Episoder
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Having been exposed to China's GPU cloud sector, Mark Rydon decided to take on the challenges with centralized GPU clouds, such as Google's Stadia, which struggled to provide low-latency gaming services economically.
Applying a decentralised structure, Aethir allows more accessible cloud services closer to users, which reduces latency and benefits high-demand applications like gaming and AI. Its approach optimizes for latency and scalability, making decentralized GPU clouds more viable and responsive to global demand.
Speaking to Blockhead on this Blockcast episode, Rydon reflects on his journey and explains how Aether uses a token system to take on giants like AWS and Google Cloud that create inflated prices and long-term contracts that can be financially strenuous for startups.
Rydon also discusses how the challenges in scaling a system that subsidizes and incentivizes network participation beyond traditional models to provide economic benefits to its users. -
After gaining tech and product skills at Google in Tokyo, Arisa Toyosaki co-founded Sega, a DeFi protocol focused on structured investment products in 2021.
Rather than creating a full-fledged options exchange, Sega targets retail investors with structured products that are less risky and user-friendly. In this Blockcast episode, Toyosaki explains how Sega offers exotic options that cover market fluctuations up to 90% and educates users through detailed documentation and various media
Toyosaki also discusses how retail and institutional trading has evolved, with more retail interest in meme coins and perpetuals, institutional adoption, and developments in Japan’s crypto landscape.
The Japanese native also reflects on how the upcoming US election will impact the local crypto scene more than Japan's election and how "Mrs. Watanabe" retail traders can transition into crypto trading if they receive support through education and improved tax policies. -
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This week Augustine Fan, founding partner of SOFA.org, joins us on Blockcast. SOFA is a decentralized, non-profit, and open-source DAO dedicated to developing a trustless, DeFi ecosystem capable of atomically settling financial assets on the blockchain. Fan chats with host Takatoshi Shibayama focuses on role of structured products in crypto, they types available to investors, how they work, and how investors can use them to capitalize on volatility.
The ex-Goldman Sachs trader and macro analyst also discusses his journey to crypto after a decade on Wall Street, his views on the macro environment and how it will affect the crypto market, and why "creative destruction" is necessary in the industry today.
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What does it take to organise the best crypto event? Whether it's annual industry staples like Token 2049 or a one-off crypto rave side event, Web3 is never short of events. But with so many to keep track of and so many moving parts in logistics, how are event planners coping in Web3?
From guest registration to NFT ticketing, Moongate helps Web3 companies manage their event, ensuring that the process is seamless for both the organiser and the attendee. Peter Hui, who founded Moongate, tells Blockhead why he feels blockchain technology should be paired with event organisation and how Web3 events are evolving.
With Luma dominating the market in the Web3 event ticketing space, Hui explains how Moongate caters for larger Web3 events and how the event space is shaping up in the industry. Hui also covers the challenges event organisers face and where Moongate fits in. -
On this week’s Blockcast, we speak with Luca Prosperi, co-founder and CEO at M^0 Labs, whose man-bun and genial personality belies battle scars from almost 2 decades of traditional banking, helping to build MakerDAO and, a health scare. Luca dissects the concept of money creation and some of the foundations behind M^0’s quest to build infrastructure for a crypto dollar.
Privately issued stablecoins are the OG of tokenised assets and have largely been a game-changer for crypto markets. The success of stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle boil down to the inherent utility of stablecoins, which provide a fast, affordable and borderless way of transferring value. While this process of using crypto rails for money transfer is an exponential leap in efficiency and speed, it still fundamentally relies on legacy money infrastructure to function.
Join us as we dive into how M^0 is gearing up to be an infrastructure layer that goes beyond wrapping real-world bank deposits or assets as a cryptographic token.
Watch out, stablecoins - monetary stack reinvention incoming.*Episode is filmed during Token2049 week.
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F1 and Token2049 week has raced past us and while we're glad to see the industry's wildest week in the rearview mirror, we'd be amiss to not share a few insights we learned during this manic period.
