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The Protocol episodes

  • Polygon | Building a Unified Environment for Value and Liquidity

    Brendan Farmer, Co-Founder of Polygon, gives an overview of Polygon's Ecosystem and its adoption and benefits of the Ag Layer.


    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, dive into 

    the strategy and vision behind the Ag layer, which aims to solve the problem of L2 fragmentation on Ethereum with Brendan Farmer Co-Founder of Polygon.

    Polygon is focused on building a unified environment for value, liquidity, and state in the Ethereum ecosystem. The Ag layer connects different mini-ecosystems within Polygon and allows chains to plug into the liquidity and value that already exists.

    Takeaways

    • Polygon's strategy is to build a unified environment for value, liquidity, and state in the Ethereum ecosystem.
    • The Ag layer connects different mini-ecosystems within Polygon and allows chains to plug into existing liquidity and value.
    • The Ag layer includes a builder marketplace where builders can simultaneously build blocks across multiple chains, providing users with a seamless experience.
    • The goal is to create a positive-sum outcome for all chains involved and avoid fragmentation in the ecosystem.


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

    01:19 Polygon's Strategy and Tech Shift

    06:50 Analogies for Understanding the Ag Layer

    07:26 Adoption and Benefits of the Ag Layer

    09:36 Overview of Polygon's Ecosystem

    10:54 Polygon Today: POS Chain and ZKVM Chain

    12:28 Polygon's Technological Innovations

    14:35 POS Chain and the Future of Polygon

    19:42 The Ag Layer as a Connector

    22:02 Competition and Collaboration in the Industry

    23:36 Avoiding Fragmentation and Rent-Seeking

    25:23 The Challenge of Monetizing Users in Crypto

    27:44 The Builder Marketplace and Block Building

    28:16 MEV and the Ag Layer

    32:16 Addressing Outages and Ensuring Stability

    34:44 Precautions and Warnings for Users

    38:27 The Eigen Layer and L2 Vision

    40:17 The Den Koon Upgrade and the Blob Market

    -

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    EPISODE LINKS | 

    Polygon Acquires Ethereum Scaling Startup Mir for $400M 

    Polygon Plans 'AggLayer,' in Bid to Synthesize Modular, Monolithic Blockchains 

    Polygon Releases 'Type 1 Prover,' Claiming Milestone Set by Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin 

    Polygon, StarkWare Tout New 'Circle STARKs' as Breakthrough for Zero-Knowledge Proofs  

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    48 min
  • Eigenlayer's Blueprint for a Decentralized Trust Network

    Sreeram Kannan, the founder of Eigenlayer, discusses the initial 'training wheels' phase for Eigen DA, a data availability service, and the implementation of slashing and market mechanisms.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, dive into the innovative world of Eigenlayer. They explore the decentralized trust network's vision and technology in a conversation with Sreeram Kannan, the founder of EigenLayer.

    The roadmap for Eigenlayer includes the launch of Eigen DA, a data availability service, and the implementation of slashing and market mechanisms. The project is currently on track for a mainnet launch in early Q2.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 

    Takeaways | 

    • Eigenlayer enables developers to build new infrastructure services without the need for separate decentralized trust networks.
    • The system utilizes pooled security and attributable security to ensure the integrity and availability of services.
    • The roadmap for Eigenlayer includes the launch of Eigen DA, slashing, and market mechanisms.
    • Eigenlayer is on track for a mainnet launch in early Q2.


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    EigenLabs CEO on Jump in User Deposits | Video | CoinDesk 

    About - EigenLayer 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    33 min
  • Solana: Its Meme Coin Craze, Growth and Vision With CEO Anatoly Yakovenko

    Solana has seen remarkable growth and market capitalization, with its token soaring by 791% over the past year. Despite this surge, the factors driving the popularity and success of meme coins on the Solana network remain uncertain.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, discuss the rise of Solana and the recent craze around meme coins on its platform with guest Anatoly Yakovenko, CEO of Solana Labs.

