The Signal

The DeFi Report
The Signal

Welcome to The Signal, powered by The DeFi Report! Our weekly show is hosted by Michael Nadeau (The DeFi Report) and Oskari Tempakka (Token Terminal). We provide market insights and fundamental analysis of public blockchains and protocols using onchain data.

  1. Stablecoins + Web3 Payroll with Hugo Finkelstein from Rise

    30 SEPT

    Stablecoins + Web3 Payroll with Hugo Finkelstein from Rise

    In this episode of The Signal, Hugo Finkelstein, Co-Founder of Rise, joins us to share insights into the evolving world of crypto payroll. Learn how Rise is helping businesses globally manage payroll for remote teams, bridging the gap between traditional payment systems and the modern need for flexible, onchain solutions. Hugo dives into the compliance challenges, the adoption of stablecoins in emerging markets, and the future of payroll innovations. Don't miss this deep dive into the intersection of Web2 and Web3 payroll solutions and the exciting developments ahead! We hope you enjoy the episode! Rise: https://www.riseworks.io/ Hugo: https://x.com/hugfink Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Web2 and Crypto Payroll Challenges 00:37 Welcome to The Signal: Global Crypto Ecosystem Insights 01:55 Guest Introduction: Hugo Finkelstein's Journey into Crypto 08:10 The Rise of Crypto Payroll Solutions 11:22 Challenges and Solutions in Global Payroll 14:23 Future of Payroll: Stablecoins and Streaming Payments 20:18 Emerging Markets and the Impact of Crypto Payroll 27:38 User Experience and Onboarding with Rise 32:35 Future Plans and Market Expansion 36:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    39 min
  2. The Path to $10 Trillion of Stablecoins with Martin Carrica

    14 SEPT

    The Path to $10 Trillion of Stablecoins with Martin Carrica

    In this episode, we're joined by Martin Carrica, Founder of Mountain Protocol, to dicuss the growing role of stablecoins in the global financial ecosystem, with a specific focus on how Mountain Protocol aims to provide a yield-bearing stablecoin solution. The episode starts with a general discussion on the importance of stablecoins, particularly in markets like Argentina, where inflation and unstable currency drive people toward U.S. dollar-denominated assets. Martin shares his personal experiences with Argentina's financial instability and how stablecoins have helped people protect their wealth. We then move onto how Mountain Protocol differentiates itself by offering the first permissionless yield-bearing stablecoin, USDM. This allows users to earn a yield on their stablecoin holdings, similar to how traditional banks offer interest on deposits. The episode highlights how traditional stablecoins like USDC and USDT generate yield for companies, but not for holders, and Mountain Protocol aims to change that. Additionally, we explore the regulatory landscape, particularly in Bermuda, where Mountain Protocol is regulated. Martin explains why this jurisdiction provides a secure and stable environment for their operations, especially with bankruptcy remote structures in place. The episode ends with a discussion of the future of stablecoins, the potential role of traditional banks in issuing their own, and how Mountain Protocol is positioning itself to capture a significant share of the market by offering better value to users through yield-bearing stablecoins. We hope you enjoy the episode! Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Guest Introduction: Martin Carrica from Mountain Protocol 01:55 Martin's Journey into Crypto: From Argentina to Stablecoins 03:18 Early Crypto Adoption in Argentina 05:49 The Rise of Stablecoins During the Pandemic 07:30 Stablecoins vs. Traditional Banking in Argentina 20:44 The Role of USDT and USDC in Emerging Markets 31:51 Institutional Adoption and Yield 44:23 The Future of Stablecoins 45:04 Regulatory Landscape for Stablecoins 48:32 Global Adoption and Use Cases 49:59 Challenges and Opportunities 55:53 Introducing Mountain Protocol 01:02:10 User Experience and Risks 01:15:43 Market Strategy and Predictions 01:25:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    1h 27m
  3. Episode 14: LST Innovation with Sanctum’s FP Lee

