The Crypto Conversation

Marc Taverner is the CEO and co-founder of XEROF, a financial services provider for crypto assets. Marc says the idea for XEROF stemmed from a recognition of the friction between traditional finance and crypto assets. XEROF aims to provide compliance-first solutions that bridge this gap for high net-worth individuals, businesses, corporates, web3 companies, asset managers, and family offices globally. Why you should listen XEROF offers services such as cross-border payments using stablecoins like tether USDT to reduce fees and increase cash velocity; facilitating real estate purchases with cryptocurrency through currency conversion; supporting web3 companies' periodic conversion of treasury into fiat currencies for operational costs; and providing institutions with an Active Managed Certificate (AMC) to gain exposure to crypto assets in a regulated manner. This allows asset managers to recognize placements as assets under management without needing to take custody of the underlying asset. Supporting links Bitget XEROF Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Andrew Smith is the founder of Versatus Labs. Versatus is building a decentralized compute stack to make it easier for developers to build on blockchains. Their vision is similar to cloud compute providers like AWS, but for blockchain technology. They aim to reduce the language barrier and provide tools for developers to build applications on any chain. They believe that attracting more developers will lead to the creation of killer apps and drive mass adoption of Web3 technology. Why you should listen Andrew Smith discusses the challenges of talent acquisition in Web3 development and emphasizes the need to make the hiring process easier and reduce barriers. He predicts that within the next decade, about a third of all applications will be built on decentralized stacks. Andrew provides an overview of Versatus' layer one blockchain and consensus mechanism. Andrew projects a future where Web3 has multiple killer apps and over 100 million daily active users, with trillion-dollar market cap platforms. He believes that decentralization is the future but acknowledges the current knowledge gap in blockchain technology among most people. Supporting links https://partner.bitget.com/bg/BNC0 Versatus Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Billy Sullivan is the COO, and Arran Potter is the founder at Grease Monkey Games, a Melbourne games studio building immersive community-driven games for fans of Motorsport. Billy and Arran are Motorsport and car culture enthusiasts IRL and in the digital realm. Why you should listen Founded in 2013, Melbourne-based Grease Monkey Games is the developer of Torque Burnout and Torque Drift, both available on mobile devices, with the latter also released on PC. In 2022 Animoca Brands acquired Grease Monkey Games for an undisclosed amount. Torque Drift 2 is an upcoming Web2 meets Web3 motorsport game from Grease Monkey Games. From the colorful drift scene of Tokyo streets to professional competitions sponsored by global brands, Torque Drift 2 invokes all aspects of drift culture. From nostalgic nightscapes to major league championships, your drift style and gameplay choices will determine your legacy as a drift legend. With extensive profile and garage customization options as digital collectables, linear and open-world environments, a powerful suite of player custom creation tools, and a multitude of feature support for both single and multiplayer experiences, Torque Drift 2 aims to offer a 'play-your-way' experience that players can define for themselves. The game will have continuous releases of interactive experiences such as a tuning garage open to players starting as early as Q3 2023, with the full release of the game staged for 2024. Supporting links Bitget Grease Monkey Games Torque Motorsport Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Brian Courchesne started his career on Wall Street and became interested in Bitcoin in 2014. He recognized a need for licensed advisors in the space and founded DAIM to provide professional management of crypto assets. DAIM's typical clients are busy business owners looking to make larger allocations to the crypto space. They offer personalized portfolio recommendations and manage assets according to their model portfolio. Additionally, they provide services such as tax optimization and access to various retirement accounts, including a unique corporate 401k plan that allows employees to invest in Bitcoin alongside traditional funds. Why you should listen DAIM is a successful traditional and digital asset manager that uses its unique investing experience to help its clients achieve their investment goals. DAIM's expertise, research, and access gives clients the confidence to stay at the forefront of modern investing. DAIM has established relationships with traditional and digital investment technology companies and are able to take disconnected platforms and combine them into streamlined solutions. Supporting links Bitget DAIM Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Ethena Labs - Enabling the Internet Bond Guy Young is the CEO and Founder of Ethena Labs, the crypto infrastructure company building USDe, the first-ever global internet bond and stablecoin not reliant on existing banking institutions. Why you should listen Ethena Labs is a decentralized stablecoin protocol built on Ethereum that will provide a crypto-native solution for money not reliant on traditional banking system infrastructure, alongside a globally accessible and permissionless dollar denominated savings instrument - the 'Internet Bond'. Ethena's stablecoin, USDe, will provide the first censorship resistant, scalable, and stable crypto-native solution for money by delta-hedging staked Ethereum collateral. USDe will be fully collateralized transparently onchain and free to compose throughout DeFi. The 'Internet Bond' is built upon USDe and will combine yield derived from staked Ethereum as well as the basis in both perpetual swap and futures markets, to create the first onchain bond that can function as dollar denominated savings instrument for users worldwide. Supporting links Bitget Ethena Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Valio - Next Generation Asset Management Platform Karlis is the of founder Valio, an asset management platform that connects users to leading traders and digital asset managers. Why you should listen Valio.xyz is a new cross-chain asset management platform that aims to solve the technical challenges that have held back decentralized asset management. It works by allowing investors to allocate their capital to traders without the need for trust. Investors are able to allocate capital to traders without trusting them, while traders have access to the many chains