Technology

The Rollup

Where digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Latest Episodes:

Ethereum's New Stablecoin Chain with Haonan Li Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Ethereum's neutral infrastructure for all stablecoins is here.

In this episode of Stabled Up, Hoanan Li, co-founder and CEO of Codex, shares how they're building Ethereum's dedicated infrastructure for stablecoins and why they chose to build on Ethereum rather than launch their own L1.

From attacking the $7.5 trillion FX market to enabling regional stablecoins without USD intermediaries, Hoanan explains why the "research fetish" problem is holding crypto back and what institutional banking actually needs.

We discuss:

- Why Codex Chose Ethereum Over Building an L1

- The "Research Fetish" Problem in Crypto

- How Codex FX Attacks the $7.5T FX Market

- Regional Stablecoins Without USD Intermediaries

- Banking Licenses & Institutional BD Nobody Wants to Do

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:48 Frax Ad

01:25 Hoanan's Origin Story

02:43 Why Build For All Stablecoins?

04:04 Ethereum's Stablecoin Spec Ops

05:06 Hibachi Ad, Trezor Ad, Yeet Ad

05:39 Avoiding Research Fetish

08:10 The Real Bottleneck: Fiat ↔ Crypto

09:25 Institutional Banking Approach

10:40 Codex FX Product Deep Dive

12:01 Challenging the FX Status Quo

13:08 Reshaping Global Commerce

15:43 Incremental FX Unbundling

16:42 Kalshi Ad, Halliday Ad, InfiniFi Ad

17:15 Q4/Q1 Roadmap & TNF Product

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥: 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘍𝘪 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴.

How Dogecoin Became What Bitcoin Was Supposed to Be with TJ Miller & Jordan Jefferson Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Dogecoin started as a joke. Now it's building a blockchain empire.

In this episode, Rob sits down with TJ Miller and Jordan Jefferson to explore how Dogecoin evolved from a meme into a serious contender for global adoption.

From building DogeOS as the app layer for Dogecoin to the DogeShow's citizen journalism model, TJ and Jordan explain why crypto needs more comedy, less seriousness and why Doge might actually become the interplanetary currency.

We discuss:

- How Dogecoin Became More Than a Meme

- Why Bitcoin Maxis Missed the Point

- Building DogeOS: The App Layer for Dogecoin

- The Dog Show: Citizen Journalism Meets Crypto

- Could Doge Be the Interplanetary Currency?

- Why Crypto Needs More Comedy & Less Seriousness

- Dogecoin vs. Its Derivatives (Shiba, Dogwifhat)

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:42 Seoul Vibes & Conference Culture

05:31 AI's Probability of Doom

08:14 How TJ & Jordan Met at Bitcoin Vegas

11:03 TJ's Bitcoin Maxi Origins

13:36 Birth of The Dog Show

14:42 Halliday Ad, infiniFi Ad, Kalshi Ad

15:19 Dogecoin's Unique Lore Speedrun

18:45 Building DogeOS on Dogecoin

22:21 Dogecoin vs. Solana Comparison

25:11 Political Dynamics & Governance

28:00 Could Doge Be What Bitcoin Should've Been?

29:00 Relay Ad, Trezor Ad

30:08 Interplanetary Currency Theory

33:27 Derivative Meme Coins Discussion

37:19 Why Comedy Matters in Crypto

41:03 Leveling Up Absurdity with Utility

42:23 Deadpool's Groundbreaking Impact

44:19 Where to Find The Doge Show

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce: How America's Crypto Regulation Is Being Rebuilt From Scratch Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

The table is being set for crypto in America.

In this episode, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce breaks down the dramatic 180-degree shift happening at the SEC and what it means for crypto regulation in America.

From why most tokens aren't actually securities to the debate over self-custody as a fundamental right, Hester explains how the regulatory landscape is being rebuilt from scratch and what 2025 holds for the industry.

We discuss:

- The SEC's 180-degree shift on crypto regulation

- Why most tokens aren't securities

- Capital formation and the return of ICOs

- Self-custody as a fundamental right

- CFTC vs SEC jurisdiction split

- Privacy protections in America's digital future

- What 2026 holds for comprehensive regulation

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:17 Why the government shutdown changed everything

05:07 2025 is the line in the sand year

07:16 The SEC's 180-degree turn on crypto

12:19 Steel-manning critics vs identifying adversaries

14:40 Sponsors: Hibachi, Trezor, YEET

21:28 Public equities and the token model

26:16 CFTC vs SEC: where should the line be?

31:30 Sponsors: Relay, Kalshi, InfiniFi, Haliday

32:27 The return of ICOs done right

42:35 Self-custody as a fundamental right

45:23 The Watermelon and Peanut Butter story

48:00 Rapid fire: Three eras of crypto

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Dankrad Feist: Why Ethereum Needs a Wartime Mentality (And Why He Left the EF) Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

The father of Danksharding just left Ethereum Foundation for Tempo.

