Bridging DeFi and TradFi: Niklas Kunkel on Chronicle Labs and the Future of Finance

The crypto world is buzzing with the passage of the Genius Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that sets new standards for stablecoins and crypto exchanges. In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, host Vinny dives deep into the implications of this law with Diane Magince, Senior Marketing Officer, and Breno Sperandio, VP of Partnerships at Biconomy.com. Together, they explore how this act is reshaping the industry, the opportunities it unlocks, and what it means for the future of digital assets.Chapters:00:00 Big News in Crypto: The Genius Act is signed into law01:49 Introduction to Diane Magince, Breno Sperandio, and Biconomy.com05:19 Market trends, altcoin season, and the role of AI in trading11:48 Marketing in a Regulated World19:17 Stablecoins and the Future of Finance27:26 How the Genius Act is driving legitimacy, transparency, and trust33:18 Mobile-First DeFi45:49 Upcoming developments and partnerships for Biconomy.com54:16 Coming Up Next Week

25 Juli 54min

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we explore the global shift toward Bitcoin as digital gold with Jeff Garzik, Co-Founder of Hemi, the largest programmable Bitcoin sidechain. Jeff shares his journey as a crypto OG, from contributing to Bitcoin in its earliest days to building innovative scaling solutions for Bitcoin. We discuss macroeconomic trends driving Bitcoin adoption, the evolution of decentralized finance, and how Hemi is shaping the future of BTCFi.Chapters00:00: Intro to the episode00:06: Why the world is turning to Bitcoin01:00: Meet Jeff Garzik: A crypto OG’s journey03:06: From Linux to Bitcoin: Lessons in decentralization06:08: Scaling Bitcoin: The evolution of sidechains09:05: Hemi’s approach to Bitcoin security and DeFi12:17: The rise of Bitcoin as a global reserve currency15:16: Hemi’s innovations: Proof of Proof mining and beyond20:20: Bitcoin DeFi: Challenges and opportunities25:00: Macro trends driving Bitcoin adoption30:00: The future of Bitcoin DeFi and Hemi’s roadmap35:00: Bitcoin’s role in a decentralized financial future40:00: Closing thoughts and where to find Hemi

23 Juli 53min

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Hasu, strategic advisor to Lido, to explore their cutting-edge developments in Ethereum staking. From the introduction of dual governance to the game-changing Lido V3 upgrade, Hasu breaks down how Lido is enhancing decentralization, liquidity, and security for stakers. We also dive into the evolving role of Ethereum in DeFi, the future of staking for institutions, and the broader implications of programmable money.Chapters 00:07 Introduction01:22 Introduction to Lido and Its Importance02:49 Governance Changes in Lido06:03 Understanding Dual Governance08:51 Participation and Engagement in Governance11:46 Systemic Risks of Centralized Staking14:37 Decentralization and Node Operators17:50 The Future of Lido and Ethereum20:39 Becoming a Node Operator in Lido23:46 Distributed Validator Technology (DVT)29:32 Understanding DVT and Its Impact on Ethereum31:54 The Debate on Staking Caps for Ethereum39:50 Ethereum's Role in DeFi and Beyond47:40 Introducing Lido V3: A New Era of Staking55:38 Future Integrations and Growth of Lido

22 Juli 51min

Privacy in the digital age is more than a feature—it's a necessity. In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, host Vinny sits down with Georgi Koreli, co-founder and CEO of Hinkal Wallet, to explore the cutting-edge innovations shaping Web3 privacy. From Georgie’s fascinating journey from professional wrestling to crypto entrepreneurship, to the challenges of public blockchains and the solutions Hinkal Wallet offers, this conversation dives deep into the future of decentralized finance.Discover how privacy stacks, invisible wallets, and decentralized coordination are transforming the financial ecosystem, and learn why privacy is the key to unlocking mass adoption in crypto. Georgi also shares insights on regulatory challenges, the role of compliance, and how enterprises can prepare for the next wave of blockchain innovation.Chapters:00:07 Transparency vs. Privacy: The paradox of innovation and exposure in Web3.03:05 Introduction to the podcast and Georgie Corelli.03:22 Georgi’s Background and Journey to Crypto04:27 Public Blockchains and Privacy05:16 The Concept of Invisible Wallets10:01 Regulatory Perspectives in Europe12:58 The New Privacy Stack15:42 Public vs. Private Blockchains17:18 Privacy and Compliance20:08 Lessons from Recent Data Breaches24:02 Decentralized Coordination and Privacy28:15 Preparing for Mass Adoption of Crypto32:08 The Future of Privacy in Finance39:22 Closing Thoughts

18 Juli 45min

In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Michael Bentley, co-founder and CEO of Euler Labs, to explore one of the most remarkable comeback stories in DeFi history. From a devastating $200M exploit in 2023 to surpassing $1B in outstanding loans, Euler Labs has redefined resilience and innovation in the crypto space.Michael shares the emotional and technical challenges of navigating the exploit, the process of recovering funds, and the lessons learned along the way. We also dive into the evolution of Euler Labs, the launch of V2, and their groundbreaking innovations in DeFi lending, borrowing, and stablecoins.Whether you're a crypto enthusiast, a DeFi builder, or just love a good comeback story, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the future of decentralized finance.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:27 - Meet Michael Bentley: CEO of Euler Labs02:03 - The Early Days: From PhD to Crypto04:02 - Founding Euler Labs: Hackathon Beginnings08:10 - Innovations in DeFi Lending13:00 - The 2023 Exploit: What Happened?20:33 - Recovering $200M: Negotiating with the Hacker33:04 - Picking Up the Pieces: Team Resilience36:41 - Launching V2: A New Chapter42:29 - Differentiating Euler Labs in DeFi45:24 - The Future of DeFi: Institutional Adoption50:43 - Lessons for Founders: Resilience and Security52:24 - Closing Thoughts: The Hard Things Are Worth It

