Untangling Web3

Jack Davies & Alec Burns

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TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

The podcast that simplifies tomorrow's tech, today. Untangling Web3 dives deep into the world of the next-generation Internet, exploring the groundbreaking technologies, projects, and ideas shaping the future of the Web. Join us as we demystify the concepts behind Web3 and learn how you can be relevant in this radical digital and societal transformation. This series is hosted and produced by Jack Davies and Alec Burns.

1D AGO

#124 Untangling: 2025 Review

In this annual 2025 review special, Alec and Jack take a step back to reflect on one of the most transformative years yet for crypto, AI, LLMs, and digital assets. From Bitcoin’s institutional turning point to AI becoming a daily tool for millions, this episode captures how Web3 and emerging technologies moved from niche experimentation into the mainstream. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about what actually mattered in 2025, and what it tells us about the road ahead. Key Points Discussed: Crypto and Digital Assets Go Mainstream (But Not Without Volatility): The hosts unpack why 2025 marked a legitimacy breakthrough for Bitcoin and crypto, driven by ETF approvals, institutional adoption, and a more crypto-friendly U.S. political environment. At the same time, Bitcoin behaved more like a risk asset than a safe haven, reacting strongly to macro events like tariffs and global market uncertainty. A major standout was the explosive growth of stablecoins, which quietly found real product–market fit by enabling faster, always-on financial settlement infrastructure .AI and LLMs Become Ubiquitous: If crypto found legitimacy, AI found ubiquity. 2025 was the year AI tools—powered by increasingly capable LLMs—became everyday utilities for individuals and enterprises alike. From workplace copilots to creative tools, AI shifted from novelty to necessity. The episode explores how rapid competition between OpenAI, Google, and others drove massive improvements in reasoning, context length, and cost efficiency, while also flooding the internet with AI-generated content and reshaping how people trust information online .Wearables, Robotics, and the Next Computing Shift: Beyond software, 2025 hinted at what comes next in hardware. Meta’s smart glasses helped prove the viability of AI-powered wearables, while humanoid robots moved from labs into early industrial testing. From BMW factory trials to Tesla’s Optimus ambitions, the conversation highlights how automation and AI-native machines are beginning to integrate into real-world workflows—setting the stage for much bigger changes in the years ahead .Looking back, 2025 wasn’t about a single breakthrough, it was about consolidation, legitimacy, and scale. Crypto became harder to ignore, AI and LLMs became unavoidable, and digital assets quietly embedded themselves into global financial plumbing. As Alec and Jack reflect, the pace of change is accelerating, making predictions harder, but also making the future more fascinating than ever. This episode captures a pivotal moment before the next wave hits, setting the tone for what could be an even more disruptive year ahead. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

1 hr
11/19/2025

#123 Untangling: Meta AI Glasses (Review)

In this week’s episode of the Untangling Web3 podcast, we dive into Alec’s hands-on review of the new Meta AI Glasses v2 — Meta’s latest step toward merging AI and AR into everyday tech. Fresh from attending Meta’s launch event in California, Alec shares his firsthand impressions of how these next-generation smart glasses blend voice-controlled AI, contextual awareness, and seamless design to create what Mark Zuckerberg calls “the next mobile interface.” From hands-free recording to real-time translation, this episode explores where these glasses succeed — and where they still fall short. Key Points Discussed: First Impressions and Use Cases: Alec shares his early experiences using the Meta AI Glasses, highlighting their intuitive voice commands, sleek design, and surprisingly good photo and video quality. While the AI assistant can perform simple contextual tasks — like identifying objects or fetching quick answers — it still falls short of full autonomy. The glasses excel in recording and hands-free content creation, making them ideal for creators, travelers, and anyone wanting to stay present without constantly using their phone.AR, Audio, and Intelligent Context: The hosts explore how Meta’s AI and AR features bring subtle layers of digital intelligence into the real world. Built-in microphones and bone-conduction speakers allow for private listening, live translation, and contextual responses from Meta’s LLaMA AI model. Alec demonstrates how the glasses can “see” and describe surroundings, respond to voice commands, and even play music — though full contextual awareness and live streaming of visual data are still in development.Meta’s Vision and the Future of Wearable Tech: Beyond the gadget itself, Alec and Jack unpack Zuckerberg’s long-term vision for a post-smartphone future powered by wearable AI. They discuss how Meta’s hardware strategy — combining smart glasses, neural input devices, and the company’s AI ecosystem — could one day replace traditional screens. With an upcoming SDK for third-party developers, the potential for apps like note-taking, live translation, and real-time guidance could transform how we interact with both technology and the world around us.The Meta AI Glasses v2 are a bold step toward the fusion of AI, AR, and everyday life — a glimpse into the future of personal computing. While the current generation remains limited in scope, its design, integration, and potential applications make it one of the most exciting tech innovations of the year. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

