"People Want me to be Popular, Not Necessarily Successful; That's the Trick with Personal Tokens:" Alex Masmej

Looking to understand stablecoins, onchain yields, and the future of DeFi?Join us as Vikram Arun, CEO of Superform, shares expert insights on stablecoin yield strategies, the role of Web3 technology in automation, and whether 20% onchain yields are truly sustainable in today’s crypto economy. Plus, we explore the impact of the GENIUS Act on the crypto industry and discuss the intersection of innovation and regulation in shaping the future of digital assets. Topics Included: The evolution of stablecoins as a financial tool Why automation is critical for DeFi growth The long-term potential of yield-generating assets The fading stigma of crypto and its real-world financial integration Chapters:00:00 Defiant Info00:41 Introduction to Vikram Arun, Founder and CEO of Superform01:31 Crypto is a better form of money03:30 Early AMMs as an entry into crypto05:44 Stablecoins and yield 07:35 20% onchain yield on Superform: is it sustainable?11:03 Web3 tech with Web2 functionality 13:23 Automation in stablecoin yield15:51 The GENIUS Act’s effects on the crypto ecosystem17:30 GENIUS and decentralization21:20 The importance of demand in ideating crypto products22:55 Circle, Stripe, Paypal, and public sentiment towards stablecoins24:27 Interest rates hold steady, what’s the impact on crypto?26:40 Speculation and the memecoin resurgence30:00 Yield-generating assets and age demographics32:05 Integrating wealth building into people’s mindsets with DeFi33:45 The next phase of onchain yield36:25 Will this innovation be enough to defeat crypto’s bad reputation?37:48 Crypto’s rising tide into TradFi and daily life39:55 NFTs in the next DeFi summer41:48 Advice for people who want to start earning yield43:00 Lightning round!43:55 Closing remarks

27 Juni 44min

What does the future of blockchain look like, and where do multi-chain systems fit in? On this episode, we're joined by Emin Gün Sirer, CEO and Founder of Ava Labs and one of the most prominent figures in blockchain innovation. Emin unpacks how Avalanche is reshaping the decentralized world with its groundbreaking consensus protocol, multi-chain scaling, and commitment to maintaining blockchain’s core values. We also discuss:Avalanche vs. Bitcoin and EthereumGaming and DeFi innovations on Avalanche Fighting centralization and the challenges of scale The role of stablecoins and central banks in Avalanche’s ecosystem Chapters:00:00 Defiant intro00:07 If the future of blockchain is centralized, I don’t want to be here00:54 intro to Emin Gün Sirer, Founder and CEO of Ava Labs04:29 Building the fastest consensus protocol on the market04:43 How is Avalanche different from Bitcoin?08:10 Avalanche vs. other multi chain systems 12:16 L2 scaling vs. multi chain scaling16:55 Evaluating Ethereum’s promises 19:45 Interoperability on Avalanche20:25 What’s the narrative behind Avalanche?23:47 Avalanche’s long term strategy 💫26:25 Gaming example: OTG29:16 How flexible are Avalanche chains?31:13 How do you maintain the tenets of blockchain across chains?33:05 What's the liquidity breakdown between these L1 chains?34:54 Avalanche’s TVL vs users and adoption38:00 Fighting centralization on Avalanche 43:15 AVAX value and uses45:58 Increased activity on Avalanche48:00 It’s been a Bitcoin story: where do alt projects fit in?53:33 Stablecoins and exciting catalysts for DeFi53:15 Assets want to be digital55:35 How do stable coins fit into Avalanche?56:19 Prediction: central banks getting into stablecoins57:11 Challenges with central banks getting into stablecoins59:13 The next major milestones for Avalanche01:06:52 Closing Remarks

23 Juni 1h 7min

Ethereum Staking ETFs are gaining traction—but what does this mean for crypto investors? Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial, breaks it down. Get key insights on regulation, institutional staking infrastructure, and the financial benefits for everyday users. Plus, learn how institutional players are driving change in the staking ecosystem and the potential for ETFs to revolutionize and democratize crypto investments.From Capitol Hill to the crypto ecosystem, Evan Weiss dives into the growing momentum behind Ethereum Staking ETFs.Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro00:07 Intro Quote00:43 Intro to Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial and Founder of POSA03:09 Proof of Stake Alliance, staking, and regulation05:57 POSA on Capitol Hill08:26 Ethereum ETFs gaining momentum12:31 Case study: 3iQ Ethereum Staking ETF13:53 Staking, liquidity, and better returns for consumers15:17 REX Shares proposes Ethereum staking ETF classified as a C-corporation18:16 How Pectra has influenced institutional staking infrastructure on Ethereum21:51 Normalizing staking for everyday users25:41 How staking democratizes transaction fees28:19 SEC’s May 29, 2025 Staking Statement29:33 Staking is not a small business30:34 Staking industry coming together on regulation32:17 Increased security and rewards in crypto investing34:59 Key steps for institutions and governments in regulating crypto37:52 Will Ethereum Staking ETFs be as common as stocks?38:16 Tradfi’s creativity meets crypto technology39:00 The role of liquid staking evolving with institutional activity40:23 Closing Remarks

