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Lightspeed

Lightspeed

299 episodes — Page 1 of 6

Is DePIN Entering Its Next Growth Phase?

Jun 25, 202657 min

Future-Proof Money on Solana | Hardhat Chad

Jun 23, 202656 min

From Memecoins to Markets: Solana’s Next Trade

Jun 18, 202657 min

Flash Trade Is Reinventing Perps on Solana | Anas Khader

Jun 16, 202653 min

Blockworks Acquires Messari

Jun 12, 202628 min

Solving Sol Value Accrual

Jun 11, 202657 min

The Era of Tokenized Yield Strategies | Ben Nadareski

Jun 9, 202650 min

US Crypto Perps Arrive, Solana Rethinks Fees

Jun 4, 20261h 4m

Building the Onchain Brokerage: Glider's Vision for Investing | Brian Huang

Jun 2, 202651 min

Why Crypto Needs Interest Rate Swaps | Thomas Lefort

May 28, 202649 min

Raiku’s Vision for Solana Markets | Robin

May 26, 202651 min

The Institutional Era of Crypto Has Arrived | Christopher Perkins

May 22, 202647 min

Jupiter’s Push Beyond Crypto Trading | Kash Dhanda

May 20, 202655 min

Inside JTX: Jito’s New Trading Platform | Lucas Bruder

May 14, 202626 min

Agentic Finance for Everyday Users | Chris

May 12, 202657 min

Inside Jito’s New Solana Plugin Strategy | Eric & Hayden

May 9, 202657 min

Inside Upshift: Building the Future of Onchain Vaults | Aya Kantorovich

May 5, 202658 min

Solana Was Too Late to Perps

Apr 30, 202655 min

LPing Is Trading: Rethinking DeFi Strategies | Dann & Miir

Apr 29, 202645 min

Tokenizing Private Markets: Inside the Rise of PreStocks | Xavier Ekkel

Apr 24, 202647 min

The KelpDAO Hack and DeFi’s Stress Test | Ian Unsworth

Apr 22, 20261h 2m

DoubleZero Edge: Democratizing the Speed Advantage | Austin Federa

Apr 16, 202648 min

How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu

Apr 14, 202650 min

Titan's Solution to Onchain Pricing | defipancakes

Apr 9, 202651 min

The Institutional Shift Driving Crypto Forward

Gm! In today’s episode, we cover institutional crypto adoption, tokenization, and regulatory developments, along with Blockworks IR and disclosure frameworks. We also explore perpetual markets, product innovation, and trends across DeFi, neobanking, stablecoins, and DePIN as crypto and traditional finance continue to converge. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Dan Smith: https://x.com/smyyguy Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:59) Institutional Bull Market (5:20) Perps Come to America? (9:05) Why TTF Matters (14:31) Blockworks IR Is Live (19:30) What’s Real at DAS? (28:13) Crypto Apps Become Neobanks (35:50) DePIN Finally Scales (42:26) What’s Crypto’s Next Game? (44:41) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Apr 2, 202645 min

The Future of DeFi Trading: Routers, Perps, and MCP | Eugene Chen

Gm! In this episode, Eugene Chen, CEO of Ellipsis Labs, joins us to break down Solana’s evolving market structure and the launch of Phoenix Perps. We explore onchain trading design, routing and sequencing challenges, MCP’s role, and how user behavior and incentives are shaping the future of DeFi. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Ellipsis Labs: https://x.com/ellipsis_labs Follow Eugene: https://x.com/0xShitTrader Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:25) Solana Market Structure Shift (8:07) Why Phoenix Perps Now (21:16) Why Perps Need No Router (29:39) What Solana Must Improve (34:49) The Block Builder Problem (43:24) Will DeFi Mimic TradFi? (52:48) Phoenix Perps Launch Plans (53:38) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 31, 202654 min

