The Scoop

Mike Dudas is the Managing Partner of 6MV and former CEO of The Block. The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by Mike Dudas for Frank's final episode of the program. Frank and Mike discuss The Block's history, the evolution of the crypto space over the years, and how payments and stablecoins have emerged as one of crypto's killer use cases. OUTLINE 00:00 - Introduction 02:11 – Early Days of The Block 03:24 – The Tether Revelation 05:24 – Stablecoin Success 07:44 – Adoption Curve in Payments 11:33 – Global Stablecoin Impact 14:47 – Investment Opportunities 19:48 – Crypto vs. Fintech 25:27 – Meme Coins Debate 31:52 – Bonk and Pump Strategies 35:27 – Breaking Into the Mainstream 40:54 – Conviction in Solana 44:18 – Crypto Culture and Sentiment 47:51 – Conclusion GUEST LINKS Mike Dudas on X: https://x.com/mdudashttps://x.com/mdudas ⁠ Are you hiring in crypto? Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test. Faster hiring, stronger teams. Sign up for a trial today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠theblock.co/campus⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Bailey is the CEO of Bitcoin Inc. The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by David Bailey to discuss the growing adoption of Bitcoin by nation-states and institutions, with Bitcoin heading towards becoming a reserve asset and political force. They also discuss Michael Saylor's Microstrategy, and Bitcoin's separation from the broader crypto market. OUTLINE 00:00 - President Trump prelude 04:00 - Sponsor break 05:01 - Bitcoin losing its identity? 10:26 - International adoption 15:17 - Bitcoin as a matter of national security 18:39 - Market trends 21:33 - Risks of Microstrategy 26:28 - Microstrategy’s appeal 30:47 - Bitcoin’s maturity and seeking yield 31:51 - Crypto market troubles 34:25 - Conclusion GUEST LINKS David Bailey on X: ⁠https://x.com/DavidFBailey BTC Inc: https://b.tc/ Are you hiring in crypto? Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test. Faster hiring, stronger teams. Sign up for a trial today: ⁠⁠⁠theblock.co/campus⁠⁠⁠ This episode is brought to your by our sponsors: Fidelity Explore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to ⁠⁠⁠crypto.FidelityCareers.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

Barry Silbert is the Founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group and Yuma. The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined live by Barry Silbert to discuss his journey through the evolution of the crypto market, how his experience with the 2008 financial crisis shaped his approach to investing, and why he thinks Bittensor may be the next Bitcoin. OUTLINE 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Sponsor Break 02:00 - Barry Silbert’s Crypto Journey 06:43 - Bitcoin’s Evolving Narrative 09:25 - Crypto’s Credit Crisis 15:24 - Bitcoin’s Dampening Volatility 18:56 - How Bittensor Mirrors Bitcoin’s Early Days 20:56 - Yuma’s Vision and Playbook 26:10 - Barry’s Priorities at Yuma 30:14 - What’s Overrated in Crypto & Memes 33:50 - Final Thoughts GUEST LINKS Barry Silbert on X: https://x.com/barrysilbert Yuma Group on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/YumaGroup⁠ Digital Currency Group on X: ⁠https://x.com/DCGco⁠ Are you hiring in crypto? Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test. Faster hiring, stronger teams. Sign up for a trial today: ⁠⁠theblock.co/campus⁠⁠ This episode is brought to your by our sponsors: Fidelity Explore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to ⁠⁠crypto.FidelityCareers.com⁠⁠ to learn more.

Sebastian Bea is the President of Coinbase Asset Management. The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Bea to discuss how Bitcoin's recent market behavior is driving increased institutional interest and portfolio integration, signaling a potential shift in Bitcoin's role from a high-volatility tech proxy to a store of value like gold. Bea and Chaparro also touched on a potential move by the US government to revalue gold vs the US Dollar, and its potential impact on Bitcoin. OUTLINE 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Big Changes for Bitcoin 06:45 - Frameworks for Institutional Portfolios 09:48 - Bitcoins as Digital Gold 13:54 - Getting On Board With Bitcoin 22:04 - Regulatory Designation’s Market Impact 25:20 - Bitcoin’s Shift From NASDAQ to Gold 27:30 - US Government’s Revaluation of Gold? 34:22 - Leaving Bitcoin Dominance Behind 36:33 - Bitcoin Graduating As An Asset Class 38:59 - Capitalizing on Bitcoin’s momentum 41:49 - Bitcoin as a Savings Instrument 44:31 - Conclusion GUEST LINKS Sebastian Bea on X: https://x.com/sebastianbea Coinbase Asset Management on X: ⁠https://x.com/CoinbaseAM Are you hiring in crypto? Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test. Faster hiring, stronger teams. Sign up for a trial today: ⁠theblock.co/campus⁠ This episode is brought to your by our sponsors: Fidelity Explore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to ⁠crypto.FidelityCareers.com⁠ to learn more.

