The DCo Podcast

Saurabh Deshpande
The DCo Podcast

Stories with depth, insight & data covering all things Web3. For builders. By builders. www.decentralised.co

  1. JAN 21

    Ep 30- The Encrypted Supercomputer with Yannik from Arcium

    In this episode, Yannik Schrade, CEO of Arcium, explains how they're building an encrypted supercomputer to bring privacy to both Web2 and Web3. We explore: • The journey from creating one of the world's most downloaded iPad apps to building privacy infrastructure • Why current privacy solutions like trusted hardware and zero-knowledge proofs aren't enough • How Arcium achieves efficient private computation through pre-computed multiplications and oblivious data structures • The future of private AI - from confidential training to trustless inference • Why privacy should be infrastructure, not a product • The path to bringing institutional players into DeFi through privacy • How Arcium could enable everything from dark pools to private gaming Timestamps - 00:00 Introduction to Web3 and Privacy 02:54 The Journey from Law to Crypto 05:50 Building Elusive: On-Chain Transactional Privacy 09:06 The Encrypted Supercomputer 11:57 AI's Role in Crypto and User Experience 14:51 Legacy Approach to Privacy Enhancing Technologies 18:05 Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Their Limitations 20:53 The Future of Privacy in DeFi and Healthcare 23:47 Secure Multi-Party Computation: A New Paradigm 27:12 Confidential Computing and Trust Models 32:32 Transforming Encrypted Data into Random Values 34:27 Understanding Arcium's Position in the Tech Stack 36:54 Arcium as an Encrypted Supercomputer 38:52 Efficiency of Secure Multi-Party Computation 41:47 Flexibility and Oblivious Data Structures in MPC 44:11 Selective Disclosure and Composability in Confidential Computing 46:03 Arcium's Autonomous Network and Accountability Protocols 49:55 AI Agents and Trust in Decision-Making 52:45 Responsible AI and Explainability 56:48 Market Landscape and Use Cases for Arcium This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decentralised.co

    1h 5m
  2. JAN 8

    Ep 29 - Kyle Samani on Why Bitcoin as Digital Gold Might Be a Myth

    What if the popular belief that Bitcoin is "digital gold" is holding crypto back? Kyle Samani, Managing Partner at Multicoin Capital, unpacks why this analogy might be misleading and argues that utility—not nostalgia—will define the future of digital assets. We trace Multicoin’s evolution, from its early experiments to backing Solana when it was dismissed by many. Kyle shares insights into the power of first-principles thinking, why they pivoted away from Bitcoin and Ethereum, and how to identify protocols that solve real problems. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or curious observer, this episode offers a rare look into how a top crypto fund must challenge mainstream assumptions and spot not-so-obvious opportunities. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the DCo Podcast and Web300:58 Reflections on Early Bitcoin Predictions03:01 The Journey to MultiCoin Capital05:56 The Mechanics of Wealth Creation in Crypto08:49 The Role of Stablecoins in Wealth Distribution11:09 Transitioning from Ethereum to EOS and Solana18:01 The Evolution of MultiCoin Capital19:48 Market Dynamics and the Future of Crypto Investments22:08 Innovations in Layer 1 and Layer 2 Solutions24:01 Understanding MEV and Its Implications26:22 Value Accrual in Blockchain Systems28:18 The Moneyness Debate: Bitcoin vs. Ethereum30:46 Censorship Resistance and Usability in Cryptocurrencies32:41 The Future of Solana: Censorship Resistance and Economic Activity34:57 Institutional Adoption and Token Extensions49:43 Communication Skills in Fundraising and Investment Strategies This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decentralised.co

