The Smart Economy Podcast: Real-World Blockchain Applications with Crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski sits down with David Johnston, OSS code maintainer at Morpheus, a peer-to-peer network designed to power decentralized smart agents and open access to AI infrastructure.Johnston shares his journey from early internet startups and energy ventures into Bitcoin and eventually decentralized AI infrastructure, and what he believes is the next major technological shift: personal AI agents that individuals own and control. What you’ll learn:Why owning your own AI agent may become as important as owning your smartphoneHow decentralized AI infrastructure could challenge Big Tech’s control of AIWhy Johnston believes “everything that can be decentralized will be decentralized”How crypto networks may enable open access to AI models and computationWhy AI agents may soon perform most on-chain transactionsHow early Bitcoin lessons shaped Johnston’s thinking about AI ownershipWhy personal AI agents could dramatically change productivity and workDavid Johnston is the OSS code maintainer at Morpheus, a decentralized network focused on enabling open-source AI agents. Johnston previously helped launch BitAngels, one of the earliest decentralized angel investment groups in crypto, and has spent more than a decade building companies across technology, energy, and decentralized infrastructure.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f8C9EnD_DAgDid you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski sits down with Laszlo Szabo, co-founder and CEO of Kiln, an institutional staking and on-chain yield platform powering validator infrastructure for exchanges, custodians, wallets, and asset managers across the crypto ecosystem.Szabo shares how staking evolved from early retail validator activity into critical infrastructure for institutions exploring on-chain yield. The conversation examines how staking behaves across market cycles, why institutions increasingly view staking as foundational infrastructure, and how validator operations scale securely across multiple networks.What you’ll learn:Why staking can continue growing during bear marketsHow institutional staking infrastructure differs from retail validatorsWhy stablecoin and Bitcoin yield markets may be expandingHow tokenized RWAs are entering on-chain financeWhat on-chain vaults are and how they resemble asset management fundsHow Railnet is aimed at connecting DeFi protocols and tokenized assetsWhy validator infrastructure matters for institutional securityLaszlo Szabo is the co-founder and CEO of Kiln, an institutional staking and on-chain yield platform supporting exchanges, custodians, wallets, and asset managers globally. Kiln provides validator infrastructure, staking access, and DeFi integrations across multiple blockchain networks. Prior to founding Kiln, Szabo worked in technology recruitment and began exploring crypto during Ethereum’s early ecosystem growth, eventually building infrastructure designed to meet the reliability, security, and compliance expectations of institutional participants.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wFjYO1B2mqUDid you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Olivia Vande Woude, head of tokenization at Ava Labs, the team behind the Avalanche blockchain, a platform built to support customized blockchain infrastructure for institutions, enterprises, and consumer applications.Vande Woude discusses her transition from equity research and TradFi into crypto, and how that background informs Avalanche’s approach to tokenization, on-chain finance, and institutional adoption. The conversation explores Avalanche’s multi-chain architecture, why distribution economics matter more than product count, and how RWAs are being deployed in practice today.They also dig into institutional metrics, regulatory clarity, private credit, stablecoins, and why real-world blockchain adoption often looks quieter than social media narratives.What you’ll learn:• Why tokenization is a distribution problem first• How Avalanche enables purpose-built blockchains• What institutions look for in blockchain infrastructure• Why TVL can matter more than users for RWAs• How private credit is being upgraded on-chain• How adoption is impacted by regulatory clarity• Avalanche’s approach to real-world scaleOlivia Vande Woude is head of tokenization at Ava Labs, where she works with global asset managers, fintechs, and institutions to bring financial products and RWAs onto the Avalanche blockchain. She previously worked in equity research at T. Rowe Price, covering banks and financial infrastructure, and brings a capital markets lens to blockchain adoption.YouTube: https://youtu.be/3lfkv6ltMK4Did you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Zeymer Montes, founder of MOCA, a crypto payments ecosystem built to make on-chain transactions feel intuitive for users and merchants alike.Montes discusses his path from early Bitcoin curiosity to years in Web2 software development, where he learned that great products depend as much on UX and communication as they do on technical execution. The conversation explores MOCA’s smart wallet, point-of-sale system, encrypted messenger, and how these pieces work together to support gasless payments, cross-chain settlement, and merchant adoption.They also dig into onboarding challenges, why language choices matter in crypto UX, how MOCA handles behind-the-scenes token swaps, and why simplicity is essential if crypto payments are going to work in the real world.What you’ll learn:• Why UX remains crypto’s biggest barrier• How MOCA enables crypto payments via QR codes• What “pay with any wallet” looks like in practice• How merchants receive stablecoins regardless of payment token• Why messaging and payments belong together• How referral-driven revenue supports long-term growth• What’s next for MOCA’s wallet, POS, and messengerZeymer Montes is the founder of MOCA, a crypto payments and wallet ecosystem focused