In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Mert Mumtaz, Co-Founder and CEO of Helius. He shares his take on Solana evolving from earlier years with its NFT boom to the memecoin era and where it’s heading, as well as why better infrastructure, indexing and data readability were essential for scaling the network. Mert breaks down how Helius built the tools that make Solana legible, why transparency actually reinforces the need for privacy, and how its new Orb aims to become a first-principles block explorer designed for internet capital markets.
They discuss Solana’s performance culture, the challenges of indexing petabytes of historical data, and how developers and traders rely on Helius for both high-frequency data streams and consumer-grade UX. Mert also shares his views on meme coins, Solana Foundation, internet culture, Crypto Twitter authenticity, and why teams must aim for exponential growth rather than incremental success.
Timestamps(00:00) – Intro
(01:01) – Breakpoint setup and intro to Mert and his Crypto Twitter identity
(01:59) – The end game of crypto as global permissionless markets accessible from anywhere
(02:33) – Solana as a sci-fi computer and the need for encrypted money alongside open markets
(03:28) – What Helius actually is and why making the chain legible was the first step
(04:23) – Building VPCs, indexing, data retrieval and the bottom up infra Solana needed
(05:11) – The Helius barbell: low latency data for HFT firms and consumer facing block explorers
(06:08) – Orb as a first principles block explorer for internet capital markets
(06:34) – How transparency tools ironically highlight the need for user level privacy
(07:56) – Democratizing chain analysis and revealing what governments and analytics firms already know
(08:52) – Historical data breakthrough enabling second level search for all user activity
(11:45) – Biggest lessons from building Helius and why startups must aim for exponential growth
(15:05) – The Trump meme coin moment and realizing Helius needed to think bigger
(16:33) – Bringing market makers onto Solana and building new categories beyond existing apps
(17:33) – Shaking off the meme coin chain narrative as stocks, commodities and L1s list on Solana
(18:27) – Tokenized stocks, commodities, and why Solana hosts every major asset class
(20:36) – His relationship with Solana Foundation and how Solana matured culturally and organizationally
(23:04) – Becoming a cultural face of Solana and how authenticity built his X following
(27:50) – How he filters tweets post growth and when he chooses not to punch down
(30:45) – Rapid fire questions on trends, narratives and what he thinks should be banned
(36:26) – Final advice: learn to read, write and think independently without analogies
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with MacBrennan Peet, Founder of Project 0, about why DeFi has reached a point where unified margin, solvency guarantees and onchain prime brokerage are finally possible. MacBrennan explains why risk systems and smart contract securities have matured, how Project 0 unifies margin across multiple venues, and why serious DeFi users inevitably create fragmented risk when they trade across swaps, perps, lending platforms and prediction markets.
They also discuss the evolution of Solana market microstructure, the shift toward institutional capital using onchain strategies, and how Project 0’s credit engine works under the hood. MacBrennan shares insights from founding multiple companies, his time at MarginFi, Temporal and MRGN Research, and why transparency, auditability and open liquidity make onchain prime brokerage structurally better than off-chain models.
Timestamps
(00:00) – Intro
(01:07) – MacBrennan’s background in finance, trading, health tech, and DeFi
(02:12) – From MarginFi to MRGN to Temporal: why prime brokerage needs persisted
(03:37) – Solana’s market structure, HFT insights & liquidation solvency
(04:48) – The DeFi turning point: staying power and better risk systems
(06:23) – Why DeFi users create fragmented portfolios across venues
(07:19) – DeFi’s inflection point: staking, onchain capital & looping
(08:14) – Project 0’s two user groups: left curve vs right curve power users
(10:03) – Unified margin for retail yield seekers and delta-neutral traders
(11:30) – Why Solana is viable for venture-scale financial infrastructure
(16:01) – Lending market risks today: isolated pools & vault disclosures
(18:24) – Onchain solvency, shared liquidity & why P0 beats offchain brokers
(20:11) – Prime brokerage explained & why retail users benefit too
(22:18) – Anyone can use Project 0 — even if they don’t realize they need it
(23:47) – Unifying credit, lending & liquidity across Drift, Camino, Jupiter
(28:33) – How P0 evaluates risk: volatility, depth, liquidity, counterparties
(31:42) – What real behavioral change in DeFi would look like
(34:42) – Why “Project 0” means priority zero and building from first principles
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Chairman of Animoca Brands, to discuss why he believes altcoins will outperform bitcoin, how tokenization will reshape global markets, and why Animoca is preparing to go public through a reverse merger.
Yat explains why he thinks utility tokens are entering a new era, how regulatory clarity will unlock mass tokenization, and why memecoins emerged from regulatory arbitrage. He also breaks down Animoca’s strategy as one of the largest investors in web3, the logic behind owning liquid tokens, why gaming hasn’t yet translated to token performance, and how investor relations is forming in crypto.
The conversation also explores DAOs, consolidation of crypto IPOs, his experience on the ground with institutions in the US, Europe and Asia, and why Gen Z treats trading as entertainment. Yat closes with long-term market outlooks for 2026 and personal advice for surviving the volatility of crypto.This episode is sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.