Austin Federa is a co-founder of DoubleZero.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Federa to discuss how the current public internet infrastructure bottlenecks blockchain performance, and how DoubleZero looks to address this by leveraging underutilized fiber optic cables to create a dedicated global network to support higher performance.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:02 - Sponsor break02:03 - DoubleZero’s core thesis05:42 - The problem with the public internet infrastructure10:13 - Understanding the current infrastructure16:36 - DoubleZero’s impact19:59 - Speed is the name of the game24:18 - Timeframes for rebuilding infrastructure31:11 - How DoubleZero finds and utilizes infrastructure35:35 - Tokenization36:55 - Technical difficulties37:20 - This isn’t your grandfather’s internet39:20 - Hiring talent and being a founder40:21 - Hiring Talent for a New Layer of the Internet44:37 - ConclusionGUEST LINKSAustin Federa on X: https://x.com/Austin_FederaDoubleZero on X: https://x.com/doublezeroAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.

John Wu is the President of Ava Labs.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Wu to discuss Avalanche’s growing institutional appeal, the rise of blockchain gaming, and how his background in traditional finance shaped his approach to building in crypto.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Sponsor break02:11 - John Wu’s tradfi background06:36 - Taking crypto seriously09:27 - Ava Labs’ focus11:11 - The gaming landscape18:38 - Ava Labs x financial markets24:30 - Challenges in building in Tradfi26:11 - How enterprises select blockchains29:03 - Project Guardian31:52 - Looking aheadGUEST LINKSJohn Wu on X: https://x.com/John1wuAva Labs on X: https://x.com/AvaLabsAva Labs: https://www.avalabs.org/Are you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.

Guilhem Chaumont is the Co-Founder and CEO of Flowdesk.The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, joined Chaumont at the Flowdesk office in Paris to discuss market volatility driven by tariffs, crypto’s convergence with traditional finance, and the evolving role of digital assets in institutional portfolios.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction00:43 – Sponsor break01:43 – Flowdesk03:14 – Tariffs and Market Turbulence04:58 – Market Uncertainty and Institutional Hesitation08:20 – Volatility and Weekend Selloffs12:02 – Amplified Declines in Altcoins16:28 – Why This Crash Is Different from FTX21:12 – Bridging Traditional Finance and Tokenization26:07 – The Effect of AI30:05 – Looking ahead and ConclusionGUEST LINKSGuilhem Chaumont: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guilhem-chaumont-215091a5/Flowdesk on X: https://x.com/flowdesk_coAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.

Nick Matthew is an investor with Standard Crypto.In this episode, Matthew joins The Scoop to discuss the current state of the crypto market, noting that investment opportunities still exist despite macro downturns. Matthew also contrasts the rise of stablecoins with memecoins, and the potential for crypto to consolidate and shift its evolution towards building 'Fintech 2.0' rather than web3.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction01:12 – Sponsor break03:04 – Coping with market downturnsl03:25 – The Fundraising Freeze05:02 – Macro in the driver seat09:36 – Memecoin extinction or ressurection15:59 – Who’s making money in crypto17:45 – Fintech 2.0 or Web322:04 – Investing in stablecoins25:26 – Investing in teams28:30 – The next billion users31:40 – Looking ahead and conclusionGUEST LINKSNick Matthew on X: https://x.com/nickjmattStandard Crypto on X: https://x.com/standardcryptoAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

Arthur Breitman is the Co-Founder of Tezos.In this episode, Breitman joins The Scoop to discuss the launch of uranium.io, a new marketplace for trading uranium powered by blockchain technology that looks to make investing in uranium more accessible to retail investors. The conversation also touched on geopolitical and technological tailwinds that could drive greater demand for nuclear energy.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:49 Sponsor break02:41 How uranium markets work today05:36 The limitations of uranium ETFs and futures07:10 Tokenization and RWA evolution15:56 Why start with uranium18:33 Why uranium is red hot right now23:30 Lessons from entering the uranium market28:01 Beyond commodities31:13 ConclusionGUEST LINKSArthur Breitman on X: https://x.com/ArthurBUranium.io on X: https://x.com/uranium_ioAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

Kyle Samani is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Multicoin Capital.In this episode, Samani discusses the current state of the crypto market and venture capital funding in the industry. Samani highlights areas which he believes are key investment opportunities, and lays out why he sees a brighter future for Solana in on-chain finance over Ethereum.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:32 Sponsor Break02:24 VC Funding Downtrend08:04 Clarifying Crypto's Usecases13:46 New Era of Crypto Regulation17:06 Regulatory Clarity = Increased Investment?22:49 Samani's Revised Solana Thesis25:28 Solana vs. Ethereum32:17 Closing Thoughts & PredictionsGUEST LINKSKyle Samani on X: https://x.com/KyleSamaniMulticoin capital on X: https://x.com/multicoincapAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

Michael Rihani is the director of products at Coinbase and one of the chief architects behind Coinbase's new bitcoin-backed loan product for everyday consumers.In this episode, Rihani explains how Coinbase's new loan product is designed to make DeFi feel 'magical,' and how this fits into Coinbase's broader strategy of bringing the power of blockchain technology to a global audience.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:57 Sponsor Shoutouts03:11 Coinbase's New Loan Product07:50 The "DeFi Mullet"09:21 Morpho Integration11:52 CeFi+DeFi Synergy17:00 Coinbase's Product Roadmap21:00 Making DeFi "Magical"23:12 DeFi Adoption Roadblocks25:54 The Future of DeFi Lending GUEST LINKSMichael Rihani on X: https://www.x.com/MichaelRihaniCoinbase's crypto-backed loans: https://www.coinbase.com/loansAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

