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  Why Crypto Finally Makes Sense to Wall Street | Jason Yanowitz 30.07.2026 1ч 5мин

  Jason Yanowitz, Co-Founder of Blockworks, joins Sebastien Couture on Epicenter to discuss why crypto is entering its biggest transformation yet. From institutional adoption and the Clarity Act to token transparency, AI, on-chain capital markets and the acquisition of Messari, this conversation explores where crypto is actually heading.Jason explains why Wall Street is preparing for crypto, why token fundamentals finally matter, how Blockworks acquired Messari, why capital markets are moving on-chain, and why the next crypto cycle could look completely different from previous bull markets.The conversation also covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, stablecoins, RWAs (Real World Assets), tokenisation, venture capital, crypto regulation, SEC policy, the Clarity Act, Token Transparency Framework, AI, Robinhood, Coinbase, Hyperliquid, self-custody, crypto infrastructure, institutional finance and the future of blockchain adoption.In this episode:1. Why Wall Street is preparing for crypto2. The Blockworks × Messari acquisition3. The Clarity Act and US crypto regulation4. Token transparency and the future of crypto markets5. Stablecoins, RWAs and on-chain capital markets6. AI's role in the next generation of crypto businesses7. Why the next crypto cycle will reward real fundamentals8. Building one of crypto's leading media and data companiesIf you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe for more conversations with the builders, founders and investors shaping the future of crypto.Links:Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterSponsors: Lido V3 introduces stVaults: a modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer.Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterBlock Space Forum: https://blockspace.forum/NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Vitalik Buterin on The Economic Zone (EEZ) Ep. 642 03.07.2026 1ч 12мин

  In this special episode, we revisit a fireside conversation between Vitalik Buterin and Friederike Ernst at DappCon 2026 in Berlin. They explore the Ethereum Economic Zone (EEZ), a new vision for Ethereum built around synchronous composability, app chains, and real-time proving.Following the fireside, Sebastien and Friederike break down the ideas behind the EEZ and discuss what this new paradigm could mean for Ethereum's future.Topics covered include:• The Ethereum Economic Zone and synchronous composability• App chains, privacy networks, and prediction markets• Ethereum as an economic operating system for the internet• Sequencing, MEV, and shared liquidity across chains• Enterprise, government, and institutional use cases• Why this approach differs from Cosmos, Polkadot, and other ecosystem visions• The future of Ethereum beyond rollup fragmentationLinks:Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterSponsors: Lido V3 introduces stVaults: a modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer.Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterBlock Space Forum: https://blockspace.forum/NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Why Only 3 Builders Control All of Ethereum 01.05.2026 59мин

  In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Kubi Mensah, CEO and co-founder of Gattaca, the company behind Titan Builder. Kubi sheds light on the highly competitive and often opaque world of Ethereum block building, explaining how Gattaca evolved from a centralized exchange proprietary trading firm to one of the three dominant builders responsible for constructing the vast majority of Ethereum blocks today .  They dissect the true "journey of a transaction," revealing why over half of all Ethereum transaction value bypasses the public mempool in favor of private order flow auctions and MEV-protection services . Kubi explains the intricate mechanics of top-of-block bidding by high-frequency DeFi arbitrageurs, the necessity of extreme latency optimization, and the "flywheel effect" that makes block building a natural oligopoly . Finally, the discussion turns to the future of the Ethereum roadmap, unpacking how upcoming upgrades like ePBS (enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation) and FOCIL (Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists) aim to permanently alter the power dynamics between block builders, validators, and originators .  Topics04:15 Transitioning from TradFi Trading to Ethereum Block Building09:30 Redefining the Builder: Relays and Order Flow Auctions15:00 Unpacking the Mempool: Public vs. Private Transactions21:45 The Anatomy of a Block & "Top-of-Block" Arbitrage27:10 How Builders Pay Proposers to Win Auctions35:20 The Oligopoly: Why Only 3 Builders Dominate Ethereum42:15 Trust in the Dark Forest: Handling Searcher Bundles49:00 The Convergence of Builders and Solvers55:30 The Impact of ePBS, FOCIL, and Pre-confirmationsSponsors: Lido V3 introduces stVaults: a modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer.Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterBlock Space Forum: https://blockspace.forum/
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  Institutional-grade yield on USD, BTC, and Gold? 13.04.2026 56мин

