The Index Podcast

What does it take to build a million-strong community with just a four-person team? In this special episode of The Index, featuring the recent live stream interview on Everything SVM, host Alex Kehaya joins Jack Levin, CEO of XEN, to explore the story behind XEN Crypto—a community-driven project designed to educate others about the power of economic freedom and the potential of the XEN token. Rooted in the first principles laid out by Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin Whitepaper, XEN aims to redefine self-custody, transparency, and decentralization.

Jack shares how X1 is revolutionizing blockchain technology by integrating a hybrid Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) model. We break down how this unique approach combines the best of both systems, offering unparalleled decentralization, security, and scalability, setting it apart from platforms like Solana, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. Learn about XEN’s mission to empower individuals to mint their tokens, contribute to a collaborative ecosystem, and participate in shaping a future where open-source innovation drives the blockchain industry forward.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on building value from the ground up and the impact of community-led development on the crypto space.

Check out XEN: https://www.xencrypto.io/

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What does it take to build the next generation of DeFi on Solana? In this special episode of the Solana Startup Series, we sit down with Tristan Frizza, Founder of Zeta Markets, to explore the future of crypto trading. Tristan shares his journey from AI to blockchain, participating in Solana’s early hackathons, and the inspiration behind creating Zeta Markets—one of DeFi’s most compelling exchanges.

Tristan takes us through the ins and outs of perpetual futures trading and explains why these instruments are game-changers for traders seeking flexible, non-expiring positions. However, this flexibility comes with risks, especially with high leverage. Tristan provides insights into how volatility can be an advantage, maximizing exchange profitability and offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind crypto revenue models.

We also dive into the technical complexities of building on Solana, one of the fastest-growing ecosystems in crypto. Tristan discusses the necessity of Layer 2 solutions to address network congestion and cost management and breaks down advanced concepts like optimistic roll-ups and ZK bridges.

Tune in to learn how Zeta Markets plans to overcome these challenges and build a comprehensive, builder-friendly ecosystem for the next wave of DeFi innovation on Solana.

Zeta Markets: https://www.zeta.markets/

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What’s the future of Web3 gaming? Join us for a special episode of the Solana Startup Series on The Index. Today, we’re talking with Guido Pardini, CEO of Shaga, a revolutionary cloud gaming platform born from Solana Labs. Guido takes us on an inspiring journey from his teenage years in Italy, where he immersed himself in 3D printing and the maker movement, to his academic studies in computer science and electrical engineering in Milan. Discover how the 2009 financial crisis ignited his passion for decentralized technologies like Bitcoin, and how those early interests now fuel Shaga’s mission to revolutionize gaming by drastically reducing latency through decentralization.

We explore the key differences between centralized and decentralized gaming infrastructures and the innovative ways Shaga is solving the latency problem. Shaga’s DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) transforms individual gaming PCs into nodes, distributed near gamers. These nodes share their computing power to enhance the gaming experience, slashing latency and providing seamless, real-time gameplay. Guido also shares the ambitious plan to pilot a decentralized Xbox cloud gaming platform, offering lag-free experiences while giving small game studios access to free cloud infrastructure. Learn why Solana’s unique state-on-flight technology was the perfect foundation for this game-changing platform.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the future of gaming and the transformative potential of decentralized networks.

Website: https://www.shaga.xyz/
X Channel: https://x.com/playonshaga

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What does it take to build a successful startup in the blockchain space? Join us for a special episode of The Index podcast as part of the Solana Startup Series, featuring twin co-founders Tommy and Taylor Johnson. The two brothers share their startup journey in the crypto world, from Tommy’s early days in the blockchain scene in 2014 to their significant pivot to Solana in 2020. The Johnson brothers provide a detailed account of how they overcame initial hurdles, such as the lack of development frameworks and tools, and how their perseverance led to the innovative project, PsyOptions, which won a Solana hackathon in 2021. Their story is about technical achievements and the founders spirit and resilience required to adapt and thrive in a fast-growing industry.

The discussion delves into their new project, Armada, and their work on staking and tokenomics infrastructure within the Solana ecosystem. They provide insights into validating market demand, collaborating with teams like Hero and Bonk, and emphasize the importance of pattern recognition and perseverance in entrepreneurship. The twins also reflect on the unique challenges and advantages of working together as siblings. From navigating VC funding to balancing family life, this episode is packed with practical advice and serves as another inspiring Solana startup story.

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What is the future of global payment solutions? In this special episode of The Index for the Solana Startup Series, we join Anthony Emezu, CEO & Co-founder of Espresso Cash. Anthony shares his entrepreneurial journey from working at prestigious media companies like ViacomCBS and Showtime Networks to building a groundbreaking mobile finance app.