on usability, self-custody, and merchant adoption. With a background in Web2 software development and product leadership, Montes brings a user-first mindset to building crypto infrastructure that works across chains, devices, and experience levels.Did you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Tomasz Stańczak, Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the development and long-term health of the Ethereum blockchain.Stańczak discusses his path from traditional finance to Ethereum and how those experiences prepared him to help steward Ethereum during a period of rapid growth. The conversation explores Ethereum Foundation restructuring, builder support, L2 interoperability, and why multiple rollup designs are expected to coexist as the ecosystem scales.They also examine institutional adoption, tokenization, ETH economics, privacy, and how the Foundation balances research, infrastructure, and application-level growth as it plans for the years ahead.What you’ll learn• How Ethereum Foundation leadership operates at scale• Why L2 diversity and interoperability matter for Ethereum’s future• How builder-focused teams are supporting applications and founders• What institutions need to adopt Ethereum infrastructure• How ETH economics tie into security and incentives• Why privacy and censorship resistance remain core priorities• What’s top of mind for the Foundation heading into 2026Tomasz Stańczak is the Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation and the founder of Nethermind, one of Ethereum’s leading client teams. Prior to building core blockchain infrastructure, Tomasz worked in traditional finance, including roles at Citi and CME Group, where he gained experience in market structure, risk, and large-scale systems. His background continues to inform his approach to Ethereum stewardship, with a focus on security, open-source development, privacy, and long-term protocol sustainability.Watch on YouTube: YouTube: https://youtu.be/b_M_gqgHfVgDid you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Brian Smocovich, co-founder of PistachioFi, a blockchain finance mobile app designed to make DeFi more accessible. Together, they explore how Ethereum’s scaling journey has shaped product decisions, why L1 and L2 tradeoffs matter for consumer-facing apps, and how smart wallets may help reduce friction without sacrificing self-custody.What you’ll learn:Why Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap introduced short-term complexity alongside long-term scaling benefitsHow liquidity fragmentation and gas costs influence real user behaviorWhy UX challenges like seed phrases, approvals, and gas remain barriers for non-technical usersHow PistachioFi approaches mobile-first, gasless wallet designWhy cryptographic recovery can improve safety without custodial riskHow L1 and L2 architecture decisions affect consumer financial productsWhat gasless, cross-border transfers could mean for more accessible on-chain financeAnd much more!Brian Smocovich is the co-founder of PistachioFi, a smart wallet focused on making on-chain finance safer and easier for everyday users. Prior to building in crypto, Brian worked in financial advising and management consulting, where he developed a deep understanding of risk management, financial infrastructure, and user trust. His background continues to shape PistachioFi’s focus on security-first design, intuitive UX, and practical pathways for broader on-chain participation.Did you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski sits down with Cian Breathnach, founder of Matariki Labs and contributor to Keel, to explore how Solana is maturing into a high-performance environment for institutional capital, stablecoin liquidity, and tokenized real-world assets.Breathnach shares his path from actuary to protocol engineer, reflecting on how Solana's speed, low fees, and composability convinced him to leave traditional finance and build full-time in Web3. He explains how Keel emerged from the Sky (formerly MakerDAO) ecosystem, why a “capital engine” is essential for scaling USDS adoption, and how capital allocation works inside a protocol-owned balance sheet.The conversation covers the structural differences between fiat-backed, algorithmic, and overcollateralized stablecoins; the growing institutional interest in tokenization; and the importance of building on a monolithic chain where high-frequency execution and settlement happen in the same place.Breathnach also unpacks the long-term vision behind Keel’s $2.5B capital roadmap, how it plans to grow lending markets and stablecoin liquidity on Solana, and what’s required to safely onboard institutional RWAs while navigating the realities of DeFi risk.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNHow Breathnach transitioned from actuarial work to building capital infrastructure on SolanaWhy Solana’s speed and monolithic design enable on-chain credit marketsHow Keel allocates capital and manages risk while supporting Sky’s USDS growthWhy overcollateralized stablecoins are crucial for credit creationHow RWAs fit into Solana’s next phase, and why institutional demand is risingThe challenges of tokenization, liquidity bootstrapping, and building in a new VMHow DeFi projects can reduce systemic risk and protect new institutional participantsDid you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, Dylan Grabowski speaks with Alex Gluchowski, co-founder and CEO of Matter Labs, the engineering team behind ZKsync and the ZK Stack powering Ethereum’s zero-knowledge ecosystem.Gluchowski shares his journey from growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine—where financial instability and institutional distrust were the norm—to discovering Bitcoin as a tool for freedom. He explains why zero-knowledge proofs felt “too good to be true,” how early cryptographic constraints slowed adoption, and how recent breakthroughs now make ZK the most scalable and secure path forward for blockchains.The conversation explores the growth of ZKsync, the introduction of the Elastic Network, and why Gluchowski believes all rollups will eventually migrate to ZK. He discusses the challenges of onboarding institutions, the rising demand for stablecoins and compliant privacy, and the pivotal role ZK infrastructure will play as real-world assets, enterprises, and global finance move on-chain.Gluchowski also highlights the importance of user incentives, developer experience, and the need for seamless interoperability across chains—sharing how ZK recursion, rapid proving, and institutional-grade privacy are shaping Ethereum’s long-term trajectory.