The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

Camila Russo
The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

The internet of money is being built with blockchain technology and without banks. We call it DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, and this is where you can hear the builders and users of this cutting edge world tell their stories first hand. Hosted by Camila Russo.

  1. JUN 27

    20% Yield on Stablecoins Is Just the Beginning | Vikram Arun, Superform CEO

    Looking to understand stablecoins, onchain yields, and the future of DeFi? 🚀  Join us as Vikram Arun, CEO of Superform, shares expert insights on stablecoin yield strategies, the role of Web3 technology in automation, and whether 20% onchain yields are truly sustainable in today’s crypto economy.  Plus, we explore the impact of the GENIUS Act on the crypto industry and discuss the intersection of innovation and regulation in shaping the future of digital assets.  Topics Included:  The evolution of stablecoins as a financial tool  Why automation is critical for DeFi growth  The long-term potential of yield-generating assets  The fading stigma of crypto and its real-world financial integration  Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Info 00:41 Introduction to Vikram Arun, Founder and CEO of Superform 01:31 Crypto is a better form of money 03:30 Early AMMs as an entry into crypto 05:44 Stablecoins and yield  07:35 20% onchain yield on Superform: is it sustainable? 11:03 Web3 tech with Web2 functionality  13:23 Automation in stablecoin yield 15:51 The GENIUS Act’s effects on the crypto ecosystem 17:30 GENIUS and decentralization 21:20 The importance of demand in ideating crypto products 22:55 Circle, Stripe, Paypal, and public sentiment towards stablecoins 24:27 Interest rates hold steady, what’s the impact on crypto? 26:40 Speculation and the memecoin resurgence 30:00 Yield-generating assets and age demographics 32:05 Integrating wealth building into people’s mindsets with DeFi 33:45 The next phase of onchain yield 36:25 Will this innovation be enough to defeat crypto’s bad reputation? 37:48 Crypto’s rising tide into TradFi and daily life 39:55 NFTs in the next DeFi summer 41:48 Advice for people who want to start earning yield 43:00 Lightning round! 43:55 Closing remarks

    44 min

  2. JUN 23

    Emin Gün Sirer on Scaling Avalanche and Redefining Decentralization

    What does the future of blockchain look like, and where do multi-chain systems fit in? On this episode, we're joined by Emin Gün Sirer, CEO and Founder of Ava Labs and one of the most prominent figures in blockchain innovation. Emin unpacks how Avalanche is reshaping the decentralized world with its groundbreaking consensus protocol, multi-chain scaling, and commitment to maintaining blockchain’s core values.  We also discuss: Avalanche vs. Bitcoin and Ethereum Gaming and DeFi innovations on Avalanche  Fighting centralization and the challenges of scale  The role of stablecoins and central banks in Avalanche’s ecosystem  Chapters: 00:00 Defiant intro 00:07 If the future of blockchain is centralized, I don’t want to be here 00:54 intro to Emin Gün Sirer, Founder and CEO of Ava Labs 04:29 Building the fastest consensus protocol on the market 04:43 How is Avalanche different from Bitcoin? 08:10 Avalanche vs. other multi chain systems  12:16 L2 scaling vs. multi chain scaling 16:55 Evaluating Ethereum’s promises  19:45 Interoperability on Avalanche 20:25 What’s the narrative behind Avalanche? 23:47 Avalanche’s long term strategy 💫 26:25 Gaming example: OTG 29:16 How flexible are Avalanche chains? 31:13 How do you maintain the tenets of blockchain across chains? 33:05 What's the liquidity breakdown between these L1 chains? 34:54 Avalanche’s TVL vs users and adoption 38:00 Fighting centralization on Avalanche  43:15 AVAX value and uses 45:58 Increased activity on Avalanche 48:00 It’s been a Bitcoin story: where do alt projects fit in? 53:33 Stablecoins and exciting catalysts for DeFi 53:15 Assets want to be digital 55:35 How do stable coins fit into Avalanche? 56:19 Prediction: central banks getting into stablecoins 57:11 Challenges with central banks getting into stablecoins 59:13 The next major milestones for Avalanche 01:06:52 Closing Remarks

    1h 7m

  3. JUN 20

    Ethereum Staking ETFs: How They Could Transform Crypto Investing | Insights with Evan Weiss

    Ethereum Staking ETFs are gaining traction—but what does this mean for crypto investors? Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial, breaks it down. Get key insights on regulation, institutional staking infrastructure, and the financial benefits for everyday users. Plus, learn how institutional players are driving change in the staking ecosystem and the potential for ETFs to revolutionize and democratize crypto investments. From Capitol Hill to the crypto ecosystem, Evan Weiss dives into the growing momentum behind Ethereum Staking ETFs. Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Intro 00:07 Intro Quote 00:43 Intro to Evan Weiss, COO of Alluvial and Founder of POSA 03:09 Proof of Stake Alliance, staking, and regulation 05:57 POSA on Capitol Hill 08:26 Ethereum ETFs gaining momentum 12:31 Case study: 3iQ Ethereum Staking ETF 13:53 Staking, liquidity, and better returns for consumers 15:17 REX Shares proposes Ethereum staking ETF classified as a C-corporation 18:16 How Pectra has influenced institutional staking infrastructure on Ethereum 21:51 Normalizing staking for everyday users 25:41 How staking democratizes transaction fees 28:19 SEC’s May 29, 2025 Staking Statement 29:33 Staking is not a small business 30:34 Staking industry coming together on regulation 32:17 Increased security and rewards in crypto investing 34:59 Key steps for institutions and governments in regulating crypto 37:52 Will Ethereum Staking ETFs be as common as stocks? 38:16 Tradfi’s creativity meets crypto technology 39:00 The role of liquid staking evolving with institutional activity 40:23 Closing Remarks

    41 min

  4. JUN 13

    Every Company Will Be a Crypto Company: Expert Insights with Sandy Kaul from Franklin Templeton

    What happens when traditional finance and decentralized finance collide? Join us in this insightful interview with Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, as we explore the firm’s groundbreaking crypto experiments, DeFi-enabled opportunities, and the future of tokenized money market funds.  Key Topics Covered  Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund  How evolving crypto infrastructure is reshaping TradFi  New TradFi products enabled by crypto  Tokenization vs. stablecoins  Supply chain and enterprise resource management powered by DeFi  Regulation, obstacles, and the merging of TradFi and DeFi  Get a front-row seat to how one of the world’s leading financial institutions is driving innovation in the space. Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Intro 01:04 Introduction to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton 06:56 Franklin Templeton experimenting with crypto to save costs 08:11 Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund 09:26 Evolving crypto infrastructure from 2019 to today 11:42 What do institutions look for when planning to launch a product onchain? 13:41 Choosing blockchains based on use cases 16:15 Three new TradFi offerings enabled by crypto 19:56 Additional applications for DeFi: supply chain management 21:56 Additional applications for DeFi: enterprise resource management systems 22:49 Tokenized money market funds vs. stablecoins 25:11 Product bundles and asset classes 28:31 Obstacles to offering more crypto products 31:26 What clarity are you looking to regulation for? 34:16 Complex DeFi products being accepted in TradFi  35:13 DeFi and TradFi need to support one another 37:04 Regulation will open up new pools of assets and value  38:56 What will the merging of TradFi and crypto look like? 41:10 Will the back of house for these firms move onchain? 42:55 Consumer demand for crypto products 47:15 Payments outside of fiat 48:34 Incorporating crypto into Franklin Templeton model portfolios 50:35 What is the demand for current crypto offerings? 54:30 What does success look like for Franklin Templeton? 55:30 Closing Remarks

