The Smart Economy Podcast: Real-World Blockchain Applications with Crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Mounir Benchemled, founder and CEO of ParaSwap, a platform in the decentralized finance landscape. Together, they explore what ParaSwap is bringing to the DeFi space, delve into the technical challenges of building on blockchain, and discuss the future of decentralized exchanges. Mounir also shares his vision for driving mass crypto adoption through scalable infrastructure and user-centric experiences.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Anthony Day, head of strategy and marketing at Midnight, a Layer 1 protocol developed by Input Output (IOHK). Together, they discuss the importance of data protection and privacy, why Web3 needs to be professionalized for mass adoption, the value of blockchain for enterprise and large-scale entities, and how Midnight is building itself to be a fourth-generation blockchain network.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Ganesh Swami, CEO and co-founder of Covalent to discuss blockchain data infrastructure, AI integration, and the evolution of Ethereum. They explore how Covalent is helping bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3, the importance of decentralized infrastructure for AI, and the development of tools like the Ethereum Wayback Machine.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by JP Thor, Founder of THORChain. They explore how close we are to mainstream crypto adoption, THORChain's user-friendly features, why SwapKit could be the key to decentralized wallet integration, and how THORChain approaches cross-chain swaps.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Fabian Gompf, Chief Executive Officer of the Web3 Foundation. They dive into Polkadot's early days, how Parity drives Polkadot's ecosystem forward, and why enterprise giants are eyeing Polkadot. Fabian also shares applicable and less applicable uses for blockchain technologies, modular versus monolithic blockchains, and the recent uproar about the Polkadot ecosystem’s treasury spending.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Ken Timsit, head of Cronos Labs. They discuss crypto as a viable solution to modern banking, the relationships between centralized exchanges and their blockchain ecosystem counterparts, and the regulatory environment and political influence on crypto policy. Ken also shares insights about the Cronos tri-blockchain ecosystem, lessons learned from building on the zkEVM and Cosmos tech stacks, and the forthcoming Cronos triple yield-bearing thesis for the zkCRO token.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski engages in a conversation with Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of Saga. They delve into the evolving landscape of Web3 gaming and the challenges faced by indie game developers. Rebecca shares insights into Saga's protocol, designed to simplify blockchain integration for game developers and enhance user experiences. The discussion covers topics such as cross-game economies, IP collaborations, and the role of NFTs in shaping the future of gaming. Additionally, Rebecca touches upon her diverse background in law, politics, and blockchain, offering valuable perspectives on leadership and the transformative potential of Web3 technologies.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski talks with Laurent Benayoun, CEO of Acheron Trading. They discuss the impact of crypto-backed ETFs, the shift from Bitcoin to stablecoin trading pairs, and Acheron Trading's role in providing liquidity. They also explore the evolving landscape of blockchain technologies, decentralized finance trends, and the future of crypto regulations.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Kurt Hemecker, CEO of the Mina Foundation, to explore the potential of Mina's zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. They discuss the evolution of information and money-sharing protocols, the growth of the Mina ecosystem, the significance of ZK technology in offering privacy, identity, and scaling solutions, and Mina's approach as the “world’s lightest ZK blockchain.” Discover insights into Mina's interoperability prospects, the burgeoning ecosystem of ZK apps, and the importance of combining privacy with regulatory compliance.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Max Hillebrand, CEO of zkSNACKs, for an in-depth discussion on Bitcoin privacy solutions, cypherpunk ethos, and the importance of open-source software. They discuss challenges and solutions for privacy in Bitcoin transactions, the role of coordination services like CoinJoin, and the potential of zero-knowledge proofs. Max also dives into government regulations, the historical context of money, the shutdown of zkSNACKs, and the future focus on advancing human freedom and privacy in the crypto space.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Matt Leising, Co-founder of DeCential Media, for an in-depth discussion on the importance of journalistic integrity in the crypto industry, Matt's background at Bloomberg, his book "Out of the Ether" detailing the Ethereum DAO hack, and DeCential Media's approach to spotlighting the individuals shaping the decentralized economy.