20 Juni 40min

What happens when traditional finance and decentralized finance collide? Join us in this insightful interview with Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, as we explore the firm’s groundbreaking crypto experiments, DeFi-enabled opportunities, and the future of tokenized money market funds. Key Topics Covered Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund How evolving crypto infrastructure is reshaping TradFi New TradFi products enabled by crypto Tokenization vs. stablecoins Supply chain and enterprise resource management powered by DeFi Regulation, obstacles, and the merging of TradFi and DeFi Get a front-row seat to how one of the world’s leading financial institutions is driving innovation in the space.Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro01:04 Introduction to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton06:56 Franklin Templeton experimenting with crypto to save costs08:11 Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund09:26 Evolving crypto infrastructure from 2019 to today11:42 What do institutions look for when planning to launch a product onchain?13:41 Choosing blockchains based on use cases16:15 Three new TradFi offerings enabled by crypto19:56 Additional applications for DeFi: supply chain management21:56 Additional applications for DeFi: enterprise resource management systems22:49 Tokenized money market funds vs. stablecoins25:11 Product bundles and asset classes28:31 Obstacles to offering more crypto products31:26 What clarity are you looking to regulation for?34:16 Complex DeFi products being accepted in TradFi 35:13 DeFi and TradFi need to support one another37:04 Regulation will open up new pools of assets and value 38:56 What will the merging of TradFi and crypto look like?41:10 Will the back of house for these firms move onchain?42:55 Consumer demand for crypto products47:15 Payments outside of fiat48:34 Incorporating crypto into Franklin Templeton model portfolios50:35 What is the demand for current crypto offerings?54:30 What does success look like for Franklin Templeton?55:30 Closing Remarks

13 Juni 56min

In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, Vinny speaks with Alex Estorick, Editor in Chief of Right Click Save, about the evolving landscape of NFTs and digital art. They discuss the convergence of art and technology, the financialization of culture, and the role of artists in a world where art and finance are increasingly intertwined. The conversation also touches on the emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts, the diversity within the crypto community, and the challenges artists face regarding royalties in the NFT space. Highlights of this episode include:The convergence of art and technology The emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts Diversity and challenges within the crypto and NFT space Opportunities for artists in DeFi and Web3 The role of AI, tokenized data, and decentralized ownership in the future. 00:00 Episode Intro03:08 Introduction to Alex Estorick and the NFT Revolution04:55 Financialization of Art and Culture08:37 The Role of Artists in a Financialized World12:13 Cultural Moments and Meme Coins15:38 Diversity of Habits and Politics in the Crypto Community17:40 Takeaways from Conversations at NFC19:10 Is the Battle for Blockchain Dominance Necessary?20:25 Renewed Bullishness on Ethereum22:45 Reactions to the Debate Around Royalties28:30 The Evolution of Value in Digital Art30:20 Exploring DeFi Opportunities for Artists35:35 The Intersection of Crypto and AI37:25 Tokenizing Personal Data and Personhood42:01 Decentralized AI and Data Ownership45:05 The Future of Crypto in a Dystopian Landscape48:15 Navigating the Complexities of Web3 and Digital Economy50:15 Closing Remarks

11 Juni 50min

In this conversation, Camila Russo interviews Tomasz Stanczak, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, discussing the evolution of Ethereum, addressing criticisms, and the foundation's strategic initiatives. They explore the importance of communication, the restructuring of the foundation, and the focus on scaling Ethereum through L1 and L2 dynamics. Tomasz shares insights on the vision for Ethereum as a global economy, balancing user needs with core values, and the foundation's treasury management and DeFi strategies. The conversation concludes with a look at future developments and milestones for Ethereum.Takeaways:Ethereum has evolved significantly since its inception, focusing on scaling and communication.The Ethereum Foundation has faced criticism regarding its communication strategies.Restructuring within the foundation aims to enhance protocol development and management.Funding and support for developers are crucial for the ecosystem's growth.The relationship between L1 and L2 is vital for Ethereum's scaling strategy.Ethereum aims to position itself as a global economy hub.User needs and core values must be balanced for long-term success.Treasury management strategies are evolving to include DeFi protocols.The foundation is committed to transparency and community engagement.Future milestones include significant scaling and security improvements.Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro00:07 Episode Teaser01:24 Hero Quote01:35 Introduction to Tomasz Stańczak, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation03:18 Community Criticism and Foundation Response06:45 Strategic Actions by the Ethereum Foundation 09:39 Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Developers13:50 The strengths of Ethereum as a Network17:17 Scaling Ethereum: L1 and L2 Dynamics20:55 The One Trillion Security Initiative23:00 Specific Milestones in the Short Term25:53 Navigating the Tension: World Computer vs. Store of Value29:15 Ethereum as a Global Economy30:43 Will Solana Become An Ethereum L2?32:43 User Priorities: Decentralization vs. Usability37:02 Treasury Management and ETH Sales36:55 The Role of Stablecoins in Ethereum's Future39:55 The Impact of Ethereum Foundation's DeFi Allocations42:00 Guiding DeFi Protocols Towards Security and Decentralization51:10 The Future of Ethereum: Use Cases and Community Expectations54:50 Upcoming Milestones for Ethereum56:50 Closing Remarks

