Noah Seidman on the Voter Escrow Partnership

Guests: Jedi and Grant Website blocmates.com Tapioca DAO Bull Thesis: https://www.blocmates.com/research-reports/the-tapioca-bull-case Summary In this conversation, the hosts discuss the Bitcoin markets and the unwinding of the Bitcoin ETF trade. They also talk about LARPing and crypto, and the challenges of creating paid content. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Blockmates' collaboration with WinLlama and the Tapioca bull case. The conversation explores LP locking dynamics and emissions on Radiant, the option model and integration of OTAP tokens, the launch of Tapioca Die and the Pearl Club NFT collection, price expectations and trading of Pearl Club NFTs, the emergence of DeFi NFTs as a new asset class, the cultural elements and benefits of DeFi NFTs, the impressive aspects of Tapioca and potential integration with Solana, liquidity fragmentation and Arrakis as an on-chain market maker, and the upcoming launch of the Meal Deal. Takeaways The institutional overhang of the Bitcoin ETF trade has led to the recent volatility in the Bitcoin markets. Creating paid content in the crypto industry is challenging, as it requires delivering value to the community and maintaining a balance between free and paid content. Blockmates aims to provide high-quality and actionable content to its subscribers, focusing on research reports and deep dives into emerging areas. The collaboration with WinLlama allows Blockmates to leverage their auction platform for offering whitelist spots and creating a streamlined user experience. The Tapioca bull case highlights the innovative features of the protocol, such as an omni-chain money market and a unique token distribution mechanism. LP locking dynamics and emissions on Radiant were not well understood by many participants. The option model with deep in the money call options as rewards is gaining popularity. Tapioca Die and the Pearl Club NFT collection have impressed many builders in the space. DeFi NFTs are seen as a new asset class with unique benefits and cultural elements. Integration with Solana and liquidity fragmentation are areas of interest and concern. The upcoming launch of the Meal Deal is highly anticipated.

16 Jan 20241h 2min

SummaryMartin Krung, a business developer at Curve, discusses his early involvement with Curve and his background in art and coding. He shares his thoughts on innovation and the role of stablecoins in the crypto space. Martin also talks about the strengths of Curve, the challenges it faces, and the potential for growth. He discusses the integration of other protocols with Curve and the importance of security and audits. Finally, he shares his perspective on the future of EUR stablecoins and the demand for retail stablecoins on Ethereum. In this conversation, Martin, a DeFi advisor, discusses various topics related to the Curve ecosystem and the broader cryptocurrency space. The conversation covers the dominance of USDT in stablecoin usage, the Kerf grant program for builders, the concept of bribing vs. owning voting rights, the future of cryptocurrency, and the cycles and speculation in the crypto market. Martin also highlights the talent and dedication of builders within the Curve ecosystem.TakeawaysCurve's strength lies in its stable swaps and its ability to concentrate liquidity.The integration of other protocols with Curve allows for competition and choice for end users.CurveUSD is a key product for Curve, and its growth opens up new possibilities for the protocol.Curve is working on expanding to Layer 2 solutions and exploring new ventures within the ecosystem.Security and audits are a priority for Curve to ensure the safety of user funds.The demand for EUR stablecoins on Curve is currently limited, but there is potential for growth in the future. USDT remains the preferred stablecoin for most users in the Curve ecosystem.The Kerf grant program is open to builders who want to contribute to the Curve ecosystem.Owning voting rights in Curve can be more beneficial than bribing for liquidity.The cryptocurrency market is expected to continue growing, attracting institutional players and fueling speculation.Cycles of innovation and speculation are likely to persist in the crypto market.The Curve ecosystem is attracting talented builders and moving in a positive direction. Donate to Leviathan News: https://arbiscan.io/address/0x110d68F5DFA414E943181Dec3346D4CA0d6DE37F Telegram: https://t.me/leviathan_news Twitter: https://twitter.com/leviathan_news Discord: https://discord.gg/7WtnhqJ7za YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leviathan_News Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/69yxNKomUIbdNMFoTjp49K

