Lightspeed

Latest Episodes:

Solana Was Too Late to Perps Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode we discuss Solana’s Q1 performance, highlighting growth in tokenized real-world assets and shifting trading activity. We also cover Pumpfun’s buyback changes, Pumpcade’s token-equity model, and broader challenges in building competitive perpetuals markets on Solana, including liquidity, user acquisition, and infrastructure constraints.

Enjoy!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:53) RWA Momentum Builds

(9:17) Pump Fun Buyback Burn

(20:44) Pump Cade’s ACE Experiment

(32:10) Solana Perps Debate

(37:55) Bulk’s Validator Sidecar Bet

(51:31) Phoenix’s Onchain Bet

(53:45) Closing Comments

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. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

LPing Is Trading: Rethinking DeFi Strategies | Dann & Miir Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dann and Miir of Meteora to discuss their role as a core liquidity layer on Solana. We cover their evolution from integrations to product focus, the shift from passive yield farming to active LP strategies, and what’s next for DeFi liquidity.
Enjoy!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:57) Meteora Origins

(5:49) Launchpad Integration Push

(11:33) Jupiter And Meteora

(12:55) Yield Farming Evolves

(21:22) LPing As Trading

(25:50) Long Tail Liquidity

(34:37) Product Roadmap

(41:55) What Comes Next

(45:06) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Tokenizing Private Markets: Inside the Rise of PreStocks | Xavier Ekkel Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, we’re joined by Xavier Ekkel, Founder of PreStocks, to explore the rise of PreStocks and tokenized access to private equity. We cover pricing and liquidity dynamics, Solana’s role in distribution, retail participation, onchain price discovery, IPO transitions, and the broader evolution of tokenized pre-IPO markets.

Enjoy!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:33) PreStocks' Background

(6:02) How PreStocks Are Priced

(14:59) Why Solana and Why Retail

(24:43) Price Discovery to IPO

(35:01) Which Private Names Matter?

(40:14) Distribution and Next Steps

(46:30) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

The KelpDAO Hack and DeFi’s Stress Test | Ian Unsworth Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ian Unsworth, Co-founder of Kairos Research, to break down the KelpDAO hack and its impact on DeFi, from liquidity outflows to risk management. We also cover stablecoin yield strategies, Ethena’s backing model, Layer 2 risks like Scroll, and emerging infrastructure like DoubleZero Edge.

Enjoy!

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:56) rsETH Hack

(11:40) Are DeFi Rates Worth It?

(19:45) Scroll’s Gas Price Controversy

(25:46) Ethena’s Backing and Yield Model

(38:48) Why DoubleZero Edge Matters

(45:39) Solana Value Capture Debate

(58:22) Where DoubleZero Goes Next

(1:00:55) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

DoubleZero Edge: Democratizing the Speed Advantage | Austin Federa Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, we’re joined by Austin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero, to discuss the network’s growth, its shift to Edge-based data monetization, and the role of high-speed data in trading. We also cover Solana’s roadmap, validator dynamics, DeFi fairness, and evolving Foundation strategy amid shifting regulatory and institutional conditions.

Enjoy!

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:39) DoubleZero Growth Update

(3:41) Why Edge Changes Revenue

(6:48) Why APIs Are Too Slow

(9:22) How Shreds Create Alpha

(16:13) Can DeFi Be Fair?

(20:07) Alpenglow and Constellation

(28:58) What Comes Next?

(31:01) Solana Foundation’s New Playbook

(35:02) Where Foundations Should Compete

(46:51) Edge Launch Timeline

(47:46) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Catherine Gu, Head of Product, Digital Assets at Solana, to discuss her transition from Visa to Solana, the institutional adoption of blockchain, tokenization, payments infrastructure, and developer platforms. We also cover privacy and compliance challenges, onchain metrics, liquidity dynamics, and Solana’s vision for internet capital markets.
Enjoy!

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:31) Catherine's Crypto Journey

(8:45) Why Solana Now

(12:05) Solana Developer Platform

(17:00) Privacy for Institutions

(21:23) KYC and Attestations

(27:50) Better Onchain Metrics

(31:42) Solana’s Liquidity Pitch

(35:35) Institutional Adoption Inflection

(40:12) Internet Capital Markets

(44:30) Memecoins, Brand, and Growth

(49:25) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Titan's Solution to Onchain Pricing | defipancakes Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by defipancakes, Co-Founder and CTO of Titan, to discuss a major social engineering exploit affecting Drift, broader DeFi security practices, and the Solana ecosystem’s response. We also explore Titan’s new Dart routing product, market structure trends, stablecoin and tokenized asset activity, and evolving competition in onchain trading and perps.

Enjoy!

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:12) Drift Hack Fallout

(4:28) Lessons From the Drift Hack

(10:27) Titan Launches Dart

(17:02) Conditional Liquidity Debate

(22:09) Stablecoin and New Asset Flow

(30:38) Onchain Routing’s Future

(36:23) Solana Foundation’s Role

(41:25) Phoenix vs. Bulk Perps

(50:34) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

The Institutional Shift Driving Crypto Forward Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode, we cover institutional crypto adoption, tokenization, and regulatory developments, along with Blockworks IR and disclosure frameworks. We also explore perpetual markets, product innovation, and trends across DeFi, neobanking, stablecoins, and DePIN as crypto and traditional finance continue to converge.

Enjoy!

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:59) Institutional Bull Market

(5:20) Perps Come to America?

(9:05) Why TTF Matters

(14:31) Blockworks IR Is Live

(19:30) What’s Real at DAS?

(28:13) Crypto Apps Become Neobanks

(35:50) DePIN Finally Scales

(42:26) What’s Crypto’s Next Game?

(44:41) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

The Future of DeFi Trading: Routers, Perps, and MCP | Eugene Chen Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, Eugene Chen, CEO of Ellipsis Labs, joins us to break down Solana’s evolving market structure and the launch of Phoenix Perps. We explore onchain trading design, routing and sequencing challenges, MCP’s role, and how user behavior and incentives are shaping the future of DeFi.

Enjoy!

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Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:25) Solana Market Structure Shift

(8:07) Why Phoenix Perps Now

(21:16) Why Perps Need No Router

(29:39) What Solana Must Improve

(34:49) The Block Builder Problem

(43:24) Will DeFi Mimic TradFi?

(52:48) Phoenix Perps Launch Plans

(53:38) Closing Comments

Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Designing the Future of Payments Systems | Konstantin Richter & Tom Zschach Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Gm! This episode features a panel from DAS New York with Konstantin Richter and Tom Zschach. The discussion covers traditional financial infrastructure, the integration of digital assets, and emerging concepts like agentic payments, along with regulatory gaps, system design challenges, and how SWIFT intersects with evolving crypto-based payment systems.
Enjoy!

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:08) What Are Agentic Payments?

(7:29) Machine Accountability

(12:23) Regulation Still Lags

(17:16) Do Rails Replace Swift?