In today’s episode, Connor is joined by Mark Rydon, a key figure in the decentralized infrastructure space, particularly focusing on Aethir and its innovative approach to DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks). They discussed how Aethir has built a robust revenue-generating model centered around enterprise-grade AI and gaming solutions. Mark shared insights into the growing importance of GPUs in the AI landscape, highlighting the global compute scarcity and how Aethir addresses this challenge by allowing enterprises to reconnect idle compute resources. This model is akin to Airbnb, where companies can monetize their unused GPUs, creating a win-win situation for both suppliers and consumers. They also discussed the recent success of Aethir's checker node sale, which generated nearly $130 million, showcasing the strong community support and the utility of these nodes in maintaining trust within the network. Mark explained how these nodes act as the "police" of the network, ensuring that contributors are providing the resources they claim. Additionally, they explored Aethir's focus on enterprise clients, which has led to impressive revenue growth, with $36 million in annual recurring revenue and a steady month-over-month increase. Mark emphasized the importance of this enterprise focus, contrasting it with the challenges faced by other DePIN projects that target consumer equipment. Timestamps: 00:00 - Building a Revenue-Generating Machine 00:35 - Understanding DePIN 00:57 - The Evolution of DePIN 04:49 - Aethir's Value Proposition 09:15 - Tapping into Latent Supply 10:04 - AethirEdge Devices 14:37 - Checker Node Sale Success 20:13 - Revenue Growth and Customer Profiles 26:56 - Keeping Up with Aethir Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Alec Wilson, COO of Spexi Network, shares insights into an innovative drone mapping company transforming earth imagery. He discusses the use of underutilized drones for high-resolution imagery, surpassing traditional satellites. Alec elaborates on Spexi's unique 'Spexagons' system, allowing pilots to earn while capturing data. The conversation touches on regulatory challenges and the integration of crypto economics to enhance pilot participation, showcasing the immense potential of decentralized drone networks for various sectors.

Connor welcomes back old co-host Sami Kassab (now a Partner at OSS Capital) and guest Josh Benaron, founder of Irys, a next-generation data provenance and storage L1. They delved into the evolution of Irys from its origins as Bundlr, an L2 solution for Arweave, to its current status as a programmable data chain. Josh shared his insights on the importance of storytelling and writing for founders, emphasizing how effective communication can significantly impact hiring, fundraising, and overall success. They explored Josh's unique journey, including his decision to drop out of university to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions in the crypto space. He discussed the vision behind Irys, which aims to unify data services on-chain and support applications that rely heavily on data. Josh also addressed the differences between Irys and other projects like Filecoin, highlighting how Irys enables programmability at the data level, which he believes is crucial for mass adoption. As they wrapped up, they touched on the future of decentralized applications (dApps) and the potential of DePIN networks. Josh expressed his bullish outlook on the DePIN space, noting its significant market fit despite being less hyped compared to other sectors like AI. They also discussed the upcoming token for Irys, with Josh hinting at a thoughtful approach to tokenomics that prioritizes community strength and sustainability. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:23 - The Importance of Writing and Storytelling for Founders 04:11 - Josh's Decision to Drop Out of University 06:54 - Transition from Bundler to Irys 10:04 - Irys vs. Filecoin: Differentiating Approaches 14:05 - Incentivizing Builders on Irys 16:57 - The Future of DeFi and Deepin 19:32 - Unified Layer for Permanent and Non-Permanent Data 21:14 - Tokenomics and Future Plans for Irys Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Co-hosts delve into the booming world of DePIN, exploring its rapid evolution and the challenges of categorizing an influx of new projects. Exciting insights from a recent event illustrate the growing interest and varied quality among founders. They discuss the balance between hardware and software solutions in this space, envisioning a hybrid future. The conversation also touches on the potential impact of upcoming elections on the crypto landscape, addressing how politics can shape innovation and market dynamics.

Connor had the pleasure of speaking with Shaan Chaudhari, his college friend and Chief Growth Officer at XNET. They reminisce about their early days in the DePIN space, particularly during the challenging bear market when investor interest was low and token prices were down. Shaan shared his journey and his pivot from potentially attending dental school to fully committing to the crypto industry, motivated by PoC co-hosts Sal and Mahesh, who encouraged him to take risks while he was young. They discussed the importance of community building in crypto, especially during tough times. Shaan emphasized that showing conviction and leadership is crucial for inspiring others to join you on the journey, regardless of market conditions. He highlighted the sacrifices made by founders and the need for authenticity when reaching out to industry leaders, especially for newcomers looking to break into the space. As they wrapped up, Shaan reflected on the growth of the DePIN community over the past few years and expressed excitement for the future. 00:00 - Introduction 00:36 - Taking Risks in Your Career 01:59 - The Excitement of DePIN 02:51 - Lessons from the Bear Market 03:44 - Building a Convicted Community 04:34 - Advice for Newcomers to Crypto 06:04 - Reflections and Future Outlook Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Dive into the fascinating world of Geodnet's multi-chain strategy, enhancing GPS accuracy through innovative technologies. Discover the impressive revenue generation and customer adoption across industries like automotive and agriculture. Learn about the advantages of their high-precision RTK network and how their tokenomics bring a unique deflationary effect. The discussion also highlights groundbreaking advancements in mobile GPS apps, aiming for centimeter-level precision and tackling challenges in difficult environments.

