The Canonical Pod

Brad Bachu and Fahad Saleh

The Canonical Pod is a podcast that analyzes contemporary events in cryptoeconomics with a rigorous research angle. Each episode features a guest with insight on a recent crypto development. We discuss the implications of each development as understood by the most recent research. Our first season of guests include Ethereum Foundation Research Co-Head Barnabé Monnot, leading Crypto-lawyer Lewis Cohen and Circle Chief Economist Gordon Liao. The Canonical Pod is co-hosted by finance professor Fahad Saleh and Uniswap Labs Senior Research Scientist Brad Bachu.

Episodes

  1. 12/18/2025

    How Ethereum is Made| Andrea Canidio, Senior Research Economist @ CoW Protocol

    SummaryIn this conversation, Andrea Canidio, a senior research economist, discusses his research on Ethereum, focusing on transaction inclusion, the impact of EIP 1559, and the role of builders and private mempools in the Ethereum ecosystem. He highlights the complexities of transaction delays, the implications of exclusive transactions, and the challenges to user experience in Ethereum. The conversation also touches on future research directions and the importance of understanding the dynamics of transaction processing in blockchain technology.

    1h 7m

  2. 12/18/2025

    The Future of Blockchain Payments | Mallesh Pai, Research @ Tempo

    SummaryIn this conversation, Malesh Pai discusses his role at Tempo, a new layer one blockchain focused on optimizing payments. He highlights the challenges faced by existing blockchains in facilitating payments, emphasizing the need for better user experience and adoption strategies. Malesh explains the technical innovations Tempo brings to the table, including features that simplify transactions and enhance interoperability among stablecoins. He also addresses regulatory and legal considerations that impact blockchain payments and shares insights on Tempo's market strategy and future growth potential.

    1 hr

  3. 12/18/2025

    Trusted Execution Environments and BuilderNet | Quintus, Researcher @ Flashbots

    SummaryThis conversation delves into the intricacies of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), exploring their role as security primitives that ensure computations are performed correctly and confidentially. The discussion highlights the challenges posed by both software and physical adversaries, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality and integrity in TEE design. The speakers also address the gap between academic research and commercial implementations, as well as the future of hardware security innovations. In this conversation, Quintus discusses the evolution of security in blockchain technology, focusing on the role of hardware solutions like Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and the introduction of BuilderNet by Flashbots. The discussion covers the implications of recent TEE attacks, the mechanics of BuilderNet, and the broader vision of Flashbots in enhancing transaction assurance and decentralization in the crypto space. Quintus emphasizes the importance of balancing security, economic incentives, and user trust in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.

    1h 56m

  4. 12/18/2025

    Solana versus Ethereum | Max Resnick, Chief Economist @ Anza

    SummaryIn this conversation, Max Resnick, the chief economist at Anza, discusses the complexities of crypto research, the differences between Ethereum and Solana, and the challenges faced by academics in communicating their findings to industry practitioners. They explore execution and consensus mechanisms, the disconnect between engineers and researchers, and the future of Solana's protocol improvements. In this conversation, Max Resnick discusses the evolution of Ethereum protocols, focusing on the Goldfish and Alpenglow protocols, their safety and efficiency. He contrasts the data dissemination methods of Solana and Ethereum, highlighting the advantages of Solana's approach. The discussion also covers hardware requirements for running nodes, execution efficiency, and how to measure success in the crypto ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of user experience and infrastructure metrics. In this conversation, Max Resnick discusses the unique aspects of Solana's blockchain, particularly its account structure and token deployment processes. He contrasts these features with Ethereum, highlighting the advantages of Solana in terms of speed, efficiency, and user experience. Max shares his personal journey from Ethereum to Solana, emphasizing his desire to focus on technical challenges rather than governance issues. The discussion also touches on the importance of onboarding experiences for users and the overall ecosystem dynamics that influence developer choices.