15 Juli 53min

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Steven Goldfeder, Co-Founder and CEO of Offchain Labs, the parent company of Arbitrum—the leading Ethereum Layer 2 solution by Total Value Locked (TVL).In this episode, we explore:How optimistic rollups work and their role in Ethereum's scalabilityThe ZK vs. optimistic rollup debateThe future of Ethereum L2s and their impact on the Ethereum ecosystemSteven’s insights on DeFi growth, ETH vs. BTC, and the importance of neutrality in tech stacksThe episode kicks off with a special clip from AJ Warner, Co-Founder of Arbitrum, recorded at EthCC, before diving into Steven’s journey into blockchain and his vision for the future of Ethereum scalability.00:00:00 – Why Ethereum Made Rollups Too Cheap to Ignore00:00:31 – Meet AJ Warner, Co-Founder of Arbitrum (Live from EthCC!)00:00:45 – Robinhood’s Big Crypto Announcement: What It Means for Ethereum00:06:10 – Transition to Steven Goldfeder: The Visionary Behind Arbitrum00:07:05 – Steven’s Journey: From Academia to Blockchain Pioneer00:13:24 – Optimistic Rollups 101: How They Supercharge Ethereum00:21:06 – ZK vs. Optimistic Rollups: The Great Debate00:29:34 – How Ethereum L2s Are Strengthening the Ethereum Mainnet00:36:20 – What More Can Ethereum Do to Support L2s?00:38:57 – The Status of Stage 2 L2s: What’s Next?00:40:12 – Enshrining L2s: The Future of Ethereum Scalability00:40:25 – Infrastructure Trade-Offs: Making the Right Choices00:46:35 – Bridging the Gap: Interoperability Between L1s and L2s00:51:38 – What Sets Arbitrum Apart from the Competition?00:56:51 – Neutrality and Fairness: The Cornerstones of Tech Stacks01:04:52 – DeFi’s Next Chapter: Steven’s Predictions for ETH, BTC, and Beyond01:08:37 – Closing Thoughts: The Road Ahead for Ethereum and ArbitrumDon’t miss this deep dive into the world of Ethereum Layer 2s and the innovations shaping the future of blockchain.

11 Juli 1h 9min

Explore the unfolding landscape of crypto and blockchain innovation in our in-depth interview with Stuart Popejoy, CEO of Kadena and former head of JP Morgan’s Center for Blockchain Excellence. Guided by the following chapters, this conversation illuminates the journey from the earliest days of institutional blockchain to Kadena’s latest breakthroughs:00:00 – Defiant Intro00:07 – When cost savings alone couldn’t revive crypto’s promise00:55 – Meet Stuart Popejoy: Kadena’s vision, shaped by lessons from JP Morgan06:00 – JPM Coin’s evolving roadmap07:35 – Early hurdles building enterprise blockchain at JP Morgan10:38 – Why technology alone isn’t enough—it must disrupt13:57 – Kadena’s own answer: scalability, chainweb, and the art of possibility16:25 – The real challenges builders face in scaling dApps16:56 – Bitcoin proposals lost to time17:50 – Braiding chains: scaling without losing stability23:27 – Kadena’s bold $50 million grant program—fueling a new era for developers25:15 – The role of real-world assets (RWAs) in blockchain’s evolution29:00 – Public blockchains as a frontier for finance and technology30:00 – Closing infrastructure gaps on the road to mass adoption33:00 – How do we inspire an active, not passive, crypto user base?35:42 – Why self-custody is the change we need in consumer behavior38:10 – Next-gen adoption: getting all ages onchain40:13 – What traditional finance keeps getting wrong about blockchain42:48 – Kadena’s next moves after making waves at EthCC44:20 – Reflections and closing remarksFrom the keys of disruption and the quest for scalability to transformative grant programs and the vision for a blockchain-powered future beyond EthCC, this is crypto at its most reflective and real.🔗 Links & Details: Explore Kadena’s grant program https://www.kadena.io/grants

9 Juli 45min

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, to explore how Robinhood is bringing tokenized U.S. stocks to the EU, launching an Ethereum L2 with Arbitrum tech, and shaping the future of finance. From tokenized private shares to the long-term vision of blockchain adoption, Vlad shares insights on regulation, innovation, and the battle between Robinhood and Coinbase. Is crypto the backbone of global finance? Tune in to find out!Chapters:00:00 Intro: How do you get people in the U.S. excited about stocks onchain?00:52 Introduction to Vlad Tenev, Co-Founder and CEO of Robinhood01:30 Tokenized U.S. stocks, private company stocks, Robin Hood blockchain, USDG, and other announcements02:35 Robinhood offers tokenized U.S. stocks to customers in the EU06:52 Primary market for private companies’ tokenized shares13:55 Robinhood launches Ethereum L2 using Arbitrum tech18:45 Will Robinhood launch a token?20:00 What regulation will need to happen in the U.S. to launch these products here?24:47 How do these crypto announcements fit into the long term vision of RH?28:43 RH chain as an enabler for this vision of global adoption30:45 Will crypto remain a niche asset class or become the backbone of finance?35:10 Robinhood vs. Coinbase37:10 The DeFi Mullet: UX and DeFi on Robinhood41:55 What makes Vlad a believer in crypto innovation?46:10 Closing remarks

8 Juli 46min