Bell Curve X Empire | Prediction Markets, Crypto’s Mag 7 & Stablecoin Growth | Weekly Roundup

In today's episode of Empire's Roundup, the long-awaited return of Santi and Jason discussing the latest in crypto, DeFi, and more has finally landed. They refresh some predictions around ETH for 2022 and discuss the Optimism airdrop, the BAYC Instagram hack, Osmosis's canonical bridge vote, and announcements from funds and initiatives alike. You won't want to miss this! -- BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users). Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/ -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps: (00:00)・Introduction (01:50)・The Permissionless conference (03:05)・Optimism's airdrop & implications (20:06)・Predictions for an Ethereum and P2E Summer (23:56)・BAYC Instagram hack (29:08)・Is it the NFT top? (35:55)・Be a crypto user (38:35)・A proliferation of algo stablecoins (44:30)・BTC as the global reserve layer of the world (47:02)・Osmosis votes in Axelar as the canonical bridge (49:05)・Fidelity's 401K BTC announcement (50:52)・Dragonfly launches a $650M crypto fund (52:18)・Current favorite shows and podcasts

29 Apr 202259min

On today's episode of Empire, Santiago Roel Santos is joined by Kieran Warwick, co-founder of Illuvium. Illuvium is an open-world, collector and auto battler game with high-res graphics and dynamic gameplay mechanics. Illuvium focuses on bringing both entertainment and earning into the core gameplay. It might just be the Pokémon of Web3. We discuss the inspiration behind Illuvium, how to build a AAA studio-level game, how NFTs empower gameplay and the key to Illuvium's success. Links: Kieran's Twitter: https://twitter.com/KieranWarwick Illuvium: https://www.illuvium.io/ Illuvium Gameplay Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzT88eN4gts&t=120s&ab_channel=Illuvium Live Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KeNzTaJhmQ&ab_channel=Illuvium -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:10) Creating A Passionate Community  (04:43) Launching A Token (10:22) Inspiration Behind Illuvium (15:10) What's It Mean To Build a Good Game? (19:01) Utilizing Capital Formation (23:51) Scaling Illuvium  (25:42)Playing For The Entertainment Value  (30:49) How Do You Think About Competition? (33:12) Will Traditional Gaming Studios Use Crypto? (34:54) Building On Top Of Illuvium (36:45) Pokemon, NFTs, and Interoperability (44:35) Scarcity vs Utility (52:35) ETH Lizaards  (55:49) Investing In Illuvium  (1:01:50) How To Get Involved -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

28 Apr 20221h 3min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by Travis Kling, founder of Ikigai Asset Management. Travis is a prolific investor who sits at the intersection of macro and crypto.  We discuss the implications of the ETH 2.0 merge, why ETH is prime for institutional capital, what a macro bear market means for crypto, Ikigai's investment strategy, and more. This is a must-listen if you're interested in the ETH 2.0 Merge and ETH's investment prospects (warning, Travis is a mega bull).  -- Travis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Travis_Kling Ikigai Newsletter: https://www.kanaandkatana.com/ -- ParaSwap: If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices, and lowest slippage. --- Empire is brought to you by Blockworks, a financial media brand delivering breaking news and premium insights about digital assets to millions of investors. For more content like this, subscribe to Blockworks' free daily newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:58) Bitcoin's 2022 Outlook (07:30) ETH 2.0 Merge Catalyst (12:33) Why Is This Time Different? (15:20) Paraswap Ad (16:37) When Will Institutions Start Deploying Capital? (19:36) The Bear Case (21:31) The Merge's Perfect Timing (23:35) Will Institutions HODL? (28:48) Crypto's Progress and Runway (33:00) Moving Beyond Just BTC (39:52) The Most Important Rule In Crypto Investing (41:00) Layer 1 Wars (48:40) BTC As Pristine Collateral (54:30) Bitcoin Defi (56:00) Ikaigi's Investment Style (57:20) Investments and Mistakes

25 Apr 20221h 9min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by Bryan Pellegrino, co-founder of LayerZero. LayerZero is an interoperability protocol that wants to connect every contract on every chain. This is a can't miss episode on blockchain bridges and the future of interoperability. We discuss how LayerZero works, how Stargate enables seamless cross-chain swaps, the flaws of synthetic/wrapped assets, and why the future will be cross-chain. -- Links: Bryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrimordialAA LayerZero Website: https://layerzero.network/ Stargate Website: https://stargate.finance/ -- BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users). Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/ -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:21) Why Bryan Started LayerZero (03:51) Why Now? (05:27) Why Does Interoperability Matter? (07:48) A Microscience vs Monolithic Structure (10:48) How LayerZero Works (18:43) The Apps Now Have Control (22:33) The Adversarial Nature of Crypto (28:08) Moving Fast and Breaking Things in Crypto (31:54) Fundraising (33:01) Bitmex Ad (34:16) Security Is Table Stakes (36:56) Where Are We In The Adoption Phase? (36:43) The Multichain Future (42:43) Where Is LayerZero's Activity Today? (44:01) Should Wrapped Assets Exist? (47:40) Yield Seeking Capital (50:42) The Project Bryan Is Most Excited About Outside of LayerZero (54:23) The Challenges of Being a Crypto Builder (58:14) What Will The Team Focus On Next? (1:00:19) Advice For Future Founders (1:02:52) How To Get Involved -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

