Web3 with Sam Kamani

Епизоди

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  411: How Ground Is Making DeFi Accessible for Banks and Institutions with Guest Speaker Reid Cuming 21.07.2026 37мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Reid, co-founder of Ground, to explore what it actually takes to bring on-chain finance to institutions. Ground is building a non-custodial API platform, think Stripe, but for DeFi, so that banks, neobanks, and financial companies can access yield, lending, liquid staking, and real-world assets without rebuilding their entire stack. Reid shares his journey from Square to Stripe to Chime to founding Superstate and ultimately Ground. We dig into why large institutions move slowly, why the "just build it with AI" objection misses the point, and what the future looks like when blockchains are quietly powering the back end of your Robin Hood or JPMorgan account. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Ground Website: https://www.groundtech.co/Ground LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ground-global/Ground Twitter/X: https://x.com/ground_onchainReid Twitter/X: https://x.com/rmcumingWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Reid and Ground, a platform helping institutions access on-chain finance• [01:20] Reid's nonlinear path from consulting to Silicon Valley to fintech at Square, Stripe, and Chime• [02:00] How Reid joined Compound Labs, built Compound Treasury, then co-founded Superstate before incubating Ground• [03:04] The core problem Ground solves: abstracting blockchain complexity into a Stripe-like API experience• [04:26] What on-chain finance functions look like: stablecoins, lending protocols, LP pools, liquid staking, and RWAs• [05:34] Why institutions are eager but slow, regulatory uncertainty, internal change management, and calcified tech stacks• [08:08] How Reid navigates complex enterprise sales cycles versus faster-moving startup clients• [10:40] Building during a market downturn: why Reid sees it as the best time to build with high signal• [14:15] Ground as a non-custodial API: clients retain full control while Ground handles orchestration and security• [17:26] Addressing the "we'll just build it ourselves with AI" objection, and why real clients never actually say this• [21:30] Current institutional client conversations: time savings, security, compliance, and avoiding cannibalization of existing business• [23:31] The Innovator's Dilemma in crypto: why incumbents like Stripe struggle to self-disrupt on fees• [25:32] Key challenges bridging TradFi and DeFi: compliance, on/off ramps, RWA liquidity, and security insurance• [27:33] The hardest role to hire for: go-to-market talent that bridges crypto-native and institutional worlds• [30:54] What's next in crypto: tokenization plus DeFi becoming invisible infrastructure powering mainstream finance apps• [33:26] Reid's advice for founders and investors: keep turning the crank, stay curious, never get complacent• [34:56] Ground's asks: hiring engineers and a BD lead, onboarding corporate treasury clients, and building yield or investment products
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  410: The Hidden Way Exchanges Exploit Retail Traders (And How We're Fixing It) with Guest Speaker Ilies Larbi from Ouinex 17.07.2026 39мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Ilies, CEO of Ouinex, a crypto exchange that launched earlier this year with one clear mission: stop retail traders from getting crushed by institutions on unfair playing fields. Ilies breaks down exactly how traditional crypto exchanges are structured in a way that lets market makers and financial institutions exploit everyday traders, and explains the specific model Ouinex uses to fix that. We also dig into why TradeFi instruments on most crypto exchanges cost retail traders five to seven times more than they should, how AI copilots could change the way traders manage positions, and where the market is headed as institutional money continues flowing into digital assets. If you have ever wondered why your trades seem to always go against you, this episode will open your eyes.DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Ouinex Website: https://ouinex.com/enTwitter/X: https://x.com/OuinexTelegram: https://t.me/+g8twTjE3_wUxY2E0Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:54] Ilies shares his background, starting at FXCM 25 years ago and building his way into crypto and founding Ouinex in 2022• [03:24] He explains the central limit order book problem: retail traders are competing in the same order book as well-funded institutions with co-location and full trading teams• [07:26] Ouinex introduces the no-taker execution model, where market makers can only make markets, not take orders, and have no visibility into retail client orders• [08:19] TradeFi instruments on Ouinex tap into decades-old bank liquidity from Goldman, Citi, and Deutsche, making Ouinex around 20x more liquid than competitors on those instruments• [10:23] Ilies compares spreads: a normal TradeFi broker offers around one point on gold, while major crypto exchanges charge around seven points for the same product• [15:37] He describes how thin crypto liquidity lets institutions move markets with small capital, keeping retail as what he calls exit liquidity• [20:00] Ouinex is a multi-asset platform, so when crypto is flat, users can access oil, gold, Nasdaq, and equity markets all from one interface• [21:28] On regulation, Ouinex is actively working with a local partner to obtain a MiCA-aligned license in Europe• [26:24] Discussion on AI in trading: Ilies is skeptical of predictive AI signals but excited about an AI copilot feature that would call traders when their positions hit key levels• [30:30] Ilies and Sam discuss the growing wave of institutional interest in digital assets, with family offices and hedge funds expanding into crypto• [34:30] North Star metrics for Ouinex are trade volume and retention, and currently almost no users are leaving once they join• [37:48] Ouinex is preparing for a seed or Series A round, targeting documentation ready by end of August, and is inviting traders to try the platform
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  409: How Coins.ph is Turning Stablecoins into Financial Infrastructure for the Philippines and Beyond with Guest Speaker Wei Zhou from Coins.ph 15.07.2026 45мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, to dig into how they're building stablecoin infrastructure that's genuinely changing lives in the Philippines and beyond. Wei walked me through his journey from Goldman Sachs to Binance CFO to buying Coins.ph from Gojek in 2022 and rebuilding it from scratch. We talked about why the Philippines has become a global leader in stablecoin adoption, how they slashed payment fees from 4-8% down to near-zero for Filipino freelancers, and why Wei believes every country needs its own blockchain currency , not just a blockchain dollar. We also got into the Genius Act, the Clarity Act, the upcoming wave of tokenized assets, and what it will take for stablecoins to go truly global. This one is packed with real-world insight from someone actually in the trenches of building payments infrastructure at the intersection of crypto and emerging markets. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Coins.ph Website: https://www.coins.ph/en-phCoins.ph Twitter/X: https://x.com/coinsphLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coins-ph/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coinsph_officialWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Introduction to Wei Zhou and Coins.ph, building stablecoin infrastructure for the Philippines• [01:11] Wei's journey: Goldman Sachs, Binance CFO, buying Coins.ph from Gojek in 2022 and rebuilding it from scratch• [04:49] Why the Philippines is a natural fit for stablecoin adoption , the gig economy, English fluency, and the unbanked• [06:22] How Coins.ph cut payment fees from 4-8% (PayPal) to under 0.2% using USDC and USDT rails• [09:36] New feature: users can now spend USDT and USDC directly without converting to pesos, protecting against FX losses• [10:47] Financial literacy over crypto education , why Coins.ph focuses on helping people avoid scams first• [15:44] The importance of being a licensed VASP and e-money issuer , stacking regulatory 'Lego blocks'• [18:50] Institutional adoption in the US vs retail/payment adoption in emerging markets , why they differ• [19:49] The Genius Act's impact on stablecoin growth and why the Clarity Act could unlock the next wave of token issuance• [26:39] Why USD will remain dominant in stablecoins , mirroring the traditional FX market structure• [33:47] Tokenization wave: NASDAQ, SWIFT, DTCC, and the SEC all moving toward blockchain-based assets• [36:26] Coins.ph super app redesign , crypto payments via QR at local merchants with near-zero fees• [36:58] PHP-C: a Philippine peso-backed stablecoin already in BSP sandbox, waiting for regulatory sign-off• [38:03] Why every country needs 'blockchain pesos' to match blockchain dollars , currency sovereignty on-chain• [39:56] Vision for Coins.ph: evolving into an all-in-one fintech with trading, payments, savings, investing, and lending• [43:29] Expansion into Brazil and other regions, plus ongoing fundraising conversations
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  408: Sleeping Your Way to Better Health: How Sleepagotchi Is Gamifying Wellness with guest speaker Kenny Wood from Sleepagotchi 13.07.2026 28мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Kenny Wood, CEO of Sleepagotchi, to talk about one of the most underrated pillars of health , sleep. Kenny brings over 20 years of games industry experience, from building Barbie titles in Yorkshire to shipping serious simulations for the Dutch government, and now he's channelling all of that into a product that sits at the crossroads of gaming, AI agents, and wellness. We dig into how Sleepagotchi works, why sleep is the root of everything from longevity to job performance, how they have engaged over 2 million users, what is coming next with multiple AI agents covering sleep coaching, meal planning, and even a shopping agent, and why health data regulation is one of the trickiest challenges in the space. If you have ever bragged about running on four hours of sleep, this episode is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Sleepagotchi Website:https://www.sleepagotchi.com/Telegram: https://t.me/sleepagotchiLITE_botWeb3 with Sam Kamani Website: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Sleepagotchi and Kenny Wood, highlighting 2 million users at the crossroads of wellness, AI, and gaming• [01:11] Kenny shares his 20+ year journey in games , from Barbie titles and Transformers to serious simulations for the Dutch government• [02:11] Kenny's role as CTO of Moonlander, building AI-generated scene generation sold to Alpha 3D, before joining Sleepagotchi as CEO• [03:50] How Sleepagotchi works , pulling data from wearables via Apple Health Kit and Android Health Connect, processed by AI agents• [05:25] The unique feature coming soon: asking the AI direct questions about your own sleep data• [06:54] Why sleep-to-earn is different from step-to-earn , habit formation over token emissions• [08:54] Why sleep is culturally undervalued and how fixing sleep improves everything from longevity to job performance• [11:42] How habit and motivation are the key to long-term user retention beyond early incentives• [13:02] The GDPR and health data regulation challenge , and why all Sleepagotchi data stays on-device and anonymous• [15:24] The case for anonymous health data cohorts accelerating medical research at population scale• [17:09] Sleepagotchi's numbers: 2 million Telegram lite app users and 200,000 iOS and Android users• [21:23] What is next , four AI agents: sleep coach, wellness coach, meal planner, and a shopping agent with a health marketplace• [23:18] The biggest challenge: delivering something genuinely useful and novel while navigating health and wellness regulations• [25:30] The future of AI personal assistants and how the film Her might be a blueprint for where health AI is heading• [27:28] Kenny's biggest ask , try the app and follow Sleepagotchi on their official channels
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  407: The Hidden Risks of Stablecoins , And How to Protect Yourself with guest speaker Marco Zelman 08.07.2026 46мин

  In this episode, I sit down with Marko, Co-founder of Tapir Protocol, to break down one of the most underappreciated risks in DeFi , depegging. We dig into how stablecoins and yield-bearing assets can lose their peg, what the real financial damage looks like (spoiler: up to $3.3 billion in losses between 2020 and 2025), and how Tapir is building a smarter, fully automatic, non-custodial solution to protect investors without sacrificing yield or capital efficiency. Marko walks me through how Tapir splits a single asset into a depeg-protected version and a yield-boosted version, letting the market price the risk rather than a committee deciding your claim. Whether you manage a treasury, run a fund, or just want safer DeFi yields, this conversation is packed with practical insight. DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/--- CONNECT ---Tapir Protocol Website: https://tapir.money/ Marko on Twitter/X: https://x.com/markoinether Tapir X/twitter: https://x.com/Tapir_Protocol--- KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS ---• [00:00] Sam introduces Marko from Tapir Protocol and the focus on safer DeFi for institutional and retail investors• [01:19] Marko shares his background , from e-commerce to crypto in 2015, winning ETH Global hackathons in 2020 and 2021, building Marinate Finance (first liquid staking on Solana), and leading developer ecosystems at SSV Network• [04:15] Discussion on the explosive growth of stablecoins and why stablecoin yield products are the focus for Tapir• [07:02] Deep dive into what a depeg is and a live case study of APX USD trading at 80 cents on the dollar• [08:48] How Tapir splits one asset into three: a base version, a depeg-protected version, and a yield-boosted version , all 100% capital efficient• [13:02] Tapir's business model , a marketplace that earns a small fee on minting and redeeming assets• [13:59] Where Tapir is in its lifecycle , live on mainnet, running with internal funds, opening to launch partners and private mainnet users very soon• [16:05] Who Tapir is built for , DAO treasuries, fund managers, and any DeFi investor who understands that risk is real• [19:07] Sam and Marko discuss the drop in DeFi TVL from $180B to ~$69B and how AI-assisted bug finding is increasing vulnerability concerns• [21:23] Tapir has completed two independent audits and keeps its entire codebase under 1,000 lines of code to minimise attack surface• [24:36] Marko's take on algorithmic stablecoins , most fail because of positive feedback loops that collapse under stress• [26:22] Breakdown of Tapir's depeg analysis: long-term depeg losses estimated at $1.5B to $3.3B between 2020 and 2025• [30:46] How Tapir differentiates from Nexus Mutual, Y2K Finance, and other risk protection protocols , fully automatic resolution, no claims committees, and no capital inefficiency• [39:48] Will USD-denominated stablecoins keep dominating? Marko shares his view and gives a shoutout to Vifi (Virtual Finance) building for smaller currencies• [44:00] What's next for Tapir , opening to external users, launching higher-yield pools targeting ~15%, and looking for feedback from funds on which assets to list next