Timestamps(00:00) – Intro
(00:53) – Yat on market evolution across 620 portfolio companies
(01:40) – Institutional era of crypto and why Animoca is preparing to go public
(02:58) – Bitcoin’s macro correlation and institutional support
(03:53) – Regulatory clarity in 2026 and the coming tokenization wave
(04:33) – Utility tokens absorbing memecoin culture and why the memecoin era is ending
(07:19) – Why Animoca now buys undervalued liquid tokens over early-stage deals
(08:54) – Real revenue from small gaming projects & token utility reconnecting value
(10:22) – How funds now evaluate tokens beyond momentum trading
(13:10) – Good products ≠ good tokens: investor relations challenges
(16:01) – DAOs aren’t built to run like public companies — consolidation ahead
(18:36) – Liquidation risks, Bitcoin DAOs, and tokenized asset buyouts
(20:00) – Every major token needing a DAO or ETP for institutional access
(24:02) – Animoca’s reverse merger and improving public investor access
(27:07) – Altcoins as crypto’s growth engine and unlocking real utility
(29:03) – Crypto today = early internet: funds miss upside
(31:00) – Ethereum, Solana, and the value they don’t capture
(33:47) – Making private web3 exposure available to public investors
(37:00) – Regional institutional demand: US vs Europe vs Asia
(42:05) – Trump, volatility, and shifting capital pools in tokens and prediction markets
(45:14) – Finance as entertainment: Gen Z’s gamified investing mindset
(46:42) – 2026 outlook: political stability and institutional flows
(51:01) – Yat’s long-game advice: don’t overleverage, know your edge
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Marco Santori, CEO of Solmate, about the company’s shift from a pure digital asset treasury model into an infrastructure business. Marco explains why Solmate decided to build bare metal validators in the UAE, how geography affects production, and why the region is becoming strategically important for Solana’s global footprint.
They also discuss Solmate’s planned acquisition of RockawayX, how it intends to integrate the firm’s liquidity, asset management and infrastructure, and why tokenization represents the biggest near term opportunity on Solana. Marco shares insights from his career across law, Kraken and venture, and explains why the long term vision is to turn Solmate into an operating business driven by revenues and not market cycles.
Timestamps(00:00) – Intro
(01:16) – Abu Dhabi Finance Week vs Breakpoint and Solmate’s strategic presence in the region
(02:21) – How institutional investors think about high frequency trading and blockchain mechanics
(04:13) – Marco’s background across law, exchanges and venture — and how he navigated the industry
(06:37) – Why Solmate merged its DAT with infrastructure after investor feedback
(08:30) – RockawayX acquisition and integrating infrastructure with liquidity services
(11:02) – What real infrastructure means: UAE’s first bare metal validator
(14:03) – Why UAE’s geography is critical for latency, block production, and global connectivity
(19:16) – Expansion plans, regional market differences, and focus on UAE
(20:00) – Messaging to institutional allocators and pitching Solana as onchain finance exposure
(24:35) – Moving beyond DATs: Solmate’s shift toward an earnings-driven business
(29:08) – Tokenization as the next era of commerce and everyday HFT-style transactions
(33:31) – Solmate’s long-term vision and Marco’s final advice for navigating crypto cycles
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on XJacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinekTalking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Nitesh Nath, Founder and CEO of DFlow, about building trading infrastructure for Solana and enabling native access to prediction markets, starting with Kalshi, through DFlow’s new API.
Nitesh explains why expanding market access matters for Solana’s trading community, how tokenizing these positions unlocks new DeFi composability, and why every prediction can become an SPL token that plugs into borrowing, trading, and liquidity protocols. They also discuss DFlow’s concurrent liquidity programs, bridging off-chain liquidity onchain, its recent integration with Phantom, and how these systems set the foundation for new financial primitives.
The conversation covers tokenization, onchain market design, expected 2026 milestones, local-market prediction use cases, and how everyday users may eventually use prediction-powered applications without ever realizing it. Nitesh also shares what Solana needs to improve for high-frequency traders, why liquidity provision is still too difficult, and why DFlow is betting on Solana as the most efficient place to build financial rails.This episode is a part of the Solana Sessions campaign that Token Relations and the Talking Tokens podcast are doing, diving into founders’ journeys and startups building on Solana. Check out the accompanying newsletter on www.token-relations.xyz
Timestamps
(00:00) – Intro
(01:07) – DFlow’s recent announcements with growing user demand
(01:32) – Connecting Solana traders to Kalshi and the importance of market access
(02:45) – Network effects between prediction markets and Solana traders through DFlow infrastructure
(03:37) – Tokenization as the building block for DeFi and enabling predictions to plug into the ecosystem
(04:18) – Phantom partnership as a new entry point for traders and liquidity providers
(05:12) – The broader unlock for prediction markets as they reach mainstream attention
(06:10) – Concurrent liquidity programs bridging off chain liquidity onto Solana
(07:26) – Global user opportunities and Solana’s ability to attract sports and political audiences
(09:42) – Burning tokens into stablecoins when markets resolve and how payouts work
(12:10) – Open interest expectations for 2026 and how tokenization scales with market activity
(14:16) – Too many markets debate and why niche local prediction markets will thrive
(17:10) – Everyday apps using prediction markets under the hood without users realizing it
(18:31) – Most things eventually moving on chain and how the prediction API integrates into apps
(20:27) – Improving Solana infra for HFT and solving jitter, latency and market maker pain points
(22:27) – Why DFlow is building on Solana and the vision for DeFi as efficient financial rails
(23:08) – Nitesh’s final advice on ignoring price action and thinking long term
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube.If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on XJacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinekTalking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Matt Luongo, Founder of Thesis and Co-Founder of Mezo, and Nathan McCauley, Co-Founder and CEO of Anchorage Digital. They discuss how Bitcoin collateral, institutional borrowing, and onchain lending are becoming core parts of modern finance.
