The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Fakhul Miah, Managing Director of GoMining Institutional and former Morgan Stanley executive, to explore the rapidly evolving world of Bitcoin mining in 2025. From the rise of AI hyperscalers competing for energy resources to the financial engineering transforming miners into sophisticated operators, this conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the industry. Key topics covered: * Why AI is Bitcoin mining’s most aggressive new competitor * How miners are evolving with BTC-backed loans and convertible notes * The shifting geopolitics of mining: U.S. vs. Latin America and Africa * What $100B in Bitcoin ETFs and sovereign reserves mean for adoption * The big picture: Bitcoin mining’s transformation into a global infrastructure industry Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast, investor, or just curious about the intersection of technology, energy, and finance, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Bitcoin Mining Faces a New Kind of Competition 00:45 GoMining’s Role in Tokenized Bitcoin Mining 02:43 The Rise of AI Hyperscalers and Energy Market Disruption 03:15 Bitcoin Mining’s Flexibility vs. AI’s Energy Demands 06:15 Why AI Is a Formidable Competitor for Miners 08:09 The Power Struggle: Bitcoin Mining’s Future Amid AI Growth 09:02 Financial Engineering: How Miners Are Avoiding Liquidation 12:11 The Evolution of Bitcoin Mining into a Balance Sheet Business 16:57 Shifting Geopolitics: Latin America and Africa’s Mining Rise 20:36 U.S. Mining Dominance: Can It Adapt to Stay on Top? 24:50 Institutional Adoption: $100B in ETFs and Sovereign Reserves 28:40 Bitcoin’s Next Phase: Stability, Risks, and Financialization 31:10 Bitcoin as Digital Gold vs. Everyday Currency 34:51 The Role of Institutions and Whales in Bitcoin’s Future 37:00 The Big Picture: Bitcoin Mining’s Transformation by 2030 39:29 What Miners, Investors, and Policymakers Should Focus On 42:35 Closing Thoughts: GoMining’s Vision and What’s Next 📖 Learn more: Explore GoMining’s H1 2025 Bitcoin Mining Market Review: [https://institutional.gomining.com/ [https://institutional.gomining.com/]]

Ondo Finance is at the forefront of the real-world asset (RWA) revolution, bringing traditional financial products like U.S. treasuries, stocks, and ETFs onto blockchain rails. In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, Ian De Bode, Chief Strategy Officer at Ondo Finance, dives into democratizing access to financial markets for a global audience. By tokenizing assets, Ondo enables 24/7 mobility, seamless DeFi integration, and enhanced investor protections, all while addressing the inefficiencies of traditional finance. Ian also shares insights into Ondo's upcoming tokenized equities launch, their innovative approach to liquidity and pricing, and the broader implications of regulatory clarity for the RWA space. With a mission to create open, global financial rails, Ondo is not just building products but laying the foundation for the future of finance. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the DefiantPodcast01:30 - Welcoming Ian, Chief Strategy Officer at Ondo Finance01:55 - What is Ondo Finance?02:22 - Tokenizing Treasuries, Stocks, and ETFs03:12 - Solving Accessibility and Mobility in Finance04:50 - The Evolution of Ondo’s Tokenized Assets: OUSD and USDY07:04 - Comparing Ondo’s Products to Competitors Like BlackRock12:26 - Growth of Tokenized Treasuries and Regulatory Milestones20:26 - Ondo’s Plans for Tokenized Equities28:24 - Challenges and Opportunities in Tokenized Stocks33:02 - Ondo’s Layer 1 Blockchain and DeFi Integration38:52 - The Future of Real-World Assets on Chain44:13 - Ondo’s Long-Term Vision for Global Finance

