In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by John Paller, founder of ETH Denver, to reflect on nine seasons of North America's largest Ethereum gathering and where the ecosystem goes next. John shares his "red pill" moment in 2016 and the subsequent realization that Ethereum was not just a corporate efficiency tool, but a way to rewire the global economic system. He discusses the evolution of the Biddle meme and how ETH Denver has become a market-driven aggregator for crypto's shifting narratives, from DeFi summer to the current era of institutional adoption.

They delve into a candid critique of the Ethereum Foundation’s "Infinite Garden" philosophy, with John arguing for more "structural vision" and actionable roadmaps to compete with the aggressive narratives of chains like Solana. The conversation highlights Agentic AI as the ultimate "Trojan Horse" for mass adoption, enabling a future where users interact with sovereign bots rather than complex private keys. Finally, John explains his Regulation Membership proposal to the US Congress, aiming to provide a federal securities exemption for on-chain cooperatives and restore true economic agency to the "little man."

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 Recruitment Tech to Ethereum: John’s Genesis Story
• 09:30 Inventing the "Biddle" Meme at Denver 2018
• 15:00 Is Ethereum a "Neo Casino" or a Settlement Layer?
• 21:45 Critiquing Idealism: The Infinite Garden vs. Reality
• 27:10 Why Solana is Not "Sufficiently Decentralized
• 35:20 Agentic AI: The End of signing Transactions manually
• 42:15 The Roman Catholic Church & Institutional Co-opting
• 49:00 German Cooperative Culture & On-Chain Credit Unions
• 55:30 Regulation Membership & The SEC Challenge
• 59:45 Zero Knowledge Identity & Privacy Rights

Links

• John Paller on X: https://x.com/PallerJohn
• ETH Denver: https://www.ethdenver.com/
• Opolis: https://opolis.co/
• Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter
• NEAR: https://near.ai/

Sponsors:

1. Lido V3 introduces stVaults: modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer. Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter

2. NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.

In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Chris Yin, CEO of Plume Network, to deconstruct the current state of Real World Assets (RWAs) and why the sector is at a pivotal inflection point. Chris argues that most RWA projects today are functionally "worse on-chain" because they lack liquidity, composability, and the "crypto-native" user experience that made stablecoins successful.

He details how Plume is solving this through a custom L1 stack and the Nest vault protocol, which tokenizes high-yield assets like Brazilian credit card receivables and oil production for a global market.

They explore the friction between traditional finance and DeFi, highlighting why private credit's long duration makes it unsuitable for the "looping" and leverage that drives crypto demand. Chris explains the significance of Plume’s SEC Transfer Agent license and its role in bridging the gap between regulated funds and permissionless rails.

Finally, the conversation tackles the "bleak" vs. "optimistic" future of crypto, asking whether the industry will maintain its core principles of self-custody and decentralization as it searches for a "new daddy" in institutional capital.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 The Job of a Founder: Finding Change
• 09:30 Crypto Natives vs. TradFi Suites
• 15:00 Stablecoins: The Only RWA That Matters (Today)
• 21:45 The Bottleneck: It’s Not Tokenization, It’s Demand
• 27:10 Why Build an L1 for Assets?
• 35:20 SEC Transfer Agent License Explained
• 42:15 Nest Alpha: Blending Oil, Credit, and T-Bills
• 49:00 Is Leverage Sustainable for Institutions?
• 55:30 The Exodus: Will Crypto Values Survive?

Links

• Chris Yin on X: https://x.com/chriseyin
• Plume Network: https://www.plumenetwork.com/
• Nest: https://nest.plumenetwork.com/
• NEAR: https://near.ai/

Sponsors:
NEAR AI Cloud now lets developers deploy OpenClaw—the rapidly growing open-source AI agent platform—inside Trusted Execution Environments, providing hardware-level encryption with cryptographic attestations. With OpenClaw on NEAR AI Cloud, you can run agents with cloud convenience, but without traditional cloud data exposure. No hardware to manage. No trust assumptions required. Learn more at near.ai.

In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Michael Svoboda, CEO of Liquid AG, to discuss Liquity V2 and the launch of the BOLD stablecoin. Michael explains how Liquity maintains a governance-free, immutable architecture to provide "sovereign dollars" that are not dependent on human committees or centralized backstops. He introduces user-set interest rates, a novel DeFi primitive where borrowers determine their own rates to balance their cost of capital against the risk of being redeemed by stablecoin holders.

They explore the technical mechanics of the BOLD stablecoin, its multi-collateral backing of ETH and LSTs, and why the protocol funnels 100% of fees directly to users rather than extracting rent. Michael also shares his analogy of crypto-native stablecoins as "electric engines" that offer a fundamentally different risk profile from traditional banking rails. Finally, the conversation dives into the impact of global regulations like MiCA and why the future of finance belongs to peer-to-peer credit markets.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 Why Banking is Under Pressure
• 09:30 From V1 to Liquity V2
• 15:00 User-Set Rates Explained21:45 Redemptions & Peg Stability
• 27:10 Collateral Risk: ETH & LSTs
• 35:20 Cefi vs. Defi Risk Spectrum
• 42:15 Is Immutability Dogmatic?
• 49:00 Revenue Distribution & Self-Sustainability
• 55:30 Non-USD Stables & Global Shifts

Links

• Michael on X: https://x.com/svobodamichael
• Liquity: https://www.liquity.org/
• Bluechip: https://bluechip.org/
• Lido: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter

Sponsors:

• Lido V3 introduces stVaults: modular staking infrastructure that lets builders and institutions deploy custom staking vaults, while staying anchored to stETH as a shared liquidity layer. Get started building with Lido V3 today: https://lido.fi/stvaults?mtm_campaign=epicenter

In this episode, host Friederike Ernst is joined by Thomas Thiery, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, to discuss EIP-7805 and the implementation of FOCIL (Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists). Thomas explains how the rise of MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) has created a centralized builder market where a few actors now control over 85% of Ethereum's block production, creating a dangerous bottleneck for censorship. FOCIL addresses this by empowering a decentralized committee of 16 validators to mandate transaction inclusion, making any block that ignores these lists invalid.

They explore the "Tornado Cash" moment and the risks of "silent censorship" for competitive or regulatory reasons. Thomas explains why FOCIL intentionally prioritizes the public mempool over MEV-heavy transactions to prevent the system from being co-opted. Finally, the conversation looks at the future of the Ethereum roadmap, including the Osaka fork and the technical trade-offs between inclusion lists and long-term privacy solutions like encrypted mempools.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & FOCIL

• 04:15 MEV & Centralization

• 09:30 The Builder-Searcher Pipeline

• 15:00 Silent Censorship Risks

• 21:45 FOCIL Architecture & Committees

• 27:10 Validity Rules for Attestors

• 35:20 Spam Protection & Invalid TXs

• 42:15 FOCIL vs. Encrypted Mempools

• 49:00 EIP-7805 Status & Fork Timelines

• 55:30 Future: PQC & ZK EVM

Links

• Thomas Thiery on X: https://x.com/soispoke

• Ethereum Foundation: https://ethereum.foundation/

• EIP-7805 (FOCIL): https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7805

• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

In this episode, we are joined by Zach Abrams, CEO of Bridge, to unpack the infrastructure behind the next generation of global payments. Zach discusses Bridge’s mission to move stablecoins beyond mere trading use cases and into core financial services, a vision that recently led to its landmark acquisition by Stripe . He explains how stablecoins function as an innovation at every layer of the money stack, enabling payments that are fundamentally faster and cheaper than legacy systems like ACH or SEPA.

They delve into the technical "puzzle pieces" of payments, from the inefficiencies of FBO bank accounts to the "cheat code" of compounding growth in the stablecoin sector. Zach introduces the concept of Stablecoin Orchestration and details why the current USDC/USDT duopoly is unaligned with high-velocity payments due to rent-seeking burn fees and AUM-focused models . Finally, the conversation explores the future of consumer finance, where non-custodial wallets act as bank replacements and a pluralistic ecosystem of local, company-issued stablecoins challenges the dominance of the US dollar

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 Legacy Rails vs. Stablecoin Innovation
• 09:30 The "Cash App" Hack & Payments Creativity
• 15:00 Why Bridge Joined Stripe
• 21:45 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Startup Needs
• 27:10 Stablecoin Orchestration & Issuance Explained
• 35:20 The Duopoly Problem: Why USDC/USDT Isn't Enough
• 42:15 Orthogonal Competition: The "Europe" of Stablecoins
• 49:00 Wallets as the New Primary Bank Account
• 55:30 Regrets of a "Child of the Depression" Founder

Links

• Zach Abrams on X: https://x.com/ZCAbrams
• Bridge: https://bridge.xyz
• Stripe: https://stripe.com
• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

In this episode, recorded live at Buidl Europe 2026, host Sebastian Couture leads a panel with Ben Lakoff (Bankless Ventures), Richard Muirhead (Fabric Ventures), Aurora Orellana (G20 Strategies), and Matthew Arrow (Dark Forest). Together, they tackle the existential question facing the industry: can Cypherpunk values like self-custody and permissionless survive as multi-billion dollar institutions become the primary drivers of adoption?

The discussion delves into the tension between individual sovereignty and the regulatory reach of organizations like the FATF, which they describe as a "Goliath" accountable to no one. They explore the concept of the "DeFi Mullet" a centralized user interfaces powered by decentralized backends and how privacy tech is becoming essential not for institutions seeking defensible competitive moats. Finally, the conversation looks at how global competition between jurisdictions will define the next decade of financial freedom and what it truly means to be a Cypherpunk in 2026. 

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 Cypherpunk Values in an Institutional World
• 09:30 Permissionless Deployment & Self-Custody
• 15:00 The Regulatory Spectrum: KYC vs. Freedom
• 21:45 The FATF & Global Financial Surveillance
• 27:10 Jurisdictional Competition & Portability
• 35:20 Selling Privacy to Institutions vs. Individuals
• 42:15 The DeFi Mullet & Atomic Settlement
• 49:00 Barriers to Entry: Legacy Mainframes & Career Risk
• 55:30 What it Means to be a Cypherpunk in 2026

Links

• Ben Lakoff on X: https://x.com/benlakoff
• Richard Muirhead on X: https://x.com/RichardMuirhead
• Matthew Arrow on X: https://x.com/mattarrow 
• Bankless Ventures: https://bankless.ventures/
• Fabric Ventures: https://www.fabric.vc/
• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/
  

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

In this episode, host Brian Crain is joined by Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, to discuss the exchange's rapid ascent and its ambitious roadmap for 2026. Gracy shares her journey from a mathematics background and journalism into the C-suite of a top-tier exchange, detailing Bitget's growth from a team of 150 to over 2,200 employees. She outlines the concept of the "Universal Exchange" (UEX) a unified platform where the boundaries between crypto, tokenized equities, and commodities effectively disappear.

They explore how Bitget is leveraging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and AI-driven advisory tools like Get Agent to redefine user acquisition and trading intelligence. Gracy also provides a candid outlook on the "altcoin fading" phenomenon, arguing that the market is shifting toward blue-chip assets and real-world utility. Finally, they discuss the immense challenges of global regulatory compliance, including Bitget’s priorities for securing MiCA licenses and navigating a potential entry into the complex US market.

Topics

- 00:00 Intro & Crypto Beginnings

- 05:45 The Origin of Bitget

- 10:15 The "Universal Exchange" (UEX) Vision

- 16:30 Tokenized Stocks vs. TradFi Brokers

- 22:00 Competition: CEX, DEX, & Robinhood

- 28:15 AI in Trading: Get Agent & GEO

- 34:40 The State of Altcoins in 2026

- 41:00 Global Compliance: MiCA & US Markets

- 55:30 2026 Market Predictions

Links

- Gracy Chen on X: https://x.com/GracyBitget

- Bitget: https://www.bitget.com/

- Bitget Wallet: https://web3.bitget.com/

- Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

In this episode, hosts Sebastien Couture, Brian Crain, and Friederike Ernst gather for their annual wrap-up to discuss the end of the "infinite money glitch": the era where tokens traded at billions without proven product-market fit. They explore the 2025 "spring cleaning" that devastated the altcoin market and the quiet, efficient entry of web2 incumbents like Revolut and Stripe. The discussion centers on the industry's maturation into a space where protocols are finally judged on their ability to generate real revenue and growth.

