Blockleaders Podcast

Blockleaders

Blockleaders.io editors Jillian Godsil and Lisa Gibbons speak to leaders, innovators and organisers in the web3 space covering topics from web3 gaming to decentralized finance to web3 events.

  1. 11/12/2025

    Blockleaders Podcast 62: Toby Gilbert

    CEO and founder of coinweb.io, Toby Gilbert speaks about his new project PACT SWAP

    21 min

  2. 11/11/2025

    Blockleaders Podcast 61: Wesley Ellul

    Wesley Ellul, President and Head of Strategy of Technotainment talks about the intersection of entertainment and technology - blockchain technology

    32 min

  3. 12/19/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 60: Dominik Schmid

    Dominick Schmidt, Polygon Miden - Scaling Privacy with Zero-Knowledge Proofs: Polygon Miden’s Approach Dominik Schmidt, co-founder of Polygon Miden, believes that privacy is both a human right and a practical necessity for scaling blockchain technology. Speaking at the DCC Shielding Summit, Schmidt outlined how zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) allow users to execute transactions privately while improving scalability. "With ZKPs, transaction data remains private, and the blockchain tracks only a commitment," Schmidt explained. This approach not only enhances privacy but also enables parallel transaction execution, significantly increasing throughput. Schmidt acknowledged the challenges of usability, particularly as users must now manage their own data. To address this, Polygon Miden is developing decentralized storage solutions and refining developer tools, such as a Rust compiler for easier smart contract creation. Citing regulatory interest, Schmidt noted that privacy-preserving technologies are increasingly viewed as essential for large-scale applications, including central bank digital currencies. "Current solutions are not sufficient, privacy-wise or scalability-wise," he said. Polygon Miden’s focus on privacy, scalability, and user-friendly tools positions it as a leader in next-generation blockchain innovation.

    8 min

  4. 12/14/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 64: Lasha Antadze

    Lasha Antadze, founder of Rarimo - Verifiable Anonymity for Everyday Use: Rarimo’s Identity Innovation Lasha Antadze, founder of Rarimo, showcased how zero-knowledge identity systems can transform privacy during his talk at the DCC Shielding Summit. "We focus on verifiable anonymity—proving who you are without revealing more than necessary," he explained. Rarimo’s technology allows users to tap their passport on a phone to securely verify attributes like age, citizenship, or uniqueness without exposing personal data. This approach has already been implemented in real-world use cases, including a voting application with 60,000 participants, many of whom were non-crypto users. Antadze highlighted the importance of intuitive user experiences in driving adoption. Rarimo abstracts blockchain complexity, making it simple for users to interact with privacy-focused applications. "The goal is to make privacy effortless for everyone," he said. Looking ahead, Rarimo aims to expand its work into governance and decentralized social applications, ensuring privacy remains central as digital systems evolve.

    7 min

  5. 12/14/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 63: Mark Bungard

    Mark Bungard, head of Product Partisia - Privacy and Transparency in Action: Partisia’s Real-World Use Cases Mark Bungard, Head of Product at Partisia, highlighted the transformative potential of combining privacy and transparency during his talk at the DCC Shielding Summit. "For privacy to be real, you also need transparency," he explained, emphasizing the balance between protecting sensitive data and enabling auditability. Partisia’s solutions are already making an impact in healthcare and identity management. In Denmark, the company’s multi-party computation (MPC) technology allows encrypted healthcare data to be analyzed securely, unlocking valuable insights without exposing sensitive information. Bungard also discussed the potential of blockchain-based identity systems. These enable individuals to prove key attributes, like citizenship or student status, without revealing unnecessary personal details. "Selective disclosure allows users to share only what’s needed, protecting their privacy while ensuring trust," he noted. Through practical applications and privacy-first innovation, Partisia is setting a strong precedent for the future of secure data management.

    7 min

  6. 12/12/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 62: Yannik Schrade

    Yannik Schrade, CEO of Arcium - Unlocking Confidential Computing: Arcium’s Push for Privacy and Usability Schrade described decentralized confidential computing as the "missing link for distributed systems" during his talk at the DCC Shielding Summit. Schrade emphasized that confidentiality is essential for unlocking advanced use cases, including confidential AI and DeFi, while ensuring sensitive data remains protected. Arcium focuses on eliminating usability barriers, ensuring that both developers and end users can access privacy technologies effortlessly. "The end user should never notice they are using confidential computing technology," Schrade noted, emphasizing low latency and seamless integration as key goals. Schrade also highlighted a recent milestone: Arcium’s acquisition of a leading Web2 confidential computing company. By integrating its technology and open-sourcing previously proprietary patents, Arcium is bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3. With its focus on usability, scalability, and innovation, Arcium is setting a new standard for privacy-enhanced applications across industries.

    10 min

  7. 12/12/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 61: Martin Leclerc

    Martin Leclerc Dev Rel for iEXEC - Simplifying Privacy Through Confidential Computing: iExec’s Mission Martin Leclerc, Developer Relations at iEXEC, emphasized the importance of making privacy-enhancing technologies both accessible and secure during his talk at the DCC Shielding Summit. "Privacy must be built by design and be user-friendly to ensure trust," he noted. iEXEC focuses on confidential computing, enabling users and developers to retain full control of their data. Leclerc highlighted how hardware advancements, such as Intel’s upcoming TDX chips, are improving the usability of privacy-preserving solutions. These advancements reduce complexity, making it easier for developers to integrate privacy technologies seamlessly. Leclerc also called for collaboration between privacy tech providers and regulators, noting that "working with compliance entities like GDPR and MiCA is essential for mass adoption." He advocated for hybrid approaches that combine secure enclaves, multi-party computation, and zero-knowledge proofs for enhanced security and usability. By simplifying complex systems and fostering cooperation, iEXEC is driving the evolution of privacy technologies toward broader adoption.

    9 min

  8. 12/12/2024

    Blockleaders Podcast 59: Jovonni Smith Martinez

    Jovonni Martinez, Agoric - Bridging Security and Accessibility: Agoric’s Developer-Focused Approach Jovonni Martinez, Developer Relations Engineer at Agoric, views the balance between security and usability as key to blockchain adoption. Martinez highlighted Agoric’s unique approach: leveraging JavaScript-based smart contracts to make privacy-preserving technologies more accessible to developers. "Developers shouldn’t need to become cryptography experts to build secure applications," Martinez explained. Agoric’s system allows for asynchronous execution and integration of AI capabilities, simplifying the development process while ensuring robust security. Martinez emphasized the importance of collaboration with regulatory bodies, noting that compliance must be a priority for the industry to achieve mass adoption. "We love the Cypherpunk ideology, but to be taken seriously, we have to work with nation-states and regulators," he said. Through innovative tools and a focus on developer empowerment, Agoric is advancing privacy-first solutions without sacrificing usability, paving the way for broader blockchain integration.

    12 min
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About

Blockleaders.io editors Jillian Godsil and Lisa Gibbons speak to leaders, innovators and organisers in the web3 space covering topics from web3 gaming to decentralized finance to web3 events.

Information

  • Creator
    Blockleaders
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Blockleaders
  • Show Website
    Blockleaders Podcast