In this episode, Dankrad Feist opens up about his decision to leave the Ethereum Foundation after years of pioneering research to join Tempo and focus on stablecoin payments.

From PeerDAS and Fusaka's data availability breakthrough to the L2 finality crisis everyone's talking about, Dankrad explains why Ethereum needs to adopt a wartime mentality and what it will take to compete in today's market.

We discuss:

- Why He Chose Stablecoin Payments Over Pure Research

- PeerDAS & Fusaka's Data Availability Breakthrough

- The L2 Finality Crisis Everyone's Talking About

- Stage Zero Rollups: Should We Be Worried?

- Which ZK-EVM Would He Pick? (He Doesn't Say)

- Ethereum's Massive Validator Set Problem

- Privacy Roadmap & The Return of Fundamentals

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:50 Why Dankrad left Ethereum Foundation for Tempo

03:53 Stablecoin payments matter more than you think

05:15 Tempo's Stablecoin-Neutral Strategy

06:09 Fusaka Upgrade Deep Dive

09:23 How PeerDAS Enables Ethereum Scaling

10:30 Relay Ad, Trezor Ad

16:09 Native Rollups Bringing Execution Back

17:54 The Three Types of Finality Issues

20:11 Ethereum's Biggest Technical Bottlenecks

22:14 Halliday Ad, infiniFi Ad, Kalshi Ad

23:41 The Validator Set Problem

24:59 Lean Ethereum & Justin Drake's Vision

26:08 Fast Finality's Real Impact

28:10 ZK-EVM Roadmap & King-Making Debate

31:35 Privacy Toolkit & Institutional Needs

33:31 Stage Zero Rollups: The Real Problem

36:50 Ethereum's Wartime Mode

40:05 Lightning Round

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Stani Kulechov: Why Aave Will Have Trillions in TVL by 2030 Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

DeFi is no longer just for crypto natives, it's becoming the infrastructure layer for traditional finance.In

In this episode, Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave, lays out his vision for how Aave will reach trillions in total value locked by 2030 and why banks are already choosing Aave as their infrastructure layer.

From the Aave mobile app bringing high-yield savings mainstream to the revolutionary v4 hub-and-spoke model, Stani explains how Aave is positioning itself as the backbone of global finance.

We discuss:

- The Aave mobile app strategy for mainstream adoption

- Aave v4's hub-and-spoke model and what it solves

- Why banks are using Aave as DeFi infrastructure

- Embedded DeFi and the next wave of institutional adoption

- Why Ethereum is still the only choice for RWAs

- What Aave actually needs from Ethereum L1

- The multi-stakeholder vetting process that keeps Aave secure

- Designing v4 with ecosystem partners and real user feedback

- Aave's path to becoming the world's biggest financial network

- Stani's 2030 prediction for DeFi and TradFi convergence

---

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:05 The Aave Mobile App Strategy

03:52 Aave as Infrastructure For Banks

05:52 Institutional Adoption & Aave Horizon

08:46 Trust, Resiliency & Risk Management

09:35 Haliday Ad, InfiniFi Ad, Kalshi Ad

10:54 What Aave Needs From Ethereum

13:40 Do You Miss 2020 DeFi Summer?

15:01 The Multi-Stakeholder Vetting Process

19:02 Why Aave v4 Changes Everything

20:20 Relay Ad, Trezor Ad

21:01 The Liquidity Hub-and-Spoke Model

22:32 Designing v4 With Ecosystem Partners

24:33 Return to Fundamentals

25:21 Lightning Round

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Why NEAR Believes Privacy Is the Next Unlock with Lane Rettig Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of AI Supercycle, Lane shares insights on NEAR's evolution from a grants-heavy ecosystem to a product-focused powerhouse, and why privacy infrastructure could be the key differentiator for Web3 adoption.

We discussed:

- How NEAR's Intents Integration is generating over $10M in fees

- The controversial fee switch debate and what it means for protocols

- NEAR's unique approach to House of Stake governance

- Why the shift from grants to product-first strategy matters

- Decentralized AI: verifiable model training and content creator royalties

- Privacy as a core value in the cypherpunk movement heading into 2025

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:30 NEAR's defining moment for privacy

02:07 How Intents are generating $10M+ in fees

04:19 The fee switch question every protocol is asking

05:07 Sponsors: Hibachi, Relay, Holiday

06:13 What makes NEAR's governance actually work

08:39 From grants to products: the strategic shift

10:36 AI model training that content creators can verify and earn from

11:20 Sponsor: Polymarket

11:29 Why privacy means something different now

13:27 Final thoughts on NEAR's 2025 roadmap

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

The New Global Stablecoin Thesis with Luca Prosperi Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

Stablecoins are evolving from trading assets to the infrastructure layer of digital finance.

In today's episode, Luca Prosperi from M0 explains how enterprise stablecoins will power applications, why interoperability matters more than liquidity, and how governments worldwide will adapt as capital flows into dollar-denominated rails.