Omar Ramadan, a former big tech entrepreneur, now embraces the world of crypto and DePIN, focusing on decentralized CDNs. He shares insights on how traditional CDNs struggle with live streaming and discusses the innovative potential of multicast CDNs to optimize bandwidth. Omar highlights the challenges streaming giants face in high-demand areas and envisions a future where individuals operate their own CDN nodes through blockchain incentives. The conversation uncovers exciting opportunities at the intersection of technology and user connectivity.

Join Dave Grantham, founder of Reppo and expert in real-world verification and AI for decentralized networks, as he unravels the transformative power of AI in enhancing governance and reputation systems. He discusses how functional verification can build trust within decentralized networks and the dual strategy of Reppo to detect gaming behaviors. The conversation highlights AI's role as an immune system, identifying anomalies and streamlining decision-making processes. Dave emphasizes the need for robust, verifiable reputation mechanisms to combat manipulation in review systems.

Connor had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Feiler from Minima, a pioneering company in the blockchain space. They delved into the evolving landscape of technology, particularly the shift from cloud-based solutions back to on-device processing. Minima positions itself as an embedded blockchain that allows for data attestation at the source, which is crucial for ensuring the integrity of information generated by IoT devices. They discussed the importance of peer-to-peer communication and how Minima's lightweight protocol enables machine-to-machine payments and autonomous agents to validate and utilize data effectively. This innovation is set to create a new economic model for the data we produce, enhancing trust and verification in real-time. The conversation also touched on the longevity of crypto startups, with insights on how to build projects that can withstand market volatility. Minima has been operational since 2018 and has successfully launched its token, boasting a network of 50,000 node operators. The emphasis was on creating long-term value and fostering a community based on trust. Additionally, they explored the relationship between IoT and decentralized finance (DeFi), with Minima's upcoming partnership with a major chip manufacturer to embed blockchain functionality directly into devices. This advancement aims to make blockchain technology seamless for users, allowing devices to operate as blockchain nodes without requiring user intervention. Overall, this episode highlighted the exciting potential of combining IoT with blockchain technology, paving the way for a future where devices autonomously interact and transact, all while maintaining a high level of trust and security. 00:00 - Introduction 00:32 - The Shift From Cloud to On-device Computing 01:06 - Minima as an Embedded Blockchain 02:05 - Real World Verification Challenges 03:01 - Trust, Node Equality and Data Validation 04:05 - Lasting Multiple Cycles as a Crypto Startup 05:57 - IoT vs. DePIN 07:08 - Embedding Blockchain Functionality in Devices 07:50 - Autonomous AI Agents and Machine-to-Machine Payment Systems 08:14 - Conclusion Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Connor is joined by Jiahao Sun of Flock, a project that aims to revolutionize the AI landscape through decentralization. They discussed the growing trend of open-source AI models catching up to their closed-source counterparts, raising the question of whether closed-source AI is becoming obsolete. Jiahao emphasized the importance of community-driven development and the need for individuals to have control over their own data and AI models, rather than relying solely on tech giants like Google and Microsoft. They explored Flock's unique approach, which combines federated learning with blockchain technology to ensure user data remains local while still allowing for collaborative training. This model not only promotes privacy but also addresses the biases that can arise from centralized evaluations, as highlighted by past controversies in the industry. Looking ahead, they speculated on the future of AI agents and how everyday people might interact with them. Jiahao predicted a surge in personal AI agents that could operate locally on devices, enhancing privacy and user control. They also touched on the challenges posed by centralized AI systems and the importance of developing decentralized solutions that empower users. Overall, it was an insightful conversation about the future of AI, the role of decentralization, and the potential for individuals to harness their own AI agents. 00:00 - Introduction 00:02 - Empowering the Community with AI 00:20 - The Rise of Open Source AI01:30 - Flock's Vision for Decentralized AI 02:45 - Quality Data Over Quantity 03:56 - The Need for Decentralized AI 05:04 - Future of AI Agents 06:31 - Privacy and Local AI Models07:06 - Closing Remarks Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.