"It Turns Out Music Does Have Value. We've Been Pricing It Incorrectly For 20 Years:" RAC

Bill Barhydt, Founder and CEO of Abra, discusses the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency markets and investment strategies in this week's The Defiant Podcast. He attributes Bitcoin’s price movements to macroeconomic factors, including U.S. monetary policy and liquidity cycles, and notes a growing trend of companies holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets. Barhydt also examines Ethereum’s scalability challenges and the increasing role of DeFi in financial systems, suggesting that decentralized infrastructure could eventually become the standard for banking. Additionally, he expresses optimism about potential regulatory clarity in the U.S., particularly regarding stablecoins and digital asset classifications.Chapters00:00 - Introduction: Bill Barhydt & Abra00:48 - Barhydt’s Background in Crypto & Finance02:23 - How Abra Manages Crypto Wealth05:45 - Bitcoin Loans & Prime Brokerage Explained10:10 - Crypto Market Volatility & Macroeconomic Factors13:24 - Bitcoin Dominance & Altcoin Cycles18:11 - Solana vs. Ethereum: Market Trends & Adoption24:29 - U.S. Crypto Regulations & Policy Predictions36:05 - Trump’s Crypto Involvement39:04 - Institutional Interest in Bitcoin & ETFs50:18 - The Future of DeFi & Traditional Banking52:14 - Barhydt’s Price Predictions54:12 - Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks✨ Check out our new website ✨https://thedefiant.io/🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers herehttps://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha✊ Follow The DefiantTwitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnewsDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews📬 Contact our Newsroomeditorial@thedefiant.io🤝 Sponsorships & Partnershipssponsors@thedefiant.io#TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

17 Helmi 55min

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix and Infinex, discusses the evolution of DeFi and the trade-offs required to improve user experience while maintaining decentralization. He explains how Infinex aims to offer a more accessible, centralized exchange-like interface while remaining non-custodial, addressing long-standing UX challenges in DeFi. Warwick also reflects on Synthetix’s recent governance restructuring, competition from Hyperliquid, and the potential shift back to a stablecoin-focused model. Looking ahead, he highlights the importance of regulatory clarity, improved infrastructure, and greater accessibility in driving the next phase of DeFi growth.Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Kain Warwick00:15 - Kain’s history in DeFi01:26 - Motivation behind Infinex and staying in crypto02:21 - Challenges of bull and bear markets05:55 - The idea behind Infinex and UX innovation08:40 - Trade-offs in building a user-friendly DeFi platform17:05 - Passkeys and the seamless user experience24:26 - Adoption metrics and user growth26:51 - Future roadmap: Bitcoin, XRP, and Doge integration33:08 - The Patron NFT sale: Lessons learned37:19 - Synthetix updates: Governance and structural changes39:27 - The role of attention in crypto success47:50 - Synthetix’s stablecoin pivot and liquidity strategy51:14 - Differentiating Synthetix’s stablecoin from others54:03 - Avoiding the pitfalls of past algo stablecoins✨ Check out our new website ✨https://thedefiant.io/🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers herehttps://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha✊ Follow The DefiantTwitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnewsDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5agInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews📬 Contact our Newsroomeditorial@thedefiant.io🤝 Sponsorships & Partnershipssponsors@thedefiant.io#TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

11 Helmi 1h 10min

Preston Van Loon, an Ethereum core developer, joins The Defiant Podcast this week to discuss his role as a plaintiff in the high-profile Tornado Cash lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He described how the sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash impacted legitimate users seeking privacy on Ethereum and underscored the significance of a recent appellate court ruling questioning whether smart contracts qualify as “property” under U.S. sanctions law. Van Loon also noted the possibility of a friendlier regulatory environment in the United States, suggesting that changing policy stances could spur crypto innovation. Finally, he addressed ongoing discussions within the Ethereum community about development priorities, governance structures, and the challenges of maintaining a decentralized protocol as the ecosystem grows. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Background 01:15 - What is Tornado Cash? 04:00 - Why Tornado Cash Was Sanctioned 06:45 - Filing the Lawsuit 09:50 - Court Ruling and Implications 14:00 - Next Steps in the Legal Case 18:00 - Privacy Rights and Crypto 24:00 - Impact on Builders and Industry 34:00 - Ethereum's Role and Future Challenges 50:00 - Community Feedback and Leadership 55:00 - Closing Remarks Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

27 Tammi 56min

Sam Kazemian, founder of Frax Finance, outlined the development and goals of FraxUSD, a decentralized stablecoin designed to integrate with both traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. The upgraded FraxUSD offers redeemability through custodians like BlackRock and SuperState while providing competitive yields through diversified strategies. Kazemian described Frax’s broader vision as building a digital economy anchored by its flagship stablecoin and Fraxstool, a high-performance Ethereum Layer 2. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - Founding Story and Differentiation of Frax 02:01 - Vision for Decentralized Stablecoins 02:41 - Features of FraxUSD 08:51 - Best of Both Worlds Design for FraxUSD 13:08 - Future of Stablecoins 23:05 - Yield Strategy of FraxUSD 34:16 - FraxUSD in Real World and On-Chain Usage 42:02 - Stablecoins as the Gateway to Crypto 47:12 - Roadmap and Future of Frax ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