6 Juni 57min

This week, we spoke with Rob Viglione, Co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, to explore the groundbreaking potential of Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) in safeguarding digital privacy, bridging TradFi and DeFi, and creating income streams for consumers that empower them through the ownership of their own digital data. From balancing transparency and onchain privacy to the intersection of AI and Web3, Rob dives into the critical role cryptography will play in reshaping how we share and protect data. Learn how ZKPs can combat data misuse, empower individuals to monetize their information, and reimagine compliance as we step into a world where privacy is a fundamental human right. Key Highlights:1. How ZKPs protect medical records and financial history2. Will banks adapt, or become irrelevant?3. The role of cryptography in privacy-centric AI systemsDon’t miss this thought-provoking discussion packed with insights on the future of data, privacy, and decentralized innovation. Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro00:07 Podcast Teaser00:52 Hero Quote00:59 Introduction to Rob Viglione01:34 The beauty of ZKPs02:40 How to balance transparency and privacy onchain04:00 Why it’s so easy to overshare data04:50 Living in an age of constant data leaks06:34 The concept of wealth is fundamentally different now07:33 Google adopts ZKP to verify age09:00 A world of a trillion proofs09:30 How can Web3 handle growing volumes of proofs?10:09 Will Web2 relinquish their chokehold on our data?11:52 Monetizing data as an incentive to online privacy12:45 New opportunities for earning a living by monetizing your data14:14 The intersection of crypto and AI16:17 ZKPs and data protection18:00 ZKPs and AI in medical records and financial history20:18 How can ZKPs act as a safeguard against misuse in AI22:15 Hackers and scammers are a certainty; how do we fight them?22:36 Cryptography, ZKPs, and privacy-centric AI systems?25:13 Why is privacy a human right?26:25 Institutions, privacy, and Web326:45 Institutions coming onchain28:30 Better communicating privacy as a human right in the context of Web330:30 Will ZKPs change the way people interact with the internet?32:11 Marketing in the age of AI33:24 ZKPs and KYC35:40 Why ZKPs are bad for bad actors37:38 Government regulation vs. Web3 companies regulating the industry themselves39:00 It doesn’t make sense for politicians to be anti-crypto anymore41:53 Can ZKPs redefine compliance and how it’s enforced?43:13 How can ZKP tech support institutional privacy and consumer data?44:45 TradFi onchain as a stepping stone to DeFi46:39 Lightning round! Favorite existing use case for ZKP46:54 Lightning round! Favorite potential use case for ZKP48:04 Lightning round! Best advice for keeping your data safe online48:49 Closing statements and where to follow Rob

4 Juni 49min

Explore the world of crypto payroll and stablecoins with Megan Knab, cofounder and CEO of Franklin. From tackling crypto volatility to how stablecoins can reshape global economies, this episode dives into the challenges and opportunities for crypto-native payment infrastructure. Megan Knab shares her insights on crypto’s role in building a better financial ecosystem. We discuss everything from stablecoin-backed paychecks to how DeFi tools enhance accessibility. Tune in to understand why this innovative tech could be the foundation for a healthier society.Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro00:07 Teaser00:28 Pull Quote00:36 Introduction to Megan Knab01:08 The path from Wall Street to crypto03:31 Building back offices within Web304:53 How to tackle crypto’s volatility with payroll and paying bills in fiat06:00 Labor laws and crypto06:41 ERC-20 tokens in payroll07:35 Eliminating intermediaries in the payroll business09:12 Benefits to employers and employees beyond cross-border payments10:54 Payroll as a building block for a healthy society11:39 How do you calculate a paycheck?13:14 The GENIUS bill and the future of stablecoins15:02 Reserve of assets to back up the value of issued stablecoins16:22 Fixed income and payment giants getting into crypto16:55 The effects of big brands getting into stablecoins18:05 Backwards views of crypto adoption19:12 Democratic backlash to the GENIUS bill20:25 The need for more effective crypto regulation22:29 The points for and against crypto regulation23:18 Crypto is not a political technology23:52 The biggest winners in crypto have been lawyers26:10 How do you determine which stablecoins to utilize for business?28:36 MakerDAO as a major crypto innovation29:33 How DeFi makes financial tools more accessible to the public31:33 Stablecoin infrastructure in developing economies33:30 Stablecoins as a means of USD dominance worldwide35:09 Challenges for governments having assets onchain36:06 Future legislation in crypto and investment39:55 Lighting round!Music: Future Highway by Picratio is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

31 Maj 40min