The team analyzes the 2025 "spring cleaning" of altcoins alongside Polymarket’s mainstream breakout. As giants like Stripe and Revolut scale crypto integrations, the hosts debate if consolidating distribution power is diluting the original promise of decentralized agency. Finally, they address the existential quantum threat to Bitcoin and share their 2026 "hot takes.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Notable Memories
• 04:30 The Bybit Hack & Price Action
• 08:15 Polymarket & The Mainstream Breakout
• 12:00 The Altcoin "Spring Cleaning"
• 18:45 Axelar & The Circle Acquisition
• 25:30 Incumbents: Back-end Upgrades vs. Values
• 33:15 Social Media & The Economics of Attention
• 42:00 Staking Consolidation & Distribution Power
• 50:30 The Quantum Threat to Bitcoin
• 58:45 2026 Predictions: RWAs & Perps

Links

• Sebastien on X: https://x.com/seb3point0
• Brian on X: https://x.com/crainbf
• Friederike on X: https://x.com/tw_tter
• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

In this episode, host Sebastian Couture is joined by Ismael Hishon-Rezaizadeh, CEO of Lagrange, to explore the intersection of frontier cryptography and national security. Ismael discusses the transition of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology from a "token-centric" crypto tool to a vital component of defense, specifically focusing on its role in securing autonomous drone swarms and closing the hypersonic missile gap.

They delve into Deep Proof, Lagrange's ZK-machine learning library, which facilitates verifiable AI execution while protecting sensitive model intellectual property and private input data. Ismael introduces the concept of "Accountable Autonomy," arguing that cryptographic proofs are necessary to ensure that lethal "kill chain" decisions are made by the correct models under verified inputs, removing the risks inherent in "black box" AI decision-making. Finally, the conversation touches on the geopolitical competition with China, the importance of domestic chip manufacturing, and why the US market's ability to align private sector innovation with military needs is a decisive strategic advantage.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro & Context
• 04:15 ZKML vs. Venice
• 09:30 Protecting Model IP
• 15:00 Dual-Use Defense Pivot
• 21:45 The Palantir Comparison
• 27:10 US-China Chip Race
• 35:20 Drone Swarm Consensus
• 42:15 Accountable Autonomy Explained
• 49:00 Kill Chain Verifiability
• 55:30 EU vs. US Defense

Links

• Ismael on X: https://x.com/Ismael_H_R
• Lagrange Labs: https://www.lagrange.dev/
• Anduril Industries: https://www.anduril.com/
• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io

Fresh off the launch of the Ignition Chain and a successful community-led $61M token sale, Aztec Network co-founder Zac Williamson joins Friederike Ernst to unpack the "existential" journey of building programmable privacy. Zac opens up about the "sacrificial altar" moment where the team decided to kill their live product, Aztec Connect which had 60k users because they realized true decentralized privacy required rebuilding from scratch rather than iterative upgrades.

They dive deep into the architecture of the new network, which utilizes a hybrid state model (encrypted UTXOs for privacy, public accounts for transparency) to enable composable applications. Zac challenges the cryptographic dogma of "don't roll your own crypto," arguing that for pioneers, relying on "battle-tested" libraries is impossible. He explains why decentralized sequencers are not just a moral choice but a security necessity to prevent government-mandated backdoors.

Finally, Zac contrasts the chaotic but decentralized resistance to surveillance in the US with the increasing top-down control in the UK and Europe, framing Aztec as essential "defense in depth" for the digital age.

Topics

• 00:00 Intro 
• 03:45 The "Sacrificial Altar": Killing Aztec Connect
• 10:15 Hybrid Architecture: UTXOs vs. Accounts
• 16:30 Why You Must "Roll Your Own Crypto"
• 22:00 Decentralization as a Defense Against Backdoors
• 28:15 Performance: Throughput & Latency Trade-offs
• 34:40 Private Smart Contracts: Gaming & Identity
• 41:00 The Macro View: US vs. EU Surveillance

Links

• Gnosis: https://gnosis.io/
• Zac Williamson on X: https://twitter.com/Zac_Aztec
• Aztec Network: https://aztec.network
• Noir Language: https://noir-lang.org
  

Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at http://gnosis.io