In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we sit down with Anar and Nikolai, co-founders of CX Chain, to explore their purpose-built gaming L1 on Avalanche that's democratizing liquidity for on-chain gaming.

The CX Chain team explains how traditional web2 casinos systematically disadvantage players through non-transparent random number generation and liquidity manipulation. They demonstrate how Avalanche's breakthrough VRF technology enables sub-millisecond random number generation, making truly fair gambling possible for the first time.

We dive deep into their vision for a "Pump.fun for casino games" where developers can easily launch gambling applications using shared liquidity pools, and how their family background in traditional casinos gives them unique insights into player psychology and game mechanics.

Key Topics:

🔺 Why traditional casino randomness can't be trusted

🔺 How Avalanche's VRF technology solves speed and cost problems

🔺 The CX Chain liquidity model and validator economics

🔺 Building a community-driven game development platform

🔺 Node sale details and tokenomics

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts

00:28 Welcome to the Defi Podcast

01:00 Market Update and Current Events

01:36 Tesla and AI Discussion

03:32 Federal Reserve Meeting Insights

04:16 TikTok Betting Trends

04:43 Introduction to CX Chain

06:03 Challenges and Innovations in Decentralized Gambling

16:41 Future Vision for CX Chain

27:17 Node Sale and Final Thoughts

Follow CX Chain:

@CxChainOfficial

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@M0xrrissey

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, hosts Bill, Rhett, and Jared sit down with Kory Shipp to break down why Avalanche is dominating the L1 space and how ACP-77 changed everything.

Kory explains how Avalanche's genius strategy of slashing validator costs from 2000 AVAX to just 1 AVAX per month triggered a flood of Web2 companies building their own L1s. We dive deep into why this approach beats Ethereum's expensive L2 model and Polkadot's failed auction system.

The conversation covers Avalanche's current meme coin season, native Warp messaging advantages, and why the C-chain is now the fastest and cheapest EVM in crypto.

Key Topics:

🔺 ACP-77: How validator cost cuts changed everything

🔺 Why AVAX L1s are crushing Ethereum L2s

🔺 Avalanche meme coin season analysis (Cat coin, Arena app)

🔺 Native bridging vs expensive Ethereum bridges

🔺 Web2 companies flooding into Avalanche ecosystem

🔺 GoGoPool rebrand to Haifa and L1 infrastructure

🔺 Why low fees beat high revenue extraction models

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Meme Coins

01:19 Market Update and Trends

03:42 Discussion on Fed Policy and Economic Indicators

11:19 Avalanche and Meme Coin Season

18:14 Debate on the Value of Meme Coins

22:25 Bitcoin: A Meme or More?

24:15 Regulatory Shield of Meme Coins

24:52 Avalanche and the Om Fork

26:54 Avalanche's Fee Reduction and L1 Model

28:43 Ethereum's Fee Market and L2s

29:37 Value Drivers for L1 and L2 Chains

35:36 Avalanche's Validator Fee Reduction Impact

38:40 Haifa's Role in the L1 Ecosystem

44:13 User Experience and Cost in Blockchain

48:29 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@RhettShipp

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, hosts Bill, JF, and Rhett sit down with Andrea Muttoni, President of Story Foundation, to explore how blockchain technology is revolutionizing intellectual property rights and creating the IP-Fi ecosystem.

Andrea reveals how Story Protocol is tackling the $70 trillion IP market by making intellectual property programmable on blockchain.

Key Topics:

- Story Protocol's approach to programmable IP rights

- The $70 trillion intellectual property market opportunity

- IP-Fi: applying DeFi primitives to intellectual property

- Music royalty tokenisation and yield generation

- AI training rights and creator compensation

- The emergence of community-built Hollywood-tier IP

- Legal innovation through blockchain technology

We also discuss Story's partnerships with Stability AI, the tokenisation of music royalties through projects like Aria Protocol, and how David Goyer's Emergence project is creating community-driven Hollywood-tier IP.

