ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Viktor Uzunov, co-founder and CEO of UEB3 Ventures and a former trading-floor banker, argues that blockchain is upgrading traditional finance rather than replacing it. He walks through how tokenisation lowers entry barriers through fractional ownership, simplifies legal claims and transfers, and how on-chain markets, Nasdaq's planned move to 23-hour trading and Hyperliquid's daily volumes point to 24/7 finance. He describes banks moving into stablecoins and DeFi, then shows how AI saves him time on morning briefs and revealed that his weekend trades had a much lower win rate. The talk ends with audience questions on stock tokenisation and on-chain mortgages. Keynote at ETHSofia 2026, 24 September 2026, Sofia Tech Park, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Viktor Uzunov, CEO, UEB3 Ventures Viktor Uzunov is the co-founder of digital asset fund UEB3 and UAE-based real estate firm Arreat Capital, which specialises in tokenised real estate. Over the past decade he has focused on building institutional-grade infrastructure at the intersection of capital markets, real assets, and digital finance. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktor-uzunov-ueb3 X: https://x.com/viktortrades Chapters 00:00 Opening and thanks 01:36 From Wall Street to blockchain 03:00 Easier, cheaper and more transparent access 04:12 US markets now drive crypto 04:45 Legacy settlement vs on-chain finance 06:13 Nasdaq moves towards 23-hour trading 07:23 Tokenisation and fractional access 09:17 Legal claims and transferability 11:09 On-chain stocks and Hyperliquid 13:26 Users want simpler access 14:27 DeFi as part of institutional finance 16:11 Risk management and knowledge 16:39 How AI changes the investor's day 20:42 Know what you own 22:19 Closing thoughts 22:58 Q&A: Is stock tokenisation a layer two? 23:47 Q&A: On-chain mortgages and RWA lending Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Maximilian Roszko, business development lead at Curve Finance, traces how crypto set out to create a new form of money but found its strongest use case in bringing existing currencies on-chain, with stablecoins now above $300 billion in circulating supply. He argues that a DeFi built almost entirely on dollars leaves users elsewhere exposed to FX risk, and that the many euro, Swiss franc and Brazilian real stablecoins struggle because on-chain liquidity is expensive. Using examples from Gnosis with Monerium and from Frankencoin, he sets out practical ways issuers can bootstrap FX liquidity: tying pools to real conversion demand, yield-bearing assets, CDPs and stable pools alongside established tokens. Keynote at ETHSofia 2026, 24 September 2026, Sofia Tech Park, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Maximilian Roszko, Business Development Lead, Curve Finance Maximilian leads business development at Curve Finance. He works with stablecoin issuers, blockchain networks and other DeFi protocols to build liquidity, develop lending markets and make assets useful across DeFi. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxroszko X: https://x.com/MaxRoszko Chapters 00:00 About Curve Finance 00:54 Crypto's original goal: a new form of money 01:56 The rise of stablecoins: from Tether to $300 billion 03:26 Traditional finance copies the model 05:06 A dollar-dominated stablecoin market 05:48 FX risk for users outside the dollar 06:38 Non-dollar stablecoins and the cost of liquidity 09:16 Tying FX liquidity to real demand 10:23 Lending with yield-bearing FX assets 11:24 CDPs as a shortcut to lending use cases 12:57 Piggybacking on existing liquidity with stable pools 13:37 Why FX will be a big part of DeFi 14:24 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Ivan Goychev of Sofia Municipality recalls his start as a software engineer in fintech, from portfolio management software for private equity, with one project for Goldman Sachs, to an algorithmic trading start-up that traded on news sentiment. He cites FinAnalytica, LimeChain, Nexo and Robinhood founder Vlad Tenev as proof of Bulgarian talent on the global stage. He presents the city as a platform for builders, offering open data, real use cases, marketing and 1.3 million residents as potential clients, while leaving laws and regulation to the national government and the European Parliament. He floats tokenising city assets and paying citizens in real time for micro-jobs that improve their neighbourhoods, and invites companies to partner with the municipality. Official Opening at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation and Information Systems Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation of Sofia, has 25 years of leadership experience, including managing global teams at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and serving as CTO of FinTech, TravelTech and ConstructionTech startups. He also supports open-source initiatives like Podkrepi.bg. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/igoychev Chapters 00:00 From fintech engineer to deputy mayor 01:47 Bulgarian fintech and blockchain talent 03:12 The city as a platform: open data and 1.3 million clients 04:02 Tokenising city assets and micro-jobs 05:06 An invitation to partner with Sofia Municipality 06:20 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Martin Leinweber of MarketVector Indexes draws on index data back to 2015 and more than 2,300 tokens to argue that crypto rewards size, not speculation. The top ten coins hold roughly 90% of market cap, there is no small-cap premium, and a liquid micro-cap basket lost about 19% a year. He shows which coins held up in both bull and bear markets, why privacy is a strong theme, and why DeFi, at 2% of market cap but 65% of on-chain fees, looks mispriced. He expects stablecoins, tokenisation and AI agents to drive a fundamentals-led altcoin cycle, and explains the fees-and-users methodology behind his Token Terminal index. Keynote at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Martin Leinweber, CFA, Head of Digital Asset Research and Strategy, MarketVector Indexes Martin Leinweber leads digital asset research at MarketVector Indexes, developing index products and institutional research, and serving as the firm's primary voice on crypto markets globally. He brings nearly two decades of portfolio management experience across equities, fixed income, and alternatives. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-leinweber-cfa-7758b012b Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Twelve years of data on 2,300 tokens 01:03 Crypto is concentrated: the top 10 hold 90% 02:13 No size premium in crypto 03:21 Micro caps: the pump and dump that works on paper 04:26 The most consistent coins in bull and bear markets 06:54 Screening for relative strength: the privacy theme 09:01 What the leaders share: revenue and users 10:02 On-chain fundamentals: DeFi is 2% of cap, 65% of fees 11:19 Stablecoins, tokenisation and AI agents 13:49 The Token Terminal top 10 index 15:45 Prediction: a fundamentals-driven altcoin cycle 17:30 Q&A: The index methodology 19:46 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Damyan Leshev (Eversheds Sutherland, moderator), Ivan Takev (Alaric Securities), Vyara Savova (European Ethereum Institute) and Dimitar Stoyanov (Financial Supervision Commission). With Bulgaria's MiCA transitional period over and five crypto-asset service providers now licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission, this panel looks at what the first licences actually took. Ivan Takev explains how Alaric Securities fitted crypto into an existing investment firm, and Dimitar Stoyanov names the two most common weaknesses in applications: flawed policies and key staff who do not meet the requirements. Vyara Savova argues the MiCA review should fix the white paper notification period and make the DLT Pilot Regime permanent. The panel also covers tokenised stocks under MiCA or MiFID, the dual licensing of e-money tokens, ESMA supervision of significant CASPs, and whether Bulgaria is crypto-friendly. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Damyan Leshev, Partner and Co-Head of Financial Services (Bulgaria), Eversheds Sutherland (moderator) Damyan Leshev is a partner at Eversheds Sutherland Bulgaria, heading the crypto practice. With 20+ years in banking & capital markets law, he is one of Bulgaria's first crypto lawyers. He bridges traditional finance with digital assets regulation. Recognised by Chambers Europe, IFLR 1000 & Legal 500. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damyan-leshev ▸ Ivan Takev, Head of Capital Markets and Investments, Alaric Securities Ivan Takev is Head of Capital Markets & Investments at Alaric Securities, where he also leads the crypto division. A former CEO of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, he brings 25+ years of expertise in institutional finance, regulation, market infrastructure, and trading, bridging traditional and digital assets. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivantakev ▸ Vyara Savova, Senior Policy Lead, European Ethereum Institute Vyara is a web3 & human rights lawyer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Senior Policy Expert at the European Ethereum Institute, shaping EU regulation for open, permissionless, decentralised blockchain applications. PhD candidate researching legal automation through smart contracts. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vyarasavova ▸ Dimitar Stoyanov, Chief Expert, Regulatory Regimes of Investment Activity, Financial Supervision Commission Dimitar’s interest in financial markets dates back to his tenure as a Member of the European Parliament (2007–2014). Dimitar returned to the FSC’s authorisations team in December 2025, where the entry into application of MiCAR presented a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the authorisation of the first crypto- asset service providers (CASPs). Chapters 00:00 Bulgaria's first MiCA licences and the MiCA review 01:31 Adding crypto to an existing investment firm 04:16 Challenges on the way to the first licence 05:30 The regulator's view: why applications fall short 09:18 What the MiCA review must fix: white paper notification 12:56 Tokenised stocks: MiCA or MiFID? 16:21 The DLT Pilot Regime and the market integration package 20:11 E-money tokens: a MiCA gray area 22:37 Do EMT services also need a payment licence? 24:27 ESMA supervision of significant CASPs 29:17 Is Bulgaria a crypto-friendly jurisdiction? 33:21 Closing 34:14 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Rostislav Totev, founder and CEO of Altcoins.bg, argues that the question is no longer whether digital assets join traditional finance but who builds regulated, reliable infrastructure that can scale. Behind a simple buy button sit identity checks, sanctions and wallet screening, the travel rule, custody and reconciliation, and he says trust and operational experience are the parts that cannot be copied. He tells how the company grew from one man and a laptop in 2017 to a MiCA licence in July, rebuilding most of its infrastructure in the final month because partners could not get licensed. A licence, he says, only gives the right to compete; the future is specialised regulated firms working together. Keynote at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Rostislav Totev, Founder and CEO, Altcoins.bg Rostislav Totev is the Founder & CEO of Altcoins.bg, a Bulgarian crypto exchange licensed under MiCA. He is focused on bridging traditional finance and the digital asset economy and making crypto more accessible, secure and integrated into everyday financial services. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rostislav-totev Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:16 The buy button and the system behind it 02:46 What cannot be copied: trust and experience 04:14 From buying Bitcoin to working inside finance 05:24 Altcoins.bg: from one man and a laptop 07:46 The MiCA licence: repairing the engine while driving 09:50 The licence is not the business 12:26 Build, partner or acquire crypto infrastructure 14:02 Passporting the licence into the EU 15:07 Make crypto infrastructure boring 16:41 Specialised regulated firms working together 19:53 Q&A: Why use a regulated exchange instead of Uniswap? 21:43 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Sam Mudie, CEO of Savea, draws on more than a decade in fine wine investment to explain how luxury assets can be tokenised at scale. He argues that real adoption comes from boring efficiencies and user experience rather than ICOs, NFTs or meme coins, and that selling wine as NFTs to people with MetaMask wallets does not work. Savea's answer borrows from ETFs: physical wine held by a custodian is tokenised and wrapped into an index product for qualified investors, with access from 1,000 dollars, half the annual fees, under a quarter of the exit fees and liquidity within three to four months. He closes on a single app holding every asset, where tokenisation stays behind the scenes. Keynote at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Sam Mudie, CEO, Savea Sam is the Founder & CEO of Savea, a FinTech company building infrastructure to tokenise real-world assets and issue institutional-grade investment products. Savea is pioneering index-style, on-chain exposure to tangible assets, starting with fine wine. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mudie-03034030 Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:16 Why fine wine investment is inefficient 01:47 Three blockchain cycles: ICOs, NFTs and meme coins 04:47 Bringing wine and blockchain together 05:48 Adoption comes from the boring stuff 06:46 All assets are moving on chain 08:44 Scale through index products: lessons from ETFs 09:47 How the tokenised wine index works 11:51 A B2B infrastructure provider 12:52 Products native to the next generation 15:11 All assets, for anyone, from a single app 16:56 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Assoc. Prof. Manyu Moravenov, CEO of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, asks what the capital market infrastructure of the future will look like, and whether it can become Europe's next growth engine. He argues that blockchain is moving from experiment to infrastructure inside regulated markets, pointing to the Eurosystem's new Pontes service for settling tokenised assets in central bank money and the European Commission's plan to broaden the DLT Pilot Regime. He sets three conditions for scale: trust, which exchanges and depositories already provide; a digital cash leg, so securities and money move together; and interoperability, so tokenisation does not create new fragmentation. For a smaller market like Bulgaria, he concludes, the goal is not a separate digital market but to make the capital market itself digital. Keynote at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Assoc. Prof. Manyu Moravenov, Ph.D., MRICS, Member of the Board and CEO of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange Assoc. Prof. Manyu Moravenov, Ph.D., MRICS, is CEO and Board Member of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. With 25+ years of experience in finance and capital markets, he has led the BSE's transformation, driving market growth and the successful launch of the BEAM SME market. He is also a European Climate Pact Ambassador. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manyumoravenov Chapters 00:00 The capital market infrastructure of the future 00:55 From experiments to scale: Pontes and the DLT Pilot Regime 03:41 Born-digital instruments and technology neutrality 05:35 Trust and the role of exchanges 07:00 Digitising the cash side of the transaction 08:28 Interoperability as Europe's growth engine 12:30 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Diana Ilieva (FinDaS, moderator) and Markus Dorner (Bitpanda Group). In this fireside chat Diana Ilieva of FinDaS asks Markus Dorner, CTO of Bitpanda Group, how a platform built for retail serves institutional clients and what changes once tokenised assets reach mainnet. Dorner says security is the gatekeeper because a token that leaves your control cannot be recovered, that around 300 engineers cannot foresee every edge case of millions of customers, and that keeping the blockchain and traditional ledgers in sync depends on product design. He sees the technology as ready, with product design, market fit and timing as the open questions, as a Bitpanda metals token that drew curiosity but no lasting demand showed. He favours partnering with traditional finance for liquidity, letting the market rather than a central standard decide, and keeping humans in control of AI-assisted coding. Fireside Chat at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Diana Ilieva, Tokenomics Consultant, FinDaS (moderator) Diana is a tokenomics consultant at FinDaS Ltd with over 4 years of experience in creating data-driven tokenomics models for RWA, stablecoins, DeFi protocols, and P2E projects. Diana has a background in software development and holds an MSc degree in Finance and Banking from the University of York. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillie66 ▸ Markus Dorner, CTO, Bitpanda Group Markus Dorner is CTO of Bitpanda, leading its technology, engineering, product, data, and infrastructure teams. Since joining in 2022, he has scaled the platform and shaped its engineering culture. He previously held senior roles at bank99 and Amazon and holds an MSc from TU Vienna. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dornermarkus Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:20 What Bitpanda offers retail and B2B clients 01:55 Serving institutional clients 02:46 From sandbox to production 04:53 Security as the gatekeeper 06:45 Who wants tokenised assets: retail or institutions? 08:43 Settlement times and the source of truth 10:22 Which asset classes are ready for tokenisation 12:13 Regulation as a barrier 13:47 Partnering with traditional finance for liquidity 17:09 Should tokenisation be standardised? 19:13 One dominant chain for real-world assets? 20:45 Q&A: How much of Bitpanda's code is written by AI? 23:02 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

Vasil Golemanski, Chairman of Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission, speaking at Blockchain Week Bulgaria for the second time, sets out how the country moves from MiCA transition to a mature regulated market. He calls MiCA a single rulebook under which a licence issued in Bulgaria works across Europe, notes that the transition period ended on 1 July and that the Commission has issued Bulgaria's first MiCA licences, and stresses that licensing is only the start of ongoing supervision. "MiCA is not just an administrative task," he says, "it is a task of business maturity." He outlines four priorities (strong licensed firms, data-driven supervision, European cooperation and trust) and applies the principle of same risk, same rules. Keynote at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speaker ▸ Vasil Golemanski, Chairman, Financial Supervision Commission Vasil Golemanski is Chairman of Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission, elected by the National Assembly in March 2025 for a six-year term. He was previously Executive Director of Central Depository from 2012, and his career includes key positions at the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. He graduated in electronics and automation engineering from the Technical University (Plovdiv branch) in 1991 and holds a master's degree in International Business from South-West University "Neofit Rilski" in Blagoevgrad. His priorities include transparency, active dialogue with supervised firms, digitalisation, strict supervision of the capital, insurance and pension markets, a smooth transition to the eurozone, and cybersecurity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:49 MiCA: one rulebook for European crypto markets 03:28 Transition period ends and the first licences 05:59 Four priorities: licensing and supervision 07:23 European cooperation and trust 08:25 What will you build with your licence? 10:37 From MiCA compliant to MiCA ready 13:04 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Bozhena Bozhilova (Bulgarian Fintech Association, moderator), Andrey Sirakov (Commerzbank AG), Bernie Niebsch (BVNK) and Eduardo Morrison (Schuman Financial). Moderated by Bozhena Bozhilova, the panel asks where euro stablecoins are finding real business use. Eduardo Morrison says Schuman Financial grew through B2B flows for fintechs in Africa and Latin America, reaching 150 million euros of payment volume in August, and is testing atomic settlement against tokenised money market funds with banks in Spain. Andrey Sirakov describes corporate demand as pragmatic, expects banks to combine permissioned networks and tokenised deposits, which Commerzbank AG is exploring, with public stablecoins, and lists the custody, audit and wallet-level compliance controls a bank needs first, while Bernie Niebsch argues that SEPA Instant works well and that SWIFT is where the pain lies. Looking five years ahead, the speakers expect stablecoins to run invisibly in the background. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Bozhena Bozhilova, Director, Bulgarian Fintech Association (moderator) Bozhena Bozhilova is Director of the Bulgarian Fintech Association, where she has spent three years advancing Bulgaria's fintech ecosystem across 15 verticals, including crypto, payments, and lending. She led an EU-wide digital bond platform project for SMEs and drives regulatory engagement between industry, institutions, and regulators. ▸ Andrey Sirakov, Senior Business Analyst, Commerzbank AG Andrey Sirakov is a Senior Business Analyst at Commerzbank AG, where he contributes to the development of institutional‑grade crypto custody solutions and supports the secure integration of blockchain technology into established banking infrastructure. He brings more than a decade of hands‑on experience in Web3 technologies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrey-sirakov ▸ Bernie Niebsch, Enterprise Product Specialist, BVNK Bernie has 20 years in IT, with 14 in payments product management. Now based in Sofia, he has lived in Germany, Canada, Australia, and the UK. His extensive payments background spans consumer/business products, operations, risk, mobile, and APIs. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bernhard-niebsch ▸ Eduardo Morrison, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Schuman Financial Eduardo Morrison is Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer at Schuman Financial, where he leads strategic partnerships and the ecosystem around EURØP. Active in digital assets since 2017, he was an early team member at IntoTheBlock and previously led institutional clients for Europe and Latin America at Binance. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardomorrison Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Where the demand for euro stablecoins is 03:08 How corporate clients view stablecoins 06:07 SEPA, SWIFT and the pain points of switching rails 08:36 Private and public rails: the role of banks 11:44 Use case: paying contractors across borders 13:05 Use case: stablecoins and tokenised money market funds 14:47 Security and compliance standards for banks 17:34 Safeguarding reserves, minting and redemption 19:21 Security as culture 20:56 B2B payments five years from now 24:44 Q&A: Is SWIFT being weaponised? Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Vladimir Stratiev (DSK Bank, moderator), Tamara Schmidt (Digital Euro Association), Valentin Marinov, MD (Crédit Agricole CIB) and Bojidar Ibrishimov (WISER). Moderated by Vladimir Stratiev, the panel separates the consumer case for a digital euro, where Tamara Schmidt notes that cards and instant payments already work well, from the systemic case of sovereignty, monetary policy and access to public money. Valentin Marinov says the ECB mainly wants to defend sovereignty against foreign stablecoins, while Bojidar Ibrishimov notes that Visa, Mastercard and PayPal handle 61% of European payments. The speakers contrast online and offline models and explain holding limits as a guard against bank runs, with Schmidt arguing the digital euro would offer more privacy than cards but never cash-level anonymity. Closing pros and cons include Ibrishimov's estimate of 4 to 5 billion in implementation costs for banks and Marinov's worry that it could crowd out private payment providers. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Vladimir Stratiev, Engineering Manager, DSK Bank (moderator) Vladimir is a transformational engineering leader, who scales high-performing teams across fintech, aviation, and leading companies in the agri-tech and gaming markets. He specialises in regulated technology delivery, engineering excellence, and bridging technical execution with business impact. ▸ Tamara Schmidt, Executive Director, Digital Euro Association Tamara Ferreira Schmidt is Executive Director of the Digital Euro Association, with 15+ years in financial engineering and capital markets. She focuses on digital finance, CBDCs, and innovation, and speaks at leading international fintech and blockchain conferences. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-schmidt ▸ Valentin Marinov, MD, Head of G10 FX research, Crédit Agricole CIB Dr. Valentin Marinov heads G10 FX Research and UK Economics at Crédit Agricole CIB. Previously at Citi, Société Générale, and Dresdner Kleinwort, he is a leading FX strategist with a PhD in Finance and Economics from Goethe University and a Master’s degree in Economics from CEU/State University of New York. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/valentin-marinov-b9a6b38 ▸ Bojidar Ibrishimov, VP Growth & Innovation, WISER Commercial strategist and transformation leader with deep expertise in AI, finance, and regulated markets. Trusted by business leaders across Europe and the GCC, he combines strategy, technology, and executive leadership to create opportunities, secure strategic partnerships, and move key initiatives from ambition to execution. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojidar-ibrishimov-cfa-9223721a Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:14 Opening: how money and payments are changing 02:04 What problem does the digital euro solve? 03:32 Who benefits: consumers, merchants and banks 05:27 Sovereignty and monetary policy 08:05 Europe's dependence on foreign payment networks 09:59 The biggest challenge: coordination 11:49 Can the digital euro offer cash-like privacy? 14:28 How it reaches users: wallets and holding limits 17:19 Anonymity versus privacy 20:07 Political decision or real problem? 22:43 One argument for and one against 27:06 Q&A: Is cash disappearing, and what about privacy? Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Yordan Barzakov (ReVizia, moderator), Alexander Sverdlov (Atlant Security), Daniel Babbev (Bitcoin Suisse) and Dr Boyan Torosov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). Moderated by Yordan Barzakov, the panel moves from today's hacks to tomorrow's quantum threat. Alexander Sverdlov dissects a 351 million dollar exchange breach from the day before and argues that cryptography rarely fails, while implementations, transaction monitoring and threat modelling do. Dr Boyan Torosov explains qubits and error correction, says Google's estimate of under 500,000 physical qubits depends on its assumptions, and expects a fault-tolerant machine able to run Shor's algorithm at scale within the next decade or so, while Daniel Babbev calls harvest now, decrypt later far-fetched, points to public keys already exposed on chain and warns that migrating Bitcoin to post-quantum signatures is a governance problem rather than a technical one. Sverdlov closes by urging institutions to deploy unconstrained AI for defence now. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Yordan Barzakov, Author and Host of "ReVizia" (moderator) Yordan Barzakov is a journalist with over 10 years of professional experience in economics, finance, and energy, as well as prior experience in international relations. He is the author and host of "ReVizia" on Nova News – a show dedicated to economic and geopolitical processes, business, and financial markets. ▸ Alexander Sverdlov, Founder and Lead Expert, Atlant Security Alexander Sverdlov is a global cybersecurity expert, former Microsoft consultant, and UN Cybersecurity Panelist. After advising major financial and government organisations across the Middle East and ENEC, he founded Atlant Security, helping companies of all sizes strengthen their security across four continents. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsverdl ▸ Daniel Babbev, Senior Software Engineer, Bitcoin Suisse Daniel Babbev brings over 10 years of experience in the crypto sector. He currently serves as Senior Custody Engineer at Bitcoin Suisse, Switzerland's first crypto company. Previously, as a Risk Engineer at Brevan Howard, one of Europe's leading hedge funds, he built and led the firm's crypto risk systems. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbabbev ▸ Dr Boyan Torosov, Associate Professor at Atomic Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences / Center for Quantum Technologies Dr. Boyan Torosov is a quantum physicist specialising in quantum computing and control. He is the Quantum Control Lead at 1QBit, an Associate Professor at Institute of Solid State Physics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (ISSP-BAS), and a research group leader at the Center for Quantum Technologies at Sofia University. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Anatomy of a 351 million dollar exchange hack 03:49 Cryptography holds, implementations fail 05:21 What is a quantum computer? 08:38 How many qubits does it take to break cryptography? 09:56 Quantum progress: real or PR? 12:07 When will quantum computers break cryptography? 12:50 Harvest now, decrypt later: how real is the risk? 15:21 Is a five to seven year migration realistic? 16:47 The biggest vulnerability today: AI-powered attackers 18:47 Post-quantum signatures and Bitcoin governance 21:05 Advice for a bank's first digital assets 22:04 Threat modelling and why so little has changed 26:12 One thing to remember Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Alexandra Overgaag (Thrlld Labs, moderator), Hasan Surtiwala (Penning Group) and Stefan Seferović (Fireblocks). Moderated by Alexandra Overgaag, the panel looks at what changes for a crypto business once it holds a MiCA licence. Hasan Surtiwala says Penning Group, licensed in Denmark in January, saw its competition shrink from over 3,000 crypto firms to around 360, gained access to paid marketing and passported to every EU and EEA country, where local languages and currencies still create friction, while its compliance team grew by about 300%. Stefan Seferović of Fireblocks, which counts around 100 MiCA-licensed customers, expects consolidation within national markets first and advises firms to build their core product and outsource the rest, citing DAC8 reporting. They also cover custody as a service, what crypto-native firms offer that banks do not, and whether MiCA leaves Europe better off. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Alexandra Overgaag, Founder & CEO, Thrlld Labs (moderator) Alex is the founder and CEO of Thrilld Labs, which builds Web3 networking and event solutions. Their flagship product, Thrilld, is an app used by industry professionals and conferences. Together with the team, she is also building Thrilld Events, an event management and ticketing dApp, and she’s also a conference host. Involved with the space since 2017, Alex’s background is in law, political science, and the hospitality sector. ▸ Hasan Surtiwala, Chairman, Penning Group Hasan comes from over a decade of startup experience founding numerous tech startups, and raising capital for +100 ventures. He was part of building one of the largest online communities for investing in the financial markets, and later part of building what became the largest angel investment network in Denmark. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsurtiwala ▸ Stefan Seferović, Sales Director CEE at Fireblocks Stefan Seferović is a father, a Bitcoiner and Sales Director CEE at Fireblocks, the leading digital asset infrastructure business, which enables organisations of all sizes, from startups to institutions, to build, scale and run their operations as complexity grows and regulations evolve. Chapters 00:00 Setting the scene: life after the MiCA licence 02:31 Panellist introductions 03:58 What changed after getting licensed 06:34 Passporting and national friction 08:20 One European market or many? 11:17 Build or buy: what to outsource 13:49 Keeping compliance in house 15:24 Custody as a service: winning institutional clients 17:59 What crypto-native firms offer that banks cannot 19:39 Is MiCA worth it for Europe? 22:03 Closing titles Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Preslav Nakov (MBZUAI, moderator), Hristo Todorov (DiscreteStack), Prof. Simeon Stoyanov (Brains++ / Discoverer) and Milan de Reede (NanoGPT). Moderated by Preslav Nakov, the panel asks what it means for business data to be local and how anyone can prove it. Hristo Todorov defines sovereign AI by transparency, control and cost predictability and argues that 95% of businesses need no smarter models than today's, while Milan de Reede sees local as running on devices you control and urges Europe to prioritise compute and data centres over frontier models, though he worries how far it lags the US and China. Disagreeing with de Reede, Prof. Simeon Stoyanov warns that idle data centres still draw 40 to 50% of peak power, so infrastructure should follow demand. Nakov raises agentic systems, and audience questions cover an AI bubble and regulation. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Preslav Nakov, Professor at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) (moderator) Professor for NLP at MBZUAI and Chair at European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/preslavnakov ▸ Hristo Todorov, CEO at DiscreteStack Hristo Todorov, founder of DiscreteStack, is a software engineer and entrepreneur with experience across telecom, fintech and aviation. He co-founded Upnetix and CleverPine, and founded DiscreteStack in 2025 to help organisations use advanced AI while retaining control over their data and infrastructure. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hristotodorov ▸ Prof. Simeon Stoyanov, Business Development Director, Brains++ / Discoverer Prof. Simeon Stoyanov manages Bulgaria's first AI factory, BRAIN++, and has over 20 years of R&D leadership. He helps organisations leverage AI, high-performance computing and data science to accelerate innovation, optimise decision-making and turn advanced research into business value. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-stoyanov-4834b544 ▸ Milan de Reede, Co-Founder and CEO, NanoGPT Milan co-founded and runs NanoGPT, offering privacy-friendly access to all AI models and tools. Milan has a long history in crypto, having been in Bitcoin since 2012 and having been crypto lead at the Dutch Central Bank. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milandereede Chapters 00:00 Introduction: what does local mean? 03:04 How do you prove data stays local? 04:50 Storage, processing or access? 06:59 Does Europe need its own AI models? 11:18 Is it a risk to only consume foreign models? 15:30 US innovates, Europe regulates? 19:13 How much does a smarter model matter? 23:12 Agentic systems and local data 26:56 Where should compute investment go? 31:28 Q&A: Are we in an AI bubble? 33:09 Q&A: AI replacing humans and the case for control Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

ETHSofia · Oct 6, 2026

With Sally Meouche - Ghrawi (4PTO Labs, moderator), Jordan Duclos (Truflation) and Dragomir Dikov (Jungle Trade). The last session of the day follows the chain from raw market data to a trading decision. Jordan Duclos explains how Truflation turns around 100 million daily data points into some 500 live indexes, arguing that monthly government inflation figures are too slow and that in finance latency is death. Dragomir Dikov of Jungle Trade argues that market noise is worth analysing rather than discarding, that every signal should carry an explicit confidence level, and that full trading automation is inevitable but premature today. Moderated by Sally Meouche - Ghrawi, the panel debates where the edge lies and whether shared AI models lead to correlated strategies, with Dikov naming trust as the scarce resource in three years and Duclos betting on real-time data as markets move to 24/7 trading. Panel at Future Finance Forum 2026, 25 September 2026, Sofia. Part of Blockchain Week Bulgaria 2026. Speakers ▸ Sally Meouche - Ghrawi, Founder and CEO, 4PTO Labs (moderator) Sally Meouche-Ghrawi is Founder & CEO of 4 Point O (4PTO) Labs, building across AI, fintech and Web3, and Co-Founder of Buildrooms, Bulgaria’s first Web3 hub. She works with startups, protocols and enterprises on emerging tech, product development and market strategy. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sallymg ▸ Jordan Duclos, Head of Growth, Truflation Jordan is Head of Growth at Truflation. After starting his career in SaaS, helping banks and public institutions improve customer engagement, he moved into blockchain, working across the Ethereum and Bitcoin ecosystems. At Truflation, he focuses on making inflation and economic data more accessible through clear, impactful storytelling. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-duclos-b48b72153 ▸ Dragomir Dikov, CEO, Jungle Trade Dragomir Dikov is Co-founder and CEO of JLabs, the team behind Jungle Trade, building trading technology and market-analysis tools. He holds a master's degree in Structural Engineering and has 15+ years of experience in geotechnical modelling and structural design. He is a Python programmer and quantitative data scientist focused on probability and stochastic modelling. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dragomir-dikov Chapters 00:00 Introduction: from data to decision 00:57 What has been missing in market data? 02:43 Is market noise useful? 03:57 Real-time inflation data 07:16 Regime shifts 08:45 Signals and confidence 09:54 Where is the edge? 14:43 From analysis to autonomous trading 16:25 Prediction markets as a signal 20:16 What if everyone uses the same models? 21:41 Three years out: where will the scarcity be? 25:54 Q&A: Can human traders compete with machines? 28:35 Q&A: Buy data and signals or build your own? Blockchain Week Bulgaria: https://www.blockchainweek.bg ETHSofia: https://www.ethsofia.com Future Finance Forum: https://www.blockchainweek.bg/f3 Follow Blockchain Week Bulgaria X: https://x.com/BWBulgaria LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchain-week-bulgaria Follow ETHSofia X: https://x.com/EthSofiaBG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia Telegram: https://t.me/+b-33LJUpAB5iODNk Nothing in this video is financial advice. About the organiser Blockchain Week Bulgaria, ETHSofia and the Future Finance Forum are organised by the Bithope Foundation, founded in 2014 by Vladislav Dramaliev. Inspired by Andreas Antonopoulos, it is Europe's first non-profit operating exclusively with bitcoin donations. Over more than ten years, it has supported 50+ charitable campaigns, and in January 2016 it co-founded the Sofia Crypto Meetup, now the region's longest-running monthly crypto event. https://bithope.org

