Roham Gharegozlou, CEO of Dapper Labs, the company behind CryptoKitties, and Benny Giang, Dapper Labs’ head of Asia, describe how employees at venture studio AxiomZen came up with the idea for CryptoKitties, what problems it exposed in crypto (beyond scaling!), and how CryptoKitties can teach people the value of decentralization. They also defend the $140,000 price tag on one kitty, explain how they plan to grow from the current 300 users per day that the blockchain is logging, and surmise that if it weren't for user experience issues, CryptoKitties could have been 100 times bigger. Plus, they talk about the Kittyverse.
 Thank you to our sponsors!
 DACC: https://www.digitalassetcustody.com
 Quantstamp: https://quantstamp.com
 The Sun Exchange: https://thesunexchange.com
 Episode links:
 CryptoKitties: https://www.cryptokitties.co
 AxiomZen/Dapper Labs: https://www.axiomzen.co
 Roham Gharegozlou: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roham
 Benny Giang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennygiang/
 The $140,000 CryptoKitty:  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/style/cryptokitty-auction.html
 Fundraising news:  https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/20/cryptokitties-raises-12m-from-andreessen-horowitz-and-union-square-ventures/
 CryptoKitties on HTC's new phone: http://fortune.com/2018/07/11/cryptokitties-app-htc/
 Listen to previous episodes of Unchained with these CryptoKitties investors:
 Chris Dixon:  http://unchainedpodcast.co/chris-dixon-on-how-trust-is-the-best-lego-block-ep70
 Naval Ravikant:  http://unchainedpodcast.co/naval-ravikant-on-how-crypto-is-squeezing-vcs-hindering-regulators-and-bringing-users-choice
 Bill Tai:  http://unchainedpodcast.co/maitai-globals-bill-tai-on-why-blockchain-is-the-6th-wave-of-technology
 William Mougayar:  http://unchainedpodcast.co/icos-why-people-are-investing-in-this-380-million-phenomenon
 "Developers all the way down" -- Unchained episode with Meltem Demirors and Jill Carlson: http://unchainedpodcast.co/episode-74
 Listen to my previous interview with Arianna Simpson on Unconfirmed about CryptoKitties:  http://unconfirmed.libsyn.com/arianna-simpson-of-autonomous-partners-on-privacy-cryptokitties-and-crypto-regulation
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Makes a CryptoKitty Worth $140,000? - Ep.75

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.

Tech News

Technology

Business News

Business

News

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Not only will April 20 (or 19, depending on which part of the world you are) mark the fourth Bitcoin halving, but also the launch of a new primitive on Bitcoin called Runes Protocol. 
Charlie Spears, co-founder of Blackspace Media, joined Unchained to talk about all things Runes, which is a messaging protocol that allows for the creation of fungible tokens on Bitcoin. It is designed to fix some of the issues with the BRC-20 token standard, such as inefficiency and proliferation of unspent transaction outputs. Charlie believes that the launch of Runes will increase demand for Bitcoin's blockspace and potentially lead to higher transaction fees. He also discusses the potential for Runes to interact with Bitcoin covenants and layer two solutions.
Show highlights:

What Runes is and why Charlie believes that it is the hottest thing since Ordinals

The differences between Runes and BRC-20 fungible tokens 

Runes’ unique features, with Charlie pointing out that this is “what the degens really want”

Whether the Runes Protocol will create a “burst of demand” and have a positive impact on miners 

Whether the launch of Runes will be successful in the long-term and how Bitcoin’s blockspace could become more attractive

Whether Bitcoin L2s will help clear Bitcoin’s mempool, and why Charlie believes that they won’t reduce fee pressure on the base layer

The coolest things that Runes Protocol will enable, according to Charlie

How Taproot Assets and RGB differ from Runes and why they have not taken off

Why Casey, the founder of Runes, will claim the first inscription with Uncommon Goods

Thank you to our sponsors!

iTrustCapital

Polkadot

Guest

Charlie Spears, cofounder of Blockspace Media
Links
Recent coverage on Unchained of the Bitcoin halving: Arthur Hayes and Will Clemente on How This Bitcoin Halving Is Different

Runes

Unchained: What Are Runes? A Guide to the New Fungible Token Protocol on Bitcoin



Bitcoin Runes Explainer by Charlie Spears

BRC-20s and Ordinals:

Unchained:

What Are BRC-20 Tokens? A Brief Introduction

Bitcoin’s BRC-20 Mania: Is It Sustainable?