    56 min

  5. JUN 11

    NFC Lisbon Recap: Art, Finance, and Digital Economies with Alex Estorick

    In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, Vinny speaks with Alex Estorick, Editor in Chief of Right Click Save, about the evolving landscape of NFTs and digital art. They discuss the convergence of art and technology, the financialization of culture, and the role of artists in a world where art and finance are increasingly intertwined. The conversation also touches on the emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts, the diversity within the crypto community, and the challenges artists face regarding royalties in the NFT space.  Highlights of this episode include: The convergence of art and technology  The emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts  Diversity and challenges within the crypto and NFT space  Opportunities for artists in DeFi and Web3  The role of AI, tokenized data, and decentralized ownership in the future.  00:00 Episode Intro 03:08 Introduction to Alex Estorick and the NFT Revolution 04:55 Financialization of Art and Culture 08:37 The Role of Artists in a Financialized World 12:13 Cultural Moments and Meme Coins 15:38 Diversity of Habits and Politics in the Crypto Community 17:40 Takeaways from Conversations at NFC 19:10 Is the Battle for Blockchain Dominance Necessary? 20:25 Renewed Bullishness on Ethereum 22:45 Reactions to the Debate Around Royalties 28:30 The Evolution of Value in Digital Art 30:20 Exploring DeFi Opportunities for Artists 35:35 The Intersection of Crypto and AI 37:25 Tokenizing Personal Data and Personhood 42:01 Decentralized AI and Data Ownership 45:05 The Future of Crypto in a Dystopian Landscape 48:15 Navigating the Complexities of Web3 and Digital Economy 50:15 Closing Remarks

    51 min

  6. JUN 6

    Ethereum's Next Moves: Insights from Tomasz Stańczak and the Ethereum Foundation

    In this conversation, Camila Russo interviews Tomasz Stanczak, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation, discussing the evolution of Ethereum, addressing criticisms, and the foundation's strategic initiatives. They explore the importance of communication, the restructuring of the foundation, and the focus on scaling Ethereum through L1 and L2 dynamics.  Tomasz shares insights on the vision for Ethereum as a global economy, balancing user needs with core values, and the foundation's treasury management and DeFi strategies. The conversation concludes with a look at future developments and milestones for Ethereum. Takeaways: Ethereum has evolved significantly since its inception, focusing on scaling and communication. The Ethereum Foundation has faced criticism regarding its communication strategies. Restructuring within the foundation aims to enhance protocol development and management. Funding and support for developers are crucial for the ecosystem's growth. The relationship between L1 and L2 is vital for Ethereum's scaling strategy. Ethereum aims to position itself as a global economy hub. User needs and core values must be balanced for long-term success. Treasury management strategies are evolving to include DeFi protocols. The foundation is committed to transparency and community engagement. Future milestones include significant scaling and security improvements. Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Intro 00:07 Episode Teaser 01:24 Hero Quote 01:35 Introduction to Tomasz Stańczak, Co-Executive Director of the Ethereum Foundation 03:18 Community Criticism and Foundation Response 06:45 Strategic Actions by the Ethereum Foundation  09:39 Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Developers 13:50 The strengths of Ethereum as a Network 17:17 Scaling Ethereum: L1 and L2 Dynamics 20:55 The One Trillion Security Initiative 23:00 Specific Milestones in the Short Term 25:53 Navigating the Tension: World Computer vs. Store of Value 29:15 Ethereum as a Global Economy 30:43 Will Solana Become An Ethereum L2? 32:43 User Priorities: Decentralization vs. Usability 37:02 Treasury Management and ETH Sales 36:55 The Role of Stablecoins in Ethereum's Future 39:55 The Impact of Ethereum Foundation's DeFi Allocations 42:00 Guiding DeFi Protocols Towards Security and Decentralization 51:10 The Future of Ethereum: Use Cases and Community Expectations 54:50 Upcoming Milestones for Ethereum 56:50 Closing Remarks

    57 min

  7. JUN 4

    Zero Knowledge Proofs: The Game-Changer for Digital Privacy You Need to Know, Featuring Rob Viglione

