Beyond the Code

In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Carlo D’Angelo, the "DeFi Defender," a veteran criminal defense lawyer turned crypto law expert. Carlo shares his fascinating journey—from his early days as a public defender in Florida to becoming a key figure in the crypto legal community. He dives into his current work defending "money mules" caught in crypto fraud schemes, shedding light on the human cost of transnational crime and the complexities of U.S. prosecution policies. The conversation also explores the vibrant crypto lawyer community, the evolution of NFTs, and the seismic shift in U.S. crypto regulation under the current administration. Carlo offers an optimistic outlook on blockchain’s future, from tokenized assets to a national Bitcoin reserve, urging listeners to seize the moment in this "crypto renaissance." Tune in for an insider’s take on law, tech, and the blockchain revolution.Carlo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlo-d-angelo-425756a/Carlo on X: https://x.com/TheDeFiDefender Carlo's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/carlodangelo The DeFi Defenders FREE NFT Mint: https://defidefenders.xyz/https://defidefenselawyer.com/https://dangelolegal.com/ 

Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port, Yitzy Hammer chats with Asaf Naim, co-founder of Kirobo, a trailblazer in Web3 since 2018. Asaf shares his journey from a taxation accountant to a self-taught programmer, sparked by a failed Bitcoin buy in 2011 and a client’s lost crypto key in 2018. Kirobo pioneered account abstraction with "smart transactions," introducing the first undo button for crypto transfers. Now, they’ve launched Intentable (intentable.io) - the "Wix" of blockchain applications, a developer tool for rapid smart transaction creation, and are gearing up for Dappable (dappable.ai), an AI-driven platform to build DApps, tokens, and UIs in minutes. Asaf envisions Dappable as the next big Web3 driver, blending NFT and token innovation. Follow @Kirobo on Twitter for updates and join the revolution!Asaf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asafnaim/Check out Intentable: https://app.intentable.io/trading/top_pairs?utm_source=linkedin&utm_campaign=Profile

On March 26, 2025, ⁠Collider. VC⁠ hosted ⁠Building Blocks 2025⁠, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, ⁠Yitzy Hammer⁠ was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Lou Kerner, founder of Crypto Mondays. Lou traces his journey from a Wall Street analyst to a social media pioneer, running BOLT (pre-MySpace) and nearly buying Facebook in its infancy. His crypto awakening came in 2017 after a transformative Israel trip in 2015, sparking his Zionist passion and the viral blog that caught Netanyahu’s eye. Lou shares how Crypto Mondays grew from a 2018 New York meetup into a global, decentralized movement, thriving on community and zero rules (except no permission needed!). He reflects on Israel’s innovative ecosystem, RWAs, and his latest investment. Join Lou and Yitzy as they plan a Crypto Mondays revival in Modiin and beyond!Lou's mega-popular blog: https://loukerner.medium.com/Lou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loukerner/ Lou on X: https://x.com/loukerner?lang=en

On March 26, 2025, ⁠Collider. VC⁠ hosted ⁠Building Blocks 2025⁠, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, ⁠Yitzy Hammer⁠ was invited to come and interview key guests and speakers.Gordon Einstein is a pioneering crypto lawyer and founder of Dubai’s Tech Tuesdays. Gordon shares his journey from Los Angeles to Dubai, sparked by a rediscovery of law through blockchain in 2014. He dives into the vibrant Dubai tech scene, the ethos behind Tech Tuesdays, and its strict dress code that fosters a unique business vibe. The conversation explores synergies between Israel’s innovative crypto ecosystem and Dubai’s crypto-friendly environment, emphasizing collaboration over competition. Gordon offers insights on navigating Dubai’s investment landscape and his plans to expand Tech Tuesdays globally, starting with Abu Dhabi. Check out more at https://www.instagram.com/dubaitechtuesdays/.Gordon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordoneinstein/Gordon’s X: https://x.com/gordoneinstein?lang=en Gordon’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gordoneinstein

On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.Youval Rouach is CEO and Co-Founder of Bits of Gold, one of Israel's leading crypto currency exchanges and also of BILS, the first Israeli-shekel backed stablecoin, to be issued by Bits of Gold.

Tigran Gambaryan⁠ spent 8 months in grueling conditions in a Nigerian prison. But that’s not what made him famous.Episode 52 of Beyond the Code dives into Tigran’s incredible journey. For those of you who don’t know, Tigran started off as an IRS special agent, where he used a simple Excel spreadsheet to reverse engineer the Bitcoin blockchain and track major crypto criminals such as those responsible for the Mt. Gox hack, Welcome to Video, Alpha Bay and Silk Road —earning him the nickname, “the man who broke Bitcoin”. After a decade in Government law enforcement, Tigran took up a pivotal role at Binance leading their financial crimes unit and fostering global regulatory ties. Tigran’s story is one of innovation and grit, as chronicled in Andy Greenberg’s Tracers in the Dark. But things took a turn for the worse for Tigran when he made a trip to Nigeria last February and what was supposed to be a simple training session spiraled into detention, interrogation, and bribes and imprisonment, exposing systemic corruption. After 8 grueling months in Nigeria’s Kuje prison, through media pressure and U.S. diplomatic efforts, Tigran’s release was finally secured and thankfully he is now home with his family. Links to videos and articles:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Caa4X7GqTkQ https://www.wired.com/story/tigran-gambaryan-us-congress-resolution-hostage-nigeria/https://fmino.gov.ng/disregard-falsehoods-being-peddled-by-tigran-gambaryan-against-nigerian-government-officials-fg/https://www.wired.com/story/tigran-gambaryan-us-congress-resolution-hostage-nigeria/https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/02/14/nigeria-used-binance-as-scapegoat-wanted-150-million-bribe-tigran-gambaryan/ https://x.com/DC_Draino/status/1832182160918503643 For those interested, you can buy Andy Greenberg's book, Tracers in the Dark, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3umNV17If you want to do it right (chronologically), start with Nick Bilton's book, American Kingpin (https://a.co/d/hTRVY2C), which tells the story of Ross Ulbricht and the Silk Road. These books are imperative to understanding how the space migrated from basically a hub for libertarians, Cypher punks and criminals, into what it is today.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigran-gambaryan-0852679a/ X: https://x.com/TigranGambaryan

