Bitcoin.com News Interviews

“After stablecoins and gambling proved crypto’s first two PMFs, AI is lined up as the third.”

In this episode of the Bitcoin.com News Podcast, Matty Ryze (@mattyryze) joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) to explore why AI is emerging as crypto’s next major product-market fit — and how this convergence could reshape everything from DeFi to data markets.

Ryze breaks down the three historical phases of crypto adoption — stablecoins, on-chain gaming/gambling, and now AI-integrated infrastructure — showing how each wave drives utility, liquidity, and mainstream engagement. The discussion spans AI agents, decentralized compute, model marketplaces, and what builders can learn from crypto’s past PMF cycles to build the next breakout protocols.

• Why AI is crypto’s third product-market fit
• Lessons from stablecoins and gambling as early crypto successes
• The rise of on-chain AI agents and compute networks
• How data, incentives, and infrastructure are merging
• What this new AI x crypto era means for developers and investors

A must-listen for founders, investors, and technologists who want to understand how AI and blockchain are colliding to create crypto’s most scalable, real-world use case yet.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Matty Ryze – Web3 Founder & Investor
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | @mattyryze | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

Akira (@akira_ninja_gg) from Ninja Guild joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to unpack one of Web3’s most overlooked questions: how do you measure real community — not just follower counts?

With 35,000 followers, 4,000 Discord members, and 480 people showing up in person, Ninja Guild is proving that engagement beats vanity metrics. Akira breaks down what makes a Web3 community authentic, how Ninja Guild blends online collaboration with real-world culture, and why IRL participation is the next big indicator of project strength.

From grassroots education and gaming tournaments to brand partnerships, this episode explores how data, purpose, and presence define a thriving decentralized community.

• How to measure real engagement in Web3 communities
• The data behind Ninja Guild’s rapid growth
• Why IRL meetups matter more than digital hype
• Lessons from building community-first Web3 ecosystems
• The balance between growth metrics and genuine connection

A must-listen for community builders, DAO leaders, and marketers looking to create authentic, data-driven Web3 communities that live beyond the screen.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Akira – Ninja Guild
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | @akira_ninja_gg | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

Mickey Matsumoto of ClickHouse (@ClickHouseDB) joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to explore why traditional databases are buckling under Web3’s scale — and how next-generation real-time analytics systems are powering the decentralized future.

With 10,000+ new tokens created daily, the data volume from blockchains like Solana and Ethereum has exploded beyond what legacy systems were designed to handle. Matsumoto breaks down how ClickHouse, one of the fastest open-source analytical databases on the planet, enables millisecond-level query speeds, massive scalability, and on-chain intelligence at Web3 velocity.

They also dive into open-source monetization models, data infrastructure challenges, and how developers are using real-time analytics to build dashboards, oracles, and AI-powered trading systems across the crypto ecosystem.

• Why traditional databases can’t handle Web3-scale data
• Solana vs. Ethereum: comparing blockchain data volume
• How ClickHouse powers real-time analytics for decentralized apps
• The economics of open-source innovation and monetization
• How data infrastructure is evolving for the next wave of crypto growth

A must-listen for data engineers, Web3 developers, and infrastructure builders who want to understand how real-time analytics, scalability, and open-source systems are transforming the backbone of the blockchain economy.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Mickey Matsumoto – ClickHouse
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | clickhouse.com | @ClickHouseDB | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

🇯🇵 Kazumasa Kondo (@kazkondo), CEO of Japan Open Chain, joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to reveal how Japan’s first enterprise-grade public blockchain is reshaping Web3 — with bank-backed stablecoins, 1,000 TPS performance, and a governance model that lets participants vote to lower gas fees.

Japan Open Chain aims to be 100× faster than Ethereum, providing a regulated and compliant blockchain environment for banks, corporations, and developers to deploy real-world applications. Built with Japanese institutions in mind, the network bridges speed, security, and legal clarity, enabling everything from digital yen initiatives to Web3 business integrations.

Kondo shares how Japan’s unique regulatory framework supports innovation while ensuring consumer protection — and why global builders are now looking to Japan as a model for practical blockchain adoption.