  In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Torab, CEO of Move Industries, to discuss the tension of radical transparency and the decision to scrap Movement's complex L2 architecture in favor of a sovereign L1 powered by the Move VM. He explains how this transition drastically reduced latency and AWS infrastructure costs while improving the builder experience.The conversation explores Movement's core thesis: "Move is for Money". Torab argues that general-purpose L1s are becoming saturated and that Movement's true product-market fit lies in the Global South, serving nations battling currency devaluation. They discuss the implementation of AI agents for continuous security auditing, the "Move Alliance" for ecosystem financial alignment, and why the industry must move past "decentralization theater" to offer pragmatic, yield-bearing stablecoin products to users who actually need them. Finally, Torab teases the upcoming roadmap, including institutional-grade yield on USD, BTC, and Gold. Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 The Movement Turnaround09:30 Why Movement Pivoted15:00 The Move VM & Overcoming Developer Friction21:45 AI Agents for 24/7 Security Audits27:10 The Global South35:20 Currency Devaluation & The Demand for Stablecoins42:15 The Move Alliance49:00 Pragmatism vs. Decentralization 55:30 Roadmap: Bringing Yield to USD, BTC, and GoldEpisode LinksTorab on X: https://x.com/utorabyouMovement: https://movementnetwork.xyz/NEAR: https://near.ai/Sponsors:NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Inside Nansen's AI Trading Agent Platform 30.03.2026 55мин

  In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Alex Svanevik, CEO of Nansen, to explore the platform's radical pivot from passive on-chain analytics to active, AI-driven agentic trading. Alex unpacks the technical hurdles of labeling over 500 million addresses, the transition from raw data into harmonized insights, and why true alpha now lies in attribution rather than raw data . He explains how Nansen uses ClickHouse databases and a mix of algorithmic heuristics, agentic teams, and human specialists to maintain the highest industry precision. The conversation dives deep into the intersection of LLMs and blockchain, exploring how standard AI models lack domain-specific common sense and why Nansen augments them with real-time data and visual "artifacts". Alex introduces "Nansen Gym," a simulated historical replay environment for training trading agents and teases the upcoming release of "Smart Money 2.0", which aims to predict future profitable addresses with 2-3x uplift on precision. Finally, they discuss the existential risks of AI, the striking parallels between open-source AI and early DeFi, and why Alex believes agentic trading will be the absolute default by 2028. Chapters00:00 Intro & Context04:15 Nansen's Evolution & Agentic Trading09:30 Harmonizing Data & The Attribution Layer15:00 Deterministic vs. Inferred Labeling (Uniswap vs. Binance)21:45 Evaluating AI Agents: LLMs as Judges27:10 User Privacy & Public Blockchain Realities35:20 Building a Unified Trading OS42:15 Smart Money 2.0: Predicting Which Wallets Win49:00 The Limitations of Vanilla LLMs in Crypto55:30 Nansen Gym & Time-Traveling AI Agents59:45 The Open Source AI vs. DeFi Parallel LinksAlex Svanevik on X: https://x.com/ASvanevikNansen: https://www.nansen.ai/NEAR: https://near.ai/Sponsors:NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Agentic AI Takes Crypto to the Next Level? 27.02.2026 1ч 11мин