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  406: Igra Labs Is Making DeFi Front-Run Resistant and Agent-Ready with Guest Speaker Pavel Emdin 29.06.2026 29мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Pasha from Igra Labs in Berlin to dig into one of the most contrarian bets in Web3 right now , EVM on proof of work. Pasha walks me through why he left the Ethereum ecosystem, what drew him to Kaspa's BlockDAG architecture, and why he believes proof of work offers something proof of stake simply cannot: real fairness. We get into MEV resilience, censorship resistance, and why 10 blocks per second with no centralized sequencer changes everything for DeFi builders. We also cover Multitude, their brand new sovereign execution zones product, and why AI agents might finally be the user experience layer that makes Web3 click for everyone. If you're a founder, a builder, or just someone curious about where the next wave of adoption is coming from, this one is packed.  CONNECT Igra Labs Website: https://igralabs.com/heroDeploy your sovereign finance chain infrastructure https://igralabs.com/multitude Igra Labs Twitter/X: https://x.com/Igra_LabsPavel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emdin/Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:30] Introduction to Pasha from Igra Labs and what the episode covers• [01:51] Pasha's backstory , from Delivery Hero and Auto One to falling into crypto in 2017• [03:24] The core problem Igra Labs is solving: bringing EVM to proof of work via the Kaspa BlockDAG• [05:53] Why proof of work still makes sense , decentralization, security, and hardware commitment• [07:47] MEV resilience and front-run resistance as the killer property of EVM on proof of work• [09:44] Real use cases: stablecoins, DeFi, RWAs, and AI agentic settlement on Igra• [12:39] How EVM makes it easy for developers , Solidity tooling, SDKs, and AI coding agents• [14:26] Developer onboarding in minutes using a single GitBook link and an AI agent• [16:26] Introducing Multitude , sovereign execution zones allowing teams to launch their own Igra• [18:52] How Multitude differs from parachains, appchains, and L2 models like OpStack• [21:25] Where Web3 goes next , AI agents as the UX layer that finally unlocks mass adoption• [24:48] An agentic marketplace being built on Igra , like Upwork, but for AI agents• [27:02] What Pasha would do differently if starting Igra Labs today• [27:52] Current asks: design partners for Multitude, a small strategic round, and ambitious buildersDISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - ⁠https://www.web3pod.xyz/
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  405: No VC, No Compromise: How Trezor Built a Crypto Hardware Empire on Its Own Terms with Guest Speaker Danny Sanders from Trezor 26.06.2026 33мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Danny from Trezor at BTC Prague to dig into everything they've built over the last 12 years , from pioneering the hardware wallet industry to shipping over 2 million devices without ever taking a cent of venture capital. We talked about the growing tension between Bitcoin institutionalisation and self-custody, why AI agents are actually the strongest argument yet for owning a hardware wallet, and what makes the Trezor Safe 7 a genuinely different product. Danny also opened up about the brutal realities of running a hardware startup through crypto's wild bull and bear cycles, and where Trezor is headed next , from inheritance solutions to everyday Bitcoin spending. If you care about truly owning your crypto, this one is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Trezor Website: https://trezor.io/Trezor Twitter/X: https://x.com/TrezorDanny Twitter/X: https://x.com/DantoshiTrezor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trezor Danny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsand/Trezor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrezorWallet Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/  KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Trezor pioneered the hardware wallet industry in 2014 and has never taken venture capital money• [01:59] Overview of the hardware wallet landscape and how Trezor balances security with usability• [04:24] Only about 50 million people are in self-custody out of 500-600 million in crypto , education is key• [06:48] Why Trezor is based in Prague and how Czech culture shaped the Bitcoin-native mindset behind it• [08:58] Danny's honest take on Bitcoin's institutionalization and why peer-to-peer self-custody still matters• [11:23] What drove Trezor to 2 million users , open source, transparency, and community trust• [13:49] A breakdown of the Trezor Safe 5 and what makes it the most premium hardware wallet they've built• [16:01] Why hardware is harder than software and how Trezor manages supply chain in a cyclical market• [18:30] How Trezor manages cash flow , stacking Bitcoin instead of chasing VC and staying conservative• [19:40] Trezor's revenue model: hardware, accessories, and software services like swapping and staking• [20:52] Inheritance planning, SLIP39 Shamir backup, and why multi-share is a game changer for security• [23:19] Why Trezor's 2 million users are some of the most valuable people in crypto and the responsibility that comes with it• [25:23] Why the AI agent wave is the biggest argument yet for owning a hardware wallet• [27:44] Could the Trezor become a general-purpose security device beyond crypto , 2FA, digital identity, and more• [30:09] Trezor's vision for the next two to five years and what partnerships they are looking for
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  404: How Enso Is Removing the Complexity Barrier in DeFi with Guest Speaker Milos Costantini from ENSO 23.06.2026 23мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Milos, Lead Engineer at Enso, live at Berlin Blockchain Week. We dig into the real problem holding back DeFi builders, complexity. Audits cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, bridges are a nightmare, and integrating protocols is a full-time job on its own. Enso is tackling all of that with a single API that handles routing, security, and DeFi actions across 100-plus protocols, so developers and agents can just build. We also get into the RWA boom, the current state of AI agents in Web3, and why Milos thinks we should never forget where DeFi came from. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Enso Website:https://www.enso.build/Enso Twitter/X: https://x.com/EnsoBuildEnso LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enso-build/Milos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miloscostantini/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Milos explains the core problem Enso solves: complexity for DeFi developers• [01:33] Milos's personal journey from mining Bitcoin as a student in 2016 to writing his thesis on Ethereum• [03:13] How smart contract development has and hasn't changed over the years• [06:00] How Enso's API removes the need for developers to deploy integration contracts or manage bridges• [07:00] Built-in security defaults, like MEV protection on DEX swaps, that come with Enso• [07:53] Why using Enso means you don't need your own smart contract audit• [09:36] The biggest trend Enso is seeing: RWA and tokenized stocks• [10:43] How Enso lets users buy tokenized stocks using any token from any chain• [11:40] Flash loan aggregator and looping positions, what's coming next• [12:05] How Enso makes money through fee-split partnerships with integrators• [13:00] The long-term vision: becoming the most composable orchestration layer in DeFi• [14:29] Milos's take on the current hardening era for DeFi and the rise of hacks• [16:38] His most contrarian view: don't forget Web3's roots in permissionless experimentation and values• [18:23] Notable projects built on Enso including Yearn, EtherFi, and the Boiko Layer 0 migration• [20:44] Advice for builders: don't give up, explore on-chain options protocols• [22:28] Enso is profitable and actively hiring