• How Japan Open Chain achieves 1,000 TPS with Ethereum compatibility
• Building compliant, bank-integrated stablecoin infrastructure
• The importance of governance transparency and community gas voting
• Japan’s Web3-friendly regulation and enterprise blockchain strategy
• Why Japan could lead the next phase of regulated crypto adoption

A must-listen for developers, policymakers, and Web3 entrepreneurs interested in how Japan’s blockchain model blends speed, compliance, and innovation to build the foundation for a truly regulated crypto economy.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Kazumasa Kondo – CEO, Japan Open Chain
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | japanopenchain.org | @kazkondo | @_dsencil

💡 In this episode:🎧

Lorien Gabel (@loriengabel), Co-Founder and CEO of Figment, joins Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to uncover the unseen backbone of blockchain infrastructure — institutional staking.

With Figment responsible for 7–8% of Solana blocks and nearly 5% of Ethereum blocks, Gabel reveals what it really takes to secure the world’s leading proof-of-stake networks. He shares insights from four decades in tech, beginning with Canada’s first ISPs to now running one of the largest crypto infrastructure companies in the world.

The conversation dives deep into how institutional staking operates, what’s next for U.S. regulatory clarity, and why the next 60 days could be pivotal for crypto compliance and innovation. Gabel also explains why the real story isn’t just about staking rewards — it’s about building reliable, transparent, and institution-grade infrastructure that powers the decentralized web.

• How Figment powers a significant share of Solana and Ethereum blocks
• The inner workings of institutional staking and validator networks
• U.S. regulatory clarity and the 60-day countdown to major updates
• Lessons from building early internet infrastructure to blockchain systems
• Why decentralization depends on professionalized staking infrastructure

A must-listen for crypto infrastructure builders, institutional investors, and developers exploring how staking, regulation, and infrastructure are shaping the next phase of the blockchain economy.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Lorien Gabel – Co-Founder & CEO, Figment
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | figment.io | @loriengabel | @FrederickMunawa

💡 In this episode:🎧

🎙️ What if your Bitcoin or Ethereum could unlock payments, credit, and new financial opportunities—without ever being sold?

In this episode, Frederick from Bitcoin.com sits down with Maximillian Schwartz, CEO of Anvil Research Labs, to explore how onchain collateral could connect digital assets with traditional finance.

They discuss how Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies can be used as verifiable collateral, how Anvil is building infrastructure for crypto-backed payments, and why onchain guarantees could transform lending, credit lines, and business transactions.

With more than $85 million in collateral shortly after launch, Anvil is working to expand the utility of digital assets beyond simply holding, trading, or selling them.

Topics include:

• Using crypto as onchain collateral
• Bitcoin and Ethereum-backed lending
• Crypto payment infrastructure
• Credit lines secured by digital assets
• Onchain guarantees for businesses
• The future of crypto in traditional finance

🎧 Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app for more conversations with industry leaders, economists, and builders shaping the future of crypto and finance.

Join our community and follow us for the latest updates ⬇️

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoincomNews

► X (Bitcoin.com): https://x.com/Bitcoincom

► X (Bitcoin.com News): https://x.com/bitcoinnews

► Telegram: https://t.me/www_Bitcoin_com

► Discord: https://discord.gg/9NGNJEnwmW

► LinkedIn (Bitcoin.com): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitcoin.com/

► LinkedIn (Bitcoin.com News): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitcoin-com-news/

Pauline Shangett, Chief Strategy Officer at ChangeNOW, joins David Sencil (@_dsencil) at Bitcoin Asia to cut through the noise on decentralization, infrastructure, and what it takes to serve real users at scale.

“If you’re building on centralized cloud, you’re not truly decentralized.” Shangett explains the hidden centralization risks across today’s Web3 stack, why CeDeFi can bridge usability and trustlessness, and how ChangeNOW approaches onboarding, custody, and compliance without sacrificing self-sovereignty.

From lost Bitcoin recoveries to pragmatic infra choices, this is a sober look at what actually works — and what doesn’t — when taking crypto mainstream.

• Why most “DeFi” quietly relies on centralized cloud
• CeDeFi as a realistic path to mass adoption
• ChangeNOW’s user-first design for swaps, fiat ramps & custody
• Frameworks for resilience beyond the cloud vs. hardware meme
• How to onboard real people, not just crypto insiders

A must-listen for builders, infra teams, and DeFi pragmatists who want decentralization that survives contact with reality.

