Endgame with Amanda Cassatt

"If you are using technology to manipulate other people, you should be ashamed of yourself."In this episode of Endgame, Amanda Cassatt sits down with George Hotz to explore when technology empowers and when it traps. Using the framework of finite and infinite games, they define manipulation as placing someone in a system designed to extract from them without their awareness.They examine algorithmic trading, behavioral betting, and AI agents, asking where the ethical line lies between prediction and deception. The conversation moves from societal measures like GDP to electricity, steel, and Nvidia’s AI chip dominance, highlighting how software moats create real choke points of power.George and Amanda explore whether AI will create a cognitive divide between the upgraded and the monkey class, and whether opting into algorithmic comfort loops is a voluntary surrender of agency.This episode is about the ethics of control in a world where persuasion can be automated and scaled, and whether the games we build are infinite or finite, liberating or extractive.▶️TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro01:25 The Rise of AI Tools and Productivity03:02 The Evolution of Coding: From Direct Coders to Managers of Agents05:48 Democratization of Coding: Access and Quality08:24 The Impact of AI on Software Production and Value10:56 Cultural Manipulation and the Role of Technology13:48 The Perpetual Underclass: Fears and Realities16:14 The Future of Power Dynamics in AI18:52 The Cost of AI Development and Its Implications21:23 The Role of Culture in Addressing AI Challenges33:29 Cultural Responsibility and Advertising Ethics35:41 The Role of Technology in Manipulation38:40 Ethics of Control and Manipulation43:45 Market Fairness and Regulation46:18 The Future of Capitalism and Financial Products51:28 Electricity Production as a Measure of Progress53:08 NVIDIA and the Future of AI Chips56:30 Cultural Shifts and the Monkey Class01:01:41 The Liminal Space of AI and Culture

As artificial intelligence agents become the dominant interface to the web, the question is no longer just “Who are you?” but “Who is acting on your behalf?” In this episode of Endgame, Amanda Cassatt sits down with Billions Network CEO Evin McMullen to examine the rapid shift toward agent-mediated internet use. At the end of last year, roughly one in every 31 website visits was conducted by a non-human actor, up sharply from just one in 200 earlier in the year. Increasingly, we are delegating our online activity to digital butlers.But delegation does not eliminate identity. It compounds it. Evin argues that we are moving beyond traditional KYC, Know Your Customer, into a new paradigm called KYA, Know Your Agent. If AI agents are making payments, accessing age-gated services, or interacting with financial and government systems, they must be able to prove who they represent. Identity becomes inheritable, and agents must cryptographically demonstrate the human or organization on whose behalf they act.This reframes the identity debate. The problem is no longer just login friction or platform data extraction. It is the structural need to bind autonomous systems to accountable humans. As armies of specialized sub-agents begin coordinating tasks across domains, payments, compliance, and trust all depend on pairing the person with the agent.Ultimately, identity becomes the backbone of the agentic internet. As humans step back from direct interaction and software takes the wheel, sovereignty shifts from logging in yourself to equipping your agents with portable, provable credentials so they can act and sign on your behalf.Timestamps00:00 Introduction 01:25 Understanding Identity in the Digital Age05:15 The Flaws of Current Identity Systems09:59 Reimagining Identity Workflows13:00 User Control and Data Ownership14:30 Incentives and the Future of Identity18:28 The Role of Crypto in Identity Management22:27 Proving Human Identity in a Digital World25:27 The Future of Agents and Identity30:23 Navigating the New Digital Landscape33:09 The Intersection of Technology and Regulation