20 Tammi 54min

Zhouxun Yin, the Co-Founder of Magic Eden, joins The Defiant Podcast to discuss the evolution of one of the largest NFT marketplaces. In this episode, he shares the story behind Magic Eden’s founding, their decision to focus on Solana early on, and their multi-chain expansion strategy. Z dives into the challenges of navigating the bear market, enforcing royalties, and launching a token to unite their ecosystem. He also explores the future of NFTs, their integration with AI, and Magic Eden's ambitious shift toward becoming an all-encompassing on-chain trading platform. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Founding Magic Eden 03:40 - Surviving FTX and Solana’s Challenges 07:20 - Navigating the NFT Bear Market 12:00 - The Bitcoin Ordinals Bet 16:00 - Multi-Chain Expansion 24:30 - Launching the $ME Token 32:00 - Addressing Airdrop Challenges 46:50 - The Royalty Debate 54:10 - Long-Term Vision for NFTs 01:03:00 - On-Chain Trading and Future Goals 01:10:35 - Closing Thoughts Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ https://www.goat.network/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

13 Tammi 1h 12min

Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll, tells us the journey of building one of the most anticipated Ethereum Layer 2s, their focus on ZK rollups for scalability, and the unique value proposition of high security, decentralization, and low costs. Sandy discusses Scroll's transition from general purpose chain design to supporting specific use cases driven by ecosystem builders and founders. They explore challenges and lessons from Scroll's recent token airdrop, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, equitable distribution, and fostering a vibrant community. Sandy highlights the Scroll Open initiative and their long-term vision to create a thriving "city" for innovation and talent in the blockchain space. Chapters 00:00 - Sandy Peng on Scroll's Rise 00:30 - Scroll’s Evolution and 2025 Vision 01:30 - The Founding Story of Scroll 02:30 - Why ZK Rollups? 04:00 - Scroll's Unique Edge in the L2 Space 07:00 - Transition to Use Case-Specific Chains 09:00 - Scroll's Vision for Builders and Founders 11:00 - Sub-Cent Costs and High Security Explained 15:00 - Decentralization: Scroll’s Progress and Plans 20:00 - Governance and the Role of Scroll Tokens 25:00 - Airdrop Lessons and Community Feedback 35:00 - Reflections on Token Distribution Trends 46:00 - Layer 2s and Ethereum’s Value Narrative 50:00 - Scroll Open: Building the Future Economy 58:00 - Scroll's Big Picture Vision Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

6 Tammi 1h 3min

Johann Kerbrat is the Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Crypto, leading the charge in bringing crypto to millions of retail investors. In this episode, Johann shares the journey of Robinhood Crypto, from its early days of launching in 2018 to its recent innovations, including staking, self-custody wallets, and a potential shift towards a full-fledged crypto exchange. He discusses how Robinhood is leveraging blockchain to enhance efficiency, lower costs, and expand access to financial instruments. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - History of Robinhood Crypto 01:23 - Why Robinhood Added Crypto 02:42 - Robinhood's Perspective on Crypto 07:12 - How Robinhood Monetizes Crypto 12:31 - Competing with Crypto Exchanges 14:22 - Token Listing Strategy 16:53 - Balancing Features and Asset Expansion 18:17 - Staking in the EU and Regulatory Concerns 21:22 - Staking Demand and Customer Education 24:08 - Robinhood Wallet Features 27:23 - Self-Custody Wallet Metrics 28:49 - Meme Stock Frenzy and Decentralized Trading 31:42 - Blockchain for Settlement and Efficiency 39:08 - Marketplace vs. Exchange Transition 41:49 - Upcoming Milestones for Robinhood Crypto 43:19 - Market Trends and Future Vision 44:49 - Long-Term Vision for Robinhood Crypto 46:00 - Closing Remarks ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

12 Joulu 202446min

In this episode, Dimitry Gusakov, Community Staking Lead at Lido, discusses the protocol’s efforts to enhance decentralization and accessibility in Ethereum staking. He explains the launch of the Community Staking Module, which lowers barriers for individual validators while addressing concerns about centralization within the Ethereum ecosystem. The conversation also explores potential impacts of proposed Ethereum staking changes and Lido’s roadmap for further decentralization in 2025. Tune in to gain insights into the evolving landscape of liquid staking and its role in securing Ethereum. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - What is Lido and Liquid Staking? 02:20 - Liquid Staking Use Cases in DeFi 05:33 - Addressing Centralization Concerns in Lido 08:25 - Community Staking Module: Decentralization Efforts 10:49 - Requirements to Become a Home Validator 13:26 - Rewards and Entry Barriers for Home Validators 16:12 - Hardware Setup for Validators 23:39 - Socialized Rewards and Offline Allowances 26:38 - Higher Rewards for Running a Node 34:23 - Impact of CSM on Lido’s Decentralization 41:13 - Ethereum Security and the Importance of Decentralization 52:19 - Ethereum Issuance Proposal: Implications for Lido 01:06:07 - Future Developments for Lido in 2025 Our sponsors https://stellar.org/soroban?utm_source=defiant&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=defiant_podcast http://supra.com ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom editorial@thedefiant.io 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships sponsors@thedefiant.io #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

2 Joulu 20241h 10min