In this episode, host Frank Chaparro is joined by M13 General Partner Latif Peracha and M13 Principal Mark Grace.The conversation explores the risks and opportunities presented by crypto's volatile liquid tokens, as well as the need for crypto founders to balance short-term liquidity with long-term potential when it comes to bootstrapping.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:17 Sponsor Shoutouts03:40 Overview of M1308:07 Generalist Crypto VCs10:35 IPOs vs. ICOs12:42 Token Volatility18:32 Taking Profit22:30 Opportunities in CeFi vs. DeFi28:20 Regulatory Clarity & Innovation31:17 Predictions & Closing ThoughtsGUEST LINKSM13 - https://www.m13.co/M13 on X - https://x.com/M13CompanyLatif Peracha on X: https://x.com/latifperachaMark Grace on X: https://x.com/markwgraceAre you hiring in crypto?Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.Faster hiring, stronger teams.Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campusThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by The Digital Chamber President Cody Carbone.In this episode, Chaparro and Carbone discussed the current U.S. policy landscape for the crypto industry under the new Trump administration. With growing bipartisan support and regulatory clarity, the conversation highlights how crypto is becoming a mainstream political issue with significant economic and electoral implications.OUTLINE00:00 Intro01:12 Sponsor break03:05 The tone has shifted05:37 IRS DeFi rule nullified09:25 Stablecoin legislation12:35 Fine-tuning crypto policy15:31 Crypto’s growing political influence18:01 How Trump changed the crypto debate24:14 The next six months28:56 ConclusionGUEST LINKSCody Carbone - https://www.linkedin.com/in/codycarbone/Cody Carbone on X - https://x.com/CodyCarboneDCThe Digital Chamber - https://digitalchamber.org/The Digital Chamber on X - https://x.com/DigitalChamberThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Paris Blockchain Week Chairman Michael Amar.In this episode, Chaparro and Amar discussed the origin and development of Paris Blockchain Week. Amar shared anecdotes of the various challenges and milestones reached over the years, and gave tips on curating a top-tier crypto conference.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:56 - Sponsor break02:49 - Michael Amar’s journey into crypto06:55 - The development of Paris Blockchain Week08:57 - Capturing the Zeitgeist each year11:11 - Crypto conference oversaturation13:40 - The Biggest Challenges in Running a Crypto Event18:28 - The European crypto landscape20:35 - Expectations for 202522:20 - Emerging sectors and trends25:33 - Advice for founders entering the crypto space30:38 - ConclusionGUEST LINKSMichael Amar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amarmic/Michael Amar on X - https://x.com/amarmicParis Blockchain Week - https://www.parisblockchainweek.com/Paris Blockchain Week on X - https://x.com/ParisblockweekThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Yellow Card Financial CTO and Co-Founder Justin Poiroux.In this episode, Chaparro and Poiroux discussed the rapid adoption of stablecoins in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. They explore how stablecoins are solving cross-border payment issues, and how Yellow Card is looking to bridging the gap between the developing world and the global financial system.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction00:58 - Sponsor break03:44 - Understanding Yellow Card05:56 - Challenges of building in Africa08:04 - How Yellow Card addresses cross-border payments15:53 - Yellow Card’s origins20:02 - Early challenges25:03 - Educating users & building trust in emerging markets28:26 - Looking ahead34:40 - ConclusionGUEST LINKSJustin Poiroux - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinpoiroux/Yellow Card Financial - https://yellowcard.io/Yellow Card Financial on X - https://x.com/yellowcard_appThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Ryze Labs Founder and Managing Partner Matthew Graham.In this episode, Chaparro and Graham discussed the intersection of the crypto market, AI, and robotics, with Graham highlighting several key technological advancements that could have a profound impact on how the markets function and alter humanity's role in them.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction and market overview1:30 AI x Crypto: current trends08:16 The Turing test 12:19 The future of AI companions18:33 The human edge in an AI world19:54 The AI economy24:46 Robotics30:33 Investigating and investing in hardware39:36 Looking ahead and conclusionGUEST LINKSMatthew Graham - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattysino/Matthew Graham on X - https://x.com/mattyryzeRyze Labs - https://x.com/RyzeLabsRyze Labs on X - https://www.ryzelabs.io/en/homeThis episode is brought to your by our sponsors:FidelityExplore Fidelity crypto careers today. Go to crypto.FidelityCareers.com to learn more.Uranium.ioInvesting in uranium is now widely accessible. Visit uranium.io to learn more.