As artificial intelligence becomes the dominant interface for work, creativity, and competition, some people are adapting to it far faster than others.In this episode of Endgame, Amanda Cassatt sits down with Dragonfly Capital’s Haseeb Qureshi to explore a generational shift in technological advantage: the biggest winners of every major tech transition are not the most experienced, but the most “pluripotent.” Younger people, who haven’t yet locked themselves into fixed professional identities, are better positioned to experiment and use new tools as leverage.Haseeb explains how AI intensifies this dynamic. The key emerging skill is no longer traditional engineering or management, but the ability to talk to models. Younger builders are becoming fluent in prompting, cross-agent workflows, and systems where AI agents write, review, and coordinate each other, patterns discovered by people actively building, not by institutions.This reframes what talent and leadership mean. The edge now belongs to those who remain cognitively flexible and let technology reshape how they think and work. In an AI-native world, the most effective founders aren’t the best coders or managers, but the ones who can reason about complex systems and continuously adapt alongside fast-moving tools.Ultimately, AI becomes a generational filter. Those who grow up fluent in these systems will treat them as a natural extension of thought, while older cohorts experience them as something they must translate through. As with every technological shift, the people who adopt the medium as native are the ones who end up defining the future.Chapters:0:00 Intro01:23 The Intersection of AI and Crypto06:13 The Role of AI Agents in Software Development09:00 Shifting Profiles of Founders in Tech11:55 The Future of Knowledge Work and AI14:57 Decentralized AI and Security Concerns17:57 The Future of AI and Crypto Integration20:51 The Role of Stablecoins in the Crypto Ecosystem24:01 The Evolution of Legal Systems in Tech26:46 The Future of Labor and Capital in AI30:01 Global Perspectives on AI and Crypto32:54 The Future of Venture Capital in Tech35:59 The Intergenerational Wealth Transfer of Crypto39:01 The Future of AI and Crypto Regulation42:04 The Role of Innovation in CryptoIf this expanded your thinking, don’t forget to Like, Comment & Share. For future cities, global systems & bold ideas, Subscribe now!

Technology is the most powerful force in history, and whether it liberates or consumes us depends entirely on how aligned it is with human agency.For Amanda Cassatt, this belief underpins her techno-optimism: the conviction that progress must be actively built, not passively awaited. In this solo episode, she explains how she sees technology as upstream of culture, economics, and politics, and views optimism as a necessary stance for shaping systems that improve the future rather than accepting stagnation.In her view, one of AI’s most powerful use cases will be hyper-addictive entertainment and persuasion, with millions of intelligent agents optimized to capture attention, shape behavior, and extract value. But Cassatt argues that AI also holds the potential to act as a personal ally: an intelligent layer that enforces individual priorities, shields users from exploitative systems, and restores agency in an increasingly manipulative digital environment.As technology progresses, so will the need for “envelope technologies” and personal AI systems that protect users, preserve agency, and give people real control over the tools that mediate their lives. For Cassatt, the future of technology hinges on alignment and ownership, determining whether we build systems that mine human attention or systems that empower humans to shape their own trajectories.Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:31 Telling the Story of New Technology 05:13 Innovation or Financial Nihilism? 09:12 Birth of Two Markets15:38 Key to Successful Startups18:14 The Role of Brands27:06 Stories to Understand the World29:01 The AI Conundrum39:02 Is AI the Tool or Are We? 44:11 The Case for Techno OptimismSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Edge City on X: https://x.com/JoinEdgeCityTimour Kosters on X: https://x.com/timourxyzAmanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440 Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQIf this expanded your thinking, don’t forget to Like, Comment & Share. For future cities, global systems & bold ideas, Subscribe now!