    Anatoly delves into his journey into crypto and evaluates the sustainability of meme coin growth, probing its impact on Solana's network. He also tackles the challenge of failed transactions on Solana and outlines upcoming upgrades aimed at addressing priority fees and expanding block size. Throughout the discussion, Anatoly Yakovenko provides insights into Solana's comparison with Ethereum, its competitive landscape and ecosystem, scalability initiatives, roadmap, outage management, security measures, and the business model behind the Solana Phone.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 

    Takeaways | 

    • Solana has experienced significant growth and market cap, with its token up 791% over one year.
    • Meme coins have gained popularity on Solana, but the reasons for their success are unclear.
    • The meme coin craze has stressed Solana's network, leading to a high number of failed transactions.
    • Solana is working on upgrades to address priority fees and improve transaction flow and scheduling. Solana is focused on execution and transmitting information quickly, while Ethereum is focused on settlement.
    • The visions of Solana and Ethereum are different, but they compete because of overlapping use cases and features.
    • Security in blockchain networks does not depend on the majority of the network, but rather on the cryptographic signatures and trust of entities like Circle.
    • The Solana Phone aims to disrupt app stores by offering an app store with no fees, allowing developers to save revenue and provide a better user experience.


    EPISODE LINKS | 

    Solana 

    Anatoly Yakovenko and Solana Bounce Back

    Solana Meme Coin Slerf Clocks Higher Trading Volume Than All of Ethereum

    SOL Crosses $200 as Meme Coin Frenzy Bumps Demand for Solana Network

    Solana-Based Crypto Exchange Drift Plans Pre-Launch Market for New Tokens

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    43 min
  • The Ethereum Dencun Upgrade Is Here

    Tim Beiko from the Ethereum Foundation, shares the Importance of the Dencun Upgrade, what are their concerns, and Ethereum's long-term scaling strategy.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, discuss the Ethereum Dencun upgrade, a significant upgrade for the Ethereum blockchain, with a special guest, Ethereum Foundation's Tim Beiko.

    The upgrade introduces ephemeral data storage, known as blobs, which will reduce storage costs for layer twos and roll-ups. The Dencun upgrade is technology-neutral and does not favor any specific layer2 solution. However, there are concerns about the potential fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem and the shift towards less secure chains. Overall, the upgrade is an important step towards Ethereum's long-term scaling plans. 


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    Takeaways | 

    • The Ethereum Decun upgrade introduces ephemeral data storage, known as blobs, which will reduce storage costs for layer twos and roll-ups.
    • The upgrade is technology-neutral and does not favor any specific layer two solution.
    • There are concerns about the potential fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem and the shift towards less secure chains.
    • The Dencun upgrade is an important step towards Ethereum's long-term scaling plans.


    EPISODE LINKS | 

    Ethereum Finalizes 'Dencun' Upgrade, in Landmark Move to Reduce Data Fees 

    Ethereum.org 

    5 Things to Know About Ethereum's Latest, Greatest Upgrade: Dencun


    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    44 min
  • Morpho Labs CEO Examines Drawbacks in Current DeFi Risk Management

    Paul Frambot discusses the future of DeFi and the potential for widespread adoption.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, dive into the evolving landscape of DeFi with guest Paul Frambot, the Co-founder and CEO of Morpho Labs, a research and development company responsible for building and growing the Morpho protocol. 

    Dencun Coming Next Week - What Are We Expecting?

    Leading figures behind layer-2 teams told CoinDesk how Ethereum's upcoming Dencun upgrade will affect their networks – and costs.

    Gauntlet and DeFi Lending

    According to Gauntlet, the move to Morpho offers the potential for more money with greater flexibility.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    TAKEAWAYS  | 

    • ETH Denver showcased the presence of layer 2 solutions and infrastructure layer solutions in the blockchain space.
    • The competition between different blockchain platforms, such as Ethereum and Solana, is driving innovation and pushing the Ethereum community to accelerate its development.
    • The current model of risk management in DeFi, where protocols are managed by on-chain funds, has limitations and lacks transparency.
    • Morpho Labs is building lending pools that aim to decentralize risk management and allow for a more flexible and efficient system.


