Empire

Blockworks
Empire Podcast

Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Tuesday and a weekly roundup on Friday.

  1. 14 HR AGO

    The Case for a New Internet | Curtis Yarvin & Jake Brukhman, Urbit

    In this episode, Urbit founder Curtis Yarvin presents a case for reimagining the internet from the ground up. Yarvin dissects the evolution of the internet from its decentralized origins to today's centralized "social databases," explaining how this shift has degraded online communities and compromised digital sovereignty. He introduces Urbit as a potential solution, detailing its unique approach to digital identity and personal servers. The conversation explores the challenges of centralization, the potential for "accountable monarchies" in digital governance, and how crypto could fundamentally alter the internet's course. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Curtis: https://substack.com/@graymirror Follow Jake: https://x.com/jbrukh Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024. Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD. - - Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io. - - Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here. Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks - - Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:51 The Evolution of the Internet 08:22 Rise of Centralized Networks 12:15 Future of Decentralized Systems 30:45 Urbit & Blockchains 46:53 Stellar Ad 47:43 Supra Ad 48:39 Harpie Ad 49:32 What is Urbit? 01:15:54 Decentralized Identity and Personal Servers - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 49m
  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Asia's Crypto Boom, Stablecoin Wars, and Crypto's Global Shifts | Roundup

    In this episode, the Jason and Santi dive deep into their experiences at Token2049 in Singapore. They discuss the staggering scale of Asian crypto exchanges, the emergence of yield-generating stablecoins, and the stark contrast in user adoption between Asia and the West. The conversation also touches on founder fatigue in the crypto space, Singapore's unique governance model, and the evolving venture capital landscape. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology. Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net - - Supra Containers are secured by Supra’s L1 nodes and get access to Supra’s 500k TPS throughput, sub-second consensus latency, and all their built-in services like oracle price feeds and onchain randomness without any overhead. Supra is also MultiVM compatible so you can easily deploy your EVM, Move, and SVM smart contracts here. Get all the freedom, control, and tools you need to build super dApps and bring the world onchain. To learn more, visit www.supra.com/blockworks - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Singapore 02:50 Token2049 Review 11:34 Growth of Crypto in Asia 22:47 Anoma ad 23:49 Supra AD 24:45 Polygon Ad 25:55 Founders Closing Shop 33:38 Lack of L2s 35:14 Singapore Review 42:37 Ventures Raising Funds - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    52 min
  3. 17 SEPT

    Are We Overhyping AI in Crypto? | Casey Caruso & Mohamed Baioumy

    In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of AI and crypto with Casey Caruso and Mohamed Baioumy. They delve into why decentralization could be the key to democratizing AI, unpack edge computing, local AI models, and the potential for crypto and AI. We also tackle the challenges of privacy, the importance of solving real-world problems, and the broader implications of AI development on society. Thanks for tuning in! Resources https://www.topology.vc/deai-map - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Casey: https://x.com/caseykcaruso Follow Mohamed: https://x.com/mo_baioumy Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024. Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD. - - Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:00 What's Happening in Crypto AI 10:21 What is Possible with Crypto & AI 16:28 Usecase of Privacy in AI 21:45 Privacy & Local AI Models 32:11 Stellar Ad 33:02 Polygon Ad 34:09 Harpie Ad 35:24 Overrated AI 46:11 Inevitability of AI Agents Using Crypto 01:05:23 Is AI & Crypto Inevitable - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 15m
  4. 14 SEPT

    All-In Summit, Inevitable Superintelligence, and Crypto's Role | Hivemind

    In this episode, the Delphi team dives deep into the real impact of AI on the global economy and job market. They explore the potential for AI to create a deflationary environment and discuss how this might affect various industries. The conversation then shifts to the intersection of AI and crypto, examining potential investment opportunities and the role of open-source models. The team also touches on the All-In Summit, the lull in crypto, and Delphi's upcoming CryptoAI accelerator program. - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Yan: https://x.com/YanLiberman Follow Duncan: https://x.com/FloodCapital Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:38) All In Summit (11:31) Inevitability of Compute Increase (17:41) Impact of AI Adoption (29:31) Investing in AI (35:13) Best AI Chatbots (42:22) What's Real in Crypto & AI - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 0m
  5. 13 SEPT

    What the West Misunderstands about Crypto in Asia | Allen Ng, Everest Venture Group

    In this episode, Allen, of Everest Ventures Group (EVG), dives deep into the crypto landscape in Asia. He discusses the cultural nuances of doing business in Asia, the power dynamics between exchanges, developers, and "crypto gangs," and the unique characteristics of various Asian markets. Allen shares insights on enterprise adoption, the impact of major events like FTX and Terra, and offers valuable advice for Western companies looking to expand into Asia. Thanks for tuning in! Resources https://x.com/realallenng/status/1831271083926053013?s=46&t=jvYd6ynEZAVc6kvMtila9g - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Allen: https://x.com/realallenng Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology. Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net - - re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users. Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU - - FBTC is now available on both Ethereum and Mantle Network, and its points-inspired campaign “Sparkle” has officially started, with lucrative and sustainable yields, plus points and token airdrop from Babylon, Mantle’s new token $COOK, and more. Learn more: https://fbtc.com/ongoing-campaign - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants -- Timestamp: 01:39 EVG Background 11:01 Regulatory Impact of FTX & Terra 20:24 Who has Power in Asia? 32:02 Anoma ad 33:04 Mantle Ad 34:03 Polygon ad 35:11 Re.al Ad 36:12 Crypto Community Differences 45:03 Exchange Wars 53:43 Conferences in Asia 01:02:07 App Scene in Asia -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 7m
  6. 10 SEPT

