Accelerate with Mert

1.8: empires & network states w/ Balaji Srinivasan

Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare and a pioneer in zero-knowledge proofs, discusses his journey from mathematics to blockchain. He unpacks the magic of ZK proofs, explaining how they ensure privacy and integrity. Eli contrasts ZK with multi-party computation and emphasizes the advantages of STARKs over SNARKs, including scalability and post-quantum security. He shares insights on StarkNet's role in making Ethereum scalable and its potential impact on Bitcoin, along with recommendations for those interested in learning about ZK technology.

In this enlightening discussion, Amir Haleem, founder of Helium, shares the exciting 12-year journey of building decentralized wireless networks. Ariel Seidman, co-founder of Hivemapper, introduces a revolutionary dashcam device for creating a vision-first map. Tushar Jain from Multicoin Capital highlights the role of decentralized physical infrastructure networks in the crypto landscape. The trio navigates regulatory challenges, discusses market dynamics, and explores how their innovations could rival big tech giants in the telecom and mapping spaces.

Kyle Samani, a serial crypto investor and co-founder of Multicoin Capital, shares insights on building internet capital markets through Solana. He discusses Forward's innovative treasury strategy and the importance of accumulating SOL per share. Kyle highlights the evolving nature of trading with new modalities beyond traditional exchanges, and he emphasizes Solana's capabilities for institutional adoption. He also critiques current market strategies and offers tactical investing advice, underscoring communication as a crucial skill for founders.

In this conversation with Austin Federa, a crypto infrastructure strategist and former Solana Labs executive, and Mateo Ward, a telecommunications entrepreneur, the duo dives into the challenges of building a decentralized and high-performance internet. They discuss the inefficiencies of current internet routing and the need to break up ISP cartels. Austin explains how their venture, Double Zero, aims to revolutionize networking with token incentives and why decentralization protects against political risks. Their insights into high-frequency trading infrastructure and blockchain validator benefits make for a fascinating listen.

Robert Leshner, a pioneer in decentralized finance and the founder of Compound and SuperState, shares his journey in tokenizing traditional financial assets. He discusses the transformation of Wall Street through blockchain and the innovative complexities of building on Solidity. Leshner explains the benefits for issuers in tokenizing shares, including access to crypto investors and reduced friction. He emphasizes the importance of compliance and the challenges faced when tokenizing private companies. Plus, he offers valuable advice for startups on choosing investors and scaling sustainably.

Packy McCormick, an insightful investor and writer behind the Not Boring newsletter, dives deep into the intricacies of crypto, capitalism, and tech innovations. He discusses the evolution of Layer 1 blockchains, emphasizing the importance of specialization and interoperability. Packy underscores Web3 as a platform for economic experimentation while celebrating the potential of stablecoins and NFTs. He also tackles the challenges of attention online and shares advice for aspiring writers, highlighting the need for authenticity and differentiation in content creation.

Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana and a visionary in high-performance blockchains, shares his insights on the evolution of crypto. He discusses his 'Eureka' moment that birthed the innovative Proof of History concept. Anatoly emphasizes Solana's ability to compete with centralized exchanges and underlines the importance of open markets for financial innovation. He reflects on the challenges of launching in a crowded field, hiring skilled teams, and managing stress through endurance sports, all while maintaining a competitive edge.