How to Create a Bitcoin Ordinal

Bitcoin Ordinal NFTs Are Hot and Getting Hotter. What's the Hype About? 

Halving

Unchained: 

Bitcoin Halving: What Is It & How Is It Determined?

Here’s Why No One Agrees Exactly When The Bitcoin Halving Will Happen

Bitcoin Miners Diversify Their Revenue Streams as Halving Nears

Bitcoin L2s

Unchained: 

Stacks’ Muneeb Ali On Why Bitcoin Is Exciting Once Again


Citrea: An Ethereum-Like Experience Built on Bitcoin?


How Botanix Aims to Enable Smart Contracts on Bitcoin


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Bitcoin Halving, Will the Runes Protocol Live Up to the Hype? - Ep. 634

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
The Bitcoin halving is just around the corner, expected to be on April 19 or April 20. 
Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom, and Will Clemente, co-founder of Reflexivity Research discuss the rise in Bitcoin prices ahead of the halving, the impact of the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, and the potential effects of the halving on the price trajectory post-halving. They also discuss the potential impact of a new class of investors on Bitcoin's price, volatility, and decentralization. 
Learn more: Bitcoin Halving: What Is It & How Is It Determined?
Moreover, they dive into the impact of the macroeconomics, geopolitical, and demographic conditions for the crypto asset industry, the potential for L2s on Bitcoin, and their price predictions for bitcoin by year-end. 
Show highlights:

How the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs altered the price trajectory of BTC before the halving

Whether the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs impacts Bitcoin's decentralization and price volatility

Whether this cycle could be the "last cycle" or the "supercycle"

Why Arthur predicts a 90% drawdown in the future and how they determine when the markets are nearing the top of the cycle

The effect of high inflation, the election, and the termination of the bank term funding program on Bitcoin

How artificial intelligence is expected to trigger a productivity boom, according to Will

Why Will considers Coinbase to be mispriced

Whether Bitcoin L2s have a future and if security budgets are a concern

Their views on Bitcoin Ordinals and the Runes Protocol launch

Why Will views DOGE as a purer commodity than ETH

Arthur's rebuttal to claims that Ethena could follow in Terra/Luna’s footsteps

Arthur's and Will’s Bitcoin price projections for the end of the year and the cycle

Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Guest:


Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom.

Previous appearances on Unchained:

Arthur Hayes on Why Bitcoin Is Money and ETH Is a Shitcoin He Loves

Arthur Hayes, Former Ethereum Skeptic, on Why the Merge Makes Him Bullish on ETH 

Arthur Hayes of Bitmex on Why Countries Will Turn to Digital

The Chopping Block: Arthur Hayes on Why Crypto Needs to Ditch the Banks

How Crypto and Blockchain Technology Could Change Financial Services


Will Clemente, Co-founder of Reflexivity Research

Previous appearance on Unchained: Strong Hands Aren't Selling Bitcoin. So Who Is? 


Links

This cycle

Naval’s tweet: “The narrative for this cycle is ‘this is the last cycle.’”

Unchained: 

Here’s Why No One Agrees Exactly When The Bitcoin Halving Will Happen

Bitcoin Miners Diversify Their Revenue Streams as Halving Nears


Heatwave by Arthur Hayes


Dissecting Bitcoin's “4 Year Cycle,” guest post by Will Clemente on The Pomp Letter

Bitcoin ETFs:

Unchained: 

The Best Spot Bitcoin ETFs for Different Types of Investors

Who Is Buying Into Spot Bitcoin ETFs? We'll Soon Start to Get an Idea

Bitcoin ETFs Explained: What Are They & How Do They Work? 