Learn how Espresso Cash, now available in the USA, Europe, and Nigeria, leverages crypto rails and stablecoins to deliver users a seamless, Venmo-like experience, especially in emerging markets with volatile currencies. Anthony also talks about the app’s rapid growth strategies, their exciting partnership with MoneyGram, and how they’re building network effects in the open-source crypto ecosystem.

Espresso Cash
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What if you could completely transform your investment strategy with real-time, curated on-chain data? This week on The Index, host Alex Kehaya joins Alex Svanovic, co-founder and CEO of Nansen AI, to uncover how his innovative platform is reshaping the financial world by making blockchain data more transparent, efficient, and actionable.

Alex S. shares his vision for a future where blockchain technology outpaces traditional banking, creating a more inclusive and forward-thinking financial ecosystem. Together, we explore how Nansen overcomes the four key challenges of transforming raw blockchain data into practical insights for investors and preview the upcoming Nansen 2, featuring faster speeds, personalized insights, and integrated portfolio tracking, along with new support for Solana.

We also dive into Nansen’s acquisition of Stakewithus, which enhances staking capabilities and aligns with their broader strategy, plus a look at the unique advantages of building in Singapore, a hub for blockchain innovation. Don’t miss this deep dive into how Nansen.ai is revolutionizing the world of finance!

Learn more about Nansen.ai
X Channel: https://x.com/nansen_ai
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nansen-ai

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What will the future of AI governance and decentralized training look like? In this episode of The Index, host Alex Kehaya is joined by Alexander Joseph Long, Founder of Pluralis AI, to explore this pressing question. With a PhD in non-parametric external memory in deep learning and extensive experience at Amazon working on multimodal foundation models, Alexander offers a deep dive into the cutting-edge developments shaping the AI landscape.

They unpack why decentralized training is more than just a technological trend—it’s an essential shift for ensuring control and ownership of AI models. As Ethereum transitions from proof of work to proof of stake, the repurposing of GPUs for AI opens exciting possibilities for decentralized AI systems. The conversation also covers the economic incentives and infrastructure driving this transformation, along with the latest research optimizing communication efficiency for decentralized training algorithms. These developments point to a future where decentralized AI could challenge the monopolistic control held by a few tech giants.

Tune in to discover how this evolving technology could reshape the balance of power in AI.

Learn more about https://pluralis.ai/

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How can you manage cryptographic keys without risking security? Enter Riad S. Wahby, Co-founder and CEO of Cubist, who’s on a mission to make key management seamless and secure.

In this episode of The Index, Riad shares his journey from working on zero-knowledge proofs and contributing to the Ethereum beacon chain to tackling one of the biggest challenges in crypto development. He introduces CubeSigner, a low-latency API designed to generate keys and sign transactions inside secure hardware, safeguarding against insider threats, app compromise, and costly mistakes without compromising performance.

Tune in for a deep dive into Cubist’s hardware-backed key management platform and learn how to keep your digital assets safe while streamlining your development process.

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Why are developers choosing to build on the Solana Virtual Machine? In this week's episode of The Index, we explore this question with an exclusive conversation from a recent livestream hosted by Alex Kehaya, Co-founder & CEO of ABK Labs, and Omar Zaki, Co-founder & CEO of Mantis. They're joined by Terry Chung, Head of Strategy at Eclipse, and Alejo Pinto, Co-founder at Pontem, to discuss the benefits and challenges of building on the SVM ecosystem.

Our expert panel explains why SVM chains are gaining traction among developers, focusing on their high throughput, scalability, and potential for interoperability with other blockchains. They also highlight the importance of creating a sustainable competitive advantage and ensuring a user-friendly experience to attract both developers and users to the SVM ecosystem.

Tune in to hear insightful conversations about the future of Layer 2 solutions, the evolving role of app chains, and innovative concepts like pre-confirmations and DeFi-specific environments within SVMs. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just curious about the Solana ecosystem, this episode is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss!

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What impact will AI have on business innovation? This week on The Index, host Alex Kehaya interviews business futurist Ajay Malik, CEO of Secomind.Ai and author of Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Networking. Ajay shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including his pioneering work at Google and Qualcomm, and his efforts in shaping the future of AI in business.

Ajay explains the distinctions between classic AI and generative AI, highlighting how each addresses unique business challenges. He also discusses how cognitive AI mimics human learning through self-supervised techniques. Learn about real-world applications such as drone detection and Wi-Fi pattern recognition, powered by both proprietary and open-source models.

In this episode, you will learn how tools like GPT-4 simplify complex tasks and how AI-powered cameras enhance manufacturing monitoring. Gain insights into how AI boosts productivity and reduces costs across various industries, from manufacturing to vending machine management. Tune in to hear Ajay’s compelling examples and expert advice on integrating AI into your business strategies. 

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