They dive into why institutions increasingly want to borrow against Bitcoin, how regulatory clarity and qualified custody make these markets possible, and why products like Mezo’s lending and staking are giving BTC holders new ways to access yield, without selling their assets. The conversation also explores the recent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac signals around crypto collateral, how Bitcoin mortgages work today, the rise of BTCfi, and why DeFi lending has historically outperformed centralized lenders through past market blowups.
They also break down volatility management, backtesting, risk frameworks, why conservative collateral ratios matter, and how Bitcoin’s “forever asset” narrative changes long-term financial behavior for both institutions and individuals.
Timestamps(00:00) – Why Bitcoin is becoming a long-term collateral asset
(01:27) – Institutions prefer Bitcoin, altcoins lack institutional traction
(02:21) – Why institutions borrow against BTC and rely on qualified custody
(03:34) – Fannie and Freddie exploring crypto for mortgage eligibility
(05:19) – Bitcoin mortgages today with second homes, investment properties, and growing demand
(06:36) – How Mezo helps users borrow using BTC and why guidance matters
(07:26) – BTCfi is emerging: borrow, earn, or stake Bitcoin onchain
(09:06) – Treasury companies, native yield and why lending is Bitcoin’s true yield mechanism
(10:59) – Transparent, onchain lending vs black-box centralized lenders
(12:00) – Managing volatility, collateral ratios and conservative risk design
(15:26) – Bitcoin staking: short lockups, capital efficiency and borrowing against staked BTC
(19:03) – Why DeFi lending has outperformed centralized platforms across cycles
(22:04) – Bitcoin eating the “monetary premium” of gold and real estate
(32:25) – What success looks like: BTC finance becoming “just finance”
(37:04) – What they’re watching next: treasury companies, UX leapfrogging, AI and machine economies
EssentialsYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Greg Di Prisco, Co-Founder of M0, about how stablecoins are reshaping global finance, why banks are losing their grip on deposits, and how the next monetary layer will be built directly into applications instead of traditional banking rails.
Greg explains why stablecoins may ultimately fulfill parts of Satoshi’s original vision, how M0 enables companies to launch their own branded stablecoins, and why the “vertically integrated issuer” model of USDC and USDT will give way to a broader, more decentralized ecosystem. He also breaks down tokenized treasuries, regulatory clarity under the “Genius Act,” and why fintechs are already routing balances to stablecoins without users realizing it.
They discuss how banks will be forced to compete again, what tokenization actually means in practice, why stablecoins could add billions of new users overnight through distribution partners, and what risks or geopolitical shocks could slow down adoption.
This episode is sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:05) - Defining tokenization & why the term is often misused
(02:24) - Greg’s background: MakerDAO, early stablecoin development & founding M0
(03:09) - Why “everyone becoming their own bank” was 50 years too early
(04:22) - How stablecoins push banks to compete again for deposits
(05:28) - Building M0 and branded stablecoins, issuers & white-label infrastructure
(06:29) - Real client examples like GPU financing & MetaMask’s stablecoin
(07:33) - Why builders want their own stablecoin & capturing yield
(08:17) - The difference between lending USDC vs treasury-backed stablecoins
(09:36) - The biggest shift: fintechs routing balances to stablecoins instead of banks
(11:02) - Greg’s controversial take: stablecoins may fulfill Satoshi’s vision
(12:27) - Algorithmic stablecoins as “tokenized Ponzi schemes”
(13:57) - Why stablecoins, not Bitcoin, will disintermediate commercial banks
(15:24) - Tokenized funds, BUIDL (BlackRock), and onchain treasury management
(17:03) - M0 governance, issuers & risk frameworks
(19:25) - Why one issuer cannot control the money supply
(21:33) - How stablecoin adoption can jump from 200M to billions
(32:20) - Institutional adoption in 2026 and why every financial institution will join
(37:12) - Macro risks, regulation and events that could derail the growth curve
(40:11) - Greg’s final advice
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Amanda Cassatt, founder of Serotonin and the former CMO of Consensys, who played a foundational role in bringing Ethereum to market. Amanda shares how she entered the early Ethereum ecosystem, what it was like working alongside early builders, and how those experiences shaped her thinking on storytelling, distribution, and product-market fit for crypto projects today.
They discuss the evolution of L1s, why a general-purpose chain like Ethereum would struggle to launch in today’s market, and how new L1s must differentiate through niches or built-in distribution. Amanda also talks through privacy tech, credible neutrality, and why marketing should feel like the “no-makeup, makeup look” to help people discover products naturally rather than forcing narratives.
