In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Lombard co-founder Jacob Phillips. Together, they discuss how Bitcoin's market capitalization is an ideal solution for DeFi's need for liquidity, the differences in the mentality of deploying Bitcoin as an asset into DeFi versus deploying other assets like Ether, building on the Babylon staking protocol, upcoming Lombard releases, and much more.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by LunarCrush co-founders Joe Vezzani and Jon Farjo. Together, they discuss how social media metrics can help determine the appetite for specific digital assets, the metrics and categories that LunarCrush follows, how AI has improved the team's ability and processes, the forthcoming rise of AI agents, and so much more.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Mounir Benchemled, founder and CEO of ParaSwap, a platform in the decentralized finance landscape. Together, they explore what ParaSwap is bringing to the DeFi space, delve into the technical challenges of building on blockchain, and discuss the future of decentralized exchanges. Mounir also shares his vision for driving mass crypto adoption through scalable infrastructure and user-centric experiences.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Anthony Day, head of strategy and marketing at Midnight, a Layer 1 protocol developed by Input Output (IOHK). Together, they discuss the importance of data protection and privacy, why Web3 needs to be professionalized for mass adoption, the value of blockchain for enterprise and large-scale entities, and how Midnight is building itself to be a fourth-generation blockchain network.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Ganesh Swami, CEO and co-founder of Covalent to discuss blockchain data infrastructure, AI integration, and the evolution of Ethereum. They explore how Covalent is helping bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3, the importance of decentralized infrastructure for AI, and the development of tools like the Ethereum Wayback Machine.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by JP Thor, Founder of THORChain. They explore how close we are to mainstream crypto adoption, THORChain's user-friendly features, why SwapKit could be the key to decentralized wallet integration, and how THORChain approaches cross-chain swaps.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Fabian Gompf, Chief Executive Officer of the Web3 Foundation. They dive into Polkadot's early days, how Parity drives Polkadot's ecosystem forward, and why enterprise giants are eyeing Polkadot. Fabian also shares applicable and less applicable uses for blockchain technologies, modular versus monolithic blockchains, and the recent uproar about the Polkadot ecosystem’s treasury spending.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Ken Timsit, head of Cronos Labs. They discuss crypto as a viable solution to modern banking, the relationships between centralized exchanges and their blockchain ecosystem counterparts, and the regulatory environment and political influence on crypto policy. Ken also shares insights about the Cronos tri-blockchain ecosystem, lessons learned from building on the zkEVM and Cosmos tech stacks, and the forthcoming Cronos triple yield-bearing thesis for the zkCRO token.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski engages in a conversation with Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of Saga. They delve into the evolving landscape of Web3 gaming and the challenges faced by indie game developers. Rebecca shares insights into Saga's protocol, designed to simplify blockchain integration for game developers and enhance user experiences. The discussion covers topics such as cross-game economies, IP collaborations, and the role of NFTs in shaping the future of gaming. Additionally, Rebecca touches upon her diverse background in law, politics, and blockchain, offering valuable perspectives on leadership and the transformative potential of Web3 technologies.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski talks with Laurent Benayoun, CEO of Acheron Trading. They discuss the impact of crypto-backed ETFs, the shift from Bitcoin to stablecoin trading pairs, and Acheron Trading's role in providing liquidity. They also explore the evolving landscape of blockchain technologies, decentralized finance trends, and the future of crypto regulations.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Kurt Hemecker, CEO of the Mina Foundation, to explore the potential of Mina's zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. They discuss the evolution of information and money-sharing protocols, the growth of the Mina ecosystem, the significance of ZK technology in offering privacy, identity, and scaling solutions, and Mina's approach as the “world’s lightest ZK blockchain.” Discover insights into Mina's interoperability prospects, the burgeoning ecosystem of ZK apps, and the importance of combining privacy with regulatory compliance.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Max Hillebrand, CEO of zkSNACKs, for an in-depth discussion on Bitcoin privacy solutions, cypherpunk ethos, and the importance of open-source software. They discuss challenges and solutions for privacy in Bitcoin transactions, the role of coordination services like CoinJoin, and the potential of zero-knowledge proofs. Max also dives into government regulations, the historical context of money, the shutdown of zkSNACKs, and the future focus on advancing human freedom and privacy in the crypto space.