22 Apr 20221h 6min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by gaming expert Brooks Brown, co-founder of the PlayFi platform NOR. Brooks has an encyclopedic knowledge of gaming and has worked with studios such as Universal Pictures, Lucas Arts (Starwars), and James Cameron's Avatar. We discuss the intricacies of world-building, what P2E games get wrong, how financialization shapes game design, NFTs, and the significance of permadeath in Nor. This is a masterclass on the confluence of gaming, finance and Web3. -- ParaSwap: If you want to make a swap at the best price across the DeFi market, check out paraswap.io. ParaSwap’s state-of-the-art algorithm beats the market price across all major DEXs and brings you the most optimized swaps with the best prices, and lowest slippage. -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:36) What Makes A Good Game? (05:11) Open vs Closed Games (14:41) Improving Is The Human Condition (19:19) The Evolution of Gaming (25:18) How Money Shapes Our Games (29:17) The Two Magic Circles (33:13) Access Drives Adoption (35:58) Building Nor In Layers (39:56) Cohesive Gameplay and Composability (44:35) What Is The Metaverse? (48:50) Sponsor Segment (49:58) Are Games Meant For Escaping Reality? (53:53) NFTs and Building In The Digital Space (01:00:46) The Value of Permadeath (01:10:03) Blockchains Enable Unique Contribution (01:13:57) Most P2E Games Are Just Jobs (01:19:28) Adding Scarcity To Games (01:22:47) Defi vs Gaming (01:25:45) Closing Thoughts -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

18 Apr 20221h 31min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by "Shark Tank" Investor and prolific entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary. We discuss Kevin's view on the current macro environment, how crypto will be the 12th sector of the S&P, why NFTs could be bigger than crypto, and the enormous opportunity for clean Bitcoin miners. Don't miss out on Kevin's unique insights and passion for the crypto industry -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:38) The Macro Landscape (05:10) Investing In Crypto (08:04) Crypto Will Be The 12th Sector Of The S&P 500 (13:11) The End State Of Stablecoins (14:54) Progressive Crypto Regulation (17:57) Timing The Market (19:50) NFTs (23:57) Customer Retention In Crypto (28:12) Clean Energy Mining (38:55) Taxing Unrealized Capital Gains (41:02) Is America Losing Its Competitive Edge? -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

15 Apr 202244min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital. Josh is a true polymath who invests in hard sciences, robotics, nuclear waste and more.  If you wanted a nuclear energy crash course, this is it. Josh discusses where solar and biofuels fell short, how nuclear energy markets function, why nuclear is the sustainable-energy source environmentalist have wanted, and how nuclear is the key to energy security. Nuclear energy is inevitable. Listen to Josh's unique insights to learn why. -- BitMEX is back and better than ever. Sign up for BitmEX's new Spot Exchange for a chance to win a piece of $500,000 in BTC (new users). Learn more about them at https://www.bitmex.com/ -- Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:58) Solar Energy Hype (07:16) Bio Fuels Fell Short (09:40) Energy Density (10:58) The Nuclear Narrative (15:31) Understanding the Uranium Market (18:44) Modular Reactors (19:49) Intro to Nuclear Waste (22:33) Low-Level and High-Level Nuclear Waste (24:11) Russia's Impact on the Nuclear Narrative (28:45) Sponsor Segment (30:01) Adopting Nuclear (33:39) Investing in Nuclear (37:30) China and the Nuclear Advantage (40:51) Cheap Electricity and Jevon's Paradox (44:39) Lux's Investment in Nuclear (48:53) Black Swan Events (52:19) Looking Forward -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

14 Apr 202256min

On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz is joined by media specialist Jarrod Dicker. Jarrod is a Partner at TCG (The Chernin Group), where he focuses on investments in Web3, blockchain, and tech that connects fans with creators. We discuss the evolution of media's business model, how media companies are talent companies, where NFTs fit in the creation stack, and much more. Don't miss these unique insights on the confluence of media and Web3. --- Empire is brought to you by Blockworks, a financial media brand delivering breaking news and premium insights about digital assets to millions of investors. For more content like this, subscribe to Blockworks' free daily newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UTePv1CR3APdKOiosR3Iq?si=41bc452345b649f9 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3srZf7M -- Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (02:58) Media's Evolution (17:37) Media Companies are Talent Companies (26:54) Web3 Media (34:02) From Product to Process (41:07) Scarce Memberships (50:18) DAOs (57:27) Leveraging Web3 -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

11 Apr 20221h 3min