As nation-states double down on borders, nationalism, and readiness for war, some people are choosing not to wait around to see how that ends.Amanda Cassatt sits down with Timour Kosters, who worked alongside Vitalik Buterin on Zuzalu, and co-founder of Edge City, a borderless pop-up society where highly driven builders, thinkers, and creators experiment with life beyond the nation-state. Emerging directly from the Zuzalu experiment in Montenegro, Edge City functions as a live prototype for post-national belonging, a place where identity, culture, and collaboration are designed deliberately rather than inherited by accident.Timour explains how Zuzalu shaped Edge City’s core philosophy: opting out of national identity, rejecting reflexive patriotism, and building high-trust communities that can survive disagreement without collapsing into tribalism. Edge City offers sovereignty within, giving people a way to escape inherited identities, nationalistic pressures, and the growing assumption that global conflict is inevitable.Heterogeneity and multidisciplinarity are intentional. Edge City incubates startups, launches new fields of inquiry, and partners with emerging cities and jurisdictions, turning the community itself into a platform for coordination and long-term impact. The result is a network that produces ideas, companies, and alliances that would be difficult or impossible to form inside traditional state structures.Edge City even tracks an unusual metric of success: children, and conceptions. Including families is not sentimental, it is strategic. It binds people to the community, creates continuity across generations, and embeds the next cohort inside a society actively experimenting with alternatives to nation-states. In a world increasingly organized around borders and conflict, Edge City is betting that opting out early is the real advantage.Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:05 Vitalik’s goal: a minimum viable “crazy thing” that’s long enough to become real life03:00 What Zuzalu was really for (and Timour’s role running the AI track)08:10 Edge City’s design goal: heterogeneity and multidisciplinarity (and the fault lines)10:40 AI safety vs accelerationism, crypto skeptics, political diversity—and why debate is hard16:50 Where Edge City fits in a world of geopolitical blocs19:40 Timour’s personal relationship to Russia and why he’s not a nationalist22:10 Can network societies become bridging nodes across spheres of influence?24:10 Historical parallel: the “International” before WWI—and what’s different now26:10 Fear as a political tool—and why hope is “really punk”32:00 The missing step in the Network State: kinship before land36:10 Startup example: Constellation and the compressed loop from idea → data → investors41:20 Working with towns and jurisdictions: Esmeralda, Bhutan, and “drop-shipping” talent47:10 Why kids are a North Star metric—and how families change the entire vibe49:30 “Conceptions” as an internal joke metric—and what it signals about community health51:00 Closing: building futures that feel livable, not hollowSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Edge City on X: https://x.com/JoinEdgeCityTimour on X: https://x.com/timourxyzAmanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What if aging and reproduction were engineering problems, not biological limits?In this episode, Amanda Cassatt sits down with AthenaDAO founder Laura Minquini to unpack how reproductive biotech could transform same-sex reproduction, family structures, and the future of population growth.Laura explains how AthenaDAO and the DeSci movement are using crypto to fund research that has previously not been prioritized by the FDA or mainstream pharma, arguing that reproductive biotech is one of the most consequential frontiers in modern science, from ovarian tissue cryopreservation and in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) to artificial wombs that could radically extend not just fertility, but women’s healthspan.She details how ovarian tissue cryopreservation works, a surgical procedure originally developed for cancer patients where ovarian tissue is removed, frozen, and later reimplanted to restore ovarian function. She describes how this technique is now being offered electively, what it realistically enables, and why it may be the most direct path to delaying menopause.The two dig into why menopause drives systemic aging, why women live longer but spend more years in disease, and how reproductive biology has been sidelined by traditional biotech funding.Timestamps:00:00 Why the future of biotech isn’t evenly distributed 02:05 Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and extending fertility 06:30 Why menopause affects the entire body—not just reproduction 10:45 Longevity, ovarian function, and why women live longer with more disease 15:10 Why women’s health research is so underfunded 19:40 Clinical trials, fertility risk, and why female data is missing 24:30 Artificial wombs: science fiction or near-term reality? 