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Leising, Co-founder of DeCential Media, for an in-depth discussion on the importance of journalistic integrity in the crypto industry, Matt's background at Bloomberg, his book "Out of the Ether" detailing the Ethereum DAO hack, and DeCential Media's approach to spotlighting the individuals shaping the decentralized economy.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Pavel Sinelnikov, Developer Relations Lead at ZKM, for an in-depth discussion on zero-knowledge technology and its potential to bolster the Bitcoin ecosystem. Pavel shares lessons learned from Ethereum's growth and how they can be applied to Bitcoin, particularly in decentralized financial derivatives and scaling solutions. They explore different types of Layer Two (L2) rollups, their roles in enhancing scalability and efficiency, and how ZKM’s decentralized sequencer aims to enhance Bitcoin’s network utility and integrate it seamlessly with other blockchain ecosystems. They also cover sustainable Bitcoin yields, ZKM's approach to offering yield on a native Bitcoin asset, and key insights into the evolving blockchain landscape and the future of decentralization.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Meg Lister, General Manager of Grants Labs at Gitcoin, to discuss the transformative nature of grant funding in blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystems. They delve into the enhanced transparency and accountability that blockchain technology offers, highlighting the superior success rates of grant funding compared to traditional funding methods, particularly in terms of developer retention and community impact. Meg also highlights Gitcoin's expanded focus beyond Ethereum to EVM networks and its evolution into the more inclusive and decentralized Gitcoin 2.0.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Alejo Pinto, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem. They discuss Pontem’s impact on the DeFi landscape, highlighting its suite of products that enable transactions across different blockchain layers and ecosystems. Alejo dives into how Pontem is building for a multi-chain world by leveraging both its internal products and external tech stacks. The conversation also covers the significance of enabling people to transact freely in crypto, building on the Move Virtual Machine and the relationships with developers who are building it, and Pontem's strategies to abstract blockchain specifics from the end user, facilitating seamless interactions on any network.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Caspar Sauter, the Co-founder of Quantena and D8X Exchange, to discuss the mission behind D8X and the importance of building decentralized financial machines. Caspar explains why D8X focuses on perpetual futures and how they are building white-label solutions for banks and financial institutions. He also delves into the importance of cross-chain liquidity, the lessons learned from being live on two chains, and the importance of privacy and oracle solutions in the DeFi space. Caspar also touches on the impact of the Bitcoin halving, the role of institutions in the crypto space, and the future of DeFi.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rowland Graus, Director of Product Management & Developer Relations at Agoric, to discuss the to discuss the transformative potential of simple cross-chain operations and enhancing user accessibility. Rowland delves into Agoric's approach to chain abstraction and orchestration within and beyond the Cosmos Interchain. He also discusses the strategic role of stablecoins in the ecosystem, Agoric's focus on JavaScript developers to broaden blockchain adoption, and the insights gained from integrating Metamask's Snaps feature using Agoric's Hardened JavaScript toolkit.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Jon Trask, CEO and founder of Dimitra, to discuss how blockchain technology is creating real-world impact in agriculture. He also shares insights into Dimitra's connected farmer platform and his future predictions for on-chain deforestation-related transactions.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andreas Brekken, the Founder of SideShift, to discuss his experience in the cryptocurrency space and the evolution of exchanges over the past decade. He also delves into the founding of SideShift and its focus on user privacy and zero registration. Andreas highlights the importance of building during bear markets and the recent successes of SideShift as the market trends upward.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Philippe Schommers, the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis, to discuss the Gnosis ecosystem and what sets the Gnosis Chain apart from the Ethereum chain. Philippe shares insights into building MEV resistance into the core protocol, the impact of governance on infrastructural development, and various technical aspects of the Gnosis Chain and the broader ecosystem.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan Grabowski speaks with Peyman Momeni, CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, about the crucial need for privacy in decentralized systems. Learn about Fairblock's commitment to user-centric, cross-chain privacy solutions. Discover how these solutions aim to empower DeFi, enhance governance, and revolutionize gaming. Get insights into the challenges of building privacy-focused solutions and the importance of partnering with developers for widespread adoption.