I Logan Jastremski, Frictionless Capital
This week, Sal (@Salxyz) and Dave (@SolBeachBum) sit down with one of the loudest and most outspoken proponents for high throughput blockchains - Logan Jastremski (@LoganJastremski) from Frictionless Capital. He discusses whether his thesis around high throughput blockchains has been proven correct, and we talk about the recent capitulation seen from within the Ethereum developer camp around scaling the L1 at the expense of reducing decentralization. Logan also talks to the relevancy and his fund's continued interest in defi primitives before talking through new verticals within the umbrella of DePIN which are likely to supercharge this burgeoning asset category.
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Episode Resources
Follow Logan : https://Twitter.com/LoganJastremski
Follow Frictionless Capital : https://Twitter.com/_Frictionless_
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - How Has High Throughput Blockchain Thesis Played Out
(6:26) - Are On Chain Order Books Overhyped?
(16:12) - Can Solana Ever Move Away From Congestion Issues
(22:24) - Expectations For Firedancer
(26:31) - Which Verticals Are Best To Invest Into
(31:43) - Will Institutions Actually Deploy RWAs Onto Solana
(37:59) - Where Will Value For L1s Come From
If Apps Control Order Flow
(44:45) - Under-Explored Use Cases For DePIN
(49:20) - What Stops Incumbents Copying DePIN Business Model
(54:59) - Difficulties Around Energy-Based DePIN Projects
(57:25) - Thoughts on Solana Inspired New Projects (Monad and MegaEth)
(1:01:16) - Thoughts On Rise Of Tron and Ton
(1:04:40) - Does Eth Need To Scale The L1 To Remain Relevant

Aug 26, 2024 • 54min
SkyTrade: Building The World's First Air Rights Market I Jonathan Dockrell, Skytrade
This week, Sal and Dave sit down with Jonathan Dockrell from SkyTrade - a highly innovative project which is creating a marketplace for property owners to sell the Air Rights above their properties. There are numerous sources of demand for this space, from drone delivery companies to real estate development - with it being estimated to be worth $30 Tn, and yet many owners are not even aware that they own this highly desirable space. SkyTrade utilises novel RWA tokenization techniques on the Solana blockchain as well as a Depin-based Drone tracking app to bring into the light a previously opaque and illiquid asset class.
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Episode Resources
Follow Jonathan : https://Twitter.com/droneevtol
Follow SkyTrade : https://Twitter.com/SkyTradeNetwork
'Flying Car' Substack : https://flyingcar.sky.trade/
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Why Focus on Creating a Market for Air Rights
(4:36) - What's Holding Back the Drone Delivery Industry
(8:37) - Real Estate Use Cases for Air Space
(11:22) - Estimating a TAM for Air Rights
(21:24) - Building Out a Depin-Based Drone Tracking App
(25:46) - Existing State of Air Rights Market
(29:32) - How to Abstract Away Heterogeneity of Each Product
(32:01) - Views on Crypto Coming From Web2 Background
(40:56) - Reactions to the Project
(43:51) - When Can We Expect Flying Cars
(49:05) - Future of Drone Delivery Market
(52:20) - Looking Ahead for SkyTrade