12 Jan 20241h 9min

Summary In this conversation, Benjamin from QiDAO discusses the governance efforts to re-peg the stablecoin My after a multi-chain hack. They explore the impact of governance decisions on stablecoin stability and the importance of unit economics. The conversation also delves into different approaches to capital efficiency and the challenges of incentivizing liquidity. The design of CurveUSD and the concept of hedging collateral are also discussed. The conversation explores various aspects of the DeFi ecosystem, focusing on the limitations of the system, the use of LP tokens as collateral, liquidation mechanisms, and the role of off-chain market makers. It also discusses the importance of capital efficiency, the concept of single-sided staking, and the potential of the kerosene token to capture value. The participants emphasize the need for slow and methodical development and highlight the benefits of incentivizing stablecoin holders. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into the technical and nuanced discussions surrounding DeFi. Takeaways Governance decisions play a crucial role in re-pegging stablecoins and ensuring stability. Unit economics are essential for the success of stablecoins, and capital efficiency is a key consideration. Incentivizing liquidity and managing risk are important factors in stablecoin design. Controlling liquidity and building momentum can help stabilize stablecoins. The design of CurveUSD and the concept of hedging collateral are innovative approaches to stability. External liquidity is required to facilitate transfers and ensure the functioning of the system. LP tokens can be used as collateral for loans, allowing users to borrow from the liquidity pool. Liquidation mechanisms, including soft liquidation, can help protect against losses and maintain the stability of the system. Off-chain market makers can play a role in hedging and facilitating liquidations. Capital efficiency and single-sided staking are important considerations for building a sustainable DeFi ecosystem. Incentivizing stablecoin holders can help maintain the peg and create a dynamic ecosystem. The kerosene token has the potential to capture value as the system grows. Slow and methodical development is crucial to avoid pitfalls and ensure long-term success in DeFi.

10 Jan 20241h 2min

Summary The conversation covers the introduction of a new team member, the role of the A-Team in Aladdin Dao, the launch of the Spot Bitcoin ETF, portfolio construction for non-crypto accounts, the comparison of Bitcoin ETFs, the potential implications of ETF inflows, the possibility of a bull run and mainstream exposure, concerns about liquid restaking tokens (LRTs), and the potential launch of an ETH ETF and risks associated with LRTs. The conversation explores the risks and benefits of liquid staking tokens, the challenges faced by new layer 1 chains, and the motivations behind creating them. The potential impact of liquid staking derivatives on ETH borrowing rates and the future of Curve's AMM are also discussed. The role of Curve as infrastructure for ETH miners and as a social system for DeFi protocols is examined. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the potential impact of PayPal on Curve and the different use cases for Curve and Uniswap. In this conversation, the speakers discuss various topics related to cryptocurrency and investing. They explore the risk and long-term viability of stablecoins, with a focus on the efficiency and demand for different types of stablecoins. They also touch on the concept of diversification versus concentrated bets, using the example of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Finally, they discuss regulatory concerns and the role of the SEC in protecting investors from FOMO and potential scams. Takeaways Liquid staking tokens have the potential to provide leverage, but there are concerns about slashing risks. Creating new layer 1 chains may be driven by the desire to sell tokens rather than innovation. Curve's AMM may face challenges from Uniswap V4, but Curve's role as infrastructure for ETH miners and its position in the DeFi ecosystem provide potential for long-term growth. The future of stablecoin liquidity and the success of Curve's lending markets will impact its overall performance. Curve and Uniswap serve different use cases and can coexist in the DeFi space. The long-term viability of stablecoins is uncertain, and maintaining efficiency may be challenging over time. Diversification can be both beneficial and detrimental, and concentrated bets can lead to significant wealth accumulation. Regulatory bodies like the SEC play a crucial role in protecting investors from FOMO and potential scams in the cryptocurrency market.

10 Jan 20241h 36min

In this conversation, we invited Sebastian Buergel, founder of HOPR to come and talk about the recent launch of RPCh. We started the show discussing various news stories, including BitMEX sending Bitcoin to the moon, the upcoming ETF launch, Celsius unstaking ETH, and Visa's Web3 loyalty program. We then interviewed him about the importance of privacy in decentralized systems and introduces HOPRs data protection protocol. The conversation covers topics such as hacks and exploits in the crypto market, the debate on undoing trades, and the recent Radiant hack and repayment. The hosts also discuss the future plans for HOPR and the role of privacy in the intents-based architecture. In this conversation, Samuel McCulloch discusses the concept of Miner Extractable Value (MEV) and the need to improve it on a larger scale. He emphasizes the importance of creating systems that prevent MEV to begin with, rather than trying to completely eliminate it. The conversation also highlights the efforts to level the playing field in the Ethereum network, allowing both small and large participants to compete on equal terms. Additionally, the long-term potential of Ethereum, including the transition to proof of stake and the implementation of EIP 1559, is discussed. The conversation concludes with a promotion of RPC-H. Takeaways Privacy is a crucial aspect of decentralized systems and should be prioritized alongside decentralization. Running a personal Ethereum node and using privacy-focused tools like Hopper can enhance data privacy and security. The upcoming ETF launch and the introduction of privacy-respecting L2 solutions are expected to have a significant impact on the crypto market. Timing games in Ethereum, where validators delay block submissions to capture more MEV, are seen as detrimental to decentralization and should be addressed. The development of user-friendly privacy solutions may take several years, but it is essential for empowering individuals in the crypto space.