29:00 In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) and the future of egg creation 34:20 Radical reproductive unlocks and societal implications 39:30 Why controversial technologies need human-first framing 44:50 Decentralized science (DeSci) and crypto-funded research 49:20 Why crypto struggles with long-term scientific timelines 53:40 The AthenaDAO business model and token-equity hybrid approach 58:10 Menopause prediction, HRT, and what Laura uses personally 01:01:30 Moonshots, legacy, and redefining women’s reproductive futuresSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Laura on X: https://x.com/LauraMinquiniAthenaDAO on X: https://x.com/athena_DAO_Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What is the future of Arbitrum now that L1 Ethereum is becoming scalable?In this episode, Amanda Cassatt sits down with Offchain Labs and Arbitrum co-founder Steven Goldfeder. Arbitrum began as Ethereum’s scaling answer, borrowing its security to add more bandwidth, faster confirmations, and better UX. As Ethereum solves the scalability problem that was Arbitrum's original raison d’être, Steven explains Arbitrum's next frontier: customization and institutional onboarding onto Ethereum, by providing privacy and KYC that won't become available at L1 anytime soon.The two discuss the specific ways and regions Robinhood is already - though invisibly to users - using Arbitrum, the precise path RWAs are taking to gain consumer adoption, and which traditional financial products are poised to come onchain. Steven clarifies where he aligns and departs from Vitalik's articulation of what Ethereum is for, and he tells us what he believes will happen when Ethereum grows beyond its original decentralization-first vision.Times are evolving, and institutions aren’t guaranteed to take on the cypherpunk ideology, but so long as the core system is preserved, Goldfeder believes that there are a lot of benefits to mass onboarding.Timestamps: 00:00 Scaling Ethereum: The Role of Arbitrum09:29 Customization for Institutions: Arbitrum's Unique Offerings12:43 Compliance and Privacy: Institutional Needs in DeFi16:21 The Philosophy of Ethereum: Freedom vs. Compliance22:39 The Future of Ethereum: KYC and Institutional Adoption25:03 The Evolution of Use Cases on Arbitrum31:44 Arbitrum's DAO: Governance and Decision-Making43:50 Balancing Power: Democracy vs. Monarchy in DAOs55:24 The Future of Arbitrum: Growth and User ExperienceSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Steven on X: https://x.com/sgoldfedOffchain Labs on X: https://x.com/OffchainLabsAmanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What happens when crypto stops optimizing purely for profit and starts optimizing for people, planet, and long-term coordination?In this episode, Amanda Cassatt sits down with Gitcoin founder Kevin Owocki to discuss Ethereum’s public goods, swallowing the Green Pill, and what onchain coordination will look like in the future.Owocki maps the cultural fault lines inside Ethereum: the libertarian and cypherpunk roots, the rise of hyper-financialized degen culture, and the parallel effort to build something different: a regenerative ecosystem that funds public goods, sustains open source, and solves coordination failures instead of reproducing them.The two unpack what Green Pill really means and the choice it asks of builders, how Gitcoin funded $70 million in public goods and why grants and vibes aren’t enough anymore. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Regen and Degen02:57 The Green Pill Movement06:13 Public Goods in Ethereum09:10 Funding Challenges in the Ethereum Ecosystem12:07 Comparing Ethereum to Traditional Governments15:00 The Evolution of Public Goods Funding17:48 Incentive Alignment and the Tragedy of the Commons21:04 Building Proofs for Public Goods24:11 Ethereum's Unique Approach to Public Goods26:48 Meditations on Moloch and Coordination Failures29:39 Exploring Moloch and Ginsberg's Influence30:04 Addressing Coordination Failures in Ethereum34:48 The Future of Capitalism and Its Alternatives39:40 Balancing Different Forms of Capital45:03 Navigating Financial Nihilism Among Youth47:41 Success Stories in Building Parallel InstitutionsSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Kevin on X: https://x.com/owockiAmanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

Crypto was supposed to be the escape hatch. So why does it increasingly feel like it’s being absorbed by the very systems it set out to challenge?In this candid conversation, Amanda Cassatt sits down with cyberpunk crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro about the “fintech-ization” of crypto, where the industry stands in the post-Gary Gensler era and the fading relevance of the four-year cycle.Is crypto a tool for resisting power, or just a more efficient version of traditional finance waiting to be regulated into submission? Regulation isn’t a complete negative for the space; Gabriel believes that certain aspects, such as antitrust law, are beneficial. But while some laws age like a fine wine, others aren’t as relevant as technology evolves.Amanda and Gabriel also discussed KYC and how it’s evolving, zero-knowledge proofs, and what Tornado Cash did wrong. Timestamps: 00:00 Current State of Crypto and Market Cycles02:53 The Debate on Decentralization vs. Centralization05:47 The Role of Government and Regulation in Crypto08:43 Crypto as an Alternative to Traditional Legal Systems11:49 The Impact of Incumbent Protection on Innovation15:03 The Future of Crypto in a Regulated Environment17:51 The Importance of Privacy and Programmability in Crypto26:18 The Imperative of Privacy in Crypto34:52 Navigating Legal Compliance and Privacy39:41 The Dilemma of Civil Disobedience46:24 The Future of KYC in Crypto48:40 Zero Knowledge Technology and Its Potential

Is crypto’s biggest rival artificial intelligence? As AI absorbs talent and capital, it’s not clear yet if crypto and AI are competing or converging but crypto’s focus on human agency may matter more than ever in an automated world.Amanda Cassatt is joined by Aaron Wright, crypto lawyer, former Wikia general counsel and CEO of Tribute Labs, to unpack the battle between crypto and AI and what the explosive growth of stablecoins actually means for the U.S. dollar as both institutions and corporations look to gain exposure to crypto. Outside of the technological battle we’re seeing, Aaron believes we’re also undergoing a structural shift that’ll see the separation of the U.S. dollar from U.S. banks. He discusses the slow erosion of smaller national currencies, and the rise of open, permissionless financial infrastructure that anyone can access. What looks incremental today may ultimately reshape who controls money and how power flows in a dollar-dominated world.The conversation spans across artificial intelligence, dollar hegemony, central bank authority, as well as the growing divide between institutional crypto and the onchain “trenches.”Timestamps: 00:00 – Cold Open: Stablecoins and the End of Dollar Hegemony05:00 – Splitting the Dollar from the Banks10:00 – Do Stablecoins Weaken Central Banks?15:00 – Should Local Currencies Even Exist?20:00 – The Paradox of American Decline25:00 – Regulation, Law, and Crypto’s Lost Years30:00 – Institutional Crypto vs. the Trenches35:00 – Is Crypto Still About Technology?40:00 – AI vs. Crypto45:00 – Open Systems, Wikipedia, and Internet Decay50:00 – KYC, Surveillance, and Enshittification55:00 – Identity, Reputation, and ZK Proofs1:00:00 – Crypto’s Endgame: Human AgencyResources: Follow Aaron Wright @awrigh01 https://x.com/awrigh01Learn more about Aaron's work: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2373233Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What if the biggest forces shaping crypto today are hidden behind VPNs?In this episode of Endgame, host Amanda Cassatt sits down with Mable Jiang, Trends co-founder, former Multicoin partner and founding member of the Solana Foundation Council,for a rare, unfiltered look at the Chinese and Asian crypto markets — the traders, the memes, the exchanges, and the invisible liquidity that moves the entire ecosystem.From the rise of Bybit and Binance to the cultural phenomenon of Chinese tickers and global “trenchers,” Jiang dives into the real size of the Chinese crypto market and why so much of that activity is “concealed” and never shows up in Western reports.Cassatt