We spoke to Kash Razzaghi, New York-based Chief Business Officer at Circle, who discussed business and market trends in Asia and beyond, including cross-border payments and decentralized finance, and the stablecoin issuer's including its recent tie-up with Sony's blockchain unit.
Speaking to Gemini's APAC Lead, Saad Ahmed, we learned how the collapsed crypto exchange pulled a full 180 by returning $2.18 billion to its users following the Genesis bankruptcy. Ahmed shared how Gemini plans to restore its credibility, regrow, and more importantly, which Winklevoss twin would win in a crypto boxing match.
Finally, we caught up with Chiliz CEO, Alex Dreyfus, shed light on the relevancy of fan tokens and how entwined they are with the official football clubs. He discussed how Chiliz is overcoming Web2 scepticism and why they were parading Fabio Cannavaro around Token2049 this year. -
In this TOKEN2049 special episode, we sat down with #crypto veteran and industry legend, Charles Hoskinson. As synonymous with Cardano as Vitalik Buterin is with #Ethereum, Hoskinson has fostered a unified community behind his blockchain and continues on his path of innovation and disruption.
With Cardano's recent upgrade Leios, Hoskinson believes Solana Foundation's time in the spotlight might soon be shortlived but fears of a Biden 2.0 administration in the form of Kamala Harris still has the crypto entrepreneur unsettled.
Speaking to us during Token2049, Hoskinson holds nothing back, revealing who he'd pitch to represent Cardano in a #Solana v #Cardano crypto fight night, and why, unlike Harris, Trump could lead #Bitcoin to $250K.
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This week marks the first iteration of Blockcast hosted by Copper Head of Revenue APAC, Takatoshi Shibayama, who will take on the role of host in upcoming episodes.
In this edition of Blockcast, we sit down with Aneirin Flynn - the formal Navy Diver turned Ethlas CBO and now FailSafe CEO. Flynn reflects on his deep sea diving days and how his experience with the navy unit helped to shape his risk appetite for Web3.
Having managed a successful team under Ethlas, Flynn has taken his Web3 and military expertise one step further to lead and protect on a wider scale. FailSafe, the ultimate active wallet firewall against Web3 cyberattacks, goes beyond blockchain audits to protect digital assets and smart contracts from hacks and scams in real-time. Flynn explains how. -
Becoming a yearly tradition, Blockhead caught up with Yat Siu once again in Bali at Coinfest 2024. Since our last catch-up with the Animoca Brands founder, the crypto industry has experienced floods of TradFi money flowing into the market, bolstered by the likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. But how does this renewed interest from old-school money fair for old-school Web3 projects like the metaverse and blockchain gaming?
Yat Siu shares his insights on how TradFi can complement these facets of Web3 and how Animoca Brands is adjusting to new market demands as well as fulfilling its long-term needs.
Additionally, we learn about why Saudia Arabia deserves the crypto industry's attention and how regional developments are shaping the landscape. -
Ready to bask in the SOL, it's that time of the year for the Blockhead team to put on their shades, sunscreen, and slides. Returning to Bali for the third year in a row, the Blockhead team headed down to Coinfest to see what the industry's most exciting/chill conference had to offer this year.
Bitget's Christopher Rodil and Punnara Akamatsu who explained why the firm was sporting a human-sized cardboard cutout of Lionel Messi at their booth
With a swathe of institutional money flooding into crypto in 2024, the Blockhead team feared this year's Coinfest might be drier than the conference's notorious degen-fuelled antics but we needn't have feared.
To get the lowdown on what the attendees were up to this year, Blockhead interviewed a range of Coinfest-goers on scene to find out exactly what they were up to (other than partying).
