

Proof of Coverage
Proof of Coverage
Home of the best crypto conversations
Hosted by Connor Lovely and EV3 Ventures | Built by Proof of Coverage
Hosted by Connor Lovely and EV3 Ventures | Built by Proof of Coverage
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 10, 2025 • 1h 56min
Travis Kling: How Faith Made Him a Better Trader, Surviving FTX & Finding Your Ikigai
Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor sits down with Travis Kling, a prominent crypto hedge fund trader, about the intersection of faith, culture, and cryptocurrency. They discuss the recent surge in Bible sales, which Travis attributes to global instability driving a renewed interest in faith, as well as the decline of religious affiliation in America amid the rise of the internet and challenges like Christian nationalism. Travis shares his views on societal trends, including a potential spiritual resurgence, and explores the concept of spiritual warfare in the context of the 2024 election, linking cultural issues like gender identity and abortion to broader moral struggles. He reflects on his personal faith journey, recounting how challenges and a move to New York City deepened his spirituality. The conversation concludes with Travis’s thoughts on the future of cryptocurrency, including the potential for a strategic Bitcoin reserve under a new administration and its implications for the financial landscape.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:04 - Exploring the Decline of Faith in Modern America06:51 - Faith and Science11:31 - Reevaluating New Atheism 16:26 - Political Polarization24:02 - Future of Bitcoin in U.S. Politics 35:26 - Finding Faith and Purpose56:16 - Journey of Faith: Deconstruction and Reconstruction01:24:48 - Exploring Tokenomics and AI Agents in Emerging Technologies01:30:10 - Hybrid Intelligence - The Intersection of Human Oversight and AI01:37:16 - Exploring the Impact of Religion on Human Advancement01:43:37 - Christianity and Human AdvancementDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Feb 5, 2025 • 36min
Transforming Livestreaming Audiences into Paid Contributors with Rilla Network | Hal Smith Stevens
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Connor speaks with Hal Smith Stevens, CEO of Rilla Network, about their mission to revolutionize live streaming with peer-to-peer technology. Hal shares insights from Rilla's recent $3.5 million seed round and his experiences as a third-time founder, highlighting the importance of building strong networks and finding the right investors. They discuss Rilla's decentralized content delivery network, which leverages unused upstream bandwidth from viewers to reduce costs for broadcasters and transform passive audiences into active contributors. Hal explains how this approach enhances engagement and reduces expenses, offering examples like cost savings for sports broadcasters. The conversation also touches on Rilla’s plans for a token to distribute value within their ecosystem, showcasing the potential of blockchain and peer-to-peer technology to shape the future of live streaming.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - Seed Round Experience
01:58 - Advice for First-Time Founders
05:41 - The Importance of Networking
07:24 - Understanding Real Networks
07:36 - Decentralized CDN Concept
08:00 - Core Technology Overview
09:05 - Live Streaming Use Case
12:55 - Transforming Passive Audiences
14:03 - Explaining the Peer-to-Peer Model
19:41 - Concrete Example of Live Streaming
20:59 - Value Attribution and Redistribution
26:25 - Supply Side and Hardware Requirements
29:43 - Blockchain Choice Discussion
30:58 - Future Use Cases Beyond Sports
32:01 - Building a Protocol vs. Application
33:38 - Token Design and Future Plans
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Feb 3, 2025 • 20min
Building a DePIN for Cloud Gaming with YOM | Jeff Outlaw
Join Jeff Outlaw from YOM, a pioneer in transforming idle GPU cycles into revenue for gamers, as he dives into the booming world of cloud gaming. He discusses how YOM addresses high latency and costs, enabling seamless gaming without dedicated consoles. Learn about the use of blockchain for a deflationary token model that enhances crypto gaming.

