Lightspeed

Latest Episodes:

The DeFi-Native Prime Broker | MacBrennan Peet Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode, we’re joined by MacBrennan Peet, Founder of Project 0, to discuss how the platform is tackling capital and risk fragmentation across DeFi venues. We cover unified margin, cross-venue credit, automated strategies, dynamic risk management, integrations across Solana lending markets, and Project 0 Pay.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Project 0: https://x.com/Project0

Follow MacBrennan: https://x.com/macbrennan_cc

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:48) MacBrennan's Path to Project 0

(5:39) Rebuilding Prime Brokerage for DeFi

(8:48) Unified Margin Across DeFi Venues

(19:59) Automated DeFi Strategies

(26:57) Risk Management & Asset Onboarding

(31:51) The Evolution of Automated Strategies

(35:19) Project 0 Pay Explained

(46:33) Competing With DeFi Super Apps

(51:10) What's Next for Project 0

(55:06) 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.

Solana’s Block Building Battle: Jito BAM vs. Harmonic Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode we discuss Blockworks’ new Solana-focused Lightspeed IR platform and a report on Solana block building. We examine the rivalry between Jito BAM and Harmonic, impacts on transaction ordering, fees, market structure, validator clients, and the push toward protocol-level solutions like MCP and application-controlled execution.Enjoy!

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

Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus

Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:42) Lightspeed IR Platform Launch

(6:40) Block Building on Solana

(12:28) Jito Bam vs. Harmonic: Architecture Breakdown

(16:51) MEV, Fees, and Market Structure Impacts

(34:04) MCP and Solana's Path Forward

(48:49) What Happened to Jito and Harmonic?

(55:55) Alpenglow & MCP Timeline

(59:03) Closing Comments

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

Solana’s Policy Push: Crypto’s New Regulatory Era | Kristin Smith Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Kristin Smith to discuss her transition to the Solana Policy Institute, recent U.S. crypto policy shifts, and progress under the Genius Act. We also discuss the CLARITY Act, market structure reform, DeFi and developer protections, institutional adoption, and the importance of durable regulatory clarity.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Solana Policy Institute: https://x.com/SolanaInstitute

Follow Kristin Smith: https://x.com/KristinSmith

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:01) Kristin Smith’s Move to Solana

(7:57) Crypto’s Regulatory Turning Point

(14:59) CLARITY Act & Market Structure

(29:37) Protecting DeFi Developers

(35:54) Institutional Access to Crypto

(40:55) The Path to Lasting U.S. Crypto Clarity

(50:49) Closing Comments

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

Solana’s Changing Market Microstructure Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode we cover Solana’s recent onchain performance, revenue trends, and upcoming network upgrades. We also discuss ecosystem token dispersion, client competition between Jito BAM and Harmonic, market structure challenges for perps, Prop AMM profitability metrics, and MetaDAO’s shift toward uncapped ICO raises and permissionless scaling.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:13) Solana Metrics, Upgrades, and Ecosystem Shifts

(27:33) Prop AMMs: Volume vs. Profitability

(36:15) ICO Design & Launchpad Models

(56:33) Closing Comments

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

Building the Next-Gen Perps Engine on Solana | Tristan Frizza Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Tristan Frizza Co-Founder of Bullet to discuss his journey from Zeta Markets to founding Bullet, a next-gen Solana perps exchange. We also discuss Solana congestion challenges, network extensions, ZK rollup design, data availability via Celestia, proving with Succinct, launch plans, incentives, and token migration.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Bullet: https://x.com/bulletxyz

Follow Tristan Frizza: https://x.com/Tristan0x

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:41) From Zeta to Bullet

(11:44) Bullet’s Design Overview

(20:27) Celestia and ZK Proving Stack

(27:46) Unlocking the Basis Trade

(36:41) Bullet’s Target Trading Audience

(46:47) Mainnet Launch Strategy

(50:48) Token Migration from Zeta to Bullet

(52:33) Closing Comments

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

Crypto Stress Test: Fees, Volatility, and Chain Performance Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode Danny, Dan and Ian discuss recent market volatility across crypto and commodities, onchain performance during stress events, chain fee dynamics, AI agents interacting with crypto rails, and Pump.fun’s revenue, buybacks, and long-term value capture debate.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Kairos Research: https://x.com/Kairos_Res

Follow Ian: https://x.com/Ian_Unsworth

Follow Dan Smith: https://x.com/smyyguy

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

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

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:30) Market Stress and Onchain Performance

(19:54) AI Agents and Crypto Rails

(34:34) Pump.fun: Revenue, Buybacks, and Memecoin Markets

(42:58) Solana and the Value Capture Debate

(1:05:04) Closing Comments

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

Building the Onchain Super App | Xiao-Xiao J. Zhu Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode we are joined by Xiao-Xiao, President of Jupiter, to discuss his background and transition to Jupiter, the shift toward onchain finance, growth of decentralized trading, stablecoins, mobile adoption, institutional participation, and Jupiter’s product strategy, and long-term vision for onchain financial infrastructure.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Jupiter: https://x.com/jupiterexchange

Follow Xiao-Xiao: https://x.com/xxjzhu

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠

Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:55) Xiao-Xiao’s Background

(8:57) CeFi to DeFi

(14:16) Scaling Onchain Finance at Jupiter

(31:49) Jupiter Mobile Strategy

(36:16) Cards on Jupiter

(39:41) What’s Holding Institutions Back?

(50:45) How Jupiter Defines Success

(59:40) Closing Comments

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

Are the Trenches Finally Back? Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Gm! We're back with Carlos for another weekly roundup. We cover Solana’s SKR airdrop and token design, Solana Mobile’s strategy, renewed memecoin activity and launchpad economics, Pump.fun’s evolving revenue model, and tokenized stocks and internet capital markets on Solana.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:23) SKR and the Solana Phone

(25:54) Trenches Revival

(43:09) Tokenized Stocks on Solana

(54:56) Closing Comments

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

Listing Assets Everywhere Onchain | Saeed Badreg Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode we’re joined by Saeed Badreg, CEO of Wormhole Labs, to discuss Solana’s push to expand onchain markets through cross-chain asset listings, historical bridge challenges, Sunrise’s coordinated go-to-market approach, liquidity and distribution strategies, and the future of tokenized assets.

Enjoy!

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

Follow Wormhole Labs: https://x.com/wormhole_labs

Follow Sunrise DeFi: https://x.com/sunrise_defi

Follow Saeed Badreg: https://x.com/shadddowfax

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:51) Historical Pain Points

(9:50) How Sunrise Brings Assets to Solana

(31:33) Rethinking Token Distribution

(42:49) Future of Tokenized Markets

(51:11) Regulation’s Impact on Onchain Markets

(59:13) Closing Comments

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

Bringing State of the Art Perps to Solana | Jun Bug & kdot Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Gm! In this episode Jun Bug and kdot co-founders of BULK join us to discuss building a high-performance perpetuals exchange on Solana, testnet rollout plans, covering latency and reliability challenges, validator-based architecture, decentralization trade-offs and incentive structures.

Enjoy!

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

Follow BULK: https://x.com/bulktrade

Follow kdot: https://x.com/kdotcrypto?lang=en

Follow Jun Bug: https://x.com/junbug_sol

Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_

Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠

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

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:04) Why Perps Are So Hard to Build on Solana?

(16:27) BULK’s Testnet Launch