Dr. Max Li, a professor at Columbia University and founder of OORT, joins the Crypto OGs podcast to share his journey from academia to the frontier of decentralized technology. With over a decade of experience in artificial intelligence, Dr Max Li is building a future where data is open, secure, and truly owned by users. In this episode, he breaks down how OORT is challenging Big Tech, why decentralization is key to human-centered AI, and what it really takes to turn groundbreaking research into real-world impact.

Mario Alves: From Banking to Web3 Innovation & Surviving Crypto’s Wildest Bear Markets! 🚀Join us as Mario Alves, a crypto pioneer since 2015, reveals his decade-long journey from traditional banking to building TaiKai Network and TaiKai Garden. Discover how he’s bridging Web2 giants like Microsoft with Web3 builders, surviving crypto’s brutal cycles, and his blueprint for spotting the next 100x projects.🔥 Key Takeaways:✅ From Banking to Crypto – Why Mario left traditional finance to revolutionize Web3✅ Bear Market Survival – How each crash fueled his pivot to TaiKai Network & Garden✅ Hackathons to Billions – Bridging Pfizer, Microsoft, and the European Commission with crypto innovators✅ Red Flags for Investors – Why $100M valuations at seed stage scream “SCAM”✅ Founder Secrets – How to avoid dumping tokens, build trust, and avoid crypto’s deadliest pitfalls

Meet the Community Builder Powering Global VC Networks!Dive into the journey of a serial entrepreneur who scaled investor communities from scratch, navigated cultural landmines, and reveals the secrets to thriving in the ever-evolving world of tech, AI, and Web3.What We Dissect in This Episode:✅ Building Communities: From Startup Monthly to global investor networks—why consistency is king✅ Early Hustles: Launching VNTR, hosting 8,000+ attendee conferences, and learning from failures✅ Scaling Strategy: How chapters, partnerships, and trust fuel international growth✅ Investment Secrets: Vetting investors, KYC, and why team trumps ideas at early stage✅ Adapting Globally: Navigating culture, regulation, and liquidity challenges across regions✅ The Future of VNTR: Ambitions to reach 100,000 investors and 5% of the global market✅ Tech & AI: The rise of avatars, digital networking, and the next wave in Web3

Meet the Crypto Lawyer Who Survived Death Threats & Built Dubai’s Web3 Empire! Irina Heaver, Dubai’s top crypto attorney, reveals why the UAE is crushing Silicon Valley—and how meme coins turned her life upside down.What We Dissect in This Episode:✅ Dubai’s Crypto Dominance: Tax-free havens, 5 regulators, and why Binance chose the UAE✅ Legal Landmines: The $1.3B protocol launched in 4 days—and mistakes that could jail founders✅ Stablecoin Shakeup: UAE’s 2025 ban on crypto payments ✅ Meme Coin Nightmare: Death threats, doxxing, and why Trump’s token frenzy is “degenerate” ✅ Golden Visa Secrets: How crypto talent scores 10-year residency

Meet the Crypto Strategist Shaping MENA’s Web3 Boom! Karyna Sovich, Head of Business Development at DWF Labs, reveals how she went from banking to pioneering crypto market-making—and why the Middle East is crypto’s next frontier.What We Dissect in This Episode:✅ Crypto Origins: How a frozen bank account in 2017 led her down the crypto "rabbit hole" ✅ Binance Bootcamp: Surviving 4.5 years at Binance—Navy SEALs of crypto careers ✅ Market-Making Mastery: DWF Labs’ unique "white glove" liquidity strategy✅ MENA Momentum: Why Abu Dhabi & Dubai are crypto’s new HQ ✅ Meme Coin Logic: Why $20M funds back viral tokens ✅ AI vs. Utility: Balancing hype with real-world Web3 solutions

Kyle, co-founder of the 300K+ subscriber Milk Road and Head of Research at Impact Three, breaks down how he predicts crypto market cycles with stunning accuracy.