🎙️ Host: David Sencil – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Pauline Shangett – Chief Strategy Officer, ChangeNOW
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | changenow.io

💡 In this episode:🎧

“How is it still 50% of your remittance in fees?” asks Chris Maurice, Co-Founder and CEO of Yellow Card, in this powerful conversation with Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast.

Maurice explains how traditional banking systems are still failing millions across Africa, where a $200 transfer can cost up to $100 in fees — and how Yellow Card’s stablecoin-powered network is changing that reality. Operating across 20+ African countries, Yellow Card is bringing low-cost cross-border payments, crypto-powered banking alternatives, and financial inclusion to one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

This episode dives into the remittance crisis, the role of stablecoins like USDC, and how digital assets can slash costs, accelerate settlement, and empower local economies without relying on legacy intermediaries.

• Why remittance fees in Africa remain shockingly high
• How stablecoins are transforming payments and banking access
• Yellow Card’s mission to build crypto rails for the real world
• The regulatory and infrastructure challenges across African markets
• The future of on-chain financial inclusion and remittance innovation

A must-listen for crypto builders, fintech founders, and policy leaders exploring how blockchain and stablecoins can deliver real financial freedom where traditional systems have failed.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Chris Maurice – Co-Founder & CEO, Yellow Card
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | yellowcard.io | @chrismaurice | @YellowCard_App

💡 In this episode:🎧

Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, joins Frederick Munawa (@FrederickMunawa) on the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to explain why institutions are flooding into Bitcoin — and how ETF structures are unlocking unprecedented access for traditional investors.

Hougan breaks down the macro and market forces behind this wave of institutional adoption, from inflation and monetary policy to the growing realization that Bitcoin is digital gold. He also unpacks how Bitcoin ETFs work, why they’ve become the preferred entry point for financial advisors and fund managers, and what it means for Bitcoin’s next major growth phase.

This episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the mechanics of ETF wrappers, the liquidity transformation they create, and why the convergence of Wall Street and crypto is reshaping the future of investing.

• Why institutions are finally allocating to Bitcoin
• The mechanics and advantages of Bitcoin ETFs
• How ETFs bridge the gap between TradFi and crypto
• What this institutional influx means for Bitcoin’s price and adoption
• Bitwise’s outlook on Bitcoin’s next major market cycle

A must-listen for investors, fund managers, and crypto enthusiasts seeking to understand how ETFs and institutional capital are driving Bitcoin’s mainstream financial integration.

🎙️ Host: Frederick Munawa – Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Matt Hougan – Chief Investment Officer, Bitwise Asset Management
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | bitwiseinvestments.com | @Matt_Hougan | @BitwiseInvest

💡 In this episode:🎧

Carlos Domingo, CEO and Co-Founder of Securitize, joins the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to unpack the explosive growth of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) — from commodities and dollar stablecoins to U.S. Treasuries and private credit funds.

Domingo explains how blockchain technology is transforming traditional finance by bringing on-chain transparency, instant settlement, and global access to markets once reserved for institutions. He dives into the success of Apollo’s new private credit fund, which raced to $100 million in tokenized assets, and reveals why the next wave of crypto adoption is being driven by regulated, yield-bearing assets rather than speculation.

This episode explores how Securitize is leading the integration between TradFi and DeFi, making tokenized securities accessible to individual investors while meeting strict compliance standards — a key step toward mainstream adoption of on-chain finance.

• Why tokenized Treasuries and private credit are surging
• The $100M Apollo fund and what it signals for institutional DeFi
• How Securitize bridges blockchain with regulated finance
• The rise of yield-bearing stablecoins and tokenized commodities
• What’s next for real-world asset tokenization in 2025

A must-listen for investors, builders, and policymakers looking to understand how tokenization is rewriting capital markets and why Bitcoin, stablecoins, and RWAs are converging into the future of global finance.

🎙️ Host: Bitcoin.com News Podcast
💼 Guest: Carlos Domingo – CEO & Co-Founder of Securitize
🔗 Learn more: bitcoin.com | securitize.io | @carlosdomingo

💡 In this episode:🎧