The conversation expands into institutional adoption, the influence of enterprises on Ethereum’s early growth, the certification and /corporatization of crypto, and how narratives get shaped (and reshaped) as the space matures. Amanda also shares her views on AI, digital homogenization, cultural flattening, and how individuals can preserve independence thought in a hive-mind world.
Timestamps (00:00) - Why Ethereum is unique & why a general-purpose L1 would struggle today
(00:40) - Amanda’s view on AI extraction vs “nuclear button” fears
(01:26) - How Amanda entered Ethereum in 2015 and joined Consensys
(02:37) - Bringing Ethereum, MetaMask, Infura & early tooling to market
(03:57) - Why new L1s now require niches, advantages, or built-in distribution
(05:25) - Cypherpunk values, privacy pools & modular privacy concepts
(07:52) - Why most users shouldn’t need to understand backend tech
(09:56) - How Serotonin thinks about marketing: matching tech to real user desire
(12:56) - The “no-makeup, makeup look” & why good marketing shouldn’t feel forced
(15:49) - Institutional adoption: the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance & early inflection points
(18:24) - Narrative chasing vs conviction: why rebranding with every hype cycle fails
(20:27) - How stablecoins changed product-market fit expectations for blockchains
(26:24) - Crypto’s corporatization vs preserving credible neutrality and openness
(32:08) - AI, homogenization & how to keep independent thought
(38:57) - Amanda’s final advice: the only test is whether you lived the life you wanted
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Azeem Khan, Co-Founder of Miden, a new privacy-focused blockchain designed to bring configurable, institution-ready privacy to onchain activity.
Azeem breaks down why public blockchains are far more open than people realize, how institutions think about visibility and copy-trading risk, and why privacy has become a prerequisite for real global adoption. He also discusses his founder journey from biotech and the entertainment industry to early crypto startups and how those experiences shape his approach to building trust, credibility, and long-term adoption. He also dives into his unexpected path through the music and entertainment industry, sharing how he worked on large-scale concerts and shows involving artists like Kanye West, Jay-Z, and other major performers.
They also cover regional differences in crypto appetite, why many enterprises still hesitate, how Miden wants to fit into the broader Ethereum ecosystem, and why the next wave of blockchain users will arrive through distribution partners rather than retail onboarding.They also explore real-world use cases, emerging-market adoption, stablecoins, RWAs, and how privacy can evolve beyond the “North Korea vs transparency” framing that has dominated the industry.
Timestamps
Here’s the Spotify-style timestamp list for this episode:
(00:00) - Intro (01:03) - Azeem’s story through biotech, Boston Marathon and his first startup (03:05) - Getting into crypto in 2012–2013 (04:11) - Early entrepreneurship, family story, and identity (05:20) - Why institutions need privacy to come onchain (07:02) - Why privacy tech didn’t exist during Bitcoin/Ethereum’s early years (08:43) - Balancing transparency and privacy (10:00) - Copy-trading, wallet visibility & risk (12:04) - Misunderstandings about privacy-focused blockchains (13:40) - Why full transparency is unrealistic for real-world finance (15:09) - How Miden works: architecture, ZK lineage & Polygon ties (17:17) - Engaging the Ethereum ecosystem & enterprise teams (18:30) - Why institutional adoption lags: talent, liquidity, decision-making (20:57) - U.S. vs Middle East vs Asia (23:06) - Credibility, integrity & building long-term trust (25:15) - Enterprise pipelines, warm intros & outbound strategy (27:12) - Bringing blockchain to the masses through distribution partners (28:35) - Why most chains still fail emerging-market use cases (30:53) - Speculation vs real utility: shifting the industry mindset (32:33) - Creating success stories to unlock global adoption (34:32) - Privacy hype cycles & how long it lasts (35:22) - Parallels between entertainment, branding & crypto (38:50) - Celebrity stories, crypto, and why most don’t understand the tech (40:59) - Fan engagement isn’t solved: why previous attempts failed (42:46) - RWAs, risk-based stablecoins, yield clarity (46:45) - Final advice: conviction, long-term thinking & ignoring noise
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only. Any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with David Phelps, Co-Founder of JokeRace, an onchain platform that wants to turn governance, incentives, and community engagement into lightweight, fun, and highly participatory experiences. David breaks down why governance has failed in most crypto communities, how JokeRace simplifies participation, and why real utility often comes from small, low-friction interactions rather than complex systems.
They also discuss how communities can design better incentives, what JokeRace has learned from thousands of contests, and why the future of onchain engagement depends on experimentation, humor, and user-driven creativity. David also walks through his recent Base controversy, what he actually meant in his comments vs how it was interpreted online. He also talks about expectations placed on L2s, foundations, and application teams building in public.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:27) - Devconnect Buenos Aires and public-access events
(02:08) - How someone buying substances introduced David to crypto
(03:07) - Discovering programmable money and why it “changes everything”
(04:13) - Bitcoin vs Ethereum and how Bitcoin creates value
(07:04) - Stablecoins, USD dominance, and crypto’s internal contradictions
(09:23) - Why DAOs failed and how that led to the creation of JokeRace
(10:29) - Participation, incentives, and why governance must be fun
(12:27) - Subjective prediction markets and competition inside JokeRace
(15:32) - Tribalism, rivalry, and true community psychology
(19:06) - Who actually uses JokeRace and how mainstream users onboard
(21:36) - Governance failures, branding, and why DAOs aren’t entertaining
(32:03) - The Base controversy: what David meant vs what people heard
(35:09) - Why chains must be opinionated and focused, not “for everyone”
(44:22) - Token launches, market makers, and structurally short deals
(49:03) - David’s best advice on being online and embracing authenticity
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Eunice Giarta, Co-Founder of Monad, a new blockchain that just launched on mainnet. Eunice explains Monad’s design philosophy, the team’s focus on distribution and decentralization, and why the public token sale with Coinbase represents a new approach to retail access.