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Ethereum Fees Set to Drop for Arbitrum, Polygon, Starknet, Base. But How Much? 

    Days After Ditching Aave, Risk Manager Gauntlet Moves to Rival Lender Morpho

    Curve Crisis Shows Pitfalls of Decentralized Risk Management

    Morpho 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 min
  • Jesse Pollak Discusses Base, Optimism, and the Evolving Landscape of Layer 2 Solutions

    A Preview to ETH Denver, hosts delve into strategies aimed at democratizing Ethereum accessibility for all attendees, ensuring inclusivity across the community.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, welcome Jesse Pollak, the Creator of Base and Head of Protocols, as a guest host. Together, they delve into topics such as Decentralized Governance, Fraud Proofs, Security, and other relevant discussions leading up to ETH DENVER. 

    Takeaways |

    • Base has made significant progress in reducing fees and improving wallets and identity infrastructure.
    • The rise and fall of FriendTech showcased the challenges of building consumer social products on-chain.
    • The partnership with the Optimism Foundation has allowed Base to contribute to decentralized governance and receive OP tokens.
    • The launch of smart wallets aims to simplify the user experience and make on-chain transactions more accessible.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Base 

    L2 BEAT- Base

    The Protocol: Friend.tech Fades as Crypto Craze, but Ethereum Is Scaling

    Fintech Provider Portal Raises $34M Seed Round for Bitcoin-Based Decentralized Exchange

    Jesse Pollak Creator; Head of Protocols Base; Coinbase 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    31 min
  • Are We Ready for the Speculative Frenzy? Airdrop Controversies, Smart Contracts, and Liquid Restaking Critiques

    Ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze joins as a Guest Host to discuss the controversies and issues surrounding the Starknet airdrop, the phased rollout of Soroban smart contracts on the Stellar blockchain and the concept of liquid restaking incentives and rewards.


    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, explore the following stories:

    Starknet Airdrop Coverage 

    Starknet Token STRK begins trading at $5 after a mammoth airdrop. A Fully diluted value of STRK reached as high as $50 billion with an initial market cap of $3.64 billion.

    Stellar Starts 'Soroban' Smart Contracts

    The "Protocol 20" upgrade, which adds support for Ethereum-style smart contracts to the decade-old payments-focused blockchain, had been delayed by three weeks due to precautions after a bug was found.

    Liquid Restaking Landscape

    New liquid restaking platforms like Puffer and Ether.Fi have attracted billions of dollars in deposits, but they've birthed a speculative "points" frenzy that carries some risks.


    PROTOCOL VILLAGE GUEST HOST | 

     Mike Silagadze, CEO and Founder at Ether.fi - the first ETH staking protocol that allows stakers to maintain full control of their keys throughout the entire staking process, making it the only truly decentralized liquid staking platform.


    Takeaways | 

    - Controversies and issues often arise with airdrops, including eligibility criteria and token unlocks.

    -The introduction of smart contracts on established blockchains can rejuvenate the ecosystem and attract new users.

    -Liquid restaking is a natural extension of proof-of-stake blockchains and allows users to stake their assets while maintaining liquidity.

    -Points in liquid restaking protocols have sparked speculation and trading frenzy, but their future value is uncertain.

    -The explosive growth in the liquid restaking market may experience a correction in the future. The money printer being turned on again has led to a speculative frenzy in various markets, including crypto.

    -Restaking has become a focal point of speculation and value creation in the crypto space.

    -EtherFi aims to become a trusted brand for holding ETH and accessing DeFi, with plans to roll out integrated products over time.

