The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

• Court Overturns Tornado Cash Sanctions: What’s Next for Privacy? Preston Van Loon, Ethereum Core Dev

  Preston Van Loon, an Ethereum core developer, joins The Defiant Podcast this week to discuss his role as a plaintiff in the high-profile Tornado Cash lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He described how the sanctions imposed on Tornado Cash impacted legitimate users seeking privacy on Ethereum and underscored the significance of a recent appellate court ruling questioning whether smart contracts qualify as “property” under U.S. sanctions law. Van Loon also noted the possibility of a friendlier regulatory environment in the United States, suggesting that changing policy stances could spur crypto innovation. Finally, he addressed ongoing discussions within the Ethereum community about development priorities, governance structures, and the challenges of maintaining a decentralized protocol as the ecosystem grows. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Background 01:15 - What is Tornado Cash? 04:00 - Why Tornado Cash Was Sanctioned 06:45 - Filing the Lawsuit 09:50 - Court Ruling and Implications 14:00 - Next Steps in the Legal Case 18:00 - Privacy Rights and Crypto 24:00 - Impact on Builders and Industry 34:00 - Ethereum's Role and Future Challenges 50:00 - Community Feedback and Leadership 55:00 - Closing Remarks Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom [email protected] 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships [email protected] #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

  --------  

  56:37
• Sam Kazemian on FraxUSD and the Future of Stablecoins in Decentralized Finance

  Sam Kazemian, founder of Frax Finance, outlined the development and goals of FraxUSD, a decentralized stablecoin designed to integrate with both traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems. The upgraded FraxUSD offers redeemability through custodians like BlackRock and SuperState while providing competitive yields through diversified strategies. Kazemian described Frax’s broader vision as building a digital economy anchored by its flagship stablecoin and Fraxstool, a high-performance Ethereum Layer 2. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - Founding Story and Differentiation of Frax 02:01 - Vision for Decentralized Stablecoins 02:41 - Features of FraxUSD 08:51 - Best of Both Worlds Design for FraxUSD 13:08 - Future of Stablecoins 23:05 - Yield Strategy of FraxUSD 34:16 - FraxUSD in Real World and On-Chain Usage 42:02 - Stablecoins as the Gateway to Crypto 47:12 - Roadmap and Future of Frax ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom [email protected] 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships [email protected] #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

  --------  

  54:33
• Magic Eden’s Vision: On-Chain Trading, $ME Token, and the Next Airdrop | Zhuoxun Yin, Co-Founder

  Zhouxun Yin, the Co-Founder of Magic Eden, joins The Defiant Podcast to discuss the evolution of one of the largest NFT marketplaces. In this episode, he shares the story behind Magic Eden’s founding, their decision to focus on Solana early on, and their multi-chain expansion strategy. Z dives into the challenges of navigating the bear market, enforcing royalties, and launching a token to unite their ecosystem. He also explores the future of NFTs, their integration with AI, and Magic Eden's ambitious shift toward becoming an all-encompassing on-chain trading platform. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Founding Magic Eden 03:40 - Surviving FTX and Solana’s Challenges 07:20 - Navigating the NFT Bear Market 12:00 - The Bitcoin Ordinals Bet 16:00 - Multi-Chain Expansion 24:30 - Launching the $ME Token 32:00 - Addressing Airdrop Challenges 46:50 - The Royalty Debate 54:10 - Long-Term Vision for NFTs 01:03:00 - On-Chain Trading and Future Goals 01:10:35 - Closing Thoughts Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ https://www.goat.network/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom [email protected] 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships [email protected] #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

  --------  

  1:12:39
• Scroll's Path Forward Amid Airdrop Controversy: Sandy Peng on the Scroll Open Initiative

  Sandy Peng, co-founder of Scroll, tells us the journey of building one of the most anticipated Ethereum Layer 2s, their focus on ZK rollups for scalability, and the unique value proposition of high security, decentralization, and low costs. Sandy discusses Scroll's transition from general purpose chain design to supporting specific use cases driven by ecosystem builders and founders. They explore challenges and lessons from Scroll's recent token airdrop, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, equitable distribution, and fostering a vibrant community. Sandy highlights the Scroll Open initiative and their long-term vision to create a thriving "city" for innovation and talent in the blockchain space. Chapters 00:00 - Sandy Peng on Scroll's Rise 00:30 - Scroll’s Evolution and 2025 Vision 01:30 - The Founding Story of Scroll 02:30 - Why ZK Rollups? 04:00 - Scroll's Unique Edge in the L2 Space 07:00 - Transition to Use Case-Specific Chains 09:00 - Scroll's Vision for Builders and Founders 11:00 - Sub-Cent Costs and High Security Explained 15:00 - Decentralization: Scroll’s Progress and Plans 20:00 - Governance and the Role of Scroll Tokens 25:00 - Airdrop Lessons and Community Feedback 35:00 - Reflections on Token Distribution Trends 46:00 - Layer 2s and Ethereum’s Value Narrative 50:00 - Scroll Open: Building the Future Economy 58:00 - Scroll's Big Picture Vision Our sponsors https://node.icn.global/?utm_source=TheDefiant&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=node_sale_live https://kelpdao.xyz/gain/growth-vault/?utm_source=Defiant https://betteron.stellar.org/ ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom [email protected] 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships [email protected] #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

  --------  

  1:03:57
• Robinhood Crypto's Roadmap: Johann Kerbrat on Expansion, Staking, and Blockchain Integration

  Johann Kerbrat is the Vice President and General Manager of Robinhood Crypto, leading the charge in bringing crypto to millions of retail investors. In this episode, Johann shares the journey of Robinhood Crypto, from its early days of launching in 2018 to its recent innovations, including staking, self-custody wallets, and a potential shift towards a full-fledged crypto exchange. He discusses how Robinhood is leveraging blockchain to enhance efficiency, lower costs, and expand access to financial instruments. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:14 - History of Robinhood Crypto 01:23 - Why Robinhood Added Crypto 02:42 - Robinhood's Perspective on Crypto 07:12 - How Robinhood Monetizes Crypto 12:31 - Competing with Crypto Exchanges 14:22 - Token Listing Strategy 16:53 - Balancing Features and Asset Expansion 18:17 - Staking in the EU and Regulatory Concerns 21:22 - Staking Demand and Customer Education 24:08 - Robinhood Wallet Features 27:23 - Self-Custody Wallet Metrics 28:49 - Meme Stock Frenzy and Decentralized Trading 31:42 - Blockchain for Settlement and Efficiency 39:08 - Marketplace vs. Exchange Transition 41:49 - Upcoming Milestones for Robinhood Crypto 43:19 - Market Trends and Future Vision 44:49 - Long-Term Vision for Robinhood Crypto 46:00 - Closing Remarks ✨ Check out our new website ✨ https://thedefiant.io/ 🚀 Sign up to our newsletter 🚀 https://thedefiant.io/go-premium#pricing?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=signup 🤑 Find DeFi investment opportunities & educational primers here https://thedefiant.io/promo?utm_source=YT&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alpha ✊ Follow The Defiant Twitter: https://twitter.com/defiantnews Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3SdRdEs5ag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedefiant.io/ Telegram: https://t.me/DefiantNews 📬 Contact our Newsroom [email protected] 🤝 Sponsorships & Partnerships [email protected] #TheDefiant​ #DeFi​ #Decentralized​ #Finance​ #Blockchain #Web3

  --------  

  46:26

More Technology podcasts

Trending Technology podcasts

About The Defiant - DeFi Podcast

The Defiant - DeFi Podcast: Podcasts in Family