Talking Tokens

Vidor Gencel, Co-Founder of Solflare, discusses his journey building one of the leading crypto wallets in the Solana ecosystem. He shares how the bear market has become a catalyst for innovation and user-focused design. Vidor highlights the importance of self-custody and the advanced security of their Seed Vault integration. He emphasizes Solflare's adaptability to user needs and the community's resilience during market fluctuations. Exciting plans for stablecoin yields and collaborations with Solana Mobile add to his optimistic outlook for the future.

Join Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless and ex-RISC Zero engineering lead, as he dives into the revolutionary world of zero-knowledge proofs and their impact on data security. Shiv explains how ZK technology unlocks privacy and scalability, making cross-chain applications a reality. He discusses talent trends in the crypto space, the groundbreaking capabilities of ZK VMs, and the exciting future of consumer privacy. Plus, invaluable leadership insights on staying humble and absorbing knowledge in tech!

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn interviews Michael Shaulov, CEO and co-founder of Fireblocks, the firm securing over $10 trillion in digital assets and now leading the way in global payments. Michael explains the launch of Fireblocks Network for Payments, a universal infrastructure standardizing stablecoin settlement, already connecting 2,400+ institutional participants across 60 currencies and all major stablecoins. He unpacks why “Swift for stablecoins” isn’t just about creating faster, cheaper, and transparent cross-border transactions, but building a foundation for the next generation of programmable money, real-world finance, and global innovation. Michael shares Fireblocks’ journey, stablecoin adoption across emerging markets, the core payment “sandwich” use cases, AI and trade finance possibilities, and why mass integration will shift both enterprise and consumer experience. Recorded live as regulatory clarity fuels record institutional demand, you’ll hear his candid reflections on network effects, payment security, and what comes after the next industry unlock.This episode is sponsored by Fireblocks. ⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Intro: Michael Shaulov and the new Fireblocks Network for Payments (00:38) - What is “Swift for stablecoins”? Discovery, partner standards, global APIs (03:59) - Why now: Stablecoin adoption, regulation, and the long strategy ahead (05:34) - Problems solved: Network effects, on/off ramp, and real cross-border settlement (08:19) - Stablecoins’ evolution: Safe haven to global payment rails (09:37) - Early use cases: DeFi yields, FX markets, and stablecoin “sandwich” (12:18) - Real-world payouts: Multinationals, contractors, and next-gen remittance (14:01) - From $900 credit card fees to $0.25 stablecoin transfers, “the magical moment” (16:16) - The transparency advantage: Why blockchain payment tracking sets new standards (17:12) - What comes next? AI, trade finance, and programmable money (19:45) - Fireblocks’ edge: Unlocking scale, security, and innovation for massive flows (22:07) - Going mainstream: How Fireblocks bridges B2B, fintech, and bank adoption (26:10) - Regulatory clarity: Surveying the market, shifting barriers, and new opportunities (29:13) - Killer use cases: U.S. institutions expand global reach, lower costs, onboard new markets (31:08) - Surprising clientele including manufacturing giants and corporates betting on stablecoins (34:17) - The “payout unlock”: When sending stablecoins is as easy as scanning a QR code (37:18) - Why universal crypto acceptance drives actual change (41:21) - Risks ahead: Financial complexity, bubbles, and speculation (45:51) - Fireblocks’ mission: A secure, open, and truly scalable global money network📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with Farooq Malik, co-founder and CEO of Rain, a company building the payment rails powering the next wave of stablecoins, tokenized money, and digital banking worldwide. Recorded live at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Farooq explains why regulatory clarity unleashed a boom in institutional stablecoin adoption and how Rain enables anyone, from fintechs to governments, to instantly spend and settle with digital dollars. The conversation covers the launch of Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Token which includes Rain’s partnership with Avalanche, and why “making payments boring again” (fast, invisible, interoperable) unlocks the real future of crypto. Farooq also shares insights from his career in traditional finance, reveals the real tech behind Rain’s APIs, and why openness, not walled gardens, will define the next era of global banking. Plus: contrarian takes, instant holiday settlements, and why believing the world can be better is his ultimate founder advice.This episode is sponsored by Across Protocol.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Intro (00:48) - The challenge: Why market cap isn’t enough—real usage matters (01:09) - Farooq’s founding story: From DeFi to “tokenized money” infrastructure (03:39) - Betting early: Why regulatory clarity transformed stablecoin adoption (04:00) - Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Token: How Rain and Avalanche are building government-backed money (05:02) - Real purpose of money: Making payments possible everywhere (06:26) - Bringing stablecoins to merchants—making transactions seamless (07:14) - How Rain cards let anyone spend stablecoins “just like dollars” (08:15) - Removing off-ramps: True blockchain native payments (08:47) - Lessons from TradFi: Reconciling payments, eliminating manual work (09:43) - Making settlement instant, reducing costs and risks (10:11) - The magic of tokenized money—using USDC for instant, holiday payments (14:01) - Deciding what to change vs. what to keep in payment experiences (16:35) - Distribution matters: Why Rain partners with Visa for global merchant acceptance (17:39) - Who’s really using stablecoin payments? (18:58) - Making money boring again: Stablecoins behind the scenes (20:10) - Security, custody, and why Rain avoids single points of failure (22:20) - Rain’s APIs: How banks, fintechs, and remittance platforms connect to stablecoins (23:37) - Going global: Rain’s unified product stack for worldwide customers (25:06) - Now that regulatory clarity is here, what comes next for banks and institutions (26:33) - Tokenized money is inevitable—how efficiency wins over legacy infrastructure (27:01) - Big banks, small banks: Why technology shifts create new winners (29:13) - U.S. leads the way—surprising adoption trends and mainstream integrations (31:16) - Interoperability unlocks value: The magic of connecting payments, apps, and platforms (32:09) - Why retail users don’t need to “opt in” to stablecoins (33:29) - Farooq’s contrarian view: Stablecoins are just instant, non-fungible money (35:01) - How slowness costs—why instant settlement will replace payday lenders and legacy systems (36:12) - Rain’s big mountain: Expanding global coverage and showing tokenized money can scale (37:49) - Founder advice: Believe the world can be better📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokens Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