    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Starknet Token STRK Begins Trading at $5 After Mammoth Airdrop

    STRK Tokens Claimed Hit 420M in a Day as On-Chain Metrics Soar

    Starknet’s STRK Drops 53% Amid Token Issuance Criticism

    Stellar Starts Phased Rollout of 'Soroban' Smart Contracts

    Liquid Restaking Tokens or 'LRTs' Revived Ethereum DeFi. Can the Hype Last?

    Liquid Restaking Protocol Puffer Rakes in $1B in Deposits in Just 3 Weeks

    As Crypto 'Points' Farming Grows, So Does Risk of Vague Promises

    Etherfi 

    Mike Silagadze - EtherFi | LinkedIn 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    44 min
  • The Trio of Crypto Trends: Is It a Meme or Is It Hype? Ethereum Tokens, a Bitcoin Code Resurgence and Airdrop Fever

    The hosts dissect three key topics: the inception of DN 404 tokens on Ethereum, the resurgence of the OP_CAT function in Bitcoin, and the ongoing airdrop season in the crypto sphere, delving into the implications and controversies surrounding these developments.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk,  explore the following stories:

    Developers on the Ethereum platform introduce 'DN-404' tokens.

    The new token type claims to solve some of the drawbacks with ERC-404s, an experimental standard that launched last week – to such popularity that it's already driven up congestion on the Ethereum blockchain.

    The 'OP_CAT' function from the Satoshi-era Bitcoin code is being revived amidst a surge in development enthusiasm.

    Developers Ethan Heilman and Armin Sabouri view OP_CAT as a simple opcode that offers some of the general-purpose functionality currently missing in Bitcoin

    The Eigenlayer TVL experiences a significant spike due to a suspected airdrop.

    Capital locked on restaking protocols is now at $10 billion, in December it was just $350 million.


    Takeaways | 

    ERC-404 tokens on Ethereum allow for the fractionalization of NFTs, enabling greater liquidity and trading opportunities.

    The revival of the Opcat function in Bitcoin's development could open up new possibilities for building on the network.

    Airdrop season is in full swing, with various projects distributing tokens to reward users and incentivize participation in their ecosystems.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Ethereum Developers Create 'DN-404' Tokens After ERC-404s Send Network Fees Surging

    What Is ERC-404? The Experimental Standard Whose First Token Has Rocketed 12000% in One Week

    Satoshi-Era Bitcoin Function 'OP_CAT' Dusted Off as Development Fervor Grows 

    Starknet Blockchain Plans Much-Awaited Airdrop of New STRK Tokens Next Week

    EigenLayer's Cap Lift Prompts $4B Inflow as ETH Restaking Heats Up 

    Wormhole airdrop: Wormhole (W) Tokenomics 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    30 min
  • Tests, Restaking, and Upgrades: How Is the Blockchain Ecosystem Shaping Up?

    Special Guest Host Nebojsa Urosevic, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Tenderly, joins us to share insights on Ethereum's development process and future.

    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

    Follow the show here for more.

    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk,  explore the following stories:

    The Solana Blockchain Freeze 

    Solana, the low-latency blockchain that's seen an explosion in activity in recent months, experienced an approximately five-hour outage on Tuesday.

    Eigenlayer Lifts Staking Cap, Soars Past $3B 

    The temporary lift comes as restaking on Ethereum is booming despite warnings from developers that it might strain the network.

    Taproot Wizards NFT Project Sells OUT

    All 3,000 of the "Quantum Cats" digital images were claimed by the end of Monday's public mint, selling for a fixed price of 0.1 BTC ($4,265) each – despite severe technical issues that had delayed the process by a full week.

    PROTOCOL VILLAGE INTERVIEW SEGMENT  

    Final ‘Holesky’ Testnet

    The test simulated “proto-danksharding,” a technical feature aimed at reducing the cost of transactions for rollups as well as making data availability cheaper.

