In this episode of Crypto Cast, host James Burnie is joined by Tobias Van Amstel, Founder and CEO of Altitude, a DeFi protocol platform that unifies established DeFi lending rails to make borrowing more efficient. Tobias founded Altitude to create a platform that focuses on simplicity, automation, and solving real user problems whilst removing unnecessary complexity. Tobias’ own use of DeFi, experience in building successful web 2 technology companies, and his user-first approach has helped to shape Altitude into creating a DeFi platform like no other. 

James and Tobias discuss the difference between CeFi and DeFi, the latest from the FCA and the role of AI – how much control can we really give an AI agent? The conversation also looks at how DeFi’s transparency and smart contract infrastructure are reshaping how lending works, and what the next phase of growth in the sector could look like.

In this episode of Crypto Cast, host Kathryn Dodds is joined by Karl-Martin Ahrend, Founding Partner of Areta, a leading Web3-focused investment bank, to explore the rapidly accelerating world of crypto M&A.

Kathryn and Karl uncover the current state of crypto M&A, revealing the trading infrastructure and sectors that are driving the deals reshaping the crypto landscape. Kathryn and Karl-Martin dig into the negotiation dynamics between buyers and sellers, explaining why crypto founders often find themselves at a disadvantage and how the right advisory can level the playing field. Karl-Martin also discusses the emerging trend of token-based M&A, predicting that protocol treasuries will become increasingly active buyers and potentially trigger a new wave of consolidation. 

Crypto Cast is the leading podcast for crypto founders and leaders. Join hosts Pavan ‘PK’ Kaur, James Burnie, Kathryn Dodds and Bart Kacicki, a team of specialist crypto advisors and lawyers at international firm gunnercooke. The team chat to some of the biggest industry names about everything you need to know on the business of web3, NFTs, DAOs, AI and blockchain. From regulatory updates to building the tech, and from marketing and tokenomics to gearing up for a successful exit, you’ll hear all the hot takes on the future of crypto. gunnercooke has one of the largest full-service crypto teams in Europe and the US, specialising in blockchain, Web3, crypto assets, DAOs, AI and DeFi, who have helped shape the legal and regulatory frameworks central to today’s crypto landscape.   

CRYPTO CAST

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In this episode, host PK is joined by Laura K. Inamedinova, Principal at Gate Ventures and CGEO at Gate.com, to unpack what investors are really looking for in the crypto market. Together, they explore how crypto fundraising has shifted away from tokens and into a far more practical phase where traction and revenue speak louder. PK and Laura also dig into the crossover between AI and Web3, and why not every AI startup has a future. Laura explains why VCs are prioritising real adoption and distribution, and why this isn’t a tough market - it’s tough for the wrong founders. Founders - listen to Laura for advice.

Crypto Cast is the leading podcast for crypto founders and leaders. Join hosts Pavan ‘PK’ Kaur, James Burnie, Kathryn Dodds and Bart Kacicki, a team of specialist crypto advisors and lawyers at international firm gunnercooke. The team chat to some of the biggest industry names about everything you need to know on the business of web3, NFTs, DAOs, AI and blockchain. From regulatory updates to building the tech, and from marketing and tokenomics to gearing up for a successful exit, you’ll hear all the hot takes on the future of crypto. gunnercooke has one of the largest full-service crypto teams in Europe and the US, specialising in blockchain, Web3, crypto assets, DAOs, AI and DeFi, who have helped shape the legal and regulatory frameworks central to today’s crypto landscape.  

CRYPTO CAST

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Crypto Cast is back! Host PK kicks off the new series with an interview with Marco Morazzoni, CEO and Founder of Semoto, the largest B2B ecosystem in Web3. PK and Marco ask the big question of how we know who to trust in crypto, and why Marco created Semoto to build a community of vetted and approved service providers. From wannabe ‘blockchain experts’, to a potential pending apocalypse when it comes to market abuse, they breakdown how to know if people really do know their stuff and the fundamental services crypto businesses actually do need. There’s pressure on founders to build fast and compliantly, so here’s why getting the fundamentals of legal, compliance, and infrastructure right from the start is critical to long-term success. 

Crypto Cast is the leading podcast for crypto founders and leaders. Join hosts Pavan ‘PK’ Kaur, James Burnie, Kathryn Dodds and Bart Kacicki, a team of specialist crypto advisors and lawyers at international firm gunnercooke. The team chat with some of the biggest industry names about everything you need to know on the business of web3, NFTs, DAOs, AI and blockchain. From regulatory updates to building the tech, and from marketing and tokenomics to gearing up for a successful exit, you’ll hear all the hot takes on the future of crypto. gunnercooke has one of the largest full-service crypto teams in Europe and the US, specialising in blockchain, Web3, crypto assets, DAOs, AI and DeFi, who have helped shape the legal and regulatory frameworks central to today’s crypto landscape.   

CRYPTO CAST

⬜ Click here to receive every podcast straight to your inbox

⬜ Follow PK on LinkedIn

⬜ Follow Marco on LinkedIn

What is a market maker, and why does every crypto project need one?

In this episode of Crypto Cast, James Burnie talks with Tim Meggs, CEO and Co-founder of Lo:Tech, to explore the evolving role of market makers in the digital asset space and why transparency and ethics are becoming central to the conversation.

James and Tim discuss why liquidity matters, how to pick the right market maker, and why transparency and ethics are becoming non-negotiables. Tim also shares why he founded Lo:Tech and what the future could look like when capital markets move entirely on-chain.

In this episode of Crypto Cast, Financial Services Regulation & FinTech Partner James Burnie is joined by Marco Suvillaga Schönenberg, Associate Lawyer and Blockchain Consultant for Accelerate Law Firm and Lead Project Manager of Tokenization for ECIJA, to uncover the true effects of El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption.

They dive into key questions such as is crypto really being used on the ground, are businesses moving in, and which industries are leading the charge what should companies consider before entering the El Salvador market and what’s next for crypto in the country?

In this episode of Crypto Cast, Uldis Teraudkalns, Chief Revenue Officer at Paybis, joins James Burnie, Partner at gunnercooke, for an engaging discussion on the ever-evolving world of fintech and crypto.

Together, they explore, who Paybis are and what they’re doing to revolutionise the crypto space, the rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and their potential impact on the industry and some of the key fintech trends that are currently shaping the EU market.

Tune in for valuable insights from leaders at the forefront of the crypto and fintech industry.

Laurynas Spangevicius, General Manager of Robinhood Crypto Europe, joins gunnercooke Partner James Burnie in this exciting episode of Crypto Cast.

Together, they delve into the global regulation of the crypto market, exploring the challenges and nuances of navigating regulatory landscapes across the US, UK, and EU. The discussion highlights the EU's groundbreaking Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), unpacking its implications for crypto-asset trading, transparency, disclosure, and transaction supervision.

Simon McLoughlin, CEO of leading digital assets trading platform Uphold, joins gunnercooke Partner James Burnie in the latest episode of Crypto Cast. 

James and Simon discuss the future of crypto banking; more specifically what Gen Z are expecting from a crypto-enabled neo-bank in 5-10 years. Additionally, as Uphold are FCA regulated, they highlight the pros and cons of operating under the FCA and in the UK market. 

In this episode of Crypto Cast James Burnie chats with Scott Thiel, CEO and Co-founder of Tokinvest, a marketplace that connects real-world asset issuers with investors around the globe. 

James and Scott discuss the origins of Tokinvest, why the company was created and why people should consider tokenising their assets. They also go through what difficulties people can face when seeking to do so, how they can overcome this and what the future has in store for the tokenisation.