They also discuss Monad’s viral airdrop campaign, the team’s long-term vision for performance on EVM, and what the launch means for developers building DeFi, gaming, consumer apps, and new real-time experiences onchain.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Why distribution and decentralization matter for Monad
(00:17) - Introduction to Eunice Giarta & Monad’s launch week
(01:42) - How the team prepared for mainnet and the Coinbase public sale
(02:36) - Why Monad chose a public token sale model
(03:10) - Day-1 validator distribution and network participation
(04:18) - Rethinking token sales and reaching new audiences
(05:39) - The viral airdrop: design, gamification, and community reaction
(08:22) - Keeping new users engaged & building long-term community value
(11:02) - Why launch another L1? Eunice’s differentiation argument
(12:38) - Monad’s origin story and the idea of “Solana speed on EVM”
(14:45) - How performance engineering shaped Monad’s architecture
(17:21) - Competing or coexisting with Ethereum and Solana
(19:47) - What will launch on Monad: DeFi, order books, gaming, betting
(22:19) - Expected number of apps live at mainnet
(22:57) - The roadmap for Monad
(25:28) - How Monad changes design constraints for developers
(27:11) - Expanding into payments, remittances & stablecoin infrastructure
(29:57) - What healthy long-term ecosystem growth looks like
(31:00) - Real-time settlement & long-term vision for blockchain
(32:04) - Final advice from Eunice
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/ Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs. John discusses Avalanche’s approach to scaling through purpose-built L1s, how dedicated infrastructure supports institutional and enterprise adoption, and why many organizations are shifting toward onchain-first products.
The conversation explores Avalanche’s burn-based token model, the role of instant finality in real-world asset tokenization, and how stablecoin clarity is shaping global strategies heading into 2026. John also breaks down regional differences across Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S., and shares insights on Avalanche’s priorities for users, transactions, and L1 distribution.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Why the industry still struggles with token purpose
(01:00) - John Nahas returns to the show
(02:11) - Avalanche’s approach vs Ethereum and Solana
(03:30) - Why the industry lacks clear onchain applications
(04:52) - Purpose-built L1s and long-term scalability
(06:24) - How Avalanche’s many L1s work together
(08:16) - What early assumptions about “everyone needing a chain” got wrong
(11:59) - How Avalanche handles shifting market narratives
(15:26) - AVAX burn mechanism and value accrual
(18:02) - Tokenization momentum and institutional partnerships
(23:56) - Stablecoin clarity and 2026 adoption trends
(35:25) - Avalanche’s top priorities: users, assets, transactions
(37:01) - Strengthening Avalanche’s identity and narrative
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Follow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/
Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Ben Coverston, Founding Engineer at Temporal, a Solana-based R&D firm focused on blockchain performance, and cofounder of Harmonic.
The conversation explores Harmonic, a new open block-building system designed to make Solana’s transaction sequencing more efficient, decentralized, and transparent. Ben discusses how the system creates a competitive marketplace for block builders, improves inclusion latency, and could help Solana reach 1 million transactions per second while maintaining decentralization.
They also talk about the lessons he learned from Solana’s early struggles, the evolution of validator coordination, and how Harmonic’s work brings the network closer to functioning like an “onchain Nasdaq.”This episode is a part of the Solana Sessions campaign that Token Relations and the Talking Tokens podcast are doing, diving into founders’ journeys and startups building on Solana. Check out the accompanying newsletter on www.token-relations.xyzThis episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro: Solana’s progress & how Temporal fits in
(01:03) - Creating an “onchain Nasdaq” for Solana
(02:15) - Ben’s background: from math & CS student to interning at Citadel
(03:19) - What drew him from traditional finance to crypto
(04:11) - First impressions of Solana’s speed and performance
(05:25) - Why Ben left HFT firms to build in decentralized finance
(06:20) - Problems with centralized markets and the appeal of DeFi transparency
(07:04) - How Solana achieved real efficiency and low fees
(08:50) - Understanding more about Harmonic
(10:15) - Why sequencing and inclusion latency matter for DeFi apps
(11:35) - Standardizing Solana’s transaction rules with ACE (Application Controlled Execution)
(13:13) - Why open sequencing helps apps like DEXs and liquidators
(14:04) - Bringing predictability and competition to Solana’s block production
(15:32) - How multiple builders competing improves network throughput
(16:51) - The goal: Solana reaching 10 to 100x throughput with stability
(18:06) - Long-term potential can be 1 million TPS and sustainable decentralization
(19:22) - How open sequencing improves inclusion, latency and efficiency
(20:57) - Building trust between validators, builders, and applications
(22:13) - Preventing toxic block-building practices
(23:46) - Why transparency and fairness increase validator revenue
(25:04) - What “success” looks like for Solana developers and apps
(26:33) - Why Solana’s user and institutional adoption is accelerating
(28:10) - The role of liquidity providers and market competition
(29:12) - Institutional capital, DeFi adoption & network maturity
(31:04) - Advice from Ben: ignore short-term noise, keep building
(32:33) - Closing thoughts & future of open blockchain design
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, and AJ Warner, Chief Strategy Officer at Offchain Labs, the team behind Arbitrum.