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Pavel Sinelnikov, Developer Relations Lead at ZKM, for an in-depth discussion on zero-knowledge technology and its potential to bolster the Bitcoin ecosystem. Pavel shares lessons learned from Ethereum's growth and how they can be applied to Bitcoin, particularly in decentralized financial derivatives and scaling solutions. They explore different types of Layer Two (L2) rollups, their roles in enhancing scalability and efficiency, and how ZKM’s decentralized sequencer aims to enhance Bitcoin’s network utility and integrate it seamlessly with other blockchain ecosystems. They also cover sustainable Bitcoin yields, ZKM's approach to offering yield on a native Bitcoin asset, and key insights into the evolving blockchain landscape and the future of decentralization.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Meg Lister, General Manager of Grants Labs at Gitcoin, to discuss the transformative nature of grant funding in blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystems. They delve into the enhanced transparency and accountability that blockchain technology offers, highlighting the superior success rates of grant funding compared to traditional funding methods, particularly in terms of developer retention and community impact. Meg also highlights Gitcoin's expanded focus beyond Ethereum to EVM networks and its evolution into the more inclusive and decentralized Gitcoin 2.0.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Alejo Pinto, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Pontem. They discuss Pontem’s impact on the DeFi landscape, highlighting its suite of products that enable transactions across different blockchain layers and ecosystems. Alejo dives into how Pontem is building for a multi-chain world by leveraging both its internal products and external tech stacks. The conversation also covers the significance of enabling people to transact freely in crypto, building on the Move Virtual Machine and the relationships with developers who are building it, and Pontem's strategies to abstract blockchain specifics from the end user, facilitating seamless interactions on any network.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Caspar Sauter, the Co-founder of Quantena and D8X Exchange, to discuss the mission behind D8X and the importance of building decentralized financial machines. Caspar explains why D8X focuses on perpetual futures and how they are building white-label solutions for banks and financial institutions. He also delves into the importance of cross-chain liquidity, the lessons learned from being live on two chains, and the importance of privacy and oracle solutions in the DeFi space. Caspar also touches on the impact of the Bitcoin halving, the role of institutions in the crypto space, and the future of DeFi.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Rowland Graus, Director of Product Management & Developer Relations at Agoric, to discuss the to discuss the transformative potential of simple cross-chain operations and enhancing user accessibility. Rowland delves into Agoric's approach to chain abstraction and orchestration within and beyond the Cosmos Interchain. He also discusses the strategic role of stablecoins in the ecosystem, Agoric's focus on JavaScript developers to broaden blockchain adoption, and the insights gained from integrating Metamask's Snaps feature using Agoric's Hardened JavaScript toolkit.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Jon Trask, CEO and founder of Dimitra, to discuss how blockchain technology is creating real-world impact in agriculture. He also shares insights into Dimitra's connected farmer platform and his future predictions for on-chain deforestation-related transactions.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Andreas Brekken, the Founder of SideShift, to discuss his experience in the cryptocurrency space and the evolution of exchanges over the past decade. He also delves into the founding of SideShift and its focus on user privacy and zero registration. Andreas highlights the importance of building during bear markets and the recent successes of SideShift as the market trends upward.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Philippe Schommers, the Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis, to discuss the Gnosis ecosystem and what sets the Gnosis Chain apart from the Ethereum chain. Philippe shares insights into building MEV resistance into the core protocol, the impact of governance on infrastructural development, and various technical aspects of the Gnosis Chain and the broader ecosystem.

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan Grabowski speaks with Peyman Momeni, CEO and Co-Founder of Fairblock, about the crucial need for privacy in decentralized systems. Learn about Fairblock's commitment to user-centric, cross-chain privacy solutions. Discover how these solutions aim to empower DeFi, enhance governance, and revolutionize gaming. Get insights into the challenges of building privacy-focused solutions and the importance of partnering with developers for widespread adoption.