Macroeconomic conditions

CNBC: Consumer prices rose 3.5% from a year ago in March, more than expected


FT: Investors lose hope of rapid US interest rate cuts this year


Block size wars
Bloomberg: The Block War Is Still a Sore Subject for ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ 

Bitcoin L2s
Unchained: Stacks’ Muneeb Ali On Why Bitcoin Is Exciting Once Again 

Runes
Decrypt: Bitcoin Runes Launch at the Halving: Here's Everything You Need to Know

Ethena

Hayes’ tweet on Ethena

Unchained: 

ENA Surges 20% to New All-Time High as Ethena Rolls Out Reward Boosts

Ethena’s USDe Grew to $2 Billion in 7 Weeks. Is It Safe?

What Is Ethena's USDe Synethic Dollar?


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arthur Hayes and Will Clemente on How This Bitcoin Halving Is Different - Ep. 633

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a Wells notice to Uniswap Labs, the team behind the prominent decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap, signaling a forthcoming enforcement action.
Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at the DeFi Education Fund, joined Unchained to unpack what the case could mean for Uniswap and the overall decentralized finance (DeFi) industry.
Amanda also talks about the DeFi Education Fund's recent lawsuit against the SEC over its airdrop policies and the industry’s need for a proactive counteroffensive approach in dealing with the SEC.
Show highlights:

Why Amanda thinks that the SEC is going to take a “kitchen sink approach” to their charges

How the SEC could make a case that some of the tokens traded via Uniswap are securities

What the next steps are in the case, with a lawsuit possibly coming soon

Whether there’s an inconsistency between the SEC’s position and Judge Failla’s rejection of the motion to dismiss the Coinbase lawsuit

How the different components of Uniswap make it hard to prove that Uniswap Labs is responsible for everything that happens on the protocol

Why the DeFi Education Fund recently filed a lawsuit against the SEC

Why Amanda believes in a “proactive counteroffensive strategy” with the SEC

How Amanda would like legislation to be implemented in the U.S.

Why the Tornado Cash developers are not liable for the actions of third parties such as North Korean hackers, according to Amanda

Why Amanda thinks Uniswap will ultimately win against the SEC

Thank you to our sponsors!

iTrustCapital

Polkadot

Guest


Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at DeFi Education Fund


Previous appearance on Unchained: Is This the End of DeFi? Why the US Government Is Going After Tornado Cash



You’ve got a friend in me: How amicus briefs are helping the crypto industry win over the courts, Amanda’s op-ed for Fortune

Links
Wells Notice

Unchained: SEC Puts DeFi in Its Sights With Potential Uniswap Suit


Unchained: UNI Drops 16% as SEC Targets Uniswap Labs


Uniswap Blog Post on the Wells notice

Marvin Ammori Thread on Wells notice

Other cases:

Fortune: Don't blame Uniswap for crypto scams, judge rules—and she's right


The Block: Three crypto advocacy groups file amicus briefs in Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's case


The DeFiant: SEC Faces Lawsuit Seeking To Exempt Airdrops From Securities Classification


Unchained: Court Rejects Coinbase's Bid to Dismiss SEC Charges Against It


Social media commentary:

Paul Grewal’s tweet on the potential inconsistencies with the Coinbase case.