and Jiang explore Hong Kong’s resurgence and what’s led to it in comparison to the “Westworld effect” Singapore has. The two also touch on Solana’s “Lala” moment, creator-coin culture and what Western builders don’t understand about Asia.The US may have claimed the crypto capital for now, but Asia, and China, may dominate crypto’s next chapter.Timecodes: 00:00 The Evolution of Dance and Technology05:01 The Chinese Crypto Market Landscape11:18 Centralized Exchanges and Their Impact17:06 Institutional Participation in Crypto22:43 The Role of Education in Innovation27:23 The Gaokao System and Its Implications34:39 Stereotypes of Chinese Tech Culture39:02 Government Perspectives on Crypto43:09 Opportunities and Risks in Crypto Adoption50:44 Navigating the Chinese Market for Crypto ProjectsSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What happens when the country that taught the world inflation becomes the testing ground for the future of money?In this episode of Endgame, Amanda sits down with Camila Russo, author of The Infinite Machine and founder of The Defiant, to trace how growing up in Latin America shaped her understanding of money, power, and why crypto matters long before the West noticed. Before becoming one of crypto’s most influential journalists, Camila was a Bloomberg reporter living in Buenos Aires during the peso’s collapse, covering Argentina’s economy as her own salary evaporated under currency controls.Camila explains how living through Argentina’s currency controls made Bitcoin feel inevitable, why DeFi was the first time crypto felt real, and why stablecoins have become the economic backbone of everyday life across the region. She breaks down why LATAM became a proving ground for UX-driven financial apps, how its developers are quietly building one of crypto’s most important talent hubs, and why countries like Argentina and Brazil may define the next phase of mainstream adoption.This is a look at crypto through the eyes of someone who’s lived the problem before meeting the technology.Timestamps0:00 – How We Met & Crypto Beginnings1:37 – Working in Argentina & Bloomberg5:07 – Living Through Hyperinflation6:07 – Discovering Bitcoin11:43 – Crypto in Argentina vs US12:25 – Back to New York & Crypto Coverage14:41 – Choosing Ethereum for a Book16:37 – Early DeFi & Starting The Defiant21:19 – Crypto Media Landscape23:15 – Conflicts of Interest in Crypto Media26:53 – Global Media Insights31:54 – Broken Media Business Model36:36 – Incentivizing Investigative Journalism38:16 – Argentina Today & Crypto Use Case44:48 – Innovation in LatAm CryptoRESOURCES:Follow Cami: https://x.com/CamiRussoFollow The Defiant: https://x.com/DefiantNewsCheck out The Defiant: https://thedefiant.io/Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

In this episode of Endgame, Ethereum Foundation Co-Executive Director Tomasz K. Stańczak joins Amanda to discuss how the organization behind Ethereum is changing.Together they talk about why institutions on Wall Street are now asking for more decentralization, open source, and censorship resistance, and what it means for Ethereum to actively defend its values while staying credibly neutral. Tomasz also breaks down how the Foundation is preparing for AI, quantum, and agent-based finance, and the biggest risk he sees.Tomasz argues that If Ethereum “wins,” the world will look like intermediaries quietly melting into the network, basic financial functions trending toward zero fees, and the systems that run money, institutions, and governments become open source by default.Timestamps:00:00 Ethereum Foundation’s Changing Direction04:06 Reaching Institutions & Improving Communication07:43 Decision-Making, Decentralization, and Innovation12:32 Defending Core Ethereum Values15:51 Technology vs. Culture: Can Ethereum Stay True to Its Vision?18:36 Institutions Building Their Own Blockchains20:10 Ethereum as a Global Consensus Layer21:50 AI, Quantum, and the Future of Ethereum23:22 Proof of Stake, Security, and Governance24:35 Risks and Wins for Ethereum in 10 Years26:19 The Path to Zero-Fees & Open Source CoordinationRESOURCES:Follow Tomasz: https://x.com/tkstanczakSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

