Crypto Token Talk Kelley Weaver: Blockchain, bitcoin, and cryptocurrency podcaster

In today’s episode, Nikki Del Principe is joined by guests Evan Shapiro and Izaak Meckler. CEO Evan and CTO Izaak are both Co-Founders of O(1) Labs, the team behind Mina. 
Mina (formerly Coda Protocol), the world's lightest blockchain powered by participants, deploys recursive zk-SNARKs to ensure the blockchain remains the same size—22 kb—enabling anyone to sync the chain in seconds, ushering in a new era of blockchain accessibility.
We hear how Evan and Izaak became interested in cryptocurrency and the technology behind it in high school and collaborated together on coding projects before bringing O(1) Labs to life. We learn about the transformation of the Coda Protocol to Mina and the importance of community input on the project. Evan and Izaak hope to solve the problems inherent to today’s internet and bring back creative expression through providing developers with the foundation and tooling they need to build Snapps, verifiable SNARK-powered smart contracts. They take us through the technology behind Mina and end the episode by discussing their predictions for the crypto sphere.
Topics covered:
- How Evan and Izaak became involved in cryptocurrency
- Creating O(1) Labs to solve the architectural issues of the crypto space
- The technological and societal impacts of crypto
- The transformation of Coda to Mina
- Formulating Mina's core values
- What it means to be the world’s lightest blockchain-powered by participants
- How Evan and Izaak aim to address the issues of today’s internet with Mina
- Shoutout to the Mina community
- Mina's implementation of Snapps
- The importance of verifiability and transparency
- Predictions for the crypto sphere in 2020 and beyond
Links to Resources:
Mina: https://minaprotocol.com/
Mina on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MinaProtocol
Mina on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/RDQc43H
Join Genesis program: https://minaprotocol.com/genesis
 

In today’s episode, Nikki Del Principe is joined by Tram Vo. Tram is Founder and COO of MOBI (Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative), a company dedicated to improving and supporting the development of an efficient digital, multi-sided mobility marketplace.
With a varied background in academics and non-profit, Tram came to blockchain in 2015 when she and her husband began to consider the possibilities of tracking and tracing using the nascent technology. In 2018, MOBI was founded and Tram began her mission to build the new economy of movement while utilizing blockchain to create greener cities.
We hear how Tram left her position at the Getty Conservation Institute to create MOBI and the company’s mission to establish standards for the mobility space. We learn how blockchain, along with a convergence of other technologies, can create security for data and the importance of seamless background processes. Tram goes on to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the digitization of cities and how MOBI is contributing to the mitigation of carbon emissions in mobility.
Topics covered:
- How Tram’s varied background led her to the blockchain space
- The importance of tracking and tracing
- Building the new economy of movement and what that means
- Creating standards for a decentralized mobility ecosystem
- How a convergence of technologies, including blockchain and AI, can create more secure systems
- Impacts of COVID-19 on cities now and in the future
- Increasing digitization and smart contracts post-COVID
- How MOBI hopes to help mitigate carbon emissions in mobility
- Explaining the importance of digital ID for an effective mobility system
- What is on the horizon for MOBI
- Tram’s predictions for the future of blockchain and crypto
Links to Resources:
MOBI: https://dlt.mobi
Tram on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tram-vo-6abba310/

In today’s episode Kelley Weaver is joined by Carol Van Cleef, Founder and CEO of Luminous Group and pioneer in legal issues involving cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Additionally, she is Chair of the Blockchain and Digital Assets practice with Bradley, based in Washington, D.C.
With Luminous Group, Carol offers general blockchain consulting with a speciality in compliance. As a certified AML specialist, Carol’s expertise is invaluable to her clients, which include banks, securities firms, and money services businesses.
We hear how Carol entered the cryptocurrency market and her 20-year experience working with alternative payment systems. She discusses the modernization efforts in the banking industry and the hurdles it faces. Carol goes on to take us through what she believes have been the pivotal regulatory advancements in the crypto space and the biggest setbacks. Wrapping up the episode, Carol tells us what she is excited about in regulatory advancements and the new wave of crypto adopters.
Topics covered:
- How Carol began her career in blockchain
- What excites Carol about cryptocurrency and blockchain
- Modernization of the banking industry and the hurdles it has faced
- The services provided by Luminous Group
- Overcoming negativity towards the industry as an early adopter
- Why criminals are often early adopters on new payment systems
- Pivotal regulatory moments
- How the introduction of the BitLicense in NYC impacted the space
- The tension between regulators and wanted anonymity of crypto users
- Future regulatory changes
- The new wave of crypto adopters
Links to Resources:
Luminous Group: https://luminousgroup.io
Carol at Bradley: https://www.bradley.com/people/v/van-cleef-carol-r