Chapters:

00:19 Welcome Back to the DeFi Podcast

00:54 Market Update: Traditional and Crypto Markets

03:02 Conference Insights and Market Sentiments

10:30 Ethereum Foundation's New Initiatives

16:35 Introduction to Story Protocol

23:07 The Future of IP on Blockchain

29:59 Decentralized IP Attestation and Dispute Resolution

31:02 Challenges and Solutions in IP Management

31:52 AI's Role in IP and Content Creation

33:45 The Future of IP and AI Collaboration

38:53 Tokenizing Music Royalties and Beyond

42:20 Exploring New IP Asset Classes

49:34 Emergence: Community-Driven IP Creation

51:43 Business Model and Future of Story Protocol

54:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow Story Foundation:

Website: https://story.foundation

Twitter: @StoryProtocol

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@RhettShipp

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

In this special episode recorded live at the Avalanche Summit at Historic Hatfield Park, we sit down with John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs, for an in-depth conversation about Avalanche's vision for the future of blockchain.

John shares his fascinating journey from international affairs and policy work to becoming a key figure in crypto, including his early Bitcoin discovery at a Los Angeles coffee shop in 2012 and his path through traditional finance, media, and eventually to Ava Labs.

We explore why John believes we're entering "L1 season" and how Avalanche's multi-chain architecture is positioned to capture this shift. From Web3 gaming finally becoming indistinguishable from traditional gaming to enterprises needing their own purpose-built chains, John breaks down why general-purpose blockchains are becoming obsolete.

Key Topics:

🔺 John's background: from political wonk to international trade to crypto pioneer

🔺 Why Web3 gaming is "just starting" and how Avalanche enables true scalability

🔺 The coming "L1 season" and why L2s are starting to falter

🔺 How the C-chain acts as a hub without fragmenting liquidity

🔺 Enterprise adoption and why every business will need its own chain

🔺 The importance of regulatory clarity and building in New York

🔺 Why the best tech doesn't always win and how Avalanche is addressing this

Recorded at the Avalanche Summit, this episode offers unique insights into one of crypto's most ambitious ecosystems and the strategy behind making blockchain technology truly accessible for enterprises, gamers, and developers alike.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Defi Podcast at Avalanche Summit

00:32 Introducing John Neha: From Tradify to Crypto

01:19 John Neha's Journey into Blockchain

07:50 Building Token Vault and Early Blockchain Ventures

11:57 Exciting Developments in Avalanche

14:24 The Future of Web3 Gaming on Avalanche

17:44 Avalanche's Unique Approach to Blockchain

20:41 The Evolution and Future of Crypto

24:16 Launching Your Own L1 Chain

24:42 The Rise of L1 Season

25:31 Challenges and Opportunities for L2s

27:10 The Value of L1 Chains

29:32 The Role of the C-Chain

34:19 Highlighting Use Cases and Supporting Builders

41:48 The Importance of Transparency in Crypto

44:49 Avalanche Summit and Community Building

47:01 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Follow the Pod:

https://x.com/defipodcast

Follow the Guest:

https://x.com/JohnNahas84

https://x.com/AvaLabs

Follow the Hosts:

https://x.com/Bill_Tanyeri

https://x.com/JFSaine

https://x.com/M0xrrissey

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

#Avalanche #L1 #Web3Gaming #Enterprise #Blockchain #DeFi #AvalancheSummit

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we're joined by Clayton Menzel, Head of BD at Babylon, to explore how they're revolutionizing Bitcoin by enabling staking functionality without bridging or wrapping.

Clayton explains Babylon's innovative approach that allows Bitcoin holders to put their BTC to work through a delegated proof-of-stake system while maintaining custody of their assets. Learn how Babylon is creating both a security layer and liquidity layer for Bitcoin, allowing it to secure other chains while injecting Bitcoin liquidity into various ecosystems.

Key Topics:

🔹 How Babylon enables Bitcoin staking without leaving the Bitcoin network

🔹 The slashing risk profile compared to other DeFi activities

🔹 Babylon Genesis Chain and its role in the ecosystem

🔹 The future of trustless LST creation using BitVM technology

🔹 How Babylon contributes to Bitcoin's long-term security model

🔹 Partnerships with chains like Osmosis and Tac

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin Use Cases

00:42 Market Update and Bitcoin Performance

03:31 Ethereum and Crypto News Highlights

10:24 Deep Dive into Babylon and Bitcoin Staking

13:37 Understanding Babylon's Staking Mechanism

17:11 Comparing Babylon with Other Protocols

19:44 Security and Liquidity in Bitcoin Staking

26:04 Shared Security and Bitcoin Liquidity

28:32 Bitcoin Renaissance and Staking Functionality

31:05 Yield and Rewards for Staking Bitcoin

32:51 Babylon Genesis Chain and Its Use Cases

36:26 Bitcoin's Role in Decentralized Finance

40:17 Challenges and Opportunities for Bitcoin Security

44:20 The Future of Bitcoin and Babylon's Vision

51:04 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Follow us:

Twitter: @DefiPodcast

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@RhettShipp

@M0xrrissey

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

#DeFi #Bitcoin #Babylon #Staking #BTC #Crypto

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we're joined by Brendan Joyce (@azzabazazz), CEO of Pakt (@PaktWorld), who is revolutionizing how businesses are built on blockchain.

Brendan shares his fascinating journey from Hollywood screenwriter to Obama campaign worker to blockchain innovator, and how winning a pitch contest launched Pakt as the "WordPress for Web3." Learn how Pakt is using AI tools to dramatically lower the barrier to creating blockchain-powered businesses, potentially changing the way we think about entrepreneurship in the digital age.

Our hosts Bill, Jared (@M0xrrissey), and Rhett also cover recent market moves with Bitcoin hitting 97K, the Movement Labs controversy, and the challenges crypto projects face when working with market makers.

Key Topics:

- How Pakt creates "chain sites" that seamlessly integrate blockchain functionality

- Non-custodial escrow systems that protect both freelancers and clients

- Using AI to create blockchain businesses in days instead of months

- The vision for turning early adopters into builders

- The journey from Rwanda to Nairobi building with a global team

Whether you're interested in building on blockchain, AI's impact on crypto, or the future of decentralized business models, this episode offers fresh insights into how the industry is evolving beyond price speculation toward real utility.

Follow the guest:

@azzabazazz

@PaktWorld

Follow us:

@DefiPodcast

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@M0xrrissey

@RhettShipp

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:16 Market Update and Economic Insights

06:14 Movement Labs Controversy

09:05 Challenges with Market Makers

15:15 Oiler Protocol's Comeback

29:09 Brendan's Journey in the Avalanche Ecosystem

35:38 Pitching at Avalanche Creates

38:53 Introducing Pakt: The WordPress for Web3

42:47 The Evolution of Pakt with AI

49:14 Addressing Security and Reputation Concerns

53:19 The Future of Blockchain-Powered Businesses

56:16 Live Demo and User Experience

01:06:29 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

#DeFi #Blockchain #AI #Pakt #WebThree #Avalanche

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, hosts Bill, JF, and Rhett sit down with the multifaceted Kenny Schachter – artist, writer, curator, and leading voice in the NFT movement, who has spent over three decades challenging art world conventions.

Kenny shares his remarkable journey from philosophy student to self-taught art expert, revealing how he stumbled into the art world and later embraced blockchain technology.

Whether you're interested in art, NFTs, or the future of creative expression in the digital age, Kenny's provocative insights and entertaining stories offer a unique perspective from someone operating at the intersection of traditional and digital art worlds.

Key topics include:

- Kenny's unconventional path from law school to becoming an art world provocateur

- Why he believes "NFT" has become a pejorative term in today's culture

- His controversial stance against royalties in the NFT space

- The intersection of AI, blockchain, and traditional art

- His experiences with hacks that led to significant crypto losses

- How the art market functions as a "zero-sum game of economics"

The hosts also provide updates on crypto markets and discuss developments with Avant Protocol, which has reached 40 million TVL without token incentives.

Chapters:

Follow us:

Twitter: @DefiPodcast

Guest links:

@kennyschac

https://www.kennyschachter.art

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@RhettShipp

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

#NFTs #ArtMarket #Blockchain #DigitalArt #CreativeEconomy #DeFi

Why AI hackers are more dangerous than we think: They don't need perfection to succeed. When attacking systems, being wrong 10,000 times doesn't matter if you get it right just once. This clip explains how economically feasible it's becoming to "throw more spaghetti at the wall" with AI-powered attacks in hacking and drone warfare - creating unprecedented security risks through sheer volume rather than sophistication.

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we're joined by Jacob Miller, VP of Data Science at Pattern, to explore how AI is being implemented at enterprise scale in one of e-commerce's biggest players.

Jacob reveals Pattern's approach to benchmarking various AI models (Claude, Gemini, GPT) against real business metrics rather than public leaderboards, and why fine-tuning is finally becoming worthwhile after years of being a "trap."

As the VP overseeing AI operations for the #1 seller on Amazon globally, Jacob offers rare insights into how commercial AI is transforming business operations and driving tangible ROI.

Alongside hosts Bill, JF, and Rhett, we dive into Jacob's contrarian take on AI agents, why different AI models are becoming increasingly specialized, and his fascinating personal applications of AI - from creating a Chinese language tutor for his son to building an AI coach that helps him stay aligned with his goals throughout the day.

Key Topics:

- How Pattern swaps and benchmarks different AI models to determine which works best for specific business tasks

- Why fine-tuning AI models is finally becoming valuable after previously being a "trap"

- Jacob's "hot take" that AI agents are currently overrated but will be valuable in ~2 years

- Creative personal AI applications including an AI coach and Chinese language tutor

- Realistic perspectives on AI development timelines and the limitations of current technology

- The intersection of AI and blockchain - why crypto may have an advantage for AI agent integration

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:40 Jacob Miller's Background and Role at Pattern

04:03 AI Models and Their Applications

06:35 Public vs. Private Benchmarks in AI

10:05 Writing and AI: Personal Experiences

12:25 Consumer AI and User Experience

16:10 Google's AI Journey and Market Dynamics

19:21 Future of AI: Investment and Bottlenecks

25:19 Fine-Tuning AI Models: Is It Worth It?

28:35 Surprises and Contrarian Views in AI

29:48 Unexpected Breakthroughs in AI

29:54 The Rapid Evolution of Image Generation

31:05 The Competitive Landscape of AI Models

33:33 AI Agents: Overhyped or Future Game-Changers?

42:23 AI in Personal and Professional Life

53:08 The Future of AI and Its Potential Risks

01:01:56 Concluding Thoughts and Predictions

Follow us:

Twitter: @DefiPodcast

Guest links:

@patternhq

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@RhettShipp

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, hosts Bill, JF, and Rhett sit down with Jean from Crunch DAO to explore how they're connecting 8,000 data scientists globally to solve complex problems while maintaining data privacy.

Jean reveals Crunch's unique approach that transforms sensitive financial data into abstracted games (like the "Bird Game" for forex trading), allowing data scientists to build powerful models without seeing the actual data. Learn how Crunch is leveraging blockchain technology to ensure fair compensation for global talent and why diversity of approaches creates superior AI solutions compared to small internal teams.

Key Topics:

How Crunch functions as "a Palantir with zero employees"

The differential privacy technique that protects sensitive financial data

Why financial institutions were the first to adopt Crunch's technology

How blockchain technology enables a global talent marketplace

The future of AI's "gut feeling" and what's coming for the Crunch platform

Chapters:

00:00 Building a Palantir with Zero Employees

00:22 Introduction to the Defi Podcast

01:16 Market Update: A Roller Coaster Week

01:56 Trump's Tariffs and Market Reactions

08:01 Crunch DAO: A Deep Dive

08:26 How Crunch DAO Works

08:40 The Role of Data Scientists in Crunch DAO

10:05 Differential Privacy and the Bird Game

10:10 Applications and Use Cases of Crunch DAO

12:52 Challenges and Solutions in AI and Machine Learning

16:43 Client Engagement and Data Management

22:47 Protecting Intellectual Property in AI Models

23:41 Challenges of Overfitting in Data Science

24:43 Live Data Testing and Model Validation

26:17 Diverse Approaches to Machine Learning

28:09 Intersection of Crunch and Blockchain Technology

29:33 Ensuring Fair Rewards for Model Creators

31:04 Trusted Execution Environments for Code Security

36:31 Future of AI and Human Intuition

41:23 Current State and Future Plans for Crunch

44:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow us:

Twitter: @DefiPodcast

Follow the Hosts:

@Bill_Tanyeri

@JFSaine

@RhettShipp

Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.

#DeFi #AI #Blockchain #CrunchDAO #DataScience #MachineLearning