Blockcast

This week we have a special guest, Jeremy Tan, the independent candidate for Mountbatten SMC who garnered a surprising 36% of the vote in Singapore's general election by centering his campaign on, among other things, Bitcoin adoption. Jeremy discusses his motivations for bringing Bitcoin into the political arena, highlighting the need for Singapore to consider it as a hedge against US dollar instability, and addresses the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) cautious stance on crypto, suggesting a disconnect between the official narrative and behind-the-scenes activity.

A key focus is Tan's proposal for a Singapore Dollar-denominated Bitcoin ETF (BITS ETF) and its potential to act as a "liquidity sponge" for family offices and provide Singaporeans with a new avenue for retirement savings, moving away from the reliance on property as the primary asset. He also advocates for the inclusion of Bitcoin in Singapore's official foreign reserves, arguing that "Gold is an inferior reserve commodity to Bitcoin. We need to embrace the future or risk getting left behind."

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

In this episode, Takatoshi Shibayama speaks with Alex Ryvkin, founder of Rho Labs, about the launch of Rho Protocol, the first institutional-grade market for crypto interest rates. 

Alex explains the significance of "crypto-native" rates like staking yields and perp funding rates, highlighting the extreme volatility of the latter and the need for hedging tools. He explains how Rho Protocol enables traders to manage funding rate risk, enhance basis trading strategies, and potentially shape the future of crypto lending. Alex also shares insights on the market's evolution, feedback since launch, and the anticipated growth of the crypto rates market, drawing parallels with the massive traditional finance rates market.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

In the latest episode of Blockcast, host Takatoshi Shibayama sits down with Hassan Ahmed, the Country Director for Coinbase Singapore, for an insightful conversation that unpacks Coinbase's ambitious plans in the Asia Pacific region and the broader evolution of the crypto industry, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of digital assets. 

Ahmed's journey into crypto is as compelling as the company he now leads in Southeast Asia. Hassan shares his fascinating journey from traditional finance to the forefront of the crypto revolution, offering insights into Coinbase's multi-faceted approach, its expansion strategy in APAC, and the exciting developments within their ecosystem, including Base and stablecoins. Tune in to hear Hassan Ahmed's expert perspective on the trends shaping the industry and Coinbase's pivotal role in this transformation.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Ever wondered how Web3 will reach billions? Tune in as we chat with Sota Watanabe, CEO of ⁠Startale Group⁠ about his ambitious vision. Startale's portfolio includes Astar Network and the exciting new Ethereum Layer-2, Soneium, developed in partnership with Sony Group using Optimism's OP Stack for faster and cheaper transactions.

We unpack Soneium, their new cost-effective Ethereum Layer-2, the groundbreaking collaboration with Sony, and Sota's insights on the future of blockchain. Get ready for a deep dive into the next evolution of the internet!

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Host Takatoshi Shibayama is joined by Nikhil Joshi, chief operating officer, Emurgo, and Lisa JY Tan, founder and founding economist, Economics Design, to discuss the latest news and developments in the crypto industry.

The panel addresses the current market panic, questioning Bitcoin's role as a hedge amidst Fed influence and stock-crypto divergence, the current state of Ethereum, the acquisition of Hidden Road, and the next generation of fintech. The discussion on Ethereum covers its market performance in early April 2025, trading with volatility around the $1600-$1800 range and below major EMAs, indicating continued bearish pressure according to some analyses. A key point is the upcoming Pectra upgrade scheduled for May 7th, 2025, which aims to enhance staking by increasing limits to 2,048 ETH and improve user experience through account abstraction, enabling features like batched transactions and stablecoin gas payments, alongside boosting Layer 2 scalability. 

The panelists also look at Ripple's significant $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road in early April 2025, which establishes Ripple as the first crypto firm to own a global, multi-asset prime broker, clearing over $3 trillion annually and serving over 300 institutional clients across FX, digital assets, derivatives, and fixed income. Hidden Road recently secured FINRA approval as a broker-dealer, allowing expansion of its prime brokerage services. Finally, they touch on the next generation of fintech, highlighting the increasing application of AI for fraud prevention and personalized services.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Ever wondered what happens when AI, crypto, and the adult entertainment industry collide?

This week, Blockcast delves into the developing space of digital interaction with Nic Young, CEO of Oh, a platform at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency within the adult entertainment industry. Nic unpacks how Oh is building AI-powered digital companions, including realistic twins of creators, offering a personalized and uncensored experience underpinned by crypto transactions: "We felt that it was the perfect incubator... an industry that really needs crypto." 