Designing the Future of Payments Systems | Konstantin Richter & Tom Zschach

Gm! This episode features a panel from DAS New York with Konstantin Richter and Tom Zschach. The discussion covers traditional financial infrastructure, the integration of digital assets, and emerging concepts like agentic payments, along with regulatory gaps, system design challenges, and how SWIFT intersects with evolving crypto-based payment systems.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Konstantin Richter: https://x.com/konstantin11 Follow Tom Zschach: https://x.com/TomZschach Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (4:08) What Are Agentic Payments? (7:29) Machine Accountability (12:23) Regulation Still Lags (17:16) Do Rails Replace Swift? (20:48) Crypto Needs Systems Design (22:14) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 26, 202622 min

Investor Relations in the Onchain Era

bonus

In this special episode, we introduce Blockworks’ new investor relations platform for onchain businesses. As institutional capital continues to enter crypto markets, expectations around transparency, standardization, and professionalism are rising. But instead of replicating legacy systems, Blockworks IR takes a different approach, leveraging real-time, onchain data to create a more transparent, data-driven, and low-friction investor relations model. The platform combines curated analytics, branded investor portals, and white-glove advisory support into a single solution, helping teams tell a clearer, more credible story while giving investors a more efficient way to evaluate opportunities. Launched at the Digital Asset Summit in New York, Blockworks IR aims to fill a critical gap in the industry. Listen to learn more about the vision behind the product and what it means for the future of investor relations in crypto.

Mar 24, 202621 min

Making Privacy the Default | Kru & Cal

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kru and Cal, co-founders of Umbra, to discuss building privacy infrastructure on Solana using MPC and zero-knowledge technologies. We cover product design, compliance, SDK integrations, and how privacy could drive institutional adoption and improve crypto usability. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Umbra Privacy: https://x.com/UmbraPrivacy Follow Cal: https://x.com/typi_cal_ Follow Kru: https://x.com/kru_tweets?lang=en Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:12) Founders' Backgrounds (5:53) Why Privacy Matters Now (7:38) What Umbra Is Building (12:01) How Privacy Works (15:57) Expansion and Regulation (22:50) UX, Adoption, and Business Model (26:32) Token and Roadmap (32:07) Future of Privacy (41:57) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 24, 202642 min

The Future of Digital Assets | Regulation, Value Accrual, and Token Design

Gm! In today’s round up we are joined by Noah Goldberg of Theia Capital to discuss new SEC guidance distinguishing digital commodities and securities, implications for token design and valuation, and evolving regulatory clarity. We also discuss token versus equity models, KYC tradeoffs, global market access, and whether the industry will shift toward tokenized equity or maintain diverse structures. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Noah: https://x.com/TraderNoah Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:00) SEC Framework (6:35) Market Impact & Value Accrual (13:47) Token Design & Tradeoffs (18:25) Onchain Securities & Regulation (23:50) Market Structure: Public vs. Private (28:54) Early Tokenization (37:28) Global Access & KYC (48:42) Token Models & Endgame (1:08:21) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 19, 20261h 9m

Harmonic Fires Back in Solana’s Block Building Wars | Ben Coverston

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Harmonic CEO Ben Coverston to discuss his background in quantitative trading and transition to crypto, the evolution of DeFi on Solana, and Harmonic’s approach to block building and transaction scheduling. We also cover market structure debates, decentralization concerns, competition among block builders, and potential protocol changes like MCP and Alpenglow. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Harmonic: https://x.com/harmonic_gg Follow Temporal: https://x.com/temporal_xyz Follow Ben Coverston: https://x.com/HypoNyms Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:14) Ben's Background (9:34) The Temporal Ecosystem (13:14) Inside Harmonic: Solana's New Block Builder (22:37) Block Builder Wars & Criticism from Competitors (29:26) Solana's Future Architecture (50:07) The Future of DeFi Market Structure (1:00:13) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 17, 20261h 0m

MetaDAO's Permissionless Launchpad

Gm! In today’s episode we discuss crypto market volatility amid geopolitical tensions and rising institutional interest reflected in Solana ETF inflows. We also discuss tokenized equities and the push toward 24/7 trading, before exploring MetaDAO’s evolving launchpad model, including permissionless fundraising, tokenholder protections, and challenges around launch cadence, incentives, and long-term platform sustainability. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv Follow Joe: https://x.com/j0e_cooks Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (4:04) Solana ETF Inflows (11:42) Tokenized Equities & Nasdaq Kraken (18:01) MetaDAO & Ownership Tokens (37:05) MetaDAO Business Model (53:51) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 12, 202655 min