Jan 30, 2025 • 1h 29min
Nic Carter: Trump’s Impact on Crypto, Building a $500M+ Venture Firm, Battling the Bitcoin Maxis
In the first episode of our new podcast, Connor and Nic Carter explore the implications of the upcoming Trump presidency and recent political shifts on the crypto industry. Nic shares insights from his recent trip to Washington, where he met with key members of Congress to discuss their legislative priorities with respect to crypto and technology broadly. The episode explores the implications of ending "Chokepoint 2.0," the potential for a stablecoin bill, and the need for crypto-friendly legislation. Nic also touches on challenges with the SEC, the Strategic National Bitcoin Reserve, and the future of Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. They discuss the role of corporate investments, the evolution of CoinMetrics, the founding of Castle Island Venture along with Nic’s personal journey in faith and combat sports.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
05:43 - Key Priorities for Crypto Regulation and Banking Access
08:52 - Critique of the Hagerty Bill and Discussion on Financial Thresholds
13:57 - Assessing Bitcoin's Future Amid Political Discourse
16:14 - Future of Crypto Regulation and Priorities
18:27 - Shifting Sentiments in Crypto Regulations
20:13 - Tax Incentives and Global Bitcoin Mining Dynamics
23:07 - Bitcoin Mining and Sovereign Nations' Strategies
24:53 - Startups, Bitcoin, and Market Dynamics: Insights on Crypto Trends
34:28 - Building Crypto Infrastructure: The Genesis of Castle Island
38:48 - Startups and Wiffio Moments
39:45 - Evolution of Coinmetrics: From Small Funds to Institutional Focus
41:36 - Finding Purpose Through Bitcoin and Venture Capital
43:15 - Maintaining Focus with a Small Team in VC
46:39 - Supporting Founders: The Evolving Role of Venture Capitalists
50:58 - Building a Career Through Media and Writing
53:18 - Finding Your Voice in the Digital Age: The Power of Content Creation
55:42 - Specialization and Evolution in Crypto Investing
01:00:06 - Impact of Real-Time Payments on Stablecoin Adoption
01:16:10 - From Fanboy Moments to Faith and Future Ventures
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Jan 29, 2025 • 34min
How Mawari Is Building the Future of AR and VR with Luis Ramirez
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Connor and Sal sit down with Luis Ramirez, founder of Mawari, to explore the future of augmented and virtual reality. Luis shares how Mawari is shaping AR as a tool for immersive, social experiences rather than dystopian futures, emphasizing the importance of presence in AR interactions. They discuss advancements like Meta's Orion AR glasses, Mawari's focus on content delivery over hardware, and the integration of AR and VR into multifunctional devices. Luis also shares insights on distributed computing networks for immersive experiences and Mawari’s shift into Web3, leveraging underutilized hardware for decentralized 3D rendering. The conversation dives into challenges, opportunities, and monetization paths for developers, offering a compelling look at how Mawari is paving the way for the 3D internet.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - Online Presence
01:43 - Meta's Orion AR Glasses
02:46 - The Future of AR and VR Hardware
03:43 - Haptic Feedback Suits: A Niche Technology
06:30 - Power of Vision in Immersive Experiences
09:04 - Opportunities in XR Development
10:30 - Compute Needs for XR Experiences
12:51 - The Role of Edge Computing in XR
15:11 - Content Creation in XR
16:37 - Transitioning from Web2 to Web3
18:43 - Building a Decentralized Network
21:22 - AR/VR and AI Cloud Architectures
23:32 - Go-to-Market Strategy
25:50 - Utilizing Existing Hardware for XR
27:14 - Current Revenue Model
32:47 - Call to Action
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Jan 27, 2025 • 45min
Sandeep Nailwal: Building Polygon, the AggLayer, and the Future of DePIN and AI
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Connor and Sal sit down with Sandeep Nailwal of Polygon. Sandeep reflects on challenges faced by founders, including tough decisions around layoffs, project management, and preserving company culture during rapid growth, emphasizing the importance of character-building in difficult times. The conversation explores the Polygon ecosystem's evolution, addressing regulatory hurdles, market shifts, and the critical role of the AggLayer in enabling a trustless internet with up to a million interconnected chains. Sandeep also shares insights on the potential of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and their place within Polygon’s strategy, expressing optimism about their future despite industry challenges. This episode offers an in-depth look at blockchain’s dynamic landscape, adaptability in leadership, and Polygon’s vision for a decentralized future.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - Reflections on Building Character Through Adversity
01:45 - The Impact of Regulatory Changes on the Crypto Ecosystem
03:40 - Polygon's Journey and Internal Challenges
05:46 - Leadership Transition: Finding the Right CEO
12:13 - Focusing on Growth: The Role of the Chairman
13:44 - The Evolution of Polygon's Product Strategy
19:09 - Understanding Polygon's Core Products
29:29 - The Vision for a Trustless Internet
36:37 - Competition Landscape: Who is Polygon Up Against?
41:24 - The Future of DePIN and Its Importance to Polygon
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Jan 22, 2025 • 42min
Building Financial Services for Crypto-Natives with Collar Protocol | J. Paul Meyer
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Mahesh and John Wu, President of Ava Labs, are joined by J. Paul Meyer, founder of Collar Network, to explore innovative solutions in decentralized finance (DeFi). J. Paul shares how Collar Network, a smart contract-based lending protocol, helps crypto investors borrow against their holdings in a hedged, non-liquidatable manner—addressing challenges like tax implications and liquidity. Drawing from his Goldman Sachs background, J. Paul discusses the need for financial services tailored to crypto's emerging wealthy class and the risks of replicating traditional finance's mistakes. They also touch on regulation, market behavior, and the future of Bitcoin, AI in finance, and Web3 value capture.