Julien Bouteloup, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Sep 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Stake Capital CEO Julien Bouteloup and ETHGlobal Co-Founder and CEO Kartik Talwar examine how DeFi must change as institutions pursue onchain yield. Bouteloup argues that large financial firms are motivated by profit, market share, and access to new customers more than decentralization narratives. Adoption therefore depends on products that satisfy institutional requirements for confidentiality, risk controls, insurance, and predictable execution while still using open networks. The conversation also contrasts innovation incentives in the United States, Europe, and state-led markets. Bouteloup argues that the institutional narrative must begin with incentives. Banks and asset managers will use decentralized infrastructure when it lowers costs, increases margins, opens markets, or creates differentiated products. Public transparency may help, but it can also expose positions and trading intent. Privacy, KYC, AML, isolated liquidity, insurance, and compliance controls therefore become product requirements rather than compromises added after adoption. They distinguish sustainable “real yield” from temporary token incentives and discuss how higher risk-free rates reset investor expectations. A DeFi product offering seven percent may no longer compensate users for smart-contract, liquidity, or counterparty risk; differentiated strategies may need privacy, exotic yield, or stronger protection. Extremely high returns can exist during ecosystem subsidy cycles, but scalability and durability remain uncertain. For builders, the advice is to solve a specific problem, create something genuinely different, and prioritize distribution. Institutional capital will not arrive simply because infrastructure is onchain, it will follow products that deliver clear value with credible risk management. The yield discussion separates returns generated by real economic activity from emissions funded to attract temporary liquidity. Higher government rates create a baseline, so DeFi strategies must justify each additional layer of smart-contract, counterparty, liquidity, and product risk. Bouteloup sees opportunity in specialized or exotic yield, but warns that headline returns do not automatically scale to institutional ticket sizes. 00:00 Introduction to the DeFi Fireside Chat 00:25 Seven Years of DeFi Experience 01:11 How DeFi Has Evolved 02:01 TradFi Uses the Tools DeFi Built 02:39 What Institutions Actually Want 03:11 Profit, Market Share, and Customers 04:27 US Distribution Versus European Rules 05:35 State-Led Innovation in Asia 07:45 The Maturing DeFi Protocol Layer 08:22 Risk Moves Into Products and Strategies 08:54 Robinhood Yield Built on Morpho 09:31 Insurance, Privacy, and Confidentiality 10:36 Private Versions of Existing Protocols 11:02 Choosing Different Levels of Privacy 11:26 Private Yield Through Existing Liquidity 12:21 KYC, AML, and Isolated Liquidity 12:59 Is Seven Percent Yield Sustainable 13:19 Real Yield From Lending and Borrowing 14:26 Exotic Yield and Higher Risk 15:13 Pricing Risk Above the Baseline Rate 16:28 Better Yield and UX for End Users 17:02 Can Forty to Eighty Percent Scale 17:37 Ecosystem Incentives and Liquidity 18:32 Consolidation Across Major Chains 19:13 Advice for New DeFi Builders 20:19 Distribution and Proprietary Data 20:45 Build Products That Solve Real Problems 21:27 Closing Advice and Final Thanks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇵🇹 *Pragma Lisbon 2026* Pragma Lisbon 2026 was held on June 25th at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Lisbon 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMxB4xW8JYdk ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Sep 9, 2026

Kartik Talwar opens Pragma Lisbon 2026 by explaining ETHGlobal’s two complementary formats: global hackathons for builders and focused Pragma summits for broader, forward-looking discussion. He describes Pragma as a single-day, single-track gathering built around executive speakers, accessible themes, and practical lessons rather than highly technical presentations. Kartik also shares the event’s scale, 330 attendees from 34 countries, and thanks the nine partners supporting the program. He explains why the name Pragma reflects a call toward pragmatism rather than the beginning of a developer journey. The program is intentionally designed so attendees do not need deep protocol knowledge to follow the strategic questions. Instead, founders and operators can compare lessons from the ecosystem, identify opportunities, and consider how earlier experiments can inform a more productive future. The event combines three fireside chats with eleven presentations in one continuous track. He previews the day’s 14 sessions, spanning institutional finance, tokenized-asset risk, onchain retail banking, data and accounting infrastructure, crosschain composability, liquidity efficiency, market data, ENS identity, smart-contract development, AI-agent payments, and the future of DeFi. The introduction gives attendees a map of the program and connects each talk to a larger question: how Ethereum can turn lessons from its past into safer products, stronger institutions, and more useful onchain experiences. The preview connects named speakers and projects to the day’s agenda. Marius Smith covers an institutional front door for Ethereum, Alex McFarlane addresses tokenized-asset risk, Joao Alves discusses onchain retail banking, and Angelo Min examines reliable onchain data. Later sessions cover the Ethereum Economic Zone, 1inch Aqua, Pyth market data, ENS identity, WalletConnect payments, Plank smart contracts, Frames agent payments, DeFi yield, and community building. Kartik closes by directing attendees to the full schedule and welcoming the first speaker. 00:00 Introduction and Pragma Lisbon Welcome 00:31 ETHGlobal Hackathons and Summits 00:47 Why the Event Is Called Pragma 01:11 Single-Day and Single-Track Format 01:26 Executive Speakers and Future Themes 02:06 An Accessible Program for Attendees 02:24 Three Fireside Chats and Eleven Talks 02:41 Attendees From Thirty-Four Countries 02:57 Recognizing the Nine Event Partners 03:15 Ethereum Institutional Finance Preview 03:32 DeFi Evolution and Institutional Risk 03:49 Tokenized Assets and Retail Banking 04:14 Onchain Data and Accounting Topics 04:36 Traditional Finance Fireside Preview 04:58 Ethereum Economic Zone and 1inch Aqua 05:17 Pyth Market Data and ENS Identity 05:39 WalletConnect Payments and Plank EVM 06:06 Agent Payments and DeFi Yield 06:25 Community Podcast and Final Agenda 06:43 Opening the First Pragma Talk _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇵🇹 *Pragma Lisbon 2026* Pragma Lisbon 2026 was held on June 25th at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Lisbon 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMxB4xW8JYdk ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/kartiktalwar ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHGlobal · Sep 9, 2026

Marius Smith, Co-Founder of Ethereum Institutional, argues that Ethereum needs a clear institutional front door as banks, asset managers, and other financial firms decide which networks will support their future infrastructure. He explains that Ethereum’s neutrality, security, liquidity, and global developer ecosystem remain powerful advantages, but those strengths are harder for institutions to navigate than the coordinated commercial interfaces offered by competing networks. The choices made over the next two years, he says, could shape financial infrastructure for decades. Smith says that, over the next two years, major banks, asset managers, and market infrastructures will begin locking in the platforms and rails they expect to use. Ethereum therefore needs people who can sit with institutions, explain the ecosystem, support deployment, and surface recurring blockers back to builders. He contrasts Ethereum’s decentralized structure with networks that have a single foundation or operating company able to offer a coordinated institutional relationship. That fragmentation can slow adoption even when Ethereum is technically stronger. Ethereum Institutional was created as an independent nonprofit to represent the ecosystem, coordinate institutional engagement, and translate recurring needs into actionable work. Smith outlines priorities including education, research, deployment support, privacy, regulatory and operational compliance, clearer materials, regional representatives, and forums for senior leaders. His central message is that technical excellence alone will not secure adoption: Ethereum must pair its values with organized outreach, useful materials, and consistent support for institutions evaluating production deployments. The organization plans to gather recurring questions from hundreds of institutional conversations and convert them into public resources, ecosystem priorities, and direct support. Topics include privacy, transaction execution, regulatory requirements, operational controls, roadmap clarity, and the practical details of deploying on Ethereum. Smith also describes institutional forums that place senior banking and asset-management leaders alongside Ethereum founders. 00:00 Introduction to Ethereum Institutional 00:43 Why a Dedicated Institution Is Needed 01:27 Defining an Institutional Front Door 01:54 A Critical Two-Year Adoption Window 02:15 Rewiring Global Financial Systems 02:38 Where Institutions Choose to Build 03:14 Ethereum Foundation Focus Changes 03:41 A Multi-Node Ethereum Ecosystem 04:34 Fragmented Commercial Interfaces 05:05 A Neutral Interface for Deployment 05:42 Ethereum Security, Liquidity, and Uptime 06:06 Why Technical Strength Is Not Enough 06:36 Competition for Decision-Maker Attention 07:36 Four Forces Shaping Adoption 08:07 Competing Institutional Networks 08:40 Why Other Ecosystems Are Easier to Navigate 09:34 The Window for Ethereum Adoption 09:59 The Need for a Clear Interface 10:28 Launching an Independent Nonprofit 11:21 Scaling the Ethereum Institutional Team 12:08 The Institutional Adoption Mandate 12:34 Lessons From Institutional Conversations 13:18 Research and Ecosystem Intelligence 13:43 Explaining ETH as an Institutional Asset 14:10 Promoting Ethereum Use Cases 14:49 Privacy, Roadmap, and Compliance Needs 15:47 Forums for Institutions and Builders 16:12 Hiring Across Major Financial Hubs 16:59 Deployment Engineering Support 17:27 The Institutional Ethereum Forum 17:58 Building an Institutional Platform 18:44 Invitation to Support the Organization 19:31 Closing Remarks and Next Steps _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇵🇹 *Pragma Lisbon 2026* Pragma Lisbon 2026 was held on June 25th at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Lisbon 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMxB4xW8JYdk ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Marius Smith X: https://x.com/mariuslsmith ✅ Follow Ethereum Institutional X: https://x.com/ethereuminsti ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHGlobal · Aug 9, 2026

In this welcome and introduction, Aubree Galbiso from the operations team at ETHGlobal opens the third and final day of ETHConf, calling it a full circle moment to be on stage after months of planning the event from behind the scenes. She frames ETHConf as an ambitious but needed event centered around Ethereum in the US, hosted at the Javits Center, the largest convention center in New York, which she thanks along with its team. She explains why ETHGlobal chose New York City, the center of global finance, as the home for its first ever ETHConf: it is where institutions live and where the energy to move the industry forward feels alive. Aubree thanks the event's 2,000-plus attendees, over 600 companies, 150 speakers, and 30 sponsors who made it possible. She previews a day three filled with talks, panels, and firesides touching on three major themes: onchain at scale, institutional adoption, and protocol updates. She stresses the conference is designed to deliver real insights from the companies, founders, and protocols shaping the industry, meaning real things happening right now rather than ideas, since every speaker on stage has already shipped something. She encourages attendees to connect directly with speakers walking the event and with fellow decision makers and key players to network, hear hot takes, and discuss the future, before jumping into the day three schedule. 00:00 Introduction 00:07 A Full Circle Moment on Stage 00:38 Thanking the Javits Center Team 00:59 Why New York City Was Chosen 01:21 Thanking Attendees, Speakers, and Sponsors 01:44 The Three Major Themes of the Day 02:06 Why Every Speaker Has Already Shipped 02:27 A Home for Decision Makers to Connect 02:48 Jumping Into the Day Three Schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Matt Sheffield, CIO of SharpLink, sits down with Robbie Mitchnick, Global Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock, to discuss institutional Ethereum adoption, ETFs, tokenization, and the future of finance. Matt opens by describing SharpLink's strategy of putting roughly $3 billion of Ethereum onto a public company balance sheet last year and progressively moving it onchain. Robbie explains BlackRock's deliberate approach to crypto ETFs, with IBIT for Bitcoin and ETHA for Ethereum, noting the high bar that includes asset maturity, market cap, liquidity, product market fit, and the conviction that an asset belongs in client portfolios on a long term fundamental basis. He emphasizes that Bitcoin sits in category one, Bitcoin plus ETH sits in category two, and there is a meaningful breakpoint after that. The conversation digs into why TradFi firms prefer Ethereum over newer programmable L1s, citing time tested maturity, network effects, and Ethereum's incumbency. Matt argues that Ethereum gets chosen on merit rather than economic incentives, which builds trust with the community. Robbie details BlackRock's launch of ETHB as a staking focused product alongside ETHA for liquidity sensitive investors, reaching half a billion in AUM out of the gate. They discuss why tokenized money market funds have been the breakthrough tokenization category at over 10 billion dollars (including BUIDL), since they break the historical tradeoff between full US Treasury yield and perfect liquidity when paired with stablecoins. Matt outlines SharpLink's onchain allocations including a $200 million LRT deployment, bridging to Linea, and a $125 million private fund with Galaxy. Robbie shares BlackRock's four pillar tokenization framework around asset class focus, custody, regulation, and exchange listing. They close by discussing agentic finance and the intersection of AI and digital assets as the most exciting theme for the next 5 to 10 years. 00:00 Introductions 01:21 Why BlackRock Launched IBIT and ETHA but Paused After 02:23 The High Bar for an iShares Crypto Product 02:57 Bitcoin Category One, Bitcoin and ETH Category Two 03:22 Why TradFi Prefers Mature, Battle Tested Assets 04:24 Network Effects and Ethereum's Incumbency Advantage 05:12 SharpLink's Inflection Point: Stability Over Headline Chasing 06:25 Picking Ethereum on Merit, Not Economics 07:02 Utilization Without Economic Incentive as a Signal 07:42 Why BlackRock Created ETHB Separately for Staking 08:49 Catering to Liquidity Sensitive vs Yield Focused Investors 09:32 No Switching Between ETHA and ETHB 09:53 The Impact of Crypto ETFs on Industry Access 10:14 Why Tokenized Money Market Funds Came First 11:02 Breaking the Yield vs Liquidity Tradeoff 12:00 BUIDL and the 10 Billion Dollar Tokenized MMF Category 13:06 What Needs to Happen for Ethereum to Stay the Tokenization Hub 13:50 Liquidity Begets Liquidity: Ethereum's Pole Position 14:10 RWAs Need to Become More Valuable Onchain Than Off 14:55 Tokenized Stock Loans and the GameStop Example 15:35 Only 0.1% of Global Assets Are Tokenized 15:57 SharpLink's Onchain Deployments and Regulatory Process 17:02 Building Infrastructure While Pioneering Each Deployment 17:51 BlackRock's Four Pillar Tokenization Framework 18:46 Why Money Market Funds Became the Coalescence Point 19:14 The Race Between TradFi and Crypto Exchanges 20:04 Custody Hurdles for Institutional Adoption 20:58 Regulatory Clarity vs Tokenization Specific Rules 21:23 The iShares Tokenization Opportunity 21:46 Looking Ahead: Agentic Finance That Adds Value 22:16 The AI as Guardian Angel for Onchain Transactions 23:31 Ethereum's Immutability and Agentic Payments 23:58 AI Plus Digital Assets as the Defining Intersection 24:22 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Kartik Talwar sits down with Nemil Dalal, visiting partner at Y Combinator and former head of Coinbase's developer platform, to discuss the early days of USDC, the current state of crypto startups, and what YC is looking for from founders. Nemil walks through how he spent seven years at Coinbase leading USDC from launch in 2018, when many in crypto circles thought stablecoins were the wrong vision and Bitcoin should replace everything. He pushed against two early strategies that didn't fit Coinbase's positioning as a US based regulated company: chasing high yield Asian markets where Tether dominated, and selling to banks that only knew about Bitcoin and saw stablecoins as a beta dollar. The breakthrough insight was bootstrapping DeFi adoption through the USDC Bootstrap Fund, deploying capital into Uniswap, Aave (then EthLend), DyDx, and other early protocols. Nemil shares how YC funds about 100 crypto startups today and expects to 10x that in the next decade, since crypto is moving from a niche DGen product to something most Americans will use without realizing. He outlines what YC is excited about: stablecoins and the businesses built on top, tokenized assets including equities and debt, and AI plus crypto including X2X (which Nemil's team launched at Coinbase). He shares his controversial view that founders should launch fewer tokens, since most are incentive tokens that act like marketing schemes attracting mercenary users and worsening UX, while reserving tokens for L1s, L2s, and DeFi protocols where decentralization is genuinely core to the product. On regulation, he tells the story of Coshi spending three years suing the CFTC and winning, framing regulation as either go regulation forward and specialize per country, or follow the Binance playbook offshore first. He closes urging founders to combine crypto with AI thoughtfully and pointing to the rolling YC application deadline. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 Nemil's Background and Homecoming to Ethereum 01:08 Launching USDC at Coinbase in 2018 02:26 Why Stablecoins Were Controversial in Crypto Circles 02:41 Two Bad Early Strategies: Asia Yield and Banks 03:41 The Breakthrough: Bootstrapping DeFi 03:58 Maker DAO, Compound, and Early DeFi Signals 04:23 Launching the USDC Bootstrap Fund 05:10 Nemil's Role as Visiting Partner at Y Combinator 05:38 What YC Offers Founders 06:20 Funding 100+ Crypto Startups and 10x'ing the Pace 07:00 Why Bear Markets Are the Best Time to Build 07:32 Tourists vs Real Builders 07:50 Why ETH Global Hackathon Attendance Correlates Inversely with Price 08:46 What YC Is Looking to Fund in 2026 09:04 Stablecoins and Stablecoin Neo Banks 09:51 Tokenized Stocks, Debt, Equity, and Emerging Markets 10:12 X2X and the AI Plus Crypto Opportunity 10:50 Agentic Finance May Be Agnostic to Crypto vs Credit Cards 11:33 YC's Mindset: Make Something People Want 12:14 Where Is the Saturated Space in Crypto Startups 12:38 Common Patterns: Dev Tools, On Off Ramps, Wallets 13:08 Prediction Markets and Crypto as Core Stack 13:25 Should Founders Launch a Token 14:10 Incentive Tokens as a Marketing Scheme 14:48 Tokens Often Hurt User Experience 15:19 Where Tokens Genuinely Make Sense: L1s, L2s, DeFi 16:05 Solving Pain Points, Not Decentralizing for Its Own Sake 16:36 How Founders Should Think About Regulation 17:01 The Coshi Story: Suing the CFTC and Winning 17:39 Regulation Forward vs Binance Playbook 18:43 Onshore vs Offshore Based on Product Type 19:00 How to Apply to YC and Reach Nemil 19:35 The Magic of Crypto and AI Coming Together 20:33 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Alex Gluchowski

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Alex Gluchowski, co-founder of Matter Labs and zkSync, presents Prividium, a framework for private atomic delivery versus payment (DvP) on Ethereum. He frames DvP, a term from institutional finance meaning token swap settlement, as one of the most important and unsolved problems for institutions adopting blockchain. Alex walks through why each existing solution falls short: public chains like Ethereum have great properties but expose all positions and transactions, ruling them out for banks bound by secrecy rules. Private permissioned chains offer perfect privacy but are not interconnected, limiting their value since the whole point of blockchains is being the internet of value. External bridges connecting private chains become the de facto settlement layer with their own trust assumptions, losing the security of both origin and target chains. Mediated networks using operator attestation or fully homomorphic encryption still rely on contractual or threshold trust in operators. Alex introduces Prividium as a framework where institutions run their own cryptographically secured private chains on their own infrastructure with absolute physical data privacy, while settling on Ethereum as the credibly neutral settlement layer. Zero knowledge proofs guarantee that even a dishonest or compromised operator cannot finalize invalid transactions. He highlights the ability to deploy a smart contract once that virtually mirrors into all zones and enforces rules automatically without the issuer ever seeing the underlying data. He then walks through the technical flow of private atomic DvP: parties agree on a transaction, generate a cryptographic commitment hash, post it to a data availability layer and Ethereum settlement layer, lock assets on both sides, and use the canonical L2 state roots on Ethereum to verify execution and either release funds or revert atomically. He closes by noting the network is growing with the Kerry network consortium of five US regional banks plus participation from Deutsche Bank and other FMIs. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 What Is DvP and Why It Matters 00:48 The Tradeoffs in Existing Blockchain Solutions 01:07 Public Chains Are Too Public for Institutions 01:54 Private Chains Are Isolated and Disconnected 02:33 External Bridges Become the Settlement Layer 03:14 Mediated Networks and Their Trust Assumptions 03:35 Operator Attested and FHE Limitations 04:40 Introducing Prividium 05:09 Cryptographically Secured Private Chains on Ethereum 05:42 Permissioning, Roles, and OIDC Integration 06:16 Zero Knowledge Proofs Guarantee Execution Correctness 06:50 Rules That Apply Beyond Your Zone 07:30 The Old Way: Bilateral Agreements and Rulebooks 07:52 Virtual Mirrored Smart Contracts Enforce Rules Automatically 08:16 Why Private DvP Is the Hardest Cross Zone Example 08:51 Traditional Sequential DvP and Counterparty Risk 09:40 Atomic Swaps Collapse Settlement Risk 10:10 How Private Atomic DvP Works Step by Step 10:36 Cryptographic Commitments and Mutual Intent 11:17 Posting Commitments to DA and Settlement Layer 11:50 Locking Assets in Escrow Contracts 12:26 Reading L2 State Roots from Ethereum 12:55 Verifying Cross Chain Execution 13:25 Happy Path Release vs Revert Path 14:04 Multi Zone Chained Transactions 14:36 The Kerry Network and Growing Adoption 14:48 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Stani Kulechov

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Stani Kulechov, founder and CEO of Aave, frames credit as the last great frontier of the internet revolution and explains why Ethereum is uniquely positioned to solve it. Drawing on his pre-Aave experience running a fintech startup focused on receivables, Stani argues that while the internet transformed information, commerce, and communications into global systems, credit remains stubbornly local due to coordination problems across lenders, borrowers, intermediaries, localized regulation, and siloed capital. This fragmentation creates capital inefficiencies, regional interest rate discrepancies, and lost opportunities, particularly relevant today as credit historically backed industrial revolutions and will fund the next wave of AI, data centers, and infrastructure. Stani positions Ethereum as the connecting tissue and operating system that replaces manual, layered cost structures with programmable, automated infrastructure offering full transparency and execution certainty. He shares Aave's traction: over 1 trillion in cumulative loans, 3.5 trillion in cumulative deposits, and a peak of 75 billion in net deposits, proving Ethereum can support institutional scale. He explains how Aave V4's modular architecture solves the central tension between capital efficiency and risk isolation, allowing shared liquidity across pools while maintaining risk controls per market. He highlights tokenization unlocking utility for real world assets through DeFi, the bootstrapping advantages of shared pools, and the Wabi e-commerce integration as proof that fintechs and asset issuers are already moving onchain. Stani closes by predicting that the lowest cost of capital will increasingly come from DeFi as a global liquidity aggregator. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 From Fintech Receivables to Building on Ethereum 01:07 How the Internet Transformed Everything Except Credit 02:22 The Coordination Problem in Credit Markets 03:22 Regional Interest Rate Discrepancies and Capital Inefficiencies 04:41 Ethereum as the Connecting Tissue for Finance 05:21 Credit as the Backbone of Industrial Revolutions 06:40 Replacing Manual Cost Structures with Programmable Infrastructure 08:15 Pricing Risk and Reward Across End to End Markets 09:15 Aave by the Numbers: 1 Trillion in Cumulative Loans 10:27 What Works for Crypto Assets Will Work for All Finance 10:54 The Pool Model and Network Effects 11:26 Capital Efficiency vs Risk Isolation Tradeoff 12:25 Aave V4: Shared Liquidity with Isolated Risk 13:24 Solving the Bootstrapping Problem for RWAs 14:34 Tokenization Plus DeFi Utility 15:40 Why DeFi Will Offer the Lowest Cost of Capital 16:44 Wabi E-commerce Integration Case Study 17:21 Modular Infrastructure for All Asset Types 17:45 Borrowing Against Securities and Stocks Onchain 18:16 Funding the Future: AI, Data Centers, Solar Energy 19:19 Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Jill Malandrino moderates a discussion with Declan Fox and Rob Dawson from Consensys on the role of neutral governance in institutional blockchain adoption. They argue that while open source software has been foundational for technology companies, it is not sufficient on its own for enterprises making decade long bets, since the technology could be swept from under their feet without credible neutral stewardship. Declan compares open source without neutral governance to a building where you can peek in the door and inspect the code, but the house could still be demolished. The conversation positions governance not as ideology but as a practical procurement decision. Declan and Rob detail Besu's success as the institutional Ethereum client, running 15% of Ethereum mainnet but 80 to 90% of all blocks on enterprise blockchains, largely because of its Apache 2 license and Hyperledger and LFDT hosting. They explain that Consensys has now made the same bet on Layer 2 by contributing Linea technology to the Linux Foundation. The discussion covers tradeoffs in the EF's CROPS mandate (censorship resistant, open source, private, secure), how zero knowledge proofs enable confidential blockchains to interoperate without revealing sensitive information, the risk of digitizing fragmentation across chains, and atomic cross chain delivery versus payment as a recently unlocked use case. They close on the holy trinity of decentralized trust (blockchains), decentralized identity, and decentralized AI, with discussion of how ERC-7804 helps manage non human identities in a future of machine to machine blockchain interaction. 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Why Governance Is Becoming Central to Institutional Adoption 00:52 Open Source Is Not Enough: The Building Analogy 01:51 Why Technologists Should Care About Governance 02:37 Besu's Adoption Through Apache 2 and Linux Foundation 03:15 Besu as the Institutional Ethereum Client 03:41 Donating Linea Technology to the Linux Foundation 04:26 The Linux Foundation as a Trusted Brand 04:47 Does Governance Quality Match Technical Quality 05:40 Competitors Coming Together for Shared Standards 07:07 Governance as a Component of Scalability 07:26 Challenges and Friction Points in Governance 08:35 Maintaining Innovation Velocity Under Stewardship 09:55 Governance Improves Product Practices 10:00 The CROPS Mandate and Its Tradeoffs 11:40 Privacy and Security as Institutional Adoption Blockers 11:58 How Privacy Is Achieved Technically with ZK Proofs 12:50 Avoiding Digitized Fragmentation Across Chains 13:58 LFDT as a Forum for Interop Standards 14:16 No One Size Fits All Chain Solution 14:51 Interoperability as the Remaining Pillar 16:04 Cross Chain Delivery Versus Payment Now Possible 16:35 Security as a Critical Conversation 17:36 Challenges with Legacy Enterprise Blockchain Infrastructure 19:08 Ethereum's 10+ Years of Continuous Uptime 19:52 What's Next: Progressive Decentralization 21:16 Integration, Not Us Versus Them 22:22 How Rough Consensus Works in Practice 23:30 Selectivity in Onboarding Projects to Foundations 24:48 The Maturation of Governance, Security, and Privacy 25:25 Closing Thoughts on Institutional Adoption 25:44 The Holy Trinity: Decentralized Trust, Identity, and AI 26:26 Governing Non Human Identities and AI Agents 27:21 ERC-7804 and Machine to Machine Infrastructure 27:37 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Deepthi Kumar, co-CEO of O(1) Labs, the team behind Mina Protocol, makes the case for moving from trust based to proof based enterprise systems. She frames the central problem facing every business in the coming years: increasing reliance on systems, vendors, and AI agents that you cannot actually check. Her thesis fits in one line: make trust verifiable. Rather than handing over more promises about what systems can do, organizations should hand over more proofs. She notes that zero knowledge proofs have quietly gone mainstream beyond cryptography papers and private tokens, with Google shipping ZK age verification in Google Wallet, Microsoft integrating ZK based credentials into its identity offering, and the EU mandating ZK based digital identity for member states. Deepthi explains that ZK has historically been used for two purposes (privacy and scalability through ZK rollups), but proposes a third use case: verifiability, which is an inherent property of ZK rather than something bolted on. A SNARK at its core is verifiable computation. She argues this should be applied to enterprise workflows where policies govern high stakes operations, citing two converging forces driving the urgency: AI as an offensive weapon (with the first AI generated zero days being reported and threat actors using AI across attack lifecycles), and AI as an actor (agents acting on our behalf at a scale existing guardrails cannot match). The proposed shift is from a model where you trust systems to act, to one where the highstakes action is logged until a proof shows up validating that all policies were enforced. She describes ZK as a "knot tree" that cannot be bribed. The mechanics are three steps: encode existing policy into a ZK circuit running in parallel to existing enforcement, verify the proof against the expected statement, then execute the operation. Benefits include cryptographic receipts, per action audit trails (finer than sample checks), and composability across multi organization workflows through proof aggregation. She closes by emphasizing this is additive not replacement (preserving security heterogeneity), incrementally adoptable starting with one narrow high value flow, and applicable to institutional finance money movement, AI agent identity and delegation, and any vendor integration with policy enforcement requirements. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Why You Cannot Check Your Vendors and Agents 00:54 Proof Over Promises 01:33 ZK Has Quietly Gone Mainstream 02:17 Google, Microsoft, and the EU on ZK 02:46 The Two Established Uses: Privacy and Scalability 03:42 Proposing Verifiability as the Third Use Case 04:17 Why Verifiability Is Inherent to ZK 05:05 Why Now: Two Forces Pushing in the Same Direction 05:50 AI on the Offense 06:26 AI as an Actor on Your Behalf 07:01 Shifting From Trust to Proof Authorization 07:47 ZK as a Knot Tree That Cannot Be Bribed 08:22 Treasury Transfer as a Concrete Example 09:24 Verifiable Workflow in Three Steps 10:03 Encoding Policy Into a ZK Circuit 10:44 Verifying the Proof Statement 11:27 Cryptographic Receipts 11:54 Per Action Audit Trails 12:19 Composability Across Multi Organization Workflows 13:44 Not Rip and Replace, Additive Layer 14:51 Why ZK Adoption Can Be Incremental 15:45 Applications: Institutional Finance Money Movement 16:27 AI Agents Proving They Followed Policy 16:53 Agent Identity and Delegation Chains 17:21 Enterprise Operations and Vendor Integrations 18:02 Key Takeaway: Add a ZK Layer to High Stakes Operations 19:01 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Yoseph Ayele

