Medici Presents: Level Up

Medici Level Up with Illia Polosukhin, Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol

In this episode of LevelUp, David and Sean sit down with Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol and co-author of the Transformer model. Illia shares his journey from AI research at Google to building NEAR, a blockchain designed to integrate artificial intelligence with financial infrastructure. The conversation covers NEAR’s architecture, Intents, chain abstraction, and the role of AI agents in commerce. Illia also addresses security risks, token dynamics, and how NEAR is positioning itself as a full-stack platform for coordinating digital and real-world resources.  View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/ [https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/]     Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Illia on the growing security risks in software and AI-driven vulnerabilities  [00:00:53] Introduction to NEAR Protocol and overview of the episode  [00:01:21] NEAR's token fundamentals, market positioning, and AI-focused thesis  [00:02:33] NEAR’s product stack including AI, Intents, and blockchain infrastructure  [00:03:29] Network metrics, fees, and value capture mechanisms  [00:05:21] Token supply dynamics and comparison to other layer one ecosystems  [00:07:01] Market performance and AI-driven narrative around NEAR  [00:08:46] Illia’s background in AI and role in developing the Transformer model  [00:12:16] NEAR’s vertically integrated vision: AI front end and blockchain back end  [00:14:43] Technical architecture: sharding, accounts, and chain abstraction  [00:20:58] Key applications including payments, trading, and financial infrastructure  [00:23:37] Traction in cross-chain trading and growth of Intents  [00:25:41] DeFi use cases including lending, borrowing, and yield aggregation  [00:27:44] Rethinking “native” activity in a chain-abstracted environment  [00:29:32] Fee structure and how Intents drive value to the NEAR token  [00:31:14] AI agents as primary users of blockchain infrastructure  [00:35:17] Competitive landscape across blockchain and AI ecosystems  [00:39:50] AI-driven cybersecurity risks and the rise of automated exploits  [00:42:56] Formal verification and mitigating smart contract vulnerabilities  [00:45:12] Separating real vs. speculative AI + crypto use cases  [00:50:18] Token supply, inflation reduction, and distribution maturity  [00:52:08] Path toward deflation through Intents and ecosystem growth  [00:54:15] Governance structure including House of Stake and validators  [00:57:52] Validator economics and impact of reduced inflation  [01:00:37] Key risks including cybersecurity, market dependence, and AI adoption  [01:03:28] Final thoughts on privacy, confidential transactions, and user adoption      Links:   The Medici Network:  [https://www.medici.network/]https://www.medici.network/ [https://www.medici.network/]    Podcast Site:  [https://levelup.medici.network/]https://levelup.medici.network/ [https://levelup.medici.network/]    NEAR Protocol: https://www.near.org/     Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X:  [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]https://x.com/elmira_yilham [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]       Co-Hosts   David Grider, Finality Capital -  [https://x.com/David_Grid]https://x.com/David_Grid [https://x.com/David_Grid]   Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors -  [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]https://x.com/SeanMFarrell [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]      Guests   Illia Polosukhin, NEAR Protocol   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/illia-polosukhin-77b6538/  X - https://x.com/ilblackdragon [https://x.com/ilblackdragon]    Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  -  [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]https://thepodcastconsultant.com/ [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]