Crypto’s Rebirth Moment | Tushar, Shayon and Spencer

Gm! In this episode we are joined by Tushar Jain, Shayon Sengupta and Spencer Applebaum from Multicoin Capital to discuss their updated crypto investment thesis, emphasizing blockchains as infrastructure for global financial markets. The conversation explores themes including stablecoin-driven fintech, DeFi integration with traditional apps, tokenized assets, credible neutrality in blockchains, venture opportunities, evolving crypto market cycles, and emerging application experimentation. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Multicoin: https://x.com/Multicoin Follow Shayon: https://x.com/shayonsengupta?lang=en Follow Spencer: https://x.com/SpencerApplebau Follow Tushar: https://x.com/tushar_jain Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:39) Multicoin Update (9:18) Multicoin’s New Crypto Thesis (14:26) FinTech 4.0 & Stablecoins (20:45) The DeFi Mullet Model (25:02) Credibly Neutral Blockchains (32:06) Where Multicoin Is Investing (37:10) The Current Crypto Market (42:46) Venture Opportunities in Crypto (53:06) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 10, 202655 min

Tokenized Equities, Kamino RWAs and zachXBT Investigation

Gm! In this episode, we discuss recent trends in the Solana ecosystem, including declining onchain revenue, continued inflows into Solana-related ETFs, and growth in tokenized equities. We also cover liquidity and structural challenges in onchain equity markets, RWA expansion on Kamino, and the Axiom insider trading controversy. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:17) Solana Monthly Update (8:18) Tokenized Equities Explained (20:11) Onchain Stock Liquidity (24:16) RWAs on Kamino (38:51) Axiom Insider Trading (52:31) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 5, 202653 min

Introducing: Inflection Point | The Crypto-TradFi Convergence

In this first episode of Inflection Point, we explore the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and crypto as institutional adoption begins reshaping the foundations of global financial infrastructure. The conversation examines ETFs, DeFi innovation, market structure shifts, institutional flows, and how evolving investor behavior is changing Bitcoin and digital asset markets. Along the way, we discuss regulation, credit markets, technology limitations, and the broader implications of finance moving onchain. Enjoy! — Inflection Point: Apple 🎙️: https://bit.ly/3QKdX5a Spotify 🎙️: https://bit.ly/3YhGJy3 YouTube 🎥: https://link.blockworks.co/46Cee2q — Follow Matt: ⁠⁠https://x.com/Matt_Hougan⁠⁠ Follow David: ⁠⁠https://x.com/dlawant⁠⁠ Follow Michael: ⁠⁠https://x.com/marcryptonio⁠⁠ Follow Marc: ⁠⁠https://x.com/marcarjoon⁠⁠ Follow Inflection Point: ⁠⁠https://x.com/BWInflection⁠⁠ Follow Blockworks: ⁠⁠https://x.com/Blockworks_⁠⁠ — Join us at Digital Asset Summit 2026 in NYC March 24-26th! Use code INFLECTION200 for $200 OFF! ⁠⁠https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026⁠⁠ — Timestamps (00:00) Intro To Inflection Point (06:48) The Convergence Between TradFi & Crypto (22:20) Crypto's Biggest Advantages & Hurdles (36:15) Crypto's Changing Market Structure (41:00) Prices, Sentiment & Long-Term Allocators (46:00) Evolution Of Crypto Options & Yield (51:30) Is The 4-Year Cycle Dead? (01:02:00) Final Thoughts — Disclaimer: Nothing said on Inflection Point 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 opinions, not financial advice. Hosts and guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed. #Crypto #DeFi #Bitcoin #Blockchain #DigitalAssets #CryptoPodcast

Mar 5, 20261h 3m

Solana’s Institutional Moment | Nick Ducoff

Gm! In this episode we’re joined by Nick Ducoff, Head of Institutional Growth at the Solana Foundation, to explore Solana’s institutional adoption and the rise of internet capital markets. We discuss the growth of tokenized real-world assets, stablecoins, and onchain equities, alongside regulatory dynamics, institutional tooling gaps, and the structural advantages of public blockchains. We also discuss emerging opportunities in real estate, municipal bonds, and expanding global investor access. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Solana: https://x.com/Solana Follow Nick: https://x.com/nickducoff?lang=en Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:08) Nick's Path to Solana (8:25) Institutional Adoption in Action (10:49) Why Institutions Are Choosing Solana (20:37) Institutional Archetypes & Regulatory Constraints (23:49) The RWA Landscape: Yield, Stablecoins & Equities (31:51) Canonical Tokens vs Market Fragmentation (34:45) What's Next: Real Estate & Municipal Bonds (40:57) Why This Cycle is Different (43:24) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Mar 3, 202644 min

0xResearch: Jito BAM and Solana Market Structure | Lucas Bruder

Gm! In today’s episode we have a 0xResearch crosspost where they were joined by Lucas Bruder, Co-Founder of Jito Labs to discuss Jito’s BAM block builder on Solana, highlighting transparency, verifiability, and application-controlled execution. They also cover market structure, stake adoption, MCP, slot time reductions, and JitoSOL’s ETF efforts. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Jito Labs: https://x.com/jito_labs Follow Lucas Bruder: https://x.com/buffalu__ Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:54) Why Jito Built BAM (5:50) Application-Controlled Execution Explained (11:30) MCP and Solana's Future (15:56) BAM Adoption and Stake Growth (33:13) Cutting Slot Times on Solana (40:28) JitoSOL and the ETF Push (47:09) AI, Products, and the Road Ahead (50:40) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 26, 202651 min

The DeFi-Native Prime Broker | MacBrennan Peet

Gm! In this episode, we’re joined by MacBrennan Peet, Founder of Project 0, to discuss how the platform is tackling capital and risk fragmentation across DeFi venues. We cover unified margin, cross-venue credit, automated strategies, dynamic risk management, integrations across Solana lending markets, and Project 0 Pay. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Project 0: https://x.com/Project0 Follow MacBrennan: https://x.com/macbrennan_cc Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:48) MacBrennan's Path to Project 0 (5:39) Rebuilding Prime Brokerage for DeFi (8:48) Unified Margin Across DeFi Venues (19:59) Automated DeFi Strategies (26:57) Risk Management & Asset Onboarding (31:51) The Evolution of Automated Strategies (35:19) Project 0 Pay Explained (46:33) Competing With DeFi Super Apps (51:10) What's Next for Project 0 (55:06) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 25, 202655 min

Solana’s Block Building Battle: Jito BAM vs. Harmonic

Gm! In this episode we discuss Blockworks’ new Solana-focused Lightspeed IR platform and a report on Solana block building. We examine the rivalry between Jito BAM and Harmonic, impacts on transaction ordering, fees, market structure, validator clients, and the push toward protocol-level solutions like MCP and application-controlled execution.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:42) Lightspeed IR Platform Launch (6:40) Block Building on Solana (12:28) Jito Bam vs. Harmonic: Architecture Breakdown (16:51) MEV, Fees, and Market Structure Impacts (34:04) MCP and Solana's Path Forward (48:49) What Happened to Jito and Harmonic? (55:55) Alpenglow & MCP Timeline (59:03) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 19, 20261h 0m

Solana’s Policy Push: Crypto’s New Regulatory Era | Kristin Smith

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Kristin Smith to discuss her transition to the Solana Policy Institute, recent U.S. crypto policy shifts, and progress under the Genius Act. We also discuss the CLARITY Act, market structure reform, DeFi and developer protections, institutional adoption, and the importance of durable regulatory clarity. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Solana Policy Institute: https://x.com/SolanaInstitute Follow Kristin Smith: https://x.com/KristinSmith Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:01) Kristin Smith’s Move to Solana (7:57) Crypto’s Regulatory Turning Point (14:59) CLARITY Act & Market Structure (29:37) Protecting DeFi Developers (35:54) Institutional Access to Crypto (40:55) The Path to Lasting U.S. Crypto Clarity (50:49) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 18, 202652 min

