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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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