Medici Level Up with Mark Wendland & Mark Toomey of Canton Strategic Holdings

In this episode of Level Up, hosts David and Sean speak with Mark Wendland, CEO, and Mark Toomey, President of Canton Strategic Holdings. They break down the Canton Network’s focus on institutional blockchain adoption, including tokenized real-world assets, intraday repo markets, and privacy-enabled infrastructure. The conversation covers Canton Network's architecture, tokenomics, and governance model, as well as how Canton Strategic Holdings is building a differentiated DAT model through validator operations, ecosystem investing, and app development. The Marks also discuss how major financial institutions are already building on Canton and what that shift means for the future of market infrastructure.  View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/ [https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/]     Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Scale of tokenized assets and repo activity on Canton Network  [00:00:19] Introduction to Level Up and Canton Strategic Holdings  [00:01:27] Overview of Canton Strategic Holdings and the CC token  [00:03:27] Institutional-focused blockchain: configurable privacy, tokenomics, and governance  [00:06:22] Revenue opportunities through validators and network participation  [00:07:19] Real-world use case: repo transactions on-chain  [00:08:59] Tokenomics model and burn-mint equilibrium  [00:10:04] Emissions schedule and valuation considerations  [00:12:48] Market performance of CSH vs other digital asset companies  [00:14:15] Mark Wendland’s background in treasury and operations  [00:14:55] Mark Toomey’s background and transition into blockchain  [00:16:57] Canton’s core investment thesis and institutional focus  [00:20:08] What defines a digital asset treasury company  [00:21:35] Strategy beyond token accumulation: validators and app development  [00:23:15] Expanding ecosystem through lending, options, and apps  [00:25:43] Super validator role and expected yield  [00:27:24] Evolution from private to public blockchain  [00:29:34] Key KPIs: institutional usage and transaction volume  [00:31:37] Deep dive into intraday repo use cases  [00:35:46] How apps, transactions, and rewards interact on Canton  [00:37:21] Economic flow of transactions and token incentives  [00:40:35] Validator vs super validator roles  [00:41:41] Growth of applications and institutional integrations  [00:44:52] Measuring success for Canton Strategic Holdings  [00:46:11] Company strategy: capital markets, validators, and ecosystem investment  [00:49:56] Capital structure and funding strategy  [00:51:15] Competitive landscape and institutional adoption  [00:54:57] Differentiation through privacy and financial market focus  [00:57:33] Public vs private blockchain adoption by banks  [01:00:31] Governance structure and foundation participation  [01:04:40] Token distribution and decentralization considerations  [01:06:32] Key risks: timing, regulation, and execution  [01:09:49] Final thoughts on early-stage growth and execution      Links:   The Medici Network:  [https://www.medici.network/]https://www.medici.network/ [https://www.medici.network/]    Podcast Site:  [https://levelup.medici.network/]https://levelup.medici.network/ [https://levelup.medici.network/]    Canton Strategic Holdings: https://www.cantonstrategic.com/ [https://www.cantonstrategic.com/]     Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X:  [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]https://x.com/elmira_yilham [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]       Co-Hosts   David Grider, Finality Capital -  [https://x.com/David_Grid]https://x.com/David_Grid [https://x.com/David_Grid]   Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors -  [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]https://x.com/SeanMFarrell [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]      Guests   Mark Wendland, CEO of Canton Strategic Holdings -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wendland-1b2a0515 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wendland-1b2a0515]    Mark Toomey, President of Canton Strategic Holdings -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-toomey-34196b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-toomey-34196b]     Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  -  [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]https://thepodcastconsultant.com/ [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]