This episode offers an exploration of how blockchain technology is set to revolutionize creator economies and user experiences in a traditionally opaque sector. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of cutting-edge tech and a significant global industry.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Jacob Phillips began his entry into crypto with an interest in finance and technology, leading him to a crypto fund in Cleveland during the 2018 boom. This experience deepened his understanding of blockchain and its long-term potential as major institutions and VCs entered the space. 

His career accelerated when he joined Polychain in 2020, working with top investors to evaluate projects and navigate the explosive growth of DeFi. He played a role in investments like BadgerDAO, which aimed to integrate Bitcoin into decentralized finance but ultimately faced structural limitations.

In 2024, he co-founded Lombard to address these gaps, focusing on Bitcoin liquidity and staking solutions. While Ethereum and Solana rapidly iterated on DeFi, Bitcoin lacked a strong developer ecosystem—but Jacob saw this changing with new projects like Babylon and EigenLayer.

In this Blockcast episode, Jacob reflects on Lombard's core mission to enable secure, permissionless Bitcoin staking and liquidity through its liquid staking token, LBTC. He highlights the challenge of trustless Bitcoin DeFi and the importance of balancing decentralization with institutional security. Lombard first onboarded DeFi-native users before expanding to institutional players, ensuring credibility and capital strength. 

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Chris Yu co-founded SignalPlus in 2021 to address key gaps in the crypto options market, leveraging his experience as a trader and his insights into the market's early-stage potential.

In this Blockcast episode, Yu explains why he sees the state of crypto options resembling the FX options market around 2000 and why there is an opportunity to build infrastructure that could scale with the industry's growth.

Yu reveals how SignalPlus adopted a volume-based revenue model, details its trading tools and portfolio management, reflects on its market making infratructure, and highlights its structured products.

He also discusses the biggest challenges in challenges in crypto trading is managing a 24/7 market with traditional approaches, and how SignalPlus is addressing these issues by developing a robotic system capable of automating market making and risk management. 

Looking to the future, Yu envisions integrating AI and quantum computing into their systems to further automate trading and risk managementm and shares his advice for young professionals.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Kathy Zhu has been involved with the crypto industry from both inside and out, from her days as a journalist to her current role as APAC lead at Mezo, an EVM blockchain-based platform that allows users to stake BTC assets to secure itself and serve as Bitcoin's economic layer. 

Joining Binance when it was a small startup of fewer than 200 people, she worked in global marketing and later transitioned to leading growth and operations for Binance’s P2P trading platform. After leaving Binance in 2021, she moved into venture investing, with a focus on Bitcoin and its evolving ecosystem, particularly through Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens.

In this episode, Zhu explains the evolving role of Bitcoin and its various stakeholders, including miners, institutional investors, retail holders, and developers. She also highlights how asset management firms and staking protocols have emerged to help Bitcoin holders generate passive income while maintaining custody of their assets.

With Mezo introducing its Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, mUSD, Zhu explains how Mezo is allowing Bitcoin holders to collateralize their assets and access liquidity at low interest rates. She explains that Mezzo’s model is designed to balance capital efficiency and risk management, ensuring Bitcoin holders can safely utilize their holdings without being forced to sell.

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].

Jess Zeng entered the crypto industry as an intern at Gemini while studying finance at SMU. She then moved on to work at Chainlink, where she transitioned from a business development role to an ecosystem-building focus. 

After a stint at Fireblocks to gain institutional experience, she joined Mantle, where she now leads ecosystem growth for mETH - the liquid staking platform backed by Mantle. 

In this Blockcast episode, Zeng explains Mantle’s unique position as a Layer 2 (L2) network that integrates its own liquid staking derivatives (ME and fBTC) and operates more like a hedge fund than a traditional L2. 

She discusses Mantle’s ecosystem strategy, Mantle’s business model shift, moving from optimistic rollups to ZK rollups, and its focus on DeFi applications and AI integrations. 

Zeng explains Mantle’s Metamorphosis campaign, which incentivizes early adoption of ME and CME, as well as institutional adoption, regulatory concerns around Ethereum ETFs, and Mantle’s expansion efforts. 

More at Blockhead.co and join us on Telegram to stay up to date with the latest news.

🎙️ Hey there, Blockcast listeners! 🎙️ This podcast provides commentary and discussion on cryptocurrency and related topics. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Guests appearing on this podcast may discuss companies or strategies, but these discussions are not recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any particular asset or pursue any specific strategy. The hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and listeners are urged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Investments in cryptocurrency are inherently risky, and you could lose money.

Reach us at [email protected].