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Yoseph Ayele from LAVA presents a ground level view of how stablecoins actually function in African markets, challenging the assumption that the continent is too small, too risky, or too distant to matter for global stablecoin adoption. He frames Africa as an early signal for what's coming everywhere, with stablecoins already embedded into how money moves, how finance operates, and how value gets created. The fundamental insight is that while Western stablecoin builders are trying to take market share from traditional finance, African builders are filling gaps banks left entirely, which creates fundamentally different building pace and defensible moats. Yoseph walks through real use cases that go beyond the dominant remittance and software developer payment narratives. Trade finance is the deepest volume, where businesses importing and exporting everything from t-shirts to oil and gas need to move money fast. He notes that African banks lend to governments and large corporations representing only 10% of the economy, leaving the other 90% (SMEs and mid market players) without bank credit while still asking them to use the same banks to move money across borders. This traps cash flow and exposes businesses to FX risk on volatile currencies, while stablecoins offer instant settlement at a fraction of the cost. He covers unified treasury management replacing the fragmented multi currency float requirement, and FX market coordination where stablecoins aggregate liquidity onchain so someone with $1 and someone with $1 billion can participate in the same market. He breaks down three prices for the Nigerian Naira: the central bank's "wish price," banks' "do you qualify price" with premiums for license preservation, and the open market stablecoin price, with margins ranging from 2 to 25% in Nigeria and up to 120% in his native Ethiopia. He closes by previewing how onchain FX options markets for local currency stablecoins enable transparent risk pricing, arguing that emerging markets are building both TradFi rails and fully onchain permissionless marketplaces in parallel, with everything ultimately moving toward open onchain economic structures. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 Show of Hands: Stablecoin Cross Border Payments 00:40 Why Africa Matters Despite Being a Flyover Region 01:10 Africa as an Early Signal for Global Adoption 02:20 Western Builders Take Share, African Builders Fill Gaps 03:05 Use Case: Trade Finance Is the Deepest Volume 03:51 Banks Only Lend to 10% of the Economy 04:20 How Banks Trap Cash Flow With Float 04:37 Stablecoins as Instant Settlement at Lower Cost 05:30 Use Case: Unified Treasury Management 06:20 Use Case: FX Market Coordination 06:42 Aggregating Liquidity From $1 to $1 Billion 07:19 Why Shell and Chevron Already Use Stablecoin Rails 07:43 How Money Actually Flows: The Flow Diagram 08:58 Settlement Times: Minutes to 24 Hours 09:26 Crypto Thriving Despite Regulation, Not Because of It 09:46 The Three Naira Prices 10:10 The Wish Price From the Central Bank 10:35 The Do You Qualify Price From Regulated Banks 10:35 The Open Market Stablecoin Price 11:06 Margins From 2% to 120% in Ethiopia 11:28 Speed of Execution as the Real Variable 11:52 Good Governance Follows Good Markets 12:36 Price Discovery for Local Currency Oracles 13:02 Pricing FX Risk a Year Out 13:44 Onchain Options Markets for Local Currency 14:16 Why Transparent Pricing Unlocks Capital 14:38 Building TradFi Rails and Onchain Markets in Parallel 15:21 Closing: Toward Fully Onchain Permissionless Marketplaces _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Dean Tribble from Agoric, one of the original Cypherpunks, presents enforceable guardrails as the missing layer for agentic finance. He frames the trajectory: financial activity is moving rapidly from humans in the loop to agents executing on behalf of people, with Fireblocks, Coinbase, Circle, and as of that morning MetaMask all rolling out APIs for agent access. The driver is smart automation that can adapt to the complexity of our evolving economy at electronic speed, and the trend is inevitable. But the central obstacle is trust. Agents are talked out of their money the same way humans are phished, and they can delete production databases or send funds to attackers who persuade them to be helpful. Dean walks through what doesn't work. After the fact auditing is too late at the speed of light, since the money is already converted and shipped offshore. Telling the agent the rules and hoping it follows them is exactly what we're trying to police. Adding additional supervisor agents to review transactions just stacks unreliable layers. Custody providers offer something useful but are themselves building non custodial solutions because custody cannot move at the speed agentic commerce requires. The answer is direct enforcement of a bounded mandate where what matters is what the agent can do, not what it wants to do. He uses the analogy of giving signing authority to your grocery shopper. Dean explains Agoric's orchestration approach where a user signs a high level mandate (which vaults are allowed, max amounts per vault, allowed chains) and submits it to a smart contract on the Agoric L1, then delegates execution to an agent that can use Twitter sentiment and APY data to propose allocations. The smart contract validates each high level intent against the mandate before executing it, coordinating cross chain activity via CCTP, Axelar, and other rails from a single auditable place. He demos YMAX, Agoric's yield optimization product, which already enables single signature cross chain capital deployment and is rolling out agentic features in alpha. He closes by reframing smart contracts as the solution to the classical principal agent problem from economics, enabling humans and AI agents to be cryptographically aligned. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 An Original Cypherpunk 00:28 The Shift From Humans to Agents in Finance 01:29 Why Agentic Finance Is Inevitable 01:59 Why You and I Need Agents to Keep Up 02:24 The Core Obstacle: Agents Can Be Talked Out of Their Money 03:12 Trust as the Number One Problem 03:40 Why After the Fact Auditing Fails 04:06 Why Telling the Agent the Rules Doesn't Work 05:09 Why Supervisor Agents Aren't the Answer 05:56 The Guardrails Problem Comes to the Forefront 06:29 Bounded Authority: What the Agent Can Do 06:49 Why Keys for Agents Is a Bad Idea 07:24 Why Custody Is Not a Complete Solution 08:38 Why Terms of Service Won't Save You 08:57 Smart Contracts as the Principal Agent Solution 09:19 Example: Yield Optimization Mandate 10:18 Strategy vs Mandate 10:57 Signing the Mandate to the Smart Contract 11:15 Why High Level Intents Beat Raw Transaction Bytes 12:24 Smart Contract Validates and Executes the Intent 12:49 The Multi Chain Execution Problem 13:06 How Agoric Orchestration Works 13:27 One Contract, Multi Step Cross Chain Action 14:00 Mandate Enforcement Across All of Web3 14:23 Orchestration Beyond One Chain 14:45 YMAX: Single Signature Yield Optimization 15:38 The Agentic Version of YMAX 16:26 Why Cross Chain Yields Beat Single Chain Yields 18:12 Alpha Status and Partner Integrations 18:28 Pulling Up: The Pattern Is the Insight 18:57 Smart Contracts Beyond Strangers Cooperating 19:15 Solving the Principal Agent Problem 19:48 Building the Trust Layer for Agentic Finance 20:28 Don't Give Your AI Keys, Give It a Mandate 20:47 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Paul Henry Kajfasz, founder and CEO of Unlink, makes the case that public blockchains have created better financial rails but cannot become the world's money without solving privacy. He frames the opportunity: onchain rails moved roughly $9 trillion in real volume last year (about 5x PayPal's volume), proving these are fundamentally better rails than traditional finance with instant settlement, near free transactions, 24/7 global availability, and full programmability, translating to millions in saved fees or new revenue for companies. Yet when he asks the room how many people use blockchain in their daily lives, only one or two hands go up, and worldwide penetration sits below 1%. Something is wrong. Paul argues the root cause is that we built better rails but did not build better money. For 5,000 years from cowrie shells to cash to bank transfers, money has been private by default with selective disclosure to your bank or the taxman. Public blockchains broke this fundamental model by making every transaction leak all information. With AI, an internet connection, and a few tokens, anyone can know everything about a company's flows in an afternoon. He illustrates with a CFO running payroll onchain (employees seeing each other's salaries makes raises politically impossible), public treasuries, public B2B payments, and every trade being visible. He cites 72 physical attacks worldwide in 2025 including kidnappings and torture targeting people known to hold money onchain. He explains why privacy solutions have stayed niche: companies were forced to choose between non compliant cypherpunk mixers or new private L1s and L2s that break network effects, liquidity, and Lindy. The missing piece, and what Unlink is building, combines three things: privacy, compliance (AML, anti terrorism financing, KYC, KYB) as first class citizens, and integration through APIs, SDKs, and dashboards on the chains companies actually want to use like Ethereum and Solana. He closes by previewing partnerships with Monad, Euler, and others. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 Better Rails But Not Better Money 00:40 $9 Trillion Moved Onchain, 5x PayPal 01:22 Why Onchain Rails Are Fundamentally Better 02:27 Why Aren't Companies Rushing In 02:49 Show of Hands: Daily Blockchain Usage 03:34 Less Than 1% of Humanity Uses These Rails 04:11 The Missing Piece: Better Money 04:38 5,000 Years of Money Being Private by Default 05:05 How Public Blockchains Broke the Model 05:30 AI Makes Every Transaction Readable 06:18 The CFO Payroll Problem 07:13 72 Physical Attacks in 2025 07:57 Why Adoption Stalls 08:25 What Companies Actually Need 09:04 Why Privacy Stayed Niche 09:26 The Rock and Hard Place: Mixers vs New Chains 10:12 Losing Network Effects and Lindy 10:37 The Three Missing Pieces 10:59 Compliance as a First Class Citizen 11:24 Integrating with the Chains Companies Already Want 11:50 Unlink and the Vision Ahead 12:18 Closing: Bringing Trillions Onchain _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Aryan Sheikhalian from CMT Digital sits down with Tom Zschach, who recently finished over six years as Chief Innovation Officer at SWIFT, to discuss settlement, trust, tokenization, and neutral governance. Aryan opens on crypto's pitch that it is faster and cheaper, and asks whether speed was ever what held institutions back. Tom explains that while speed and cost matter, the institutional space above all needs certainty: a treasurer sending millions or billions wants security and recourse, and will accept a transaction taking a few seconds longer if the outcome is guaranteed. He addresses what crypto misunderstands about SWIFT, clarifying that SWIFT is a messaging and coordination network that does not issue value, settle, or custody. It coordinates trust through standards, a rule book, and bilateral agreements, and he calls it the original DAO with human governance. Tom explains the SWIFT ledger, a blockchain layered on top of the existing network with no mandates, whose first use case is banks making cross border payments between themselves using deposit tokens as an alternative to nostro vostra accounts. On trust, he frames the hard problem as a boundary issue: blockchains work well for things fully inside the network like swaps and staking, but get complicated when relying on external data or representing off-chain assets like stablecoin reserves. He predicts the most liquid, well understood markets like tokenized bonds and treasuries (DTCC targeting up to $100 trillion) will be tokenized first, while dispute prone assets like real estate come later. He warns against replicating incumbency and single chain control in Web3, favoring a multi-chain world with real competition even as Ethereum sits in pole position. Drawing on his time at CLS (which settles around $10 trillion daily across 18 currencies), he argues scaling institutional adoption requires regulatory clarity and credentials like KYC and wallet eligibility traveling with the asset across chains. He closes bullish that cross border value will move on public blockchains, citing Citi's $5.5 trillion projection. 00:00 Introduction 00:28 Meet CMT Digital and Tom Zschach 01:08 Was Speed Ever What Held Institutions Back 01:28 Why Institutions Need Certainty Above All 02:22 What the Crypto Crowd Misunderstands About SWIFT 03:06 SWIFT as a Messaging Network 03:26 What SWIFT Is Not: No Value, Settlement, or Custody 03:49 Adding Density and Endpoints With the SWIFT Ledger 04:05 SWIFT as a Coordination Network for Trust 04:41 What Blockchains Need to Replicate SWIFT 05:03 Why SWIFT and Blockchains Do Different Things 05:30 SWIFT as the Original DAO 05:56 How the SWIFT Ledger Works 06:25 Cross Border Payments With Deposit Tokens 06:51 What Trust Means Across TradFi and Crypto 07:33 Why External Dependencies Are the Hard Part 08:11 Stablecoins and the Boundary Issue 08:32 What Gets Tokenized First 09:02 Why Demand for Digital Money Is Clear 09:20 Liquid Markets: Bonds and Treasuries First 10:02 Why Dispute Prone Assets Come Later 10:45 SWIFT as the First DAO Revisited 11:22 Incumbency on Blockchain Rails 11:43 Why a Single Chain Undermines Neutrality 12:14 Why a Multi-Chain World Is Better 12:49 Room for More Open Governance 13:10 Leveling the Playing Field With DeFi 13:39 Tokenization Primitives Like Transferable KYC 14:31 Why He Calls It Finance, Not TradFi 14:49 Tokenization Transforming Capital Formation 15:18 Why Transformation Takes Time 15:45 What Convinced Him From Inside the Incumbent 16:07 CLS and $10 Trillion Daily FX Settlement 16:32 Why FX Settlement Was an Early Blockchain Use Case 17:25 Getting Banks Hooked Into Digital Assets 17:47 The Missing Pieces for Institutional Scale 18:21 Why Scale Breaks Across Venue and Chain 18:51 Why Credentials Must Travel With the Asset 19:12 ZK and Solving 19:35 Five Years Out: Value on Public Blockchains 20:09 Citi's $5.5 Trillion Projection 20:42 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, William Mougayar from TRUSTSHIFT sits down with Chris Giancarlo, former chairman of the CFTC and current member of Patomak Global Partners, known as "Crypto Dad" for his early advocacy that let Bitcoin futures list on regulated US exchanges in 2017. Chris shares his origin story of coming out of the financial crisis at a swaps trading platform, working through Dodd-Frank rules for five years, then being nominated by President Obama to the CFTC where he served with Sharon Bowen. He recounts how in 2017 Bitcoin was trading around $1,000 and the CME approached him wanting to list Bitcoin futures. Despite intense opposition from the entire financial establishment (JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and others calling to shut it down), Chris famously testified to the Senate that "my son is interested in Bitcoin, and I owe it to him to try to understand it," which became a viral moment that gave him the nickname Crypto Dad. The conversation moves to the current regulatory landscape and Chris's vision for what he calls "regulation 2.0." He argues the previous era of regulation was built for an analog world of intermediaries and paper based settlement, but the digital age requires principles based, technology neutral frameworks that can adapt to programmable money, tokenized assets, and 24/7 markets. He praises the current administration's approach with the Genius Act, the Clarity Act working its way through Congress, and the SEC's Crypto Task Force under Chairman Atkins moving away from regulation by enforcement. Chris emphasizes that the US is finally embracing its role as the global leader in digital finance rather than pushing innovation offshore. He shares his optimism about tokenized real world assets, stablecoins as an extension of US dollar dominance, and the convergence of TradFi and DeFi. He closes with advice for builders: engage with regulators early, be transparent about your business model, and focus on solving real problems for real users rather than chasing regulatory arbitrage. 00:00 Introduction 00:15 The Crypto Dad Origin Story 01:24 From Financial Crisis to CFTC Nomination 02:38 The 2017 Bitcoin Futures Decision 03:52 CME Approaches the CFTC 05:04 Wall Street Opposition to Bitcoin Futures 06:17 The Senate Testimony That Went Viral 07:31 My Son Is Interested in Bitcoin 08:44 Becoming Known as Crypto Dad 09:58 The Analog Era of Financial Regulation 11:12 Why the Digital Age Needs Regulation 2.0 12:26 Principles Based and Technology Neutral Frameworks 13:41 The Genius Act and Clarity Act Progress 14:55 The SEC Crypto Task Force Under Chairman Atkins 16:09 Moving Away From Regulation by Enforcement 17:24 US Embracing Global Leadership in Digital Finance 18:38 Tokenized Real World Assets 19:51 Stablecoins Extending US Dollar Dominance 21:04 The Convergence of TradFi and DeFi 22:18 Advice for Builders 23:32 Engaging With Regulators Early 24:45 Focus on Real Problems for Real Users 25:59 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this brief opening, Kartik Talwar, co-founder of ETHGlobal, welcomes over 2,000 attendees to day two of ETHConf at the Javits Center. He reiterates that ETHConf is the first and biggest institutional Ethereum event in America, run by ETH Global with the goal of promoting the Ethereum ecosystem and getting the smartest people in the world building on the hardest problems in the space. New York was chosen intentionally to bring together the finance world with the broader crypto community, connecting DeFi and TradFi founders alongside builders working on cryptography and distributed systems so both sides can readily collaborate. Kartik previews day two's structure across three continuing themes: how institutions are thinking about adopting stablecoins and DeFi in their day to day flows, how protocols are evolving from an engineering perspective (what's still outstanding, what's being worked on, what to expect in the coming months and years), and how these two threads connect to make it easy for everyone else to come on chain by simplifying UX, technical, and regulatory hurdles at scale. He emphasizes that speakers coming on stage will talk about work they've already shipped rather than work they're just thinking about, and encourages attendees to interact directly with founders throughout the day since decisions happen faster when you can chat with the people building the products. 00:00 Welcome to Day Two of ETHConf 00:30 Why New York and Why Institutional Focus 00:58 Bringing DeFi and TradFi Together 01:23 2,000 Attendees and 150 Speakers 01:51 Day Two Themes: Institutions, Protocols, Adoption 02:20 Real Stuff on Stage, Not Concepts 02:39 Meet Founders Throughout the Day 02:57 Kicking Off the First Talk _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Shadman Sakib, founder of Flex Global, argues that fintech and banking have missed the real economy by building almost exclusively for customers who already have world class financial infrastructure. Through interactive audience polling, he illustrates that while most attendees use Robinhood and major banks, 99% of the world operates with a patchwork of obscure local banks, stablecoin wallets, FX platforms, manual checks, and separate debit cards just to complete a single transaction. Drawing on nine years at JP Morgan and City plus three years at Mercury, he explains that fintech was built in San Francisco for AI agents, NASDAQ listed companies, and large multi-million dollar deposit holders, while ignoring local manufacturers, middle market businesses, and exporters in places like Colombia hedging against currencies that fluctuate 20 to 30%. He notes even crypto foundations struggled to bank anywhere from 2020 to 2025, relying on patchwork setups across the Cayman Islands, BVI, Singapore, and Switzerland. Shadman contends that while stablecoins solved money movement, they don't solve operations for most companies, and 90% of stablecoin adoption happens overseas precisely where the complex use cases live. He details what's actually missing: invoices and ISO memos attached to payments, FX conversion to local currencies, local bank delivery, 30-day payment terms, and credit, which the US takes for granted but barely exists elsewhere. He critiques neo banks spinning up without true banking DNA or real compliance teams, chasing Solana treasuries and crypto companies with hundreds of millions rather than serving the businesses that drive the global economy. Using a Singapore tire manufacturer on HSBC as an example, he outlines the real needs: multicurrency accounts, multi-entity management, trade finance to borrow against receivables, local off-ramps, real credit, and compliance that understands industries rather than labeling crypto high risk. He explains Flex Global treats stablecoins not as a product to sell but as an augmentation of years of banking rails and credit expertise from servicing over 20,000 middle market customers, offering local currency accounts in 100 plus countries with invoicing, treasury, FX, and native credit. He closes urging the industry to stop building for people already on chain and instead serve those for whom simply holding US dollars is a luxury. 00:00 Introduction 00:12 Interactive Audience Poll 00:38 The One Transaction Nightmare 01:18 How Fintech Missed the Real Economy 01:47 Why the US Has World Class Infrastructure 02:12 How Things Break Outside the US 02:34 The Luxury of Using the US Dollar 03:02 Why Even Crypto Foundations Couldn't Bank 03:32 Who Fintech Has Been Building For 03:54 Building for Large Deposit Holders 04:18 The Neo Bank Cluster Chasing Crypto Treasuries 04:39 Why Regular Businesses Dwarf Crypto 05:02 Serving Crypto After SVB at Mercury 05:24 Why No Compliance Is a Death Sentence 05:45 How Banks Made Money on FX and Fees 06:10 Why the Fastest Money Movement Is Not Moving It 06:43 Why We Keep Building for the Same Customers 07:00 Why 90% of Stablecoin Adoption Is Overseas 07:35 What Is Missing From Stablecoin Payments 07:54 Why Credit Doesn't Exist Outside the US 08:42 Why Real Businesses Have Amplified Needs 09:09 Local Currency and Everyday Bills 09:45 The Singapore Manufacturer on HSBC 10:04 Trade Finance and Borrowing Against Receivables 10:22 Why Real Compliance Must Understand Industries 10:42 Why Neo Banks Lack Banking DNA 11:18 Why the Full Stack Is Hard to Build 11:44 Understanding Invoicing and User Permissioning 12:04 Why Business Payments Need Approval Layers 12:30 Serving the Customers Everyone Ignores 12:55 What Flex Global Is Building 13:25 Stablecoins as Augmentation, Not a Product 13:50 Serving the Customers Actually Moving Money 14:17 Local Accounts, Credit, and Native Rails 14:46 Talking to Design Partners 15:09 Building for People Who See This as Luxury 15:32 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Erbil Karaman

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Erbil Karaman from Huma Finance presents an onchain alternative to global transaction banking, the system that has dominated global money movement for decades. He explains that despite its name, the system is largely local: most global transaction banking happens in New York, home to USD Fedwire (around $1.1 quadrillion annual volume) and the CLS FX settlement system (around $1.8 quadrillion), all depending on a central ledger held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where every bank wanting to settle USD globally must hold reserves, topped by JP Morgan. He dispels the myth that banks move money, arguing they instead manage liquidity across large balance sheets composed of deposits, which is why JP Morgan is fighting stablecoins so hard, since without deposits banks lose the liquidity that enables global capital movement. Erbil outlines three challenges facing bank fiat liquidity: higher cost of capital as quantitative easing ends and monetary policy tightens, fragmenting geopolitics from trade and tariff wars pushing central banks to derisk from T-bills into gold and commodities, and the rise of stablecoins draining deposits from treasuries, companies, and wealthy individuals. Citing JP Morgan's 2026 payments industry report, he notes banks now recognize liquidity must become programmable, borderless, and always on, and that blockchains are here to scale. Huma's PayFi network rebuilds global transaction banking onchain using stablecoins, programmable liquidity, and yield vaults that operate 24/7 without banking holidays or dependence on the Fed's central ledger. He shares live use cases across credit cards (Rain), cross border payments, merchant settlements (Amazon settling with Asia suppliers in one button press instead of two to four days), and trade finance for commodities, rare earths, and GPUs. He details Huma's layered stack (transaction, currency, cost, compliance, liquidity, and use case layers) and rapid adoption by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Stripe, Western Union, and MoneyGram. The network has grown 3x year over year to $14 billion in total volume growing $1 billion monthly on just $160 million in efficiently recycled stablecoin liquidity, generating sustained 8% organic yield for over 110,000 depositors with zero credit defaults. He closes announcing the PayFi token (PST) omnibus yield system is now live on Ethereum mainnet with partners including Bitwise, Fluid, Morpho, and Chainlink, after two years operating mainly on Solana. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 A Big Idea: Replacing Global Transaction Banking 00:36 Understanding the Global Banking Buildup 00:58 Why the System Is Actually Local 01:25 Fedwire and CLS: Quadrillions Through New York 01:50 The Central Ledger at the Federal Reserve 02:17 JP Morgan and the Bank Reserve System 02:40 The Myth That Banks Move Money 03:03 Why Banks Fight Stablecoins to Death 03:25 Three Challenges Facing Fiat Liquidity 03:52 Fragmenting Geopolitics and Derisking From T-Bills 04:31 How Stablecoins Drain Deposits 05:03 JP Morgan's 2026 Payments Report 05:26 Programmable, Borderless, Always On Liquidity 06:00 Why Blockchains Are Here to Scale 06:36 How Huma's PayFi Network Works 06:58 Use Case: Credit Cards With Rain 07:24 Use Case: Cross Border Payments 07:50 Use Case: Amazon Merchant Settlements 08:33 Use Case: Trade Finance for Commodities and GPUs 09:06 The Layered PayFi Stack 09:42 Adoption by Every Major Payment Company 10:05 The Numbers: $14 Billion and 3x Growth 10:28 8% Organic Yield and Zero Defaults 10:53 Programmatically Locking the Settlement Cycle 11:21 The PST Cross-Chain Omnibus Yield System 11:56 Now Live on Ethereum Mainnet 12:32 Diminishing the Role of Fiat Rails 12:59 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Sonya Kim, co-founder of 3F, a new leverage vault protocol built on Morpho that provides automated customized leverage exposure on RWA yields, explains how to connect DeFi with TradFi. Drawing on 10 years as an equity portfolio manager before joining Steakhouse Financial in 2023 and launching the first ever Morpho vault in January 2024, she argues the two worlds are deeply complementary. TradFi brings diversified cash flows from real economic activity, deep underwriting rigor from specialized fund managers, and established legal recourse, which is exactly what DeFi lacks given its scarce on-chain revenue, reliance on unsustainable token incentives, and shaky underwriting seen in recent blowups like Stream Finance and the Resolve infinite mint hack. Conversely, DeFi solves what TradFi struggles with: active managers face fee pressure from passive ETFs and want new distribution, leverage is gated to institutions, and the space is opaque, while DeFi offers a global permissionless user base, composable primitives (noting Morpho's $175 million raise announced that day), and full transparency. Sonya frames RWAs as a bright spot, with issuance growing from nothing in 2023 to a hockey stick led by US Treasuries, and argues issuance is now largely solved, leaving the question of what to do with on-chain presence. Taking inspiration from how a single Treasury instrument is reused across savings, money market funds, repo, and hedge fund carry and basis trades to create higher asset velocity, 3F targets the leverage carry trade (over a trillion dollars notional in TradFi). She explains that looping is trivial for crypto native assets via flash loans in one 12 second block, but breaks for RWAs because settlement delays like T+1 compound, so reaching 5x leverage could take 20 loops over 20 days. 3F solves this with an IRL flash loan mechanism where bridge facilitators extend an upfront loan, letting users build one-click leverage on RWAs in a single settlement cycle. She walks through a product launched with FalconX (a tokenized private credit instrument brought on chain via Pareto) offering up to 6.5x leverage and over 20% real yield at max, and outlines the five ecosystem players (RWA issuers, Morpho lenders, bridge facilitators, leverage LPs, and liquidators). She closes urging the industry to focus on new use cases impossible in the real world. 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Sonya's TradFi Background and Steakhouse 01:08 Launching the First Morpho Vault 01:37 Why TradFi and DeFi Are Complementary 01:59 What TradFi Brings: Underwriting and Recourse 02:25 What DeFi Struggles With 02:59 Recent Blowups: Stream Finance and Resolve 03:23 Where TradFi Benefits What DeFi Lacks 03:55 The Challenges Facing TradFi Asset Managers 04:27 Why Leverage Is Gated to Institutions 04:54 What DeFi Has Already Solved 05:23 Why TradFi Wants to Come Into DeFi 05:53 The Hockey Stick Growth of RWAs 06:31 Why Issuance Is Now Solved 07:07 Learning From How Treasuries Are Used 07:32 The Many Use Cases of Treasuries 08:05 Hedge Funds and Yield Strategies 08:29 Creating Higher Asset Velocity 09:06 Why 3F Targets the Leverage Carry Trade 09:33 How Looping Works 10:05 The Math of Amplifying Yield With Leverage 10:32 Why Looping Breaks for RWAs 11:03 Why Looping Is Easy for Crypto Native Assets 11:56 Why RWA Settlement Delays Compound 12:32 Why 20 Loops Takes 20 Days 13:00 3F's One-Click Leverage Primitive 13:33 Mimicking the Flash Loan With Bridge Facilitators 14:34 Walking Through a 5x Leverage Position 14:55 Leverage in One Settlement Cycle 15:21 The FalconX Private Credit Product 15:51 How the SPV Is Tokenized by Pareto 16:17 The Math: Over 20% Real Yield at Max Leverage 16:51 Why We Build Small Primitives Together 17:24 The Five Players in the 3F Ecosystem 17:53 Bringing Quality Assets to Morpho Lenders 18:22 Bridge Facilitators as Connective Tissue 18:50 Leverage LPs and Liquidators 19:29 Focusing on Use Cases Not Possible in the Real World 20:02 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Scott Dykstra from Space and Time explains how his team is building the data layer for Ethereum's institutional era, providing data to smart contracts from institutional portfolios offchain or secured events onchain. Space and Time is a decentralized onchain database that lets smart contracts ask complex questions. When they started in late 2021, they set out to build the first verifiable ZKP-proven SQL database, using zero knowledge cryptographic proofs for queries asked by smart contracts. The original insight was that a lending smart contract knows nothing about the borrower wallet transacting with it (DeFi protocols have no database to query and aggregate past activity), so Space and Time brings an onchain database that lets contracts roll up and aggregate the history of wallet transactions and events, proven back to the contract by the next block. He frames this as the next step beyond the price-feed oracles that enabled DeFi summer in 2020: letting a smart contract actually run a SQL query aggregation, a powerful primitive for institutions entering lending and vaults. Scott describes the technology as a blockchain sitting next to the EVM that lets you create tables, insert data, and run SQL queries, paying a few SXT tokens per action (for example, creating a T-bill volumes table and querying it from a contract to mint stablecoins backed by offchain T-bills). With the Clarity Act about to pass, he sees fintechs like Stripe, PayPal, and Circle having shown banks how to mint stablecoins backed by reserves, and now major banks hiring contractors to tokenize offchain securities. The real unlock is programmable finance: banks can codify rules around minting, volume thresholds, and marking to market, extending beyond stablecoins to CLOs, equities, and commercial real estate repriced as often as desired. Space and Time acts as the secure conduit that reaches into locked-down offchain portfolios and ZK-proves to a contract that aggregated data (say, total collateral across 17 portfolios on two clouds) is accurate and untampered, ensuring minted stablecoins always match reserves in near real time. He extends this to virtual vaults that give lenders a data room and dashboard showing borrower collateral and deployed capital across exchanges and DEXes, then lets the vault contract itself run SQL queries to enforce thresholds and margin calls, enabling compliant, largely uncollateralized lending. He closes on DeFi itself, where querying a wallet's history of repaid loans could earn experienced borrowers better rates, powering a new wave of onchain lending. 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Building the Data Layer for Ethereum 00:58 The First Verifiable ZK-Proven SQL Database 01:33 Why Smart Contracts Have No Database 01:58 A Verifiable Pipeline of Data to Smart Contracts 02:19 Beyond Price Feed Oracles 02:38 How the Technology Works 02:52 Spending SXT to Create, Insert, and Query 03:15 Why Banks Are Leaning In 03:38 From Fintechs to Major Banks 03:56 The Benefit of Programmable Finance 04:44 Codifying Business Logic On Chain 05:16 Where Traditional Securities Data Lives 05:42 The Need for a Secure Conduit 06:12 ZK Proving Data From Offchain Portfolios 06:50 Why This Is More Than an Oracle 07:13 Aggregating Across 17 Portfolios 07:52 Why It Must Be Near Real Time 08:25 Extending Beyond Stablecoins 08:52 Why SQL Is a Familiar Primitive 09:15 Why You Cannot Aggregate Without This 09:48 The Problem of No Asset Provenance 10:39 Taking It Further Into Vaults 11:17 Why Banks Need Borrower Transparency 11:42 The Opaque World of Ethereum Vaults 12:26 Introducing Virtual Vaults 12:57 Giving Lenders a View of Borrower Capital 13:39 The Investor Dashboard and Data Room 13:56 Feeding Data to the Vault Contract Itself 14:22 Codifying Margin Calls and Business Rules 14:53 An End-to-End Example 15:55 Smarter Vaults Beyond Morpho 16:30 What About DeFi Itself 17:03 Rewarding Loyal Borrowers With Better Rates 17:29 The Year Ahead for Banks and DeFi 17:48 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Azeem Khan, co-founder of Miden, cuts through the headlines to address the reality of the missing pieces for institutional adoption of crypto. Drawing on his experience as a UNICEF Crypto Fund consultant, a Forbes Crypto contributor, and a CoinDesk writer, he introduces Miden as a next-generation ZK blockchain that raised $25 million last year from a16z crypto, 1kx, and others. He frames the core problem: blockchains have been either fully public (creating dystopian financial surveillance) or fully private (making illicit activity easy), and while permissioned chains are one attempted fix, the average person cares less about decentralization than about counterparty risk. Miden aims to give privacy and compliance to individuals and institutions at once, focused on onboarding institutions. He argues institutional adoption matters because the billion users will not come from meme coins but from people with real money in financial institutions going on chain, noting the 2024 bull run was kicked off by BlackRock's ETF, yet most activity remains stuck in pilots rather than full deployment. Azeem shares insights from speaking with leaders like the head of digital assets at Invesco and Amy Oldenburg who leads digital asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, both $2.5 trillion firms, and buckets the obstacles into four categories. Technical barriers include compliant privacy, interoperability and fragmentation, settlement delays, too few custody and stablecoin providers, weak institutional risk tooling, and shallow liquidity depth (large players would move price charts). Regulatory and compliance barriers include token classification and tax uncertainty (he has not created a US onshore entity for fear the SEC could freeze accounts and block payroll), weak auditing and reporting, insurance shortages, cross-border tax complexity, and reputational risk (the New York Knicks closed off crypto after nearly signing FTX). Operational and governance barriers include counterparty risk, DAO decentralization theater run by whales, and broken token economic models where airdrops create sell pressure rather than demand. Cultural and organizational barriers include quarterly earnings pressure, talent shortages, risk-averse conservatism, and internal knowledge gaps where crypto evangelists are not the decision makers (Invesco needs 50 teams to sign off on a product). He ends optimistically on progress in privacy tech, stablecoin regulation, and institutional DeFi (which he thinks will simply become onchain finance), arguing crossing the chasm requires regulators, builders, and institutions collaborating on trust, compliance, and usability, with long-term vision over short-term hype. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 The Reality Behind the Headlines 00:29 About Azeem 01:02 What Is Miden 01:32 The Problem With Fully Public or Private Chains 01:56 Why Counterparty Risk Matters More Than Decentralization 02:18 Why Institutional Adoption Matters 02:38 Why the Billion Users Will Come From Institutions 03:02 Still in Pilots, Not Full Deployment 03:32 The Three Institutional Perspectives 03:59 Why Adoption Has Stalled 04:21 Technical Barrier: Compliant Privacy 04:42 Interoperability and Fragmentation 05:00 Settlement Delays and Inefficiency 05:21 Too Few Custody and Stablecoin Providers 05:44 The Problem of Liquidity Depth 06:02 Regulatory and Compliance Barriers 06:26 Why He Has No US Onshore Entity 06:40 Auditing, Reporting, and Insurance Shortages 07:16 Cross-Border Tax and Reputational Risk 07:44 Operations and Governance Barriers 08:02 DAO Decentralization Theater 08:36 Why Token Models Are Broken 08:57 Cultural Barriers: Quarterly Earnings Pressure 09:26 Talent Shortages and Risk-Averse Culture 10:13 Why Evangelists Are Not the Decision Makers 10:49 Why Invesco Needs 50 Teams to Sign Off 11:07 Where the Industry Is Making Progress 11:29 From DeFi to Onchain Finance 11:56 What It Takes to Cross the Chasm 12:16 Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Hype 12:34 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Jan Gorzny