    30 AUG

    Episode 14: LST Innovation with Sanctum’s FP Lee

    In this episode, FP Lee from Sanctum joins us to discuss the potential of liquid staking in the Solana ecosystem. He explains the concept of liquid staking, the technical differences between Solana and Ethereum, and why liquid staking offers unique advantages.  The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities of building in the liquid staking space, including new use cases for liquid staking tokens (LSTs) beyond DeFi, such as crowdfunding and supporting creators. The episode also explores the different strategies and innovations of various Solana projects like Marinate and Jito, and how Sanctum aims to democratize LST creation.  Additionally, FP Lee shares his learnings from their token generation event (TGE), stressing transparency and fair pricing for retail investors. He concludes with a vision for the future where everyone holds their net worth onchain, supported by real-world use cases and a strong LST ecosystem. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Liquid Staking 01:14 Welcome and Guest Introduction 02:23 Understanding Liquid Staking on Solana 05:10 Comparing Liquid Staking on Ethereum and Solana 08:53 Challenges and Incentives for Liquid Staking 16:10 Innovative Use Cases for Liquid Staking 18:27 Sanctum's Unique Approach 27:01 Future of Liquid Staking and Governance Tokens 29:14 Deep Dive into Sanctum's Product 29:45 Introduction to Liquid Staking and Jupyter UX 30:16 The Concept of a Unified Liquidity Pool 31:09 The Reserve Pool and Its Advantages 31:42 Jupyter Router and Efficient Swaps 33:00 Infinity Pool: Solving Liquidity Issues 34:42 Risks and Unknowns in Liquidity Pools 37:22 Sanctum's Business Model and Growth Potential 41:59 The Token Generation Event (TGE) Strategy 49:14 Future Vision and Real-World Use Cases 55:32 Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    57 min
  4. Episode 13: Has the bull market even started??

    16 AUG

    Episode 13: Has the bull market even started??

    In this episode, we discuss a few of Michael's recent viral tweets. We briefly cover Robinhood's crypto strategy before moving on to key updates in the crypto market, explaining why we feel the current setup is bullish. We also debate whether Layer 2s should be included in Ethereum's ecosystem analysis. Additionally, we touch on the outcomes of crypto VC investments and the industry's narrative around governance tokens. We hope you enjoy the episode! Markets Update: https://x.com/JustDeauIt/status/1821191664154644804 Should L2s be included in Ethereum KPI data? (comps to networks like Solana): https://x.com/_ryanrconnor/status/1818385404078571768 Token Performance for Paradigm's Portfolio Projects: https://x.com/tokenterminal/status/1819752943933174213 Comparing L1 tokens to Equities: https://x.com/JustDeauIt/status/1810665134408269976 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 LinkedIn vs. Twitter Engagement 02:33 Robinhood's Crypto Strategy 06:12 Market Sentiment and Analysis 12:57 Macro Factors and Market Predictions 19:34 Stablecoins and Future Market Trends 22:49 Sentiment Indicators and Market Update 23:28 Blockchain Economics and Custom Chart Analysis 24:02 Debate on Including L2s in Blockchain Analysis 34:03 VC Investments and Token Performance 38:09 Governance Tokens and Value Accrual 43:49 Regulatory Overhangs and Market Dynamics 45:48 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Crypto Bull Market, Wall Street Crypto, Robinhood, Crypto VCs --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    48 min
  5. Episode 12: Ethereum Q2 Earnings + ETF

    26 JUL

    Episode 12: Ethereum Q2 Earnings + ETF

    In this episode, we dive into the impacts of recent political chaos in the U.S. and its effects on the financial markets. The discussion covers an update on the Bitcoin ETF,  including insights into the current buying activity, mining dynamics, and more. We also discuss the recent launch of Ethereum ETFs, and how we predict things will play out. The conversation also explores Ethereum's Q2 financials, the competitive landscape of L2s, and the future predictions for stablecoins and real-world assets. We hope you enjoy the episode! Timestamps 00:00 Political Chaos in the U.S. 03:42 Bitcoin ETFs and Market Dynamics 11:34 The "Trump Trade" 18:56 Ethereum ETFs Launch and Market Reactions 28:26 Ethereum Q2 Earnings and L2 Developments 39:54 Future of L2s and Token Economics 46:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Content --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    48 min
  6. Episode 11: Robinhood's venture into crypto

    13 JUL

    Episode 11: Robinhood's venture into crypto

    In this episode of The Signal, we dive into Robinhood's strategic entry into the crypto space and compare it to Coinbase's established position. The discussion covers Robinhood's history with crypto, partnerships with Arbitrum and MetaMask, and the recent acquisition of Bitstamp. We also explore the potential for tokenized equities and discuss what strategic moves Robinhood could be planning to better capture crypto market share, including what launching their own Layer 2 blockchain could look like. Join us to understand the key metrics, business model, and future direction for this fintech giant as it navigate the evolving digital asset landscape.  Tune in for a speculative but insightful conversation on fintechs moving onchain. 00:00 Introduction  03:53 Robinhood's Evolution and Current Market Position 09:38 Robinhood vs. Coinbase: A Competitive Analysis 15:14 Robinhood's Crypto Integration Timeline 18:22 Robinhood's Strategic Partnerships and Future Directions 25:35 Integrating Crypto and Solving User Experience Issues 26:03 Payment for Order Flow in an Onchain Economy 30:34 Robinhood's Acquisition of Bit stamp 35:02 Strategic Moves and Tokenized Equities 42:13 Challenges and Strategic Considerations 47:18 Comparing Coinbase and Robinhood 52:37 Speculations and Future Predictions We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol.