    53 min
  3. Ep 27- Infrastructure, Empathy, and Grit

    12/06/2024

    Ep 27- Infrastructure, Empathy, and Grit

    Brandon Kumar of Layer3 joined us for a founder series. Who better than a founder to ask fellow operators what it takes to build companies? This is episode one of many to come. Let’s go. Running a successful crypto company takes more than technical know-how; it requires understanding the human elements that bring an organisation to life. In the first episode of our operator-to-operator series, I explored this with Matt Katz from Caldera and my co-host Brandon from Layer3. What makes this conversation unique is the look behind the scenes at Caldera. Matt's journey from Stanford to CEO gives a compelling view of modern crypto entrepreneurship. Unlike founders chasing the 2022 bull market, Matt focused on building something valuable—blockchain deployment through standardisation and accessibility. Caldera's modular approach has reduced blockchain deployment costs by two orders of magnitude while maintaining security. Major projects like Apecoin, Manta, Treasure, and Zerion trust Caldera's infrastructure, proving its reliability. Matt's reflections on managing a diverse team and balancing a “high-performance sports team” mindset with respect for individuals are lessons for any startup. If you're curious about building a crypto company—from tech to team—this episode is worth your time.Key Moments: 00:00 - The Vision Behind Caldera 02:56 - The Journey of a Founder 05:52 - Operating Lessons in a Turbulent Market 09:13 - Building a High-Performance Team 12:06 - Understanding Caldera's Business Model 14:56 - Cost Reduction in Blockchain Launches 17:52 - Future Growth and Market Strategy 24:08 - Integrating New Technology and Infrastructure 25:05 - Vision for Caldera in 2034 26:31 - Navigating the Fundraising Landscape 29:20 - Maximizing Investor Relationships 32:44 - Co-Founder Dynamics and Decision-Making 36:29 - Learning from Competition and Market Adaptation 40:21 - Operational Rhythm and Team Management This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decentralised.co

    47 min
  4. Ep 26 - Bridgeless Future

    11/28/2024

    Ep 26 - Bridgeless Future

    Fed up with missed opportunities because your crypto is scattered across different chains? In this episode, Vaibhav Chellani, co-founder of Socket, shares his vision for a future where blockchain fragmentation is no longer a barrier. From pioneering ZK rollups before they were mainstream to building Socket, Vaibhav tackles the big issues facing crypto today. We discuss why bridge aggregation isn't the solution, how AI agents could soon make on-chain trades seamless, and why the real conversation isn’t about appchains vs general-purpose chains, but about who controls the state. Socket is on a mission to make crypto as easy as using a credit card—forget about which chain you’re on or how to bridge assets. Hear why 400+ projects, including Coinbase Wallet, MetaMask, and Synthetix, are already using Socket's infrastructure. Tap into this episode to imagine a world where crypto feels intuitive, unified, and hassle-free.Key Moments: 00:00 - The Future of Front-Ends and AI Agents 03:02 - Chain Abstraction: A User-Centric Approach 05:55 - Scaling Ethereum: The Role of Rollups 09:10 - Building Socket Protocol and Chain Abstraction 12:04 - Bungee: A Marketplace for Cross-Chain Swaps 14:57 - The Mechanics of Bungee and Socket 17:46 - The Value Chain in Cross-Chain Transactions 21:06 - Permissionless Solutions and Market Dynamics 30:09 - Market Structure and Counterparty Dynamics 34:21 - Understanding Chain Abstraction and Its Implications 36:47 - Exploring Modular Auto Flow Auctions (MOFA) 40:15 - AI Agents and User Experience in Crypto Transactions 45:06 - The Future of Cross-Chain Interactions and Magic Accounts 52:23 - Solana vs. Ethereum: Perspectives on Blockchain Diversity 59:08 - The Shift Towards Chain Abstraction and User-Centric Solutions This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decentralised.co

    1 hr
  5. Ep 25 - On Building in Crypto and Death of Easy Money

    11/20/2024

    Ep 25 - On Building in Crypto and Death of Easy Money

    Larry Cermak, CEO of The Block, joined us for a frank conversation about crypto's evolution. He played around with BTC to buy NBA accounts to watch basketball and got hooked on understanding how it all worked. Later, he turned down Binance and missed ~300x gains on BNB. Fast forward to 2023, and he was handling layoffs and M&A as the CEO of the leading research and news company in the industry. Larry's journey mirrors crypto's maturation. In this episode, we get real about: - Why running a crypto project in 2024 is "pure suffering" - The death of 100x opportunities (unless you're gambling on memecoins) - How Ethereum maxis are repeating Bitcoin maxis' mistakes with Solana - The real problem with the "50M Americans in crypto" stat - Why UI/UX still matters more than elegant technology - The brutal reality of private market valuations - Predictions for crypto under different presidencies - Essential advice for analysts: become obsessed, find your niche, master SQL - Tips for developers entering crypto in 2024 Larry lays it all out—how crypto has become more corporate, how DeFi and Layer 1s are facing tougher competition, and what it takes to get noticed and funded. He also shares practical advice for aspiring analysts, emphasising the importance of building a strong Twitter presence to grow professionally and open doors in the industry. If you've ever wondered what it's like to navigate the trenches, this episode is packed with real talk and a glimpse into why Larry keeps building despite the challenges. Don't miss it! Follow Larry Cermak on Twitter: @lawmaster Follow the host on Twitter: @desh_saurabh This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.decentralised.co

    1h 10m

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Stories with depth, insight & data covering all things Web3. For builders. By builders. www.decentralised.co

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