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNHow Alex’s early experiences with hyperinflation and institutional distrust shaped his mission for ZKsyncWhy ZK technology took years longer than expected to become usableWhy scalable proofs, recursion, and fast settlement can unlock a global blockchain economyThe difference between privacy for individuals vs institutions — and why both matterHow the Elastic Network connects ZK rollups into one cohesive ecosystemWhy Alex believes optimistic rollups will phase out over timeHow stablecoins, RWAs, and institutional blockchains are driving the next major wave of on-chain adoptionDid you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Sebastien Borget, co-founder and global ambassador of The Sandbox, a leading decentralized virtual world where players can create, own, and monetize experiences. Together, they explore the evolution of The Sandbox from a 2D mobile game to a metaverse platform with over 8 million users, and discuss the launch of SANDchain, a new layer-2 network designed to empower creators across gaming, art, and social media.What you’ll learn: • How The Sandbox evolved from a mobile game to a global Web3 virtual world • Why creator monetization challenges led to early NFT adoption in 2018 • What lessons Borget learned from building through multiple market cycles • How SANDchain expands the creator economy beyond gaming • Why meaningful partnerships matter more than hype in Web3 • How The Sandbox continues to innovate through scalability and decentralizationAnd much more!Sebastien Borget is the co-founder and global ambassador of The Sandbox and a leading voice in the Web3 gaming industry. With over 15 years of experience across mobile, cloud, and gaming startups, Borget has helped pioneer user-generated content and digital ownership, shaping how creators engage and earn in decentralized environments.Did you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Nick Hansen, team lead at The Graph Foundation, an indexing protocol for organizing blockchain data. Together, they unpack The Graph’s mission to become the “Google of blockchains,” and discuss why decentralized indexing matters more than ever.What you’ll learn:How The Graph is working to solve the critical read-write problem in blockchain data accessibilityWhy decentralized indexing provides crucial advantages over centralized alternatives for dApp developmentThe evolution of foundation leadership from zero-to-one pioneers to professional operational expertiseHow content creation and community building can create career opportunities in Web3Why blockchain infrastructure projects must balance technical innovation with institutional adoptionThe framework for evaluating when decentralization matters most in technical infrastructureHow The Graph is preparing for the convergence of AI and blockchain data through knowledge graphsAnd much more!Nick Hansen is the team lead at The Graph Foundation, where he stewards the development and growth of The Graph, an indexing protocol for organizing blockchain data. With a diverse background spanning traditional finance, marketing, radio broadcasting, and education, Hansen brings a unique perspective to blockchain infrastructure development. Prior to his current role, he created and hosted the GRT IQ podcast, conducting over 200 interviews with key figures in The Graph ecosystem, which led to his transition into a leadership position at the foundation.Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Seize Rare Industry Inflection Points Before They Pass You ByDylan Grabowski emphasizes that **major industry shifts happen rarely throughout human history**, and recognizing when you have an invitation to participate in one is a career-defining moment. Most professionals never encounter a foundational technology at its emergence, making these opportunities extraordinarily valuable and fleeting. The challenge many face is **hesitancy born from uncertainty**—it's difficult to commit fully to something nascent when traditional career paths feel safer. The first step is to **acknowledge the historical rarity of these moments** and reframe participation as a human experience worth pursuing, not just a financial bet. When Grabowski faced the choice between staying in traditional finance and joining The Graph Foundation, he recognized this as one of those rare inflection points and made the leap despite having a family to support. For builders seeking meaningful work, **identifying and seizing these moments—even with imperfect information—often determines whether you build something transformational or watch from the sidelines**.[00:13:07] Build Authority in Emerging Spaces by Starting a Content Brand EarlyGrabowski discovered that **in Web3, you can build credibility and influence by becoming a visible content creator** before you have deep expertise, positioning yourself as an emerging thought leader. Unlike traditional industries where credentials matter first, blockchain communities reward **consistent visibility, genuine curiosity, and transparent learning in public**. The barrier to entry is low—you don't need formal permission, funding, or institutional backing to start creating value. His approach was to **launch the GRT IQ brand with simple deliverables** (infographics, written interviews, eventually a podcast) while learning the space simultaneously over 8 months. This consistency and authentic engagement led to The Graph Foundation directly approaching him with a full-time opportunity, demonstrating that **visibility compounds into opportunity**. For builders wanting to break into Web3, **starting a content brand around a protocol or ecosystem you believe in is one of the fastest pathways to credibility, connections, and ultimately employment**.