    How Crypto Fixes the Internet Monopoly | Neil Chatterjee, DAWN & Andrena

    In this episode, we dive deep into decentralized internet with Neil Chatterjee, the founder of DAWN. Neil explains the current state of internet infrastructure, the hidden costs behind ISP pricing, and how Dawn aims to disrupt this model using crypto. We explore the concept of Decentralized Autonomous Wireless Networks (DAWNs), discussing its potential to dramatically reduce internet costs for consumers while empowering households to become part of the network. The conversation also touches on the challenges of building a decentralized internet infrastructure, the role of Solana in Dawn's ecosystem, and the broader vision for the future of deepin projects. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Neil: https://x.com/neilc_dawn Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - The 6th edition of Meridian, a web3 conference hosted by the Stellar Development Foundation is happening in London, England October 15-17, 2024. Learn more and get your early-bird priced tickets now at meridian.stellar.org by using the code BLOCKWORKSPOD. - - Cronos zkEVM has launched its Pioneer Program,offering early users loyalty points for engaging with Cronos zkEVM & its dapps. Join the first quest by depositing CRO in the Cronos zkEVM bridge to receive zkCRO & loyalty points at mainnet launch, as well as a chance to win a part of a $30,000 zkCRO giveaway by depositing in the bridge. Visit zkevm.cronos.org/bridge for more info - - Harpie sets the standard in on-chain security, actively monitoring and safeguarding your crypto wallet against theft in real time. It detects, blocks, and recovers stolen assets from risky transactions before they execute, shielding you from even the most advanced hacks and scams. Harpie is free to use and compatible with all Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Arbitrum wallets. Protect your crypto today at harpie.io. - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: (00:00) intro (02:23) Internet Infra of Today (06:12) Whats Wrong with Internet Today? (10:44) Andrena Business Model (13:01) Unique Unit Economics of Internet (23:28) Why Crypto? (36:58) Stellar Ad (37:48) Cronos Ad (38:46) Polygon Ad (39:54) Harpie Ad (41:09) Scale of Dawn & Adoption (48:23) Biggest Risks? (54:07) Token Incentives & Design (59:40) Vision of Internet & Broadband (01:07:19) Why Solana? - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

    1h 15m
  7. 6 SEPT

    Is Crypto Quietly Quitting? | Roundup

    In this episode, we dive deep into the current state of the crypto, unpacking the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and the shifting landscape of adoption. We examine the regulatory challenges facing OpenSea and Binance, and shed light on the often-overlooked dominance of Asian crypto markets. The conversation then turns to the concept of "time billionaires" and the true value of our most precious resource. Finally, we address the recent Maker rebrand and discuss the future of DeFi and stablecoins in an increasingly competitive market. Thanks for tuning in! - - Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and David Canellis. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire?utm_source=podcasts Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7ww Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ - - Anoma is the universal intent machine, introducing a new era of applications where you define the outcomes you want. Anoma’s intent-centric architecture provides a universal operating system for building intent-centric apps compatible with any blockchain. Anoma vastly improves blockchain UX, enables novel applications, and promotes a more human-centric future for decentralized technology. Follow Anoma at x.com/anoma and signup for the newsletter at anoma.net - - FBTC is now available on both Ethereum and Mantle Network, and its points-inspired campaign “Sparkle” has officially started, with lucrative and sustainable yields, plus points and token airdrop from Babylon, Mantle’s new token $COOK, and more. Learn more: https://fbtc.com/ongoing-campaign - - re.al is the permissionless L2 for tokenized RWAs built on Arbitrum Orbit and the first L2 to return chain and protocol fees back to users, in reETH, ensuring they benefit from ecosystem growth. re.al has just launched a fully-transparent rewards (points) program returning 10% of $RWA supply to early users. Not investment advice or product solicitation and not aimed at US persons. https://re.al/rewards/airdrop/O4UNU - - Polygon Labs is developing the next generation of open source zero-knowledge tech to aggregate crypto liquidity and user bases with the AggLayer. To support the aggregated future, the Polygon Community Grants Program was launched with 1 billion tokens — all for Polygon builders. Season One of the community grants program is live now, and features 35 million in MATIC to support the next generation of Polygon projects! Join the aggregated future today by applying at https://polygon.technology/grants - - Timestamps: 00:00 intro 02:00 Historic Empire Month 04:00 Korean Blockchain Week 07:44 Asia Startup Ecosystem  18:54 Social Growth 23:50 Wells Notice & CFTC 36:00 Anoma ad 37:02 Mantle Ad 38:02 Polygon Ad 39:10 Re.al Ad 40:11 Is Crypto Good? 54:16 Quiet Quitting in Crypto - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed. -- --

    1h 24m

About

Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Tuesday and a weekly roundup on Friday.

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