Gabriel Shapiro’s tweet on how Uniswap AMM smart contracts are not run by the Uniswap company


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Gensler’s Case Against Uniswap: Does the SEC Even Stand a Chance? - Ep. 632

Welcome to The Chopping Block, where Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, and Robert Leshner dive into the crypto universe's hottest topics. In this episode, we have the CEO/Co-Founder of Monad to explore the fascinating world of Monad and its ambitious endeavor to revolutionize EVM scalability through innovative parallelization techniques. The discussion shifts gears to the recent turmoil in Solana, dissecting the network's congestion issues and the broader implications for blockchain efficiency and scalability challenges. As the conversation deepens, we pivot to the gripping courtroom drama surrounding Avi Eisenberg, challenging the foundational crypto principle of 'code is law' and sparking debate over the legality of smart contract exploitation. Through these discussions, we untangle the complex interplay between technological innovation, regulatory frameworks, and the ethical considerations that define the crypto industry. Join us as we navigate the intricate dynamics shaping the future of blockchain technology, providing insightful analysis on the strategic developments and moral dilemmas at the heart of the digital age. Tune in for a compelling journey through the strategic and ethical battlegrounds that are forging the path forward for crypto and blockchain.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show Highlights


The Chopping Block: The EVM Parallelization Dilemma, Solana's Network Congestion, and Avi Eisenberg's Legal Battle - Ep. 631

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron and co-founder Brendan Farmer discussed everything about the AggLayer, a decentralized protocol built by Polygon that enables fast, secure cross-chain interactions and allows different chains to use the same native bridge. This allows users to seamlessly move assets across chains in the AggLayer ecosystem. 
The AggLayer aims to unify blockspace so that it feels like a single chain, improving user experience. Boiron and Farmer also discussed the potential for Layer 2 solutions to scale Ethereum, the benefits of zero-knowledge technology, and the future of Polygon's proof-of-stake chain.
Learn more: What Are Zero-Knowledge Proofs?
Show highlights:

Background of Brendan and Marc and how they joined Polygon

A brief description of what Polygon is overall

What the AggLayer is and how it aims to enable the best of monolithic and modular blockchains

How Brendan differentiates the AggLayer from its competitors, such as Optimism's Superchain or Cosmos and why he believes that zk-technology is such a game changer

How the interoperability experience gets better in such a system, according to Marc and Brendan, and what will become possible that's not now

Which chains can use the AggLayer and how it works to improve security across chains

The tradeoffs between the various types of zkEVM provers 

How projects should decide their architecture and when it would make sense to tap the AggLayer

Why projects should build on the AggLayer, including layer 1s, according to Marc

How Layer 1s can still join the AggLayer and retain their own consensus and sovereignty 

Why Polygon believes that zk-technology is the future of blockchain architecture

Why the Polgyon zkEVM suffered an outage on March 30

Whether Layer 3s are needed to scale the Ethereum ecosystem

Why Brendan believes that EigenLayer is not a good fit for rollups to use

The transition of the Polygon PoS chain to become an Ethereum L2 using the AggLayer

When EIP-4844/Dencun will go live on Polygon

Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Guests:


Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs

Previous appearances on Unchained:

Gary Gensler vs. Crypto: What Will the SEC Attack Next?

The Chopping Block: The SEC Is Attacking Crypto – Will Gary Gensler Succeed?


Brendan Farmer, co-founder of Polygon and co-lead of Polygon Zero

Links
AggLayer

Polygon: Aggregated Blockchains: A New Thesis


More technical Agglayer explainer

CoinDesk: 

Polygon Lands Astar Network as First User of New 'AggLayer’


Cosmos-Based Canto Blockchain Reverses Course on Polygon Layer-2 Plans, Unveils New Roadmap 

Zaki on the comparisons with Cosmos



zk-Technology

Polygon: Upgrading Every EVM Chain to ZK: Introducing the Type 1 Prover



The different types of ZK-EVMs by Vitalik

Unchained: Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are Critical to Ethereum’s Future


Polygon zkEVM

Unchained: Polygon zkEVM Chain Goes Down for 10 Hours


Blockworks: Polygon unpacks zkEVM outage and ‘emergency’ upgrade


Layer 3s

Unchained: Layer 3s Only Exist to Take Value Away From Ethereum: Polygon Labs CEO


0xCygaar on L3s and L2s


Potuz on the benefit of L3s



Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Makes a CryptoKitty Worth $140,000? - Ep.75

Download our free app to listen on your phone