Defi Podcast

In this special episode recorded live at the Avalanche Summit at Historic Hatfield Park, we sit down with John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs, for an in-depth conversation about Avalanche's vision for the future of blockchain. John shares his fascinating journey from international affairs and policy work to becoming a key figure in crypto, including his early Bitcoin discovery at a Los Angeles coffee shop in 2012 and his path through traditional finance, media, and eventually to Ava Labs. We explore why John believes we're entering "L1 season" and how Avalanche's multi-chain architecture is positioned to capture this shift. From Web3 gaming finally becoming indistinguishable from traditional gaming to enterprises needing their own purpose-built chains, John breaks down why general-purpose blockchains are becoming obsolete. Key Topics: 🔺 John's background: from political wonk to international trade to crypto pioneer 🔺 Why Web3 gaming is "just starting" and how Avalanche enables true scalability 🔺 The coming "L1 season" and why L2s are starting to falter 🔺 How the C-chain acts as a hub without fragmenting liquidity 🔺 Enterprise adoption and why every business will need its own chain 🔺 The importance of regulatory clarity and building in New York 🔺 Why the best tech doesn't always win and how Avalanche is addressing this Recorded at the Avalanche Summit, this episode offers unique insights into one of crypto's most ambitious ecosystems and the strategy behind making blockchain technology truly accessible for enterprises, gamers, and developers alike. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Defi Podcast at Avalanche Summit 00:32 Introducing John Neha: From Tradify to Crypto 01:19 John Neha's Journey into Blockchain 07:50 Building Token Vault and Early Blockchain Ventures 11:57 Exciting Developments in Avalanche 14:24 The Future of Web3 Gaming on Avalanche 17:44 Avalanche's Unique Approach to Blockchain 20:41 The Evolution and Future of Crypto 24:16 Launching Your Own L1 Chain 24:42 The Rise of L1 Season 25:31 Challenges and Opportunities for L2s 27:10 The Value of L1 Chains 29:32 The Role of the C-Chain 34:19 Highlighting Use Cases and Supporting Builders 41:48 The Importance of Transparency in Crypto 44:49 Avalanche Summit and Community Building 47:01 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Follow the Pod: https://x.com/defipodcast [https://x.com/defipodcast] Follow the Guest: https://x.com/JohnNahas84 [https://x.com/JohnNahas84] https://x.com/AvaLabs [https://x.com/AvaLabs] Follow the Hosts: https://x.com/Bill_Tanyeri [https://x.com/Bill_Tanyeri] https://x.com/JFSaine [https://x.com/JFSaine] https://x.com/M0xrrissey [https://x.com/M0xrrissey] Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions. #Avalanche #L1 #Web3Gaming #Enterprise #Blockchain #DeFi #AvalancheSummit

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we're joined by Clayton Menzel, Head of BD at Babylon, to explore how they're revolutionizing Bitcoin by enabling staking functionality without bridging or wrapping. Clayton explains Babylon's innovative approach that allows Bitcoin holders to put their BTC to work through a delegated proof-of-stake system while maintaining custody of their assets. Learn how Babylon is creating both a security layer and liquidity layer for Bitcoin, allowing it to secure other chains while injecting Bitcoin liquidity into various ecosystems. Key Topics: 🔹 How Babylon enables Bitcoin staking without leaving the Bitcoin network 🔹 The slashing risk profile compared to other DeFi activities 🔹 Babylon Genesis Chain and its role in the ecosystem 🔹 The future of trustless LST creation using BitVM technology 🔹 How Babylon contributes to Bitcoin's long-term security model 🔹 Partnerships with chains like Osmosis and Tac Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Bitcoin Use Cases 00:42 Market Update and Bitcoin Performance 03:31 Ethereum and Crypto News Highlights 10:24 Deep Dive into Babylon and Bitcoin Staking 13:37 Understanding Babylon's Staking Mechanism 17:11 Comparing Babylon with Other Protocols 19:44 Security and Liquidity in Bitcoin Staking 26:04 Shared Security and Bitcoin Liquidity 28:32 Bitcoin Renaissance and Staking Functionality 31:05 Yield and Rewards for Staking Bitcoin 32:51 Babylon Genesis Chain and Its Use Cases 36:26 Bitcoin's Role in Decentralized Finance 40:17 Challenges and Opportunities for Bitcoin Security 44:20 The Future of Bitcoin and Babylon's Vision 51:04 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Follow us: Twitter: @DefiPodcast Follow the Hosts: @Bill_Tanyeri @RhettShipp @M0xrrissey Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions. #DeFi #Bitcoin #Babylon #Staking #BTC #Crypto