5 Jan 202453min

The conversation covers various topics including airdrops, crowded trades, layer 1 and layer 2 solutions, Solana DEXes, perpetual DEXes, and more. The hosts also discuss the possibility of getting tattoos related to crypto protocols. They mention specific projects such as Bear Chain, Sega, Zeta, Grass, Bungee Exchange, Wormhole, and Rainbow Wallet. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the Curve logo and the potential for Curve merchandise. Takeaways Airdrop season is approaching, with many projects preparing to distribute tokens to users. Crowded trades, such as Eigenlayer and Swell, are attracting significant attention and TVL. Layer 1 and layer 2 solutions, such as Scroll, ZK Sync, and Manta, are gaining popularity. Perpetual DEXes, like IntentX and Hyper Liquid, offer unique trading opportunities. Solana DEXes, including Drift and Jupiter, are seeing increased trading volume. Projects like Sega and Zeta are exploring options and structured products. Bridging solutions like Bungee Exchange and Wormhole facilitate cross-chain transactions. Rainbow Wallet provides a user-friendly mobile wallet experience. Curve Finance is a popular protocol with a unique logo and potential merchandise. The Leviathan News team is considering an airdrop in the future. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and News 03:22 Discussion on Tattoos 05:19 Airdrop Season and Crowded Trades 09:36 Layer 1 and Layer 2 Solutions 13:25 Bear Chain and NFTs 17:06 Perpetual DEXes 20:43 Solana DEXes 24:24 Sega and Zeta 26:49 Grass and Bungee Exchange 30:43 Wormhole and Rainbow Wallet 38:00 Curve L2 and Frax 44:23 Curve Logo and Merchandise 47:46 Curve Desk Lamp 48:11 Leviathan Airdrop

4 Jan 202448min

In this episode we discuss the 10% sell off in Bitcoin, $640m in liquidations, the new IRS crypto reporting rules and more. Guest: Alex Golubitsky

3 Jan 202447min

Summary The Leviathan News team discusses their predictions for the crypto industry in 2024. They believe it will be the year of the internet of blockchains, with a focus on modularity and the rise of layer 2 solutions. They discuss the potential winners in the L2 space, such as Eigenlayer and Celestia, and the importance of launching L2s. They also explore the drama and on-chain governance in the Cosmos ecosystem, as well as the opportunities and challenges in liquid staking and bridge security. Finally, they predict the first billion dollar valuation in the gaming industry. The conversation explores the potential of GameFi and Telegram games, highlighting the wide distribution network of Telegram and the ease of access for users. It discusses the different approaches for game developers, including fully permissionless games and games built within existing platforms like Telegram. The conversation also touches on the revenue potential of GameFi and the market size of gaming. It delves into the future of stablecoins, with a focus on USDC and Tether dominance, the challenges for Dai, and the need for decentralized stablecoins. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the evolution of privacy technology and the potential of consumer apps, particularly social trading apps. Takeaways 2024 will be the year of the internet of blockchains, with a focus on modularity and the rise of layer 2 solutions. Eigenlayer and Celestia are potential winners in the L2 space, but there are risks and challenges to consider. The Cosmos ecosystem will continue to define on-chain governance and may see the launch of more L2s. Liquid staking and bridge security are important areas to explore in 2024. The gaming industry may see the first billion dollar valuation, driven by mobile-first games and the integration of stablecoins. Telegram games have the potential for significant growth due to the wide distribution network and native wallet integration within the platform. Game developers can take different approaches to GameFi, including fully permissionless games or games built within existing platforms like Telegram. The revenue potential of GameFi is significant, with the gaming industry generating billions of dollars in revenue. The future of stablecoins is uncertain, with USDC and Tether currently dominating the market, but the need for decentralized stablecoins and the potential impact of regulatory scrutiny and CBDCs could shape the landscape. Privacy technology is evolving, but the adoption of privacy-focused apps may be hindered by regulatory concerns and the lack of clear benefits for users. Consumer apps, particularly social trading apps, have the potential to attract users and drive adoption in the crypto space.

2 Jan 20241h 23min