We talk:
🚀 How Milk Road became crypto’s go-to newsletter
📈 Kyle’s exact framework for timing market tops + bottoms
📱 Why apps like Coinbase & Phantom will lead the next wave
💰 Token buybacks, stablecoins, and the DeFi comeback
🧠 Bullish picks: Celestia (TIA), MakerDAO, and more
📆 How Trump-era debt could extend this bull run into 2026

If you want a sharper edge in crypto, this is the episode.

Aleksander, General Manager at CoinChain (EMEA) & CEO of XRemit, left traditional finance for crypto, drawn by its rapid innovation and borderless potential. Now, he’s leading XRemit to revolutionize crypto-powered remittances, prepaid cards, and financial access worldwide.

Inside this episode:

• Why crypto is overtaking traditional finance and what Aleksander saw early on
• The rise of prepaid crypto cards and how they are transforming payments globally
• How XRemit operates in 33 U.S. states despite regulatory challenges
• The great crypto migration: Why companies are leaving the U.S. for Dubai and Singapore
• Crypto as a hedge against inflation in LATAM and Africa
• The road to mass adoption in 2025 and what it means for users and businesses

If you want to understand the future of crypto payments, regulation, and global adoption, this episode is a must-listen.

Meet the physicist-turned-crypto visionary who predicted FTX’s implosion months before it collapsed!Dr. Theo, co-founder of Lab4Crypto, reveals how he combines blockchain data and advanced equations to decode market risks, forecast Bitcoin’s surge to $180k.What we cover in this game-changing episode:· FTX Collapse Prediction: The equation that flagged FTX’s risk 3 months before disaster· Power Law Growth: How crypto’s trajectory mirrors physics—and will hit 10T by 2025· Altcoin Timing: Why the next 3-6 months could spark a historic altseason (but don’t rush in!)· Prediction Markets vs. Media: Why blockchain data reveals the real truth about elections and trends· Surviving Crypto Volatility: Dr. Theo’s rules to avoid panic selling and manipulation traps· 2030 Vision: Why crypto will hit 25-30 trillion—and which coins will lead the charge

In this episode of Crypto OGs, we sit down with Innokenty, founder of Paybis, to discuss his decade-long journey in crypto and how his company has evolved into a leading player in the crypto payment and exchange industry.

Innokenty shares how Paybis pioneered crypto purchases via credit cards, the shift from retail to B2B solutions, and the importance of compliance and security in today’s market. We also dive into the latest exchange security breaches, institutional adoption of Bitcoin, and the changing narrative around crypto regulation.

Key topics covered:

• The evolution of crypto payments and why fiat on-ramps are crucial
• Security in crypto exchanges – lessons from recent high-profile hacks
• The institutional shift driving this bull market
• How B2C and B2B crypto businesses are converging
• Meme coins, staking, and the future of decentralized exchanges

If you want a deep dive into the business of crypto payments, security, and institutional adoption, this episode is packed with insights from one of the early builders in the space. Tune in now.

In this episode of Crypto OGs, we sit down with Katerina, co-founder of Oroswap, to discuss her journey from Bitcoin mining observer in 2016 to Web3 leader. With a background in business development, partnerships, and compliance, Katerina brings a unique perspective on the evolution of crypto, DeFi, and AI integration in the space.

She shares insights on the launch of Oroswap, a DEX powered by AI, set to revolutionize decentralized finance. We also explore the challenges of being a woman in the Web3 industry, the cultural perception of crypto, and why she believes AI and DeFi are a perfect match.

Key topics covered:

• The evolution of crypto adoption from 2016 to today
• How AI is transforming DeFi and what makes Oroswap unique
• The role of women in Web3 and breaking industry stereotypes
• Why Dubai is leading the charge in blockchain innovation
• Her thoughts on Bitcoin, DeFi, and the meme coin frenzy

If you're interested in the intersection of AI, DeFi, and Web3 innovation, this episode is packed with insights from a rising leader in the space. Tune in now.