    1h 42m

  5. 09/28/2025

    Exploring the Arbitrum Ecosystem| Akaki Mamageishvili, Research Scientist at Offchain Labs

    In this episode, Akaki Mamageishvili from Off-Chain Labs discusses the relationship between Off-Chain Labs and Arbitrum, the governance structure of the Arbitrum DAO, and the various components of the Arbitrum ecosystem. He explains the significance of Layer 3 chains, interoperability, and the complexities of gas pricing mechanisms. The introduction of Time Boost is highlighted as a new feature aimed at improving transaction efficiency. Akaki also shares insights on the future of Layer 1s, the priorities of Off-Chain Labs, and the potential impact of new developments in the blockchain space.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Offchain Labs and Arbitrum00:57 Governance and Management of Arbitrum by DAO06:01 Exploring the Arbitrum Ecosystem10:48 Understanding Layer 3 and Arbitrum Orbit16:14 Interoperability in the Arbitrum Ecosystem18:24 Gas Pricing Mechanisms in Layer 2 and Layer 327:57 Optimistic Rollups vs. Validity Rollups30:52 Integrating ZK Proofs in Dispute Resolution33:17 Multi-Dimensional Gas Pricing Explained40:15 Understanding Time Boost Mechanism52:14 The Rise of New Layer Ones59:28 Current Priorities of Off-Chain Labs

    1h 5m

  6. 09/17/2025

    Smart Wallets and Account Abstraction| Kofi, Senior Data Scientist @ Base

    In this conversation, Kofi, a senior data scientist at Base, discusses the evolution and functionality of smart wallets, particularly focusing on the ERC4337 standard and EIP 7702. He explains the advantages of smart wallets over traditional EOAs, including enhanced security, gas abstraction, and improved user experience. Kofi also addresses the challenges of adoption, the role of bundlers, and the implications of recent developments in the crypto space, including the rise of applications like World App and the unfortunate exploitation of the technology by malicious actors.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Kofi and His Background02:57 Understanding Smart Wallets08:44 Barriers to Smart Wallet Adoption12:55 Evolution of Smart Wallets Pre-202319:50 The Impact of ERC4337 on Smart Wallets29:52 Bundlers and Their Role in the Ecosystem39:59 Economies of Scale in Blockchain Transactions42:23 Understanding EIP 7702 and Smart Contracts49:40 The Implications of Upgrading EOAs to Smart Contracts52:29 Account Abstraction: Redefining User Experience in Crypto01:06:17 The Dark Side: Crime Enjoyer and Smart Contract Exploits01:07:30 World App: A Legitimate Use Case for Smart Accounts01:11:58 Barriers to Adoption: Why Smart Wallets Aren't Mainstream Yet

    1h 19m

  7. 09/05/2025

    Stablecoins and Circle's new L1 | Gordon Liao, Chief Economist at Circle

    In this episode of the Canonical Pod, Fahad Saleh and Brad Bachu welcome Gordon Liao, Chief Economist at Circle. The conversation spans both stablecoins and Circle’s new Layer-1 blockchain, Arc, focusing especially on how stablecoins and Arc may move cryptofinance closer to mainstream adoption. The conversation begins with stablecoins, covering current use cases, the implications of recent regulatory developments (e.g., the Genius Act) and also the path to mainstream adoption. Thereafter, the conversation turns to Circle's new Layer-1 blockchain, Arc. Gordon particularly explains the technical design of Arc, highlighting three key differentiating factors and their economic significance.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Gordon Liao and His Background06:50 The Evolution and Future of Stablecoins13:27 Current Use Cases and Regulatory Landscape of Stablecoins18:47 The Impact of the Genius Act on Stablecoins24:01 Tokenization of Real-World Assets and Future Applications28:43 The Landscape of Stablecoins and Innovations Ahead35:18 The Role Local Stablecoins35:29 Introduction to Arc and Its Purpose36:21 Understanding Arc's Layer One Structure38:23 Adoption Challenges and Solutions in Blockchain40:38 Settlement Finality and Institutional Trust44:21 Governance and Validator Selection in Arc45:27 Why Build an L1 Instead of an L2?49:23 Privacy Features in Arc55:48 Regulatory Compliance and Privacy Concerns57:43 Censorship and Compliance Mechanisms01:01:59 Interoperability with Other Blockchains01:03:50 The Meaning Behind the Name 'Arc''