In today’s episode, Kelley Weaver is joined by Sunayna Tuteja, Head of Digital Assets at TD Ameritrade. Sunayna begins by telling us her background in finance and how she ended up in the cryptocurrency sector.
TD Ameritrade aims to aid clients with adoption of cryptocurrency and lead the industry in technological innovations. We hear how Sunayna joined TD Ameritrade to spearhead their digital transformation while looking at emerging technology to continually add value for customers and the company. We learn how client demand drives adoption of crypto and blockchain technology. Sunayna takes us through the company’s three-pronged approach to services, partnerships, and education and how every aspect is tailored to the TD Ameritrade's core clientele. Sunayna wraps up the episode by discussing custody solutions and what she is excited about for the future of crypto and blockchain technologies.
Topics covered:
- What got Sunayna into crypto
- TD Ameritrade’s background in innovation within the financial sector
- Why commercializing next-gen tech along with current solutions drives growth
- The importance of delivering value to customers and the company
- Creating a dedicated digital asset and DLT practice
- How client demand drove adoption of digital assets at TD Ameritrade
- The impact of May Day on the financial sector
- Utilizing lessons from the May Day rule changes for current adoption strategies
- TD Ameritrade’s three-pronged approach
- The necessity of scalability in any process
- Empowerment and safety of the consumer through education
- Solving the issue of custody through choices
- The future of the cryptocurrency industry
Links to Resources:
TD Ameritrade: https://www.tdameritrade.com/
TD Ameritrade on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TDAmeritrade
Sunayna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunaynatuteja
Sunayna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunayna
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Today, guest host Nikki Del Principe is joined by Dave Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace. Dave begins by telling us how he first discovered crypto in 1999 when he got involved in the Cypherpunk movement and how that led him to become a founder of CipherTrace. The goal of CipherTrace is to make cryptocurrencies globally available and safe for everyone, including banks and other financial institutions. CipherTrace provides services to crypto exchanges to ensure that their customers are not using their platforms to launder money or engage in other criminal activities.
CipherTrace recently launched a Central Bank Digital Currency Initiative, and Dave discusses the initiative's prioritization of security, privacy, and compliance. When it comes to mass adoption of digital currencies, Dave emphasizes the need for a contactless solution, such as debit cards, that doesn't require a smart phone with internet connectivity to use. Summarizing the findings from CipherTrace's Spring 2020 Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report, Dave conveys that the cryptocurrency space is much more safe now than it was in the past. CipherTrace has been participating in regular meetings with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and Dave provides an overview of the FATF's proposed Travel Rule guidelines that may go into effect for cryptocurrency transactions this June.
Dave predicts that this year we will see more large banks supporting cryptocurrency businesses, which is encouraging for mass adoption. He also believes debit and credit cards that allow users to spend cryptocurrencies are on the rise. Finally, Dave debunks the myth that blockchain analytics involves spying on people when the reality is blockchain analytics helps keep the cryptocurrency ecosystem safe.
Topics covered:
- What got Dave interested in cryptocurrency
- Overview of CipherTrace's services
- CipherTrace's Central Bank Digital Currency Initiative
- Technical hurdles to crypto implementation and mass adoption
- How COVID-19 has influenced adoption rates
- What has happened in 2020 regarding crypto crime so far
- Ensuring industry compliance with regulations
- The necessity of pushing technology to catch up to compliance standards
- Predictions about adoption and the need for wider consumer accessibility
- Making easier onramps into the crypto space to facilitate adoption
- Blockchain analytics and privacy: why you don’t need to worry
Links to Resources:
CipherTrace website: https://ciphertrace.com/
CipherTrace blog: https://ciphertrace.com/blog/
CipherTrace Spring 2020 Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Report: https://ciphertrace.com/spring-2020-cryptocurrency-anti-money-laundering-report/
TRISA website: https://trisa.io/

Today we’re joined by three very talented ladies from Hercode: Nicky Campa, Avalon Barrie, and Heidi Pease. The three begin by telling us their backgrounds and what led to their involvement in the blockchain industry, each bringing unique qualities and experiences to the team.
Hercode is an initiative within LA Blockchain Lab that focuses on women and diversity in the blockchain space. Over the past year, Hercode has worked with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering to provide courses to teachers in Afghanistan so that they will be equipped to educate young girls about blockchain technology and coding in Solidity. Another program launched by Hercode focuses on educating high school girls in Los Angeles about blockchain. 
As difficult as the coronavirus pandemic has been, it has made the Hercode team realize the importance of online education, which is an area they are now focusing on closely. Nicky, Avalon, and Heidi speak to what can come from educating women worldwide on emerging technologies and their excitement to move forward with their vision. They also believe that the pandemic can allow people to recognize the incredible value of blockchain technology, especially as the need for verification and trust becomes that much more pronounced.
Overall, Hercode believes strongly that where you live or your gender should not limit your access to education, and the team hopes to close the gender gap when it comes to participation in the current technological transformation.
Topics covered:
- What our three guests were doing before discovering crypto
- Heidi's journey founding LA Blockchain Lab
- Giving women all over the world the opportunity to learn about blockchain
- The initiatives that Hercode is driving
- Working with partner schools in the Los Angeles area
- Closing the gender gap in the blockchain industry
- Dealing with the global COVID-19 pandemic
- Thinking more strategically to give a quality education to everyone
- Problems in other countries that are not seen in the United States
- Blockchain use cases envisioned by students in Afghanistan
Links to Resources:
LA Blockchain Lab Website: https://www.lablockchainlab.org/
LA Blockchain Lab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lablockchainlab
Hercode Website: https://www.lablockchainlab.org/hercode
Hercode on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hercodeglobal
Hercode on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hercodeglobal/