We heard from:
TRIVE General Partner, Daryl Lim, who detailed why he's leaving his Metapal Teletubbies behind and venturing into Venture Capital
ZKEX Founder Balal Khan, who was just happy to be back in Coinfest with the Blockhead boys- Ripple's Senior Director, Ross Edwards, who revealed that it was his first time not only at Coinfest but also Bali
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In this episode, we explore the world of crypto trading with Kelvin See, the Head of Trading at CoinHako. Kelvin brings a unique perspective, having transitioned from traditional finance to the Web3 space. We discuss the key differences between trading in TradFi and crypto, CoinHako's approach to trading and risk management, including their use of derivatives, hedging strategies, and technical analysis, the tools he uses to manage risk and capture opportunities, and the future outlook for the crypto market. Listen to the full episode to gain a comprehensive understanding of the world of crypto trading and the strategies used by experts in the field.
Kelvin See is the Head of Trading of Coinhako, Singapore’s market-leading crypto platform where he spearheads the trading team and oversees the positions, risk and profitability of Coinhako via derivatives trade and hedging strategies. Before joining Coinhako, Kelvin was instrumental in setting up the Asia options trading desk for Citibank in New York and he held a senior position in OCBC Singapore’s FX options team.
Kelvin has over 15 years of FX Options Trading experience with a focus on higher volatility markets in the Asia EM options space under his belt. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor in Computer & Electrical Engineering / Economics and an MSc from MIT.Website: https://www.coinhako.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/s/CoinhakoOfficial
Twitter/X: https://x.com/coinhako
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From practising M&A law in Beijing and Singapore for various law firms to serving as the director of legal and corporate development at Coinhako, Collin Cheong is no stranger to navigating the legal minefield of deploying capital. After more than three years of immersing himself in crypto legal intricacies with Coinhako, Cheong has now launched his own stablecoin initiative, Trillion Network.
Backed by Coinhako, Mirana, Etherscan, and more, Trillion Network aims to transform the way money moves in the new digital economy by creating a well-regulated, borderless, accessible, and efficient digital payments network powered by its stablecoins.
Cheong joins us on this episode of Blockcast to discuss his transition from traditional law to the ever-changing landscape of crypto regulation and discusses why a Singapore-dollar stablecoin might just be what we all need. -
In this episode of Blockcast, we take a deep DeFi dive into the murky waters of liquid staking with former Product Lead of Persistence Labs and co-founder of pSTAKE Finance, Mikhil Pandey.
Developed by the Persistence Labs team, which founded Persistence One, a Layer 1 blockchain; pSTAKE Finance offers Bitcoin liquid staking solutions built atop Babylon’s protocol.
As tokenization becomes an increasingly hot topic, the question of what liquid staking can bring to the sector is of developing interest for the DeFi world.
Pandey walks Blockhead through their journey on why they chose to build pStake on Babylon, what led to their decision to halt their Solana liquid staking solution and explains why Bitcoin might offer the best form of liquid staking for the market. -
In this episode of Blockcast, we reconnect with Jaye Foo, a familiar face in the Web3 scene. We delve into his journey as a musician, entrepreneur, and Web3 advocate. We explore the challenges of bridging Web2 and Web3 in Southeast Asia, and Jaye's unwavering belief in the potential of the space. Jaye also spills the beans on what he’s been building at Wush, a Web3 onboarding platform he co-founded with Gregg Lewis. We discuss the inspiration behind Wush, its unique offerings compared to competitors, and its potential to accelerate retail adoption of Web3 in the region.
Navigating Web3 can be challenging and risky for new users. Wush simplifies the onboarding process by curating secure, popular projects and services, helping users build Web3 literacy and confidence. Our mission is to make Web3 accessible and safe, fostering organic and sustainable growth by creating an ecosystem centered around the user.
https://www.wush.co/
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This episode of Blockcast dives into the world of stablecoins with stablecoin guru Raagulan Pathy, the former Asia Pacific lead for Circle. We'll explore his journey from traditional tech to crypto, including his role as CIO of JaffCap, a crypto investment fund. We'll unpack the current state of stablecoins, including the competition between USDC and USDT, and Tether's dominance. Raagulan will also introduce Kast, his stablecoin spending card aiming to revolutionize user experience. We'll hear about Kast's vision as a neobank and its potential impact on mainstream crypto adoption, and also Raagulan's insights on future trends in crypto investments and how JaffCap evaluates new projects.
