Base Layer

Latest Episodes:

Episode 262: Jansen Teng, Co-Founder of Virtuals Protocol on building the Infrastructure for AI Agent Society Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Base Layer, we dive deep with Jansen Teng, co-founder of Virtuals Protocol, exploring how their framework is revolutionizing AI agent development and deployment.

Key Discussion Points:

Origins in blockchain gaming and evolution to autonomous AI agents
Technical architecture including memory systems and planning engines
Revenue model with 1% tax system and distribution structure
Infrastructure challenges and scaling solutions
Focus on quality over quantity with agent development
Vision for creating a "network state" with human-AI cooperation

Technical Insights:

Infrastructure costs and advantages of cooperative model
API limitations and scaling considerations
Model routing capabilities and memory management

Future Vision:

Creation of physical-digital integrated societies
Focus on productive economic output
Development of agent-to-agent cooperation standards
Evolution toward autonomous business creation

More can be found here on Virtuals: https://whitepaper.virtuals.io/

Base Layer Episode 261 - Step Simpkin, Co-Founder of Squads, helping companies form in a web3 world Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Squads Labs is a core contributor to Squads Protocol, the leading multisig infrastructure on Solana. In addition to helping maintain the protocol, Squads Labs makes the Squads platform, an institutional-grade multisig platform for Solana-based teams. The Squads platform helps web3-native teams manage and secure digital assets on-chain. To learn more about Squads Labs, please visit https://www.sqds.io/.

About Squads Protocol

Squads is a multisig protocol that helps web3-native teams manage and secure digital assets on-chain. Squads Protocol v3 is the first formally verified program on Solana. Squads Protocol v4 introduces time locks, spending limits, roles, sub-accounts, fee relayers, multiple-party payments, support for SquadsX and more. Squads v4 has already been audited by Neodyme, OtterSec, and Trail of Bits. It is currently undergoing two formal verifications, one by OtterSec and the other by Certora. To learn more about Squads Protocol, please visit https://squads.so/protocol

Base Layer Episode 261 - Sergey Gorbunov, Founder of Axelar on building the connective tissue for Web3 Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Axelar is for Web3 what Stripe is for mobile and internet applications: it works on the back end, connecting various networks into one-click experiences for all users.

Come listen to co-founder Sergey Gurbunov on what purpose Axelar plays in an ever-expanding web3 world with various L1 & L2 blockchain ecosystems.

Base Layer Episode 260: Avery Ching, Co-Founder of Aptos; from days at Meta to building a state of the art blockchain Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

What an episode! Avery joins us and tells us his story of helping to launch Aptos from the early innovations of Meta's former project, Diem and Libra. This is a technical deep dive into what makes Aptos different from other blockchains, like Ethereum or Solana. We discuss their choice not to slash (negative economic incentives others have used), sharded storage, the Quorom Store protocol, first class asset design, the choice not to use dynamic dispatch and more.

Learn more here: https://aptoslabs.com/

Base Layer Episode 259: Robert Leshner, CEO of Superstate on traditional finance modernized by blockchain Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Robert, a real OG legend and co-founder of Compound, joins us today on Base Layer for a special show, introducing his new company, Superstate. Superstate is an asset management firm modernizing the infrastructure of investment funds. They offer investment products that benefit from the speed, programmability, and compliance advantages of blockchain tokenization. We discuss Superstate, his thoughts on rates and the move from the fringes of DeFi in early 2019-2020 to his new company.

Base Layer Episode 258: Austin Federa, Solana Foundation on hardening the chain + the importance of Saga Feb 09, 2024

Show notes

Austin Federa joined me for a great conversation about what Solana learned over the past year to harden their infrastructure as they see surges in interest in their NFT & DeFi ecosystem, plus how their phone, the Saga, has been doing in the market to redefine how blockchains can not just be software, but hardware running digital asset codebase.

More about Solana here: https://solana.com/

Base Layer Episode 257: Ben Jones, co-founder of Optimism, a masterclass on the role of the L2 and the OP Stack Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Built as a minimal extension to existing Ethereum software, OP Mainnet's EVM-equivalent architecture scales your Ethereum apps without surprises. If it works on Ethereum, it works on OP Mainnet at a fraction of the cost. How has Optimism jumped to become the infrastructure for new consumer apps like Farcaster? Hear from Ben in what I am calling a masterclass on why L2's exist and the function they play in a growing blockchain industry.

Learn more here: https://www.optimism.io/

Base Layer Episode 256: John Woods, CTO of Algorand on the Algorand Gambit - a new era for Algorand Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Algorand, a layer one blockchain first brought to market by esteemed cryptographer Silvio Micali, is going through rapid transformation, from the developer language it uses to mechanisms of incentivizing validator work and much more. All of this can be found in more detail here. John, Algorand CTO, joins us to talk through these points and the effect they could have on the ecosystem in 2024 and beyond.

Base Layer Episode 255: Andy Chatham, Co-Founder of DIMO, turning your cars data into an asset Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In 1908, Henry Ford unveiled the first Model T. In the span of 116 years, we have entered the next phase of the automobile -- car owners getting ownership of their automobile information and data. DIMO is a new company that aims to be empowering rather than confusing or limiting— stating that apps and connected devices should serve people first instead of corporations, and giving developers useful tools in the real world to build better products for us all. Come learn from Andy, co-founder of DIMO, on their journey. And YES!! You can try it out too!

Learn more here: https://dimo.zone/

Download app here: https://drivedimo.com/

Base Layer Episode 254: Michael Shaulov, Co-Founder of Fireblocks, securing the transfer of $4 Trillion in digital assets Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

Fireblocks is an enterprise-grade platform that delivers a secure infrastructure for moving, storing, and issuing digital assets. Fireblocks enables exchanges, lending desks, custodians, banks, trading desks, and hedge funds to scale digital asset operations securely through the Fireblocks Network and MPC-based Wallet Infrastructure. Fireblocks serves thousands of financial institutions, has secured the transfer of over $4 trillion in digital assets, and has a unique insurance policy that covers assets in storage and transit.

Learn more here: https://www.fireblocks.com/

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