The conversation explores how Robinhood is bringing U.S. equities onchain through tokenization, starting in Europe, and what that means for global investors. Johann explains how the initiative grew from Robinhood’s crypto division into a larger effort to make stocks, ETFs, and other financial assets tradeable onchain 24/7, while AJ discusses the infrastructure powering it on Arbitrum and how it connects to Ethereum for security.
They discuss how tokenized equities can reduce settlement times, improve transparency, and unlock new use cases like lending pools and fractional investing. The two also touch on regulatory coordination, compliance frameworks, and when “tokenization” itself might disappear as everything financial moves to blockchain rails.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:13) - What tokenization really means
(02:27) - Stablecoins as crypto’s first large-scale tokenization success
(03:20) - How Robinhood began exploring onchain equities
(04:16) - Building for European users & why they started outside the U.S.
(05:12) - Scaling from 2 assets to over 400 tokenized stocks and ETFs
(06:18) - Robinhood plans for its own blockchain, “Robinhood Chain”
(07:20) - AJ on Arbitrum’s role and the value of flexibility in blockchain design
(09:00) - Supporting both public and private chains for compliance needs
(10:13) - Why Ethereum remains the settlement layer of choice
(11:35) - Making blockchain invisible to end users
(12:46) - Lessons from stablecoins & how 24/7 trading changes market structure
(14:10) - Regulatory challenges and why flexibility across jurisdictions matters
(16:07) - Tokenized equities vs. other RWAs like real estate
(17:18) - How users will benefit from instant settlement & fractional ownership
(18:40) - Private market tokenization and the OpenAI, SpaceX model
(20:23) - The path toward democratizing private equity access
(22:00) - When tokenization becomes mainstream (and stops being a buzzword)
(23:10) - Why Robinhood and Arbitrum see the next decade as onchain finance’s inflection point
(25:42) - Final thoughts: collaboration, compliance, and scalability
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek sits down with Torab Torabi, CEO of Move Industries, the team behind Move Network, a new blockchain ecosystem built on the Move language.
Torab opens up about the challenges of rebuilding after Movement Labs’ internal fallout, how the company restructured, and why the new chapter is focused on transparency, community, and global accessibility. He shares insights into how Move Industries handled its market-maker incident, is working on regaining developer trust, and how it retained over 90% of its team through the transition.
The discussion also explores how Move Network aims to serve the “unbanked” through mobile-first design, why RWAs and TVL metrics often miss the point, and how the company’s developer-first philosophy and new “Move University” initiative are preparing the next generation of builders.
This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps(00:00) - Intro
(01:02) - From Movement Labs to Move Industries: What really happened
(02:18) - The market maker fallout and how the team responded
(03:25) - Binance investigation, buybacks & rebuilding community trust
(04:50) - The emotional toll & decision to stay through the crisis
(06:15) - Team resilience: 90% retention through uncertainty
(07:50) - Advice from investors and industry peers during turmoil
(09:30) - Lessons learned on transparency and rebuilding credibility
(10:46) - Why the team sees “Move Industries” as a true fresh start
(12:04) - The People’s Chain: banking the unbanked through mobile access
(14:26) - Torab’s personal story: from the Bay Area to blockchain
(17:10) - Designing real-world crypto use cases for underserved regions
(19:02) - Why crypto needs its “Apple Pay moment”
(20:36) - Overcoming UX barriers and gas fee limitations
(22:22) - Targeting 100M users through better mobile design
(25:01) - Building for younger, financially native generations
(27:04) - How Move Network is positioning as a sovereign Layer-1
(28:25) - Challenges of Move language adoption and developer shortage
(30:03) - Launching Move University to train new developers
(32:07) - Why RWAs are overhyped and what metrics actually matter
(34:12) - Vanity metrics, TVL inflation & measuring real onchain activity
(36:09) - The velocity of money as a better health indicator for chains
(38:22) - Developer-first initiatives and global activation hubs
(40:20) - Move Alliance and financial alignment within the ecosystem
(42:10) - Defining success for Move Industries’ next era
(44:00) - Building “crypto that doesn’t feel like crypto”
(46:02) - Final advice: resilience, relationships, and long-term thinking
Essentials
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Shane Molidor, founder and CEO of Forgd, an investment banking and advisory platform that helps blockchain projects design sustainable token economies and improve market transparency.
The discussion covers why crypto still struggles with low liquidity and poor disclosure standards, how market makers shape price discovery, and what it really takes to build a fair and efficient token launches. Shane explains why many founders misunderstand market-making agreements, what “predatory engagements” look like, and how Forgd is working to introduce transparency and data-driven decision-making across the industry.