supported by LayerZero, to craft flexible strategies that can include long-tail crypto assets, derivatives and, eventually, the full gamut of DeFi. Valio.xyz is incubated by Openhedge, a venture studio. The core team is made up of six experienced professionals with backgrounds in software engineering, investment banking, and DeFi. Supporting links Bitget Valio Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Jason Grewal is the Chief Legal Officer at SYS Labs, a company building products and services for Web3. Why you should listen Rollux is SYSLabs' premier product, an EVM rollup platform rooted in Bitcoin's PoW for unparalleled security, scalability, and affordability. Bitcoin is the most secure store of value in blockchain. Its value is protected against malicious actors through its Proof-of-Work protocol and a decentralized global network of miners. Rollux inherits Bitcoin security by deploying Syscoin on the base settlement layer. Syscoin is a dual-chain (EVM + UTXO) blockchain project that uses merge mining to deploy over 30% of Bitcoin's security, and continues to grow. Jason also introduces Camada, a compliant capital-raising platform that aims to connect investors and issuers worldwide while ensuring regulatory compliance. Jason expresses his opinion on the current state of crypto regulations, highlighting the lack of consensus and unified approach among regulatory agencies. He believes that a new regulatory regime is needed to accommodate the technology and innovation in the crypto industry. Jason also discusses Syslabs' product, SuperDapp, a social platform with AI capabilities and self-custody wallet features. By creating an AI-driven super app that unifies chat, Web3, and social functionalities, SuperDapp aims to transform how users interact with technology and bridge the gaps in the existing fragmented ecosystem. SuperDapp offers an integrated platform where users can access multiple services and features without the need to switch between applications. Supporting links Bitget SYSLabs Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Lodewyck Berghuijs is the CEO and co-founder of Delos Digital, the parent company to Kodoma and Pantheon Mining. Lodewyck shares his personal journey into bitcoin mining after facing challenges in the music industry due to COVID-19. Why you should listen The narrative around Bitcoin's energy consumption is evolving, with a shift towards recognizing its positive impact on driving sustainable energy sources. Pantheon's focus is on catering to high-net-worth individuals, while Kodoma offers fractionalized Bitcoin mining for retail investors. The conversation touches on the challenges faced by individual home miners due to energy costs and technological advancements. Lodewyck stresses the importance of decentralization and encourages more people to participate in Bitcoin mining through the options provided by Pantheon and Kadoma. He highlights the profitability potential of bitcoin mining compared to simply buying and holding bitcoin, especially when considering long-term strategies aligned with halving cycles. Supporting links Bitget Pantheon Kodoma Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Paul Salisbury is the co-founder of Everlasting, a digital currency hybrid custody initiative founded in New Zealand. Everlasting provides users with sovereignty over their assets while mitigating risks such as hacks or loss of funds. The goal is to offer a robust solution that can cater to individual investors, asset managers, and high-net-worth individuals. Why you should listen Paul Salisbury discusses the need for a more secure and flexible approach to on-chain finance. He mentions the challenges of estate planning and inheritance in crypto, where lawyers are hesitant to handle digital assets stored in hardware wallets or seed phrases. To address these issues, Paul introduces a technology approach that allows non-technical users to securely participate in asset signing and approval workflows. The goal is to create an environment where users have control over their assets and transactions are auditable. Paul emphasizes the importance of decentralization and avoiding centralized risks. He also mentions the potential for hybrid custody options that provide more choices for individuals entering the crypto market. Paul Salisbury discusses the challenges faced by the current exchange custody industry and emphasizes the need for hybrid models to accommodate different user cases. He highlights the importance of providing a comfortable way for non-technical users to access tokenized financial products without compromising security. He believes that simplifying complexity for users and enhancing privacy is critical for future advancements in the crypto space. Supporting links Bitget Everlasting Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Corey Caplan and Adam Knuckey are the co-founders of Dolomite, a next-generation money market and margin trading protocol built on Arbitrum. Why you should listen The decision to build Dolomite on Arbitrum was driven by the need for faster transactions and lower gas fees compared to Ethereum mainnet. Dolomite aims to provide a better decentralized exchange experience by addressing the limitations of existing decentralized exchanges. Adam Knuckey explains that the goal of building Dolomite was to enable lending platforms for modern DeFi, incorporating features like voting, staking, vesting, and rewards. They aim to create a platform that offers decentralized exchange capabilities and maximizes yield earning potential through efficient asset utilization. Corey Caplan further discusses how Dolomite's infrastructure can solve liquidity crunch scenarios and retain control over assets during stressful situations. He highlights the ability to earn swap fees and lending yield simultaneously as a key advantage. The team tracks metrics like TVL and borrow activity while focusing on shipping utility through the platform. Despite market fluctuations, Dolomite has retained its TVL without any incentive programs due to its usefulness for users. They also mention their collaboration with OffChain Labs and Chainlink, highlighting how Dolomite relies on these teams for securing its network and valuing user collateral. The conversation shifts to broader perspectives on DeFi, with Corey discussing the analogy between the early internet and the current state of DeFi, while Adam mentions the challenges posed by unclear regulations in the industry. Adam Knuckey emphasizes the importance of approaching projects in a secure and proper manner, rather than treating legal matters as an afterthought. He acknowledges that overcoming this challenge can be difficult, but making the best efforts is crucial. Supporting links Bitget Dolomite Andy on Twitter Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.