​​Is DYOR Dead? Building a Safer Web3 with Alex Katz
The Defiant - DeFi Podcast14 Marras 2025

​​Is DYOR Dead? Building a Safer Web3 with Alex Katz

In a world of fast-advancing technology, we are told to trust in our own research. But as the crypto space matures, scams and exploits remain a constant presence. When your assets are gone, they are gone forever, with a near-zero chance of recovery. The old mantra of "Do Your Own Research" falls short against sophisticated threats like address poisoning, advanced malware, and convincing AI deepfakes. How, then, do we build a safer Web3 without sacrificing the decentralized ideals at its core?

Alex Katz, CEO of the Web3 security solution Kerberus, joins us to explore this new frontier. We delve into the philosophical debate of autonomy versus protection, the push for auditing standards, and the future of wallet-native security.


Chapters

00:00 Android vulnerability: why mobile crypto is risky

01:21 Building safer Web3 without sacrificing decentralization

02:10 Crypto’s Wild West: few rules, big risks

03:37 Why scams continue: prosecution, standards, protection gaps

05:44 Kerberus approach and results: zero user losses

06:24 Coverage up to $30K and growth needs

08:24 Why DYOR is insufficient for modern threats

09:33 Traders’ behavior, phishing risk, and automation

11:25 Crypto antivirus vision and malware threats

12:11 Hardware vs. hot wallets: balancing safety and speed

14:41 Address poisoning, clipboard privacy, and deepfakes

20:22 Autonomy vs. protection: beyond user education

24:44 Wallet security should be default, like antivirus

31:51 Getting grandma into Web3 safely

32:29 Lightning round: tools, myths, key lessons

36:04 Where to find Kerberus and closing notes

Jaksot(325)

What Crypto VCs Want Now | Aryan Sheikhalian

What Crypto VCs Want Now | Aryan Sheikhalian

Crypto’s next chapter isn’t a shinier coin—it’s invisible rails. In this episode, we sit down with Aryan Sheikhalian, Research Lead at CMT Digital, to unpack the shift from “crypto as an asset” to cry...

10 Loka 202546min

Solana vs. Bitcoin: Why Pantera Capital is All In | Paul Veradittakit

Solana vs. Bitcoin: Why Pantera Capital is All In | Paul Veradittakit

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Paul Veradittakit, Managing Partner at Pantera Capital, to discuss the explosive growth of Solana, the future of stablecoins, and the evolution...

6 Loka 202535min

Can Crypto Be Trusted? Ben Nadareski’s Answer to the Skeptics

Can Crypto Be Trusted? Ben Nadareski’s Answer to the Skeptics

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Ben Nadareski, CEO and Co-Founder of Solstice Labs, to explore DeFi on Solana and why it’s becoming a magnet for institutional adoption. Ben sh...

3 Loka 202546min

StarkWare Bets on Becoming Bitcoin's Execution Layer, Not on Attracting Corporate Chains

StarkWare Bets on Becoming Bitcoin's Execution Layer, Not on Attracting Corporate Chains

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare, to explore how StarkNet is revolutionizing blockchain scalability with ZK proofs. From Bitcoin...

1 Loka 202554min

$100 Million DeFi DAT Chooses ETH | Ryan Zurrer

$100 Million DeFi DAT Chooses ETH | Ryan Zurrer

Why did Game Square, the Jerry Jones-backed media powerhouse, bet $100 million on Ethereum instead of Bitcoin? In this episode of The DeFiant Podcast, Vinny sits down with crypto pioneer Ryan Zurrer t...

19 Syys 202544min

Plasma’s Plan to Dethrone Tron | Paul Faecks

Plasma’s Plan to Dethrone Tron | Paul Faecks

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, Paul Faecks, CEO of Plasma Chain, discusses the platform’s approach to stablecoin payments and its potential to reshape global financial infrastructure. From ga...

16 Syys 202545min

J.P. Morgan’s Nightmare: How Stablecoins Let You Be Your Own Bank | Reeve Collins

J.P. Morgan’s Nightmare: How Stablecoins Let You Be Your Own Bank | Reeve Collins

Stablecoins are no longer just a buzzword—they’re transforming the way the world moves money. In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Reeve Collins, co-founder of Tether, co-founder o...

12 Syys 202541min

Solana’s Rise as a Treasury Powerhouse: DeFi Development Corp’s Bold Strategy

Solana’s Rise as a Treasury Powerhouse: DeFi Development Corp’s Bold Strategy

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Joseph Onorati, CEO of DeFi Development Corp, the second-largest Solana treasury company. Joseph shares the journey of transforming DeFi Develo...

9 Syys 20251h 9min