We discuss:

- Enterprise Stablecoins vs Payment Stablecoins- Why Interoperability Matters More Than Liquidity- M0's Partnerships with MetaMask & MoonPay- How Capital Flight Will Force Governments to Adapt- Why Europe is Already Losing the Stablecoin Race- The FX Problem: Harder Than It Looks- Luca's Prediction on Global Stablecoin Adoption

Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:53 Enterprise Stablecoins Explained03:30 M0's Infrastructure Philosophy06:15 MoonPay & Stripe Partnerships09;24 Trezor Ad, Hibachi Ad, Kalshi Ad, Halliday ad10:04 FX and Multi-Currency Stablecoins10:55 Stablecoin Maturation14:07 Capital Flight & Government Response18:31 Relay Ad, YEET ad, InfiniFi Ad19:20 Why Capitalism Always Prevails22:45 Europe's Stablecoin Problem24:38 Return to Fundamentals---Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Revolut's Big Bet: The Institutional Sales Playbook with Jamal Raees Polygon CPO Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Revolut is doing $690M+ in crypto volume and there's a playbook behind that success.

In this episode of Money Moves Fast, we sit down with Jamal Raees, Head of Payments at Polygon Labs, to discuss why blockchain companies without enterprise sales are cooked, how Mastercard's crypto credential vision works, and why cross-border payments need stablecoins.

We discuss:

- The Revolut integration: $690M+ volume

- Why blockchain companies without enterprise sales are cooked

- Mastercard's crypto credential vision

- The Blockchain Payments Consortium

- Building the "Clooney Effect" in BD

- Why cross-border payments need stablecoins

- Creating standards like EMV did for credit cards

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Payment Standards Evolution

00:52 Welcome to The Rollup

01:10 Polygon x Revolut Partnership Deep Dive

04:19 Revolut's $690M+ Integration Strategy

08:24 Stablecoin Cross-Border Use Cases

10:52 Kalshi Ad, Infinifi Ad, Halliday Ad

11:28 Network Effects & Partnership Flywheel

14:10 Trezor Ad, Relay Ad

14:40 Mastercard Crypto Credentials Explained

17:40 Visa vs Mastercard Landscape

19:48 The Institutional Adoption Window

21:35 Blockchain Payments Consortium Vision

22:58 Creating Payment Standards That Scale

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Kain Warwick: Airdrops vs. ICOs, Infinex Token Launch, And Building Crypto's Super App Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In today's video, we take you through everything you'd want to know about Infinex token launch, airdrop mechanics, Sonar sale, and more explained by founder Kain Warwick.

Andy, Robbie and Kain also cover:

- Why 95% of Airdrop Recipients Instantly Dump

- The "Crate Run" Voucher System Explained

- How Patron NFTs Evolved Into INX Token

- Building a Crypto Super App That Actually Works

- Sonar Sale Plans & TGE Timeline

- The CT Mafia's "Blood Money" Problem

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:45 Infinex Platform Evolution

06:08 Haliday Ad, InfiniFi Ad, Kalshi Ad

06:50 The Super App Thesis

11:15 Why Patron NFTs Failed to Scale

19:10 Crates vs Airdrops: The Psychology

19:28 Relay Ad, Yeet Ad

23:37 Trezor Ad, Hibachi Ad

23:55 Maximizing Your Crate Strategy

29:50 Q4 Timeline & TGE Plans

30:30 Building Infinex as an Anon Team

31:54 The Boys Are Back in Town

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

How NEAR Protocol Plans To Capture The Entire Agent Economy Nov 15, 2025

Show notes

Privacy is the bedrock for the agent economy and NEAR Protocol is building the infrastructure to prove it.

In this episode of AI Supercycle, we sit down with Alex Shevchenko and Harshit Tiwari from NEAR Protocol and Aurora to discuss NEAR's 67+ chain intents with zero slippage, why privacy is a prerequisite for agent commerce, and how user-owned AI competes with the centralized AI cabal.

We discuss:

- NEAR Intents: 67+ Chains, Zero Slippage

- Shielded Zcash Transactions & Privacy Rights

- User-Owned AI vs. The Centralized AI Cabal

- How Solvers Create Efficient Cross-Chain Markets

- NEAR's Revanchist Theory & Token Economics

- Why Privacy Is a Prerequisite for Agent Commerce

00:00 Intro

01:02 NEAR Intents Overview: 67+ Chains, Zero Slippage

03:50 Zcash Integration Strategy

07:37 Chain Signatures & Omni Bridge Technology

10:52 Relay Ad, Alvara Ad, Talus Ad

11:40 Solver Network & Fee Structure

16:30 Privacy Levels Explained

20:09 User-Owned AI Philosophy

22:45 Hibachi Ad, Enso Ad

23:04 Private Money in the Agent Economy

26:20 NEAR Token Value Accrual

28:42 Revanchist Theory: Why NEAR Is Different

30:29 Product-First Ecosystem Approach

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd...

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+TsM1CRpWFgk1NGZh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Rollup

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected