Tonight we celebrate Emily Herrick’s return to the show by diving into a wide-ranging, wildly entertaining conversation about all things crypto.

We break down:
– What good grant programs look like (and how to fix bad ones)
– Ponzinomics: when they’re brilliant, when they’re broken, and how to tell the difference
– A history lesson on Olympus DAO (OM)
– Tokenomics/Ponzinomics Breakdown: Raydium vs Morpho vs Maple Finance (and how Emily would hack Maple 👀) 

PLUS:

– Could Will’s new-found dolphin fame prompt him to go solo?
– The cultural literacy gap: “You don’t know Labubu??”
– And a big question from Neal: what would it look like if crypto failed—or succeeded? Spoiler: it all comes down to incentives.

Plus, find out who wins the game of Dings & Gwumps and secures a prize for premium member @ eaaymoney 🎉

🔗 Links from the Show:
Emily – x.com/emilyluvscrypto
Foolproof Labs – foolproof.xyz | x.com/foolproofxyz
Maple Finance – maple.finance
InfoFI Grant Trends – Web3Kristel on X
Labubu Dolls – YouTube explainer

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

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☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

Will (aka Flipper, "Free Willy") kicks things off with a market update, and Alex drops two more platforms offering confirmed airdrops for $POL stakers (with a little screenshare overview for good measure--links below).

Then we talk pump.fun’s $1B token sale and what it means for Solana culture before welcoming our friend Dawufi to the show. "Thot leader" and vibe architect at Opacity, he breaks down zkTLS, what it means for privacy and freedom online, and some of the cool products & projects bringing the benefits of zero-knowledge to life.

Plus, we discuss Magic Eden's confusing announcement about the $TRUMP wallet and the overlooked benefits of Saratoga water (yes, really) because, you know, we're all about culture and keeping the internet weird--I mean, free... weird and free.

🔗 Links from the Episode
Dawufi – x.com/dawufi | warpcast.com/dawufi
Opacity – linktr.ee/opacitynetwork | opacity.network | x.com/opacitynetwork
Polygon Staking w/ Confirmed Airdrops –
staderlabs.com | trufin.io | ankr.com | staking.polygon.technology

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
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☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

The dolphin suit is back (OpenSea are you watching this?!) and the guys dive into some rapid fire headlines that surface how TradFi continues to make waves in crypto.

We break down:

• ETFs - inflows, outflows, and how a Solana product could shift the market
• How to buy a Bitcoin ETF (and why you might)
• Buying stocks like Strategy and 21 Capital - companies acquiring BTC - as a strategic play
• Criticisms of Coinbase and how users can get help
• Community questions on airdrops, staking, and DeFi strategies
• Plus a no-trade DeFi play for going long on Bitcoin from Crypto Twitter’s "Tulip King" Mikey Kremer

🔗 Links from the Episode:

• Coindesk Daybook Americas – https://www.coindesk.com/daybook-us
• Molly White on X – https://x.com/molly0xFFF
• Stake SOL with Marinade – https://app.marinade.finance/?r=rise_up
• Crypto Taxes Made Easy (Course Recording) – https://theriseupmorningshow.com/shop/9c3fb506-24d0-43d9-9697-ac9f4825f917?pageViewSource=lib_view&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ftheriseupmorningshow.com%2F&show_back_button=true
• Koinly Referral – https://koinly.io/?via=335C0FF1&utm_source=affiliate
• Bitcoin DeFi Strategy – https://x.com/mikeykremer/status/1929666922020589761

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

Usually, The Rise Up Morning Show dives deep, but today Will takes it literally and joins in a dolphin suit 🐬— the porpoise? His main TikTok account @coin_guide is appealing a ban, so he’s raising awareness for his alt: @dolphin_coin_guide. Make sure to follow him there for crypto-meets-flipper fun!

After addressing the dolphin in the room, we swim through today’s macro news:

• Rumors about Jerome Powell’s potential departure
• Bitcoin Whale James Wynn’s big liquidation makes a splash

Plus, the guys share a live tutorial on staking $POL tokens to secure the network and earn airdrops—featuring Katana, Billions, and Miden.

If you've got a crypto wallet and some $POL, Follow along as we show you how to:
1️⃣ Use the Polygon bridge
2️⃣ Choose a validator
3️⃣ Stake your tokens in a few clicks
4️⃣ Earn free tokens from community airdrops

To wrap up, we’re joined by Nill from Polygon Labs, who shares extra pro tips for POL users looking to maximize staking and rewards.

🔗 Links from the Episode:

• Polygon Staking – https://staking.polygon.technology
• Polygon Bridge – https://portal.polygon.technology/bridge
• Ankr Protocol – https://ankr.com
• Kaito – https://linktr.ee/kaito_ai
• Resources for airdrops – defillama.com, defiprime.com, airdrops.io
• Confirmed Polygon airdrops – https://staking.polygon.technology/community-drops

Support the show

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Want to hang out with us after the show, get live answers to your questions, or join future giveaways?
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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

Today, the guys welcome back Gerard aka Geebz, our go-to VC correspondent, for a rich discussion on the state of crypto post-Consensus.

They cover:

• Reflections on Consensus (spoiler: RWAs are everywhere)
• How to approach and get started in DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure)
• Insights on DeSci (where it’s working and where it’s not)
• A new mental model to understand the major sectors of crypto
• And in closing thoughts: Is the crypto 4-year cycle theory broken? Or was it always just a narrative?

Don’t miss this one if you want a sharp, no-fluff analysis of what’s real and what’s hype in the crypto space.

🔗 Links from the Episode:

• Geebz on X – https://x.com/0xGeebz
• Geebz’ Blog – https://magicinternetmoney.beehiiv.com
• DePIN Scan – https://depinscan.io
• Previous DePIN Hub episode – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMq5RVu6K6k&list=PLyf7SgDXsybXxC2spjcprDdCc52j-sTej&index=27

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

On this edition of Rise Up After Dark, Will and Alex host Ruto from Polygon to dive deep into the current pulse of the crypto industry.

They cover:

• Airdrop farming strategies: how to stay ahead of the next wave
• How to break into the crypto industry and build a meaningful role
• A sneak preview of Katana, a powerful new DeFi product suite in Polygon’s ecosystem
• How crypto companies are navigating marketing in a rapidly evolving landscape
• The stark differences between Crypto Twitter and Crypto TikTok conversations

Whether you’re a degen, builder, or just starting out, Ruto’s insights will give you a roadmap for thoughtful progress in the wild and wonderful world of web3.

🔗 Links from the Episode:

• Ruto on X – https://x.com/GianTheRios
• Polygon – https://x.com/0xPolygon | https://polygon.technology
• Agglayer – https://x.com/Agglayer | https://agglayer.dev
• Katana – https://x.com/katana | https://katana.network

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

Today chaos (and hilarity) ensue(s) as Will drives the show & debuts his new soundboard, u-turning into impromptu comedy gold. Alex tries his best to keep one hand on the wheel, but "there's no stopping this soul train, baby"

Maybe they recover, maybe they don't, but the guys answer your questions and tackle topics like:

• Will BlackRock become an outsized force in crypto? (And what would it mean for the rest of us?)
• What does the Circle IPO mean for stablecoins and market stability?
• Is the Solana Seeker phone (and SKR token) worth the hype?
• Should we accept sponsorships—what are the ethics of monetizing content in the crypto space? (powered by Polygon, by the way)

P.S. Don’t miss tonight’s episode Rise Up After Dark where we host Ruto from Polygon Labs to answer your crypto questions, live at 7 pm central!

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—
Today the theme is "reunion" on The Rise Up Morning Show as Evan, Alex, & Will are finally back together after Evan’s vacation.

We celebrate Bitcon's new all time high; debrief the current status of the GENIUS Act, and debate the implications--whether yield-bearing stablecoins might be on thin ice. Then, a lively discussion on payment streaming and, specifically, Zebec (ZBCN), where Alex does not mince words about refusing to "slobber on [other people's] bags." Plus, Will gives a technical analysis of Bitcoin’s climb to its all-time high, breaking down the odd movements that have traders scratching their heads.

In the second half of the show, we welcome a true crypto OG—William Quigley, cofounder of Tether and WAX. William shares his insights on the news of the day, offers a crisp definition of tokenization, shares what he's working on, and explains why blockchains are bad at most things—and which problems they actually do solve.

🔗 Links from the Show:

• William Quigley on X – https://x.com/WilliamEQuigley
• Tether – https://tether.to
• WAX – https://wax.io

Support the show

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Want to hang out with us after the show, get live answers to your questions, or join future giveaways?
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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
👉Join our free community: https://community.rumshq.com

FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

On tonight’s episode of Rise Up After Dark, we’re joined by a couple legends: 

Green Jeff—ponzi plunderer and DeFi founder extraordinaire—(aka @jeffthedunker) takes us through his crypto origin story, from Bitcoin gambling on a Minecraft server to navigating governance protocols like AAVE and Curve, and eventually founding protocols like Metronome, Vesper Finance, and his latest project, Odyssey Finance—a bold attempt to make DeFi actually usable for real people.

Evan & Alex give Jeff his well-earned flowers as a friend, mentor, and one of the sharpest minds in the space. He breaks down:

• How to build conviction in DeFi and size your positions accordingly
• How to elevate your yield strategies
• Why Odyssey is different—and how to get involved
• Why he’s so frustrated with Jesse Pollak’s “Coin It” campaign on Base 

Then in the second half, we welcome back Lindsay Poss and get to meet her cohost Larissa Bundziak of the hit Seeking Alpha Podcast in what becomes a hilarious, thoughtful, and slightly unhinged roundtable covering:

• How they got started and their chemistry as cohosts
• What it’s like to operate “at the intersection of Crypto Twitter, Silicon Valley, and Tinder”
• How we're using AI (and which we’d Marry, F%&!, or Kill
• Why they’re doubling down on smart, funny, fearless content to serve a bigger audience

Mentors, mischief, and market wisdom—this one is unforgettable.

LINKS & HANDLES: 
Green Jeff – https://x.com/jeffthedunker | https://tiktok.com/@jeffthedunker 
Metronome Protocol – https://metronome.io/ 
Vesper Finance – https://vesper.finance/ | https://x.com/vesperfi 
Odyssey Finance – https://odyssey.finance | https://x.com/0xOdysseyApp
DeFi Strategies – https://debank.com/ 
Lindsay Poss – https://x.com/LindsayPoss | https://medium.com/@lindsay_thoughts 
Larissa Bundziak – https://x.com/LarissaBundziak 
Seeking Alpha Podcast – https://x.com/seekingalphapod | https://linktr.ee/seekingalphapod 

Support the show

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Join our free community where the show lives 24/7:
 community.rumshq.com

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☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...

Goodnow, revolutionaries—

Today’s episode features one of the sharpest minds in Web3 gaming and content: Sam Steffanina—cofounder of WolvesDAO, CMO at Farcade, and host of the Gamified podcast.

Evan opens with a story from the Consensus conference floor, then Sam breaks down why "Web3 gaming is inevitable" as platforms like the Farcade lower barriers to entry in gaming and content.

We explore:

• Game design trends (MapleStory Universe, next-gen devices, vibe-creating)
• How to land authentic sponsorships that serve creators and communities
• Where web3 gaming is headed next (and who will take it there)

It’s a wide-ranging, high-signal conversation a long time in the making—dare we say, Sam Steffanina x Rise Up was... inevitable?

🔗 Links from the episode:

• Sam Steffanina – https://x.com/samsteffanina
• Gamified – https://x.com/gamifiedshow | Available on all podcast platforms
• WolvesDAO – https://x.com/WolvesDAO
• Farcade – https://x.com/farcade_ai | https://farcade.ai

Support the show

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Want to hang out with us after the show, get live answers to your questions, or join future giveaways?
Join our free community where the show lives 24/7:
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—

☕ THE RISE UP MORNING SHOW☀️
LIVE Monday - Thursday @ 7a central
Helpful web3 news, commentary, & answers to your crypto questions.

🍻RISE UP AFTER DARK🌗 
LIVE Wednesdays @ 7p central
DYOR and BYOB for casual Q&A, fun with expert guests, and altcoin research.

📈RISE UP MARKET WATCH🤑
LIVE Mondays @ 7p central
Technical analysis, real macro insight, and practical takeaways to help you invest smarter in every market.

⚖️ TRUST ISSUES 🧐 
LIVE Tuesdays @ 6:30p central
Breaking down U.S. crypto policy, regulation, and legislation—what they mean for the industry and what comes next.

—

WANT MORE?
👉Connect w/us on your favorite social: https://rumshq.com
👉Become a guest or sponsor: [email protected]
👉Join our free community: https://community.rumshq.com

FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:
☮️ Evan Mann: https://beacons.ai/conversationswithevan
🤬 Alex Popovic: https://alexpopovic.info
🐬 Will Watson: https://c...