    Guest: Nebojsa Urosevic is Co-Founder and SVP of R&D at Tenderly -

    A full-stack infrastructure solutions provider, powering Web3 developer teams with the essential tools and services throughout their development journeys. As a former software engineer for almost a decade, with experience in building, scaling and maintaining large-scale distribution cloud systems, Nebojsa is now responsible for the development and maintenance of a custom scalable Ethereum Virtual Machine that has the ability to reverse engineer transaction execution and perform various simulations in real-time.


    Takeaways | 

    • The recent Solana outage highlights the challenges of scaling blockchain networks and the need for continuous infrastructure improvement.
    • The Eigen Layer restaking protocol offers a new way to earn rewards and secure other protocols, but there are still risks and uncertainties associated with it.
    • The DenKun upgrade and Proto-Dang Sharding are important steps towards improving scalability and reducing costs on the Ethereum network.
    • The development of layer 2 solutions and the competition among them will play a crucial role in the future of Ethereum and blockchain technology.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Solana Back Up Following Major 5-Hour Outage 

    EigenLayer Lifts Staking Cap, TVL Soars Past $3B 

    Bitcoin NFT Project Taproot Wizards Sells Out First Collection, Raking in $13M 

    Ethereum's Dencun Upgrade Reaches Final ‘Holesky’ Testnet, Starting Countdown to Data 'Blobs'

    Tenderly 


    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    37 min
  • 'Protocol Councils’ Can the Blockchain Ecosystem Trust These People?

    Joining us, Riad Wahby, Co-founder and CEO of Cubist, delves into the risks of restaking, potential contagion effects on blockchain security, and the essential questions that the blockchain ecosystem must address.


    This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund


    Follow the show here for more.


    In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk,  explore the following stories:

    TOPICS | 

    Lido DAO Endorses Rivals 

    LayerZero launched a Lido stETH bridge last October without asking for Lido DAO's permission. The community responded this week by endorsing a pair of its biggest competitors.

    "Blockchain protocols frequently pride themselves on their "permissionlessness" – the idea that anyone, anywhere can build on top of a protocol without asking for explicit approval. But in practice, it is sometimes wiser to ask for permission."


    Blockchains and Decentralization

    The goal of these "protocol councils,” sometimes called “security councils,” is to nudge these nascent networks toward increasing decentralization, by gradually removing them from under the control of their original developers. How are they different from boards of directors?


    PROTOCOL VILLAGE INTERVIEW SEGMENT  

    Guest: Riad Wahby 

    Riad Wahby is the co-founder and CEO of Cubist, a developer of hardware-backed, non-custodial key storage and signing infrastructure that enables companies to protect staking keys and secure withdrawals.


    Takeaways | 

    Keys are fundamental in blockchain interactions and require careful management to ensure security.

    Restaking introduces risks and potential contagion effects that can impact the security of the underlying blockchain.

    The restaking ecosystem offers opportunities for innovation and collaboration, but reputation and risk assessment are crucial for making informed decisions.

    Building systems that can withstand non-compliant users and incentivize responsible behavior is essential for the long-term success of blockchain networks.

    There is continued interest in blockchain and crypto among students, with a focus on computer security, cryptography, and the intersection of blockchain and AI.

    Balancing entrepreneurship and academia requires efficient time management and leveraging the support of graduate students and teaching assistants.


    Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 


    EPISODE LINKS |  

    Lido DAO Rebukes LayerZero by Endorsing Rivals Wormhole, Axelar for Crypto Bridge

    As Blockchains Push Toward Decentralization, These People Serve as Ultimate Guardians 

    Riad S. Wahby 

    Riad S. Wahby - Google Scholar 

    Cubist 

    Cubist Launches Bank-Grade Ethereum Key Management Service 

    -

    From Our Sponsor: 

    The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

    Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

    -

    The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    39 min

About The Protocol

From the publisher's feed

Dive deep into the blockchain realm with The Protocol Podcast, where we unravel the intricate technologies powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Join us on a…