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  403: Why Smart Money Is Rotating From AI Into Crypto Right Now with Guest Speaker André Dragosch From Bitwise 19.06.2026 29мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with André Dragosch, European Head of Research at Bitwise Investments, live at Bitcoin Prague in the Czech Republic. Bitwise manages over $11 billion in AUM and Andre breaks down exactly why institutional investors are quietly rotating capital out of AI stocks and into crypto assets right now. We dig into why Bitcoin behaves more like a CDS on sovereign bonds than an equity hedge, how ETPs solve the custody headache for family offices and pension funds, and why the K-shaped economy in the US is actually one of the most bullish setups Bitcoin has ever seen. Andre also shares where Bitwise is expanding next, including staking on Ethereum and Solana and curated vault strategies. This is one of the most grounded, data-driven macro conversations I have had on the show and I think you will get a lot out of it. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Bitwise Investments Website: https://bitwiseinvestments.eu/Twitter/X - Bitwise: https://x.com/Bitwise_EuropeLinkedIn - André Dragosch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andredragosch/ Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Bitcoin acts as a CDS on sovereign bonds and is trading in the lowest 10% of valuations across multiple metrics• [02:05] Andre's journey from Dogecoin in 2013 to European Head of Research at Bitwise, including his time at Union Investment• [04:28] How ETC Group was acquired by Bitwise in summer 2024 and became Bitwise Europe• [06:52] Why ETPs solve custody, regulatory, and cost problems for institutional investors and pension fund holders• [09:14] Capital rotation already happening from expensive AI stocks into cheap crypto assets• [11:40] Why Bitcoin's correlation with Nasdaq has risen since the US ETF launch but it showed resilience during the recent AI correction• [14:02] Bitcoin as a macro canary in the coal mine, signalling liquidity deterioration before it hits equities• [16:18] Risks in private credit financing AI CapEx and the comparison to Cisco during the dot-com era• [20:57] Why the Fed's reaction function would be far more aggressive today given how politically dependent the economy is on rising stock prices• [23:15] The K-shaped economy in the US and why 90% of the population is being left behind• [24:41] Bitwise's next growth areas: staking on Ethereum and Solana, and curated vault strategies• [25:41] How flows into ETPs are both cyclical and sentiment-driven, but strategic allocators invest regardless of price
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  402: Tokenizing Real-World Assets the Right Way, with Guest Speaker Brian J. Esposito from DiamondLake 17.06.2026 38мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Brian J. Esposito, CEO of Diamond Lake Minerals (DLMI) and a 25-year entrepreneur who has built over 115 companies across 25 industries. Brian has been in regulated, compliant tokenization for over 13 years , long before it was cool , and in this episode he breaks down exactly why most RWA projects are getting it wrong, why owning the underlying asset is non-negotiable, and how Diamond Lake is structured like a modern General Electric to bring fractional ownership of commercial real estate, music catalogs, hotels, and more to millions of people who have never had access to these kinds of assets before. We also get into the frothy AI IPO market, speculative leverage trading, and why the next FTX-style collapse would set the entire industry back years. If you care about where real-world asset tokenization is actually heading , not the hype , this one is for you.DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Diamond Lake Minerals (DLMI) – Official Website: https://diamondlakeminerals.com/ Twitter/X – Brian J. Esposito: https://x.com/brianjesposito?lang=enLinkedIn – Brian J. Esposito: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjesposito/Web3 with Sam Kamani https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:10] Sam introduces the episode and guest Brian J. Esposito, CEO of Diamond Lake Minerals, focused on tokenizing real-world assets• [01:43] Brian shares his 25-year entrepreneurial journey , from launching 1,200 beauty brands to building a private holding company of 115 companies across 25 industries• [02:53] Why Brian took over Diamond Lake as a public vehicle: making tokenized assets accessible to people who already know how to buy stocks• [04:18] Brian's 13-year background in regulated security tokens, his relationships with INX, Securitize, and T-Zero, and what he expected after FTX collapsed• [07:22] Why true mass adoption of security tokens happens when they appear on mainstream brokerage accounts like Charles Schwab or Merrill Lynch• [08:55] The surprising fit of tokenization for commercial real estate , stable Fortune 50 tenants, 15-year leases, and fractional revenue sharing for global investors• [11:25] How tokenization democratizes access , billions of people previously locked out of IPOs and Series A-E rounds can now invest with pennies• [13:41] Why owning any asset beats cash in an inflationary world, and how even $1-2 per month in token earnings is life-changing for people in developing economies• [15:17] Lessons from merging traditional finance with digital assets , the trust gap, the UX challenge, and why regulatory silos are the biggest barrier• [18:36] How Diamond Lake decides which industries and asset classes to pursue next , and why their network and team access is their real competitive moat• [21:19] The microtransaction fee problem in fractional investing, and how controlling your own licensed exchange changes the economics• [26:01] Brian's most contrarian take: RWA firms don't actually own the assets they tokenize, and that's a ticking time bomb for the industry• [28:09] Where RWAs are headed by 2030 , projections ranging from $6 trillion to $35 trillion , and why Diamond Lake doesn't need a big slice to win big for shareholders• [29:22] The AI IPO frenzy, leverage trading, and why history is repeating the dot-com bubble in dangerous ways• [35:23] Diamond Lake's recent merger with ECI and Stillway , over $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions over 40 years , and a first tranche of $5M investment announced• [37:18] Brian's closing philosophy: treat every dollar that comes in like it's your grandmother's, build sustainably, and let million-dollar deals grow into billion-dollar deals
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  401: Airbnb for EV Chargers: How DeCharge Is Tokenizing the Fuel Pumps of the Future with Guest Speaker Prakash Kamaraj 15.06.2026 42мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Prakash Kamraj, co-founder of DeCharge Network, to explore one of the most overlooked intersections of Web3 and the physical world: EV charging infrastructure. Prakash walks me through how DeCharge is building an Airbnb-style model for EV chargers, where anyone , from a business owner to a crypto community member , can host a charging station and earn passive income from it. We dig into why the B2B market is the real engine of EV growth, how DeCharge keeps the user experience dead simple with a scan-and-pay web app, and why autonomous charging powered by crypto payment rails could be the next massive wave. We also get into the surprising EV adoption stories across India, China, Southeast Asia, Ethiopia, and beyond. Whether you're an EV owner frustrated by fragmented charging apps, a crypto builder looking for real-world use cases, or an investor trying to spot where energy infrastructure is heading, this conversation is packed with sharp thinking and hard-won lessons from the ground up. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT DeCharge Website: https://www.decharge.ioScout App: https://scout.decharge.ioTwitter/X:https://x.com/DeChargeTelegram: https://t.me/dechargecommunityWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Prakash Kamraj and DeCharge Network, framing it as an Airbnb for EV chargers• [01:09] Prakash shares his background , from medical field to engineering, health tech startups, and catching the crypto bug in 2017• [03:36] How deep involvement in the early Solana ecosystem in India shaped Prakash's builder mindset• [05:33] The core problem: not enough EV charging infrastructure globally, with one charger for every 80 vehicles on average• [06:33] Sam shares firsthand observations from Guangzhou , nearly 100% EV adoption on the streets• [09:25] The personal range anxiety story that validated the problem , getting stuck at 9% battery in Denver in winter• [10:30] Why copy-pasting the Helium model doesn't work and why a more nuanced distributed model was needed• [11:00] DeCharge's three-pillar model: community-owned slow chargers, fast charger funding pools, and a software network incentive for charge point operators• [14:15] How the business model works , revenue share with hosts, transparent dashboards, and community-funded infra• [17:01] The user experience: scan a QR code, pay as you go, no app download required• [19:31] Why DeCharge integrates with default local payment apps (UPI, Promptpay, Stripe) instead of forcing new behavior• [23:16] Why India isn't lagging , 70% of EV usage is commercial, driven by food delivery riders and ride-sharing fleets• [25:40] Southeast Asia generates 80% of DeCharge's current network revenue• [27:21] Biggest challenges: avoiding R&D rabbit holes, sticking to first principles, and iterating fast across hardware and software• [29:05] Funding journey: seed round led by Lemniscap, first Asian startup in Colosseum's hackathon ecosystem• [32:06] Contrarian view: autonomous EV charging powered by crypto payment rails is the next major wave• [33:30] Energy is the truest form of currency , especially as AI data centers drive massive power demand• [35:14] The ask: charge point operator partnerships, community members, and VC conversations welcome• [39:19] The Scout app , a community-curated tool to map charger density and identify demand hotspots at scout.decharge.io
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  400: Tokenizing Gold for 2.5 Billion People: Mamadou on GIFT and the Future of Real Asset Ownership 12.06.2026 35мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Mamadou Kwidjim Toure, co-founder of U-Tribe and GIFT (Gold International Fungible Token), to explore one of the most ambitious real-world asset projects I've come across. Mamadou spent decades in banking and early-stage investing across Africa , including in the first GSM projects and mobile payments before M-Pesa , and he turned that experience into a mission: giving anyone on earth access to physical, one-to-one backed gold from as little as 15 cents. We talk about why central banks are quietly buying more physical gold than at any point in the past 40 years, why the gold ETF market is dangerously over-encumbered, and how GIFT's MiCA-regulated token could become the financial safety net for 2.5 billion people across 35 countries. Mamadou also walks me through their quantum-enhanced wallet, their Ubuntu Academy for financial and digital literacy, and their upcoming STO launching in July. This one is packed with insight on the real shift happening in global finance right now. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT U-Tribe / GIFT: https://utribe.one/Twitter/X: https://x.com/UtribeOneWeb3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Mamadou and the GIFT tokenized gold project, noting the recent MiCA license in Europe• [01:36] Mamadou shares his background: 20+ years in African banking and tech investment, including early GSM and mobile payments before M-Pesa• [03:46] The origin of GIFT , one milligram of gold accessible from 15 cents on any mobile phone, backed one-to-one by physical gold• [05:06] The global financial shift: why the world is moving back toward asset-backed monetary systems and away from dollar dominance• [06:48] Central banks bought over 1,300 tons of gold last year and more physical gold in the past decade than the previous 40 years• [07:16] Why the gold ETF market is 10–15x over-encumbered and what that means for ordinary investors• [09:53] How blockchain solves the collateral problem for financial inclusion , instant loans from as little as 10 cents of gold• [10:42] GIFT holds a MiCA license in Europe and is upgrading to asset reference token status, with 30+ countries and 2.5 billion people in reach within five months• [13:05] Physical gold is stored in vaults in Zurich, Stuttgart, Copenhagen, Dubai, and Singapore, insured by Lloyds of London and audited on-chain• [16:30] The quantum-enhanced wallet , one of only four or five in the world , is live on Google Play Store and coming to App Store• [17:43] Ubuntu Academy inside the wallet: financial literacy, digital literacy, vocational training, and ethical leadership powered by a personalised AI tutor• [19:29] 10% of transaction fees go toward education and healthcare, including in the mining communities where the gold is extracted• [23:39] How Mamadou explains RWAs to newcomers: a digital title deed, like a certificate of ownership , no crypto jargon needed• [26:48] How to onboard: download the app on Google Play or visit utribe.gift.app, complete KYC, and pay via card, wire, mobile money, or voucher• [28:00] Key Web3 infrastructure shifts: NYSE moving $87 trillion of assets on-chain, DTCC moving on-chain, 130+ nations working on CBDCs• [30:55] Long-term vision: launching SIFT (Silver International Fungible Token), becoming a tokenization-as-a-service infrastructure provider• [33:20] Upcoming July STO (Security Token Offering) and tokenized convertible bond to finance gold extraction and fuel growth
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  399: From Bitcoin ATMs to 100K Users: How CryptoDispenser Is Bootstrapping the Future of Cash On-Ramps with guest speaker Firas Isa 10.06.2026 47мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Firas Isa, the founder of Crypto Dispenser, a bootstrapped and profitable company that has been quietly building Bitcoin on-ramp infrastructure since 2017. Firas started with a single Bitcoin ATM, partnered with GreenDot Bank to place cash deposit points across 100,000 retail stores like CVS and Walmart, and has grown to over 100,000 registered users , all without taking a penny of outside investment. In this conversation, we dig into why cash is still the purest way to buy Bitcoin, the brutal reality of getting bank accounts shut down repeatedly, and why Firas believes Bitcoin is the world's most peaceful revolution against currency debasement. If you have ever wondered how to buy Bitcoin without going through a big exchange, or you are a founder trying to understand what it actually takes to survive a decade in the crypto space on a bootstrap budget, this episode is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Crypto Dispenser Website:https://www.cryptodispensers.com/Crypto Dispenser Twitter/X: https://x.com/cryptodispenserFiras Isa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firas-isa/Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Firas Isa and Crypto Dispenser , a bootstrapped, profitable Bitcoin on-ramp with 100K+ users• [01:43] Firas explains how Crypto Dispenser started in 2017 with one Bitcoin ATM and has since pivoted to an online platform supporting debit, credit, ACH, wire, and PayPal• [02:32] Firas shares his origin story , studying political science at Loyola University and learning about money printing, the petrodollar, and empire collapse• [05:30] Discussion on the US gold standard, the Federal Reserve, and Voltaire's warning that fiat currency eventually goes to zero• [10:19] How Bitcoin Pop (Bitcoin Point of Payment) works , generating a barcode inside the Crypto Dispenser account and loading cash at CVS, Walmart, or Walgreens• [12:19] Why Crypto Dispenser is non-custodial and why that matters , users own their Bitcoin the same day they buy it• [13:43] Why cash remains the only true way to buy Bitcoin without relying on the traditional banking system• [20:34] The brutal reality of maintaining bank accounts as a crypto startup , banks shutting them down every six to eight months• [23:23] The rise of neo-banks like OneSafe (backed by Coinbase) and how they have helped but still face the same de-risking pattern• [26:13] How Crypto Dispenser differentiates through hands-on customer support against giants like Coinbase and Strike• [30:56] Trends Firas is watching , prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, and what they say about younger generations seeking financial freedom• [37:46] Firas's vision for the next two to three years , scaling the business, potentially bringing on VC capital, and continuing to grow organically• [39:15] North Star metrics , 100K registered users, approximately 2,000 monthly paying users• [41:45] Firas's ask , give Bitcoin a chance, and reach out if you are a developer or investor who wants to help scale
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  398: From JP Morgan Trading Floor to Bootstrapped Fintech Giant: OpenPayd's Lux Thiagarajah on the Future of Payments 08.06.2026 37мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Lux, Chief Commercial Officer at OpenPayd, and this conversation genuinely surprised me. Lux started out as an FX trader at JP Morgan , the guy who once typed 'Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme' into a Bloomberg chat , and now he's helping build one of the most quietly impressive fintech infrastructure companies out there. We got into how OpenPayd has grown to over 1,200 institutional clients, processed over $200 billion in volume annually, stayed cash flow positive for five years, and never taken a single round of funding. We talked about why financial institutions are now OpenPayd's fastest growing vertical, what the stablecoin sandwich actually means for cross-border payments, and whether crypto is really dead or just maturing. Lux also shared his contrarian take on why the era of 150% Ethereum weeks is probably behind us , and why that's actually a good sign. If you're in fintech, payments, or crypto infrastructure, this one is worth your time. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT OpenPayd Website: https://www.openpayd.com/OpenPayd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openpayd/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:06] Sam introduces Lux from OpenPayd , a bootstrapped fintech with 200+ employees and $200B+ annual volume• [01:30] Lux's origin story: FX trader at JP Morgan who called Bitcoin a Ponzi scheme in 2009, then missed it, then got into Ethereum• [03:20] How joining a payments firm opened Lux's eyes to the real problem crypto companies face with banking access• [05:09] The divergence between crypto and stablecoins , and why stablecoin market cap is no longer correlated to Bitcoin price• [06:06] What OpenPayd is built on: providing financial infrastructure to underserved industries and incorporating blockchain into payments rails• [09:35] The Innovator's Dilemma in banking , why incumbents like HSBC still charge 1.7% on FX when the actual spread is near zero• [11:00] How Revolut and Nubank disrupted banking without reinventing the wheel , and what that means for crypto adoption by banks• [13:18] How OpenPayd differentiates: speed, product, tech, licensing, and becoming a one-stop-shop across fiat and blockchain rails• [18:03] The biggest trend at OpenPayd: financial institutions have become the number one vertical in under 15 months, driven by stablecoin adoption• [20:50] Running a bootstrapped company: the nice headache of keeping up with growth while staying compliant across 1,300+ institutional clients• [22:19] Lux's contrarian take: crypto isn't dead , the market has just matured because institutional money behaves differently than retail• [27:19] Why AI investment and geopolitical uncertainty have pulled capital away from crypto , and why that rotation will eventually reverse• [31:05] Lux's biggest challenge as CCO: reducing churn, staying relevant, and keeping one eye on short-term revenue and one on scalable growth• [32:49] OpenPayd's 2-3 year roadmap: US expansion later this year, then Latam and Asia , building both sides of the stablecoin sandwich• [34:41] On fundraising: profitable for five years, no need to raise, but never ruling it out
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  397: Why Your Employees Want to Get Paid Every Day , And How Crypto Makes It Possible with guest speaker Brian Gerrard from Payslice 05.06.2026 34мин

   EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Brian Gerrard, founder of PaySlice, who spent seven years living across Latin America before building one of the most human-centered fintech startups I have come across. Brian started by connecting friends in emerging markets with remote jobs, then realized they were losing massive chunks of their income to inflation and bad exchange rates. That led him to build PaySlice , a platform that lets workers access their earned wages daily and get paid in stablecoins instead of a depreciating local currency. We talk about how he grew to nearly 10,000 users mostly through word of mouth, why he chose payroll over remittances, how he is embedding PaySlice into gaming and credit apps with zero customer acquisition cost, and where he sees this going as one point two billion people receive a paycheck every month. This is a real conversation about real problems, real traction, and what it actually takes to build something that matters. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT PaySlice Website: https://www.payslice.comBrian Gerrard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjgerrard/Brian Gerrard Email: mailto:brian@payslice.comWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Brian Gerrard from PaySlice and the show's focus on payment infrastructure innovation• [01:36] Brian shares his background , leaving San Francisco to explore Latin America, which turned into a seven-year journey• [02:59] How Brian's staffing agency workers in Argentina, Colombia, and Jamaica asked to be paid daily and in USD, sparking the PaySlice idea• [03:58] PaySlice launches and grows to nearly 10,000 employees on the platform• [05:04] Why stablecoins have real product-market fit , stablecoin transaction volumes now surpassing Visa and Mastercard combined• [07:18] The B2C and B2B sides of PaySlice and which industries are gaining traction, including staffing agencies and payroll companies• [09:30] How traditional payroll tools force-convert currencies and silently take 3.5% from employees without employers knowing• [12:08] How PaySlice acquired most of its users through word-of-mouth and a referral boost mechanic• [13:21] Plans for a physical card launch in 18 countries in Q3 or Q4• [16:34] Brian's growth marketing background at Twitch, where he scaled to 25 million monthly active users• [17:44] Using paid advertising in English and Spanish to target the US-Latin America remittance corridor• [19:08] How analyzing user transaction data via Plaid led to zero-CAC distribution deals with credit repair and mobile gaming companies• [21:03] Companies Brian admires , Revolut and Wise for solving currency frustration at scale• [22:22] The most misunderstood part of crypto-powered payroll and why employers need more empathy toward employees in unstable currencies• [23:05] Founder advice: listen to the market, hold beliefs loosely, and recognize the difference between good struggle and the wrong fit• [30:29] Brian's 10-year vision , getting 1.2 billion monthly paycheck recipients paid every day instead of once a month• [31:27] PaySlice's current seed raise, embedded finance partnership opportunities, and revenue share model