  In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by John Paller, founder of ETH Denver, to reflect on nine seasons of North America's largest Ethereum gathering and where the ecosystem goes next. John shares his "red pill" moment in 2016 and the subsequent realization that Ethereum was not just a corporate efficiency tool, but a way to rewire the global economic system. He discusses the evolution of the Biddle meme and how ETH Denver has become a market-driven aggregator for crypto's shifting narratives, from DeFi summer to the current era of institutional adoption.They delve into a candid critique of the Ethereum Foundation’s "Infinite Garden" philosophy, with John arguing for more "structural vision" and actionable roadmaps to compete with the aggressive narratives of chains like Solana. The conversation highlights Agentic AI as the ultimate "Trojan Horse" for mass adoption, enabling a future where users interact with sovereign bots rather than complex private keys. Finally, John explains his Regulation Membership proposal to the US Congress, aiming to provide a federal securities exemption for on-chain cooperatives and restore true economic agency to the "little man." Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 Recruitment Tech to Ethereum: John’s Genesis Story09:30 Inventing the "Biddle" Meme at Denver 201815:00 Is Ethereum a "Neo Casino" or a Settlement Layer?21:45 Critiquing Idealism: The Infinite Garden vs. Reality27:10 Why Solana is Not "Sufficiently Decentralized35:20 Agentic AI: The End of signing Transactions manually42:15 The Roman Catholic Church & Institutional Co-opting49:00 German Cooperative Culture & On-Chain Credit Unions 55:30 Regulation Membership & The SEC Challenge59:45 Zero Knowledge Identity & Privacy RightsLinksJohn Paller on X: https://x.com/PallerJohnETH Denver: https://www.ethdenver.com/Opolis: https://opolis.co/Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterNEAR: https://near.ai/ Sponsors: 1. Lido V3 introduces stVaults: modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer. Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter2. NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Should All Your Financial Assets be on Blockchain? 22.02.2026 57мин

  In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Chris Yin, CEO of Plume Network, to deconstruct the current state of Real World Assets (RWAs) and why the sector is at a pivotal inflection point. Chris argues that most RWA projects today are functionally "worse on-chain" because they lack liquidity, composability, and the "crypto-native" user experience that made stablecoins successful. He details how Plume is solving this through a custom L1 stack and the Nest vault protocol, which tokenizes high-yield assets like Brazilian credit card receivables and oil production for a global market.They explore the friction between traditional finance and DeFi, highlighting why private credit's long duration makes it unsuitable for the "looping" and leverage that drives crypto demand. Chris explains the significance of Plume’s SEC Transfer Agent license and its role in bridging the gap between regulated funds and permissionless rails. Finally, the conversation tackles the "bleak" vs. "optimistic" future of crypto, asking whether the industry will maintain its core principles of self-custody and decentralization as it searches for a "new daddy" in institutional capital.Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 The Job of a Founder: Finding Change09:30 Crypto Natives vs. TradFi Suites15:00 Stablecoins: The Only RWA That Matters (Today)21:45 The Bottleneck: It’s Not Tokenization, It’s Demand27:10 Why Build an L1 for Assets?35:20 SEC Transfer Agent License Explained42:15 Nest Alpha: Blending Oil, Credit, and T-Bills49:00 Is Leverage Sustainable for Institutions?55:30 The Exodus: Will Crypto Values Survive?LinksChris Yin on X: https://x.com/chriseyinPlume Network: https://www.plumenetwork.com/Nest: https://nest.plumenetwork.com/NEAR: https://near.ai/Sponsors:NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.
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  Something better than USDC for your Ethereum? 15.02.2026 58мин

  In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Michael Svoboda, CEO of Liquid AG, to discuss Liquity V2 and the launch of the BOLD stablecoin. Michael explains how Liquity maintains a governance-free, immutable architecture to provide "sovereign dollars" that are not dependent on human committees or centralized backstops. He introduces user-set interest rates, a novel DeFi primitive where borrowers determine their own rates to balance their cost of capital against the risk of being redeemed by stablecoin holders. They explore the technical mechanics of the BOLD stablecoin, its multi-collateral backing of ETH and LSTs, and why the protocol funnels 100% of fees directly to users rather than extracting rent. Michael also shares his analogy of crypto-native stablecoins as "electric engines" that offer a fundamentally different risk profile from traditional banking rails. Finally, the conversation dives into the impact of global regulations like MiCA and why the future of finance belongs to peer-to-peer credit markets.Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 Why Banking is Under Pressure09:30 From V1 to Liquity V215:00 User-Set Rates Explained21:45 Redemptions & Peg Stability27:10 Collateral Risk: ETH & LSTs35:20 Cefi vs. Defi Risk Spectrum42:15 Is Immutability Dogmatic?49:00 Revenue Distribution & Self-Sustainability55:30 Non-USD Stables & Global ShiftsLinksMichael on X: https://x.com/svobodamichaelLiquity: https://www.liquity.org/Bluechip: https://bluechip.org/Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenterSponsors: Lido V3 introduces stVaults: modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer. Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter
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  Is The Future of Ethereum Centralised and Censored? 01.02.2026 57мин

  In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Thomas Thiery, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, to discuss EIP-7805 and the implementation of FOCIL (Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists). Thomas explains how the rise of MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) has created a centralized builder market where a few actors now control over 85% of Ethereum's block production, creating a dangerous bottleneck for censorship. FOCIL addresses this by empowering a decentralized committee of 16 validators to mandate transaction inclusion, making any block that ignores these lists invalid. They explore the "Tornado Cash" moment and the risks of "silent censorship" for competitive or regulatory reasons. Thomas explains why FOCIL intentionally prioritizes the public mempool over MEV-heavy transactions to prevent the system from being co-opted. Finally, the conversation looks at the future of the Ethereum roadmap, including the Osaka fork and the technical trade-offs between inclusion lists and long-term privacy solutions like encrypted mempools. Topics00:00 Intro & FOCIL04:15 MEV & Centralization09:30 The Builder-Searcher Pipeline15:00 Silent Censorship Risks21:45 FOCIL Architecture & Committees27:10 Validity Rules for Attestors35:20 Spam Protection & Invalid TXs42:15 FOCIL vs. Encrypted Mempools49:00 EIP-7805 Status & Fork Timelines55:30 Future: PQC & ZK EVMLinksThomas Thiery on X: https://x.com/soispoke Ethereum Foundation: https://ethereum.foundation/ EIP-7805 (FOCIL): https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7805 Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  How Will Stablecoins Replace Traditional Banking 25.01.2026 1ч

  In this episode, we are joined by Zach Abrams, CEO of Bridge, to unpack the infrastructure behind the next generation of global payments. Zach discusses Bridge’s mission to move stablecoins beyond mere trading use cases and into core financial services, a vision that recently led to its landmark acquisition by Stripe . He explains how stablecoins function as an innovation at every layer of the money stack, enabling payments that are fundamentally faster and cheaper than legacy systems like ACH or SEPA. They delve into the technical "puzzle pieces" of payments, from the inefficiencies of FBO bank accounts to the "cheat code" of compounding growth in the stablecoin sector. Zach introduces the concept of Stablecoin Orchestration and details why the current USDC/USDT duopoly is unaligned with high-velocity payments due to rent-seeking burn fees and AUM-focused models . Finally, the conversation explores the future of consumer finance, where non-custodial wallets act as bank replacements and a pluralistic ecosystem of local, company-issued stablecoins challenges the dominance of the US dollar Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 Legacy Rails vs. Stablecoin Innovation09:30 The "Cash App" Hack & Payments Creativity15:00 Why Bridge Joined Stripe21:45 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Startup Needs27:10 Stablecoin Orchestration & Issuance Explained35:20 The Duopoly Problem: Why USDC/USDT Isn't Enough42:15 Orthogonal Competition: The "Europe" of Stablecoins49:00 Wallets as the New Primary Bank Account55:30 Regrets of a "Child of the Depression" FounderLinksZach Abrams on X: https://x.com/ZCAbramsBridge: https://bridge.xyzStripe: https://stripe.comGnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Buidl Europe 2026: The State of Decentralization 15.01.2026 38мин

  In this episode, recorded live at Buidl Europe 2026, host Sebastian Couture leads a panel with Ben Lakoff (Bankless Ventures), Richard Muirhead (Fabric Ventures), Aurora Orellana (G20 Strategies), and Matthew Arrow (Dark Forest). Together, they tackle the existential question facing the industry: can Cypherpunk values like self-custody and permissionless survive as multi-billion dollar institutions become the primary drivers of adoption?The discussion delves into the tension between individual sovereignty and the regulatory reach of organizations like the FATF, which they describe as a "Goliath" accountable to no one. They explore the concept of the "DeFi Mullet" a centralized user interfaces powered by decentralized backends and how privacy tech is becoming essential not for institutions seeking defensible competitive moats. Finally, the conversation looks at how global competition between jurisdictions will define the next decade of financial freedom and what it truly means to be a Cypherpunk in 2026. Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 Cypherpunk Values in an Institutional World09:30 Permissionless Deployment & Self-Custody15:00 The Regulatory Spectrum: KYC vs. Freedom21:45 The FATF & Global Financial Surveillance27:10 Jurisdictional Competition & Portability35:20 Selling Privacy to Institutions vs. Individuals42:15 The DeFi Mullet & Atomic Settlement49:00 Barriers to Entry: Legacy Mainframes & Career Risk55:30 What it Means to be a Cypherpunk in 2026LinksBen Lakoff on X: https://x.com/benlakoffRichard Muirhead on X: https://x.com/RichardMuirheadMatthew Arrow on X: https://x.com/mattarrow Bankless Ventures: https://bankless.ventures/Fabric Ventures: https://www.fabric.vc/Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  The Death of Altcoins & Bitget’s New "Universal Exchange" 09.01.2026 42мин