What if blockchain technology could be as seamless as swiping a credit card or streaming your favorite show? In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Prabal Banerjee, co-founder of Avail and Former Research Lead at Polygon, to explore how he’s working to make that vision a reality. Prabal shares his insights on tackling some of the biggest challenges in the blockchain space, from data availability and scalability to fragmentation and user experience. His mission? To make blockchain invisible to the end user. We also dive into the multichain future and why interoperability is the key to mass adoption. Prabal explains how Avail is building the infrastructure to unify the fragmented blockchain ecosystem and shares exciting news about Avail’s acquisition of Arcana, a move that could redefine how developers and users experience Web3. Chapters: 00:00 Imagine a seamless blockchain world: Introducing Prabal Banerjee and today’s themes 02:18 What is Avail? Tackling scalability and fragmentation in a multichain world 03:55 Why fragmentation matters: The case for interoperability over single-chain dominance 08:11 Making blockchain invisible: Lessons from Web2 and the user experience problem 10:04 Bridging pain points: Why blockchain meta-interoperability is the future 16:16 The role of wallets and abstracting complexity for mass adoption 25:08 Interoperability between rollups and sovereign chains: Unlocking new possibilities 36:02 Beyond 8 billion users: The rise of agents and verifiable internet interactions 40:48 Avail’s acquisition of Arcana: What it means for developers and users 50:02 Lightning round: Blockchain problems, overhyped trends, and Prabal’s favorite chain

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Ellio Trades, Co-Founder of BlackHole, the fastest-growing decentralized exchange on Avalanche. Ellio shares his insights on the current state of the crypto market, including whether we're entering a new altcoin season or witnessing a slower, more sustainable growth cycle. He dives deep into the maturation of the crypto space, the role of institutional investors, and why this cycle could be the most significant in crypto history. Ellio also unpacks the innovative mechanics behind BlackHole, from its V3.3 DEX model to its focus on creating deep liquidity and sustainable revenue. He explains how BlackHole is reshaping the DeFi landscape and why Avalanche was the perfect ecosystem for its launch. Watch now to gain valuable insights on the future of blockchain, decentralized finance, and the next wave of crypto adoption. Chapters 00:00 The $10 Trillion Question: Is Altcoin Season Here? 00:04 Traditional Cycles vs. A New Crypto Paradigm 00:42 The Maturation of DeFi and Institutional Adoption 01:30 Introducing Ellio Trades and BlackHole 02:33 Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Shift to Regulated Markets 03:45 Why Ethereum's Value Proposition is Finally Clicking 05:18 The Role of Wall Street in Crypto's Next Big Cycle 07:32 Balancing Supercycle Narratives with Traditional Cycles 10:33 DeFi's Undervalued Potential and Institutional Interest 12:23 Stablecoins and the Future of Blockchain Applications 16:04 Why BlackHole Chose Avalanche for Its Launch 18:42 BlackHole's Explosive Growth and Unique Features 23:03 How BlackHole's V3.3 Model Creates Deep Liquidity 30:28 Lessons from Past Projects and BlackHole's Innovations 35:02 The Long-Term Vision for BlackHole and DeFi

Step into the evolving world of virtual environments, where Decentraland is at the forefront of innovation. In this episode, we explore how interoperability is transforming the metaverse, enabling seamless integration across platforms and unlocking creative possibilities for users and developers alike. From NFTs and digital wearables to virtual real estate, we discuss how these advancements are reshaping the metaverse and fostering meaningful connections in a polarized digital age. Join us as Kim Currier, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Decentraland, shares insights on the resurgence of NFTs, the role of brands in creating immersive experiences, and the tools empowering creators to thrive. Whether you're a collector, a brand strategist, or simply curious about the metaverse, this episode offers a deep dive into the future of digital interaction and the cultural capital being built in virtual worlds. Chapters: 00:00 The Rise and Fall of NFTs: From hype to utility 00:23 Driving Innovation in the Metaverse 00:33 Meet Kim Currier, Decentraland’s Head of Partnerships and Marketing 01:09 The Metaverse as a Social Hub: Immersive experiences for brands and users 01:30 Opportunities for Collectors and Brands 02:53 Cultural Shifts in NFTs: What’s fueling the 2025 resurgence? 04:45 Decentraland’s Unique Offerings in music, art, and social connection 08:03 Utility-Driven NFTs: Wearables, emotes, and smart wearables in Decentraland 13:17 No-code tools and community-driven innovation for creators 20:15 Virtual Spaces for Remote Teams: Offsites and community gatherings 27:33 Innovative builds in Decentraland 35:11 Brand Partnerships in the Metaverse 43:02 Onboarding the Masses: Decentraland as a gateway to Web3 47:10 Long-Term Vision: Building cultural capital and meaningful connections