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  396: Building the Hyperliquid of Sports: Inside Pred's On-Chain Prediction Exchange with guest speaker Amit Mahensaria from Pred 04.06.2026 42мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTIONI sat down with Amit Mahensaria, co-founder of Pred, to explore why the $500 billion sports betting industry is ripe for disruption. Amit isn't a typical Web3 founder , he came in as a degen, a 22-year sports trader who got tired of the house always winning. In this episode, we dig into how Pred is building a trustless, peer-to-peer sports prediction exchange on Base, why live sports demand a completely different architecture than general prediction markets like Polymarket, and what it really takes to build an on-chain order book that can keep up with a goal being scored in real time. We also get into the state of the prediction market industry, who's going to win the space, and why Amit believes the Hyperliquid of sports trading hasn't been built yet , until now. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/CONNECTPred Website: https://www.pred.app/trade/fif-cdr-den-2026-06-03Twitter/X - Pred: https://x.com/predofficialWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS• [00:02] Sam introduces Amit Mahensaria, co-founder of Pred, a sports-native prediction exchange at the intersection of AI, crypto, and blockchain• [01:11] Amit shares his background , not a typical Web3 founder, but a 22-year sports trader and DeFi degen since the 2020 DeFi Summer• [02:32] His co-founder is a Web3 OG and former product and design head of Binance India• [03:38] The origin story: Amit built a peer-to-peer sports trading community 7 years ago after getting frustrated with sportsbook middlemen always taking a cut• [05:43] The core thesis , middlemen are being removed from every industry, and sports betting is one of the last frontiers where the house still always wins• [07:16] Why general-purpose prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are not designed for sports UX or speed• [10:27] The biggest technical challenges: building an off-chain order book with on-chain matching, achieving 10x lower latency than competitors, and managing correlated multi-outcome order books in real time• [14:44] The Venn diagram problem , crypto users and frequent sports traders overlap by around 40%, poker bettors and crypto users by 60%• [16:29] How Pred abstracts crypto complexity away for mainstream users, and partnerships with fund.xyz and swap.com for on-ramping• [17:47] Key product learnings from 200-250 beta users over 8 weeks , sports UX must look nothing like a financial trading terminal• [19:47] Why Pred chose to build on Base , speed via Flash Blocks, distribution, and a roadmap conversation with Jesse Pollak• [21:55] The prediction market landscape has over 120 projects, but the space is still very early , the Hyperliquid of prediction markets hasn't emerged yet• [25:54] Pred is coming out of invite-only beta and opening to the public by end of month, starting with soccer only• [28:46] Advice for Web3 founders , do not launch a points program before you have PMF; GTM too early will kill you• [32:22] Long-term vision: a trustless, globally accessible sports trading exchange where users own the platform and trust every trade• [34:09] Liquidity management strategy , a transparent algo-driven vault similar to Hyperliquid's HLP, plus easy API onboarding for sports-focused market makers• [38:20] Current asks: users who want to trade and give feedback, sports-focused market makers, and a larger fundraise planned post-public launch
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  395: From VC to Founder: Building a Trading Platform That Actually Serves Traders with Guest speaker Harvey Liu from LeveX 03.06.2026 38мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTIONI sat down with Harvey Liu, co-founder of LeveX Exchange, to dig into what it really takes to build a crypto trading platform from the ground up. Harvey's journey is fascinating , from studying computer science in China, to getting his MBA at INSEAD, to becoming an early Bitcoin investor when BTC was around $100, to backing the founders of Huobi and OKCoin as a VC, and now building his own exchange in Singapore. We talk about why he designed LeveX around social trading, how features like multi-trade and KOL-driven tournaments set them apart from Binance and OKX, and the honest truth about what works and what doesn't in crypto marketing. Harvey also shares what he looks for as a VC when evaluating Web3 startups in a bear market , and why founders with failure experience often outlast the ones who only know wins. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/CONNECTLeveX Exchange: https://www.levex.comLeveX Twitter/X: https://x.com/levex Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyzKEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS• [00:01] Sam introduces Harvey Liu, co-founder of LeveX Exchange, and outlines the episode topics: building an exchange, growth, and VC lessons• [01:25] Harvey shares his background , computer science in China, five years at a Canadian internet company, MBA at INSEAD, then back to China for VC• [03:13] Harvey's first exposure to Bitcoin in 2013 as a VC, meeting the founders of Huobi and OKCoin, and buying BTC at around $100• [04:38] Moving to Singapore during COVID, joining a Singapore VC firm, and spotting the gap in social features on major trading platforms• [06:42] The founding idea behind LeveX: a platform built by traders, for traders, with a social layer that bigger exchanges lacked• [08:38] Who LeveX was designed for , seasoned traders, KOLs, and retail , and how user feedback shaped the product• [11:05] Gamification on the platform: quests, bonus milestones, KOL-run tournaments, and exclusive content areas for followers• [13:39] Current stats: over 400,000 registered users, focus on improving UX before aggressive marketing, and plans for Token 2049 Singapore• [15:35] User geography , mostly Europe and Asia, with Sam highlighting Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia) as a massive growth opportunity• [18:35] Harvey's VC framework for evaluating Web3 startups in a bear market: team track record including failures, revenue traction, real utility, and exit strategy• [22:49] The biggest challenge building LeveX: rebuilding trust post-FTX, and how proof of reserves, bug bounties, and penetration testing address that• [26:06] Growth experiments , what worked (deep KOL partnerships) and what didn't (expensive Google and Meta paid ads with low conversion)• [30:13] LeveX's standout feature: multi-trade, which lets traders open multiple simultaneous positions on the same trading pair at different prices, directions, and leverage levels• [33:12] Vision for the next two to three years: reach top 20 global trading platform, expand into prediction markets and AI tools, and time the next bull run right• [34:51] Harvey's ask: strategic marketing and branding partners to help with the next bull run, and an open invitation for listeners to try the platform
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  394: $48M Raised, 500K Users, and a Huge Announcement Coming: Astranova's Vaibhav Tells All 01.06.2026 22мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTIONIn this episode, I sit down with Vaibhav from Astranova, the AI-driven entertainment IP studio that has been quietly building one of the most ambitious ecosystems in Web3. Vaibhav walks me through everything from their half a million ecosystem users, their high-profile partnerships with brands like Shiba Inu, Simon's Cat, and Mansory, to how they have raised $48.6 million and what they are doing with it. We dig into the RVV token buybacks, the real utility being built across gaming, comics, and social platforms, and why Vaibhav believes the market is massively underestimating this project. He also drops a teaser about a major RVV utility announcement coming very soon, so you will want to tune in and follow their socials closely after this one. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/CONNECTAstranova Website:https://astranova.world/Twitter/X - Astranova: https://twitter.com/AstranovalPTelegram - : https://t.me/AstraNovaPortalWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS• [00:00] Sam introduces Vaibhav from Astranova and outlines what the episode will cover• [01:08] Vaibhav shares his background in crypto, including time at CoinStore, Unix Gaming, and two years building Astranova• [02:35] Astranova explained: an AI-driven entertainment IP studio with comics, gaming, UGC, and community platforms• [04:39] Adoption metrics revealed: close to half a million ecosystem users, over 250K on their social platform• [06:21] The reasoning behind $6-7 million in on-chain RVV token buybacks and what it signals to the community• [08:02] High-profile partnerships with Shiba Inu, Simon's Cat, Mansory, and Imaginary Ones and how they were built• [10:40] Why Vaibhav believes the market is undervaluing Astranova by a huge margin• [12:02] RVV utility today and where it is heading: hotels, flights, gift cards, staking, and more• [13:45] Why the intersection of AI, entertainment, gaming, and community is such a powerful long-term position• [15:04] $48.6 million raised and how it is being deployed across the ecosystem• [16:14] What is coming in Phase 3: eSports with RVV prize pools, Creator Economy, NovaToonz IP expansion, and Blacklist Season 3• [17:25] A teaser dropped: a major RVV utility and adoption announcement is coming soon• [19:45] Future vision: RVV as the connective layer of the whole ecosystem, BNB integration, and massive growth ahead
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  393: Why Web3 Games Failed, And How to Fix It with Guest Speaker Chris Hewish from Xsolla 31.05.2026 34мин

  EPISODE DESCRIPTIONI sat down with Chris Hewish from Xsolla , a company that has been powering the gaming industry for over 20 years , to dig into why Web3 games crashed and burned, what needs to change, and why Web2 games are the real gateway to bringing the next billion users on chain. Chris breaks down the allergy traditional gaming studios have to Web3 language, how Xsolla's web shop product disrupted the 30% Apple and Google tax, and why removing friction , not pushing wallets and blockchain jargon , is the only path to mass adoption. Whether you are a game developer, a Web3 founder, or just someone trying to understand where gaming and blockchain collide, this episode is packed with honest, experience-backed insight from someone who has been in the trenches for decades. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/--- CONNECT ---Xsolla Website: https://xsolla.comWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/Sam Kamani LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/samkamaniKEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS• [00:01] Sam introduces Chris Hewish from Xsolla and sets up the episode's core themes: Web3 gaming failures, Xsolla's 20-year journey, and bringing the next billion users on chain• [01:24] Chris shares his origin story , starting in the mail room at Games Workshop and working his way into the business side of gaming before joining Xsolla six years ago• [03:18] The founding problem Xsolla set out to solve: limited global payment options for game developers, which locked out players who simply could not pay• [05:13] How Xsolla helps game studios at every stage , from pre-launch community building to post-launch marketing tech, loyalty programs, and live service tools• [07:44] Why Web3 gaming failed: trying to build infrastructure and ecosystem simultaneously, unsustainable play-to-earn economies, speculation over gameplay, and rug pulls• [09:50] The so-called Web3 community was never large or loyal enough to sustain a game ecosystem on its own• [11:23] The allergic reaction traditional Web2 studios have to Web3 language , and how removing that language entirely changed partner conversations from rejection to sign-ups• [13:13] A concrete example of on-chain value: paying players $5 in stablecoin to play during a game's launch weekend, cheaper than paid user acquisition• [17:17] The web shop innovation , how Xsolla created a whole new sector by letting mobile games transact outside the App Store, cutting fees from 30% down to around 7%• [20:04] The Epic vs Apple and Google battle over Fortnite and what it exposed about the duopoly controlling mobile gaming• [21:49] The Nike analogy: why game companies need multiple distribution channels just like any other consumer brand• [24:22] Advice for gaming startup founders: take go-to-market strategy seriously from day one, not just near launch• [30:42] Why Web2 games , with 3.3 billion players already , are the ecosystem that will bring the first billion users on chain• [31:31] The key to mass adoption: remove Web3 language, embed wallets invisibly into existing account systems, and let players receive value without knowing the infrastructure behind it• [33:29] Xsolla is already live on testnet, self-funded, and will be sharing real data later in the year
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  392: The Company Putting Bitcoin on Kroger Shelves and Into Your Paycheck with Guest Speaker Will Reeves from Fold 30.05.2026 38мин

  --- EPISODE DESCRIPTION ---I sat down with Will Reeves, CEO of Fold, and walked away genuinely excited about what they are building. Will breaks down how Fold is putting Bitcoin into the hands of everyday Americans — not by convincing them to buy it, but by letting them earn it as a reward on their normal spending. We talk about why airlines and banks can never truly compete with this model, how Fold customers have earned $70 million in Bitcoin rewards, and the wild insight that led to Bitcoin showing up on shelves at Kroger. Will also shares hard-won lessons on building a team, finding product-market fit, and why naivety combined with passion is actually a superpower for founders. This is a story about solving a real financial problem for real people — and the results are speaking for themselves. Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/--- CONNECT ---Fold Website: https://foldapp.com/Twitter/X: Will Reeves: https://twitter.com/WillReevesTwitter/X : Fold: https://twitter.com/Fold_appWeb3 with Sam Kamani : Website: https://www.web3pod.xyz/Twitter/X : Sam Kamani: https://twitter.com/samkamani--- KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS ---• [00:01] Sam introduces Will Reeves from Fold and sets the scene from Bitcoin Vegas 2026• [01:21] Will shares his origin story — growing up in California, graduating into the 2008 financial crisis, and falling in love with startups in the Bay Area• [03:21] The core problem Will wanted to solve: restoring paths to financial stability using Bitcoin as the vehicle• [06:10] How Fold's rewards model works — turning everyday spending into Bitcoin savings using the familiar cash-back habit• [08:01] Why Bitcoin rewards beat cash back and airline miles over the long term due to appreciation versus inflation• [09:20] Why traditional banks and credit card companies can't copy Fold — the innovator's dilemma explained• [14:53] Fold has hundreds of thousands of users and has given away $70 million in Bitcoin rewards• [16:02] Removing barriers to Bitcoin: physical gift cards at Kroger and employee bonuses at Steak and Shake powered by Fold• [19:06] The pivot moment — from "spend Bitcoin at Starbucks" to "earn Bitcoin on your normal card" and the hockey stick that followed• [23:29] Why airlines desperately need Bitcoin as a rewards off-ramp — and the COVID liability crisis that exposed the flaw• [26:46] The hardest part of making Bitcoin mainstream: overcoming short-term thinking and fear of volatility• [28:54] Best growth channel for Fold: word of mouth, not paid ads, plus strategic distribution deals like Kroger• [31:04] Founder lessons — staying naive and passionate, hiring for grit over credentials, and not holding the reins too long• [32:23] The hardest role to hire for: marketing and growth, and why hunger beats credentials every time• [34:33] Long-term vision: Fold as a great American financial institution that sends value back to the customer• [36:07] The ask — use Fold, get on the credit card waitlist, and reach out to Will on X at @WillReeves