Lorien Gabel, co-founder and CEO of Figment, shares insights from his journey in building a leading non-custodial staking provider. He discusses how staking is evolving to become the new crypto 'savings account' for institutions. The conversation explores the importance of distribution in crypto, misconceptions about staking, and the rise of liquid staking. Lorien predicts a future where 80% of institutions will engage in staking by 2030, likening it to traditional savings products as the digital asset landscape matures.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with John Darsie, CEO of SALT and managing partner at SkyBridge Capital, best known for connecting Wall Street, Washington, and the crypto industry. They unpack the evolution from the exuberant Crypto Bahamas era in 2022 to today’s Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, how institutions and policymakers are engaging crypto, why narrative and PR are more important than ever, and the secret behind attracting actual capital allocators (not just the crypto echo chamber) to conferences. John shares firsthand insights on the Trump administration’s approach, regulatory progress, bipartisan outreach, and what it will take to propel the next wave of adoption. Plus: event philosophy, why fun matters, and wild stories from Jackson Hole.This episode is sponsored by Across Protocol.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Crypto’s PR Problem: Misconceptions, narratives, and industry unity (00:49) - Why the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium? The journey from SkyBridge to Bahamas to Jackson Hole (05:04) - Learning from the Bahamas era: From FTX parties to regulatory focus (06:32) - Creating “the adults’ conference”: Curation, institutions, and escaping the echo chamber (09:16) - Genius Act, Circle IPO, Bitcoin rally: The tipping point for institutional adoption (11:10) - Real change: Word-of-mouth, inbound interest, and what’s different this year (12:22) - Bridging government and tech: Fed, SEC, Treasury—roundtables and candid talks (14:10) - Fireside chat takeaways: U.S. crypto policy, Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, and regulatory progress (17:00) - Federal vs. state regulation: Wyoming vs. New York and long-term policy debates (18:52) - How the Trump administration and key hires have altered crypto’s future (22:10) - The American Bitcoin project, Eric Trump, and what public/private engagement looks like (26:38) - What still holds U.S. crypto adoption back? Due diligence, regulatory clarity, and industry PR (32:08) - Making crypto bipartisan, persistent misconceptions, and event strategy (33:36) - Event philosophy: Why “fun” is as important as networking and policy (34:57) - Lessons from Jackson Hole: Moose sightings, bear run-ins, and the “intimate” advantage (35:39) - What’s next: SkyBridge as a crypto bridge, future SALT events, and the golden age of alternative assets📢 Subscribe & FollowSubscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn welcomes Hart Lambur, co-founder of Across Protocol, back to the show to break down Across’s next big move: live, fast bridging between Solana, Ethereum, and major L2s. Hart explains why true chain interoperability matters for all users and devs, how open intents and a “two-second bridge” are setting new speed standards, and why fragmentation, not maximalism, is the challenge stopping web3’s next phase of growth. You’ll get the inside story on why Across expanded to Solana, the real tradeoffs behind non-EVM integration, cost and speed advantages, and what cross-chain UX should look like in 2025. Hart also gives a candid take on rival bridges, open intents, the path toward unified standards, and why loving your team is the most important lesson in crypto.This episode is sponsored by Across Protocol.⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) - Introduction: Hart Lambur, Across Protocol, and Ethereum to Solana fast bridge (03:08) - Why bridges matter: fragmentation, interoperability, and user experience (07:05) - Choosing Solana: user demand, technical lift, and why Solana came next (14:12) - Two-Second Bridge UX: Solving for speed, no more “wait a minute” (18:17) - What makes Across different: cost, hooks, and EVM vs Solana smart contracts (22:15) - The Open Intents Framework: past progress and future standards (27:28) - Fragmentation vs. unification: where the multi-chain UX breaks down (30:05) - What seamless cross-chain means for app builders and users (34:12) - Technical surprises and lessons from bridging EVM ↔ SVM (36:00) - Macro market trends, Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital asset sovereignty (37:50) - Hart’s advice: Love your team, trust each other, and building for the long haul📢 Subscribe & Follow Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141 Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinekTalking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.