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Arca CIO Jeff Dorman.In this episode, Chaparro and Dorman discussed the disconnect between market sentiment and the developments in the crypto space. Dorman goes over the actual use cases of the crypto ecosystem and how they are being drowned out by memecoins and scandals, highlighting that big outside players are beginning to get on board. OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:11 Sponsor break02:04 Memes taking the spotlight06:40 Crypto’s adolescent stage11:29 Common misconceptions about crypto18:50 Assessing value in the crypto space23:00 Are we still early?29:37 The future of crypto 34:50 Where are the liquid funds?41:30 Tradfi will eventually come45:04 ConclusionGUEST LINKSJeff Dorman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-dorman-cfa-61063129Jeff Dorman on X - https://x.com/jdorman81Arca - https://x.com/arcaArca on X - https://www.ar.ca/

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by August Co-Founder and CEO Aya Kantorovich.In this episode, Chaparro and Kantorovich went over the state of crypto capital markets, the resilience of DeFi during market downturns, and how banks are looking to get started in DeFi.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:08 From banking to crypto 02:30 Why institutions avoid DeFi 05:33 How institutions impact volatility 10:50 Crypto as the weekend market 17:00 Bitcoin as a reserve asset 20:01 Cambrian explosion of memecoins 26:28 Coinbase earnings 31:42 The resiliency of deFi 37:49 AI Agents 42:00 ConclusionGUEST LINKSAya Kantorovich - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayakantorovich/Aya Kantorovich on X - https://x.com/aya_kantorAugust - https://www.augustdigital.io/August on X - https://x.com/august_digital

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Lightspark Co-Founder and CEO David Marcus.In this episode, Chaparro and Marcus discuss the vision and technology behind scaling Bitcoin as a global payment network. Marcus explained how new developments, including stablecoins on Bitcoin, could transform worldwide financial systems and directly lead to an increase of GDP.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:52 Lightspark's mission and Bitcoin's Role04:39 Challenges in scaling Bitcoin09:44 Lightspark's evolution16:10 Stablecoins x Bitcoin21:27 Stablecoin improvements over traditional payments27:20 Past regulatory challenges30:23 Changing regulatory climate35:19 Future outlook41:37 ConclusionGUEST LINKSDavid Marcus - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmarcus/David Marcus on X - https://x.com/davidmarcusLightspark - https://www.lightspark.com/Lightspark on X - https://x.com/Lightspark

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by SonarX Founder Patrick Kim, SonarX Global Head of BD Jesse Bornstein, and Senior Web 3 Specialist at AWS, Everton Fraga.In this episode, Chaparro, Bornstein, Fraga and Kim discussed the challenges of managing and consuming the exponential growth of blockchain data across multiple chains. Patrick, Jesse, and Everton explained how the proliferation of blockchains has led to a big data problem with petabytes of data that is difficult for enterprises to fully utilize, and what solutions there are to these issues.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 03:02 The Challenge of Blockchain Data Management08:47 Multi-Chain Data Complexity and Solutions14:13 Standardizing and Simplifying Blockchain Data19:57 Institutional Challenges 23:13 Stablecoins, RWAs, and Data Demands28:25 Public Blockchain Data and Practical Use Cases32:23 Supporting Multiple Blockchains 35:11 AI's Role in Blockchain Data Integration38:16 Advice for Developers and Businesses43:23 ConclusionGUEST LINKSJesse Bornstein - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-bornstein-10a774a/Everton Fraga - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evertonfraga/Patrick Kim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickkim/SonarX - https://www.sonarx.com/SonarX on X - https://x.com/SonarX_HQAWS - https://aws.amazon.com/

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Congressman and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.In this episode, Chaparro and Emmer discussed President Trump's first weeks in office, the Democrat's missteps with voters in general and on crypto, and alleged waste and fraud in government spending.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction and Super Bowl Recap02:13 Crypto Policy and Political Dynamics07:11 Identity Politics and Crypto Perception10:18 Democrats' Missteps and Voter Alienation12:40 Speed of Policy Changes and Potential Risks15:27 Fraud in Government Agencies17:19 Congressional Oversight and Budget Issues20:32 Ensuring Long-Term Crypto Regulation22:33 Promises to the Crypto Industry25:46 Malice in Crypto Regulation?28:11 Stablecoin Legislation30:29 Closing Remarks and FarewellsGUEST LINKSRep. Tom Emmer - https://emmer.house.gov/Rep. Tom Emmer on X - https://x.com/tomemmerGOP Majority Whip on X - https://x.com/GOPMajorityWhip

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by VP of Product at QuickNode, Josh Neuroth.In this episode, Chaparro and Neuroth explored the rapid growth and increased adoption of blockchain by traditional financial institutions. They also unpacked QuickNode’s role in providing high-performance infrastructure to support both emerging blockchain projects and enterprise adoption.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction and Quick Node's Journey03:14 Trends in Blockchain and Enterprise Adoption07:38 Financial Institutions and Blockchain Scaling12:54 Developer Activity Surge on Solana and Base18:11 Emerging Ecosystems and Quick Node's Focus21:30 Future Plans and Tokenization of Real-World Assets25:38 Conclusion and FarewellsGUEST LINKSJosh Neuroth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshneuroth/Josh Neuroth on X - https://x.com/EastofETHQuickNode - https://www.quicknode.com/QuickNode on X - https://x.com/QuickNode

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Custodia Bank Founder and CEO Caitlin Long.In this episode, Chaparro and Long discussed the state of crypto banking, the potential restructuring of regulations under the Trump administration, and the Federal Reserve's stance on crypto.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction1:39 Powell’s crypto remarks3:02 Custodia and the Fed7:19 Trump’s crypto executive order8:34 Banks’ path to crypto custody12:12 12 month forecast17:51 State of crypto banking24:34 The Crypto Vote30:15 Trump’s meme coin32:50 Privatising fed wire38:40 Crypto in Wyoming41:25 Closing thoughtsGUEST LINKSCaitlin Long - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-long-/Caitlin Long on X - https://x.com/CaitlinLong_Custodia Bank - https://custodiabank.com/Custodia Bank on X - https://x.com/CustodiaBank

