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Crypto’s Instant Payments Breakthrough | Ben Mills Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Ben Mills, the Co-founder of Meso, joined us to discuss peer-to-peer payments! We looked back on the early days of P2P payment apps, how crypto can improve upon these web2 systems, and building trust with users. Additionally, we discussed his journey from Venmo to Solana, and how Venmo was able to stand out amongst its peers. Finally, we talked about the unique challenges crypto founders face, and how mainstream adoption is a meme. Enjoy!

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00:00: Introduction

02:07: What's Interesting in Crypto Today?

05:35: Optimism Around Crypto Apps and Infrastructure

11:26: The Early Days of Payments Apps

17:55: How Can Crypto Improve P2P Payments?

21:47: Access Protocol Ad

22:28: MyPrize Ad

22:59: What Did Venmo Do Differently?

32:07: Making the Leap From Venmo to Solana

38:25: Crypto's Instant Payments Breakthrough

45:48: The Unique Challenges of Building in Crypto

56:04: Mainstream Adoption is a Meme

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto Incentive Models Are Broken | Weekly Roundup Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Jack and Mert discuss how betting rebranded to prediction markets, and potential SocialFi and prediction market crossovers! They also dove into the EigenLayer airdrop controversy, and the conflicts of interest associated with it. Additionally, they asked - do we need fewer tokens? Are current crypto incentive models broken? Finally, they discussed the pros and cons of crypto payment systems. Enjoy!

Resources

Unpacking a potential Polymarket ‘ban’: https://blockworks.co/news/unpacking-potential-polymarket-ban

Coindesk: Top Crypto Startup Drove Other Projects’ Airdrops to its Employees: https://x.com/CoinDesk/status/1824067033350258815

EigenLayer’s Response to the Coindesk Article: https://x.com/eigenlayer/status/1824175022308724749

Follow Mert: https://x.com/0xMert_

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(02:01) The Betting to Prediction Market Rebrand

(19:08) SocialFi x Prediction Markets

(22:04) Access Protocol Ad

(22:46) MyPrize Ad

(23:16) EigenLayer Airdrop Controversy

(31:52) Do We Need Fewer Tokens?

(38:27) The Future of Crypto Payments

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Will A Solana ETF Get Approved? | Matthew Sigel Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Matthew Sigel from VanEck joined us to discuss VanEck’s Solana ETF filing, gauging customer demand for spot crypto ETFs, and an ETFs impact on the Solana network. We also dive into what Solana needs to improve on, determining the value of L1s, and bringing the NASDAQ onchain.

Enjoy!

Resources

Recent Developments With Solana ETF 19b-4s:https://x.com/matthew_sigel/status/1825630561865715912?s=46&t=Bicxk0ccRPkhOv9SfacvBQ

Follow Matthew: https://x.com/matthew_sigel

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Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(02:20) VanEck's Solana ETF Filing

(05:45) Gauging Customer Demand for Spot Crypto ETFs

(11:07) The SEC's Impact on a Solana ETF Approval

(16:58) What is the Significance of an ETF on the Solana Network?

(20:23) Access Protocol Ad

(21:05) MyPrize Ad

(21:35) VanEck's Memecoin Index

(26:06) Are Meme Narratives Bad For Finance?

(29:19) Determining the Value of L1s

(33:51) How Can Solana Improve?

(41:18) Bringing the NASDAQ onchain

(45:41) What is Solana Doing Well?

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

How Ore Broke Solana | Hardhat Chad Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Hardhat Chad from Ore joined us to discuss their mission to improve Proof of Work! We discuss Ore’s origin story, differences between Ore v1 vs Ore v2, and how Ore fits into the Store of Value narrative. Additionally, we dive into how Proof of Work concepts can solve the fair launch problem. Finally, Hardhat Chad gives us insight into the upcoming Ore game being developed. Enjoy!

Follow Ore: https://x.com/OREsupply

Follow Hardhat Chad: https://x.com/HardhatChad

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Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed

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Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(01:13) Overview of Ore

(07:19) Ore's Origin Story

(16:02) My Prize Ad

(16:32) Differences Between Ore v1 and Ore v2

(22:32) Ore's Mining Difficulty

(32:07) Why Hold Ore?

(37:29) Can Proof of Work Be Applied to Airdrops?

(46:46) Ore as a Store of Value

(49:11) The Ore Game

(57:10) Hardhat Chad's Founder Journey

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Raydium’s Rise to the Top | 0xInfra Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, 0xInfra joined us to discuss all things Raydium! We dove into Raydium’s volume boom, how they deter pool deployment spam, and what led to their rise to the top of the Solana DEX space. Additionally, we looked back on the early days of Raydium, where they are today, and where they are heading next! Finally, discussed Pumpfun’s impact on Solana’s onchain activity. Enjoy!

Follow Infra: https://x.com/0xINFRA

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No paying for subscriptions. Simply stake, consume, and get rewarded. Claim your free subscription through this link. But be quick there is a limited number available! https://tiplink.io/f/2822-V0U0FYRTsGIR#expE3HuuYEpKUuo2-nSeNKZCB_BFWHaliw-uZbhhCnM

–

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(03:05) Raydium's Volume Boom

(13:39) How Do You Deter Pool Deployment Spam?

(16:01) Bots vs Organic Users

(19:40) Access Protocol Ad

(20:22) MyPrize Ad

(20:52) What Led to Raydium's Rise to the Top of Solana DEXs?

(26:32) The Early Days of Raydium

(38:12) Realizing Memes Were Going to Drive Volume

(43:45) Pump.fun's Impact Onchain

(56:25) Where is Raydium Heading Next?

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Solana Still Has a Ton of Problems | Weekly Roundup Aug 10, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Jack and Mert discuss the recent Solana patch, and how security issues are handled. Additionally, they dive into the decentralization of Solana’s validator set, why client diversity matters, and separating market movements from underlying fundamentals. Finally, they discuss Ore v2 and Proof of Work on Solana, and provide their thoughts on how rumors develop. Enjoy!

Follow Mert: https://x.com/0xMert_

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Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed

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–

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

[TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:37) Handling Security Issues & Decentralization Concerns

(10:20) Access Protocol Ad

(11:02) The Decentralization of Solana Validators

(23:28) Price vs Fundamentals

(35:11) My Prize Ad

(35:41) A Builder's Mindset in Crypto

(41:01) Ore & Proof of Work on Solana

(49:01) Thoughts on Bad Faith Rumors

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Blinks Built On Solana | Chris Osborn & Jon Wong Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

We're so back!

This week we invite Chris Osborn & Jon Wong to the show to discuss one of the most exciting announcements in recent weeks within crypto... Blinks. We deep dive into what are Blinks, why they're needed for the internet, attracting developers, and the roadmap for the rest of 2024 & beyond. Enjoy!

Follow Chris: https://x.com/aliquotchris

Follow Jon: https://x.com/jnwng

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Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed

No paying for subscriptions. Simply stake, consume, and get rewarded. Claim your free subscription through this link. But be quick there is a limited number available! https://tiplink.io/f/2798-btCKUaDKpByo#yhgOUz70HUz2u4D1NRmsvWTH8SK_xbRcH_HwNLqWKyc

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(02:44) What Are Blinks?

(07:10) Blinks Are Needed For The Internet

(10:23) Access Protocol Ad

(11:05) Blinks On Mobile & Attracting Devs

(16:51) The Blinks Business Model

(22:30) The Blinks Origin Story

(31:36) Security

(40:50) Integrating Blinks Into Twitter

(45:53) What's Next For Blinks?

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Dan and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Unlocking DeFi With Infinex | Kain Warwick Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, we explore Infinex’s mission to unlock DeFi by massively improving the onchain user experience. We discuss Kain’s crypto journey to date, the impact fees have on UX, and Infinex’s decision to integrate Solana. Finally, we cover the Craterun yield farming campaign, and how the current token meta could be broken. Enjoy!

Follow Kain: https://x.com/kaiynne

Follow Infinex: https://x.com/infinex_app

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—--

(00:00) Introduction

(02:02) Kain's Crypto Journey

(06:03) What is DeFi Missing?

(10:52) Helium Mobile Ad

(11:31) Issues With Onchain UX

(22:39) Infinex as a Portal Into DeFi

(25:05) Solana Integration & The Impact of Fees on UX

(36:45) Access Protocol Ad

(38:04) Permissionless III Ad

(39:07) What is Crate Run?

(43:35) Breaking the Token Meta

- -

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Dan and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

The Next Era Of Solana Scaling | Swen Schäferjohann Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Gm! This week we're joined by Swen Schäferjohann for a discussion on Solana's latest scaling unlock... ZK compression. We deep dive into Light protocols origin story, how does ZK compression work, L1 composability & account construct & the future of Solana's scalability. Enjoy!

Follow Swen: https://x.com/swen_sjn

Follow Mert: https://twitter.com/0xMert_

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Get 15% off an indoor or outdoor Helium Mobile Hotspot using code LIGHTSPEEDHOTSPOT: https://hellohelium.com/hotspot

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(01:52) Light Protocol Origin Story

(10:23) Helium Mobile Ad

(11:42) How Does ZK Compression Work?

(17:00) The Cost Of State vs Ledger Space

(21:42) Photon Indexer

(26:26) Move Fast & Break Things vs Enshrining

(31:52) Permissionless III Ad

(32:54) What ZK Compression Unlocks

(34:49) L1 Composability

(36:43) Account Construct

(40:36) How Is ZK Used In ZK Compression?

(49:02) Why ZK Compression Is Not A Rollup

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Dan and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Time To Accelerate Crypto's App Ecosystem | Mike Dudas & Carl Vogel Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Gm! This week we're joined by Mike Dudas & Carl Vogel of 6th Man Ventures for a discussion on the investing landscape in crypto. We deep dive into the Solana ETF application, why crypto needs more applications, the promise of AI & DePin, crypto's airdrop dilemma & much more. Enjoy!

Follow Mike: https://x.com/mdudas

Follow Carl: https://x.com/carlkvogel

Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy

Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq

No paying for subscriptions. Simply stake, consume, and get rewarded. Claim your free subscription through this link. But be quick there is a limited number available! https://tiplink.io/f/2384-Bm5cmDzMievw#0e6OFJ_z6eTET8hNa73DgtrCELQonflRQSETWlfzdvE

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/43o3Syk

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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/

(00:00) Introduction

(01:16) The 6th Man Ventures Origin Story

(06:00) Solana ETF

(09:39) 6MV's Investing Thesis

(12:36) Access Protocol Ad

(13:15) Alt L1s

(14:53) Ethereum's L2 Roadmap

(19:49) Appchains & Composability

(23:40) Time For Crypto Applications.. Not Infra

(27:43) AI & DePin

(32:26) Permissionless III Ad

(33:29) Airdrops

(42:51) Crypto's Token Vesting Problem

(48:25) Liquid vs Venture Investing

(50:46) Advice For Founders

Disclaimers:

Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Dan and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

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