33 min
11/05/2025

#122 Untangling: Restify

In this week’s episode of the Untangling Web3 podcast, the spotlight is on Alec’s latest venture Restify, a Web3 dApp designed to help users reduce their screen time and improve mental health through microincentives and rewards. Built on blockchain, Restify transforms digital wellness into a game of positive reinforcement, paying users small amounts of crypto for simply staying off their phones. We dive deep into the story behind the app, how it works, and why it could represent a new era of purpose-driven dApps. Key Points Discussed: The Problem: Screen Time and Mental Health in the Digital Age Alec explains how screen addiction and overuse of social media have become major contributors to the global mental health crisis, costing over a trillion dollars annually in lost productivity. Restify’s mission is to flip the script—using blockchain incentives to encourage healthier habits. Instead of punishing overuse, the app rewards users for time spent offline, proving that positive reinforcement can drive long-term behavioral change.How Restify Works and What Makes It Unique: The dApp integrates with a user’s phone to track downtime sessions—periods when the phone isn’t used—and automatically issues microrewards in the VeBetter token. Users can earn small payouts for every minute they stay off-screen, with verified data stored transparently on-chain. Unlike other apps or “digital detox” gadgets, Restify doesn’t block access—it builds self-control through motivation, gamification, and the psychology of reward.Building a Decentralized Wellness Ecosystem: Restify has grown to over 15,000 users and saved more than 160 years of verified screen time. The app’s success comes from Web3’s ability to coordinate global communities quickly, without traditional startup bureaucracy. Beyond screen time, the long-term goal is to evolve into a full mental health dApp—tracking mood logs, integrating an AI wellness assistant, and even partnering with insurers or wellness providers to incentivize healthy behavior at scale.Restify showcases the potential of Web3 beyond speculation—using decentralized apps to create measurable social impact. By aligning financial incentives with wellness goals, it demonstrates how crypto can be used for good, not just profit. tThe future of mental health technology may depend less on new gadgets and more on how we use incentives to encourage balance in a hyperconnected world. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

39 min
10/22/2025

#121 Untangling: Stablecoins & CBDCs w/ Keir Finlow-Bates

In this episode of Untangling Web3, blockchain researcher and educator Keir Finlow-Bates returns to unpack one of the most critical debates in modern finance—the rise of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). As digital assets evolve from niche tools for traders into core infrastructure for global payments, this conversation explores how blockchain-based money systems are reshaping the way value moves, who controls it, and what the next era of programmable finance might look like. Key highlights: Why Stablecoins Have Become the Bridge Between Finance and Blockchain: Stablecoins solve two critical problems—volatility and interoperability. They provide a stable medium of exchange that allows individuals and institutions to engage with blockchain networks without the price risk of native tokens like Bitcoin or Ether. At the same time, they act as a universal liquidity layer connecting decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, exchanges, and traditional financial systems.Comparing Stablecoins and CBDCs: Architecture and Control: While both stablecoins and CBDCs represent fiat on the blockchain, their architectures differ fundamentally. Stablecoins like USDC or USDT are issued by private entities that hold reserves—often in treasury bonds or cash equivalents—and provide blockchain tokens on a 1:1 basis. They rely on smart contracts with mint, burn, and freeze functions that grant issuers limited control. CBDCs, in contrast, would be issued directly by central banks.Monetary Philosophy - What Money Really Represents: Fiat currencies are no longer backed by commodities or assets but by government decree and collective belief. Representing fiat digitally on blockchain networks forces society to confront this abstraction. Stablecoins expose the philosophical foundations of money—its value is not intrinsic but agreed upon. By contrast, Bitcoin introduces verifiable scarcity as a digital property, creating a new category of value rooted in cryptographic and computational certainty rather than institutional trust.Stablecoins represent the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology, providing the infrastructure for global, programmable money. CBDCs, meanwhile, embody a competing vision—state-issued digital assets designed for control and policy enforcement rather than decentralization. Between these two poles lies the defining question for the next decade of monetary innovation: will the future of money be open, programmable, and user-controlled—or centralized, monitored, and conditional? -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