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Cambrian Asset Management President Tony Fenner-Leitão.In this episode, Chaparro and Fenner-Leitão discussed his firm's approach to the crypto market, which involves using machine learning and data-driven models. They also touched on the impact of increased institutional participation and regulatory changes in the crypto space and how these developments have affected the overall market dynamics.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 03:29 Lack of liquid participants 08:25 Cambrian’s perspective on the Trump meme coin 13:31 Shifting market dynamics 17:18 Regulatory changes 22:56 Cambrian’s requirements for entering a market 29:16 Active management vs VC allocation 35:39 ConclusionGUEST LINKSTony Fenner-Leitão - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyfennerleitao/Cambrian Asset Management - https://www.cambrianasset.com/Cambrian Asset Management on X - https://x.com/CambrianAssetThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

The Scoop's host, Frank Chaparro, was joined by Story Protocol Co-Founder Jason Zhao.In this episode, Chaparro and Zhao discussed the inefficiencies and challenges in the current IP landscape, and how Story aims to address these by allowing creators to monetize and license their IP in a more open and efficient manner, especially in the context of the rise of AI.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 05:29 Philosophy meets Crypto 09:08 The world of intellectual property 12:49 The financialization of IP 16:55 AI and ownership of IP 20:20 Getting started with AI and IP 24:40 Standing out in a sea of Picassos 27:45 Gen AI platforms 31:49 Story Protocol looking ahead 34:03 ConclusionGUEST LINKSJason Zhao - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjinzhao/Jason Zhao on X - https://x.com/jasonjzhaoStory Protocol - https://www.story.foundation/Story Protocol on X - https://x.com/StoryProtocol

The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by LMAX Group CEO David Mercer.In this episode, Chaparro and Mercer discussed the accelerating institutional adoption of crypto, with major banks entering the market and driving stability, maturity, and significant capital inflows. They also explored how improved interoperability between tradfi and crypto could increase adoption by enabling more seamless asset movement between the two ecosystems.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction02:43 Bullish vs Bearish narratives06:23 Improving regulatory environment09:24 This ain’t mania14:54 Competent credit offering 18:55 The necessary infrastructure 24:04 Capitalising on future growth33:35 Good tech solutions will win35:19 ConclusionGUEST LINKSDavid Mercer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercerdavid/David Mercer on X - https://x.com/mercerdavidLMAX Group - https://www.lmax.com/LMAX Group on X - https://x.com/LMAX

The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by Dragonfly Partner Tom Schmidt.In this episode, Chaparro and Schmidt discussed the cryptocurrency market acting as an institutional asset class moving into 2025, and how this cycle has been different for venture captial operating within the space. OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:39 Crypto as an institutional asset11:47 Crypto market idiosyncrasies18:20 Opportunities in 202522:28 Application in 202525:59 Anti-VC backlash30:37 Customer acquisition35:36 Closing thoughtsGUEST LINKSTom Schmidt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhschmidt/Tom Schmidt on X - https://x.com/tomhschmidtDragonfly - https://www.dragonfly.xyz/Dragonfly on X - https://x.com/dragonfly_xyz

The Scoop's host Frank Chaparro was joined by The Block's CEO Larry Cermak, Editor-in-Chief Tim Copeland, and Foresight Centures Co-Founder Forest Bai for a year-end special.In this episode, Chaparro, Copeland, Bai and Cermak covered a myriad of pertinent topics in the crypto market, including the factors that lead to a successful ecosystem, underexposure to bitcoin relative to memecoins, AI, and what they both expect and hope to see in the year ahead.OUTLINE00:00 End-of-Year drawdown5:56 Memes vs fundamentals08:25 Importance of community11:47 Shifting investment landscapes14:34 AI x Blockchain18:54 Newsroom expectations for 202523:48 Telegram games and improving UX26:37 Standing out in the market34:19 2025 expectations41:50 Microstrategy’s Bitcoin bet47:30 AGI & Quantum attacks on encryption48:29 ConclusionGUEST LINKSForest Bai - https://x.com/ForestBai1Larry Cermak - https://x.com/lawmasterTim Copeland - https://x.com/TimccopelandThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Jeff Garzik is the CEO of Hemi Labs, a modular Layer 2 protocol that integrates Bitcoin and Ethereum.In this episode, Garzik and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss Hemi and its "proof-of-proof" security model, and Garzik shares his views on the future of multi-chain interoperability and the evolution of decentralized governance models.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction and Hemi overview03:17 - The endangered Bitcoin maximalist05:33 - Proof of proof 10:01 - Lessons from testnet13:32 - ETH vs. Bitcoin in the multi-chain future 19:05 - Envisioning the multi-chain future24:14 - Darwinian trial by fire33:34 - Main net plans and closing remarksGUEST LINKSJeff Garzik - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgarzik/Jeff Garzik on X - https://x.com/jgarzikHemi Labs - https://x.com/hemi_xyzHemi Labs on X - https://hemi.xyz/This episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Edan Yago is the co-founder and CEO of BitcoinOS, a Layer 2 platform and "operating system" for Bitcoin.In this episode, Yago and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss BitcoinOS and how Bitcoin can evolve from being just “digital gold” into a fully programmable, global ledger for ownership and financial innovation.OUTLINE00:00 – Introduction 02:17 – Bitcoin and digital property rights 04:40 – Bitcoin’s spirit of innovation 08:17– Bitcoin smart contracts vs. rival chains 15:29 – Bitcoin DeFi’s value add 20:44 – Solving scalability 25:12 – Bitcoin, AI, and the next Trillion in assets 28:28 – The next five years 35:07 – Short term shifts37:42 - ConclusionGUEST LINKSEdan Yago - https://www.linkedin.com/in/edanyago/Edan Yago on X - https://x.com/edanyagoBitcoinOS - https://www.bitcoinos.build/BitcoinOS on X - https://x.com/BTC_OSThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Zachary Townsend is the co-founder and CEO of Meanwhile, a life insurance company for the crypto economy.In this episode, Townsend and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss Meanwhile's model of Bitcoin-denominated life insurance and the advantages of this approach vs. traditional dollar-denominated insurance policies, such as protection against inflation and the ability to borrow against the policy's value tax-free.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction04:48 How Meanwhile works10:33 Role of insurance in the Bitcoin economy14:09 Charting new territory16:38 Bitcoin vs dollar-denominated insurance20:32 Approaching new customers24:10 Zac’s background26:23 Looking forward30:04 ConclusionGUEST LINKSZac Townsend - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zactownsend/Zac Townsend on X - https://x.com/ztownsendMeanwhile - https://meanwhile.bm/Meanwhile on X - https://x.com/meanwhilelifeThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Himanshu Sahay is the Co-Founder and CTO of Arch.In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Sahay and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss the evolution of crypto lending after the 2022 market turmoil and Arch's approach to expansion and collateral.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:16 Intro to Arch 03:15 Shifting collateral standards 07:33 The state of crypto credit12:48 New administration, new regulation14:35 Debanking and Barron Trump17:41 Arch’s global expansion19:29 Encounters with Voyager and Celsius20:47 ConclusionGUEST LINKSHimanshu Sahay - https://www.linkedin.com/in/himanshusahay/Himanshu Sahay on X - https://x.com/hhsahayArch - https://archlending.com/Arch on X - https://x.com/ArchLendingThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Samantha Bohbot is the Chief Growth Officer & Partner of RockawayX, a blockchain-focused venture capital fund.In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Bohbot and The Block's Frank Chaparro discuss discuss challenges facing European firms compared to their American counterparts, and RockawayX's credit fund and developing opportunities in DeFi.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:36 RockawayX03:38 Tech and investment in Europe07:11 Post-election investment09:19 DeFi rally11:58 Crypto credit17:56 Standing out to investors 21:24 Value-add investor25:32 The race to the bottom27:52 ConclusionGUEST LINKSSamantha Bohbot - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-bohbot-7622b933/Samantha Bohbot on X - https://x.com/samantha_bohbotRockawayX - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rockawayx/RockawayX on X - https://rockawayx.com/This episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

David Wells is the founder and CEO of Enclave Markets, an institutional-grade digital asset trading platform that bills itself as the first Fully Encrypted Exchange (FEX).In this episode recorded live at Emergence in Prague, Wells and Chaparro discuss Enclave's model, the maturing crypto market and the potential for more sophisticated trading strategies and liquidity.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction01:21 Enclave Markets04:12 The Enclave experience05:53 Crypto capital markets 06:57 The maturing crypto market08:54 Inefficient markets10:01 New products and strategies12:42 Concluding thoughtsGUEST LINKSDavid Wells - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wells-12792413/David Wells on X - https://x.com/wellsda2Enclave Markets - https://www.enclave.market/Enclave Markets on X - https://x.com/enclavemarketsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Bill Barhydt is the founder and CEO of Abra, a global platform for digital asset prime services and wealth management.In this episode recorded live at Emergence, Barhydt and Chaparro discuss how building a successful crypto businesses requires careful navigation of complex legal and regulatory hurdles, and how this process might change under the upcoming Trump administration.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction 01:57 Building in Crypto 05:38 Abra's Pivots 09:48 Surviving FTX 14:18 Abra's Future Strategy 16:26 Regulation & Innovation 20:32 Closing ThoughtsGUEST LINKS Bill Barhydt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/billbar/Bill Barhydt on X - https://x.com/billbarXAbra - https://www.abra.com/Abra on X - https://x.com/abraglobalThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor: PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.network

Jon Kol is the co-founder of Hyperlane, an interoperability protocol.In this episode, Kol and Chaparro discuss the challenges and progress of blockchain interoperability, and how the industry may now be turning a corner.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction04:24 A year away08:50 Interchange singularity10:30 Bridge opportunities13:32 Balancing speed and security18:35 Poor UX, Poor DevX20:11 Who’s the buyer?26:52 ConclusionThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor BitkeyBitkey is the safe, easy way to own and manage bitcoin. Learn more at Bitkey.worldThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newslettersGUEST LINKSJon Kol - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-kol-4bb37a9b/Jon Kol on X - https://x.com/thePalenimbusHyperlane - https://hyperlane.xyz/Hyperlane on X - https://x.com/hyperlane

Joshua Lim is the co-founder of Arbelos Markets.In this episode, Lim and Chaparro discuss the crypto market surge sparked by Donald Trump's election as U.S. President. Lim sheds light on how the Trump administration's regulatory stance could pave the way for institutional investors to dive deeper ino the crypto space, potentially driving higher trading volumes and boosting liquidity across the ecosystem.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:01 Macro Tailwinds 03:17 Flows & Volume 08:14 Market Opportunities 12:29 ETF Flows' Impact on Crypto 21:30 Crypto Credit Market 24:52 MicroStrategy's Strategy 27:37 Market Predictions 33:08 Banks & Crypto AdoptionThis episode is brought to you by our sponsors, Polkadot & Bitkey.The Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newslettersGUEST LINKSJoshua Lim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lim-1b27098/Joshua Lim on X - https://x.com/joshua_j_limArbelos Markets - https://arbelos.xyz/Arbelos Markets on X - https://x.com/arbelosxyz

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and Managing Partner of Skybridge.In this episode, Scaramucci and Chaparro discuss the recent U.S. Presidential election and its implications for the crypto industry. Scaramucci analyzes the factors that led to Kamala Harris's loss, naming crypto as a key factor.OUTLINE 00:00 Introduction00:36 2024 Presidential Election Retrospective 04:16 Trump's Cabinet 07:37 The Future of the Democrats 11:29 Market's Response to Trump Victory 14:23 New SEC Chair 19:17 D.O.G.E 22:54 Closing Thoughts This episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor BitkeyBitkey is the safe, easy way to own and manage bitcoin. Learn more at Bitkey.worldThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newslettersGUEST LINKSAnthony Scaramucci on X - https://x.com/scaramucciAnthony Scaramucci - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anscaramucci/Skybrdige on X - https://x.com/skybridgeSkybridge - https://www.skybridge.com/