They also explore how Forgd’s platform tracks market maker performance, why most projects over-index on hype instead of fundamentals, and what’s needed for crypto to mature from its “teenage years” into a regulated, professional market.
This episode is sponsored by Forgd. Thousands of Web3 projects leverage Forgd’s free tools to design smarter tokenomics, engage market makers on fair terms, plan listings strategically, and monitor liquidity after launch. Start using the Forgd platform for free, or sign up for white-glove advisory services, at Forgd.com
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:10) - What Forgd is and why Shane founded it
(02:35) - Problems with token launches and market manipulation
(04:10) - The “signal vs noise” problem in today’s crypto cycle
(06:06) - Comparing crypto’s maturity to its “teenage years”
(07:52) - How institutions are approaching token liquidity
(09:40) - Why regulatory ambiguity created poor market hygiene
(11:06) - The challenge of offshore foundations & token issuance
(13:24) - Why teams avoid U.S. entities and what that costs the industry
(15:00) - Price vs value: how momentum often replaces fundamentals
(17:25) - How illiquidity distorts fair value in thinly traded markets
(19:22) - Why token standards and disclosures are critical for investors
(21:42) - Market structure, transparency, and efficient price discovery
(23:30) - Liquidity depth, tight spreads, and capital efficiency explained
(25:55) - Why most founders shouldn’t need to master capital markets
(27:50) - The real role of market makers
(30:40) - Common market-making contracts and their trade-offs
(32:06) - How “loan plus call option” deals can harm token projects
(35:10) - Forgd’s market maker leaderboard and how it works
(37:20) - Bringing data-driven transparency to token launches
(40:00) - Why full disclosure should become an industry standard
(42:35) - The cultural resistance to transparency
(45:23) - How Forgd plans to automate advisory work with AI
(47:12) - Lessons from 10 years in crypto & building with integrity
(49:11) - Closing thoughts and final advice
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn Melinek interviews Qiao Wang, founding partner at Alliance DAO, to explore the current state of crypto startups and the broader market landscape.
The conversation covers how early-stage builders are approaching stablecoins, payments, and AI-driven tools, and why the next wave of development is shifting toward real-world utility. Qiao discusses its latest ALL15 demo day, the return of U.S. based crypto founders, developers building on Solana and Base, and how macro conditions are shaping startup funding and investor sentiment.
They also examine how AI is influencing both market behavior and product design, what past cycles reveal about founder discipline, and why long-term focus remains critical for builders navigating a volatile industry.Sponsored by Fireblocks, the trusted stablecoin infrastructure for global enterprises. Learn more at fireblocks.com.
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:27) - Stablecoins and onchain consumer products leading growth
(02:27) - What makes a good stablecoin startup vs. hype-driven ideas
(04:00) - Breaking down the stablecoin stack
(05:35) - Rain cards and B2B stablecoin payments in Nigeria
(06:55) - Why the best startups start niche before going global
(07:46) - Are there too many stablecoin startups?
(09:00) - Alliance ALL15 Demo Day
(11:09) - More founders building in U.S. again
(12:46) - Lessons from past startups and how AI helps solve moderation
(14:10) - Daily micropayments and real-time creator rewards
(15:56) - Balancing crypto-native vs mainstream user adoption
(17:18) - What makes a great founder & why technical teams matter
(19:56) - When to pivot: signs a startup should change direction
(22:19) - How Alliance DAO evaluates founders and admits <1% of applicants
(25:22) - Partner growth, alumni mentors & scaling the accelerator
(27:46) - Solana vs Ethereum vs Base
(30:35) - The rise of Hyperliquid and other underdog ecosystems
(33:20) - The AI bubble: why it’s propping up U.S. GDP (for now)
(36:00) - Risks of overvaluation and lessons from past market cycles
(39:37) - How macro markets affect crypto liquidity
(42:00) - Why disciplined investing beats chasing short-term rallies
(44:00) - Managing FOMO & lessons from Warren Buffett’s patience
(47:00) - Advice to founders: stay long-term, ignore noise, and keep building
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
In this episode of Talking Tokenization, Jacquelyn Melinek speaks with Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize, following the company’s announcement that it will go public through a SPAC merger valuing it at $1.25 billion and the launch of a tokenized fund with BNY.
The conversation explores why Securitize chose to go public now, how the move fits into its broader mission of bringing real-world assets onchain, and what it means for the growing tokenization market. Carlos discusses the regulatory process behind going public, the importance of transparency and governance for institutional partners, and why he believes tokenization is entering a period of real adoption after years of experimentation.
They also cover Securitize’s new tokenized collateralized loan obligation (CLO) fund, the company’s partnership with BNY and Grove, and how these collaborations are paving the way for more yield-bearing products to come onchain.Sponsored by Securitize, the proven leader in tokenized funds, equities, and private markets. Discover more at securitize.io.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks, the stablecoin infrastructure of choice for top global businesses, from Visa and Worldpay to Bridge and Revolut. Learn more at fireblocks.com.