Medici Level Up with Xiao-Xiao J. Zhu, President of Jupiter

In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean sit down with Xiao-Xiao J. Zhu, President of Jupiter, to discuss the evolution of Jupiter from a DEX aggregator into a full-scale DeFi super app on Solana. Xiao Xiao shares his background from KKR to crypto and outlines Jupiter’s product suite, including trading, lending, mobile, and more. The conversation covers growth metrics, token design, competition, and the long-term vision for on-chain finance, including omni-chain infrastructure and expanding real-world asset integration.    View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/ [https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/]     Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Jupiter’s role as an application layer driving adoption on Solana  [00:00:24] Podcast introduction and overview of Jupiter’s business model  [00:01:03] Breakdown of Jupiter’s revenue, products, and market position  [00:05:03] Growth in users, volumes, and product expansion  [00:07:18] Product roadmap including mobile, prediction markets, and stablecoins  [00:10:30] Omni-chain vision and JupNet introduction  [00:13:27] Xiao Xiao’s background and transition from KKR to Jupiter  [00:16:00] Shift from centralized exchanges to on-chain finance  [00:20:10] Jupiter’s evolution into a DeFi super app and token thesis  [00:25:59] Product suite breakdown: spot, perps, lending, and launchpad  [00:29:30] Scale of trading volumes, wallet growth, and infrastructure  [00:33:18] Key KPIs: active wallets, volume, TVL, and revenue  [00:34:06] Financial performance and revenue composition  [00:39:35] Major growth drivers: mobile, lending, payments, and JupNet  [00:43:43] Architecture and positioning of JupNet  [00:45:20] Mobile adoption and user behavior trends  [00:49:21] Tokenized real-world assets and institutional integration  [00:53:08] Expansion plans for perps and new trading models  [00:55:09] Competitive landscape across DeFi and centralized platforms  [01:00:12] Competition with Hyperliquid and centralized exchanges  [01:02:40] Moats in DeFi: distribution, product velocity, and brand  [01:04:31] Governance structure and DAO participation  [01:09:36] Token supply, burn mechanics, and buyback strategy  [01:14:30] Strategic investment from ParaFi and token positioning  [01:17:00] Future token utility and integration into the product ecosystem    Links:   The Medici Network:  [https://www.medici.network/]https://www.medici.network/ [https://www.medici.network/]    Podcast Site:  [https://levelup.medici.network/]https://levelup.medici.network/ [https://levelup.medici.network/]    Jupiter Site: https://jup.ag/ [https://jup.ag/]   Jupiter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jupiter-onchain/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/jupiter-onchain/]      Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X:  [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]https://x.com/elmira_yilham [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]       Co-Hosts   David Grider, Finality Capital -  [https://x.com/David_Grid]https://x.com/David_Grid [https://x.com/David_Grid]   Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors -  [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]https://x.com/SeanMFarrell [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]      Guest   Xiao-Xiao J. Zhu, Jupiter   X - h [https://x.com/xxjzhu]ttps://x.com/xxjzhu [https://x.com/xxjzhu]   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiao-xiao-j-zhu-12078730/     Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  -  [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]https://thepodcastconsultant.com/ [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]

Medici Level Up with Paul Faecks, Founder of Plasma

In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean speak with Paul Faecks, Founder of Plasma, a stablecoin-focused Layer 1 blockchain. Paul shares his background in early crypto/DeFi, why Plasma is optimized for stablecoin payments, and how Plasma One (a stablecoin neobank with cards and ramps) is intended to drive long-term value beyond blockchain fees. They also discuss token value accrual, validator decentralization, regulatory risks, and more.   View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/ [https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/]     Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Introduction  [00:12:48] Paul’s background and thesis behind Plasma  [00:15:12] Regulatory landscape and stablecoin adoption outlook  [00:18:41] Deep dive into Plasma One’s neo banking model  [00:19:59] Why a dedicated stablecoin blockchain is necessary  [00:21:41] Gasless USDT transfers and paymaster design  [00:23:06] KPIs, incentives reduction, and focus on sustainable growth  [00:25:09] Productizing stablecoins across global markets  [00:28:24] Key jurisdictions: Turkey, Middle East, and South America  [00:29:44] Stablecoins as a geopolitical advantage for the U.S.  [00:30:19] Plasma One’s target users and business model  [00:32:28] End-to-end infrastructure for cross-border payments  [00:33:02] Token value accrual and foundation ownership structure  [00:35:05] Competition with Stripe’s Tempo and other players  [00:40:26] Distribution strategy vs. legacy players like Western Union  [00:42:17] Exchange-to-exchange USDT settlement flows  [00:45:13] Paymasters and abstracted gas fees  [00:47:44] Why gas fees alone don’t create long-term token value  [00:48:41] What makes an L1 token investable  [00:52:07] Validator rollout and decentralization roadmap  [00:53:41] Echo pre-deposit launch and token sale structure  [00:57:25] Fundraising history and major investors  [01:00:06] Regulatory risks and market infrastructure bill  [01:01:45] Final thoughts: Stablecoins and 2026 outlook    Links:   The Medici Network: https://www.medici.network/https://www.medici.network/ [https://www.medici.network/]    Podcast Site: https://levelup.medici.network/https://levelup.medici.network/ [https://levelup.medici.network/]    Plasma: https://www.plasma.to/ [https://www.plasma.to/]  [https://www.plasma.to/]     Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X: https://x.com/elmira_yilhamhttps://x.com/elmira_yilham [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]       Co-Hosts   David Grider, Finality Capital - https://x.com/David_Gridhttps://x.com/David_Grid [https://x.com/David_Grid]   Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors - https://x.com/SeanMFarrellhttps://x.com/SeanMFarrell [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]      Guest   Paul Faecks, Plasma   X - https://x.com/pauliepunt?lang=en [https://x.com/pauliepunt?lang=en]  LinkedIn - https://de.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-540895a4/en [https://de.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-540895a4/en]     Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  - https://thepodcastconsultant.com/https://thepodcastconsultant.com/ [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]