*This episode is recorded on 5th July, and any content is not financial advise. -
Quickly becoming a household name for crypto supporters, as well as an equally recognisable brand for sports fans, Crypto.com has already established a global footprint. But what are the challenges facing a global crypto exchange?
In this week's Blockcast, we sit down with Crypto.com's GM for APAC & MEA and Global Head of Banking Partnerships, Karl Mohan to learn more about regulatory differences, branding, and cultural reception of crypto across borders. Having moved recently from Melbourne to Singapore, Mohan is new to the Little Red Dot but is more than familiar with tackling challenges across state lines.
Additionally, Mohan reflects on his transition from his decade-long career in TradFi to the disruptive field of crypto, and how the exchange is retaining a dominant lead in the space. -
In this episode of Blockcast, we welcome regular guest Going OnChain/Huat Kueh and BRN analyst Valentin Fournier to discuss the latest market movements, including the impact of Jerome Powell's comments on inflation and rate cuts and the bullish outlook for Ethereum ETFs despite launch delays. We compare Ethereum ETF pre-launch expectations with Bitcoin ETF experiences and consider whether Ethereum can outperform Bitcoin. The conversation also covers Solana’s rise and the growing dominance of its ecosystem in the blockchain space, and the potential for a spot SOL ETF, alongside the latest trends in memecoins.
Links:
BRN: http://www.thebrn.co
GoingOnChain: https://x.com/goingonchain
Dca1000x: https://x.com/dca1000x*Episode is recorded on Thursday 4th July 2024
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This episode of Blockcast dives into the convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and blockchain technology. We explore Nikhil Joshi's journey from Barclays to EMURGO, and how his experience bridges the gap between these two worlds. We discuss:
The rise of blockchain: Nikhil shares his insights on the evolution of the blockchain industry and the inspiration behind his career shift.
Cardano Explained: Nikhil sheds light on his role at EMURGO and the unique aspects of the Cardano blockchain platform.
Web3 revolution: We explore the potential impact of Web3 technologies on various industries and the future of decentralized finance (DeFi).
The future of digital assets: Nikhil offers his predictions on emerging trends and potential disruptions in the digital asset and blockchain landscape.
Additional Resources:
EMURGO Website: https://www.emurgo.io/
Cardano Website: https://cardano.org/
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This week you join us from SuperAI - Asia's premier and largest artificial intelligence (AI) conference. Held in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands over two days, SuperAI covered key topics for the AI industry including large language models, generative AI, robotics, decentralized AI, regulation, ethics, and AI's role in fintech, education, healthcare, and cybersecurity.
Crypto and AI aren't exactly synonymous but both are often framed as disruptive technologies that potentially can transform industries around the world. To find out more about the AI-Web3 intersection, Blockhead chatted with a range of companies that are building the bridge between the two industries.
We chat with:
- Matthew Luu from Opsec on decentralized cloud solutions
- Retainna Lin from Bitdeer on the evolution of crypto mining to AI
- CEO and co-founder of Sahara AI, Sean Ren, on the viability of the Web3-AI bridge
- 0G Labs founder, Michael Heinrich, on the potential and limitations of Web3 for AI -
Julian Hosp has spent the last decade establishing a formidable name for himself in the crypto space. As a Cake Group co-founder, Hosp left his TenX days behind him, building a renewed reputation as a crypto industry leader in Singapore. Overnight, his efforts crumbled before his eyes as his company and reputation were publicly dragged through the mud by his very own co-founder, U-Zyn Chua.
In an exclusive podcast interview with Blockhead, Hosp reveals his side of the tale, which ultimately led to a judicial ruling in his favor. - Se mer