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Jan Gorzny from Zircuit discusses how to bring institutional adoption from Wall Street onto Ethereum, focusing not on ZK but on the barriers institutions and their users face and how crypto-native solutions can overcome them. He motivates the case by cataloging the pain points of TradFi: it is good but not great, with poor settlement efficiency, a lack of transparency (you rarely know who you are dealing with at a bank), and costs and difficulty that scale as you become the institution itself, since it is an old industry not optimized for the last 20 to 30 years of technology, with heavily siloed money. On chain solves much of this: fast and improving settlement, 24/7 trading regardless of bank hours, strong transparency (a double-edged sword given weak default privacy), programmable money enabling automated trading and looping, and composability across asset classes. He argues the value proposition is real, and while early banking-the-unbanked adoption was slow, RWAs and stablecoins have blown up, with FX and other services now being piloted on chain. Jan walks through the barriers. First, regulatory uncertainty: unclear asset classifications, cross-border complications, and technical risks like recurring smart contract exploits (worsened by a bad first quarter) where you cannot simply patch decentralized code, so institutions avoid it not from misunderstanding but because their lawyers will not sign off. Second, infrastructure and chain fragmentation, with around 131 rollups as of last October creating hard choices about which chain, oracle, and bridge to use and forcing new, modular, redundant DApp designs rather than the cookie-cutter patterns of 2022. Third, permissionlessness as a genuine trade-off, where censorship resistance and transparency clash with the whitelisting and controls institutions need. He surveys emerging solutions: permissioned DeFi with KYC and whitelisting, RWA token standards like ERC-3643 and ERC-1400, ZK-based KYC that validates a passport without revealing it, customizable L2s, and safer bridge standards like OFTs and CCIP. He advises builders to design for modularity, understand their trust model, and engage regulators early, and notes users now face far more complex due diligence and unpredictable yield, arguing uncertainty is risk. He closes on his preference for predictable DeFi and Zircuit's product targeting 8 to 11% yield on USDC and USDT with no management fees or minimums, built to work with Wall Street and institutional partners. 00:00 Introduction 00:33 The Barriers Wall Street Faces On Chain 00:52 The Pain Points of Traditional Finance 01:20 Why Costs Scale for Institutions 01:45 Why Money Is So Siloed 02:13 How On Chain Solves These Problems 02:34 Transparency and Programmable Money 03:11 Why the Value Proposition Is Real 03:32 From Banking the Unbanked to Real Adoption 03:44 How RWAs and Stablecoins Blew Up 04:06 Piloting Other TradFi Services On Chain 04:38 Why We Have Only Scratched the Surface 04:56 Why Builders Must Start Agile 05:14 The First Barrier: Regulatory Uncertainty 05:40 Unclear Classifications and Cross-Border Issues 06:02 Why You Cannot Just Fix Exploited Code 06:26 Why Lawyers Will Not Sign Off 06:50 The Second Barrier: Infrastructure and Fragmentation 07:22 Choosing Among 131 Rollups 07:41 Standards, Oracles, and Bridges 08:07 Why the Cookie-Cutter DApp Era Is Over 08:28 Why New DApps Need Redundancy 09:08 The Third Barrier: Permissionlessness 09:30 Choosing Which Permissionlessness Matters 09:59 Emerging Solutions: Permissioned DeFi 10:13 RWA Token Standards Like ERC-3643 and 1400 10:28 ZK-Based KYC With a Passport Scan 10:44 Building Your Own Customizable L2 10:59 How Bridges Have Come a Long Way 11:17 Tokens Built With Legal Barriers in Mind 11:37 What This Means for Builders 11:56 What This Means for Users 12:28 Why Uncertainty Is Risk 12:47 The Case for Predictable DeFi 12:59 Zircuit's Product for Wall Street 13:13 Targeting 8 to 11% Yield With No Fees 13:54 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Yueqi Yang from The Information sits down with Farooq Malik, CEO of Rain, to discuss where stablecoin cards go next. She notes stablecoins have been the hottest story since the Genius Act passed, and Rain is a leader in stablecoin backed cards, recently raising at close to a $2 billion valuation. Farooq explains that stablecoins are a new way to hold, send, and spend money but were not interoperable with the existing financial ecosystem, trapped on the blockchain. Rain connects that value to the existing network of merchants worldwide, letting consumers tap a card or enter a PIN exactly as normal while the transaction is powered by stablecoins, so the merchant never needs educating. This has driven massive global adoption of stablecoins as a store of value. Farooq explains how Rain differs from earlier crypto exchange cards from Binance or Coinbase: rather than a fiat enabled veneer settling five days a week (forcing working capital and counterparty risk), Rain rebuilt the backend so 100% of customer and card network settlement happens directly on the blockchain, supporting over a dozen blockchains, every major virtual machine, public and private chains, multiple stablecoin issuers, and now tokenized deposits. He argues a fiat veneer has no moat and can only compete on price. On customers, Rain powers programs in over 100 markets split roughly 50/50 between crypto native (including stablecoin neobanks) and traditional financial services, and surprisingly the largest destination of transactions is US merchants and bank accounts, contradicting the assumption that stablecoin use is only offshore. He shares US use cases including hourly payroll disbursement (real 24-hour money, not a debt product) and a travel platform embedding spendable stablecoin balances. Farooq frames Rain as a technology and accounts business rather than a cards business, committed to being credibly neutral and open rather than a closed ecosystem like AOL. He addresses banks entering the space (SoFi's USD, tokenized deposit consortiums), Rain's tracker showing banks that deny stablecoin demand are actually the source of billions in flows, the difficulty of Visa and Mastercard principal membership, and closes on Rain's agent control layer for agentic payments where delegated spending authority cannot be hallucinated away. 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Why Rain Is a Leader in Stablecoin Cards 01:05 What Is a Stablecoin Backed Card 01:26 Why Stablecoins Were Not Interoperable 01:53 Connecting Tokens to the Merchant Network 02:34 Massive Global Consumer Adoption 02:52 Why Merchant Behavior Stays the Same 03:41 How Rain Differs From Exchange Cards 04:07 Building Full Interoperability Across Chains 04:28 Supporting Tokenized Deposits and Digital Money 04:57 Why Fiat Settlement Creates Risk 05:40 Settling 100% on the Blockchain 06:12 Why a Fiat Veneer Has No Moat 06:41 The Profile of Rain's Core Customers 07:11 Demand From Public Companies and Banks 07:41 Powering Programs in Over 100 Markets 08:07 Why the US Is the Largest Destination 08:56 Addressing the JP Morgan Deposit Token Claim 09:19 The Hourly Payroll Disbursement Use Case 09:57 Why This Is Only Possible With Stablecoins 10:21 Reallocating Value From Debt Products 10:48 The Travel Platform Use Case 11:47 The Diversity of Use Cases 12:09 Why Lower Working Capital Changes Everything 12:26 The Crypto Native vs Non-Native Breakdown 13:14 How Rain Thinks About Competition 13:47 Why Rain Is Not a Cards Business 14:31 Why Rain Avoids Payment Flows 14:59 Being a Credibly Neutral Technology Player 16:15 Why Open Beats Closed Ecosystems 17:04 Will Banks Enter the Stablecoin Card Business 17:38 SoFi USD and Tokenized Deposit Consortiums 18:30 The Data Gap in Bank Stablecoin Flows 19:30 Why Banks Lose Customers to Platforms 20:31 The Visa and Mastercard Principal Membership 21:27 Meeting Customers Where They Are 22:31 Plans for Agentic Payments 23:43 The Agent Control Layer 24:20 The AI Concierge Example 24:42 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

David Hoffman

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, David Hoffman from Bankless sits down with Reid Simon from Figure to discuss how the company built one of the top 10 crypto assets by market cap through tokenized real world credit. Reid explains that Figure built quietly, creating a tokenization platform for HELOCs (home equity lines of credit), an esoteric consumer credit asset, now doing around $1.5 billion a month of natively tokenized HELOCs on the Provenance network, with TVL mirrored via CoinGecko for verifiability. Founded by Mike Cagney (also founder of SoFi), Figure operates as a capital light platform where about 380 partners plug into its tech stack for origination, credit decisioning, tokenization, trading, warehousing, and securitization across HELOCs, auto loans, residential transition, SMB, and inventory finance. Reid explains why Figure chose HELOCs: traditional mortgage origination costs banks around $11,000 to $12,000, making small equity loans unprofitable, so blockchain's cheaper rails unlocked lending banks could not provide. Once tokenized, the asset needed utility, so Figure built Democratized Prime, a borrow-lend market against AAA rated HELOCs paying around 6.5% with hourly liquidity, recently connected to DeFi via a Morpho launch enabling financing near SOFR. He describes the new buyers unlocked by public blockchains: TradFi buyers like pension funds and insurers who buy tokenized mortgages in monthly securitizations, DeFi curators who dig into the historical loan tape, and net new capital like Asian family offices who cannot otherwise access American consumer credit. He frames banks as the primary middleman being removed, citing a narrow banking thesis, and explains the margin benefits: financing on Morpho at around 4.4% versus Goldman's 6.7% warehouse rate is a meaningful accelerant. He covers why Morpho on Ethereum made sense after an MVP on Solana with Kamino (deeper liquidity, isolated markets, composability), how Figure charges 50 basis points but treats it as a flywheel rather than a profit center, and how competitors like Securitize and Superstate compete through value chain partnerships. He closes on expansion into auto loans, residential transition loans, and SMB and trade finance, projecting Figure's Ethereum and Morpho TVL to reach the billions by year end. 00:00 Introduction 00:07 How Figure Became a Top 10 Crypto Asset 00:41 $1.5 Billion a Month in Tokenized HELOCs 01:03 Mirroring TVL via CoinGecko for Verifiability 01:25 A 101 on the Figure Business 01:52 From Lender to a 380 Partner Platform 02:19 The Full Stack of Credit Assets 02:42 Beyond First-Generation Tokenized Assets 03:05 Why Tokenizing HELOCs Is Just One Piece 03:30 Why Figure Picked HELOCs as an Asset 03:49 Why Banks Could Not Provide Small Equity Loans 04:29 Why Tokenized Assets Need Utility 04:56 Democratized Prime Explained 05:27 Connecting HELOCs to DeFi via Morpho 05:46 The New Buyers Public Blockchains Unlock 06:06 Why RWA Tokens Struggle With Liquidity 06:26 TradFi Buyers of Tokenized Mortgages 06:50 Democratizing Access to Warehouse Finance 07:17 Are Banks the Middleman Being Removed 07:35 The Narrow Banking Thesis 08:19 Accessing 160 Billion in Stablecoins 08:40 Two Sources of New Capital 08:58 Success With DeFi Curators 09:48 Asian Family Offices Accessing US Credit 10:33 The Margin Impact of the Opportunity 10:49 Why Cheaper Financing Accelerates the Business 11:13 Financing on Morpho Below SOFR 11:49 A Whole New Product of Prime Borrowers 12:11 Why Morpho Was the Right Platform 12:37 Why Ethereum Over Solana for Scale 13:02 Is Morpho a Profit Center or Distribution 13:23 Why It Is a Flywheel, Not a Profit Center 13:53 What Competitors Are Learning 14:31 Competing Through Value Chain Partnerships 15:03 What Is Next: New Assets Coming On Chain 15:37 Auto Loans, Residential, and SMB Lending 16:06 Is the Model Unique or Scalable 16:40 The Two Keys to Success 17:31 Sizing the Assets on Ethereum and Morpho 17:58 Projecting Billions by Year End 18:21 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jun 9, 2026

In this workshop, Jatin Pandya walks through writing a first DAML smart contract on the Canton network and building, testing, and inspecting it using DPM, the DAML package manager. He starts by pointing developers to docs.canton.network where they can find tutorials including Module 2, which compares Canton to Ethereum for hackathon builders coming from a Solidity background. Jatin explains that DPM is a CLI tool covering the full lifecycle of DAML development, from scaffolding new projects to building, testing, and interacting with smart contracts. Jatin live codes an invoice smart contract featuring two parties (seller and buyer), an amount, a paid status, and a description. He explains DAML's core concepts: templates instead of smart contracts, choices instead of functions, and the proof of stakeholders model using signatories (who must sign actions) and observers (who can see state changes). The contract includes ensure clauses to validate positive amounts, a pay choice that returns a receipt, and a dispute choice with a required reason. He runs dpm build to compile the DAML code into a DAR file ready for ledger deployment, dpm test to execute test scripts achieving 100% pass rate, and dpm damlc inspect-dar to retrieve the package hex string used as the contract's identity on the Canton ledger. 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Where to Find Canton Documentation 01:19 What Is DPM (DAML Package Manager) 02:00 Installing DPM and Checking Versions 03:43 Exploring DPM Commands 04:51 Listing Available DAML Templates 06:01 Creating a New DAML Project from Scratch 07:23 Setting Up the Invoice DAML File 07:58 DAML VS Code Extensions Overview 08:53 Writing the Module and Importing DAML Script 09:50 Defining a Template with Parameters 11:14 Understanding Parties as Canton Addresses 12:27 Signatories vs Observers: Proof of Stakeholders 14:09 Using Ensure to Validate Amount 15:23 Choices: The DAML Version of Functions 16:18 Writing the Pay Choice with Controller 19:47 Adding a Dispute Choice with Reason 22:07 Completed Smart Contract Walkthrough 23:18 Writing Test Scripts with Alice and Bob 24:44 Running DPM Build to Generate the DAR File 26:01 Running DPM Test for Coverage Summary 27:13 Using DPM DAMLC to Inspect DAR Files 28:04 Extracting Package Hex String for Ledger Identity 29:44 Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this opening introduction, Kartik Talwar, co-founder of ETH Global, welcomes over 500 attendees from 30 countries to Pragma Cannes 2026 — ETH Global's first Pragma conference of the year. He explains that Pragma is a one-day, single-track event designed to be non-technical and accessible, featuring executives discussing the future of Web3 over the next 6 to 18 months. The format ensures attendees never have to choose between overlapping sessions. Kartik previews the full 14-session agenda covering topics from quantum cryptography and institutional DeFi to agentic wallets, EU blockchain regulation, and AI-powered developer tools. Featured speakers include leaders from Ledger, Privy, Zirket, Chainlink, Aave, Gnosis, Oiler, Infura, and Celo. He also promotes ETHCom, ETH Global's upcoming large-scale conference in New York bringing together crypto-native and institutional finance, and shares a limited discount code for attendees. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 Welcome to Pragma Cannes 2026 00:35 What Is Pragma and Why It Exists 01:16 Event Format: One Day, One Track, Executive Speakers 02:05 14 Sessions: Interviews and Talks 02:23 Attendee Stats and Partners 03:04 ETHCom Preview: Biggest Ethereum Event in America 04:30 Full Day Agenda Walkthrough 07:07 Closing and Kickoff _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Jan Gorzny

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this talk, Jan Gorzny from Zircuit presents Zircuit Finance, a new platform launched at Denver that brings institutional-grade investment yields on-chain in a fully permissionless way. He frames the two core problems blocking DeFi mass adoption: inaccessibility (accreditation requirements, high capital minimums, lockup periods) and risk (smart contract exploits, complex looping strategies, yield unpredictability). His thesis is that if Web3 truly wants to "bank the unbanked," it needs to offer all the good aspects of institutional finance — professional capital management, predictable yields, proven track records — without the gatekeeping. Zircuit Finance solves this by letting anyone deposit USDC or USDT with no KYC, no minimum deposit, and no lockup, then lending those funds to regulated asset managers like Monarch, Fortis, and Fidelity who run strategies like delta-neutral quant funds. The platform targets 8-11% APY with 0% management fees and a 20% performance fee, keeping the smart contract architecture deliberately simple to minimize security risk. It's live on Ethereum and Base as a LayerZero OApp with multi-chain expansion planned, and also integrates DeFi protocols like Aave and Morpho to augment yields and provide flexibility alongside the institutional strategies. 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Pragmatic DeFi: Sensible and Realistic 01:49 Two Problems with High-Yield DeFi: Risk and Inaccessibility 03:21 Banking the Unbanked Means Matching Bank-Level Features 04:10 Bringing Institutional Capital On-Chain 04:50 Why Institutional Yields Are Currently Inaccessible 05:59 Professional Strategies and Higher, Safer Yields 06:56 DeFi Risk: Exploits, Contagion, and Horror Stories 07:42 De-Risking Through Regulated Partners 08:43 Growing the Pie Together 09:02 Solution: Permissionless Access + Predictable Yields 09:51 Introducing Zircuit Finance 10:27 Target: 8-11% on USDC/USDT, Zero Management Fees 10:49 Multi-Chain via LayerZero 11:10 Partners: Monarch, Fortis, Fidelity, Aave, Morpho 11:48 How It Works: Deposit, Lend, Earn 12:10 Key Takeaway: Predictable DeFi Is Safer DeFi 13:13 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Jan Gorzny X: https://x.com/jgorzny ✅ Follow Zircuit X: https://x.com/Zircuit ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this talk, Jonathan Han, CEO of Euler Labs, explains how modular lending infrastructure is essential for onboarding trillions of dollars in traditional financial assets onto DeFi. He outlines three key requirements for institutional RWA adoption: compliance enforcement at the smart contract level (KYC, sanctions screening, geo-fencing), risk isolation through modular vault architecture where each asset class has independent liquidation mechanisms and risk parameters, and composability via the Ethereum Vault Connector (EVC) technology that lets isolated collateral markets share stable coin liquidity pools. Jonathan details Euler's curator model where institutional-grade risk managers like Santora, Bitwise, and Apollo set and monitor risk parameters per vault rather than relying on DAO token holder governance. He highlights their partnership with Securitize for DS Token compliance integration and their launch of tokenized equity markets (S&P 500, NASDAQ, Tesla) currently operating 24/5 with plans for 24/7 weekend trading pending reliable oracle data and weekend liquidation partners. The talk emphasizes that permissionless deployment of high-quality assets, combined with professional risk curation, is the path to making previously inaccessible financial instruments — private credit, public equities, commodities — available to everyone through DeFi. 00:00 Introduction 00:31 The Credit Layer and Next Phase of DeFi 01:28 Key Categories for Institutional Onboarding 02:49 Compliance Requirements at the Smart Contract Level 03:44 Risk Isolation: Why Modular Architecture Wins 04:54 Modular vs Monolithic Lending Protocol Design 05:52 NAV Delays, Regulatory Halts, and Weekend Markets 06:33 Summary: Isolated Markets, Compliance Hooks, Domain Experts 07:51 Permissionless Deployment with Professional Risk Curators 09:25 Euler's Architecture: ERC-4626 Vaults and EVC 10:32 Independent Liquidation Mechanisms Per Market 11:58 Securitize Partnership and DS Token Compliance 13:37 Capital Efficiency: Isolated Collateral, Shared Liquidity 14:12 The Risk Curator Model Explained 15:32 Bridging TradFi and DeFi: 24/7 Markets and Settlements 17:12 Tokenized Equity Markets: S&P 500, NASDAQ, Tesla 18:25 Multi-Party Coordination for RWA Markets 19:30 Permissioned and Permissionless Vaults 20:05 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Jonathan Han X: https://x.com/0xJHan ✅ Follow Euler Labs X: https://x.com/eulerfinance ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this talk, Misha Putiatin, co-founder of Symbiotic, lays out the four critical problems that must be solved to bring trillions of dollars of traditional finance on-chain in a composable, DeFi-native way rather than as simple database receipts. He argues that after 18 years of building infrastructure, blockchains are no longer bandwidth-bound, but the industry lacks the financial primitives needed for institutional adoption: private credit, smart contract risk coverage, standardized reporting, and RWA liquidity. Misha details Symbiotic's role as a collateral market platform addressing each problem: partnering with Cap Protocol for private credit and financial guarantees (already at $220M+ in delegations), working with Nexus Mutual on second-loss coverage for DeFi and RWA protocols, helping Hive build on-chain reporting with real-time liquidation triggers and automated audits, and building an instant liquidity solution that pools redemption flow across all tokenized platforms to solve the chicken-and-egg problem of illiquid RWAs with 90-100 day redemption windows. He emphasizes that the "native way" — composable, liquidatable, self-custodied assets with DeFi rails — is the only path that truly leverages what crypto has built, with instant liquidity and Nexus coverage both launching early Q2. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 18 Years of Building Infrastructure 02:26 Traditional Finance Is Finally Interested 03:43 Why Institutions Matter: They Have the Money 04:44 Two Options: Database Receipts vs DeFi-Native Composability 06:30 Symbiotic's Four-Problem Framework 06:59 Problem 1: Private Credit and Financial Guarantees 08:48 Problem 2: Smart Contract Risk Coverage with Nexus Mutual 10:42 Capital Efficiency and the Insurance Gap 12:12 Problem 3: Standardized On-Chain Reporting with Hive 13:22 Actionable Reporting: Liquidation Triggers and Automated Audits 14:03 Problem 4: RWA Liquidity — The Biggest Blocker 15:37 Current Solutions: Half-Yield Buffers and Platform Funds 17:00 Symbiotic's Approach: Pooled Cross-Platform Liquidity 18:01 Launch Timeline: Instant Liquidity and Nexus in Q2 18:41 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Misha Putiatin X: https://x.com/Psalom ✅ Follow Symbiotic X: https://x.com/Symbioticfi ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Kartik Talwar interviews Andrej Bencic, founder of Tenderly, about the evolution of Ethereum developer tools over the past eight years and how AI is reshaping smart contract development. Andrej describes how the multi-chain world has fundamentally changed development — teams now need to test across multiple forked mainnets with bridges, manage indexing across chains, and handle inconsistencies when chains go down. He contrasts today's production-grade stack (Foundry, account abstraction, staging environments) with the 2018 era of Truffle and Ganache. The conversation explores three distinct developer personas Tenderly serves: newcomers focused on smart contract integration and DeFi composability, OG teams like Aave pushing protocol frontiers, and institutional players held back by risk aversion. Andrej details how Tenderly's simulation technology helps manage operational risk post-deployment — from transaction simulation in Gnosis Safe to treasury management. He highlights their MCP integration that gives AI agents a sandboxed fork of mainnet to debug transactions (processing 50MB of data per transaction) and test workflows in a parallel universe before committing to production, calling it a critical safety net against the inevitability of AI-driven development. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 What Is Tenderly and Eight Years of Developer Tooling 01:43 How Multi-Chain Development Has Changed Everything 04:09 Cross-Chain Testing: Forking Multiple Mainnets 05:08 The Modern Developer Stack vs 2018 06:45 Production-Grade Development: CI/CD and Staging 08:17 AI Skills and Delegating Ethereum Context 09:04 Three Developer Personas: Newcomers, OGs, and Institutions 11:36 Institutional Risk Aversion as the Main Bottleneck 12:40 Managing Operational Risk Post-Deployment 14:16 Transaction Simulation and Avoiding Blind Signing 15:12 AI Agents and Smart Contract Development 16:02 Sandboxed Fork Environments for AI Workflows 17:33 Tenderly's MCP: Debugging and Testing for AI 18:40 AI Processes 50MB of Transaction Data Better Than Humans 19:22 Advice for New Smart Contract Developers 21:25 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Andrej Bencic X: https://x.com/bendzi ✅ Follow Tenderly X: https://x.com/TenderlyApp ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Stani Kulechov, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Kartik Talwar interviews Stani Kulechov, founder and CEO of Aave, about the vision behind Aave V4 and the future of DeFi as infrastructure for global credit. Stani explains that V4 introduces a modular hub-and-spoke architecture where liquidity is stored in central hubs that allocate credit lines to customizable spokes — enabling anyone to build new lending models (native Bitcoin collateral, debt trading, fixed lending) while tapping into Aave's existing liquidity pool rather than bootstrapping from scratch. Stani outlines three waves of new collateral entering DeFi: tokenized real-world assets, yield-bearing stablecoins, and data-backed credit facilities for consumers, businesses, and institutions. He discusses the Aave App's fintech-like mobile experience that fully abstracts away wallets, gas, and networks, and reflects on why Ethereum remains the strongest chain for DeFi due to tooling, security community, and liquidity network effects. Looking ahead, he frames the institutional transition as a decade-long journey of replacing financial backend infrastructure dating back to the 1970s, with DeFi serving as the efficient capital allocation layer for all future credit. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Welcome and Aave V4 Context 00:40 Why V4 Took Two Years to Build 02:10 DeFi as a Backbone for All Future Credit 03:43 V4 Architecture: Hub-and-Spoke Model 04:48 Custom Spokes: Bitcoin Collateral, Debt Trading, Fixed Lending 05:59 Unified Liquidity Access for New DeFi Projects 07:31 New Collateral Types: RWAs, Yield Stablecoins, and Data 08:32 Risk Premiums and Collateral-Based Pricing 09:45 Institutional Requirements and Permissionless Infrastructure 11:11 BlackRock on Ethereum: A Turning Point 12:04 Aave App: Fintech-Like Mobile DeFi Experience 13:35 Building DeFi for Everyone 14:19 Staying Motivated Through Market Cycles 15:35 Why Now Is the Best Time to Build 16:57 Why DeFi Stays on Ethereum 18:36 Five-Year Prediction: A Decade-Long Institutional Transition 20:41 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Stani Kulechov X: https://x.com/StaniKulechov ✅ Follow Aave X: https://x.com/Aave ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Kartik Talwar interviews Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer of Chainlink, about Chainlink's evolution from a data oracle provider to a comprehensive infrastructure platform for institutional DeFi. Johann recounts joining the space in 2016-17, realizing the biggest gap was connecting real-world data to Ethereum, and living through DeFi Summer 2020 when Chainlink scaled from 20 oracle networks to over 1,000 price feeds — at one point representing 50% of all Ethereum transaction fees to keep DeFi protocols solvent during extreme congestion. The conversation explores how DeFi use cases built in 2020 (derivatives, prediction markets, tokenized equities) are only now reaching mass adoption as the world catches up. Johann details Chainlink's expansion into cross-chain infrastructure, on-chain compliance (automated KYC bridging with partners like DTCC and Apex), and opt-in privacy through their runtime environment. He frames two distinct adoption paths: institutions in developed markets seeking efficiency gains of 50-90% over legacy systems, and emerging markets where people use crypto to escape failing fiat currencies. His current focus is bridging tokenized assets into DeFi for real distribution and adoption. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Johann Eid's Journey into Crypto and Chainlink 02:16 DeFi Summer 2020: From 20 to 1,000+ Oracle Networks 04:17 Chainlink as 50% of Ethereum Gas During Congestion 06:54 Building a Bulletproof Transaction Manager 07:44 How DeFi Has Evolved Since 2020 08:36 Use Cases Built in 2020 Only Now Getting Adoption 09:49 Real-World Demand: Weekend Trading and Tokenized Gold 10:28 Prediction Markets Replacing Legacy Media Trust 10:58 Chainlink Beyond Oracles: Cross-Chain, Compliance, Privacy 12:24 On-Chain Compliance: Automating KYC with DTCC and Apex 14:04 Privacy as the Missing Piece for Institutional DeFi 15:04 Decentralization as a Killer Use Case in a Mistrustful World 17:05 Why Institutions Are Coming On-Chain Now 18:42 Distribution and Efficiency: Two Drivers of Adoption 20:14 Two Speeds of Adoption: West vs East 21:41 What's Next: Bridging Tokenized Assets into DeFi 23:11 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Johann Eid X: https://x.com/EidJohann ✅ Follow Chainlink X: https://x.com/Chainlink ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Charles Guillemet, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · May 9, 2026

In this fireside chat, Kartik Talwar interviews Charles Guillemet, CTO of Ledger, on the post-quantum cryptography landscape and its implications for blockchain security. Charles traces his journey from heading Ledger's security department (the "Dungeon") to becoming CTO, and explains how Ledger's operating system approach has allowed them to support the rapidly expanding blockchain ecosystem since 2017. He provides a detailed breakdown of quantum computing threats, explaining how Shor's algorithm can theoretically break elliptic curve cryptography and how Google's recent paper reduced the required qubits from a million to 41,000. The conversation covers the two main post-quantum signature approaches — hash-based (well-studied but larger signatures) and lattice-based (smaller, faster but newer) — and the challenge of reaching social consensus in decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum to agree on migration timelines and standards. Charles also discusses AI's impact on security, noting that attack costs are trending toward zero, and outlines Ledger's vision for agentic payments using hardware-enforced delegation policies that give AI agents fine-grained spending permissions without exposing private keys. 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Welcome and Charles Guillemet Introduction 01:13 From Chief Security Officer to CTO 03:09 How Custody Has Evolved Since 2017 04:40 Ledger's OS Approach to Supporting New Chains 05:43 Traditional Finance Discovering Blockchain 06:06 How Real Is the Quantum Computing Threat 07:30 Shor's Algorithm and Google's Recent Breakthrough 08:57 Why Migration Matters More Than Timelines 09:53 NIST Standards and 2030/2035 Deadlines 10:44 The Social Consensus Challenge for Bitcoin and Ethereum 12:20 Google's Paper: 41,000 Qubits for Elliptic Curves 13:23 Hash-Based vs Lattice-Based Post-Quantum Signatures 15:13 Address Migration and Transition Challenges 16:43 What Happens to Unmigrated Coins 17:17 Ledger's Approach to AI Agents and Payments 18:15 AI Changing the Security Paradigm 19:10 Why Agents Will Default to Crypto Payments 19:35 Hardware-Enforced Delegation Policies for Agents 21:00 What's Next: Security, AI, and Formal Verification 22:46 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes 2026* Pragma Cannes 2026 was held on April 2nd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5OnsJ95gz7HoI1tLUj3kZr ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Charles Guillemet X: https://x.com/P3b7_ ✅ Follow Ledger X: https://x.com/ledger ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Funding the Commons · Apr 9, 2026

The UN has a pipeline of 150 blockchain initiatives. Getting them to scale means the blockchain industry has to build relationships it hasn't prioritized yet—with governments, UN agencies, and civil society. Teodor Petricevic works at the UNDP Alternative Finance Lab in Istanbul. In this conversation, he talks about why cross-chain, cross-sector collaboration has to happen now, and why builders shouldn't compromise their core principles to make it work. Filmed at Funding the Commons Buenos Aires, November 19, 2025. Learn more at https://www.fundingthecommons.io Relevant Projects UNDP AltFinLab: https://innovation.eurasia.undp.org/altfinlab/ Thank You to Our Sponsors Protocol Labs: https://protocol.ai NEAR Foundation: https://near.foundation Stellar Development Foundation: https://stellar.org human.tech by Holonym Foundation: https://human.tech/ Ethereum Ecosystem Support Program: https://esp.ethereum.foundation/ Drips: https://drips.network Octant: https://octant.app Logos: https://logos.co GoodDollar: https://gooddollar.org Launchnodes: https://launchnodes.com

ETHGlobal · Nov 9, 2025

Angela Ocando from the Uniswap Foundation discusses how "hooks" are revolutionizing DeFi by enabling customizable, programmable liquidity pools on Uniswap v4. She explains the evolution from traditional finance’s closed, permissioned systems to DeFi’s open, permissionless infrastructure, highlighting Uniswap’s role in this transformation. Hooks allow developers to add custom logic before and after swaps, enabling innovations like time-weighted average market makers, dynamic fees, and on-chain limit orders. Angela emphasizes the composability and flexibility hooks bring, likening them to "money legos" for DeFi. She introduces Uniswap Foundation’s resources for builders, including grants, education, hackathons, and a hook incubator, encouraging participation in the evolving DeFi ecosystem. The talk underscores programmable liquidity as foundational for the future of open finance and invites developers, founders, and business professionals to contribute to DeFi’s growth. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 What Happens When You Trade Crypto? 01:10 Traditional Finance vs. DeFi 02:04 Uniswap and Liquidity Pools 03:18 How a Swap Works 03:45 Limitations of Previous Protocols 04:17 Introduction to Hooks 05:20 Use Cases for Hooks 06:19 On-Chain Limit Orders & Composability 06:55 Uniswap v4 Features 07:48 Hooks as Money Legos 08:38 Ideas for Hooks & Builder Opportunities 09:18 Uniswap Foundation’s Mission 09:45 Builder Resources & Support 10:48 Hackathons, Courses, and Community 12:19 The Future of DeFi & Programmable Liquidity 12:43 Community & Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *Pragma New Delhi* Pragma New Delhi 2025 was held on September 25th at the JW Marriott Hotel in Aerocity New Delhi and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New Delhi YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Angela Ocando X: https://x.com/ocandocrypto ✅ Follow Uniswap Foundation X: https://x.com/UniswapFND ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Austin Griffith

ETHGlobal · Nov 9, 2025

Austin Griffith continues his Ethereum building series by showing how to deploy a decentralized exchange (DEX) using Scaffold-ETH and the Speedrun Ethereum curriculum. He begins by revisiting the simple counter app from the previous session, deploying it to Arbitrum, and explaining why developers should move beyond testnets to use inexpensive Layer 2s for real deployments. After configuring Scaffold-ETH to point to Arbitrum, he connects a wallet, interacts with the live contract, and emphasizes publishing both the smart contract and frontend to IPFS. Austin then introduces the concept of scaling from simple apps to real-world use cases by following Speedrun Ethereum challenges—covering NFTs, staking systems, token vendors, games, and eventually, DEXs. He walks through the logic behind building decentralized systems where users don’t have to trust intermediaries. Starting with staking and token sales, he explains how incentives and state machines create autonomous coordination among users. The talk culminates with the DEX concept, describing how liquidity pools and constant-product equations (x*y=k) enable trustless token swaps. Liquidity providers earn small fees while users trade freely, and developers act as the “hardware builders” creating these hyperstructures that can’t be censored or shut down. He closes by connecting DEXs to broader DeFi concepts like overcollateralized lending and stablecoins, showing how these building blocks power the next level of onchain finance. 00:00 – Recap: deploying the first app 00:37 – Reviewing the local counter app 00:59 – Deploying to Arbitrum 02:19 – Why to skip testnets and use L2s 02:58 – Switching Scaffold-ETH to live networks 03:28 – Interacting with deployed contracts 03:52 – Introduction to Speedrun Ethereum challenges 04:39 – Building multiple projects for experience 05:23 – Real-world onchain use cases 06:09 – Canonical records and attestations 07:01 – NFTs as credentials and token gating 07:52 – Staking app for coordination and trustless DAOs 08:56 – The state machine pattern in smart contracts 11:10 – Incentives and automation in DeFi design 12:19 – Handling failure and refunds securely 13:46 – Token vendor and ICO mechanics 14:38 – Onchain games, randomness, and commit-reveal 17:14 – The DEX as a hyperstructure 18:47 – From order books to automated market makers 19:32 – Liquidity reserves and the constant-product formula 20:22 – Incentives for liquidity providers 21:17 – How DEXs enable trustless swapping 21:55 – Developers as hardware builders 22:22 – Build Guild onboarding and developer growth 23:04 – Scaling through mainnet and L2 deployments 24:08 – Intro to overcollateralized lending and DeFi concepts 31:32 – Closing remarks and next sessions preview _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *ETHGlobal New Delhi* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New Delhi, a 3-day hackathon held September 19-21 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New Delhi 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7zCFW3hBqatZ18rQaYeEJL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow BuidlGuidl* X: https://x.com/buidlguidl ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHGlobal · Nov 9, 2025

