Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast

Securing a Blockchain: First impressions of a Midnight block producer with Bjarne of TECH Pool

In this episode of Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast by Midnight, host Anthony Day is joined by Bjarne from TECH Pool, an experienced Cardano stake pool operator who has recently joined Midnight as a block producer. They explore the technical requirements, operational differences, and practical steps for setting up validator nodes on the Midnight network. What You'll Learn: * How to transition from Cardano stake pool operations to Midnight block production * The key infrastructure differences between running Cardano and Midnight nodes * Why decentralization matters in block production and how to avoid over-reliance on major cloud providers * The essential technical requirements for running a Midnight node, including CPU and RAM specifications * How to navigate the block producer registration process with a step-by-step demonstration * The importance of proper synchronization of DB sync, Kupo, and Obmios before node registration * The critical role of high-performance hardware (especially SSDs) in node operation * How established SPOs can expand their operations to include both Cardano and Midnight networks Bjarne is a Cardano Stake Pool Operator (SPO) and founder of TECH Pool, specializing in blockchain infrastructure and community development. As one of the first Cardano SPOs to onboard as a Midnight block producer, he brings extensive experience in node operation, server maintenance, and blockchain tooling development. His contributions to the Cardano ecosystem include creating JetRadar, a monitoring tool for Djed and Shen transactions, and cglobe.io, an interactive visualization platform demonstrating Cardano's decentralization. With a strong commitment to true decentralization through avoiding major cloud providers, Bjarne focuses on building robust, independent infrastructure while actively engaging with the community through technical support and educational initiatives. His expertise in both Cardano and Midnight networks positions him as a valuable voice for those interested in blockchain infrastructure, decentralization, and privacy-focused technologies Episode Resources:  * Bjarne Social: https://x.com/CardanoTech [https://x.com/CardanoTech] * TECH Pool Website: https://cardanotech.io [https://cardanotech.io/] * Midnight Network: https://midnight.network [https://midnight.network] If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. This episode is brought to you by Midnight [https://midnight.network/]. To learn more about the Midnight Network, visit the website at https://midnight.network/ [https://midnight.network/] Join the Midnight Discord: https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork [https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork] Unshielded is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=confessions-of-a-b2b-marketer]

Building a Zero-Knowledge Sea Battle Game with Brick Towers

In this episode of Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast by Midnight, host Anthony Day is joined by Imants Firsts and Sergey Kisel from Brick Towers, winners of the Midnight Sea Battle Hackathon challenge. Join them as they: * Discuss their experience participating in the Midnight Hackathon and working with zero-knowledge proofs technology * Share their approach to building a privacy-preserving Sea Battle game where players' ship positions remain completely private * Explain the technical challenges they faced and how they iterated on their solution multiple times to ensure proper privacy * Demonstrate their Sea Battle game with a unique twist - players can bet with shielded tokens * Highlight their focus on user experience and accessibility for non-technical users * Introduce Urble, their vision for a blockchain-based, privacy-focused saving solution that makes personal finance social and fun * Explore the importance of privacy in financial applications and how zero-knowledge proofs can help achieve this Brick Towers is a startup based in Crypto Valley, Switzerland, with expertise in software and financial engineering. The team consists of Sergey, Imants, and Aldis, who combined their skills in application development, infrastructure, and UI design to create their award-winning Sea Battle game. Beyond hackathons, Brick Towers is developing Urble, a blockchain-based goal-oriented saving solution that preserves privacy while adding social elements to personal finance. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources:  * Imants Firsts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firsts [https://www.linkedin.com/in/firsts/] * Sergey Kisel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kisel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kisel/] * Brick Towers Website: https://bricktowers.io [https://bricktowers.io] * Urble Website: https://urble.io/en/about.html [https://urble.io/en/about.html] * Midnight Network: https://midnight.network [https://midnight.network] This episode is brought to you by Midnight [https://midnight.network/]. To learn more about the Midnight Network, visit the website at https://midnight.network/ [https://midnight.network/] Join the Midnight Discord: https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork [https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork] Unshielded is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=confessions-of-a-b2b-marketer]

Building Zero-Knowledge Infrastructure with Stasia Carson

In this episode of Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast by Midnight, host Anthony Day is joined by Stasia Carson, CEO and co-founder of Sindri. Join them as they: * Explore how Sindri's API-first approach makes ZK infrastructure accessible * Discuss the synergy between Midnight's TypeScript-based approach and Sindri's enterprise-grade tooling * Walk through a live demo of setting up and deploying ZK infrastructure using Sindri's CLI * Examine how ZK technology can improve user experience in blockchain applications * Look ahead to opportunities in stablecoins and AI * And much more! Stasia Carson is the CEO and co-founder of Sindri, a ZK infrastructure automation company helping teams deploy zero-knowledge technology at scale. With a focus on making complex cryptographic infrastructure accessible through simple APIs, Stasia and her team are working to accelerate the adoption of privacy-preserving technologies across enterprise and web3 applications. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources:  * Stasia Carson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stasiacarson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stasiacarson/] * Sindri Website: https://sindri.app [https://sindri.app/] * Midnight Network: https://midnight.network [https://midnight.network] This episode is brought to you by Midnight [https://midnight.network/]. To learn more about the Midnight Network, visit the website at https://midnight.network/ [https://midnight.network/] Join the Midnight Discord: https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork [https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork] Unshielded is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=confessions-of-a-b2b-marketer]

Building Web3 Gaming Ecosystems with Sebastien Guillemot

In this episode of Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast by Midnight, host Anthony Day is joined by Sebastien Guillemot, co-founder of Paima Studios and dcSpark. Join them as they: * Explore the concept of trustless web3 gaming and its importance * Demonstrate live gameplay of Tarochi, showcasing stateful NFTs in action * Discuss how the Paima Engine enables cross-chain gaming experiences * Examine how zero-knowledge proofs can enhance gaming performance and privacy * Preview upcoming features and innovations in blockchain gaming * Dive into the technical architecture enabling seamless multi-chain experiences Sebastien Guillemot is the co-founder of Paima Studios and dcSpark, where he leads the development of innovative blockchain gaming solutions. His work focuses on creating seamless gaming experiences that leverage the full potential of blockchain technology while maintaining user accessibility. Through the Paima Engine, Sebastien and his team are pioneering new approaches to game development that bridge multiple blockchain ecosystems, including Cardano, EVM chains, and Midnight. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. This episode is brought to you by Midnight [https://midnight.network/]. To learn more about the Midnight Network, visit the website at https://midnight.network/ [https://midnight.network/] Join the Midnight Discord: https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork [https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork] Unshielded is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=confessions-of-a-b2b-marketer]

Unshielded 2024 Wrap Up: Exploring Midnight's Innovation and Ecosystem

In this special year-in-review episode of Unshielded: A Blockchain & Data Podcast by Midnight, host Anthony Day takes us through the standout moments and groundbreaking discussions that shaped 2024. This compilation features: * Charles Hoskinson’s insights into the future of blockchain, the challenges of mainstream adoption, and the importance of privacy and programmability for Web3 * Mauricio’s roadmap for Midnight, including advancements like Halo 2 and testnet preparations * Eran Barak’s exploration of Midnight’s dual asset system, balancing governance, network sustainability, and transaction privacy * Thomas Kerber’s introduction to the Kachina model, bridging the gap between transparency and privacy in smart contracts * Highlights from hackathon winners, showcasing innovative dApps like NuCast for content authentication and Entropi Labs’ KYC management solution * Reflections on the evolving role of privacy-preserving technologies in an AI-driven world * And much more! If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here [https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review]. Episode Resources:  * Charles Hoskinson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hoskinson [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hoskinson] * Eran Barak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eranbarak/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eranbarak/] * Thomas Kerber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/semihonest/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/semihonest/] * Maurício Magaldi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magaldi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/magaldi/] * Midnight Network: Midnight Network [https://midnight.network] This episode is brought to you by Midnight [https://midnight.network/]. To learn more about the Midnight Network, visit the website at https://midnight.network/ [https://midnight.network/] Join the Midnight Discord: https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork [https://discord.com/invite/midnightnetwork] Unshielded is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=confessions-of-a-b2b-marketer]