    54 min
  7. Episode 10: Maple Finance & Syrup with Joe Flanagan

    28 JUN

    Episode 10: Maple Finance & Syrup with Joe Flanagan

    In this episode of The Signal, we're joined by Joe Flanagan, Co-Founder of Maple Finance. The discussion covers Maple Finance's innovative approach using smart contracts to streamline institutional debt issuance and enhance transparency in financial markets. Joe explains the process of originating and tokenizing debt onchain, providing insights into the borrowers and the underwriting process.  The conversation also introduces Syrup, Maple's new platform aimed at making institutional yields accessible to a broader DeFi audience. Joe details the reasons behind the token transition to SYRUP, the expected yields, and the future opportunities for Maple Finance. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:38 Guest Introduction: Joe Flanagan from Maple Finance 01:15 Overview of Maple Finance 03:36 Why Crypto? 05:40 How Maple Finance Works 06:01 Borrowers and Underwriting Process 09:03 Lending Products and Rates 11:21 Supply Side and Lenders 13:39 Business Model and Fees 15:00 Introducing Syrup: New Product Launch 24:51 Syrup Token and Community Engagement 29:18 Future Markets and Conclusion If you’re interested in checking out Maple’s new Syrup product you can do so at the link here: https://syrup.fi/lend?access-code=JD3PU with code JD3PU Please note that The DeFi Report has no formal affiliation with Maple Finance and was not compensated to share the episode or links. Lending in DeFi is not risk-free. We encourage you to conduct your own research before putting any capital at risk. We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol. #TheSignal #MapleFinance #Syrup

    31 min
  8. Episode 9: Hivemapper

    21 JUN

    Episode 9: Hivemapper

    In Episode 9 of The Signal, we into into a market update, discuss our approach to due diligence and research in the crypto space, and provide a comprehensive analysis of Hivemapper, a decentralized physical infrastructure network on Solana. Join us as we explore the market's current state, the Federal Reserve's recent moves, and the implications for crypto. We also share detailed insights into Hivemapper's business model, token economics, and potential for growth. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to evaluate crypto projects and the future of DePin networks. 00:00 Introduction to Hivemapper and Market Potential 00:49 Welcome Back to The Signal Podcast 01:15 Market Update and Fed Meeting Insights 09:43 Analyzing On-Chain Data and Market Sentiment 22:40 Understanding Hivemapper's Disruptive Potential 35:45 Exploring Uber's Potential Involvement 35:59 Web 2 vs Web 3: Future of Mergers and Acquisitions 36:51 Introduction to Hivemapper's Product 37:06 Earning with Hivemapper Dash Cams 39:05 Hivemapper's Data Product and Tokenomics 40:31 Global Mapping Progress and Contributors 42:11 Token Economics and Market Dynamics 52:46 Financials and Team Behind Hivemapper 01:00:51 Risks and Future Prospects 01:07:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes We hope you enjoy the episode! --- Subscribe to The DeFi Report Newsletter: ⁠ https://thedefireport.io/subscribe⁠ Download a copy of The Ethereum Investment Framework: https://thedefireport.io/ethereum-inv... Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3SeyyA8⁠ Subscribe on Spotify:  ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:  ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-austin-nadeau/ Follow Oskari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oskaritempakka/ ---- The views expressed by the co-hosts or any guests are their personal views and should not be relied upon as financial, technical, tax, legal, or any other type of advice.  The creators of this content, or members, affiliates, or stakeholders of The DeFi Report, may be participating in or have invested in the protocols or tokens mentioned herein. The foregoing statement acts as a disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and is not a recommendation to purchase or invest in any token or participate in any protocol.  Listeners are strongly urged to exercise caution and have regard to their own personal needs and circumstances before making any decision to buy or sell any token or participate in any protocol. #TheSignal #Hivemapper #DePin

    1h 8m

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Welcome to The Signal, powered by The DeFi Report! Our weekly show is hosted by Michael Nadeau (The DeFi Report) and Oskari Tempakka (Token Terminal). We provide market insights and fundamental analysis of public blockchains and protocols using onchain data.

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