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro (01:00) - Why going public strengthens governance, transparency, and trust (02:10) - How Securitize’s decision came together after Circle’s successful IPO (03:30) - The regulatory process behind the SPAC merger and SEC approval timeline (05:19) - The return of the IPO market and why crypto companies are leading it (06:36) - Why early public listings can instill discipline in growing companies (07:57) - How Securitize’s IPO may accelerate partnerships with major institutions (08:48) - Expanding internationally and building a stronger balance sheet (09:26) - Focus regions: U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the Middle East (10:13) - Lessons from the process: internal alignment and preparation (11:06) - Launching a tokenized fund with BNY and Grove’s $100M investment (12:23) - Why CLOs and yield-bearing assets are the next phase of tokenization (13:05) - How Grove integrates the tokenized CLO into its ecosystem (14:21) - The structure of the partnership between Securitize, BNY, and Grove (15:35) - Stable yields, risk management, and diversification opportunities (16:01) - Why 2025 could mark a tipping point for large-scale tokenization (16:50) - Industry outlook about competition, collaboration, and exponential growth (17:17) - Final thoughts: building credibility and tokenizing traditional finance
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141
Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens
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Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink and former Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock.Joseph shares how he went from leading BlackRock’s digital asset strategy to running one of the first publicly listed digital asset treasuries on Nasdaq. He explains what inspired him to leave BlackRock after 20 years, how institutional demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum has evolved and what makes a good DAT.
They dive deep into Ethereum’s role as the global settlement layer for finance, why tokenization is the next major market structure shift, and how SharpLink’s treasury model creates exposure to Ethereum, while actively managing yield through staking and DeFi.
Joseph also discusses regulation, market cycles, tokenized equities, and the growing interest from Asia-based institutions.
Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:06) - Life after 20 years at BlackRock & how his role at SharpLink began
(02:47) - Building BlackRock’s digital asset division and early learnings
(04:28) - Why institutional adoption took time: regulation & infrastructure gaps
(05:53) - ETF demand, client-first strategy & product-market fit for crypto
(07:55) - Who’s really driving today’s crypto markets: investors vs traders
(09:11) - Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins dominate institutional portfolios
(10:39) - Ethereum as the programmable settlement layer for global finance
(12:19) - Stablecoins, tokenization & the trillion-dollar opportunity ahead
(13:24) - Institutions entering DeFi and why the rails are shifting fast
(14:09) - What Ethereum’s consistency, security & liquidity mean for investors
(15:25) - Tokenization: which assets should actually move onchain
(17:00) - How stablecoins threaten bank margins but benefit the U.S. economy
(18:34) - Treasury management & the opportunity for onchain balance sheets
(19:34) - SharpLink’s mission: institutional access to Ethereum exposure
(21:12) - Turning ETH into a productive asset through staking and DeFi
(23:03) - Building an institutional team with trust & long-term credibility
(25:22) - Market cycles, ETH accumulation & thesis-driven treasury strategy
(27:48) - Managing a Nasdaq-listed crypto company responsibly
(30:12) - Lessons from BlackRock: transparency, controls & investor trust
(32:58) - The rise of other digital asset treasuries & what sets SharpLink apart
(35:03) - Global expansion: insights from Korea, Singapore & Hong Kong
(38:15) - How Asia’s retail energy outpaces Europe’s institutional caution
(41:10) - What he learned from 70+ investor meetings across four continents
(43:03) - Why DeFi collaboration matters more than competition
(45:09) - Final advice: play the long game, manage risk, and lead with integrity
You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/
Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.
On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Diogo Mónica, general partner at Haun Ventures, executive chairman and co-founder of Anchorage Digital, and chairman of the NEAR Foundation.Diogo shares how these roles intersect from managing billions in digital assets at Anchorage to backing early-stage founders at Haun Ventures and helping NEAR drive developer adoption.They discuss the next era of crypto use cases beyond trading, including stablecoins, tokenized equities, and “generative finance,” where AI creates tailored financial products in seconds.He explains how stablecoins reached global product-market fit in the Global South, why the Genius Act mattered, and how tokenization can reshape capital markets through onchain IPOs. Diogo also shares his view on regulation, crypto neobanks, and the intersection of AI and DeFi.Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:09) - Why crypto still searches for new product-market fit beyond trading
(01:35) - Stablecoins as the most proven use case in crypto today
(02:16) - Tokenization’s rise and Tether’s reported $500 billion valuation
(03:24) - Global adoption: why stablecoins thrive in Argentina and the Global South
(05:09) - Enterprise use cases: cross-border payments, remittances & treasury flows
(05:52) - The Genius Act and why clarity laws must follow infrastructure first
(07:05) - Onchain IPOs and tokenized equities as capital-market entry points
(09:10) - Examples like Galaxy stock trading onchain & Robert Leshner’s Superstate
(10:35) - Crypto neobanks & how self-custody speeds innovation
(12:10) - Programmable dollars and why stablecoins let developers ship in minutes
(13:19) - AI + DeFi = tailored financial products
(15:17) - Why this model could democratize custom investing for everyone
(16:46) - Regulatory impact & how to govern millions of AI-generated financial products
(17:57) - Anchorage’s federal bank charter & the “permission not forgiveness” approach
(19:02) - What founders should build next & why stablecoins lead the next cycle
(20:03) - Closing thoughts: from tokenizing dollars to AI-driven finance
EssentialsYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.