Check out Collar's beta platform at beta.collarprotocol.xyz
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - The Role of ETFs in Tokenization
03:10 - Discussion on Goldman Sachs and Its Relevance
06:35 - The Impact of Technology on Financial Services
08:51 - The Consolidation of the Banking Sector
10:19 - Competing with Large Financial Institutions
13:27 - Weaknesses of Large Financial Institutions
17:02 - Overview of Collar Networks and Its Mission
20:32 - Comparison with Traditional Margin-Based Borrowing
22:44 - User Experience in Financial Products
24:51 - Future Product Development at Collar
26:20 - Finding Liquidity in DeFi Markets
28:10 - Working with Major Financial Institutions
30:57 - Concerns About Repeating Past Financial Mistakes
33:02 - Future Strategies for Collar Network
36:54 - Political and Regulatory Considerations
38:27 - Lightning Round: Quickfire Questions
41:02 - 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.

Jan 15, 2025 • 28min
Introducing Gekko: An AI Agent for Trading
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Mahesh welcomed back Ash Ahmed, founder of Axal, to discuss exciting developments at his company and the broader implications of AI agents in crypto. Ash highlighted Axal’s rapid growth, the launch of their new product, Gekko—a virtual agent for trading—and its integration with the Autopilot platform to simplify crypto portfolio management. He emphasized the importance of a "fair launch" for the Gekko token, with no team allocation, to build trust and align value with functionality. The conversation also explored AI agents as a new asset class, the role of community engagement in Axal's growth, and Ash’s advice for founders to act boldly and prioritize transparency.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:11 - Overview of Axal's Vision and Team Growth
02:49 - Diverse Team and Guerrilla Marketing Strategies
03:41 - Podcasting and Content Creation Efforts
05:25 - Introduction of Gecko and Its Purpose
08:34 - Understanding the Value of Agents
09:22 - Fair Launch Concept Explained
10:16 - Community Engagement and Investor Reactions
12:15 - Utility and Future Plans for Gecko
14:21 - The Future of Agent Tokens in the Market
17:06 - Launching Gekko: Technical Insights
20:28 - Advice for Founders Considering Token Launches
22:46 - Navigating Investor Relations and Legalities
25:50 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Jan 13, 2025 • 27min
Powering Data Collection at the Edge with 375ai | Harry Dewhirst
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Connor spoke with Harry Dewhirst, CEO and co-founder of 375ai, formerly known as Zeppelin, about his journey from founding a data company sold to Singtel to leading 375ai’s efforts in building decentralized networks for data collection. Harry shared insights into the company’s ambitious goal of identifying over 10 million vehicles daily through their AI-powered hardware, the 375 Edge, and their partnership with Outfront Media. They also discussed the launch of 375ai’s incentivized testnet, allowing users to earn tokens through the 375Go app by contributing passive data. Harry explained the significance of the company’s name, linked to Nevada’s extraterrestrial highway, and how the data could be used by hedge funds for market analysis. Additionally, they explored 375ai’s decision to build on the Solana blockchain and their tokenomics.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Harry's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey
02:40 - Transition from Zeppelin to 375ai
04:20 - Zeppelin's Initial Mission and Partnerships
06:30 - Deployment Strategies and Learning Experiences
08:40 - Significance of the Name 375ai
09:50 - Testnet and Community Engagement
12:00 - 375 Edge Devices and Their Functionality
15:00 - Future Plans for 375 Street Devices
17:00 - Real-World Applications of Collected Data
19:00 - Building on the Solana Ecosystem
21:00 - Tokenomics and Incentive Structures
24:00 - Quality Control and Data Demand Strategies
25:30 - Call to Action and Community Engagement
Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Jan 8, 2025 • 31min
Building a DePIN for Flight Tracking with Wingbits | Robin Wingardh
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Connor and Sal spoke with Robin from Wingbits, a company revolutionizing the aviation and drone industries with advanced flight data solutions. Robin discussed the $22 billion ADS-B market, Wingbits' innovative hardware for tracking flights and drones, and plans for a token-incentivized model to enhance data quality. With 2,000 live stations globally and an upcoming mainnet launch, the conversation also highlighted their partnership with Geodnet to improve location data and their vision of integrating Web3 principles into a sustainable business model.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:38 - Exploring Productivity with Wearable Tech
02:28 - Winter Sports Brand and VC Discussions
04:54 - Understanding Wingbits Impact on Aviation Data
07:40 - Advanced Flight Data Technologies
11:09 - Incentivizing Flight Data Contributions
15:40 - Targeting the Web3 Community in Flight Tracking
21:47 - Future of ADS-B Technology in Aviation
26:00 - The Wingbits Network Expansion
27:12 - Update on Wingbits Network and Upcoming Launch
Disclaimer:
The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.