dYdX founder Antonio Juliano discusses the evolution of dYdX and the broader DeFi landscape, highlighting the need for DeFi to move beyond copying tradfi products and build truly innovative applications made possible by decentralization.OUTLINE 00:00 Intro 01:33 DeFi's Development 04:24 dYdX Mega Vault AMM 05:32 dYdX Prediction Markets 08:47 High-Performance Blockchain Development 10:35 Appchain Drawbacks 12:47 dYdX vs. Hyperliquid 14:36 New dYdX Markets 17:11 Onchain RWA Derivatives 18:39 DEX Adoption Hurdles 21:24 Crypto Market Makers 22:22 dYdX Development Roadmap 23:47 Appchain Advantages GUEST LINKSAntonio Juliano on X - https://x.com/AntonioMJulianoAntonio Juliano - https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniojuliano/dYdX - https://dydx.exchange/dYdX on X - https://x.com/dYdXThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins sheds light on Ethereum, Solana and finding the next "generational winners" in the crypto market.OUTLINE00:00 Intro 01:47 Watkins' Crypto Journey 05:22 Syncracy's Liquid Strategy 06:51 Crypto Market Analysis 08:52 Ethereum's Underperformance 13:14 Long-Only 15:34 Picking Winners 20:38 SOL Trade 28:27 Bitcoin vs. Crypto 34:16 Market Cycle Analysis This episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Ripple Head of Product Jasmine Cooper and Axelar Co-Founder Sergey Gorbunov discuss advancements in Real World Assets (RWAs), tokenization, and interoperability.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:12 Interoperable RWAs 04:18 Regulatory Clarity 08:09 RWA Tech Stack 11:37 White Labeling RWAs 13:05 Choosing a Chain 14:43 XRP Ledger RWA Experience 20:35 Asset Issuance 101 22:49 Global Accessibility of RWAs 26:05 Corporate Admin Crypto Adoption 27:26 Advancements in Interoperability 30:26 Axelar's Development Roadmaps 31:39 Institutional RWA FAQs 34:25 Closing Thoughts 35:55 Axelar Wrap-UpThis is episode is sponsored by Axelar Foundation.Axelar is scaling chain abstraction to hundreds of new blockchains with its Mobius Development Stack (MDS). Find out more at axelar.network/mobiusThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Justin Slaughter is the vice president of regulatory affairs at Paradigm.In this episode, Slaughter and Chaparro discuss the Democratic Party's performance leading up to and during the recent election, particularly in relation to the crypto industry.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 03:19 2024 Election Recap 04:47 Harris Campaign 07:50 Single-Issue Crypto Voters 11:13 Democratic Party Policy 22:48 Policy Flip-Flopping 26:49 Split Ticket Voters 36:37 New SEC Regime 43:01 Pro-Crypto Democrats 45:06 Predictions & Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Alex Gluchowski is the Co-Founder CEO of Matter Labs, a company focused on scaling Ethereum using zero-knowledge proofs, and Matthias Broner is their Head of Growth for Latin America.In this episode, Gluchowski and Broner discuss the QuarkID project in Buenos Aires, which uses zero-knowledge proofs to give citizens control over their digital identity and serve as a model for decentralized digital identity systems.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 04:25 Blockchain Scaling 07:19 Buenos Ares ZK-Powered 12:01 Government Innovation 16:40 DID Tech Stack 18:25 ZK 101 19:57 Impact on Argentinian 21:39 DID Expansion 25:59 Crypto's Utility 31:33 Development Roadmap 32:42 Public Services Onchain 34:50 DID Security 36:24 ZKsync Roadmap This episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Robert Leshner is the CEO of Superstate, an asset management firm that tokenizes traditional financial assets like U.S. Treasuries and brings them onchain.In this episode, Leshner explains the advantages of tokenized assets, such as the ability to operate 24/7 and the increased composability with DeFi protocols. He also discusses the regulatory and macroeconomic tailwinds that have made this an opportune time to launch tokenized products.OUTLINE00:00 Health & Routines07:03 Superstate Overview12:26 Growing DeFi with RWAs15:22 RWA Revolution24:24 Benefits of Tokenization27:18 Onchain vs. Offchain Crypto Exposure29:18 Real-time NAV Updates38:16 Real-Time Settlement41:01 Crypto's Role in TradFi46:13 The Future of Finance49:07 Crypto's Regulatory Climate53:58 Superstate's Asset Roadmap58:47 Personal Prioritization62:27 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Erik Voorhees and Teana Baker-Taylor are co-founders of Venice, an open-source and uncensored AI chatbot and content generation platform.In this episode, the Venice co-founders discuss the vision and approach of their product in contrast to more restrictive and centralized AI models like ChatGPT.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:43 Origin of Venice AI02:37 'AI is like Bitcoin but scarier'07:29 Proprietary AI Models09:12 Regulatory Inefficiencies11:16 Global AI Regulatory Regimes16:46 AI Censorship20:11 Moderation on Venice25:01 Freedom vs Privacy34:11 Venice Pricing Model36:35 AI Agents39:44 AI 'Rights'50:37 Venice Roadmap54:10 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Michael Shaulov is the Co-Founder & CEO of Fireblocks.In this episode, Shaulov discusses how Fireblocks' core business has evolved over the past few years, particularly in the area of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 00:56 Business at Fireblocks 06:15 Fireblocks & Stablecoins 09:59 RWA TVL Growth 15:36 Institutional Stablecoin Adoption 25:22 TradFi's Adoption of Crypto Infrastructure 29:27 Onchain Identity Systems 38:10 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Sam Hallene and Aryan Sheikhalian are analysts at CMT Digital, a subsidiary of the CMT Group.In this episode, Hallene and Sheikhalian unpack the key trends they are observing in crypto's VC market, including the intersection of blockchain and AI and its implication for improving user data ownership, verified inference, and the use of blockchain to govern non-deterministic models.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 05:31 Current VC Landscape 07:02 VC Market Decoupling 12:11 PMF in Crypto 15:58 Non-Financial Use Cases 22:00 DeFi's Future 23:17 Tokenization Trends 29:13 Crypto Venture Market Forecast 35:56 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Sandy Peng is the co-founder of Scroll.In this episode, Peng discusses scaling Ethereum and particularly emphasizes the importance of business insight and experience outside of crypto in driving application-level innovation.OUTLINE00:00 Intro01:07 Peng's Journey to Scroll04:27 Peng's Regulatory Background07:52 Industry Headwinds 10:31 Ethereum Scaling Competition 15:00 Consumer Crypto Apps 16:49 Improving Crypto UX 23:06 Stepn's Success 26:11 ZK Advantages 29:45 Scroll's Roadmap 34:14 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

This episode of The Scoop features Bitget Wallet COO Alvin Kan, and two builders from the TON ecosystem — Catizen co-founder Ricky Wong and Miles, a core team member of Tomarket.The conversation explores how Telegram's large user base is enabling rapid adoption and growth of Telegram 'Mini Apps' on top of the TON blockchain.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction 01:29 TON Overview 03:06 TON's Advantages 06:21 TON's Future 08:29 Catizen's Hyper Adoption 10:30 Tomarket Overview 12:34 Ton Ecosystem Collaboration 15:54 Building on TON 17:14 TON's Consumer Focus 20:56 TON User Behavior 24:45 User Retention 27:59 TON Roadmap 31:47 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters

Vishal Gupta is the co-founder and CEO of TrueX — a new stablecoin-native trading platform.In this episode, Gupta unpacks how TrueX aims to provide a "stablecoin-native" trading experience with segregated custody, primarily targeted at institutional clients in the United States.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction04:50 TrueX Overview11:13 Exchange Innovation14:42 Institutional Client Trading Needs17:52 Stablecoin Collateral19:21 TrueX Matching Engine23:11 Segregated Service Offerings25:52 TrueX Funding27:41 Broker Adoption31:06 Crypto's Credit Market33:51 True Markets Roadmap35:50 Closing ThoughtsThis episode is brought to you by our sponsor PolkadotPolkadot is the blockspace ecosystem for boundless innovation. To discover more, head to polkadot.networkThe Block CommunityThe Block is launching a new community experience for fans of The Scoop! Follow us on Lens to stay in the loop: hey.xyz/u/theblockcommunityThe Block NewslettersThe Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters