Layer One

The Block
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The Layer One podcast, created in collaboration with Avalanche, features co-hosts Kelvin Sparks and John Wu as they unpack the real forces driving the crypto market forward. Through candid conversations with the industry’s true movers and shakers, the show delivers clear, grounded insights that cut through the noise.

  1. 5 hr ago

    Stani Kulechov on Aave V4, Avalanche, and why RWAs will hit $100 billion this year

    In Episode 17 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and Ava Labs President John Wu were joined by Aave Labs Founder Stani Kulechov, who explained how the protocol that processed over $3 trillion in deposits is pointing its infrastructure at tokenized real-world assets — starting with Aave V4's first non-Ethereum deployment on Avalanche and the Horizon securities market. He also breaks down GHO, the forthcoming consumer Aave App, and why he thinks RWAs will double to $100 billion by the end of 2026.  OUTLINE00:00 - Introductions03:15 - Aave by the Numbers04:50 - V4 and Horizon06:26 - The Great Convergence11:11 - Why Avalanche18:19 - Killing the Prime Broker24:39 - Walled Gardens32:33 - The GHO Engine37:18 - The Aave App44:23 - $100B by 2026 Guest links:Stani Kulechov - x.com/StaniKulechovAave - x.com/Aave Host links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  2. 6 days ago

    Why this Wall Street veteran is betting on Avalanche

    In Episode 16 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks is joined by Avalanche Treasury Company CEO Bart Smith. Bart explained the thesis behind treasury companies as a way to get regulated, permanent-capital exposure to AVAX and the Avalanche ecosystem. He also covers his Wall Street/ETF background, why real-world-asset tokenization needs "productive" assets to matter, and why he thinks crypto's investment thesis is stronger than ever. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:22 - What Is AVAT?03:59 - Wall Street Roots & Crypto's Rise06:19 - The Bitcoin ETF Bet08:58 - Hiring a COO11:13 - Why Own AVAT?15:56 - Scaling Avalanche & RWAs22:54 - DeFi, TradFi & AI Fears33:03 - Policy Risks & RWA Forecast40:08 - Closing Thoughts Guest links:Bart Smith - https://twitter.com/gbartsmithAVAT - https://twitter.com/avat_co Host links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  3. 11 Jun

    Blockchain Capital’s Contrarian Bet on Crypto’s Next Decade

    In Episode 15 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Blockchain Capital General Partner Spencer Bogart. The conversation explores stablecoins, prediction markets, token value accrual, privacy, public versus private blockchains and why the most valuable crypto applications of the future may not even exist today. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction02:01 - Things That Don't Exist05:25 - Token Buybacks09:11 - Privacy Challenge11:06 - Regulation vs Privacy12:17 - Value Accrual Debate13:59 - Public vs Private Chains17:43 - The Great Repricing20:42 - Stablecoin Adoption28:06 - Prediction Markets45:18 - Crypto's Next Opportunity Guest links:Spencer Bogart - https://x.com/CremeDeLaCryptoBlockchain Capital - https://x.com/bcap Host links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters! 🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market Insights Subscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  4. 28 May

    Stablecoins Are Creating a New Financial System

    In Episode 14 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by OpenTrade CEO David Sutter and Mercury Partner Samantha Lewis to break down the rapid growth of stablecoins and why yield infrastructure could become one of the most important layers of the onchain financial economy. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:26 - Bitcoin Origins02:46 - Mercury’s Thesis06:09 - Stablecoins Win08:47 - Yield Infrastructure11:58 - OpenTrade’s Model20:59 - Stablecoin Adoption31:32 - Clarity Act38:07 - AI and Blockchain51:46 - Bear Market Builders55:31 - Closing Thoughts Guest links:David Sutter - https://x.com/btc_daveSamantha Lewis - https://x.com/sjolewisOpenTrade - https://x.com/opentrade_ioMercury - https://x.com/mercuryfund Host links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  5. 11 May