Aug 19, 2024 • 57min
Hedgehog : What Next For Prediction Markets? I Kyle DiPeppe, Hedgehog Markets
This week, Sal and Dave sit down with Kyle DiPeppe from Hedgehog Markets to discuss their bid to become the largest prediction market in crypto. We talk about the history of prediction markets outside of crypto, what has fuelled their success to date, how to leverage decentralized technology for competitive advantages to traditional betting markets - and what happens to volumes post the 2024 US Elections. Crypto-based prediction markets are one of the clear breakout applications this cycle, and the fight right now is to avoid irrelevancy post the US election. Listen to Kyle explain how he thinks Hedgehog Markets will navigate the difficult 'second album' of prediction market success.
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Episode Resources
Follow Kyle : https://Twitter.com/kdipep
Follow Hedgehog Markets : https://Twitter.com/HedgehogMarket
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Route Into Crypto & Prediction Markets
(4:31) - Comparison Between Memecoins and Prediction Markets
(6:45) - History of Prediction Markets
(11:22) - How Does Hedgehog Differ To Betting Sites
(13:46) - Hedgehog's Competitive Landscape
(17:35) - Process to Create a Market
(23:46) - How to Deal with Oracle Veracity
(28:40) - How to Select Starting Odds
(31:34) - Maintaining Volumes Outside US Elections
(37:48) - Potential Risks Around Prediction Markets
(41:39) - Building Markets Outside of Traditional Betting Verticals
(46:36) - Vampire Attacking PolyMarket
(52:28) - Going Mobile
(54:47) - Looking Ahead

Aug 8, 2024 • 57min
Building Solana Economic Zones I Farhaj Mayan, Forma
This week, Dave speaks with Farhaj Mayan from Forma to better understand their recent announcement about creating the world's first Solana Economic Zone in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There is a long history of highly successful economic zones occurring outside the realm of crypto - and so it feels a natural next step to start talking with governments about how the crypto industry could also help to benefit trade within the relevant country. Argentina's recent history of high inflation and a crypto-savvy population makes it the ideal first step to showcase the benefits that such an economic arrangement could have for Argentinian citizens, and hopefully other citizens around the world as the economic model is rolled out elsewhere.
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Episode Resources
Follow Farhaj : https://Twitter.com/farhajmayan
Follow Forma : https://Twitter.com/formacity
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Farhaj’s Route To Crypto & Solana
(8:45) - Examples of Existing Non-Crypto Economic Zones
(13:17) - Bottom Up vs Top Down Approach
(18:10) - Helping Bring Dollars Into Argentina
(21:24) - Why Are Zones Required
(25:43) - Which Crypto Companies Need Regulatory Exemptions
(31:20) - Why Would Argentina Allow Citizens To Escape To A Foreign Currency
(33:45) - Parallels With Balaji's Network States
(37:59) - Upcoming Forma Conference In Buenos Aires
(42:23) - Why Build A Solana-Only Initiative
(46:39) - Dealing With Lack Of USDT On Solana
(50:16) - Expanding To New Countries
(51:31) - Differences To Work Done By Superteam

Jul 31, 2024 • 53min
Searching For Truth By Building A Decentralized Quora I Isaac Simons, Gator Labs
This week, Sal and ZenLlama speak with Isaac Simons from Gator Labs to discuss their new app "Chomp" - which is available for use right now. Chomp intends to incentivise the seeking of truth through a gamified consensus platform whereby users are rewarded through token incentives to try and provide the consensus response to posed questions. Think of a decentralized Reddit or Quora where truth, rather than sensationalism, is incentivised. Its a truly novel concept bringing together aspects of consensus, economics, game theory and prediction markets.
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Podcast Resources
Follow Sal: https://twitter.com/salxyz
Follow Dave: https://twitter.com/SolBeachBum
Follow Zen : https://twitter.com/ZenLlama
Follow Unlayered: https://twitter.com/UnlayeredPod
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or Google: https://unlayered.io/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnlayeredPod
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Episode Resources
Follow Chomp : https://twitter.com/chompdotgames
Follow Isaac : https://twitter.com/sno_mis
Download Chomp App : https://app.chomp.games
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Time Stamps
(0:00) - Snomis’ Background
(6:28) - Creating Informational Context Through Games
(15:19) - Defining Better Information
(21:18) - Designing The Incentive Layer
(26:57) - Using Gamification To Achieve Data At Scale
(31:10) - Drawing Inspiration From Blockchain Consensus
(33:16) - How Questions Are Devised
(36:01) - Contrasting Model To Prediction Markets
(41:37) - Usage Of The Tech In Existing Social Media
(43:29) - Using Tokens For Large Scale Social Coordination
(50:00) - What's Next For Chomp