In Episode 51 of Beyond the Code, host Yitzy Hammer welcomes Eran Lahav, Co-Founder and CEO of First Read, an AI-powered legal tech platform designed to revolutionize how lawyers draft, review, and manage legal documents. In this insightful conversation, Eran shares his journey from accounting and finance to launching a cutting-edge AI tool for lawyers that improves efficiency and streamlines legal workflows.Throughout the episode, Yitzy and Eran discuss the growing role of AI in legal services, exploring how tools like First Read are helping lawyers save time without compromising data security. Eran explains how First Read's SOC 2 certification ensures client data remains protected and why privacy concerns have been a major challenge in the adoption of AI for legal professionals. The episode also explores the future of legal tech, with Eran revealing exciting plans for First Read's AI capabilities, including personalized features that adapt to individual lawyers' writing styles and preferences. As AI in law firms continues to expand, Eran emphasizes the importance of precision, customization, and understanding the unique needs of legal professionals.For listeners eager to try First Read, a special discount code — byndthecode10 — is available for a limited time.

In this episode ofBeyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with financial planner andBlue & White Finance co-founderNadav Ellinson to tackle one of the most debated questions in investing:How much Bitcoin (or crypto) should be in your portfolio (if any)?We discuss:✅ The risks and rewards of allocating crypto in a long-term portfolio;✅Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) vs. Bulk Buying—which strategy works best?✅Bitcoin vs. ETFs—Should you hold your own crypto or go the traditional route?✅ The apocalyptic scenario where Nadav (sort of) admits Bitcoin might save you.This episode is packed with insights for both crypto enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just crypto-curious, don’t miss this one!🔗FollowNadav Ellinson &Blue and White Finance for more information on smart financial decision-making. 

Episode Summary:In this milestone 50th episode of Beyond the Code, host Yitzy Hammer sits down with Amanda Wick, CEO and founder of the Association for Women in Crypto, for an expansive conversation that goes far beyond the blockchain. Amanda shares her incredible journey—from her days as a federal prosecutor tackling early crypto crimes to her pivotal role in the January 6th Committee’s financial investigation, and now leading a global movement to empower women in Web3. Together, Yitzy and Amanda explore the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, the systemic challenges women face in tech, and the broader forces shaping the new world financial order—topics central to her upcoming book, The Catalysts. Expect candid insights, sharp reflections on government inefficiency, and a compelling case for why Web3 is about more than just "crypto bros." Plus, Yitzy drops an exciting announcement about his law firm’s latest hires!Show Notes:(00:00) Introduction: Yitzy welcomes Amanda Wick to celebrate Episode 50 and dives into her multifaceted career.(01:54) Gender Dynamics in Crypto: Amanda challenges stereotypes and discusses the "motherhood penalty" impacting women’s careers, drawing from Nobel Prize-winning research.(05:16) From Jersey to Justice: Amanda recounts her path from aspiring FBI agent to federal prosecutor, shaped by a post-9/11 pivot.(12:22) Crypto’s Criminal Roots: Amanda shares her first encounter with Bitcoin in 2012 as a money laundering prosecutor and how blockchain analytics transformed the industry.(20:07) Chainalysis & Beyond: Transitioning from government to the private sector, Amanda reflects on her time at Chainalysis and the power of marketing in tech.(35:00) January 6th Insights: Amanda offers a raw perspective on the Capitol attack’s financial investigation and its broader implications.(46:28) Founding the Association for Women in Crypto: Learn how Amanda built a global nonprofit from a laptop, fostering education, networking, and advocacy.(1:04:28) The Catalysts Unveiled: Amanda previews her book, The Catalysts: The Accelerating Forces Forging the New World Financial Order, a 360-degree look at global finance and societal shifts.(1:14:17) Inspiring Women in Crypto: Amanda highlights three trailblazers—Michelle Gitlitz, Carol House, and Bullish Dumpling—who’ve shaped her journey.(1:21:06) Yitzy’s Big Announcement: Yitzy reveals his crypto law firm’s first hires—two accomplished women joining the team!Guest Links:Amanda Wick: LinkedIn | XAssociation for Women in Crypto: WebsitePre-order The Catalysts: AmandaWick.com ( launching soon) or Amazon Kindle (available early May 2025).Connect with Beyond the Code:Subscribe for weekly episodes on YouTube and Spotify!Follow Yitzy on X/Twitter, at https://x.com/ijhammer, for updates.Join our Telegram community: https://t.me/byndthecode

In Episode 49 of Beyond the Code, Bentzi Rabi, CEO of Utila, shares his fascinating journey from an Israeli intelligence unit to founding an enterprise-grade crypto operations platform. Discover how a chance encounter at a Bitcoin embassy chess club sparked his crypto passion, leading him to challenge giants like Fireblocks with Utila’s focus on flexibility, on-chain innovation, and stablecoin payments. Bentzi reflects on navigating a volatile market, keeping the fire alive through crypto winters, and his vision for a maturing digital asset landscape.https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentzi-rabi/ https://x.com/bentzzi https://utila.io/