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Sunny Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of VeChain Foundation, to discuss Sunny's journey into the blockchain space and his unwavering focus on delivering value to both new and existing enterprise entities. He delves into how Web3 technology can be utilized to enhance the world, the importance of the VeChain enterprise, and why community engagement matters. Sunny also shares his perspective on the current state of the blockchain industry and the path to mass crypto adoption.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Parker McCurley, Co-Founder and CEO of DecentDAO, to discuss how Decent aims to develop a suite of tools focused on institutional DeFi and privacy. He delves into lessons learned from running a business through multiple crypto cycles, the inner workings of DecentDAO, and why they chose to build on the Ethereum network. Parker also recounts how he parlayed a career as a developer into co-founding and leading a blockchain collective.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Nathan Windsor, the CEO and Co-Founder of Landslide Network, to discuss how Landslide aims to bridge the gap between the Avalanche and Cosmos ecosystems. He delves into the differences between Avalanche and Cosmos at a protocol level, the role of permissioned and permissionless blockchain networks, and the potential impact of these developments on the future of the industry. Nathan also recounts his unique journey into the blockchain world.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Bell, the CEO and Co-Founder of Turbofish, to discuss Nomic, a layer one blockchain with a mission to unlock the latent potential of Bitcoin within the DeFi landscape. He delves into the philosophy behind connecting Bitcoin with other blockchain networks, the technical intricacies of Nomic, and the broader implications of integrating Bitcoin into diverse DeFi ecosystems. Matt also recounts his unique journey into the blockchain world, starting from his early fascination with peer-to-peer networks to his significant contributions to projects like IPFS and Filecoin.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matthew Commons, President of the Verified USD Foundation, to discuss the inner workings of the company, its vision of building a next-generation stablecoin with the USDV token, and its mission to establish better connections between centralized entities and decentralized finance. Matthew also sheds light on the opportunities and strengths of non-traditional stablecoins, and the role they can play in bringing crypto to the next billion users. He also shares his journey into the blockchain space and the “aha moment” that led him to crypto innovation.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Gabe Frank, the Founder of Arcade.xyz, to discuss the evolving landscape of NFT lending and its implications in the DeFi space. Gabe shares insights into the inner workings of Arcade’s platform, the evolution of Arcade into a DAO, and the potential for real-world asset tokenization. Gabe also shares his journey from third-generation pawnbroker to leading a cutting-edge blockchain platform.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Austin Federa, Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation, to discuss the resilience and unique features of the Solana ecosystem. He weighs in on the Validator Health Report, Solana’s network performance, and recent partnerships with Visa and Shopify. Austin also highlights the importance of social consensus and governance in the blockchain industry and the potential for Solana to become a leading blockchain platform in the future.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Fig, Co-Founder of Squid, to discuss how cross-chain infrastructure enhances the resiliency of blockchains, the challenges of multi-chain user experience, and Squid's role in connecting different chains seamlessly. They also delve into Fig's background, Squid's mission, and upcoming features. If you're interested in learning about the future of cross-chain transactions and improving user experience in crypto, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Michael O'Rourke, Co-Founder & CEO of Pocket Network and CEO of Grove, to discuss how decentralized infrastructures empower both users and companies. He delves into the intricacies of the Grove infrastructure and RPC nodes and the need for decentralized systems to differentiate supply and demand, enabling businesses to operate beyond any single nation-state's jurisdiction. Michael highlights the implications and potential impact of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) and Grove’s role in the DePIN ecosystem. He also discusses his experiences with Bitcoin and how Ethereum smart contracts influenced his views on scalable, decentralized infrastructure.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Bonart Mati, Chief Growth Officer of Obligate, to discuss on-chain bonds for regulated DeFi. He also shares his insights on the unstoppable nature of DeFi and the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize the financial industry. Bonart highlights the importance of regulations, the transformative power of tokenization, and the need for interoperability and cross-chain communication solutions for the future. Don't miss out on this valuable conversation on the rapidly evolving blockchain industry!