Solana’s Changing Market Microstructure

Gm! In this episode we cover Solana’s recent onchain performance, revenue trends, and upcoming network upgrades. We also discuss ecosystem token dispersion, client competition between Jito BAM and Harmonic, market structure challenges for perps, Prop AMM profitability metrics, and MetaDAO’s shift toward uncapped ICO raises and permissionless scaling. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (4:13) Solana Metrics, Upgrades, and Ecosystem Shifts (27:33) Prop AMMs: Volume vs. Profitability (36:15) ICO Design & Launchpad Models (56:33) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 13, 202658 min

Building the Next-Gen Perps Engine on Solana | Tristan Frizza

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Tristan Frizza Co-Founder of Bullet to discuss his journey from Zeta Markets to founding Bullet, a next-gen Solana perps exchange. We also discuss Solana congestion challenges, network extensions, ZK rollup design, data availability via Celestia, proving with Succinct, launch plans, incentives, and token migration. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Bullet: https://x.com/bulletxyz Follow Tristan Frizza: https://x.com/Tristan0x Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:41) From Zeta to Bullet (11:44) Bullet’s Design Overview (20:27) Celestia and ZK Proving Stack (27:46) Unlocking the Basis Trade (36:41) Bullet’s Target Trading Audience (46:47) Mainnet Launch Strategy (50:48) Token Migration from Zeta to Bullet (52:33) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 12, 202654 min

Crypto Stress Test: Fees, Volatility, and Chain Performance

Gm! In this episode Danny, Dan and Ian discuss recent market volatility across crypto and commodities, onchain performance during stress events, chain fee dynamics, AI agents interacting with crypto rails, and Pump.fun’s revenue, buybacks, and long-term value capture debate. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Kairos Research: https://x.com/Kairos_Res Follow Ian: https://x.com/Ian_Unsworth Follow Dan Smith: https://x.com/smyyguy Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:30) Market Stress and Onchain Performance (19:54) AI Agents and Crypto Rails (34:34) Pump.fun: Revenue, Buybacks, and Memecoin Markets (42:58) Solana and the Value Capture Debate (1:05:04) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 5, 20261h 6m

Building the Onchain Super App | Xiao-Xiao J. Zhu

Gm! In this episode we are joined by Xiao-Xiao, President of Jupiter, to discuss his background and transition to Jupiter, the shift toward onchain finance, growth of decentralized trading, stablecoins, mobile adoption, institutional participation, and Jupiter’s product strategy, and long-term vision for onchain financial infrastructure. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Jupiter: https://x.com/jupiterexchange Follow Xiao-Xiao: https://x.com/xxjzhu Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there! Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026 -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:55) Xiao-Xiao’s Background (8:57) CeFi to DeFi (14:16) Scaling Onchain Finance at Jupiter (31:49) Jupiter Mobile Strategy (36:16) Cards on Jupiter (39:41) What’s Holding Institutions Back? (50:45) How Jupiter Defines Success (59:40) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Feb 3, 20261h 0m

Are the Trenches Finally Back?

Gm! We're back with Carlos for another weekly roundup. We cover Solana’s SKR airdrop and token design, Solana Mobile’s strategy, renewed memecoin activity and launchpad economics, Pump.fun’s evolving revenue model, and tokenized stocks and internet capital markets on Solana. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:23) SKR and the Solana Phone (25:54) Trenches Revival (43:09) Tokenized Stocks on Solana (54:56) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 29, 202655 min

Listing Assets Everywhere Onchain | Saeed Badreg

Gm! In this episode we’re joined by Saeed Badreg, CEO of Wormhole Labs, to discuss Solana’s push to expand onchain markets through cross-chain asset listings, historical bridge challenges, Sunrise’s coordinated go-to-market approach, liquidity and distribution strategies, and the future of tokenized assets. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Wormhole Labs: https://x.com/wormhole_labs Follow Sunrise DeFi: https://x.com/sunrise_defi Follow Saeed Badreg: https://x.com/shadddowfax Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:51) Historical Pain Points (9:50) How Sunrise Brings Assets to Solana (31:33) Rethinking Token Distribution (42:49) Future of Tokenized Markets (51:11) Regulation’s Impact on Onchain Markets (59:13) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 27, 20261h 0m