Shiv Bhonde introduces the fundamentals of prediction markets and demonstrates how to build a binary prediction market using the Speedrun Ethereum challenge. He begins by explaining the real-world significance of platforms like Polymarket, where traders bet on outcomes such as elections or sports events. Unlike traditional betting systems, onchain prediction markets let users trade outcome tokens ("Yes" and "No") freely until the event concludes, providing decentralized transparency and market-driven probabilities. Shiv highlights that prices of these tokens represent collective belief — a “yes” token rising in value signals increasing probability of that outcome. He outlines three main components of any prediction market: ERC-20 tokens representing outcomes, liquidity mechanisms (AMMs or order books), and oracles that settle results once events conclude. He then walks through the Speedrun Ethereum Prediction Market Challenge, showing how to scaffold the app using Scaffold-ETH and interact with contracts through a local frontend. The demo simulates a race between cars to visualize how trades move probabilities in real-time. Liquidity providers bootstrap the market by locking tokens to prevent price volatility from early trades, while users buy and sell “Yes” or “No” shares as the race progresses. Once the oracle (here, the market creator) reports the outcome, winners redeem tokens for ETH, and losers’ shares become worthless. Shiv concludes by discussing design variations like locking ratios, LP rewards, fee structures, and oracle decentralization, encouraging experimentation with AMM formulas and deadlines to make the system more robust. 00:00 – Introduction to prediction markets 00:32 – Polymarket and real-world examples 01:27 – Trading, composability, and decentralization 01:58 – Collective forecasting and accuracy 02:56 – Binary prediction markets explained 04:05 – Token-based outcomes and probability pricing 05:04 – Components: tokens, liquidity, and oracles 06:07 – Setting up the Speedrun Ethereum challenge 06:44 – Scaffold-ETH setup and commands 07:32 – Contracts overview: market and token 08:39 – Role of liquidity providers 09:20 – Bootstrapping with initial parameters 10:21 – Locking tokens to prevent price swings 11:52 – Example of market imbalance 12:23 – Setting initial probabilities 13:52 – Demo: car race market 14:59 – Buying and selling Yes/No tokens 16:12 – Oracle reporting and settlement 17:39 – Redeeming winnings and losses 18:50 – Liquidity provider mechanics and risks 19:56 – LP fees and design variations 20:29 – Oracle decentralization and future improvements _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *ETHGlobal New Delhi* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New Delhi, a 3-day hackathon held September 19-21 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New Delhi 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7zCFW3hBqatZ18rQaYeEJL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow BuidlGuidl* X: https://x.com/buidlguidl ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHSofia · Oct 9, 2025

Nicholas Krapels is a recovering academic and entrepreneur with a successful track record of incubating cutting-edge DeFi projects and optimizing tokenomics. Research on public/private blockchains published by MIT and IEEE Press. MANTRA is a purpose-built RWA Layer 1 Blockchain, capable of adherence to real-world regulatory requirements. Bringing the world’s financial ecosystem onchain. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to RWA and Historical Context 01:38 Evolution of Liquidity in DeFi 03:07 Need for Onchain Finance 04:40 Growth Potential in RWA 05:27 Convincing Institutions for Onchain Assets 07:17 Mantra Chain's Approach to RWA 08:39 Permissionless and Permissioned Asset Issuance 09:58 Regulatory Developments and Strategy 12:00 Impact of Stablecoins on Crypto Market 14:14 Tokenization of US Treasuries 14:53 Mantra Chain's Role with RWA 15:31 Focus on Real Estate in RWA 16:06 Expanding RWA to Other Asset Classes 18:21 Conclusion on RWA and Blockchain's Future This video was recorded during the ETHSofia Conference and Hackathon - October 17-19, 2024. ETHSofia is THE crypto tech conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, bringing together enthusiasts, developers, researchers, and academia focused on Ethereum and other L1 chains. The conference is supported by the Ethereum Foundation and made possible by the generous contributions of industry leaders. For more information, please visit: https://www.ethsofia.com/ 🌍Join the community: X (Twitter): https://x.com/ETHSofiaBG Telegram: https://t.me/+_i70pgfFHjBkMjZk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia/ #Mantra #MantraChain #MantraNetwork #NicholasKrapels #RWAs #ETHSofia

TN Lee

ETHSofia · Oct 9, 2025

TN Lee is the CEO and co-founder of Pendle - a DeFi platform that enables users to tokenize and trade future yield on Ethereum assets. Before founding Pendle, TN served as the Head of Business at Kyber. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:01 Overview of Pendle and Its Functionality 00:50 Pendle's History and Growth 01:30 Expansion into the Reaking Sector and Focus on Bitcoin 02:18 Opportunities in the Bitcoin Segment 02:59 Focus on Stable Coins and Upcoming Listings 03:37 Development of Pendle V3 and Future Vision for DeFi 04:16 Conclusion on DeFi's Future and Closing Remarks This video was recorded during the ETHSofia Conference and Hackathon - October 17-19, 2024. ETHSofia is THE crypto tech conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, bringing together enthusiasts, developers, researchers, and academia focused on Ethereum and other L1 chains. The conference is supported by the Ethereum Foundation and made possible by the generous contributions of industry leaders. For more information, please visit: https://www.ethsofia.com/ 🌍Join the community: X (Twitter): https://x.com/ETHSofiaBG Telegram: https://t.me/+_i70pgfFHjBkMjZk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsofia/ #TNLee #Pendle #PendleFinance #Yield #YieldTrading #ETHSofia

Stani Kulechov

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave and Avara, in this insightful conversation from Pragma Singapore 2024. Stani shares his journey towards achieving product-market fit in DeFi and Web3, exploring Aave’s evolution, the vision behind Avara, the strategic use of account abstraction and ZK stack for Lens Protocol, and crucial advice for crypto founders on building user-centric products. Discover how to effectively respond to user needs, scale products, and drive mainstream adoption. 00:00 Socks & Sandals: The Avara Way 01:50 What Product Market Fit Means in Crypto 02:46 Navigating Reactive vs. User-Driven Development 04:33 Identifying Users for True Product Market Fit 06:17 Challenges in Web3 User Identification 07:21 From Aave to Avara: Expanding the Vision 09:42 Democratizing Financial Access with DeFi 10:17 Building the People-Powered Internet 11:55 Family Wallet & Open Infrastructure Vision 12:29 Introducing Aave V4: Enhancing Efficiency 13:47 Liquidity Layers and Risk Management in Aave V4 15:25 Why Lens Protocol Chose ZK Stack & Validium 17:02 Balancing Security, Scalability, and Decentralization 18:09 Appropriate Security Levels for Use Cases 19:48 Achieving Mainstream Onboarding without Fees 21:19 Key Advice for Crypto Founders in 2024 23:22 When to Launch: MVP vs. Polished Products _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇸🇬 *Pragma Singapore* Pragma Singapore 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place September 19, 2024 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Pragma Singapore 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Singapore playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6z0saYJnVdgXWfz-vaoEYx&si=uavhkhF5Kc8XBoLv ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Stani Kulechov* X: https://x.com/StaniKulechov ✅ *Follow Avara* X: https://x.com/Avara ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sandeep Nailwal

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Sandeep Nailwal, Co-founder of Polygon Labs, joins Kartik Talwar at Pragma Singapore 2024 to discuss the future of the AggLayer, Polygon’s bold thesis for a unified, scalable multichain future. In this engaging fireside chat, Sandeep unpacks the recent transition from MATIC to POL, challenges with exchanges, the vision behind AggLayer, and how Ethereum can evolve into the best possible settlement layer. He critiques the current Ethereum ecosystem’s focus on token price over infrastructure, explains why decentralization and censorship resistance are critical, and makes a compelling case for infinite scalability through interconnected chains. Learn how AggLayer enables seamless value movement, unified liquidity, canonical tokens, and composable apps across thousands of chains, and why it might be the Solana-like UX Ethereum has needed. 00:00 Intro: Fireside Format with Sandeep Nailwal 01:18 Polygon’s MATIC to POL Token Transition Recap 03:00 Why Exchanges Delayed the POL Migration 04:24 Lessons from the Token Migration Process 05:23 Ethereum Community FUD and Token Upgrade Challenges 06:24 Concerns with Ethereum’s Shift in Priorities 08:01 What Makes a Great Settlement Layer? 08:56 Ethereum’s Decentralization, Censorship Resistance 09:56 Other Key Metrics for Settlement Layer Quality 11:00 Precompiles and ZK for Efficient Settlement 12:08 Should L1 Do More or Enable L2s? 13:07 Cycles of Sentiment and Solana’s Rise 14:37 Long-Term Community Retention is the Real Test 15:33 AggLayer Thesis: Fixing Liquidity Fragmentation 16:11 Seamless Interoperability in Web3 17:13 Infinite Scalability via Appchains and L2s 18:43 Appchains Need Custom UX and Gas Models 19:18 AggLayer = Unified Liquidity, Shared Token Mapping 20:20 One Address Across All Chains: Solana-Like UX 21:17 AggLayer as Web3’s Endgame Architecture 21:41 How to Foster L2 Collaboration and Interoperability 22:46 Narrative & Business Model Compatibility for L2s 23:16 Final Thoughts: Collaboration Over Competition _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇸🇬 *Pragma Singapore* Pragma Singapore 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place September 19, 2024 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Pragma Singapore 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Singapore playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6z0saYJnVdgXWfz-vaoEYx&si=uavhkhF5Kc8XBoLv ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Sandeep Nailwal* X: https://x.com/sandeepnailwal ✅ *Follow Polygon Labs* X: https://x.com/0xPolygon ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this high-impact talk at Pragma Singapore 2024, Mike Cahill, founder of Duoro Labs and a core contributor to the Pyth Network, breaks down how we can supercharge DeFi infrastructure to outperform traditional finance (TradFi) by improving cost, speed, and trust. Mike explores why DeFi struggles to compete with TradFi UX, how Pyth’s HiFi data oracle architecture changes the game, and what it means for the future of blockchain applications. Learn how Pyth price feeds, entropy for randomness, and Express Relay for MEV protection are already powering 400+ dApps across 80+ chains, enabling fast, low-cost, and trustworthy on-chain finance. 00:00 Intro and “Why DeFi Sucks” Compared to TradFi 01:29 TradFi Speed, Cost, and Trust Advantage 02:36 Why New Tech Adoption Requires Parity with Incumbents 03:39 Amazon vs Sears: Web Speed Parallels Blockchain Evolution 05:14 Blockchain’s Innovation: Programmatic Trust 06:26 From DeFi Summer to Modern Blockchains 08:04 Pyth Network: Boosting DeFi Infrastructure 08:34 Price Feeds: Solving the Oracle Problem with Speed 10:06 How Pyth Sources Institutional-Grade Market Data 11:04 PythNet: Data Aggregation & Multi-Chain Distribution 12:08 Monetizing Oracle Data Across 80+ Blockchains 13:12 Entropy: Verifiable On-Chain Randomness 14:30 Express Relay: Solving the MEV Problem 15:42 Instant Access to Liquidation & Searchers Network 16:44 Adoption: Pyth Powers 60% of On-Chain Derivatives 17:26 Closing: Beating TradFi with Superior DeFi Infrastructure _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇸🇬 *Pragma Singapore* Pragma Singapore 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place September 19, 2024 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Pragma Singapore 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Singapore playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6z0saYJnVdgXWfz-vaoEYx&si=uavhkhF5Kc8XBoLv ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Mike Cahill* X: https://x.com/mdomcahill ✅ *Follow Duoro Labs* X: https://x.com/DouroLabs ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sergey Nazarov, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, in an engaging fireside chat with Kartik Talwar of ETHGlobal at Pragma Singapore 2024. Sergey reflects on Chainlink’s evolution over the past seven years, detailing its early days powering DeFi through decentralized price feeds and exploring its future role in cross-chain interoperability, institutional adoption, and real-world assets (RWAs). Discover how CCIP and Chainlink oracles bridge traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi), Sergey’s vision for blockchain beyond crypto, and his predictions on global financial markets moving onto blockchains. 00:00 Introduction & Chainlink's 7-Year Journey 01:55 Early Days: ETH/USD Price Oracle & DeFi Foundations 03:37 Expansion of Chainlink Oracle Networks & Use Cases 05:18 Chainlink Computation: Beyond Price Feeds 05:59 Example: Random Number Generation for Gaming 06:27 Chainlink Functions & Arbitrary Computation 06:59 Cross-Chain Bridging as Data Transmission 07:35 Integrating AI Models with Chainlink Oracles 09:56 Oracle Networks: Consensus Beyond Blockchains 10:28 CCIP Development & Cross-Chain Interoperability 12:14 Bridging Security & Reliability Issues in DeFi 14:02 TradFi Adoption & Institutional Interest in Blockchain 15:44 Asset Management & Institutional Demand for RWAs 17:38 Dedicated Digital Asset Teams in TradFi Institutions 18:44 Real-World Assets (RWAs) vs. Cryptocurrency Market 21:16 Blockchain's Evolution: Beyond Cryptocurrencies 23:44 Timeline Predictions: TradFi & Institutional Adoption 26:00 RWAs Reducing Systemic Risks in Crypto 28:17 The Future Role of Blockchain: Powering Global Economy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇸🇬 *Pragma Singapore* Pragma Singapore 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place September 19, 2024 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Pragma Singapore 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Singapore playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6z0saYJnVdgXWfz-vaoEYx&si=uavhkhF5Kc8XBoLv ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Sergey Nazarov* X: https://x.com/SergeyNazarov ✅ *Follow Chainlink* X: https://x.com/Chainlink ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Marek Olszewski

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

At Pragma Singapore 2024, Marek Olszewski, Co-Founder of Celo, delivers an engaging and inspiring talk on how crypto can be real—and already is on Celo. Moving beyond meme coins and speculation, Marek showcases real-world use cases like cross-border payments, savings, uncollateralized lending, remittances, and on-chain mobile experiences, all happening on-chain via the Celo platform. Marek reveals how Celo surpassed Tron in daily active stablecoin users, how MiniPay (built into Opera Mini) is unlocking on-chain financial tools for millions, and how projects like Vera and Haraka are making stablecoin savings and microloans accessible to users in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. He also dives into Celo’s transition from an L1 to an L2 on Ethereum using the OP Stack and EigenDA, bringing Celo’s mobile-first UX, token gas fees, and carbon offset model to Ethereum’s rollup-centric future. 00:00 Intro: Making Crypto Real on Celo 01:32 Real World Use Cases of Crypto 03:28 Savings Use Case with Stablecoins 04:01 Cross-Border Money Transfers 04:34 Splitting Bills Across Borders 05:06 Uncollateralized Loans via Crypto 05:44 Payments as a Core Use Case 06:20 Most Used Blockchain for Payments 06:56 Celo Surpasses Tron in Stablecoin Users 07:39 Overcoming the Bear Market 08:12 Transaction Growth on Celo 09:19 What’s Driving Real Usage 09:56 MiniPay and Opera Mini Wallet 10:30 Year-on-Year Usage Growth 11:03 Saving with Stablecoin Yield (Vera Wallet) 12:29 Crypto vs Traditional Remittances 13:36 Lending Against Future Income (Haraka) 15:15 Why We Need Stablecoins for All Currencies 16:23 Stablecoins on Mento for Local Economies 16:58 Celo’s Transition from L1 to L2 17:31 Unique Features Celo Brings to L2 18:11 The Challenge of a Hard Hard Fork 19:21 Celo L2 Roadmap: Dango, Alpha Horus, Mainnet 20:21 Ethereum as the Settlement Layer 21:00 Final Thoughts and Spirited Away Ending _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇸🇬 *Pragma Singapore* Pragma Singapore 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place September 19, 2024 at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Pragma Singapore 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Singapore playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6z0saYJnVdgXWfz-vaoEYx&si=uavhkhF5Kc8XBoLv ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Marek Olszewski* X: https://x.com/marek_ ✅ *Follow Celo* X: https://x.com/Celo ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Jayant Krishnamurthy, CTO and co-founder of Pyth Network, breaks down why DeFi struggles to compete with traditional finance (TradFi) and how infrastructure improvements can bridge the gap. He compares DeFi and TradFi across speed, cost, and trust, highlighting key pain points like high gas fees, slow transactions, and security risks. Krishnamurthy also explores how Pyth Network’s solutions—such as low-latency price feeds, on-chain randomness, and MEV reduction—are paving the way for a more efficient DeFi ecosystem. Learn how better infrastructure can enable DeFi to finally rival TradFi in usability and adoption. 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - The Problem with DeFi 01:16 - TradFi vs. DeFi Comparison 03:20 - Infrastructure as the Key 05:15 - Lessons from Past Tech Shifts 07:50 - Blockchain’s Programmable Trust 09:49 - Pyth Network’s Solutions 12:17 - High-Frequency Price Feeds 13:20 - On-Chain Randomness 15:14 - Solving MEV 18:15 - Oracles & DeFi Growth 19:52 - Future of DeFi vs. TradFi 20:19 - Conclusion _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Jayant Krishnamurthy* X: https://x.com/jayantkrish ✅ *Follow Pyth Network* X: https://x.com/PythNetwork ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Explore Bitcoin Layer 2 (L2) technology and Rootstock (RSK) with Daniel Fogg, CEO of Rootstock Labs. This talk covers Rootstock's unique approach as the first and most secure Bitcoin L2, leveraging Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work security with Ethereum’s programmability. Learn about merge mining, decentralized finance (DeFi) on Bitcoin, advanced bridging methods like PowPeg and BitVM-X, and the competitive landscape of Bitcoin sidechains. Gain insights into Rootstock’s thriving DeFi ecosystem, robust developer tools, and future roadmap for scaling Bitcoin securely. 00:00 Intro: Bitcoin L2s and Rootstock Overview 00:52 Rootstock Labs' Mission and Bitcoin Pragmatism 01:46 Charles Darwin's Principles Applied to Crypto and VC 02:14 Massive Opportunity in Bitcoin DeFi Market 02:43 Introducing Rootstock: Bitcoin Security + Ethereum's EVM 03:45 Merge Mining and the Origins of Bitcoin Sidechains 04:15 Launch of Rootstock: From Argentina to Global Impact 04:44 Challenges of Bootstrapping a Blockchain Ecosystem 05:11 Three Pillars: Cryptographic, Economic, Monetary Alignment 06:11 Gartner Hype Cycles: Evolution of Blockchain Adoption 07:37 Bitcoin L2 Boom: Rollups, BitVM, and Market Trends 08:37 Rootstock's Growth and Network Adoption Metrics 09:04 How Rootstock Works: Merge Mining & Secure Bridges 09:53 BitVM-X: Advanced Bitcoin Bridging Solution Explained 10:21 Rootstock’s Ecosystem: DeFi Protocols and Developer Tools 11:26 Comparing Bitcoin L2s: Rootstock vs. Lightning vs. Liquid 12:50 Security and Risks of Newer Bitcoin Sidechains 13:19 Proof-of-Work Security: Why Rootstock Stands Out 14:46 Bitcoin Economic Alignment via Merge Mining 15:18 PowPeg: Most Secure Bitcoin Bridge in Production 15:46 Defense-in-Depth Security Model of Rootstock 16:21 BitVM-X: Future-Proofing Bitcoin with Optimistic Rollups 16:53 Why Rootstock Chose EVM for Scalability 17:22 Rootstock: Defi on Bitcoin with Ethereum Protocols 18:23 Solving Builder Incentive Problems: RIF Ecosystem DAO 19:28 The Future Vision: Decentralized Rootstock and Beyond 19:57 Closing Remarks: Simplest Way to Program with Bitcoin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Daniel Fogg* X: https://x.com/danielfogg ✅ *Follow Rootstock* X: https://x.com/rootstock_io ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Explore how Web3 can achieve mainstream adoption through native mobile experiences with Denisse Halm, founder at Mobile Stack and Valora. Discover the critical gaps limiting Web3 growth, the vast potential of global smartphone usage, and the necessity for user-centric mobile applications. Learn how Mobile Stack simplifies creating engaging, secure, and accessible Web3 apps, facilitating adoption beyond current crypto users. Featuring insights into app development, UX considerations, and consumer-focused innovations. 00:00 Intro: Making Web3 Mobile for Everyone 00:51 About Denisse Halm, Valora & Mobile Stack 01:35 Global Smartphone Adoption Trends 02:13 Crypto Ownership vs Actual Web3 Usage 03:40 Web2 UX Expectations vs Web3 Reality 04:14 Complex Web3 User Journeys Explained 05:30 Importance of Seamless User Experience 06:55 Infrastructure Exists, but Who Uses It? 07:29 Major Web3 Projects Going Mobile 08:14 Gap Analysis: Mobile Web3 Experiences 08:52 Opportunities for Mass Crypto Adoption 09:37 Challenges of Building Mobile Web3 Apps 10:47 UX & Security Trade-offs in Mobile Apps 11:24 Key User Journeys in Web3 Products 12:05 Increasing Consumer Confidence in Web3 12:42 Introducing Mobile Stack Platform 13:21 Demo: Hypothetical Curve Mobile App 13:56 Customizable Branding & UX in Apps 14:33 Single-App Web3 User Experience Explained 15:10 Mobile Stack Features & Integrations 16:18 Key Plugins for Enhanced User Experience 17:22 Mobile-First Strategies for Global Users 18:03 Case Study: SheFi’s Web3 Education App 19:22 Conclusion & How to Connect _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Denisse Halm* X: https://x.com/hola_denisse ✅ *Follow Valora* X: https://x.com/valora ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Nikhil Chandhok, Chief Product Officer at Circle, and Kartik Talwar from ETHGlobal, as they dive deep into the world of stablecoins and blockchain innovation. Discover how Circle is revolutionizing global financial inclusion with USDC, enabling seamless cross-border payments, instant settlements, and unprecedented capital efficiency. Nikhil discusses Circle's developer platform, future innovations, regulatory perspectives, and how stablecoins surpass traditional financial networks in global transaction volumes. Learn what makes stablecoins the essential building block for the future of finance. 00:00 Introduction: Nikhil Chandhok & Circle Fireside Chat 00:45 Nikhil’s Journey: From Google and Meta to Circle 01:51 Personal Motivation Behind Joining Circle 03:33 Why Stablecoins Matter Globally 04:32 Circle's Mission Beyond USDC Issuance 05:02 Three Pillars of Circle's Business Model 06:12 Web3 Services & Developer Platform at Circle 07:15 Stablecoins After FTX: Restoring Industry Trust 08:18 Circle's User Experience & Wallet Innovations 09:19 Product Development Strategy at Circle 10:58 Simplifying Crypto UX for Global Consumers 12:09 Challenges Supporting Multiple Blockchains 13:46 Ensuring Security and Regulatory Compliance 14:42 Advocating for Open Internet & Public Blockchains 15:53 Predicting Novel Blockchain User Behavior 16:55 BlackRock's Bitcoin Fund & USDC Integration 17:31 Perspective on Competing Stablecoins 18:43 Regulatory Outlook for Stablecoins Globally 20:24 Why the Stablecoin Market Will Grow Exponentially 21:57 The Non-Zero-Sum Nature of Blockchain Innovation 22:34 New Features Coming to Circle’s Developer Platform 23:33 Stablecoin Transaction Volume Exceeds Visa 24:05 Conclusion: The Future of Money with Stablecoins _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow the Nikhil Chandhok* X: https://x.com/chandhok ✅ *Follow Cirlce* X: https://x.com/circle ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join us for a talk by Philippe Schommers, Head of Infrastructure at Gnosis, titled, "Gnosis: Philippe Schommers presents the future vision for Gnosis Chain, highlighting its focus on decentralization, privacy, and seamless financial integrations at Pragma San Francisco 2024. Explore Gnosis's innovative solutions including Shutter Network for preventing MEV, Circles UBI—a decentralized, Sybil-resistant universal basic income system—and Gnosis Pay, a self-custodial crypto Visa card. Learn how Gnosis combines Ethereum compatibility with unique features to build secure, composable, and user-friendly blockchain financial infrastructure. 00:00 Introduction: Philippe Schommers on Gnosis Chain Vision 00:53 Overview of Gnosis Chain Compatibility with Ethereum 01:30 Key Differences: Native Token xDAI & Staking Token GNO 02:08 Gnosis Hard Fork Timeline & Ethereum Alignment 03:16 Why Gnosis Chooses to Remain a Layer 1 Chain 03:50 Shutter Network: Decentralized MEV Protection 06:42 How to Use Shutter Encryption on Gnosis Chain 07:50 Circles UBI: Decentralized Trust-Based Payments 09:36 How Circles Enables Payments via Social Trust 10:55 Circles Groups: Collective Action & Fair Money 11:30 Circles 2.0 Launch: New Features & Capabilities 11:50 Gnosis Pay: The Future of Decentralized Banking 12:16 Banking Evolution: Traditional, Neobanks, On-chain 13:17 Challenges of Traditional Finance vs. Crypto UX 14:59 Objectives of Gnosis Pay: Combining TradFi & DeFi 15:39 Integrations: How dApps Leverage Gnosis Pay 16:12 Gnosis Pay Visa Card: Real-world Crypto Payments 16:52 Importance of Self-Custodial Control in Gnosis Pay 17:24 Upcoming Features: Apple Pay, Google Wallet, USDC 17:57 Conclusion & Resources: Engage with Gnosis DAO _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Philippe Schommers* X: https://x.com/filoozom ✅ *Follow Gnosis* X: https://x.com/gnosischain ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Niklas Kunkel

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Niklas Kunkel, founder of Chronicle, at Pragma San Francisco 2025 as he discusses the evolution from traditional Real World Assets (RWAs) to Crypto Native Assets. Explore MakerDAO's pioneering journey with tokenized treasury bills (T-Bills), understand the differences between first, second, and third-generation RWAs, and discover how blockchain-native assets can enhance transparency, liquidity, and DeFi integration. Learn how oracles like Chronicle play a crucial role in bringing real-time asset data on-chain, transforming the future of decentralized finance. 00:00 Intro: RWAs & Crypto Native Assets Explained 00:52 About Niklas Kunkel & Chronicle Overview 01:37 Stagnation in DeFi: The Need for RWAs 03:08 MakerDAO's RWA Journey: A Case Study 04:26 RWAs & Solving Revenue Volatility in DeFi 05:44 First-Gen RWAs: Tokenized T-Bills & Flaws 07:07 How MakerDAO Integrated RWAs Initially 08:23 Issues with Early RWAs: Yield & Transparency 09:08 MakerDAO Revenue Growth with RWAs 09:51 Breakdown of MakerDAO's Crypto & RWA Revenue 10:37 MakerDAO's Tokenization Grand Prix Explained 11:15 Second-Gen RWAs: Improved Yield & Liquidity 12:04 Legal Claims in Second-Gen RWA Tokens 12:49 Transparency Issues in Second-Gen RWAs 13:27 Rapid Redeemability & Liquidity in RWAs 14:09 Market Leaders in Second-Gen RWA Products 14:50 Problems Remaining in Second-Gen RWAs 15:36 Third-Gen RWAs: Defining "Crypto Native" 16:21 Why Current RWAs Aren't Crypto Native Yet 17:04 Key Features of Third-Gen Crypto Native RWAs 17:45 Real Blockchain Ownership: Tokens as Assets 18:25 Improving Data Transparency with Oracles 19:01 Chronicle's Oracle Solution for RWA Data 19:45 Automated DeFi Risk Management with RWAs 20:27 Chronicle’s Role in Future RWA Integration 21:05 Chronicle's Market Position & Partnerships 21:40 Connect with Chronicle: Dashboard & Socials 21:55 Conclusion & Wrap-Up _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Chronicle* X: https://x.com/ChronicleLabs ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this dynamic panel from the Agentic Ethereum 2025 Summit, top builders and researchers discuss the infrastructure needed to support AI agents on Ethereum. Moderated by Dmarz (Flashbots), the conversation dives into how layer-2 scaling, computational resources, on-chain registries, and decentralized identity can enable the next wave of agentic applications. From handling autonomous transactions and bridging trust with World ID to enabling unstoppable AI-driven DApps, our panelists share real-world examples, pain points, and the potential for unstoppable on-chain agents. Join Shaw (Eliza Labs), Davide Crapis (PIN AI), Dcbuilder (World), Andrew Miller (Teleport/Flashbots), Jasper Zhang (Hyperbolic), Mark Tyneway (OP Labs) and Chase Allred (Offchain Labs) to see how the Ethereum ecosystem is preparing to scale for an AI-first future—and discover what you can build next! Like, share, and subscribe for more in-depth sessions on agentic governance, AI infrastructure, and the future of Web3. 00:00 Introduction: Infra for Agentic Apps 00:48 Panelist Introductions & Backgrounds 01:22 Why Agents Matter on Ethereum 02:25 On-Chain Registries & Discovery 03:57 Trust, Payments & Autonomy with AI Agents 05:25 Scaling, Compute & Future Opportunities 07:02 Practical Use Cases & Hackathon Ideas 08:45 Closing Remarks & Next Steps _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🤖 *Agentic Ethereum 2025 Summit* Join the official Agentic Ethereum 2025 Summit for an in-depth look at AI agents, smart contracts, and how they converge to power the next era of decentralized intelligence. This is more than just a summit—it's a gathering of the brightest minds in our ecosystem, and we're honored to have Andrew Miller, Anna Kazlauskas, Davide Crapis, dcbuilder, Ed Felten, Erik Voorhees, Illia Polosukhin, Jasper Zhang, Karl Floersch, Ken Ng, Kevin Owocki, Linda Xie, Shaw, Tomasz Stanczak, Chase Allred and Vitalik Buterin and on stage for this virtual summit focused around AI Agents and Blockchain! Watch the full Agentic Ethereum 2025 Summit Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6DrYO4ORk8wzQ5wCZDs0mW&si=ARqB9gaXAqehWH1_ 🤖 *Agentic Ethereum 2025* Agentic Ethereum is an online, async hackathon that runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 12, 2025. With over $175,000 USD in prizes, Agentic Ethereum is a great way to dive into the world of autonomous AI agents and explore how they can revolutionize projects on Ethereum. Start the year with groundbreaking innovation! Watch the full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7jxP_flgRf5nZ_WDgFpBy3&si=RZozbd9C5KrG6Bf3 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Dmarz X: https://x.com/DistributedMarz ✅ Follow Shaw & Eliza Labs X: https://x.com/shawmakesmagic Website: https://www.elizaos.ai ✅ Follow Davide Crapis & PIN AI X: https://x.com/DavideCrapis X: https://x.com/PINAI_IO ✅ Follow Dcbuilder & World X: https://x.com/DCbuild3r X: https://x.com/worldcoinfnd ✅ Follow Andrew Miller X: https://x.com/socrates1024 Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/socrates1024 ✅ Follow Jasper Zhang & Hyperbolic X: https://x.com/zjasper666 X: https://x.com/Hyperbolic_Labs ✅ Follow Mark Tyneway & OP Labs X: https://x.com/tyneslol X: https://x.com/OPLabsPBC ✅ Follow Chase Allred & Offchain Labs X: https://x.com/allred_chase X: https://x.com/offchainlabs ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Chris Yin

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Chris Yin, CEO of Plume Network, as he dives deep into Real-World Assets (RWAs) and explores whether this is just another “rug” or if things are truly different this time. Filmed live at Pragma Denver 2025, Chris dissects market sentiment, tokenization trends, the impact of major institutions like BlackRock, and how Plume aims to build for crypto natives—focusing on real yield, community-driven adoption, and a “FarmVille”-style approach to on-chain asset ownership. Discover how tokenizing real estate, credit, and other assets can finally drive meaningful usage, and learn why Plume believes a dedicated RWA chain is key to unlocking new liquidity and utility. Don’t miss this candid discussion on bridging TradFi and DeFi while avoiding the pitfalls of simply porting old finance onto new rails. 00:00 Introduction & RWA Focus 01:06 BTC Price Crash & Market Sentiment 02:11 Trump “Rug” & Argentinian President’s Impact 03:35 Community Fatigue: Memes vs. Real Yield 04:28 RWA Sector Performance & Rotation 05:15 Larry Fink, BlackRock & Tokenization Hype 06:18 Wall Street 2.0 or Rug? Sell-Side Realities 07:33 Revisiting Old Tokenized Real Estate Cycles 08:44 Success & Failure in RWA Adoption 10:09 Building for Crypto Natives vs. TradFi 11:31 GME, Memes & Community-First Finance 12:35 Introducing Plume Network & Founders 14:42 Plume’s Ecosystem & Community Growth 15:58 Stablecoins as the Original RWA 17:01 The “FarmVille” Approach to On-Chain Assets 18:23 Full-Stack Ecosystem: Plume Arc & Nexus 19:49 Why Plume Needs Its Own Dedicated Chain 21:05 Bringing Assets On-Chain & Composable Uses 22:37 Closing Thoughts & Next Cycle Outlook _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma Denver* Pragma Denver 2025 was held on February 25th at ReelWorks in Denver, Colorado and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Denver YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6mvMfVn2gIK2uhRiTHjIg9&si=D7XfnBKvZL7sthbU ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Chris Yin* X: https://x.com/chriseyin ✅ Follow *Plume Network* X: https://x.com/plumenetwork ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Zac Williamson

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Zac Williamson, CEO of Aztec Labs at Pragma Denver 2025 for a deep dive into why privacy is the missing link needed to unleash the full potential of blockchain. Explore how Aztec’s privacy-first L2 brings true encrypted smart contracts, enabling permissionless, composable applications that preserve user data while interfacing with real-world compliance, identity, and financial systems. Zac explains the role of ZK proofs, Aztec’s new privacy-focused programming language (Noir), and why privacy is essential for bridging on-chain assets and off-chain regulation. If you’re ready for Web3 beyond speculation and meme coins, this talk reveals how Aztec’s end-to-end encryption and ZK architecture pave the way for real-world, trust-based financial services and unstoppable privacy. 00:00 Introduction & Privacy Focus 00:55 Why Privacy Matters in Blockchain 02:00 Defining “Privacy” & Use Cases 03:35 Beyond Consensus: Bridging Real-World Assets 05:08 Compliance & Identity: Linking On-Chain & Off-Chain 06:45 Missing Link: Privacy as Decentralization 08:10 Building Aztec: Private Execution Engine 09:57 Introducing Noir for Private Smart Contracts 11:18 Aztec’s Plans for 2025 & Upcoming Testnet 13:14 Real Apps on Noir: From On-Off Ramps to ZK Email 15:13 Roadmap & Decentralized Launch 16:36 Performance Targets & UX 18:14 Future Shift: Private Networks & Real Finance 19:51 Conclusion & Next Steps _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma Denver* Pragma Denver 2025 was held on February 25th at ReelWorks in Denver, Colorado and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Denver YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Zac Williamson* X: https://x.com/Zac_Aztec ✅ Follow *Aztec Labs* X: https://x.com/aztecnetwork ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Andrew Koller, Founder of Ink Protocol, and Kartik Talwar for a fireside chat at Pragma Denver 2025. Discover how Ink Protocol—an Optimistic L2 built on the OP Stack—is bridging centralized exchange users from Kraken into DeFi. Andrew shares Ink’s focus on user experience, how it’s attracting institutional and retail liquidity, and why decentralization and low-latency block times remain top priorities. Learn how base chain interoperability, EVM compatibility, and Kraken’s ethos of “don’t trust, verify” are guiding Ink Protocol’s roadmap as it onboards millions of potential new on-chain users. If you’re curious about L2 adoption, bridging CeFi and DeFi, or the future of secure, scalable blockchains, you won’t want to miss this insightful conversation. 00:00 Introduction & Fireside Chat Overview 00:47 Founding Ink Protocol: Bringing Kraken Clients On-Chain 02:25 Why an Optimistic L2? Early Experiments & Lessons 04:22 Choosing the OP Stack & Super Chain Advantages 06:08 Managing the Sequencer & Decentralization Plans 09:27 Focus on DeFi Partnerships & Institutional Adoption 11:58 Challenges for Institutions & Regulatory Considerations 13:21 Exchange Chain Lessons: Observing Binance & Others 16:10 Launching Early & Developer Feedback 17:38 Opportunities & Concerns for Ink’s Future 19:03 Conclusion & Next Steps _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma Denver* Pragma Denver 2025 was held on February 25th at ReelWorks in Denver, Colorado and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Denver YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Andrew Koller* X: https://x.com/ak47ink ✅ Follow *Ink Protocol* X: https://x.com/inkonchain ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Learn how to build and win prizes on Zircuit, the AI-powered blockchain for secure automated finance, in this ETHGlobal Taipei 2025 workshop. Discover three developer bounties totaling $5,000 for the best projects deployed on Zircuit, including awards for top overall project, best AI integration, and most innovative use of EIP 7702 account abstraction. The video covers deployment requirements on Zircuit mainnet or Garfield testnet, contract verification, and includes essential developer resources like quickstart guides and faucet information. 00:07 - Introduction to Zircuit's AI-powered Blockchain Platform 00:44 - Best Project on Zircuit Bounty Details 01:24 - Best Use of AI in Web3 01:24 - $1,250 Best Use of EIP 7702 implementation challenge 01:24 - Submission requirements and deployment instructions _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇼 *ETHGlobal Taipei* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal Taipei, a 3-day hackathon held April 4-6 2025, that brought together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow *Zircuit* X: https://x.com/ZircuitL2 ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Loi Luu

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Caliber Founder and Kyber Network creator Loi Luu delivers a masterclass on building sustainable DeFi systems at Pragma Taipei 2025. Drawing from his experience launching multiple successful protocols, Luu outlines practical frameworks for creating open financial infrastructure that lasts beyond market cycles. The talk provides actionable dos/don'ts covering transparency, security design, incentive alignment, and avoiding common pitfalls in token launches and prediction markets. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇼 *Pragma Taipei* Pragma Taipei 2025 was held on April 3rd at POPOP in Taipei, Taiwan and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Taipei YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. 00:04 - Introduction to Caliber's venture studio approach 01:29 - OptimX case study: Bridging Bitcoin/DeFi liquidity 02:43 - Core principles for open financial infrastructure 05:08 - Analyzing current market pitfalls and hype cycles 07:32 - Caliber's framework for protocol sustainability 09:19 - Security best practices from Kyber's experience 11:10 - Designing incentive structures that last 13:34 - Leveraging trends without compromising integrity 14:39 - Capital efficiency innovations in modern DeFi 16:32 - Solving prediction market resolution challenges 17:55 - Token launchpad design lessons 19:49 - Caliber's builder-first philosophy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Loi Luu X: https://x.com/loi_luu ✅ Follow Caliber X: https://x.com/CaliberBuild ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Louis Bellet explores how state channels can revolutionize high-performance decentralized applications (DApps) in this technical deep dive. Learn how Nitro and Nitrolite enable instant, fee-less off-chain transactions while maintaining blockchain security. Discover the challenges of designing peer-to-peer state channel networks, the importance of standardization (ERC-7824), and real-world use cases like high-speed trading and multiplayer gaming. This talk is essential for developers building scalable Web3 applications that demand low latency and high throughput beyond traditional L1/L2 limitations. 00:00 - Introduction: State Channels for Web3 Scaling 01:13 - Ethereum's Compute Limitations (350k MIPS vs. Traditional CPUs) 05:50 - Global Compute Demand vs. Blockchain Capacity 06:34 - State Channel History: From Bitcoin Lightning to ERC-7824 10:09 - How State Channels Enable Instant Off-Chain Transactions 11:57 - Horizontal Scaling Benefits and Existing Use Cases (Perp DEXs) 13:28 - Practical Challenges: Off-Chain Protocol Design 14:12 - Cross-Chain Standardization Pain Points 15:56 - Introducing Nitrolite: Simplified State Channel Framework 17:53 - Developer Tools: TypeScript/Go SDKs and RPC Standardization 18:43 - Architecture: Virtual Ledger via Teleport Mesh Network 20:38 - Use Cases: Real-Time Gaming and High-Speed Trading 21:29 - Client-Server Integration with Blockchain Abstraction 22:16 - Getting Started with Nitrolite and ERC-7824 Resources _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇼 *Pragma Taipei* Pragma Taipei 2025 was held on April 3rd at POPOP in Taipei, Taiwan and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Taipei YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Yellow X: https://x.com/Yellow ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Francis Li from HashKey Chain explores Web3's "Maritime Era," where blockchain must balance decentralization with real-world compliance to achieve mass adoption. Learn how regulatory integration, on-chain insurance, and user-friendly solutions like social recovery (EIP-702) can rebuild trust and bridge traditional finance with Web3. Discover HashKey’s approach to compliance-as-a-service, enabling builders to innovate while institutions handle security. Essential for projects scaling beyond crypto-native users. 00:00 - Introduction: Web3’s "Maritime Era" & HashKey’s Vision 00:46 - Why Compliance is Web3’s Next Frontier 02:04 - Core Ideals: Permissionless Finance & Global Access 03:14 - Memecoin Volatility vs. Sustainable Growth 05:16 - EIP-702: Social Recovery for Mainstream Users 06:29 - HashKey’s Gasless Transactions (HSK Token) 07:03 - Rebuilding Trust Through Compliance 08:24 - Banks vs. Crypto: Simplifying Security 09:40 - HashKey’s Compliance-as-a-Service Model 10:21 - On-Chain Insurance & Liquidity Solutions 11:38 - How Compliance Unlocks Builder Innovation 12:15 - Closing: Compliance as a Bridge to Adoption _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇼 *Pragma Taipei* Pragma Taipei 2025 was held on April 3rd at POPOP in Taipei, Taiwan and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Taipei YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow HashKey Chain X: https://x.com/HashKeyHSK ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Learn how to build Bitcoin applications (Bapps) on Citrea, the first ZK-rollup for Bitcoin, in this ETHGlobal Taipei 2025 workshop with Ömer Talip Akalın, DevRel at Citrea. Discover why Bitcoin needs scaling solutions, how Citrea's EVM-compatible chain enables smart contracts on Bitcoin, and the risks of traditional cross-chain bridges. Ömer explains ZK-proof security, Citrea's trust-minimized bridge architecture, and opportunities for developers—from DeFi and stablecoins to NFTs and privacy apps. Whether you're a Solidity developer or new to Bitcoin programmability, this talk covers hackathon bounties, testnet tools, and Citrea's incubation program for builders. 00:00 – Introduction: Why Build on Bitcoin with Citrea? 01:22 – Bitcoin’s Limitations: Programmability & Scalability 03:31 – Bitcoin Script vs. Solidity: Developer Experience 04:37 – High Fees & Slow Transactions: Bitcoin’s Challenges 05:45 – Why Bitcoin Upgrades Are Hard (Philosophical Barriers) 06:18 – Sidechains & Bridges: Current Solutions & Risks 07:28 – How Cross-Chain Bridges Work (And Get Hacked) 09:06 – Citrea’s Solution: ZK-Rollups for Bitcoin 10:19 – ZK-Proofs Explained: Trustless Bitcoin Bridging 12:02 – Citrea’s EVM Compatibility: Code in Solidity 13:10 – Technical Deep Dive: Citrea’s Sequencer & Prover 14:38 – Citrea’s Bridge Architecture (vs. Multisig Risks) 15:46 – Hackathon Tracks: DeFi & Bitcoin Apps (BAPPs) 16:51 – Vision: Hyperbitcoinization & Bitcoin-Backed Economy 17:55 – Citrea Origins: Incubation for Bitcoin Builders 19:34 – Testnet Launch & Mainnet Roadmap (3 Months) 20:07 – Q&A: Bitcoin-Backed Stablecoins & Hackathon Tips _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇼 *ETHGlobal Taipei* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal Taipei, a 3-day hackathon held April 4-6 2025, that brought together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Citrea* X: https://x.com/citrea_xyz ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Tomasz Stanczak, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this fireside chat at Pragma Prague 2025, Kartik Talwar sits down with Tomasz Stanczak, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, to discuss key Ethereum initiatives, scaling strategies, and the future of L2 solutions. Topics include Ethereum’s competition with alternative L1s, the trillion-dollar security initiative, improvements to the P2P layer, and the potential for RISC-V architecture in EVM. Tomasz also shares insights from EF town halls, the importance of developer experience, and how the community can accelerate Ethereum’s growth. 00:00 Introduction and welcome to Tomasz Stanczak 00:52 Updates on Ethereum Foundation’s strategic changes 01:26 Importance of communication and leadership at EF 02:29 Ethereum’s competition with alternative L1s and L2s 04:12 Five stages of Ethereum’s long-term vision 06:28 Trillion-dollar security initiative for Ethereum 08:04 Ethereum as a global economy and store of value 09:37 Scaling L1, improving interop, and UX challenges 11:20 Ethereum’s gas limit growth and future goals 13:24 Shortening block times for better L2 settlement 15:01 Exploring RISC-V architecture and EVM improvements 17:13 Accelerating ZK-proof innovation on Ethereum 18:26 Structuring EF teams for faster execution 19:55 How the community can help Ethereum Foundation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇿 *Pragma Prague* Pragma Prague 2025 was held on May 29th at Holešovice Market in Prague, Czech Republic and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. This event was in collaboration with ETH Prague. Watch the full Pragma Prague YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7vLS72NelQ2dOx2VgPNxJZ&si=uwzTuItQTdcQqkTE ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Tomasz Stanczak X: https://x.com/tkstanczak ✅ Follow the Ethereum Foundation X: https://x.com/ethereumfndn ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this fireside chat at Pragma Prague 2025, Kartik Talwar sits down with Friederike Ernst, co-founder of Gnosis, to explore Circles - a revolutionary approach to personal currencies. They discuss how Circles reimagines money creation using modern cryptography, eliminating banks as intermediaries while maintaining a web-of-trust model. The conversation covers practical implementation, group currencies, liquidity challenges, and real-world adoption strategies for this alternative monetary system that puts currency issuance directly in users' hands. 00:00 Introduction to Friederike Ernst and Circles concept 00:47 Defining Circles: Modern money with today's technology 01:26 How traditional money creation works through banks 02:40 Moving money issuance to individuals with cryptography 03:20 Settlement vs issuance: The role of banks in Circles 03:58 Circles mechanics: 24 daily issuance & demurrage 04:38 Personal currencies and the web-of-trust model 05:16 Protocol routing through trust connections 06:27 Abstracted pathfinding for transactions 07:02 Solving Sybil attacks through local network curation 07:37 Incentives for maintaining trust networks 08:10 Addressing liquidity challenges in daily transactions 08:45 Group currencies as liquidity solutions 09:27 Example: Self group implementation 10:02 Multiple identity solutions (Worldcoin, BrightID) 10:40 Pricing non-fungible personal currencies 11:15 Group currency valuation dynamics 11:49 Market-driven liquidity fragmentation 12:23 No enforced restrictions on currency behavior 12:56 Complementarity with proof-of-personhood systems 13:25 Agnostic identity verification approach 14:12 Decentralized ownership of currency networks 14:55 Circles adoption journey since 2020 launch 15:44 Challenging dollar dominance in global trade 16:22 Changing perceptions about money as technology 16:56 From cognitive shift to practical usage 17:31 New user-friendly app with QR code payments 18:04 Price stability and co-payment strategies 19:14 Localized pricing with group currencies 20:40 Incentivizing network growth and adoption 21:47 Positive early adoption experiences 22:24 Network effects and personal incentives 23:03 How to sign up for Circles V2 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇿 *Pragma Prague* Pragma Prague 2025 was held on May 29th at Holešovice Market in Prague, Czech Republic and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. This event was in collaboration with ETH Prague. Watch the full Pragma Prague YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7vLS72NelQ2dOx2VgPNxJZ&si=lQumFEDOqD_CNswb ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Friederike Ernst X: https://x.com/tw_tter ✅ Follow Gnosis X: https://x.com/gnosisDAO ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Evgeny Yurtaev, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this fireside chat at Pragma Prague 2025, Kartik Talwar sits down with Evgeny Yurtaev, co-founder of Zerion, to discuss the evolution of self-custodial wallets, the rise of specialized blockchain APIs, and the future of crypto infrastructure. Topics include Zerion’s transition from a wallet to a developer API, challenges in managing multi-chain data, the role of RPCs vs. APIs, and the impact of AI on crypto transactions. Evgeny also shares insights on wallet trends, embedded finance, and the lessons learned from launching Zero Network, Zerion’s experimental L2. 00:00 Introduction to Evgeny Yurtaev and Zerion 00:47 What Zerion does: Wallet and API evolution 01:56 Zerion API for developers and third-party use 02:27 Origins of Zerion API and first clients 03:32 How wallets like Rainbow use Zerion API 04:05 Challenges in building multi-chain data APIs 05:45 The cost of maintaining blockchain infrastructure 07:34 Future of RPCs vs. specialized APIs 09:12 Trends in wallet adoption and embedded finance 11:28 Will users have one wallet or many? 12:30 Simplifying Zerion’s wallet experience 14:21 Lessons from launching Zero Network L2 15:33 Advice for new blockchain builders 17:19 Missing pieces in crypto infrastructure 18:27 AI integration with Zerion API 19:27 AI agents and permissionless networks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇿 *Pragma Prague* Pragma Prague 2025 was held on May 29th at Holešovice Market in Prague, Czech Republic and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. This event was in collaboration with ETH Prague. Watch the full Pragma Prague YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7vLS72NelQ2dOx2VgPNxJZ&si=uwzTuItQTdcQqkTE ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Evgeny Yurtaev X: https://x.com/evgeth_ ✅ Follow Zerion X: https://x.com/zerion ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kevin Jones

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Kevin Jones from The Graph and Build Guild dives into overcollateralized lending and stablecoins in this ETHGlobal Prague 2025 workshop. Learn how decentralized stablecoins like DAI work, explore key DeFi mechanisms (oracles, collateralization ratios, liquidation), and see a live demo of a simulated stablecoin system using Scaffold-ETH. Discover how to adjust borrow/savings rates to maintain peg stability and get a sneak peek at Speedrun Ethereum’s upcoming lending challenge. Perfect for developers interested in DeFi, smart contracts, and algorithmic monetary policy. 00:00 - Introduction to Stablecoins & Lending Challenge 00:37 - Scaffold-ETH Recap for Beginners 01:34 - Types of Stablecoins: Fiat-Backed vs Algorithmic 02:36 - Overcollateralization Explained 03:40 - Oracles, DEXs & Stablecoin Engine Contracts 05:08 - Stablecoin ERC20 Modifications (Mint/Burn Controls) 07:08 - Economics of Overcollateralized Stablecoins 08:44 - Scaffold-ETH Setup: Chain, Frontend & Deployment 10:06 - Live Demo: Depositing ETH & Minting Stablecoins 12:10 - Adjusting Collateralization Ratios 13:54 - Simulating Market Activity with Bots 15:35 - Manipulating Borrow Rates for Peg Stability 17:28 - Savings Rates & Incentivizing Holders 19:29 - Liquidation Mechanics in Action 21:40 - PEG Stability Modules (MakerDAO Comparison) 22:49 - Q&A: Oracle Integration & Hackathon Ideas _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇿 *ETHGlobal Prague* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal Prague, a 3-day hackathon held May 30 - June 1 2025, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal Prague 2025 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5Vv-ZobDU2YMWekDFYvOqd&si=SoQ5O2TOAK8RkYf- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Kevin Jones X: https://x.com/cryptomastery_ ✅ Follow Buidl Guidl Website: https://buidlguidl.com ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Ezequiel Rodriguez from Rootstock Labs presents how to build on Bitcoin using Rootstock at ETHGlobal Prague 2025. Learn about Rootstock's unique combination of Bitcoin's security (through merge mining) and Ethereum's programmability (full EVM compatibility). The workshop covers Rootstock's ecosystem ($400M TVL), new attestation service, and hackathon tracks focused on Bitcoin DeFi, AI integration, and the RIF economy. Includes developer resources like starter kits, CLI tools, and the Rootstock developer portal for building scalable applications with Bitcoin's security. 00:00 - Introduction to Rootstock: Bitcoin Sidechain with EVM 00:54 - Rootstock's Dual Advantages: Bitcoin + Ethereum 01:38 - Key Features: Security, RBTC Token & EVM Compatibility 02:26 - Scalability: 24s Block Times & Low Fees 03:15 - Ecosystem Metrics: $400M TVL, 185k Wallets 04:07 - Network Stats: 71% Bitcoin Hash Rate Security 04:51 - Developer Tools: Thirdweb, Alchemy, Hardhat 05:39 - Hackathon Tracks: Bitcoin DeFi, AI, RIF Economy 06:20 - New Release: Rootstock Attestation Service 07:04 - Attestation Use Cases: Loans & Digital Identity 08:28 - Starter Kits: CLI, AI Agent, NFT Marketplace 09:07 - Developer Portal Walkthrough 09:51 - Q&A: LayerZero Integration & Resources _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇿 *ETHGlobal Prague* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal Prague, a 3-day hackathon held May 30 - June 1 2025, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal Prague 2025 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5Vv-ZobDU2YMWekDFYvOqd&si=SoQ5O2TOAK8RkYf- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Stani Kulechov, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

At Pragma Cannes 2025, Stani Kulechov (Aave) discusses DeFi 2.0, emphasizing a new era of on-chain innovation, regulatory optimism, and developer empowerment. He introduces Aave V4’s novel “hub and spoke” architecture, which centralizes liquidity in hubs while allowing customizable borrowing strategies (spokes), reducing liquidity fragmentation and enabling permissionless innovation. V4 supports diverse risk profiles, cross-chain liquidity movement, and integration of traditional assets (RWAs) like money market funds via the Horizon initiative. Stani highlights opportunities for developers to build new borrowing strategies, including using NFTs and LP tokens as collateral. The model enhances governance flexibility, risk management, and cross-chain functionality, aiming to bridge DeFi and traditional finance, foster transparency, and improve capital efficiency. The session closes with a call for developer-driven innovation to push DeFi’s boundaries. 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Defining DeFi 2.0 01:59 Aave V4: What’s New 03:42 Hub and Spoke Architecture Explained 05:47 Inspiration and Evolution of the Model 07:05 Spoke Use Cases and Risk Profiles 09:12 Governance Changes in V4 11:31 Cross-Chain and Multi-Chain Considerations 15:01 DeFi’s Future and Real World Assets (RWAs) 17:44 Developer Opportunities and Innovation 19:18 NFTs, LP Tokens, and New Collateral Types 20:05 V4 Launch and Developer Resources 20:34 Closing Remarks and Call to Action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes* Pragma Cannes 2025 was held on July 3rd at the Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6jZYPY5-YIBzvMtUT3ajjI ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Stani Kulechov X: https://x.com/StaniKulechov ✅ Follow Avara X: https://x.com/Avara ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Ismael Hishon Rezaizadeh, co-founder of Lrange Labs, discusses the critical role of Ethereum's infrastructure and zero knowledge proofs (ZKPs) in ensuring trust, privacy, and safety in AI applications. He introduces zero knowledge machine learning (ZKML), which leverages ZKPs to verify AI model integrity, privacy, and fairness, especially in security-sensitive sectors like healthcare, defense, finance, and content moderation. Lrange’s Deep Prove library enables fast, scalable, and commercially viable ZKML, supporting large models and real-world deployments with partners like Intel, Nvidia, and AWS. Ismael emphasizes the need for verifiability and transparency in AI, moving beyond blind trust to cryptographic proofs, and highlights the growing adoption of ZKML in both Web2 and Web3. He also discusses future advancements, including proofs of training, fairness, and reasoning, and the societal impact of embedding verifiability and privacy as primitives in AI systems. 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Zero Knowledge Proofs & ZKML Overview 01:35 Challenges in AI Trust, Safety, and Bias 02:26 Importance of ZKPs for AI Verifiability 03:17 Lrange Labs & Deep Prove Introduction 04:29 How Deep Prove Works 05:56 Use Cases: Defense, Healthcare, Web2, Web3 08:05 Decentralization & Open Source Approach 09:07 Lrange Research & Industry Collaboration 10:44 Extending ZKML Beyond Crypto 11:29 Societal and Sectoral Impact of ZKML 13:14 Agentic Systems, Compliance, Content Moderation 15:02 DeFi, Governance, and Healthcare Applications 16:40 The Future: ZK as a Default Primitive 17:43 Q&A: ZK Computational Improvements & Future Directions 20:33 Conclusion _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes* Pragma Cannes 2025 was held on July 3rd at the Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6jZYPY5-YIBzvMtUT3ajjI ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Lagrange Labs X: https://x.com/lagrangelabs ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sergej Kunz

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Sergej Kunz, co-founder of 1inch, discusses the expanding horizons of DeFi swap marketplaces, focusing on cross-chain DeFi, fragmented liquidity, and the evolution from early crypto adoption to today’s decentralized finance landscape. He highlights DeFi’s core principles: accessibility, composability, trustlessness, and non-custodial ownership. Kunz explains the growth of DeFi from Ethereum to multiple blockchains (Polygon, BSC, Solana, Tron), the challenges of liquidity fragmentation, and the advantages over centralized exchanges. He introduces 1inch’s intent-based swap protocol, which uses Dutch auctions and atomic swaps to enable secure, gasless, cross-chain trading, protecting users from MEV and sandwich attacks. The protocol is extensible, supports 13+ networks, and emphasizes self-custody, security, and decentralization. Kunz concludes by encouraging participation in DeFi innovation and hackathons. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Early Crypto Adoption vs. Internet Adoption 01:48 Web3, Ownership, and DeFi Fundamentals 02:45 DeFi: Accessibility, Composability, Trustlessness, Non-Custody 04:20 1inch Origins and Hackathon Experience 05:34 DeFi Market Growth and Composability 07:01 Trustless and Non-Custodial DeFi 07:27 DeFi Market Size and Centralized vs. Decentralized Exchanges 09:16 Global Access and Liquidity Fragmentation 11:02 Cross-Chain DeFi and Fragmented Liquidity 13:01 Security Risks and MEV Protection 14:42 Intent-Based Protocols and Atomic Cross-Chain Swaps 16:11 Features: Gasless, Secure, Extensible, Competitive 18:35 Network Expansion and Decentralization 19:34 Compliance, Market Makers, and Dutch Auctions 20:37 Future of DeFi Trading and Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes* Pragma Cannes 2025 was held on July 3rd at the Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6jZYPY5-YIBzvMtUT3ajjI ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow 1inch X: https://x.com/1inch ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Anton Bukov, co-founder of 1inch, delivers a deep dive into the technical architecture powering the future of cross-chain DeFi. He outlines the three-layered design behind 1inch’s system: the Limit Order Protocol, Fusion for price discovery via Dutch auctions, and Fusion+ for atomic swaps with escrow and HTLCs. This framework enables users to trade across blockchains in a self-custodial, permissionless, and efficient way. Anton explains how the Limit Order Protocol leverages digital signatures, predicates, interactions, and dynamic pricing to create flexible orders with advanced conditions like stop-loss triggers or oracle-based rules. He then explores how Dutch auctions drive competitive price discovery and deliver better execution than traditional market orders. Fusion+ takes it a step further, enabling secure cross-chain swaps using hashed secrets and time-locked contracts—unlocking self-custody at the architectural level. The talk also examines the challenges of working across diverse blockchain ecosystems, from EVM-compatible networks to Bitcoin’s UTXO model. Anton highlights how Bitcoin’s limited opcodes constrain DeFi innovation but still support atomic swaps and payment channels, while EVM-based chains allow far greater flexibility. He emphasizes the importance of building truly permissionless, non-custodial systems as the foundation for long-term decentralized finance. By dissecting real-world examples, including multi-million dollar swaps, Anton demonstrates how this architecture improves efficiency, minimizes risks, and creates opportunities for cross-chain DeFi at scale. This session is a must-watch for developers, researchers, and builders eager to understand the mechanics behind next-generation decentralized finance. 00:00 – Introduction & session overview 00:35 – 1inch cross-chain architecture: three layers explained 01:04 – Limit Order Protocol overview (signatures, off-chain orders) 02:38 – Predicates & advanced order conditions (stop-loss, oracle checks) 03:34 – Dynamic pricing, interactions & smart order design 04:55 – Fusion: Dutch auctions for price discovery 05:51 – Real-world example: $13M USDT → ETH swap with surplus 06:36 – Fusion+: atomic swaps, escrows & HTLCs 08:07 – Cross-chain order flow & hashed secrets 09:48 – Adapting to different chains (EVM vs Bitcoin UTXO model) 11:19 – Why atomic swaps are key for self-custody 13:32 – Challenges integrating Bitcoin into DeFi 15:13 – Layer 2 differences: EVM vs Bitcoin 16:14 – Payment channels & Lightning vs broader DeFi 17:24 – Multi-chain development complexity & hacker opportunities 18:14 – Closing thoughts & Q&A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *Unite Defi 2025* This ceremony was part of Unite DeFi 2025, an online hackathon sponsored by 1inch and held from July 25 to August 8. It brought together the world’s most talented Web3 developers, designers, and product builders to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full Unite Defi 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4YsK81x2echSjHDRQD09oJ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow 1inch* X: https://x.com/1inch ✅ *Follow Anton Bukov* X: https://x.com/k06a ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Phil Daian

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this panel, Hayden Adams, CEO of Uniswap Labs, and Phil Daian, Co-founder of Flashbots, discuss the evolution and future of onchain finance, focusing on DeFi, L1s, L2s, and trading infrastructure. They announce the launch of Flash Blocks for Uni Chain, enabling 200ms swaps and dramatically improving user experience. The conversation explores the role of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) for privacy, integrity, and low-latency trading, and how Uni Chain leverages these to optimize for decentralized trading and MEV (Miner Extractable Value) redistribution. They debate the merits of DeFi on L1 vs L2, the importance of decentralization as a scaling technology, and the trajectory of DeFi from its early days to mainstream adoption. The discussion also covers the technical and economic advantages of Automated Market Makers (AMMs) over order books, the integration of programmable privacy, and the potential for specialized blockspace and interoperability across domains. They conclude by highlighting the unstoppable, democratizing nature of DeFi and encourage trying the new instant trading experience. 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Flash Blocks Launch & Collaboration 02:21 Evolution of Uniswap & Uni Chain 04:40 TEEs, Sequencer Design, and L2 Innovation 06:40 User Experience, Low Latency, and DeFi Scaling 08:32 DeFi on L1 vs L2 & Decentralization as Scaling 11:00 TEEs, Privacy, and Trading Protocols 12:36 DeFi’s Progress and Mainstreaming 16:35 Challenges of Mainstream DeFi & Privacy 18:06 DeFi, the Internet Analogy, and Democratization 19:11 Future of Decentralization & Block Building 21:21 AMMs vs Order Books: Technical Perspectives 25:58 AMMs, Fair Ordering, and Specialized Blockspace 29:31 Closing Thoughts & Instant Swaps Demo 30:29 Conclusion _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* Pragma New York 2025 was held on August 14th at Vesper Events in Brooklyn, New York and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New York YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5TRLdUXjnhUVfdbBtu6z2j ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Hayden Adams X: https://x.com/haydenzadams ✅ Follow Uniswap Labs X: https://x.com/Uniswap ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this fireside chat, Vivek Raman, Co-founder of Etherealize, discusses his transition from Wall Street to becoming an Ethereum advocate, emphasizing the need to upgrade—rather than replace—the archaic financial system using Ethereum’s programmable infrastructure. He highlights the recent inflection point driven by ETH ETF approvals and institutional interest, noting BlackRock’s tokenization efforts. Etherealize’s mission is to evangelize Ethereum to Wall Street, facilitate tokenization of real-world assets on Ethereum L1, leverage L2s for scalability, and develop institutional-grade privacy solutions. Raman stresses the importance of avoiding liquidity fragmentation and ensuring interoperability, advocating for assets to reside on Ethereum L1 with L2 customization. He outlines the challenges of legal, regulatory, and privacy hurdles, but sees the current regulatory climate as an unprecedented opportunity. The ultimate goal is to rewire Wall Street’s infrastructure onto Ethereum, unlocking new financial products and utility beyond simple tokenization, and to establish frameworks for compliant on-chain finance. 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Vivek Raman’s Background & Entry into Ethereum 02:24 Transition from Wall Street to Crypto 03:35 Upgrading vs. Replacing Financial Systems 05:04 Institutional Adoption & Inflection Point 07:33 Etherealize’s Mission and Early Days 09:17 Evolving Etherealize: From Evangelism to Product 10:16 Product Focus: Tokenization, L2s, Privacy 11:46 Institutional Reactions & Challenges 13:43 Team Composition: Wall Street Meets Ethereum 14:14 Fragmentation & Liquidity Concerns 16:40 Interoperability & Bridging Solutions 17:07 Beyond Tokenization: Unlocking New Financial Utility 18:34 Legal & Regulatory Challenges in Tokenization 19:36 Frameworks & Regulatory Engagement 20:16 Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* Pragma New York 2025 was held on August 14th at Vesper Events in Brooklyn, New York and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New York YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5TRLdUXjnhUVfdbBtu6z2j ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Vivek Raman X: https://x.com/VivekVentures ✅ Follow Etherealize X: https://x.com/Etherealize_io ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ben Jones

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

In this fireside chat at Pragma New York, Ben Jones, Co-founder of Optimism, and Robert Miller, Steward at Flashbots, discuss the future of rollups, the OP Stack, and the Superchain—an open-source network of Ethereum-aligned Layer 2 chains. They highlight the importance of scaling Ethereum to meet global demand for block space, emphasizing open-source development as a competitive advantage over closed-source approaches. The conversation explores the evolving role of rollups as fintech companies launch their own chains, the composability and flexibility of the EVM, and the potential for both app-specific and shared chains (like OP Mainnet) in the ecosystem. They delve into MEV (Maximal Extractable Value), its impact on transaction ordering, and the challenge of capturing value for application developers. The discussion concludes with the need to channel MEV into positive user outcomes, leveraging crypto’s experimental nature to outcompete traditional finance by delivering better results for users. 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Event Hype and Opening Remarks 00:56 What is Optimism and the Superchain? 02:34 Open Source vs Closed Source in Crypto 04:38 The Role of the OP Stack and Rollups 06:11 Fintech Companies and Custom Chains 07:38 Composability and Value of Chains 09:01 Non-Obvious Use Cases for Chains 10:17 Differentiation and Competition Among Chains 11:54 Network Topology: App Chains vs Shared Chains 13:37 Governance and Neutrality in Chain Deployment 14:49 Introduction to MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) 15:57 MEV’s Impact and Application Developer Challenges 18:22 Monetizing MEV and Application Value Capture 19:34 MEV: Negative Externalities and Opportunities 20:53 Harnessing MEV for Better User Outcomes 21:35 MEV in TradFi vs Crypto 22:14 Auctions, User Outcomes, and Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* Pragma New York 2025 was held on August 14th at Vesper Events in Brooklyn, New York and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New York YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5TRLdUXjnhUVfdbBtu6z2j ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Ben Jones X: https://x.com/ben_chain ✅ Follow Optimism X: https://x.com/optimism ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Jon Kol, CEO of Hyperlane, discusses the critical role of interoperability in enabling the future of global finance on blockchain. He argues that for global finance to move on-chain, solutions must be open, permissionless, and scalable, but current fragmentation across chains and virtual machines (VMs) is a major barrier. Kol highlights the inefficiency and poor user experience of bridging assets between chains, emphasizing the need for seamless connectivity. He introduces Hyperlane, an open, permissionless interoperability framework supporting multiple VMs and over 150 chains, featuring message passing, interchain accounts, and a liquidity layer to abstract away complexity. Kol illustrates how Hyperlane enables a single point of access for users and developers, citing the BitTensor/Tali integration as a real-world example. He concludes that invisible, user-friendly interoperability is essential for blockchain to meet the demands of global finance. 00:00 Introduction 00:36 The Vision: Global Finance On-Chain 01:58 Barriers to On-Chain Finance 03:20 The Proliferation of Chains and VMs 05:13 Scalability Challenges: NASDAQ vs. Blockchains 06:14 Fragmentation and Developer Complexity 08:55 The Problem with Bridging 11:24 Overcoming Fragmentation: The Hyperlane Approach 12:11 Hyperlane Architecture: Message Passing, Interchain Accounts, Liquidity Layer 14:14 Security and Modularity in Hyperlane 15:32 Interchain Accounts Explained 16:20 Liquidity Layer and Passive Provision 17:55 Hyperlane Warp Route 2.0 18:20 Real-World Example: BitTensor/Tali Integration 20:52 The Future: Invisible Interoperability 21:36 Conclusion & Call to Action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* Pragma New York 2025 was held on August 14th at Vesper Events in Brooklyn, New York and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New York YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh5TRLdUXjnhUVfdbBtu6z2j ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Jon Kol X: https://x.com/thePalenimbus ✅ Follow Hyperlane X: https://x.com/hyperlane ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Panagiotis Kakalis, for a World Workshop! This workshop originally streamed at ETHGlobal Prague and is being repurposed for the ETHGlobal New Delhi Hackathon! Panagiotis Kakalis makes the case for building a World App Mini this weekend and shows how fast it is to ship one. He explains the World ecosystem (World App, World ID, proof-of-personhood via the Orb), why Mini Apps matter (distribution to 20M+ users, notifications, contacts, payments, gas sponsorship), and how the MiniKit SDK lets you gate features to verified humans and whitelist contracts for safe transactions. The live demo covers setting up a Mini App in the Developer Portal, using the Next.js template, tunneling with ngrok, scanning the QR in World App, verifying users, receiving payments, and enabling sponsored transactions. Q&A touches review/moderation, differences from Farcaster “mini” apps, hosting (Vercel/IPFS/any URL), and design tips to leverage World ID. 00:08 Why build a Mini App this weekend 00:27 What World is building: the Real Human Network 00:48 Proof of Personhood & Orb verification (read the whitepaper) 01:18 Mini Apps: benefits & exclusive primitives (MiniKit SDK) 01:43 Notifications, contacts, payments, World ID gating 02:11 Discovery via World App Store; quality review 02:34 Early traction: impressions, users, DAUs (growth context) 03:02 User geography & verified accounts 03:30 Dev ecosystem stats; opportunity (only ~200 Mini Apps) 03:59 TVL, opens, WLD volume; 2024–25 goals 04:22 Where to improve: retention & utility focus 04:43 Product focus: distribution, wallet/World ID, dev simplicity 05:15 Case studies: Auto, Plus, Borum, Cred (lending) 06:13 Links: docs, dev portal, Telegram support; ETHGlobal vs Dev Portal submissions 07:09 Live demo: creating a Mini App in the Dev Portal 07:39 Choose “Mini App (Cloud)”; name & scaffold 08:11 Use Next.js template; env setup 09:03 Expose locally with ngrok; add app ID & auth URL 09:40 Scan QR with World App; first run & debugging 10:43 Reading user info; payments UI; verify action 11:26 Safe txs via contract allowlist (whitelisting) 12:20 Whitelisting a contract in the Dev Portal 12:59 Bounty guidance: leverage World ID (one human, one account) 13:32 Q&A: app review & ongoing monitoring 15:00 MiniKit vs Farcaster’s “mini” (different SDKs) 15:31 Sending contract txs; verify command recap 17:27 Hackathon submissions & Dev Portal role 18:17 Gas sponsorship for verified users (sendTransaction flow) 18:42 Content guidance (no gambling) 19:44 Hosting options: Vercel/IPFS/any URL 19:51 Gating to verified-only users (checkbox/logic) 20:38 Mixed UX: unverified can try; perks/paywalls for verified 21:09 Design pattern: put a “World ID wall” where it makes sense 21:40 Wrap-up & show of hands _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *ETHGlobal New Delhi* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New Delhi, a 3-day hackathon held September 19-21 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New Delhi 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7zCFW3hBqatZ18rQaYeEJL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow World* X: https://x.com/worldcoin ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2024

The European Blockchain Convention featured a panel discussing the digital assets lifecycle, addressing issuance, trading, settlement, and custody. Moderated by Bilal Jafar, the panel included industry experts from Swiat, Groupe Caisse des Dépôts, Citi Bank, Moody's and Blockdaemon. Challenges in the digital asset space were emphasized, particularly the need for trust and confidence in separating functions within the lifecycle and managing operational complexities and risks. Regulation's impact on institutional adoption was a key theme, highlighting the time, effort, and coordination necessary for compliance in a regulated environment. The panelists expressed enthusiasm for the swift institutional adoption of blockchain technology and digital assets. Future trends were explored, with predictions of substantial growth in tokenized securities and cash, underlining the industry's shift towards 24/7 financial operations. The discussion also acknowledged the challenges faced by traditional institutions in adapting to the benefits of the digital finance ecosystem. In summary, the panel provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of digital asset management and blockchain technology within the institutional sector, covering challenges, risks, and emerging opportunities. --------- Speakers: Bilal Jafar | Dow Jones (Moderator) Jonathan Leßmann | SWIAT Nadia Filali | Groupe Caisse des Dépôts David Cunningham | Citi Bank Rajeev Bamra | Moody's Corporation Barnaby Hodgkins | Blockdaemon --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more 👇 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Twitter: https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain...

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2024

The panel covered topics such as the pitch for investing in crypto, the diversification of crypto assets, correlation with traditional markets, and the impact of macroeconomic shocks. Panelists emphasized the evolving nature of crypto as an asset class, with Kerel mentioning the variety of assets within crypto, including stable assets and high-risk assets. Tony discussed the correlation between traditional finance and crypto, while George highlighted the historical repetition of cycles in emerging markets. The discussion also touched on the concept of volatility, defined as the magnitude of price swings. Panelists acknowledged the inherent volatility in crypto but emphasized the diverse range of assets and the potential for stable income streams within the crypto space. The conversation concluded with an exploration of the role of crypto in combating inflation and providing an alternative to traditional financial systems. --------- Speakers: Andrew Rummer | Digital Frontier (moderator) Kerel Verwaerde | Cryptology Menno Martens | VanEck Tony Cheng | Foresight Ventures George Zarya | Bequant --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more 👇 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2024

In this panel discussion on digital securities, capital markets, and tokenization, four industry experts provided insights into the current landscape and future prospects. They emphasized the strategic importance of digital securities, foreseeing a shift from traditional finance to tokenized assets. Arnaud from CACEIS emphasized that while progress has been made in tokenizing bonds, equities, and fund shares, challenges include the lack of a secondary market and regulatory uncertainties. The panelists discussed the technology choices and considerations, with a focus on network types, protocols, and standards. Coty, as a CTO, highlighted the evolving nature of public networks like Ethereum and the need for interoperability. The conversation also touched on the importance of compliance and regulations, with differing views on whether regulations act as enablers or barriers. Claus highlighted the need for good compliance as an enabler for business, while Michael expressed the view that regulations act as gatekeepers, determining entry into the digital securities space. Looking ahead, the panelists recognized the complexity of transitioning from traditional to digital securities, comparing it to changing an aircraft engine while in flight. They acknowledged the multiple pieces of the puzzle, including legal and regulatory control, digital identity, and the establishment of a cash leg. Despite the challenges, the panelists expressed optimism, anticipating a gradual but transformative shift towards digital securities, emphasizing the need for mass adoption, regulatory clarity, and the integration of various technological components. --------- Speaker: Victor Busson | Taurus Claus George | DZ Bank Michael Cyrus | DekaBank Coty de Monteverde | Banco Santander Arnaud Misset | CACEIS --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more 👇 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Join Stani Kulechov, Founder of Aave, and Rune Christensen, Founder of MakerDAO, as they sit down with ETHGlobal’s Kartik Talwar at Pragma Istanbul 2023 for an in-depth conversation on the future of algorithmic stablecoins. \ This session explores how stablecoins like GHO and DAI are evolving in response to market demands, the critical role of user adoption and yield, and how new models like Maker’s Endgame and subDAOs are shaping the next phase of DeFi governance and scalability. Rune unpacks MakerDAO’s transition from a monolithic protocol to a modular ecosystem of subDAOs, emphasizing alignment engineering and decentralized control. Stani discusses Aave’s strategy behind launching GHO and how protocol design, liquidity guarantees, and governance minimalism are influencing product decisions. The conversation also covers the challenges of stability, governance complexity, real-world integration, and the long-term viability of decentralized currencies. Whether you’re building in DeFi, researching stablecoins, or looking to understand what comes next in Web3 finance, this talk delivers deep insights into the infrastructure powering the decentralized economy. 00:00 Introduction to panel on algorithmic stablecoins 00:58 MakerDAO’s new direction and user demand 03:12 Yield as a growth strategy for Maker 05:18 Why Aave launched GHO stablecoin 08:31 Measuring stablecoin success: supply vs. demand 10:01 Stablecoins for payments and global GDP 13:59 What is Maker’s Endgame strategy? 17:46 SubDAOs and decentralizing Maker governance 21:34 Aligning subDAOs with MKR holders 26:36 Stani’s take on governance minimalism 30:20 Stability management and DAO alignment 33:49 Alignment engineering and self-healing DAOs 36:49 Is GHO a product or a protocol? 39:31 MakerDAO’s upcoming rebrand 41:09 Aave’s user-first stablecoin product strategy 44:11 Organic growth and adoption of GHO 45:17 Advice to each other and cross-protocol insights 47:08 Audience Q1: Future of seigniorage stablecoins 48:19 Audience Q2: STI integrations, real-world growth 50:45 Closing remarks and appreciation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇹🇷 *Pragma Istanbul* The sixth edition of Pragma took place in Istanbul in November 2023 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Pragma Istanbul 2023 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Istanbul 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4rHV1H4J7y0wDok4bIS17t&si=lb8ttkU1HS2tpnUP ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow *ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Molly Mackinlay

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

What does it take to transform a hackathon project into a real-world protocol? In this insightful panel from Pragma India 2023, Molly Mackinlay of Protocol Labs moderates a conversation with three founders—Swaroop Hegde (Powerloom), Ayush Ranjan (Huddle01), and Masa ‘Senshi’ Kikuchi (Secured Finance)—who all began their journey at HackFS 2020 and are now building category-defining Web3 protocols. They share stories of early experimentation, what made them decide to become founders, and how ecosystems like Protocol Labs, Filecoin, Gitcoin, and ETHGlobal helped catalyze their growth. Topics include fundraising advice, legal and hiring challenges, choosing the right investors, and staying committed to the mission during tough times. 00:00 Welcome & panelist introductions 00:44 Early experiences at HackFS 2020 03:41 Huddle01’s origin during COVID & Zoom bombing 05:11 Powerloom’s spontaneous entry & inspiration 06:14 When hack projects became real companies 07:23 Secured Finance’s unexpected founder journey 09:16 Powerloom’s pivot and grant opportunities 10:14 How Protocol Labs & PL Network helped 13:07 The emotional side of the founder journey 14:33 Fundraising experiences & first rounds 17:16 Navigating investor alignment 19:10 Legal structures, SAFE vs equity tips 20:33 Current founder struggles & feature requests 22:10 Hiring challenges and high-impact early team 23:22 Regulatory uncertainty in Web3 24:24 New trends founders are excited about 25:26 Web3 social, staking, and communication rails 27:38 Secured Finance and the decentralized bond market 28:50 On-chain infra and scaling excitement 29:55 Advice for ETHIndia hackers & future founders 31:30 Final takeaways from the panel _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *Pragma India* The final Pragma of the year took place in Bengaluru India in December 2023 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Pragma India 2023 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma India 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4rHV1H4J7y0wDok4bIS17t&si=lb8ttkU1HS2tpnUP ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Rene Reinsberg

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Rene Reinsberg, Co-founder of Celo, joins Kartik Talwar at Pragma India 2023 to break down one of the most exciting shifts in Web3 infrastructure: Celo's transition from a standalone Layer 1 to becoming an Ethereum Layer 2. Learn why the move was proposed, how it enhances scalability and decentralization, and what it means for Celo’s mission of regenerative finance, global financial inclusion, and ultra-low-fee microtransactions. From technical milestones to governance decisions, validator decentralization to community currencies, this deep dive explores how Celo plans to leverage Ethereum’s security while maintaining its unique value proposition. If you're interested in rollups, OP Stack, ZK tech, ReFi, or how to onboard real-world users to crypto, this talk is for you. 00:00 Intro: Celo’s L2 proposal background 00:44 What makes Celo unique as a blockchain 01:51 Original vision of Celo and global use cases 03:02 Early tech limitations building on Ethereum 04:10 Paying gas in stablecoins on Celo 05:11 Community-led L2 proposal process 06:14 Validator decentralization and sequencer design 07:14 Temperature check and community response 08:23 Collaboration with L2 ecosystem players 09:26 Key themes and stakeholder feedback 10:37 Short-term vs long-term L2 tradeoffs 11:44 Community concerns: fees, migration, and UX 13:11 L2 Unplugged and transparent decision-making 14:19 Ethereum as collective vs traditional systems 15:26 Technical updates and proposal milestones 16:33 Rapid ecosystem development and learning 17:09 Other L2 proposals and selection framework 18:12 Criteria for evaluating L2 stack alignment 19:17 Celo’s value as a real-world access layer 20:24 Onboarding from fiat to on-chain wallets 21:25 Real-world apps built on Celo today 22:39 Examples of regenerative finance use cases 24:24 Tokenized nature-backed assets and local currency 25:35 Applications using tokenized plastic and carbon 26:08 Conservation basic income in local communities 27:19 Tree planting incentives and community impact 28:00 Timeline for Celo’s next upgrade and vote 29:02 Building on Celo during the transition 29:39 Final thoughts on regenerative applications _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *Pragma India* The final Pragma of the year took place in Bengaluru India in December 2023 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Pragma India 2023 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma India 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4rHV1H4J7y0wDok4bIS17t&si=lb8ttkU1HS2tpnUP ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Celo* X: https://x.com/Celo ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Why doesn’t crypto have a privacy layer—yet? In this candid and technically rich talk at Pragma Denver 2024, Elena Nadolinski, founder of Iron Fish, dives into the state of privacy in crypto and the complex regulatory, technical, and ethical hurdles developers face. Elena explores past and current privacy protocols including Zcash, Monero, Nocturne, Namada, Penumbra, Tornado Cash, and Iron Fish itself. She breaks down why many attempts at privacy have failed or been abandoned, and how compliance with entities like OFAC and FinCEN further complicates innovation. You’ll learn about the critical distinction between ingress, internal transfers, and egress in privacy protocols, and why Iron Fish is pursuing real-time threat detection and centralized screening at ingress as a practical and compliant path forward. 00:00 Intro to crypto privacy challenges 01:08 What is Iron Fish and why privacy matters 02:08 Why private transactions are essential 03:09 Use cases: whales, payroll, donations, phishing 04:15 Goal: send USDC privately from A to B 04:51 Overview of privacy protocol categories 05:23 Problems with Zcash, TEEs, pivots, and delays 06:26 Tornado Cash: demand, sanctions, and legacy 07:01 The privacy protocol “squid game” dilemma 07:36 Compliance matters more than tech alone 08:10 Key US regulators: FinCEN and OFAC 09:14 FinCEN guidance and MSB designation risks 10:30 Tornado Cash trial and MSB criteria 11:43 Fee structures, tokens, and regulatory exposure 12:17 Why OFAC is the scarier threat 13:27 Tornado Cash and OFAC contradictions 14:01 Developers’ personal liability under OFAC 14:36 Sanctioned funds and direct fee exposure 15:06 Bridges, sequencers, and MSB-like risks 15:41 Three stages of a privacy protocol: ingress, internal, egress 16:44 Screening at protocol level vs inside privacy pool 17:45 Tracer model for note ownership is impractical 18:48 Global blocklists and jurisdictional conflicts 19:50 Association sets and their privacy tradeoffs 21:26 Why ingress screening is most practical 21:57 Using allow/block lists and threat detection 22:28 Real-time monitoring through bridge operators 23:02 Final thoughts and Iron Fish roadmap update _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma Denver* Pragma Denver 2024 took place at The Arch in Denver on February 28, 2024, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Denver playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4lJw0vruQ4prh8iMDUk89i&si=ayJ64Sgcqew1fdFk ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Elena Nadolinski* X: https://x.com/leanthebean ✅ *Follow Iron Fish* X: https://x.com/ironfishcrypto ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Join Kartik Talwar, co-founder of ETH Global, as he welcomes attendees to Pragma London 2024, a one-day summit exploring the future of web3 and blockchain innovation. This accessible event features founder-led discussions on Ethereum evolution, Lens Protocol's permissionless future, account abstraction (EIP-4337), and crypto-AI convergence. Discover new primitives like on-chain Packs (NFT-based perks) and gain insights from Safe, ENS, Chainlink and other leading projects. Designed for both newcomers and experts, Pragma offers a single-track format with interviews and panels covering decentralized analytics, wallet innovation, and modular blockchain development. 00:00 - Opening Welcome by ETH Global's Kartik Talwar 00:49 - Pragma's Mission: Pragmatic Web3 Development 01:29 - Bridging Web3 Knowledge Gaps for Newcomers 02:01 - Founder-Led Content in Single-Track Format 02:26 - Non-Technical Approach for Broad Accessibility 02:57 - Event Structure: Conversation-Focused Interviews 03:27 - Logistics: Schedule, Website & Attendee Statistics 04:25 - Partner Highlights: Lido, Stargate, Worldcoin 05:31 - Introducing Packs: NFT-Based Event Perks 06:32 - Extending Utility: On-Chain/Off-Chain Benefits 07:29 - Full Agenda Overview: Ethereum to Account Abstraction 07:54 - Justin Drake: Ethereum's Roadmap Discussion 08:18 - Lens Protocol's Permissionless Evolution 08:48 - Dune Analytics: Scaling Blockchain Data 09:18 - Exploring Crypto and AI Synergies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇬🇧 *Pragma London* Pragma London took place at Christchurch Spitalfields in London on March 14, 2024, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma London playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Ever since we first introduced our new event series Pragma in Tokyo of the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

In this exciting session from Pragma London 2024, Marcos Numes, co-founder of Gnosis Pay, shares how the future of payments is becoming reality with the world’s first decentralized checking account. Discover how Gnosis Pay connects crypto wallets directly to Visa-compatible cards, enabling seamless real-world payments using stablecoins. Learn about the technology behind point-of-sale blockchain authorization, digital asset pre-settlement, and how Gnosis Pay eliminates traditional off-ramp friction. Marcos discusses their journey navigating global regulation, launching across 40+ countries, and their vision for expanding access to financial infrastructure worldwide through decentralized rails. Whether you’re a Web3 builder, fintech founder, or crypto enthusiast, this talk is a must-watch for understanding how self-custody, DeFi, and mainstream payments are finally coming together. 00:00 Intro and welcome to Marcos Numes 01:27 What is Gnosis Pay and how it works 02:07 Using stablecoins at Visa payment terminals 03:30 Behind the scenes: blockchain to fiat flow 04:58 Understanding regulated card issuance 06:11 How blockchain transactions are authorized 07:35 Building Gnosis Pay and regulatory challenges 09:34 Real-world usage: 40+ countries and live testing 10:08 Better FX rates and competitive comparisons 10:50 Sustainable revenue model for Web3 projects 11:23 Working with Visa and industry collaboration 12:41 Gnosis Pay’s mission as a decentralized bank 14:00 Bridging L1s, fiat, and real-world finance 15:25 Enabling wallets and users with seamless off-ramps 16:46 Why off-ramp fees exist and how Gnosis Pay differs 18:01 Making crypto spending as simple as banking 18:32 Global expansion and upcoming product launches 19:40 Adding Apple Pay, e-commerce, and new use cases 20:17 Bridging native USDC and public roadmap wrap-up _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇬🇧 *Pragma London* Pragma London took place at Christchurch Spitalfields in London on March 14, 2024, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma London playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Ever since we first introduced our new event series Pragma in Tokyo of the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Gnosis Pay* X: https://x.com/gnosispay ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sergey Nazarov, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

In this insightful fireside chat from Pragma London 2024, Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov sits down with Kartik Talwar of ETHGlobal to explore the evolving role of oracles, cross-chain communication, and the long-term vision for Web3 infrastructure. Sergey discusses Chainlink’s origin, powering DeFi’s exponential growth, the rise of Proof of Reserve and real-world data feeds, and the launch of CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol). He shares a compelling vision where every bank and asset manager operates their own L2, interconnected through secure oracle networks, with Ethereum at the core. This is a must-watch for builders, founders, and anyone curious about the convergence of capital markets and decentralized systems, real-world assets (RWAs), and how to make Web3 usable, trusted, and inevitable. 00:00 Welcome Sergey Nazarov to Pragma London 00:58 How Chainlink got started and smart contracts' gaps 02:31 Oracle networks vs. simple data feeds 03:39 Chainlink’s early role in powering DeFi 04:56 Beyond price feeds: Expanding oracle use cases 06:10 Chainlink’s evolution and new data categories 07:18 Proof of Reserves and the path to proof of everything 08:23 Adding trust-minimized computation and automation 09:32 Launch of CCIP for cross-chain communication 10:37 Chainlink’s role: moving data in/out/between chains 11:12 CCIP features and programmable token transfers 12:14 Real-world asset adoption and private L2s 13:48 Prediction: All banks will run their own L2s 14:33 Enterprise L2s connecting to Ethereum 15:39 Net new value: onboarding institutions and users 16:14 Three types of participants in the ecosystem 17:52 Infrastructure vs. application builders 19:24 Why normies still struggle with crypto UX 20:58 Improving trust, security, and experience 22:05 Web3 must match or beat Web2 UX 23:01 Why verifiable applications are the end goal 24:06 From niche use cases to a global default 25:06 Chainlink’s view on reaching escape velocity 26:08 Learning from security and data failures 27:07 Reflections from the pre-Ethereum era 28:13 How we move faster vs. taking decades 28:43 The exponential growth of the ecosystem 29:15 Final words and appreciation for builders _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇬🇧 *Pragma London* Pragma London took place at Christchurch Spitalfields in London on March 14, 2024, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma London playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Ever since we first introduced our new event series Pragma in Tokyo of the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Sergey Nazarov* X: https://x.com/SergeyNazarov ✅ *Follow Chainlink* X: https://x.com/Chainlink ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Angus Lamps

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Angus Lamps of Stargate Finance discusses the critical role of composable liquidity in Omnichain DeFi. As the largest bridge in DeFi by volume, Stargate enables seamless cross-chain asset transfers without wrapped tokens or trust assumptions. Learn about the challenges of liquidity fragmentation in a rollup-centric future, the limitations of current bridges, and how Stargate V2 aims to solve these issues with immutable, scalable, and censorship-resistant infrastructure. Discover why universal synchronous composability is essential for onboarding the next wave of users and developers into decentralized finance. 00:00 - Introduction to Stargate Finance and Omnichain DeFi 00:42 - Stargate’s Role as the Largest Bridge in DeFi 01:21 - Why Universal Composable Liquidity Matters 01:56 - The Rollup-Centric Future and Liquidity Fragmentation 03:09 - Challenges of Cross-Chain Communication 03:44 - Problems with Wrapped Assets and Bridge Hacks 04:47 - User Experience Barriers in Multi-Chain DeFi 05:22 - Tradeoffs in Bridge Design and Finality Risk 06:03 - Limitations of Current Cross-Chain Solutions 07:17 - Ethereum’s Slow Development vs. Rollup Innovation 07:48 - Shared Sequencing and Future Interoperability 08:20 - The End Goal: Abstracted Cross-Chain UX 08:55 - ZK Proofs and Universal Synchronous Composability 09:31 - Stargate V2: Solving Liquidity Fragmentation 10:43 - Building for Developers, Users, and Rollups 11:57 - Stargate’s Vision: Immutable and Scalable DeFi 12:30 - Closing Thoughts on Collaboration in DeFi _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇬🇧 *Pragma London* Pragma London took place at Christchurch Spitalfields in London on March 14, 2024, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma London playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Ever since we first introduced our new event series Pragma in Tokyo of the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Daniel Bar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

xplore the rise of APAC in the crypto ecosystem with Daniel from Bit Ford at Pragma Sydney 2024. This talk dives into Australia’s crypto legacy, from early Ethereum contributors to modern DeFi innovators like Synthetix and Immutable. Discover how APAC’s unique blend of financial expertise, UX innovation, and community-driven events like ETH Sydney fosters blockchain adoption. Learn about the "ascending world" narrative, the importance of third places in web3 culture, and upcoming opportunities like Devcon Bangkok. Essential for builders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts in APAC and beyond. 00:00 - Introduction: APAC’s Growing Role in Crypto 00:56 - Daniel’s Background: Bit Ford & Ethereum Sydney 01:38 - Australia’s Crypto Legacy: Ethereum & Dogecoin 02:17 - Early DAOs & On-Chain Governance in Australia 02:54 - 2017 ICO Boom & BIP Puba’s Influence 03:34 - Synthetix & Australia’s DeFi Innovations 04:08 - The “Ascending World” & APAC’s Crypto Potential 04:52 - APAC’s Crypto Hubs: Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong 05:26 - Geopolitics & Innovation: Israel vs. Australia 06:06 - Australia’s Strengths: UX & Financial Tech 07:23 - Case Studies: Canva, Atlassian, Immutable 08:00 - Web3 as a “Third Place” for Culture & Innovation 08:39 - Public Goods & Social Fabric in Crypto Communities 09:56 - Web3’s Unique Features: Composability & Permissionlessness 10:29 - Decentralization & Tokenized Economies 11:07 - Education & Hackathons: ETH Sydney’s Impact 11:41 - Success Stories: Young Builders in Crypto/AI 12:17 - Upcoming Events: ETH Sydney & Sui Hacker House 12:53 - Road to Devcon Bangkok: How to Get Involved _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇦🇺 *Pragma Sydney* The Sydney edition of Pragma took place at The View by Sydney in May 2024 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. Watch the full Pragma Sydney playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Saurabh from Powerloom presents a groundbreaking approach to composable data networks at Pragma Sydney 2024. Discover how Powerloom's decentralized protocol enables trustless access to on-chain data through its network of 4,700+ nodes. The demo showcases live implementations of Uniswap analytics and unreleased features, demonstrating how developers can build on this open-source infrastructure. Learn about running snapshot nodes, contributing to data markets, and creating permissionless data solutions that maintain blockchain's decentralized ethos while delivering enterprise-grade analytics. 00:00 - Introduction to Composable Data Challenges 01:29 - Powerloom's Mission: Democratizing Data Access 02:41 - From Polygon Infrastructure to Decentralized Solutions 03:44 - The Problem with Current Data Indexing 05:22 - Powerloom Protocol Architecture Explained 06:29 - Network Stats: 4,700+ Active Nodes 07:30 - Base Network Implementation Demo 08:35 - Atomic Data Markets Deep Dive 09:45 - Live Ethereum Block Visualization 10:46 - Running a Powerloom Node: Live Demo 12:34 - Node Configuration & Use Case Selection 13:36 - Testnet Participation & Future Rewards 14:37 - Unannounced Feature Preview 15:41 - Advantages of Pre-Compute Data Model 16:10 - Open Source Ecosystem & Community Contributions 17:13 - Developer Resources & Documentation 17:44 - Getting Started with Powerloom Network _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇦🇺 *Pragma Sydney* The Sydney edition of Pragma took place at The View by Sydney in May 2024 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. Watch the full Pragma Sydney playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Swaroop Hegde* X: https://x.com/SwaroopH ✅ *Follow Powerloom* X: https://x.com/Powerloom ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2024

Join Robbie Ferguson, co-founder of Immutable, in this fireside chat from Pragma Sydney 2024 as he dives into the future of on-chain gaming and blockchain’s role in revolutionizing digital ownership. Discover how Immutable grew from early Ethereum experiments to becoming the leading Web3 gaming platform, with insights into ZK-rollups, cross-chain liquidity, and the $150B in-game asset market. Robbie shares lessons on scaling startups, vertical integration, and why NFTs and tokens are transforming player economies. A must-watch for gamers, developers, and crypto enthusiasts. 00:00 - Introduction to Immutable & On-Chain Gaming 00:46 - Immutable’s Vision: Web3 Gaming Adoption 01:17 - Robbie’s Crypto Journey: From Bitcoin to Ethereum 01:49 - Smart Contracts & Early Blockchain Gambling 02:25 - Aligning Incentives: New Models of Capitalism 02:53 - From Trading Bots to NFTs: Founding Immutable 03:26 - The $150B In-Game Asset Opportunity 04:00 - Digital Ownership vs. Traditional Gaming Models 04:27 - Building Etherbots & Ethereum’s Scaling Challenges 04:54 - Evolution of Game Studios: Web2 to Web3 Adoption 05:23 - East vs. West: Regional Web3 Gaming Trends 06:23 - The "FarmVille Moment" for Web3 Gaming 07:54 - Why Gamers Demand Ownership: Retention & Monetization 08:49 - Web3 Gaming’s Value Proposition: Liquidity & Utility 09:53 - Secondary Markets: CS:GO Skins to Fortnite Futures 10:55 - Acquisition, Retention & Monetization in Web3 Games 11:53 - Immutable Passport: Onboarding the Next Billion Gamers 13:17 - Self-Custody & Cross-Game Liquidity Innovations 14:51 - Vertical Integration: Why Immutable Built Its Own Wallet 15:18 - Partnering with Polygon: ZK-Rollups for Gaming 17:45 - App-Specific Chains vs. Multi-Rollup Future 19:12 - NFTs as an Asset Class: Liquidity & Financial Utility 21:10 - Lessons Scaling Immutable: Talent & Web2/Web3 Hybrids 22:34 - What’s Next: 61 Games Launching in 2024 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇦🇺 *Pragma Sydney* The Sydney edition of Pragma took place at The View by Sydney in May 2024 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. Watch the full Pragma Sydney playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7rvaHBM14peT1TwI3QX38p&si=MzGrEYwYjxSQFiFM ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Robbie Ferguson* X: https://x.com/0xferg ✅ *Follow Immutable* X: https://x.com/immutable ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

LBWTV · Jun 12, 2024

Tokenization and the Future of Opportunities In the upcoming video, Mr. Ernest Nandi will discuss tokenization and its role in creating future opportunities. Tokenization digitizes assets, allowing them to be represented on the blockchain. This can include anything from real estate to financial instruments like treasury bills. Mr. Nandi, with a rich background in developer relations and advocacy at various blockchain firms, will cover the basics of tokenization, its benefits, use cases, and challenges. He will explain that tokenization transforms asset ownership by representing physical assets digitally, which is revolutionary for investment democratization and industry disruption. The process involves creating digital tokens that represent assets and implementing smart contracts to manage these digital representations. Mr. Nandi will highlight the importance of partnerships with financial institutions to navigate legal challenges and the creation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for handling collateral. He'll touch upon standards like ERC-7540 or ERC-7575 for building tokenization platforms. The benefits of tokenization include liquidity, asset accessibility, transparency in transactions, and composability—allowing investors to earn from assets like real estate or intellectual property. He will also discuss secondary markets for trading these digital tokens and governance through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) that allow community voting on investment proposals. The speaker will address market volatility concerns by distinguishing

LBWTV · Jun 11, 2024

Clip The video features a speaker named Timonolua Amzat, who prefers to be called Amzat, discussing decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and their impact on human interaction and organization. Amzat, the director of communications at Web3 in the lab, explains that DAOs are communal governance structures without central leadership, collectively owned and managed by members. He highlights the characteristics of DAOs, including multi-signatory treasuries and decisions made via proposals and token-based governance. Amzat provides a step-by-step process for forming a DAO, which involves writing governance rules, deploying them, funding the DAO, delegating voting power, and beginning to govern. Using the hypothetical example of "Legal Blockchain Week" as a DAO, he illustrates how such an organization would function with community involvement in decision-making. He compares traditional business models with DAOs, emphasizing differences in decision-making, resource management, employment practices, engagement strategies, management styles, and accountability. Despite the potential benefits of DAOs for democratizing organizations and enabling remote participation across borders, Amzat acknowledges challenges such as slow decision-making processes, member apathy, mission alignment difficulties, dispute resolution complexities, and the tendency for some DAOs to become centralized due to human factors. In addressing questions from

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Pablo Sojo, HR Global Lead and Ale Barredo, UA Creative Lead at Sandbox debate with European Tech School's co-founder Victoria Gago on why you should make a shift from your Web2 job to a career in Web3 and the challenges and opportunities that come with career in a growing industry. Sandbox's metaverse possibilities are explored, described and shown to the audience as well. 06:59 Why Sandbox, what's their idea and their vision? 10:40 Why should you use Sandbox as a non creator? 13:30 Sandbox metaverse presentation 15:46 Why is the web3 the next big thing? 21:29 What to do with your avatar in Sandbox? 22:41 The decentralization aspect of Sandbox 27:17 How did Pablo and Ale join the Sandbox? 35:03 What profiles is Sandbox looking for? 45:35 Questions from the audience 55:49 Belinda, ETS alumni student on how did she get into web3?

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to Johanna's keynote during the 7th EBC about mining Bitcoin using renewable energy. --------- Speaker: Johanna Thörnblad | HIVE Blockchain Technologies --------- Visit the European Blockchain Convention’s website: https://eblockchainconvention.com/

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Dalia Kandeil, Project Manager at Chainalysis joins European Tech School's co-founder Victoria Gago for a talk on Blockchain Analytics. Dalia will share her views on the current state of crypto, explain how she got into the industry, as well as bust myths prevalent in the crypto world, and present a Chainalysis case study. Dig deeper into the world of blockchain analytics with Dalia Kandeil and ETS. 00:00 - What is European Tech School? 01:38 - Introducing Dalia and Chainalysis 13:06 - Let's bust some crypto myths! 21:49 - What does Chainalysis do? 30:20 - Case Study - Blockchain analytics in action

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to Ali Al-Ali's participation at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Ali Al-Ali is Technical Lead at Gridex, the first of it's kind order-book trading protocol on the Ethereum blockchain. GDX provides opensource, fully on-chain, order-book trading to DEXs, DeFi tools and wallets. The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. The panelists discussed the crucial role of market making in the crypto market's recovery, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that come with this practice. --------- Speakers: Joseph Hall | Cointelegraph (Moderator) Guilhem Chaumont | Flowdesk John Murillo | B2Broker Patrick Heusser | Crypto Finance Stef Wynendaele | Keyrock David Tunian | WhiteBIT --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. The panelists discussed the benefits of issuing digital assets for the financial markets, the challenges and which are its use cases. Will this revolutionize the financial markets or is it just hype? Check it out! --------- Speakers: Bernard Nicolay | Brussels School of Economics & Management (Moderator) Thomas Jeulin | Flowdesk Victor Busson | Taurus Kasper Luyckx | Crypto Finance Viktor Banh | DekaBank --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. The panel explores how to increase security and trust in the crypto industry with experts working on cybersecurity. Transparency, compliance and traceability is key for adoption, check out how their projects can help to build trust. --------- Speakers: Lea Narzis | Parity Technologies (Moderator) Carlos Fragoso | Maltego Technologies Thanos Tsavlis | Cyberscope Gabi Urrutia | Halborn Yasir Qayam | KwikTrust Michael Fasanello | AnChain.AI --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. The panelists explore the challenges that DeFi projects are facing and how to overcome them. Centralized vs Decentralized exchanges, KYC, UX/UI improvements and barrier entries for new users are within the discussed topics. --------- Speakers: Chandar Lal | Mosaic Ventures (Moderator) Ali Al-Ali | Gridex Protocol Alex Strzesniewski | AngelBlock Francesco Abbate | 1inch Ivo Grigorov | Credefi Mounir Benchemled | ParaSwap --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

In this panel, moderated by Jemima Kelly (Financial Times), and with the participation of Leo Khan (Undeads Metaverse) and Robby Yung (Animoca Brands), the discussion centers around the impact of the metaverse not just within the gaming industry, but in society as a whole. --------- Speakers: Jemima Kelly | Financial Times Leo Khan | Undeads Metaverse Robby Yung | Animoca Brands --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Listen to this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. The panel discusses the infrastructure needed for institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, including custody, trading, and regulation. They explore the benefits and risks of crypto adoption for institutions and provide insights on the steps required to make it happen. --------- Speakers: Madeleine Boys | GBBC (Moderator) Vincent Dulhoste | Kaiko Glib Udovychenko | Whitepay David Engel | StarkWare Rajiv Sainani | MakerDAO --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

The FTX crash was one of last year’s most relevant events. Experts in this EBC panel explore how those situations can be overcome and how regulation should be designed to help increase trust and investment in the industry. --------- 🎙️ Speakers: Sebastian Becciu | Sygnum Bank (Moderator) Robert Le | Pitchbook Kevin Murcko | Coinmetro James Ryan | GammaX Michael Jackson | Fabric Ventures

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

A keynote from the 2023 European Blockchain Convention entitled "Building Trust in Web3: An Opportunity for Europe's Sovereignty". The speaker is Nadia Filali, Head of Blockchain Programs at Groupe Caisse des Dépôts. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Experts in the financial industry discuss ideas about finance, what problems or challenges they face, and how blockchain and crypto are the dawn of a new era for the industry. --------- 🎙️ Speakers: Lex Sokolin | Consensys (Moderator) Emma Lovett | JP Morgan Matthew James | Fasanara Capital Jose Luis Perán | VASS Jason H. Jang | Centurion Invest --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out Undeads Metaverse presentation by Leo Khan at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Undeads is a post-apocalyptic MMORPG with play-to-earn mechanics and in-game NFTs built on the Ethereum blockchain. Engage in a variety of activities, including fighting, grinding, crafting, and trading unique NFT assets, all while contributing to your faction's success in the metaverse. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Join our expert panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention as they explore how technology is driving ESG integration in institutional investing. Discover the latest use cases and benefits of blockchain in ESG investing from our experienced panellists, and learn how innovative technologies are helping institutions make informed decisions and drive positive impact." --------- Speakers: Emilie Allaert | Luxembourg Blockchain Lab (Moderator) Andres Ruiz | Codos Foundation Markus Ament | Centrifuge Gabriel Ibghy | HIVE Dana Gibber | Flowcarbon --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out HIVE Blockchain Technologies presentation by Aydin Kilic and Johanna Thornblad at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Discover how HIVE Blockchain Technologies is leading the way in sustainable Bitcoin mining with agility and evolution. Learn how they have been adapting to changes in the market while reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency for a better future. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Join our panel of industry experts at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention as they discuss the potential of the metaverse as the next version of the internet. Our panellists explore the impact of the metaverse in the upcoming years and the opportunities it offers. What is the metaverse? Which are the expectations for the upcoming years? Discover the opinions of experts building the metaverse! --------- Speakers: David Palmer | Vodafone (Moderator) Leon Lanen | Bit Hotel Łukasz Plewa | DRKVRS Nicolas Benhamou | Algoritcom --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out this panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Jamie Knowles and Leeor Groen explore the evolution of crypto's institutional lending market. The panel analyses what happened during the last 12 months and how the industry is shaping the infrastructure and processes of tomorrow's crypto credit market . --------- Speakers: Jamie Knowles | Galaxy Digital Leeor Groen | The Spartan Group --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out BingX’s keynote presentation by Megan Nyvold at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Megan presented how BingX managed to overcome last year's events and their vision to rebuild trust into the crypto industry. She provided us with great practices to heal the effects of such events. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out the Whitepay presentation by Glib Udovychenko at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Whitepay presented us how e-commerce can integrate crypto payments without suffering from the volatility of digital assets thanks to their POS integration suite. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out CEX.io presentation by Kate Levchuk at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Warren Buffet is worldwide known as one of the best investors on these days. Kate Levchuk discloses Warren’s main investment principals in relation to crypto and analyzes Bitcoin's role in the economy. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Blockchain is revolutionizing the financial markets, but infrastructure and regulations are not there yet. How can we protect our on-chain operations and prevent fraud and money laundering? Listen to AnChain.AI presentation by Michael Fasanello at the European Blockchain Convention 2023. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

What have investors been looking for during these last months? Is there capital for Web3 in 2023? Our panellists discussed the current market landscape and potential for Web3 investment in 2023. They highlighted the changes that have occurred in the fundraising market compared to previous years. Join our expert panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention as we explore the opportunities in 2023. --------- Speakers: James Ryan | GammaX (Moderator) Sarah Gottwald | Blockchain Founders Group Chia Jeng Yang | Pantera Capital Pierre Chuzville | Lattice Fund Alexis Kricorian | NodeGate --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out this fireside chat at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention as we explore an example of DeFi and TradFi collaboration. Societe Generale-FORGE issued Security Tokens backed bonds and use them as collateral on MakerDAO protocol. Our panelists presented #TradFi players' main challenges in entering #DeFi through their experience. --------- Speakers: Rajiv Sainani, MakerDAO Sylvain Prigent, Societe Generale-FORGE --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out CODEGO presentation by Simone Binotto at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. CODEGO is a software development company that provides custom software solutions to various industries. They offer white-label payment solutions and banking services, including cryptocurrency services removing the need for companies to obtain their own licenses. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain… Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Join our panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention and explore with our experts the future of crypto regulation. With the advent of MiCA and the institutional interest in DeFi, crypto regulation became a central topic in multiple panel discussions. What can we expect from regulators in the following months? Check our expert's opinion on the role will play in the development of crypto. --------- Speakers: Robert Kopitsch | Blockchain for Europe (Moderator) Justine Scerri Herrera | MK Fintech Partners Ernest Lima | XReg Consulting Joachim Schewin | European Commission Przemyslaw Kral | Zonda Jonathan Turnham | Travers Thorp Alberga --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Anais Rachel, independent crypto analyst, sat down and had an interview with us! We talked about the main takeaways she got from the European Blockchain Convention, about regulation, staking, and more. Make sure to like and subscribe! --------------- Follow us for more: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter: @eblockchaincon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out the panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention and learn the importance of crypto custody . Is “Not your keys, not your coins” applicable to institutional investor? Which is the role of centralized exchanges? On this panel discussion our experts explore how to increase custody security and reduce “bad actors” on the industry. --------- Speakers: Maria Apogeni | BITMarkets (Moderator) Serra Wei | Aegis Custody Clarisse Hagège | DFNS --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/euro... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchain... Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out the panel discussion about institutional investment in crypto at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Institutional Money represents 330+ trillion, whereas crypto’s market cap hovers around 1 trillion (at time of posting). This raises the question: is Crypto still attractive for institutions? Our panelists explore how to bring more capital from TradFi to DeFi and what factors are slowing down investments. --------- Speakers: Sebastian Becciu | Sygnum Bank (Moderator) Daniel Vegue | Block AM Maurice Mureau | HODL Lior Zaks | Stake Capital --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Join our expert panel about building in Web3 at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. From their experience working on L1 projects, our panelists explain what is their role within the industry in building the infrastructure for Web3 development. --------- Speakers: Manel Sort | Games for a Living (Moderator) Justin Rice | Stellar Development Foundation Antoni Zolciak | Aleph Zero --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out Ripple presentation by Antony Welfare at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention. Antony presents us with the complexity between cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and CBDCs and how they can coexist in an interoperable ecosystem. --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Join our expert panel discussion at the 2023 European Blockchain Convention and explore how to bring CBDCs to Consumers and Businesses. How CBDCs could bring the security of operations to the industry and enhance the adoption of blockchain technologies? Our panelists explore the role of intermediaries and how they can find their role in the emerging industry. --------- Speakers: Erwin Voloder | European Blockchain Association (Moderator) James Wallis | Ripple Nadia Filali | Caisse des Dépôts Laurent Marochini | Société Générale --------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Watch experts in this panel discussion titled “The Staking Economy”, which took place on February 16 at the European Blockchain Convention. Speakers: Michael Gauckler | Bitcoin Suisse Robert Ellison | Allnodes Eva Lawrence | Figment ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The European Blockchain Convention is the most influential blockchain event in Europe. Follow us to find out more: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/EBlockchainCon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Backstage at the 8th European Blockchain Convention, Jürgen Pölzl, COO and Co-Founder of artèQ, sat down and had an interview with us! ArtèQ is on a mission to pioneer the NFT revolution by helping people get secure exposure to NFTs through their native Ethereum-based token. We talked about NFTs, digital art, their projects involving real estate, and more! Make sure to like and subscribe! --------------- Follow us for more: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter: @eblockchaincon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Backstage at the 8th European Blockchain Convention, Michael Litman, Senior Director in Web3 and NFTs at Media Monks, sat down and had an interview with us! Media Monks is an integrated content, data, media, and technology agency with over 9000 employees around the world. Michael defines himself as a Collector, connector & explorer. He’s all about the intersection between Creativity, Community, Culture & Commerce. We talked about making connections at the EBC and how brands need to create meaningful connections with consumers. Make sure to like and subscribe! --------------- Follow us for more: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/europeanblockchainconvention Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention Twitter: @eblockchaincon

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2023

Check out this BTS interview with Dr. Esther Teuber, senior legal counsel at ABN AMRO, where we discuss the necessity for robust crypto regulation, and the opportunities of meeting people at the European Blockchain Convention. Make sure to like and subscribe! --------------- Follow us for more: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-blockchain-convention/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eblockchainconvention/ Twitter: @eblockchaincon

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Masa “Senshi” Kikuchi, founder of Secured Finance, unveils the launch of their institutional-grade DeFi platform live at Pragma Tokyo. Built to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto, Secured Finance brings interbank-grade, peer-to-peer capital markets to decentralized finance. In this talk, Masa shares the project’s origin story from ETHGlobal’s HackFS, outlines the problems with existing DeFi money markets, and demonstrates how Secured Finance enables fixed-term lending, real yield curve formation, and smart contract-based clearing for digital assets. Learn how they’re unlocking long-term investment tools, derivatives, FX forwards, and more—all while opening the door for institutional adoption through decentralized, composable infrastructure. If you're interested in the next evolution of DeFi, this is one you don’t want to miss. 00:00 Intro to Masa and Secured Finance 00:50 Building interbank-grade DeFi markets 01:27 Mission to bridge TradFi and crypto 02:12 Origin from HackFS and early milestones 03:41 Interbank markets are already decentralized 04:30 OTC derivatives market size breakdown 05:15 Capital markets vs DeFi money markets 05:59 Why TradFi can’t yet offer full crypto services 07:23 Building yield curves with ex-TradFi experts 08:06 Yield curves: order book vs AMM rates 08:49 Fixed-term lending and borrowing launch 09:30 Product is live: 32 fixed-term loan markets 10:21 Whitepaper, app, and documentation launch 11:06 Three-phase go-to-market strategy 11:47 Rapid community growth and user traction 12:41 7K+ unique wallet connections post-launch 13:22 Training program to become a top DeFi trader 14:02 Japan’s commitment to Web3 leadership 14:42 Closing applause and project recap _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇯🇵 *Pragma Tokyo* It’s always been about hackathons. Until now! Kicking off in Tokyo we announced the latest edition to the ETHGlobal family last week. Pragma will be one day summit, focusing on high quality talks in an intimate atmosphere that fuels reimagining the world and networking with like-minded individuals. Watch the full Pragma Tokyo 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh72VNBeeMzsvxnDdJH-vPhZ&si=z7enlsk30_DUjIoL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Masa 'Senshi' Kikuchi* X: https://x.com/masa_web3 ✅ *Follow Secured Finance* X: https://x.com/Secured_Fi ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Lukas Schor

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Lukas Schor, co-founder of Safe, unveils major product updates and innovations during his talk at Pragma Tokyo. Discover how Safe is accelerating the smart account revolution with Safe Core—a powerful SDK designed to help developers build seamless, secure, and scalable account abstraction experiences. Learn how Safe Core enables web2-like onboarding, gasless transactions, session keys, permission layers, and fiat integrations with programmable smart accounts. Lukas also announces Safe Protocol v1.4 with full ERC-4337 support, a transaction sponsorship partnership with Gnosis Chain, and an upcoming integration with Monerium for fiat-linked smart accounts. With over 2 million deployed smart accounts and $70B+ in secured assets, Safe is powering the next era of decentralized user accounts. 00:00 Intro to Lukas Schor and Safe 00:51 What are smart accounts? 01:59 Safe wallet and smart account benefits 03:14 Safe's adoption and ecosystem growth 03:50 Introducing Safe Core SDK 05:00 Web2-like onboarding with MPC wallets 06:05 Gasless transactions and fiat on-ramps 06:44 Public APIs, transaction batching, and more 07:21 Gnosis Chain sponsoring Safe transactions 08:05 Fiat account linking with Monerium 09:04 Launch of Safe Protocol v1.4 with ERC-4337 09:42 Nest Wallet: Multi-sig browser extension 10:17 AI Artist: Web2-style NFT creation app 10:53 Compass Safe: Permissions for smart accounts 11:32 Signless: Session keys for frequent signing 12:06 Closing remarks and call to developers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇯🇵 *Pragma Tokyo* It’s always been about hackathons. Until now! Kicking off in Tokyo we announced the latest edition to the ETHGlobal family last week. Pragma will be one day summit, focusing on high quality talks in an intimate atmosphere that fuels reimagining the world and networking with like-minded individuals. Watch the full Pragma Tokyo 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh72VNBeeMzsvxnDdJH-vPhZ&si=z7enlsk30_DUjIoL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Lukas Schor* X: https://x.com/SchorLukas ✅ *Follow Safe* X: https://x.com/Safe ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

In this powerful keynote, Balaji Srinivasan outlines the looming Fiat Crisis and its potential global implications. Filmed remotely for Pragma Tokyo, Balaji explores the collapse of trust in fiat currencies, the multi-layered economic polycrisis, central bank missteps, the rise of Bitcoin and Ethereum, and the urgent need to exit legacy financial systems. Through detailed analysis of U.S. national debt, central banking failures, global de-dollarization, and rising geopolitical tensions, Balaji explains why private keys and sovereign collectives are the next evolution in global finance and governance. Learn about Bitcoin maximalist states, the network state thesis, and how builders and sovereign individuals can protect themselves in a rapidly shifting world. 00:00 Introduction to Balaji's Fiat Crisis talk 01:12 What is the Fiat Crisis? A new world order 02:22 Decline of the U.S. dollar and multi-currency future 03:20 U.S. debt spiral and monetary policy consequences 05:16 How the Fed caused the banking collapse 08:05 Unrealized losses and systemic insolvency 09:25 The printing resumes: backstopping the crisis 10:21 Additional crises: municipal, real estate, and bonds 11:11 Global de-dollarization and sovereignty movements 12:44 Auto loans, credit cards, and student debt crisis 13:32 Insurance and institutional instability 14:30 Low-trust society and political polarization 15:32 Probability of a Fiat Crisis in months, years, or decades 17:09 Protecting yourself: counterparty risk and private keys 20:09 Building in crypto: from Maslow to mass adoption 22:15 Practical steps toward network states 24:08 Learning from COVID, preparing for the next wave 25:41 Western vs Eastern fiat outcomes 28:03 Rise of startup cities like Prospera 29:37 The inverted century and global role reversals 32:35 What infra is missing for post-fiat governance 36:39 Governments as partners: sovereign alliances 37:39 Giant robot vs. giant monster metaphor 40:10 Flatcoins and crypto-native stability concepts 42:46 Bitcoin as digital gold, volatility trade-offs 44:43 Fiat's slow decline vs. Bitcoin’s long-term strength 47:00 Peaceful exit from the dollar network 50:27 Collective global dedollarization movements 52:01 Seizing assets: why early exit is key 54:48 2008 vs 2023: learning from past crises 58:34 How inflation invisibly shifted political wealth 1:01:04 Global divergence and preparing for deplatforming 1:03:06 Bitcoin bans? Three types of Bitcoin states 1:07:20 Digital gold window and sovereignty through crypto 1:08:00 Final question: financial exit strategies 1:13:06 Sovereign collectives: from individual exit to community 1:15:06 Final thoughts and call to action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇯🇵 *Pragma Tokyo* It’s always been about hackathons. Until now! Kicking off in Tokyo we announced the latest edition to the ETHGlobal family last week. Pragma will be one day summit, focusing on high quality talks in an intimate atmosphere that fuels reimagining the world and networking with like-minded individuals. Watch the full Pragma Tokyo 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh72VNBeeMzsvxnDdJH-vPhZ&si=z7enlsk30_DUjIoL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Join Dennison Bertram, co-founder and CEO of Tally, as he unveils Tally Swaps—a powerful new on-chain swap feature for DAOs powered by CoW Swap and the Milkman contract. In this talk from Pragma Waterloo, Dennison explains how DAOs can now perform MEV-protected token swaps without centralized intermediaries, while maintaining trustless transparency, price protection, and no-code proposal creation. Learn how Tally supports DAOs managing billions in treasury assets like Uniswap, Arbitrum, ENS, and Nouns DAO, and why decentralization, governance tooling, and credible neutrality are critical to scaling public Web3 infrastructure. 00:00 Intro to Tally and Dennison Bertram 00:48 What Tally does and who it's for 01:59 Tally’s no-code tools and proposal simulations 03:34 Why treasury management matters for DAOs 04:43 DAO treasury examples: Arbitrum, ENS, Nouns 06:14 Challenges DAOs face with token swaps 07:52 MEV risks and lack of trustless execution 08:50 Current DAO swap solutions are centralized 09:24 Enter CoW Swap and the Milkman contract 10:33 Introducing Tally Swaps: on-chain, MEV-protected 11:36 No-code swap interface and price protection 12:47 Full demo: create and execute a DAO swap proposal 14:20 Time-delayed execution and fair market pricing 15:52 Price checkers, slippage settings, solver network 17:26 On-chain transparency and execution flow 18:51 Tally’s broader mission to support DAOs 19:55 Origin story of Tally from Crypto NYC days 21:01 The comp token moment and the rise of DAO utility 22:31 Why DAOs matter: credible neutrality at scale 23:39 The Zynga problem and risks of central platforms 25:21 Why public infrastructure must be decentralized 26:30 Delaware courts vs decentralized governance 27:36 DAOs as political arenas for protocol decisions 28:35 Closing reflections on trust, fairness, and scaling _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇨🇦 *Pragma Waterloo* The now third edition of Pragma kicked off with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion among attendees as they were storming into the Auditorium of the CIGI Building. Pragma Waterloo 2023 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma Waterloo 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7i8oFx5vCB9qTdadQqAjF0&si=NS2W71SteTbEs4T8 ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Dennison Bertram* X: https://x.com/DennisonBertram ✅ *Follow Tally* X: https://x.com/tallyxyz ✅ *Follow the Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Rene Reinsberg

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Rene Reinsberg, Co-Founder of Celo, takes the stage at Pragma Paris 2023 to unveil Celo’s proposal to return to Ethereum as a Layer 2. In this talk, Rene walks through Celo’s journey since launching its mainnet three years ago and highlights how the platform’s mission of building a regenerative, mobile-first, and human-centered financial system has led to real-world usage across the globe. He presents standout projects like GoodDollar, ImpactMarket, and Plastiks, showing how Celo is being used today to deliver universal basic income, decentralized microcredit, and plastic offset-backed NFTs. With over 600,000 smart wallets deployed and growing active usage, Celo is focused on increasing access and usability for users around the world. Rene explains how unique Celo features such as gas fees in stablecoins, low-cost transactions, and a regenerative finance (ReFi) stack were critical to its growth—and how recent advancements like EigenDA and decentralized sequencer design now make it feasible to migrate to Ethereum L2 without sacrificing performance. He outlines the architecture for Celo’s Layer 2 vision, leveraging its existing validator set for decentralized sequencing while maintaining support for mobile devices through innovations like Plumo. 00:00 Intro and Celo’s Ethereum L2 announcement 00:37 Why “return” to Ethereum? A look at the journey 01:13 Overview of Celo’s origin and mission 02:22 Limitations of Ethereum in 2017-2020 03:03 Gas fees in stablecoins and mobile UX design 04:07 Real-world use cases on Celo 04:42 GoodDollar and universal basic income 05:20 ImpactMarket and on-chain microcredit 06:24 Grassroots Economics: local currencies in Kenya 07:35 Plastiks and FC Barcelona plastic-offset NFTs 08:43 Growth of the Celo ecosystem and active users 09:50 Why now is the time for Celo to move to L2 10:20 Proposed L2 architecture using EigenDA 10:54 Decentralized sequencer via Celo validators 11:30 Invitation to developers and call to action _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇫🇷 *Pragma Paris* Pragma Paris took place at the Pavillion Vendome in Paris on July 20, 2023, and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Paris 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh42f0yI-hyeOCbNZpvV2fIT&si=Ez6ych6OAdn_sq1D ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Ever since we first introduced our new event series Pragma in Tokyo of the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Celo* X: https://x.com/Celo ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar, Tarun Chitra

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Join Tarun Chitra (Founder of Gauntlet) and Robert Leshner (Founder of Compound and Superstate) in a high-level fireside chat at Pragma New York 2023, hosted by Kartik Talwar. This conversation explores the evolving landscape of DeFi, game theory, mechanism design, on-chain asset tokenization, multi-chain interoperability, MEV, ZK proofs, smart wallets, MPC, and what it will take to make DeFi truly Wall Street-grade. Tarun and Robert share candid insights on where DeFi is succeeding, where it’s still falling short, and the infrastructure shifts required to unlock the next wave of innovation. Whether you’re a founder, developer, investor, or just curious about the future of finance and decentralized systems, this talk will inspire you to think deeper about composability, fragmentation, UX, and the technical challenges ahead. 00:00 Intro: Tarun Chitra & Robert Leshner 00:45 Why Robert left Compound to build Superstate 01:48 The $900T opportunity: Bringing assets on-chain 03:27 What Gauntlet does and why mechanism design matters 05:02 Simulation examples: Average vs worst-case risk 07:07 Cross-chain MEV and L2 mempool complexity 08:16 DeFi's future: Not products, but info flow 10:35 The ZK boom and fragmented asset domains 11:37 Redefining composability across chains 13:12 Fragmentation and synchronous liquidity 14:13 Synthetic assets, bridges, and trust 15:14 Telegram bots, MPC, and asset abstraction 16:21 Revisiting Compound Chain and bridge risk 19:30 Appchains vs major L2s: UX and asset flow 20:34 UX upgrades: Rules-based vs transaction-based 22:35 Custody and rethinking protocol architecture 24:07 Moving beyond depositing funds into contracts 25:17 ZK use cases beyond rollups 26:49 What it takes to make DeFi Wall Street-grade 28:19 Final advice for DeFi founders _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* The fifth edition of Pragma took place in New York in September 2023 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma New York 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6xsRbmx2niHEDyOyt1mddu&si=6Ic960b2hQyz9RGw ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar, Kain Warwick

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2023

Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, joins Pragma New York 2023 for a deep fireside chat exploring the evolving landscape of DeFi. In this conversation, Kain reflects on how decentralized finance has matured, the transition from yield farming to sustainable protocols, and the real-world potential of permissionless markets. He discusses Layer 2s, DEX vs CEX dynamics, real-world asset integration, and the growing complexity of governance, including Synthetix’s unique council model and the launch of Infinex. Whether you're a founder building in a bear market or a TradFi veteran curious about crypto’s next frontier, this is a must-watch for understanding what’s next in DeFi and how user experience and infrastructure are aligning for mass adoption. 00:00 Intro to Kain Warwick and Synthetix 00:36 How DeFi has changed in the last 5 years 01:49 Layer 2s unlock DeFi innovation 02:55 DeFi’s perp protocols and CEX competition 04:37 From Ponzi yields to real protocol revenue 06:02 Feature parity between DeFi and TradFi 07:00 Novel opportunities DeFi can unlock 08:01 Real world assets and tokenized finance 09:30 Will DeFi apps spin out into app chains? 10:56 Managing liquidity and revenue across chains 11:56 App chain pros and cons for DeFi governance 13:21 Why L2 fragmentation is inevitable 14:18 EVM compatibility and dydx leaving Ethereum 15:52 Synthetix vs CEX: liquidity and market coverage 17:27 UX and onboarding are DeFi’s bottlenecks 18:56 Users still live on centralized exchanges 20:19 Infinex: improving UX for Synthetix trading 21:19 Synthetix V3 enables permissionless markets 22:46 Building financial primitives faster with V3 23:18 Synthetix council governance model 24:52 Measuring governance success in DAOs 26:18 Specialized councils and governance mining 27:51 Earning governance from trading activity 28:20 Risks of going fully decentralized 29:22 Regulatory resistance through decentralization 30:58 Advice for founders building in bear markets 32:30 Bear markets are ideal for wild experimentation 34:31 Advice for TradFi professionals entering DeFi 36:05 How to out-innovate slow incumbents 37:35 Don’t believe the “AMMs are solved” psyop 38:01 Final thoughts and closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma New York* The fifth edition of Pragma took place in New York in September 2023 with a curated series of high-quality talks that sparked thought and discussion. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma New York 2023 playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6xsRbmx2niHEDyOyt1mddu&si=6Ic960b2hQyz9RGw ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Ever since we first introduced our new event series, Pragma, in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, we have been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Kain Warwick* X: https://x.com/kaiynne ✅ *Follow Synthetix* X: https://x.com/synthetix_io ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ethereum Denver · Oct 9, 2023

In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of Dapper Labs and their groundbreaking contributions to the non-fungible token (NFT) space. Join us as we explore how Dapper Labs is revolutionizing mainstream adoption through their innovative hybrid custody approach. One of the key highlights we'll be discussing is Dapper Labs' pioneering feature called erc4337. This remarkable development brings unprecedented capabilities to Ethereum and other EVM chains, opening up new possibilities for NFT enthusiasts and creators alike. We'll also dive into Flow, Dapper Labs' very own blockchain that has taken the industry by storm. With its immense success demonstrated by NBA Top Shot's staggering $100 million trading volume milestone, it's clear that Flow is a force to be reckoned with in the NFT realm. We'll explore how this platform has attracted over 600,000 NFT holders and examine Dapper Labs' ambitious plans for future growth. Join us on this captivating journey as we uncover the secrets behind Dapper Labs' game-changing innovations in NFTs and discover what lies ahead for this trailblazing company. #DapperLabs #NFTRevolution #buidl #ethdenver #erc4337 TLDR: The key idea of the video is that hybrid custody, which combines self-custody and ease of use, is crucial for achieving mainstream adoption of Web3 and improving user experience in blockchain applications. 00:00 🔑 Unlocking mainstream adoption through hybrid custody is a relevant feature for all blockchain developers, as it brings capabilities to ethereum and other evm chains, and Dapper Labs will demonstrate its potential for user experience in mobile applications. 00:46 💡 Flow, a blockchain developed by Dapper Labs, has gained significant traction with 20 million user accounts and almost 400 million nft transactions, positioning it as a major player in the Web3 space. 02:17 🔑 Mainstream adoption of Web3 can be achieved through hybrid custody, which solves the trade-off between self-custody and ease of use for developers and users, allowing users to onboard without the need for a crypto wallet while maintaining the benefits of composability and application interoperability. 04:05 🔑 Create easy-to-use experiences for consumers and developers in web3 by implementing seamless onboarding and hybrid custody, allowing for account migration and delegation while preserving composability and developer experience. 05:29 🔑 Users can easily access Web3 products by setting up a Web3 identity and delegating control of their on-chain wallet to a parent wallet, without changing their public wallet address or transferring assets. 07:16 🔑 Highway custody enables users to have full control over their assets and seamless access to the benefits of Web3, while also allowing developers to build for both centralized and decentralized ecosystems, giving users the freedom to choose their preferred software. 08:57 🔒 A hybrid custody system allows users to authenticate through Google, make transactions, play games, and receive fungible tokens within an app. 10:18 🔑 Hybrid custody enables users to easily manage and access their assets across various web3 platforms, improving user experience and security.

European Blockchain Convention · Oct 9, 2022

Banks and investors are starting to awaken to the benefits that can derive from the use of blockchain technologies in bond issues, including green bonds. There are two main benefits of using blockchain for green bond issues: efficiency and credibility. Thanks to blockchain, securities are more efficient because they save costs, time, and prevent third party meddling. The other great benefit, credibility, is essential for establishing relationships of trust between issuers and investors. ---------- Speakers: - David Creer, Global DLT and Crypto Lead, GFT Group - Marcel Bluhm, External Adviser, Bank for International Settlements - Eva Kaili, Member, European Parliament - Markus Willms, Finance Project Manager, European Investment Bank