Ted Livingston joins us to discuss how to build consumer crypto products that solve problems users actually care about. In 2009, Ted founded Kik, which grew to over 300M users and led the way for today's messaging apps. Ted is now working on Code, a Solana-based payments app that makes it easy to pay anyone, anywhere in the world. In this episode, we cover Ted's learnings from building Kik, why Kik launched Kin and built on Solana, why stablecoins aren't crypto's answer, what the crypto industry got wrong, why Code could be crypto's first mainstream app and more!

- -

Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:01) Building Kik: One of the Fastest Growing Apps in History

(08:22) Crypto as a New Business Model

(12:03) Why Build on Solana?

(19:57) Code’s Design + Live Demo

(23:43) Jito Plug

(24:46) Kin: Why Stablecoins Aren’t the Answer

(30:00) How to Cultivate Unique Ideas

(34:43) Focusing on Narratives vs Products

(37:05) Crypto's Go-to-Market Failure

(40:02) Why Ted’s Still in Crypto

(42:15) Thoughts on Social and Stablecoins

(46:07) What Crypto Uniquely Enables

(51:21) How to Attract New Users

(58:06) Rapid Fire

- -

This episode is brought to you by Jito.

Jito is the easiest way to earn MEV rewards on Solana with liquid staking. Stake your SOL with Jito to start earning high yield powered by MEV and access instant liquidity through Jito’s liquid staking token JitoSOL so that you can use your staked assets across Solana DeFi. Visit jito.network to get started today!

- -

Follow Ted: https://twitter.com/ted_livingston

Follow Mert: https://twitter.com/0xMert_

Follow Garrett: https://twitter.com/GarrettHarper_

Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3OhiXgV

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3OkF7PD

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

- -

Use code LIGHTSPEED30 to get 30% off Permissionless 2023 in Austin: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

- -

Resources

Code

https://www.getcode.com/

https://twitter.com/getcode

- - 

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Garrett and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.