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rich Rines, Contributor at Core DAO, to discuss the mission of Core DAO to onboard the next billion users to the world of blockchain. He highlights the importance of decentralization and the multi-chain thesis in the blockchain space; explains the unique consensus mechanism of Core DAO, called Satoshi Plus, which combines proof of work and proof of stake; and emphasizes the importance of community building in the crypto industry.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Chen Zhuling, CEO and Founder of RockX, to discuss the early days of Bitcoin in Asia, building a delegated proof of stake blockchain network, and the evolving market driven by dApp usage. Zhuling also shares insights into how institutional clients can become part of a distributed validator network.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, and how Calaxy is building a platform to empower creators. Rusty also shares insights on the rise of Web3 and the resurgence of the Metaverse, the network characteristics that social media platforms look for when choosing a blockchain to build on, the importance of good user experience in the development of decentralized platforms, and the future of the creative economy.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo, to discuss his background in financial markets, how he recognized the utility of blockchain technology early on, and the challenges of key management. He delves into the importance of open-source development and the immutability of information stored on the blockchain.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Zac Townsend, CEO and co-founder of Meanwhile, the first and only life insurance company denominated in Bitcoin. Discussion topics include using technology to improve institutional processes, how life insurance can ensure Bitcoin’s longevity, the product Meanwhile offers and the types of customers they seek, and how life insurance can be a part of a balanced financial portfolio. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter/X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Jesper Johansen, CEO and co-founder of Northstake, which builds streamlined and regulatory-compliant staking products for institution-grade investors and clients. Topics include the significance of MiCA legislation in Europe, building businesses off Proof-of-Stake blockchain networks, how Northstake provides secure staking services to institutional clients, and plans to launch an ETH staking-based alternative investment fund. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter/X, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs, a global blockchain incubator comprised of blockchain developers, product managers, researchers, traders, and former founders. Topics discussed include getting Bitcoin in 2013, lessons learned as a VC in the EOS ecosystem, the four P’s of incubating a new business, and recently launched Cumberland Labs products. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Holly Wood, Director of Business Development at Boson Protocol. Topics discussed include working with grassroots creatives and big brands, how Web3 launches have similar vibes to brand launches for verticals like streetwear, the prevalence of in-house Web3 teams and staff at big brands, and phygitals/digi-physical items. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Oliver Linch, CEO of Bittrex Global. Topics discussed include the difference between Bittrex Global and Bittrex, Bittrex Global’s forthcoming conversations with US regulators, and various different regulatory guidelines across different jurisdictions in the world. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Aaron Kaplan, founder and co-CEO of Prometheum. Topics of discussion include wanting to build a regulatory-compliant exchange in 2013, how he felt like a crazy person talking about securities laws during the ETH ICO, incubating Prometheum, how Prometheum is posed to be the first regulatory compliant digital asset custodian in the US, and the path forward for crypto in the US. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Lars Seier Christensen, Chairman at Concordium Foundation. Topics discussed include building an online trading platform in the early days of the internet, new technology and adoption cycles, the importance of digital identification, discovering Bitcoin, and how Concordium seeks to provide certain features that other blockchains don’t natively provide. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this special episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan talks to ecosystem representatives at the Neo booth during Consensus 2023. It was Neo’s second consecutive year exhibiting at the event, which is among the premier North American events for the blockchain industry. The main attraction at the booth was the OneBand ring, which was cryptographically bound to an ITEM NFT. Once a ring was acquired, holders were able to unlock themed design elements to a LIZARD NFT by scanning the ring at the various Neo ecosystem project stations. Join us in listening to representatives from GhostMarket, NGD Enterprise, Perlin Finance, AxLabs, COZ, Flamingo Finance, and Greenfinch. Topics discussed include what they are working on, the success of the OneBand ring, how the event onboarded new Neo community members, their thoughts after meeting the community at the event, and aspirations for Consensus 2024. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO and co-founder of RELM Insurance. Topics discussed include the role alternative insurance providers play in cutting edge industries from crypto to psychedelics to eSports to longevity, how regulatory bodies can help establish unique insurance opportunities, the various factors that Relm evaluates when underwriting, and why larger insurance entities aren’t jumping to insure innovative companies. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Gregor Žavcer, Executive Director of Swarm. Topics discussed include what the blockchain space was like in 2015, the importance of decentralized storage in Web3, data ownership and privacy, interesting use cases, and how Swarm operates. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this special edition of the Smart Economy Podcast, where we take you on a journey through ETH Denver 2023, held Colorado, USA. For this this episode, we visited the ETH Denver event and spoke with a diverse group of people in the blockchain space. Throughout our conversations, we explore various perspectives on the current state of the crypto space, the benefits of in-person events, the evolving culture of blockchain, and the driving forces that led individuals to join this rapidly evolving industry. We discuss the challenges and rewards of communicating complex blockchain concepts to those outside the field and delve into the collaborative and supportive nature of the blockchain community that fosters innovation. As the industry matures, we examine the changing dynamics and culture within the community and how in-person events play a crucial role in building relationships and fostering collaboration among remote team members. We hope you'll enjoy the wide range of insights, stories, and experiences shared in this episode. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Jackson Zeng, CEO of Caleb & Brown. Topics discussed include getting into crypto through game item marketplaces, starting a company in a blossoming industry without a clear regulatory outlook, how Caleb & Brown offer personalized services for their clients, and the types of assets their clients are interested in. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Brendan Sullivan, CPO of Dacoco - the creator of Alien Worlds. Topics discussed include how his professional journey through tech and product management led to building DAO technology at Dacoco, the democratization of content, the various use cases for DAOs, and the grants for builders to create in the Alien Worlds ecosystem. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sarah Thiam, a developer advocate for Filecoin VM at Protocol Labs. Topics discussed include lessons learned from her previous experience in both the government and enterprise, the significance of combining smart contracts with decentralized storage, supporting teams that are new to the ecosystem, and protocol agnosticism for the multi-chain future. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sakhib Waseem, CTO of Astra Protocol. Topics discussed include how his background in banking impacted his perspective on blockchain, where the financial industry is today with regards to implementing blockchain technology into their tech architecture, and the role Astra plays in decentralized identity solutions. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Al Morris, founder of Koii Network. Topics discussed include empowering users by giving them control over their data, building a decentralized internet, rewarding users for contributing resources, the various iterations of the Koii Network, and upcoming releases. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Sid Powell, CEO and co-founder of Maple Finance. Topics discussed include his background in debt capital markets at a bank and conversely on the client side at a lending business, the conceptualization of Maple Finance to its 2021 launch, the types of institutional clients Maple Finance seeks, and offering loans backed on assets that aren’t correlated with crypto. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Seamus Donoghue, Chief Growth Officer at METACO. Topics discussed include lessons learned working for an exchange in 2017 and 2018 during the ICO craze, how well-defined regulations positively impact crypto companies, how banks are looking into blockchain-based solutions, the outlook institutions are developing for crypto’s future, and how METACO services its institutional clients.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Willy Ogorzaly, Head of Decentralization at Fox Foundation. Topics discussed include his first startup and how that parlayed into getting acquihired by the then centralized ShapeShift, what it was like working through a bear market while ShapeShift was also facing an existential and philosophical dilemma, how the new ShapeShift DAO operates, and building a community among decentralized builders.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Chad Barraford, a core developer at THORChain. Discussion topics include the importance of a decentralized multi-chain swapping protocol, the risks associated with blockchain-to-blockchain bridges, THORChain’s synthetic assets versus wrapped assets on other networks, and the protocol's economic security model. 51:48 - "Lending Design"

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Graven Prest, a co-founder of GeoWeb. Discussion topics include non-technical roles in tech-oriented startups, how local blockchain communities can empower new industry entrants, GitCoin grants rounds, the melding of information sharing and open geospatial networks, how GeoWeb intends to evolve over time, and use cases for the platform.

Episode Notes In this special episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we have compiled student thoughts from Neo's recent "Decoding Web3" US campus tour. Topics include the importance of blockchain clubs, what the students found particularly interesting about Neo, what they took away from presentations held by prominent Neo ecosystem representatives, and much more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Derrek Coleman, a Community Steward at ETH Denver. Topics discussed include finding work in Web3, the types of positions that DAOs most often need to fill, the history of ETH Denver and the types of projects that have arisen from past events, the hackathon and prizes available, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Len Sir, Investment Lead at MEXC M-Ventures and Labs. Topics discussed include the vast roles a VC plays in the incubation of ideas and projects, the focus areas of M-Ventures and Labs, his insights into Neo's recent "Decoding Web3" university tour, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Chase Devens, a Research Analyst at Messari. Topics include his philosophy on garnering the next wave of Web3 businesses, how the ethos of decentralization shapes Messari's principles, the process of creating content and information for Messari's clients, the multi-chain thesis, the role regulations will have in the Web3 space, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with James Weybourne, Chief Design Officer of COZ. Topics include his background and industry awards for design in the health technology space, the psychology behind good UX design, how collaborative processes with various stakeholders make for successful UX design, his outlook on blockchain’s mainstream adoption, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, we speak with Writing Coach Chris Sowers. Topics include how his side hustle has evolved and grown to coaching more than a dozen writers, how blockchain can be used to reduce friction in remote working and traditional industry, how people in this industry working for the betterment of society positively changed his perceptions of the technology, and more.