    This week, we spoke with Rob Viglione, Co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, to explore the groundbreaking potential of Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) in safeguarding digital privacy, bridging TradFi and DeFi, and creating income streams for consumers that empower them through the ownership of their own digital data. From balancing transparency and onchain privacy to the intersection of AI and Web3, Rob dives into the critical role cryptography will play in reshaping how we share and protect data. Learn how ZKPs can combat data misuse, empower individuals to monetize their information, and reimagine compliance as we step into a world where privacy is a fundamental human right. Key Highlights: 1. How ZKPs protect medical records and financial history 2. Will banks adapt, or become irrelevant? 3. The role of cryptography in privacy-centric AI systems Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion packed with insights on the future of data, privacy, and decentralized innovation. Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Intro 00:07 Podcast Teaser 00:52 Hero Quote 00:59 Introduction to Rob Viglione 01:34 The beauty of ZKPs 02:40 How to balance transparency and privacy onchain 04:00 Why it’s so easy to overshare data 04:50 Living in an age of constant data leaks 06:34 The concept of wealth is fundamentally different now 07:33 Google adopts ZKP to verify age 09:00 A world of a trillion proofs 09:30 How can Web3 handle growing volumes of proofs? 10:09 Will Web2 relinquish their chokehold on our data? 11:52 Monetizing data as an incentive to online privacy 12:45 New opportunities for earning a living by monetizing your data 14:14 The intersection of crypto and AI 16:17 ZKPs and data protection 18:00 ZKPs and AI in medical records and financial history 20:18 How can ZKPs act as a safeguard against misuse in AI 22:15 Hackers and scammers are a certainty; how do we fight them? 22:36 Cryptography, ZKPs, and privacy-centric AI systems? 25:13 Why is privacy a human right? 26:25 Institutions, privacy, and Web3 26:45 Institutions coming onchain 28:30 Better communicating privacy as a human right in the context of Web3 30:30 Will ZKPs change the way people interact with the internet? 32:11 Marketing in the age of AI 33:24 ZKPs and KYC 35:40 Why ZKPs are bad for bad actors 37:38 Government regulation vs. Web3 companies regulating the industry themselves 39:00 It doesn’t make sense for politicians to be anti-crypto anymore 41:53 Can ZKPs redefine compliance and how it’s enforced? 43:13 How can ZKP tech support institutional privacy and consumer data? 44:45 TradFi onchain as a stepping stone to DeFi 46:39 Lightning round! Favorite existing use case for ZKP 46:54 Lightning round! Favorite potential use case for ZKP 48:04 Lightning round! Best advice for keeping your data safe online 48:49 Closing statements and where to follow Rob

    49 min

  8. MAY 31

    How Payroll, Stablecoins & Regulation Are Reshaping Global Economies | Megan Knab

    Explore the world of crypto payroll and stablecoins with Megan Knab, cofounder and CEO of Franklin. From tackling crypto volatility to how stablecoins can reshape global economies, this episode dives into the challenges and opportunities for crypto-native payment infrastructure.  Megan Knab shares her insights on crypto’s role in building a better financial ecosystem. We discuss everything from stablecoin-backed paychecks to how DeFi tools enhance accessibility. Tune in to understand why this innovative tech could be the foundation for a healthier society. Chapters: 00:00 Defiant Intro 00:07 Teaser 00:28 Pull Quote 00:36 Introduction to Megan Knab 01:08 The path from Wall Street to crypto 03:31 Building back offices within Web3 04:53 How to tackle crypto’s volatility with payroll and paying bills in fiat 06:00 Labor laws and crypto 06:41 ERC-20 tokens in payroll 07:35 Eliminating intermediaries in the payroll business 09:12 Benefits to employers and employees beyond cross-border payments 10:54 Payroll as a building block for a healthy society 11:39 How do you calculate a paycheck? 13:14 The GENIUS bill and the future of stablecoins 15:02 Reserve of assets to back up the value of issued stablecoins 16:22 Fixed income and payment giants getting into crypto 16:55 The effects of big brands getting into stablecoins 18:05 Backwards views of crypto adoption 19:12 Democratic backlash to the GENIUS bill 20:25 The need for more effective crypto regulation 22:29 The points for and against crypto regulation 23:18 Crypto is not a political technology 23:52 The biggest winners in crypto have been lawyers 26:10 How do you determine which stablecoins to utilize for business? 28:36 MakerDAO as a major crypto innovation 29:33 How DeFi makes financial tools more accessible to the public 31:33 Stablecoin infrastructure in developing economies 33:30 Stablecoins as a means of USD dominance worldwide 35:09 Challenges for governments having assets onchain 36:06 Future legislation in crypto and investment 39:55 Lighting round!Music: Future Highway by Picratio is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

    41 min
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4.3
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

The internet of money is being built with blockchain technology and without banks. We call it DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, and this is where you can hear the builders and users of this cutting edge world tell their stories first hand. Hosted by Camila Russo.

Information

  • Creator
    Camila Russo
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Camila Russo
  • Show Website
    The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

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