Bringing State of the Art Perps to Solana | Jun Bug & kdot

Gm! In this episode Jun Bug and kdot co-founders of BULK join us to discuss building a high-performance perpetuals exchange on Solana, testnet rollout plans, covering latency and reliability challenges, validator-based architecture, decentralization trade-offs and incentive structures. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow BULK: https://x.com/bulktrade Follow kdot: https://x.com/kdotcrypto?lang=en Follow Jun Bug: https://x.com/junbug_sol Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Why Perps Are So Hard to Build on Solana? (16:27) BULK’s Testnet Launch (21:36) Incentives, Stickiness, and Long-Term Users (25:32) One Exchange, Infinite Market (35:38) Network Congestion and Perps on Solana (46:34) propAMMs in Perps Trading (58:16) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 22, 202659 min

How SOAR is Solving Tokens | Tom Curry

Gm! In this episode we are joined by Tom Curry to discuss Soar’s approach to tokenizing businesses, and improving fundraising via onchain models. We also cover internet capital markets, token–equity alignment, founder incentives, liquidity challenges, regulation, and onboarding retail investors into long-term, startup-focused crypto investing. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Soar: https://x.com/LaunchOnSoar Follow Tom Curry: https://x.com/imtomcurry Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:25) Why SOAR? (4:21) Meme Coins vs Real Value (10:04) How SOAR Is Different (25:29) Founder Control vs Governance (32:25) Ideal Founders for SOAR (36:34) Should Launchpads Curate? (39:15) What Success Looks Like (43:34) Challenges on the Token Side (47:01) New Investors and Liquidity (51:10) Learning From IPOs (54:25) What's Next for SOAR? (1:00:06) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 20, 20261h 1m

Blockchains Beyond the Public Internet | Austin Federa

Gm! This episode we’re joined by Austin Federa to discuss DoubleZero’s 2025 progress, its private fiber network, performance gains beyond the public internet, validator and stake incentivization, and more.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow DoubleZero: https://x.com/doublezero Follow Austin Federa: https://x.com/Austin_Federa Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Sablier is the leading onchain token distribution protocol — now on Solana. Trusted by top crypto teams, Sablier automates airdrops and vesting onchain, securely and transparently. Start in seconds at sablier.com -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:16) DoubleZero 2025 Highlights (7:23) Beyond the Public Internet (22:51) Network Performance (24:52) Sablier Ad (25:21) Stake Incentivization Program (33:51) Validator Incentives (40:34) Sablier Ad (41:03) Value Flow (52:59) Liquid Staking (56:12) Future Outlook (1:08:29) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 13, 20261h 9m

Do Buybacks Make Sense? | Lucas Bruder

Gm! We're back with Lucas from Jito to break down the new IBRL dashboard on Solana validator behavior. We also dive into token buybacks versus growth, governance design, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Jito Labs: https://x.com/jito_labs Follow Lucas Bruder: https://x.com/buffalu__?lang=en Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Sablier is the leading onchain token distribution protocol — now on Solana. Trusted by top crypto teams, Sablier automates airdrops and vesting onchain, securely and transparently. Start in seconds at sablier.com. -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:21) IBRL Dashboard (9:58) Submitting Transactions (17:51) Social Shaming Validators (20:46) Sablier Ad (21:14) Limitations of Cutting Swap Times (28:17) Refining the IBRL Dashboard (32:05) Sablier Ad (32:34) Do Buybacks Actually Work? (41:14) Could Jito Adopt Futarchy Based Governance? (47:00) The Equity and Token Relationship (49:18) Price Discovery and Market Structure (55:23) Centralized Exchanges in 2026 (58:11) 2026 Predictions (1:01:25) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed 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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Jan 8, 20261h 2m