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we're joined by Brendan Joyce (@azzabazazz), CEO of Pakt (@PaktWorld), who is revolutionizing how businesses are built on blockchain. Brendan shares his fascinating journey from Hollywood screenwriter to Obama campaign worker to blockchain innovator, and how winning a pitch contest launched Pakt as the "WordPress for Web3." Learn how Pakt is using AI tools to dramatically lower the barrier to creating blockchain-powered businesses, potentially changing the way we think about entrepreneurship in the digital age. Our hosts Bill, Jared (@M0xrrissey), and Rhett also cover recent market moves with Bitcoin hitting 97K, the Movement Labs controversy, and the challenges crypto projects face when working with market makers. Key Topics: - How Pakt creates "chain sites" that seamlessly integrate blockchain functionality - Non-custodial escrow systems that protect both freelancers and clients - Using AI to create blockchain businesses in days instead of months - The vision for turning early adopters into builders - The journey from Rwanda to Nairobi building with a global team Whether you're interested in building on blockchain, AI's impact on crypto, or the future of decentralized business models, this episode offers fresh insights into how the industry is evolving beyond price speculation toward real utility. Follow the guest: @azzabazazz @PaktWorld Follow us: @DefiPodcast Follow the Hosts: @Bill_Tanyeri @M0xrrissey @RhettShipp Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:16 Market Update and Economic Insights 06:14 Movement Labs Controversy 09:05 Challenges with Market Makers 15:15 Oiler Protocol's Comeback 29:09 Brendan's Journey in the Avalanche Ecosystem 35:38 Pitching at Avalanche Creates 38:53 Introducing Pakt: The WordPress for Web3 42:47 The Evolution of Pakt with AI 49:14 Addressing Security and Reputation Concerns 53:19 The Future of Blockchain-Powered Businesses 56:16 Live Demo and User Experience 01:06:29 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions. #DeFi #Blockchain #AI #Pakt #WebThree #Avalanche

In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, hosts Bill, JF, and Rhett sit down with the multifaceted Kenny Schachter – artist, writer, curator, and leading voice in the NFT movement, who has spent over three decades challenging art world conventions. Kenny shares his remarkable journey from philosophy student to self-taught art expert, revealing how he stumbled into the art world and later embraced blockchain technology. Whether you're interested in art, NFTs, or the future of creative expression in the digital age, Kenny's provocative insights and entertaining stories offer a unique perspective from someone operating at the intersection of traditional and digital art worlds. Key topics include: - Kenny's unconventional path from law school to becoming an art world provocateur - Why he believes "NFT" has become a pejorative term in today's culture - His controversial stance against royalties in the NFT space - The intersection of AI, blockchain, and traditional art - His experiences with hacks that led to significant crypto losses - How the art market functions as a "zero-sum game of economics" The hosts also provide updates on crypto markets and discuss developments with Avant Protocol, which has reached 40 million TVL without token incentives. Chapters: Follow us: Twitter: @DefiPodcast Guest links: @kennyschac https://www.kennyschachter.art [https://www.kennyschachter.art] Follow the Hosts: @Bill_Tanyeri @JFSaine @RhettShipp Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts and guest may hold positions in some of the assets or projects mentioned during the episode. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions. #NFTs #ArtMarket #Blockchain #DigitalArt #CreativeEconomy #DeFi

Why AI hackers are more dangerous than we think: They don't need perfection to succeed. When attacking systems, being wrong 10,000 times doesn't matter if you get it right just once. This clip explains how economically feasible it's becoming to "throw more spaghetti at the wall" with AI-powered attacks in hacking and drone warfare - creating unprecedented security risks through sheer volume rather than sophistication.