In this episode of The Leather Lounge, host Sean Longstreet sits down with Hadan Esperidiao, Poet-in-Residence at the ALEX Lab Foundation, for a deep dive into the most powerful innovations in Bitcoin DeFi.We cover ALEX’s evolution from a standalone DEX to a full-stack DeFi platform with over $2.6B in TVL—now pioneering concentrated liquidity with ALEX DAMM, AI-powered smart contract UX, and native USDT integration via Taproot Assets.Plus, Hadan shares exclusive insights into ALEX’s Surge campaign, their cross-chain expansion plans, and how they recovered nearly 1 million STX after last year’s Lazarus Group hack—reaffirming their commitment to transparency, resilience, and user trust.Whether you’re a DeFi builder or just curious about the future of Bitcoin-native financial infrastructure, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.00:00 - Intro00:58 - Welcome to the Leather Lounge & Episode Overview03:10 - Meet Hadan: From Harvard Physics to Bitcoin DeFi07:30 - Pivoting into Ordinals & BRC-20: Following Community Signals10:32 - What USDT on Bitcoin L1 Means for DeFi15:54 - Interoperability Between Taproot Assets & L2s Like Stacks20:02 - Key Milestones & Total Volume Achieved by ALEX25:13 - UX, AI, and the Future of Onboarding DeFi Users28:34 - What Is A Market Maker? DAM & Concentrated Liquidity Explained39:49 - Risks, Strategies & Customizing LP Ranges in DAM43:04 - Benefits for Traders & Building the Bitcoin DeFi Flywheel46:59 - What Is the Surge Campaign? Overview & Gamified Rewards52:39 - Earning in Between Surge Campaigns52:45 - Permissionless Token Listings & Code Verification on Stacks55:56 - The Lazarus Hack: Timeline, Response & Recovery1:03:20 - Treasury Grant Program & Transparent Reimbursement1:10:30 - Reflections on the Team, Resilience & Community Trust1:11:16 - The “DeFi Poet” Name & Literary Influences1:22:25 - Tennyson, Apathy vs. Engagement & Living with Purpose1:30:04 - Moving to France & Choosing the Harder Path1:32:36 - Final Thoughts & The Road Ahead1:33:32 - Follow Hadan (@DeFiPoet) & ALEX (@AlexLabBTC)The Leather Lounge is your go-to destination for conversations with the artists, builders, founders, and innovators shaping the future of Bitcoin.📲 Follow your host Sean Longstreet on X: @Longstreet_BTC🧠 Follow Leather Wallet on X: @LeatherBTCYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leather-ioSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HjKIf476w0HoWVU3cg0kW?si=gdZ9Acf4QWa1DoIYuXiclAApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leather-lounge/id1778092447👍 If you enjoyed this episode, hit the like button, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a single show. Drop your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!