In this engaging conversation, Joseph Onorati, CEO of DeFi Development Corp, shares insights from his journey in cryptocurrency, including nearly a decade at Kraken. He explains why DeFi Dev Corp focuses on Solana over Bitcoin and Ethereum, emphasizing its superior treasury strategies. Joseph discusses the advantages of issuing in-house validators and how they can outperform traditional ETFs. Additionally, he delves into the importance of decentralized finance within Solana and the company's strategic acquisitions, painting an optimistic picture for the future.

On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with Arianna Simpson, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) crypto, one of the most influential firms in tech and crypto.Arianna shares her journey from Facebook to founding her own venture fund, and eventually joining a16z. They discuss how the firm approaches early-stage web3 investments, what they look for in founders, and the sectors she’s most excited about, including stablecoins and decentralized AI infrastructure. She also talks about global adoption trends, navigating regulation, and why the next wave of blockchain innovation will be more user-focused than ever.Timestamps(00:00) - Intro: Who is Arianna Simpson? (01:20) - From Facebook to founding a crypto venture fund (04:10) - Joining a16z crypto and early-stage investment focus (07:15) - How a16z chooses which founders to back (10:05) - Key sectors on a16z’s radar: stablecoins, DeFi, infrastructure (13:00) - Why user experience will drive the next wave of adoption (15:45) - Global adoption trends and emerging markets (18:40) - Navigating regulation and policy changes (21:20) - Advice for founders entering the space now (24:15) - The role of storytelling in raising capital (27:10) - How founders can stand out to top investors (30:25) - Building resilience through market cycles (33:45) - Common mistakes early-stage founders make (36:40) - Final thoughts: stay adaptable, mission-driven, and boldYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.

On today’s Talking Tokens episode, Jacquelyn sits down with AJ Warner, Director of Strategy at Offchain Labs, the team behind Arbitrum, one of Ethereum’s top layer-2 blockchains with over $4B in TVL.AJ shares his journey from real estate lawyer to crypto strategist, and how a college connection led him to help build Arbitrum from the ground up. They discuss the unique "barbell" strategy powering both Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Orbit, why liquidity and composability are critical for growth, and how Arbitrum balances being a top public chain with enabling enterprises to launch custom blockchains.He also dives into the recent Robinhood partnership - from launching tokenized stocks on Arbitrum One to designing a dedicated Robinhood chain - and why powering fintech products with crypto rails might be the fastest path to mass adoption. Plus, AJ breaks down why some projects shouldn’t launch their own chain, how Arbitrum’s governance gives token holders real control over upgrades and revenue, and where L2 innovation is headed next.Timestamps(01:12) - From law to crypto via a college connection (04:04) - Building Arbitrum’s "barbell" product strategy (07:40) - Liquidity, composability & Arbitrum’s public chain advantage (10:19) - Stablecoin liquidity leadership: USDC, USDT, PayPal USD (12:48) - Arbitrum Orbit: Launching custom L3 chains (16:21) - Why Uber-style incentive models fail in crypto (20:59) - Who should (and shouldn’t) launch their own chain (24:44) - MEV, operating costs & economics of L2 ownership (28:50) - Opinionated blockspace: making the chain part of the product (33:09) - Governance, token holder control & the Arbitrum treasury (37:31) - Designing Robinhood’s on-chain strategy (39:16) - Why fintech products powered by crypto rails matter (42:52) - Making blockchain invisible (in a good way) (44:52) - Final advice: No shortcuts, just hard workYou can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow us on X Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensFollow us on Instagram Talking Tokens: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/Note that this podcast is for informational purposes only and any views shared by anyone on the show are opinions, not financial advice. The host or guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this episode.