    Dinari’s Anna Wroblewska on Bringing US Stocks Onchain

    In Episode 13 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Anna Wroblewska, Chief Business Officer at Dinari, to break down how tokenized equities are expanding access to U.S. capital markets globally. She explains Dinari’s custodial model, how liquidity is sourced across traditional and onchain markets, and why infrastructure, not speculation, is the real unlock. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:32 - What Dinari Is03:21 - Institutions Arrive06:01 - Tokenized Trades08:38 - 24/7 Markets13:24 - Why B2B Rails16:18 - Regulation and Access24:31 - Global Investor Demand30:29 - S&P Digital Index47:54 - DeFi and Collateral Guest links:Anna Wroblewska - https://x.com/annabelleactaDinari - https://x.com/DinariGlobal Host links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  6. 29 Apr

    How Tassat and Lynq Are Rebuilding Financial Infrastructure

    After appearing in recent episodes, Ava Labs President John Wu officially joins Layer One as co-host. 🥳 In Episode 12, he joins Kelvin Sparks alongside Andre Frank, COO of Tassat, and Jerald David, CEO of Lynq, to discuss how Tassat and Lynq are rebuilding financial infrastructure with real-time settlement and yield-bearing assets on Avalanche. The conversation covers the shift from legacy banking rails to always-on blockchain systems, capital efficiency through “yield in transit,” and the growing demand from institutions for compliant, risk-managed solutions. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:38 - Tassat Background03:37 - What Lynq Is05:55 - Episode Overview06:42 - Avalanche Migration08:48 - Why Avalanche10:57 - Institutional Adoption17:15 - Regulation and Compliance25:23 - Yield in Transit36:59 - Real-World Use Cases Guest links:Andre Frank -    / andre-frank  Tassat - https://x.com/tassatgroupJerald David -   / jerald-david  Lynq - https://x.com/Lynq_Network Host links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabsAvalanche - https://x.com/avax --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  7. 20 Apr

    Inside Bitwise’s Avalanche ETP and Institutional Strategy with Matt Hougan

    In Episode 11 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and special co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, to discuss the launch of the Avalanche ETP and how institutional investors are approaching crypto exposure. He breaks down the rapid expansion of tokenized real-world assets, the role of ETFs in onboarding capital, and why this cycle may differ from previous ones. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:40 - Avalanche ETP Overview02:45 - ETF Differentiation04:34 - Staking and Yield06:19 - Institutional Strategy09:04 - Competing L1 Models14:22 - Bitcoin Price Thesis18:49 - Dual Market Narratives21:57 - Institutional Capital Flows30:02 - AI and Crypto Future Guest links:Matt Hougan - https://x.com/Matt_HouganBitwise - https://x.com/BitwiseAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs Host links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

  8. 2 Apr

    How Securitize is working with NYSE to bring equities onchain

    In Episode 10 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and special co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize, to discuss the rapid rise of tokenized financial assets and what it takes to bring them into regulated markets. The conversation also covers regulatory clarity, BlackRock’s role in accelerating the space, and how tokenized assets will reshape capital markets over the next decade. OUTLINE00:00 - Intro00:52 - Background and Origins01:45 - First Tokenized Securities Trade03:30 - Early Institutional Adoption04:36 - NYSE Tokenization Partnership07:05 - Why Public Equities First09:57 - From Why to What11:10 - Why Avalanche Was Chosen12:48 - Compliance and Settlement17:15 - What Drove Adoption Guest links:Carlos Domingo - https://x.com/carlosdomingoSecuritize - https://x.com/SecuritizeJohn Wu - https://x.com/John1wuAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs Host links:Steven Gates - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/stvngts⁠⁠⁠Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teams Start your free trial today👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

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About

The Layer One podcast, created in collaboration with Avalanche, features co-hosts Kelvin Sparks and John Wu as they unpack the real forces driving the crypto market forward. Through candid conversations with the industry’s true movers and shakers, the show delivers clear, grounded insights that cut through the noise.

Information

  • Creator
    The Block
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Block
  • Show Website
    Layer One

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