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Joshua McDougall, President of Slow Ninja. Topics include his journey developing across blockchains, the philosophy of building fun games and how they can unknowingly onboard new users to Web3, building a gaming protocol that integrates the composability of other dApps in the Cosmos ecosystem, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Andrew Jekimochev, Community Lead of Blockchain Cuties Universe. Topics include the nuances between traditional and blockchain-based game development, the origin of BCU, how the community shapes the project, how the blockchain-gaming space has evolved over time, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Nicolas Choukroun, CEO of Metaisland. Topics include the various ways blockchain will be implemented in the game, his extensive background in the gaming space, what it was like to stumble upon cryptocurrency in the early days of the internet, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Ace, co-founder of UFO Gaming. Topics include the role UFO Gaming's community has with the direction of the project, airdrop events for NFTs and utility tokens, how UFO Gaming seeks to become the Steam platform for blockchain games, and much more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Grace Gui, CMO of Jsquare. Topics include her background in the legal field, the international appeal cryptocurrency offers, how broader macro trends impact cryptocurrency markets, the differences between market cycles, current and future trends she’s monitoring, philosophical differences of different VC firms, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Jessica Levesque, Executive Director of C4. Topics include her background in education, where blockchain education gets it right and improvements that can be made, the community development aspects of blockchain ecosystems, how C4's certifications are created and updated, how the blockchain industry has become more diverse in the past couple of years but still has room to grow, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Dr. Wendy Charles, CSO of BurstIQ. Topics include her background in health policy and compliance, how blockchain technology improves health industry practices, the increasing rights individuals have over their health data, how COVID changed healthcare appointments, the growing changes in how organizations and governments view blockchain, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Danielle Wall Elliott, COO of Nayms. Topics include her background and time at ShapeShift, the decentralization of ShapeShift as a corporation, how the cryptocurrency space has changed since 2014, the insurance industry becoming more digital, the types of clients Nayms seeks to insure first, the inclusivity cryptocurrency inherently offers, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Odd Røland and Adrian Fjellberg, lead maintainers of Flamingo Finance. Topics include their background in Web 2, the shifting mindsets people have in their relationships with finance, cross-chain and other features on Flamingo's roadmap, the FLUND staking token, how meme coins can activate an ecosystem, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Psykeeper, the founder of Saffron Finance. Discussion topics include trade-offs of being an anonymous founder, his outlook on DeFi's opportunities and constraints, preferences for building in bear markets, multi-asset tranching systems, using stablecoin yield for insurance funds, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Snake Plissken, the Chief Administrative Officer at Elk Finance. Discussion topics include how the DeFi platform achieves cross-chain interoperability, Elk Finance’s impermanent loss protection, the types of contracts it deploys, using NFTs for access to cross-chain proxy token services, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with William Song, founder of Lyrebird. Topics discussed include Terra’s collapse and how it changed his perception of “defending the peg,” how Lyrebird will adapt and potentially move forward with a fractionally backed stablecoin, the importance of using yield-generating assets for collateral in the Bowerbird lending protocol, using Neo’s native oracle network, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Andrew Redden, a founding member of PleasrDAO. Discussion topics include his background as a developer in the ETH ecosystem, his perspective on what DAOs are, what one should consider when championing a proposal in a DAO, the process and emotions of purchasing items at auction, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Yev Muchnik, founder of Launch Legal. The pair discuss her journey into the legal field and blockchain, the differences between projects in bull and bear markets, the various types of DAOs Yev has advised, participating in DAOs related to humanitarian efforts and employee services, DAO tooling, the future of DAOs, and more!

Episode Notes In this episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Claude Müller and Guil Machado, Senior Software Engineers at AxLabs. The trio discussed their open-source code philosophy, the thought processes that went into the development of the GrantShares DAO, how individuals can propose projects for DAO funding, the project proposal life cycle, and more!

Episode Notes In the inaugural episode of the Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan speaks with Jon ShapeShift, co-founder and former COO of the ShapeShift exchange. The pair discuss ShapeShift's decision to shut down as a corporate entity and migrate entirely to a DAO model.