Bell Curve Blockworks

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of ZK accounts and their potential. Uma, Zaki, and John, unpack ZK accounts, the trade-offs involved in design decisions, and the political landscape. We explore how ZK accounts enable trustless interoperability, enhance scalability, and unlock a dimension for dApps. The conversation also touches upon the convergence of blockchain design and the shift from infrastructure development to application-focused innovation, as ZK technology becomes more accessible and user-friendly.
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Follow John: https://x.com/jadler0
Follow Zaki: https://x.com/zmanian
Follow Uma: https://x.com/pumatheuma
Follow Rex: https://x.com/LogarithmicRex
Follow nosleepjon: https://x.com/nosleepjon
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Join us at Permissionless III. Use code EXPANSION10 for a 10% discount: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iii
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:11) ZK Accounts Overview
(10:26) Why ZK?
(18:05) Permissionless III Ad
(19:25) Trade-offs of Design Decisions
(31:36) What ZK Accounts Unlock
(42:22) Endgame Convergence
(50:37) ZK Application Unlock
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, we discuss FOMC, previous rate cutting cycles over the years, and if the FED will cut rates prior to the presidential election. We also breakdown the differing approaches blockchains take when dealing with MEV, and the ways networks and applications can monetize. Finally, we dive into how Trump’s stance towards crypto has affected regulatory policy.

Thanks for tuning in!
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Namada is the shielded asset hub rewarding you to protect the multichain. Enabling data protection for any existing asset, app, or chain, Namada introduces shielded cross-chain actions and rewards for shielding your assets, which strengthens data protection guarantees for everyone.

Namada is currently in its mainnet launch phase — follow along on namada.net
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Join us at Permissionless III. Use code BELL10 for a 10% discount: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-iii
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Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson
Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9
Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD
Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH- -

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction
(2:34) Discussing FOMC and Economic Data
(14:08) The Discrepancy Between Economic Data and Public Perception
(16:10) Nomada Ad
(17:09) Rate Cutting Cycles
(22:20) Will the Fed Make Changes Before the Election?
(24:43) Solana's Approach to Dealing With MEV
(32:22) How Decentralized Networks Monetize
(43:18) Ethereum's Scaling Roadmap
(48:32) Trump's Effect on Crypto Policy
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve 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. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, Ludwig from Sorella Labs and Muto from Ethos, two AVS builders, join to discuss the potential of restaked ETH and attributable security to revolutionize DeFi. They dive into how AVSs offer a scalable alternative to rollups by leveraging restaking to enable customizable off-chain execution while preserving the benefits of shared L1 liquidity. The discussion covers topics like preconfirmations, MEV, quorum design, costs of security, and Eigen Layer's role in enabling this new design space. Ludwig and Muto provide insights into how AVSs will unlock powerful new applications and impact the future of crypto. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Ludwig: https://x.com/0xvanbeethoven
Follow Muto: https://x.com/0xMuto
Follow Myles: https://x.com/MylesOneil
Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9
Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD
Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH- -
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Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more
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Kinto is the Safety-first L2 designed to accelerate the transition to an on-chain financial system.

If you believe in this on-chain financial system, join Kinto's launch program (Engen) and become a founding member at engen.kinto.xyz
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction
(2:52) AVS Demand Side
(15:14) Unlocking a New Design Space with Restaking
(23:34) Sei Ad
(24:34) Kinto Ad
(25:28) Ethereum Alignment
(31:24) AVS Branding
(37:57) Quorum Design
(45:58) Using an AVS vs a Rollup
(52:10) AVS Costs
(1:03:33) How AVS' Will Impact Applications
(1:13:25) Interview Reflection
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve 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. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this jam-packed episode, we dive into Starkware's million dollar initiative to scale Bitcoin with ZK tech, debate the implications of looming ETH ETF approvals, and discuss how the largest rate cutting cycle of our lifetimes could supercharge crypto. We also break down Coinbase's new Web3 wallet, the convergence of crypto infrastructure, and why Bitcoin DeFi faces an uphill adoption battle. Thanks for tuning in!
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Sei Labs believes the EVM is here to stay.

By providing the fastest time to finality of any chain, thousands of transactions per second and full backwards compatibility with the EVM, Ethereum developers can try out a brand new design space for their applications.

Try out sei v2 devnet - visit the new sei.io to find out more
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Follow Mike: https://twitter.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Michael: https://twitter.com/im_manderson
Follow Vance: https://twitter.com/pythianism

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9
Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD
Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Resources
OTM Clip
https://x.com/fejau_inc/status/1798366477479034988
Coinbase smart wallet
https://x.com/WatcherGuru/status/1798366017443557430
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction
(1:12) Crypto's Partisan Momentm
(6:14) Trading the Ethereum ETF
(16:01) Sei Ad
(17:01) Largest Rate Cut of Our Lifetime
(28:50) Starkware Scaling BTC With ZK
(35:50) Converging Architecture
(44:13) Coinbase Smart Wallet
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Bell Curve 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. Mike, Jason, Michael, Vance and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.tt and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this special episode, the Jason and Mike announce the launch of Expansion, a new Blockworks podcast focusing on the modular blockchain ecosystem. Expansion hosts Rex and NoSleepJon aim to explore the modular design concepts and architectural principles in the blockchain space. They highlight the benefits and challenges of modularity, the cultural and technical aspects, and how this new ecosystem is poised to disrupt existing technologies. Thanks for tuning in!
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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1

Follow Zon: https://x.com/ItsAlwaysZonny
Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD
Follow Rex: https://x.com/LogarithmicRex
Follow nosleepjon: https://x.com/nosleepjon
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction
(05:07) Modularity in Crypto
(18:50) Sovereignty & ZK with Modularity
(25:30) Value Accrual in Crypto
(35:11) Surviving Fragmentation
(43:23) Modularity Ecosystem Competition
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.

Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

In this episode, Keone from Monad and Zon from Initia to discuss the spectrum between modular and integrated blockchain designs. They explore the tradeoffs in decentralization, performance and scalability between the two approaches. They explore AppChains, rollups, composability challenges in modular systems, EVM compatibility, and when to scale blockchains horizontally vs vertically. To close out Keone and Zon also share valuable insights on building Web3 communities organically. Thanks for tuning in!
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Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1

Follow Zon: https://x.com/ItsAlwaysZonny
Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD
Follow Rex: https://x.com/LogarithmicRex
Follow nosleepjon: https://x.com/nosleepjon
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_

Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:01) Modular vs Integrated
(11:24) Who are Appchains for?
(28:35) Composability in Modular World
(35:52) Monad's Endgame
(39:24) Importance of Decentralization
(47:42) Building Web3 Community
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.

Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.