41 min
10/08/2025

#120 Untangling: Science in a Post-AI World w/ Aragorn Meulendijks

In this episode of Untangling Web3, futurist and returning guest Aragorn Meulendijks explores how artificial intelligence and robotics are redefining science, labor, and the future of human society. With developments like humanoid robots entering mass production, the reversal of aging in primates, and AI-driven scientific discovery accelerating, this conversation focuses on the transformative—and potentially disruptive—technological shifts underway. Aragorn unpacks the exponential acceleration of innovation and its potential to trigger post-scarcity economics, reshaping the social contract as we know it. Key highlights: Robotics and Post-Scarcity Economics: Humanoid robots are advancing rapidly from prototype to consumer product, with companies like Figure and Tesla aiming for mass production within the next two years. Robots are already deployed in factories and are now entering homes to accelerate learning through real-world complexity. Aragorn projects a scenario where 1.5 billion humanoid robots could exist by 2035, disrupting manual labor across the economy. This raises fundamental questions about capitalism, productivity, and whether society must begin preparing for a post-scarcity world.Scientific Discovery in a Post-AI World: AI is revolutionizing the scientific method by reducing years-long research timelines into days through simulation and modeling. Projects like AlphaFold have predicted over 200 million protein structures, effectively accelerating biochemical understanding by centuries. In fields such as drug development and fusion energy, AI is proving to be not just a research assistant but a generative force for discovery. However, Aragorn raises concerns about verifying AI-generated insights and the increasing noise in scientific literature from low-quality, AI-generated papers.A Philosophical and Emotional Reset: As AI and automation disrupt productivity and labor, humanity may undergo a broader philosophical shift. Aragorn speculates about a post-work society, where meaning and purpose are decoupled from employment. Referencing Asimov’s Foundation series, he suggests that humanity may need to evolve emotionally and cognitively in parallel with technological progress to avoid dystopian outcomes and fully embrace a new model of civilization.The future that Aragorn sketches is both exhilarating and daunting. Mass robot deployment, scientific automation, and redefined human purpose all lie within reach, but navigating the transition will require a collective reimagining of economics, ethics, and governance. Whether society evolves toward utopia or faces instability will depend not just on technology, but on humanity’s ability to adapt, redistribute value, and embrace new social contracts. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

53 min
09/24/2025

#119 Untangling: Meta Connect

In this episode, we break down the highlights from Meta Connect, where Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company’s latest innovations in AR glasses, AI, and wearable tech. Once dismissed as a fading metaverse experiment, Meta is now doubling down on hardware and contextual AI, aiming to reshape how people interact with the digital and physical worlds. Alec attended the event in person and brings firsthand insights into what’s real, what’s hype, and what it means for the future of Meta’s vision. Key highlights: Smart Glasses and Everyday AR Integration: Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban continues to expand, with updated smart glasses boasting improved battery life, better cameras, and built-in AI assistants. While not revolutionary, these AR-enabled glasses are steadily growing in adoption, offering hands-free digital interaction and promising a future where voice-first, context-aware computing becomes the norm.Next-Gen AR Glasses and Neural Wristbands: The real showstopper was Meta’s new AR glasses featuring subtle heads-up displays and a neural wristband for intuitive gesture control. From writing in the air to navigating apps, these innovations bring a sci-fi-style interface into reality. Though still early and pricey, the progress shows Meta closing the gap between futuristic concepts and consumer-ready products.Contextual AI, Horizon Worlds, and Breaking Smartphone Addiction: Beyond hardware, Meta’s pitch centers on contextual AI—AI that integrates seamlessly with your environment and daily life. Combined with VR and Horizon’s generative world-building tools, Meta is laying the groundwork for immersive, builder-friendly ecosystems. While marketed as a way to reduce smartphone addiction, the hosts question whether AR overlays could become an even more persistent form of distraction.Meta’s latest AR glasses and AI-driven ecosystem signal a bold shift in wearable tech, blending hardware, software, and contextual AI into a unified vision. While challenges remain—ranging from adoption to privacy—Meta is clearly betting on glasses as the next frontier of personal computing. Whether this future feels liberating or intrusive will depend on how the technology evolves, but one thing is certain: Meta is determined to define the next era of digital interaction. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