[00:17:06] Use Traditional Finance Frameworks to Evaluate Crypto Projects Without Providing Financial AdviceGrabowski applies his **TradFi background to crypto evaluation** by translating familiar concepts rather than creating entirely new frameworks. He emphasizes that **"do your own research" isn't a Web3 invention—it's foundational logic** you'd apply to any major decision (buying a home, choosing a partner, adopting a pet). The critical insight is that **traditional finance already solved the problem of risk assessment**; you can leverage existing concepts like risk tolerance, personal financial goals, and time horizons to approach digital assets responsibly. Rather than chasing PE ratios or impossible metrics, the focus should shift to **understanding the team, the problem being solved, and your personal conviction** after connecting with community members in Discord and Telegram. The challenge many face is **conflating speculation with investment**, which Grabowski addresses by maintaining clear language about what crypto participation actually is at current market maturity. For builders and investors, **applying traditional financial discipline—without pretending crypto metrics are equivalent to traditional finance—provides a grounded approach** that reduces emotional decision-making.[00:32:54] Position Decentralization as Insurance, Not PhilosophyGrabowski reframes **decentralization not as ideological purity but as practical risk mitigation** against predictable failure modes of centralized systems. When dApps rely on centralized indexing providers (like SaaS competitors to The Graph), they face real risks: **server downtime crashes the application, terms-of-service changes can destroy business models, and data ownership becomes contested**. The market hasn't yet experienced catastrophic centralized failures in blockchain infrastructure, so builders often deprioritize decentralization—but **this is precisely when you should adopt it as insurance**. By using decentralized infrastructure like The Graph, **developers retain redundancy, avoid vendor lock-in, and eliminate single points of failure** that will inevitably emerge as the industry scales. The framework is borrowed from physical infrastructure: you don't appreciate police until you need them, and you don't appreciate decentralized systems until centralized ones fail you. For builders making infrastructure choices, **choosing decentralized solutions early—even when centralized competitors seem cheaper or faster—is strategic risk management** rather than ideological posturing.[00:44:34] Professionalize Foundation Operations to Scale Ecosystem MaturityGrabowski's transition to Team Lead at The Graph Foundation reflects a **shift from "zero to one" founding chaos to structured operational excellence** as ecosystems mature. Earlier foundation leaders had different skills suited to launching from nothing; his role is to **apply management discipline, align teams around clear mandates, and drive strategic coordination** without centralizing decision-making. The foundation's goal isn't to solve every problem forever but to **identify which gaps need backfilling now, which the ecosystem can solve independently, and which require long-term stewardship**. He's implementing professionalized processes for how the foundation works with core developers and how core devs coordinate with each other—work that's invisible externally but enables ecosystem-wide coherence. The challenge is **balancing operational rigor with Web3's decentralized ethos**; some criticize formalization as too "corporate," but boundaries and clear processes actually protect decentralization. For ecosystem stewards, **introducing professional operations management at the right maturity stage accelerates ecosystem growth** without creating centralization risk.[00:47:55] Target New Market Segments to Drive Growth Beyond Developer CommunitiesGrabowski identifies that **The Graph's next growth phase comes from shifting focus away from developer audiences toward institutional and enterprise users**. For years, Web3 infrastructure projects defaulted to developer marketing because that's who understands the technology, but **market segmentation reveals that institutional buyers have different needs and decision criteria** than individual developers. The surprising discovery is that **major TradFi institutions already recognize The Graph's value**—this isn't a cold-call situation but one where large players proactively approach because they understand the protocol's role. Rather than continuing to optimize for the dev community, The Graph Foundation is now **developing use cases, documentation, and features tailored to enterprise requirements** while continuing core developer support. The framework comes from consulting firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) that identify multiple customer segments and design distinct growth strategies for each. For builders and foundations, **recognizing when your initial market (early adopters/developers) is maturing means identifying and cultivating the next segment** to sustain exponential growth.Did you enjoy this episode? Check out these other great guests:Tomasz Stańczak - Ethereum FoundationDavid Hoffman - BanklessFisher Yu - Babylon LabsAlexei Zamyatin - BOBSid Powell - Maple FinanceAnd many others!ATTENTION all blockchain, crypto, and Web3 professionals! If you're a founder, CEO, or expert doing something innovative in this space, we're interested in speaking to you! Apply to be a guest on our platform and connect with our vibrant community of blockchain professionals:  https://bit.ly/SEP-guest