    1h 5m

  8. 09/02/2025

    Navigating the Complexities of US Crypto Legislation | Lewis Cohen, NYC Crypto Lawyer

    Summary In this episode of the Canonical Pod, hosts Fahad Saleh and Brad Bachu engage with Lewis Cohen, a prominent crypto lawyer, to discuss the evolving landscape of crypto legislation in the United States. The conversation delves into the complexities of the market structure legislation currently being deliberated in Congress, The conversation especially provides insight regarding the Clarity Act (passed by the House of Representatives in July 2025), and contrasts it with the Senate's approach. Beyond discussing active legislation, the conversation provides various background content including the transition from state to federal regulation, the role of the SEC, and the implications of maturity and decentralization in crypto assets. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Crypto Legislation and Guest Introduction 02:35 Understanding Market Structure Legislation 06:46 Transition from State to Federal Regulation 11:25 The Role of the SEC in Crypto Regulation 13:14 Overview of the Clarity Act 19:48 House vs. Senate Approaches to Regulation 24:07 Defining Digital Assets and Securities 26:56 Understanding Layer Two and Digital Commodities 31:44 The Clarity Act: Definitions and Regulations 38:06 Maturity vs. Decentralization in Blockchain 46:42 Final Thoughts on Crypto Regulation

    47 min
  9. The Future of Ethereum | Barnabé Monnot, Co-Lead of Research at the Ethereum Foundation

    09/01/2025

    The Future of Ethereum | Barnabé Monnot, Co-Lead of Research at the Ethereum Foundation

    Summary In this episode, Brad Bachu and Fahad Saleh discuss the recent developments in the Ethereum ecosystem with Barnabé Monnot, co-lead of research at the Ethereum Foundation. They delve into the Pectra upgrade, its implications for user experience, and the scaling roadmap for Ethereum. The conversation also covers the reorganization of the Ethereum Foundation, the importance of validator efficiency, and the upcoming Fusaka upgrade, which promises to significantly enhance blob capacity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ethereum Upgrades 02:56 Understanding Ethereum's Scaling Roadmap 05:44 Ethereum Foundation's Reorganization and Priorities 08:50 The Pectra Upgrade Overview 11:41 User Experience Enhancements in Pectra 14:56 Smart Contract Upgradability Explained 17:55 The Role of Smart Contracts in User Security 20:45 Evaluating Smart Contract Safety 23:44 The Future of Smart Contracts and User Intermediaries 26:37 Scaling Layer 2 with Blobs 29:27 Economic Implications of Blob Usage 36:47 Gas Fees and Market Equilibrium 37:51 Rollup Strategies and Transaction Costs 39:02 Scaling Layer 1: Insights from Petra 40:24 Gas Limit Adjustments and Network Efficiency 43:39 Gas Pricing and Resource Management 46:24 Future Scaling Expectations and ZKVM 51:08 Optimizing Resource Usage in Ethereum 53:30 Validator Consolidation and Network Dynamics 01:03:33 Fusaka and Data Availability Sampling 01:07:12 The Vision of a World Running on Ethereum

    1h 11m
  • 9 Episodes

About

The Canonical Pod is a podcast that analyzes contemporary events in cryptoeconomics with a rigorous research angle. Each episode features a guest with insight on a recent crypto development. We discuss the implications of each development as understood by the most recent research. Our first season of guests include Ethereum Foundation Research Co-Head Barnabé Monnot, leading Crypto-lawyer Lewis Cohen and Circle Chief Economist Gordon Liao. The Canonical Pod is co-hosted by finance professor Fahad Saleh and Uniswap Labs Senior Research Scientist Brad Bachu.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Bachu and Fahad Saleh
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brad Bachu and Fahad Saleh
  • Show Website
    The Canonical Pod