42 min
09/10/2025

Threads Untangled: Sunny Lu on Decentralization for Sustainability | #118

Threads Untangled is our series bringing you the best of Untangling Web3, featuring our favourite highlights and segments from past episodes. This week, we're revisiting our conversation with Sunny Lu and his unique take on the "power of decentralizaton" for sustainability. VeChain, under Sunny's leadership, is redefining global supply chains and leveraging blockchain for sustainability initiatives like VeBetterDAO, which rewards sustainable actions. __ This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

18 min
08/27/2025

#117 Untangling: The Pixels Paradigm with Luke Barwikowski

Gaming is evolving beyond entertainment into a dynamic, player-driven economy—and Web3 is at the heart of that transformation. In this episode of Untangling Web3, Luke Barwikowski, founder and CEO of Pixels, joins to explore how blockchain is reshaping the gaming industry. Pixels is a social Web3 game that fuses casual farming gameplay with real-world economic mechanics. With over 10 million registered users, the game is setting new standards for interoperability, player ownership, and scalable token-driven economies in the Web3 space. Key highlights: Web3 gaming demands new economic models: Traditional gaming revenue models are struggling. Studios spend magnitudes more on user acquisition than on game development, often with razor-thin margins. Pixels flips this model by directly rewarding users for valuable behavior. Instead of spending $1 on ads, that dollar is given to users through the game itself—an approach made scalable through tokens. This “reward-to-play” model uses data-driven segmentation to tailor incentives to user profiles, ensuring economic sustainability while strengthening community participation.Precision reward systems drive user growth and retention: Rather than blanket airdrops or undifferentiated incentives, Pixels uses predictive analytics and behavioral segmentation to issue rewards based on user potential and engagement patterns. Whether encouraging gameplay, referrals, or in-game spending, each incentive is optimized for long-term growth. These mechanics mirror Web2 adtech systems but replace ad spend with value distribution to players, forming a player-centric economic loop.Bridging crypto-native and mainstream audiences Pixels initially focused on crypto-native users, but reaching the next wave of players means eliminating crypto onboarding barriers. Future iterations will remove mandatory wallet sign-ups and minimize crypto UX friction. While blockchain infrastructure powers the backend, the frontend will prioritize smooth, intuitive gameplay. New users can access Web3-native benefits—like real ownership and tokenized economies—without having to confront the technical complexities.Pixels illustrates how Web3 gaming can move beyond hype into scalable, user-owned ecosystems. By aligning player incentives with network growth, eliminating friction for mainstream adoption, and reimagining game economies through blockchain, projects like these signal a future where fun, fairness, and functionality co-exist. Web3 isn’t just enhancing games—it’s reinventing how they're built, played, and sustained. __ Learn more about Pixels here: https://www.pixels.xyz/ -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

40 min

The podcast that simplifies tomorrow's tech, today. Untangling Web3 dives deep into the world of the next-generation Internet, exploring the groundbreaking technologies, projects, and ideas shaping the future of the Web. Join us as we demystify the concepts behind Web3 and learn how you can be relevant in this radical digital and societal transformation. This series is hosted and produced by Jack Davies and Alec Burns.

Creator

Jack Davies & Alec Burns
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

123
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Untangling Web3 2023
Show Website

Untangling Web3