Medici Level Up with Yair Cleper, Contributor of Lava Network

In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean sit down with Yair Cleper, Co-Founder of Magma Devs and contributor to the Lava Network. Yair shares his entrepreneurial journey and how Lava Network is building a decentralized RPC protocol that ensures uptime, reduces fragmentation, and supports blockchain infrastructure. He also discusses Lava’s smart routing technology, token economics, the long-term vision of establishing a resilient access layer for Web3 applications, and more.   View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/ [https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/]     Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Introduction  [00:10:00] Yair’s background, early startup experience, and introduction to crypto  [00:12:06] The RPC problem Lava Network aims to solve  [00:14:54] Lava token utility and service coordination model  [00:16:49] How node operators stake and provide regional coverage  [00:18:22] Subscription-based access for wallets and apps  [00:21:08] Lava’s SaaS-style pricing tiers and on-chain payments  [00:22:56] Provider payouts based on service quality scoring  [00:24:59] Fireblocks use case and evolution to smart router  [00:26:29] Centralized vs decentralized RPCs and Lava’s advantage  [00:29:45] How Lava’s smart router handles outages and false data  [00:33:18] Revenue flows from enterprise clients to node providers  [00:35:01] Permissionless gateways and network extensibility  [00:38:38] Off-chain data routing and on-chain session scoring  [00:39:46] Differentiation from other decentralized RPC networks  [00:41:51] Key performance metrics: uptime, latency, availability  [00:45:48] Protocol growth: revenue, subscribers, and adoption  [00:47:55] Lava’s roadmap and vision for scaling infrastructure  [00:49:52] Token supply, staking, and reward dynamics  [00:53:29] Burn mechanism and protocol deflationary design  [00:54:58] Governance process and recent community proposals  [00:57:39] Risks, outlook for 2026, and Yair’s closing thoughts    Links:   The Medici Network: https://www.medici.network/https://www.medici.network/ [https://www.medici.network/]    Podcast Site: https://levelup.medici.network/https://levelup.medici.network/ [https://levelup.medici.network/]       Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X: https://x.com/elmira_yilhamhttps://x.com/elmira_yilham [https://x.com/elmira_yilham]       Co-Hosts   David Grider, Finality Capital - https://x.com/David_Gridhttps://x.com/David_Grid [https://x.com/David_Grid]   Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors - https://x.com/SeanMFarrellhttps://x.com/SeanMFarrell [https://x.com/SeanMFarrell]      Guests   Yair Cleper, Lava Network   X: https://x.com/yaircleper [https://x.com/yaircleper]   LinkedIn: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleper [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleper]       Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  - https://thepodcastconsultant.com/https://thepodcastconsultant.com/ [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]