  In this episode, host Brian Crain is joined by Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, to discuss the exchange's rapid ascent and its ambitious roadmap for 2026. Gracy shares her journey from a mathematics background and journalism into the C-suite of a top-tier exchange, detailing Bitget's growth from a team of 150 to over 2,200 employees. She outlines the concept of the "Universal Exchange" (UEX) a unified platform where the boundaries between crypto, tokenized equities, and commodities effectively disappear.They explore how Bitget is leveraging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI-driven advisory tools like Get Agent to redefine user acquisition and trading intelligence. Gracy also provides a candid outlook on the "altcoin fading" phenomenon, arguing that the market is shifting toward blue-chip assets and real-world utility. Finally, they discuss the immense challenges of global regulatory compliance, including Bitget’s priorities for securing MiCA licenses and navigating a potential entry into the complex US market.Topics - 00:00 Intro & Crypto Beginnings - 05:45 The Origin of Bitget - 10:15 The "Universal Exchange" (UEX) Vision - 16:30 Tokenized Stocks vs. TradFi Brokers - 22:00 Competition: CEX, DEX, & Robinhood - 28:15 AI in Trading: Get Agent & GEO - 34:40 The State of Altcoins in 2026 - 41:00 Global Compliance: MiCA & US Markets - 55:30 2026 Market PredictionsLinks - Gracy Chen on X: https://x.com/GracyBitget - Bitget: https://www.bitget.com/ - Bitget Wallet: https://web3.bitget.com/ - Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  2025 Rewind: End of the Infinite Money Glitch and Looking Ahead to 2026 31.12.2025 52мин

  In this episode, hosts Sebastien Couture, Brian Crain, and Friederike Ernst gather for their annual wrap-up to discuss the end of the "infinite money glitch": the era where tokens traded at billions without proven product-market fit. They explore the 2025 "spring cleaning" that devastated the altcoin market and the quiet, efficient entry of web2 incumbents like Revolut and Stripe. The discussion centers on the industry's maturation into a space where protocols are finally judged on their ability to generate real revenue and growth.The team analyzes the 2025 "spring cleaning" of altcoins alongside Polymarket’s mainstream breakout. As giants like Stripe and Revolut scale crypto integrations, the hosts debate if consolidating distribution power is diluting the original promise of decentralized agency. Finally, they address the existential quantum threat to Bitcoin and share their 2026 "hot takes.Topics00:00 Intro & Notable Memories 04:30 The Bybit Hack & Price Action 08:15 Polymarket & The Mainstream Breakout 12:00 The Altcoin "Spring Cleaning" 18:45 Axelar & The Circle Acquisition 25:30 Incumbents: Back-end Upgrades vs. Values33:15 Social Media & The Economics of Attention 42:00 Staking Consolidation & Distribution Power 50:30 The Quantum Threat to Bitcoin 58:45 2026 Predictions: RWAs & PerpsLinks Sebastien on X: https://x.com/seb3point0 Brian on X: https://x.com/crainbf Friederike on X: https://x.com/tw_tter Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Solving The AI Black Box: ZK-Proofs in Defence Tech 26.12.2025 55мин

  In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh, CEO of Lagrange, to explore the intersection of frontier cryptography and national security. Ismael discusses the transition of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology from a "token-centric" crypto tool to a vital component of defense, specifically focusing on its role in securing autonomous drone swarms and closing the hypersonic missile gap.They delve into Deep Proof, Lagrange's ZK-machine learning library, which facilitates verifiable AI execution while protecting sensitive model intellectual property and private input data. Ismael introduces the concept of "Accountable Autonomy," arguing that cryptographic proofs are necessary to ensure that lethal "kill chain" decisions are made by the correct models under verified inputs, removing the risks inherent in "black box" AI decision-making. Finally, the conversation touches on the geopolitical competition with China, the importance of domestic chip manufacturing, and why the US market's ability to align private sector innovation with military needs is a decisive strategic advantage.Topics00:00 Intro & Context04:15 ZKML vs. Venice09:30 Protecting Model IP15:00 Dual-Use Defense Pivot21:45 The Palantir Comparison27:10 US-China Chip Race35:20 Drone Swarm Consensus42:15 Accountable Autonomy Explained49:00 Kill Chain Verifiability55:30 EU vs. US DefenseLinksIsmael on X: https://x.com/Ismael_H_R Lagrange Labs: https://www.lagrange.dev/Anduril Industries: https://www.anduril.com/Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Aztec's Rebirth, The $61M Token Sale & Programmable Privacy on Ethereum 18.12.2025 1ч 5мин

  Fresh off the launch of the Ignition Chain and a successful community-led $61M token sale, Aztec Network co-founder Zac Williamson joins Friederike Ernst to unpack the "existential" journey of building programmable privacy. Zac opens up about the "sacrificial altar" moment where the team decided to kill their live product, Aztec Connect which had 60k users because they realized true decentralized privacy required rebuilding from scratch rather than iterative upgrades.They dive deep into the architecture of the new network, which utilizes a hybrid state model (encrypted UTXOs for privacy, public accounts for transparency) to enable composable applications. Zac challenges the cryptographic dogma of "don't roll your own crypto," arguing that for pioneers, relying on "battle-tested" libraries is impossible. He explains why decentralized sequencers are not just a moral choice but a security necessity to prevent government-mandated backdoors. Finally, Zac contrasts the chaotic but decentralized resistance to surveillance in the US with the increasing top-down control in the UK and Europe, framing Aztec as essential "defense in depth" for the digital age.Topics00:00 Intro 03:45 The "Sacrificial Altar": Killing Aztec Connect10:15 Hybrid Architecture: UTXOs vs. Accounts16:30 Why You Must "Roll Your Own Crypto"22:00 Decentralization as a Defense Against Backdoors28:15 Performance: Throughput & Latency Trade-offs34:40 Private Smart Contracts: Gaming & Identity41:00 The Macro View: US vs. EU SurveillanceLinksGnosis: https://gnosis.io/Zac Williamson on X: https://twitter.com/Zac_AztecAztec Network: https://aztec.networkNoir Language: https://noir-lang.orgSponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Will stablecoins end the US debt Crisis? 11.12.2025 54мин

  Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin joins Friederike Ernst to discuss why we are at the "end of a supercycle," a chaotic transition period where legacy institutions are finally adopting blockchain rails not just for efficiency, but for survival. They explore the "inevitable convergence" where the US government may actively rely on stablecoins to absorb debt, effectively using crypto to extend the lifespan of the dollar. At the same time, banks scramble to compete with self-custodial wallets. Joe also details the structural evolution of Consensys, from an "organic blob" incubating projects like Gnosis to a focused software powerhouse. He differentiates Linea from competitors by highlighting its commitment to permissionless innovation where anyone can deploy a rollup without a "sign-off". He shares his vision for MetaMask evolving into a user-owned "full-service bank. Topics00:00 Intro & Paradigm Shift04:15 Crypto-Anarchy vs. Enterprise10:30 Banks & Stablecoins16:00 The Economic Supercycle24:45 Consensys History & Spin-outs33:20 Linea & Decentralization42:15 L1 Scaling & ZK48:00 Permissionless Rollups55:30 Future OptimismLinksJoe Lubin on X: https://twitter.com/ethereumJosephConsensys: https://consensys.ioLinea: https://linea.buildMetaMask: https://metamask.ioGnosis: https://gnosis.io/ Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  What will Quantum Computing Change? 03.12.2025 1ч 21мин

  Quantum computing is often dismissed as a distant sci-fi future, but Ethereum OG John Lilic and Oxford physicist Stefano Gogioso argue the timeline is shrinking fast with roadmaps converging around 2030. In this episode, they break down the "woeful" state of quantum readiness in crypto, explaining how Shor's algorithm could eventually shatter the elliptic curve cryptography protecting Bitcoin and Ethereum.They also explore the terrifying concept of "harvest now, decrypt later," which implies that encrypted data and privacy coins like Monero may essentially be compromised already. Finally, they introduce "Quantum Money," a revolutionary form of digital cash developed by Stefano’s startup NeverLocal, which relies on the laws of physics rather than blockchain consensus to prevent double-spending.Topics00:00 Intro03:00 John’s Quantum Awakening08:00 Defining Quantum Computing13:30 Logical Qubits Explained18:15 Crypto’s "Woeful" Readiness23:30 "Harvest Now" Threat28:45 Monero’s Privacy Risk33:15 What is Quantum Money?40:00 Investment & HedgingLinksJohn Lilic on X: https://x.com/LilicJohnStefano Gogioso on X: https://x.com/StefanoGogiosoNeverLocal: https://neverlocal.com Quantum.info: https://quantum.infoGnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  DevConnect 2025: Inside The Biggest Ethereum Event in History 27.11.2025 44мин

  “DevConnect 2025 was about touching and feeling Ethereum IRL”Nathan Sexer, lead of the DevConnect 2025 and Events team at the Ethereum Foundation, gives a peek into the largest iteration of Devconnect ever, with 20,000 attendees, and why the team pivoted to a "World's Fair" format, creating tangible districts for DeFi and Privacy to let attendees truly "touch and feel" the ecosystem.The conversation gets real about the friction of the physical world. He explained why Argentina’s crypto-native culture makes it the perfect host, how hyperinflation fueled bottom-up adoption, and even the venue-wide internet failure became an accidental "feature," breaking the on-screen silos and pushing genuine face-to-face connections.A massive geopolitical win was how the team worked with the government to issue 1,000+ visas for attendees from over 130 nationalities to make this event in the true spirit of borderless crypto.The Ethereum Foundation is heading to Mumbai in 2026! The goal for India is to unify a fragmented developer diaspora and bring regulatory attention to one of the world's most critical tech hubs.Topics00:00 Intro & Scale04:15 World's Fair Concept09:50 Why Argentina?14:30 Operational Challenges18:15 Internet Blackout22:00 Booth Renaissance28:30 Privacy Priority33:00 Devcon Mumbai37:40 Indian DevelopersLinksDevcon Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/EFDevconNathan Sexer on X: https://x.com/nethan_ethEthereum Foundation: https://ethereum.orgGnosis: https://gnosis.io/Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Why is the SEC Concerned about Privacy now? 23.11.2025 1ч 2мин

  At DevConnect 2025, Sebastian and Friederike speak with Peter Van Valkenburgh about the rapidly evolving battle for digital rights. Peter challenges the industry's comfort with transparency, arguing that "transparency will destroy neutrality." He uses the history of SWIFT to illustrate how a once-neutral messaging system was captured by geopolitical interests because it wasn't "technically blind" to the data it processed. He argues that for blockchains to survive as global settlement layers, they must be "actually blind" to transactions, making neutrality a technical reality rather than a policy choice.The conversation turns to the aggressive legal tactics currently deployed against developers. Peter highlights the Pereira Bueno case, where prosecutors charged MEV searchers with wire fraud for being "dishonest validators" a concept Peter argues completely undermines the game-theoretic security of permissionless networks. He also breaks down the mixed bag of Tornado Cash litigation. While the sanctions against the protocol were successfully challenged and invalidated for Americans, the criminal conviction of developer Roman Storm for "unlicensed money transmission" sets a terrifying precedent for anyone publishing open-source code.On a constructive note, Peter introduces Coin Center's "John Hancock Project," which advocates for replacing the current, ineffective KYC/AML regime (which seizes less than 1% of illicit funds) with a system based on privacy-preserving attestations and self-sovereign risk scores. Finally, Peter shares surprising optimism regarding the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He notes that under the influence of Commissioners Hester Peirce and Paul Atkins, the agency has shifted from an aggressive adversary to a potential ally, openly discussing the benefits of full asset tokenization and the constitutional necessity of financial privacy.Topics00:00 The Telegram vs. Signal security rant05:15 The "Transparency Paradox": Why transparent Layer 1s cannot remain neutral in the long run10:40 The SWIFT Analogy: How a neutral messaging layer became a politicized settlement enforcer15:50 The Pereira Bueno Case: Why labeling MEV strategies as "wire fraud" threatens all validators23:10 L2 Sequencing Risks: Centralization and the need for "dumb pipes" 28:30 The Failure of KYC: Why 99.8% of illicit funds are missed and the cost of mass surveillance35:00 The "John Hancock Project": Using ZK-proofs and attestations to replace identity surveillance42:15 Tornado Cash Update: Sanctions invalidated vs. the dangerous precedent of Roman Storm’s conviction49:00 The SEC's 180: Hester Peirce, Paul Atkins, and the push for tokenized equitiesLinks mentioned in the episode: Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/ Coin Center: https://www.coincenter.orgEpicenter - All Episodes: https://epicenter.tv/Report: Tear Down This Walled Garden: https://www.coincenter.org/tear-down-this-walled-garden/ Pereira Bueno Amicus Brief: https://www.coincenter.org/amicus-brief-mev-wire-fraud/ Peter on X: https://x.com/valkenburghSebastian on X: https://x.com/seb3point0Friederike on X: https://x.com/tw_tter Sponsors:Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io
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  Cosmos: The Linux of Blockchains? 12.11.2025 55мин

  Captured live at Cosmoverse 2025, this episode brings host Sebastian in conversation with Michael (better known as Cryptocito, Cosmos investor via Cito Ventures) and Magnus (@0xMagmar, Co-CEO Cosmos Labs). Against a backdrop of institutional gravitas, central banks mingling alongside Revolut executives, the conversation traces Cosmos' arc across five Cosmoverses, from Medellín's raw developer fervor to the polished, enterprise-oriented event unfolding here. It's a marker of the ecosystem's maturation, one that demands Cosmos "grow up" to weave itself into the fabric of global finance, governance, and economies beyond its insular origins.Magnus lays out Cosmos Labs' forward path: Systematically acquiring and refining homegrown innovations, such as the EVM rebuild over six months into a core stack component and consolidating privacy primitives from projects like Secret Network and Penumbra into seamless, enterprise-grade tools. These advancements, long championed by Cosmos builders, now stand ready for institutional adoption. On quantum threats, enterprises show little concern for now, but the panel underscores blockchains' unique vulnerabilities: Unlike centralized systems, they require broad coordination for upgrades, where Bitcoin's inertia pales against Cosmos' app-chain flexibility, allowing isolated chain overhauls without dragging down the broader network, a resilience Ethereum lacks. Topics covered in this episode:0:00 Introduction & Cosmoverse Vibe Check2:30 Reflections on Five Cosmoverses6:45 Ecosystem Maturation: Grassroots to Institutional Focus11:20 Cosmos Labs' Roadmap: Unifying Privacy & EVM Innovations16:50 Building Cohesive Stack Features for Enterprises22:15 Privacy Tools: Secret Network, Penumbra, and Nym27:40 Quantum Computing Threats & Blockchain Vulnerabilities33:10 Coordination Challenges: Hard Forks vs. App-Chain Modularity38:25 Sovereign Day Argentina: CBDC & Gov Sovereignty Summit43:50 Leadership Adaptation & Community Inclusion49:20 Future Vision: Cosmos as Global Finance Enabler54:00 Closing Thoughts & Event ShoutoutsEpisode links: - Michael (@Cryptocito) (https://x.com/Cryptocito )- Magnus (@0xMagmar) (https://x.com/0xMagmar)- Gnosis (https://gnosis.io/)- Epicenter - All Episodes (https://epicenter.tv/)- Cosmoverse 2025 (https://cosmoverse.org/)Sponsors: - Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io This episode is hosted by Sebastien Couture. Show notes and listening options: https://epicenter.tv/