In this episode of Endgame, Milk Road’s Co-Owner and Head of Research, Kyle Reidhead, joins Amanda Cassatt to share his take on how crypto works today, across markets, media, and the broader tech cycle. Kyle outlines why he thinks crypto cycles follow global liquidity rather than the Bitcoin halving, and why he believes the surge in AI infrastructure spending could stretch this bull market longer than most assume.He also describes his perspective on how information moves through the industry, from the early signals on X to why he prefers creators and analysts who hold crypto over those who don’t. This episode dives deep into Kyle’s own mental model of markets, media, and where he thinks the next phase of adoption will come from.Timestamps:0:00 The Milk Road Origin Story5:00 Building a Fun Crypto Newsletter10:00 Crypto Transparency & Accountability15:00 Prediction Markets & Market Accountability20:00 Bull Markets, AI, and Liquidity Cycles25:00 AI Buildout & the Future of Tech Infrastructure30:00 AI Usage Explosion & Computing Demands40:00 Speculation on Space & the Future Beyond EarthRESOURCES: Follow Milk Road: https://x.com/MilkRoadFollow Kyle: https://x.com/KyleReidheadSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@amandacassatt?utm_source=about-page

What happens when the American empire goes offline?In this episode of Endgame, Amanda Cassatt sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to explore a world run by China and the internet.Balaji outlines the forces driving that shift, from America’s unacknowledged debt spiral and split into “Blue, Red, and Tech America,” to an approaching reality check that will reveal how much value the West has already lost.He argues the next global order won’t be decided by governments or currencies, but by code and that the ideals of liberty, capitalism, and equality before the law have already been backed up to the cloud.Together, they map what comes after collapse: the transition from nation-states to network states.Timestamps:00:00 Reflections on the Network State's Predictions09:12 The Global Competition for Tech Talent17:48 The Trifurcation of America: Blue, Red, and Tech29:57 Class Warfare and the Rise of Tech Resentment31:57 The Complexities of Capitalism and Technology34:57 Navigating the Disruption of AI38:10 The Mark to Market Dilemma41:30 The Shift of Economic Gravity46:42 The Future of Global Power Dynamics58:09 Restoring American Values in a Digital AgeRESOURCES: Follow Balaji: @balajis https://x.com/balajisSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@amandacassatt?utm_source=about-page

What happens when Ethereum staking outperforms U.S. Treasuries?In this episode of Endgame, Alluvial CEO Mara Schmiedt joins Amanda Cassatt to unpack how Ethereum staking evolved from a technical mechanism into the internet’s first native yield.They examine why traditional finance is starting to experiment with onchain systems, how liquid staking tokens are collapsing the boundary between DeFi and TradFi, and what it means when the world’s most risk-averse capital begins earning yield from a decentralized protocol instead of a central bank.Amanda and Mara compare staking to what search ads were to Google, a sustainable revenue engine for an entire ecosystem, and trace the macro implications of that idea. If protocol-native yield exists outside government debt and monetary policy, it redefines how value is created and who controls it.From ETF staking models to custodians bridging into DeFi, this episode unpacks how crypto’s yield engine is threading its way into the heart of global finance and what that might reveal about where the real change is happening.Timestamps:00:01 – Amanda & Mara Introduce the Episode00:12 – Mara’s Crypto Origin Story03:32 – What is Staking & Why It Matters10:04 – Non-Correlated Yield vs. TradFi11:27 – LSTs Explained19:15 – The Technology Behind Secure Staking27:31 – Defining “Institutional” in Crypto35:28 – Who’s Not Staking Yet?40:03 – Staking & DeFi Convergence43:52 – Vision for the Future of Open FinanceRESOURCES: Follow Mara: https://x.com/MaraSchmiedt Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@amandacassatt?utm_source=about-page

Silicon Valley is building AI on the wrong assumptions, says Microsoft economist and researcher Glen Weyl.Glen Weyl has spent his life at the intersection of tech and politics and sees a critical gap in tech driven by Bay Area culture, where the voices of religious and culturally grounded communities are almost entirely absent. He argues that this lack of perspective has shaped Silicon Valley’s AI culture, creating blind spots with enormous consequences.  Rather than viewing history through the "great man" lens, as driven by virtuosic leaders often acting unilaterally, Glen takes a systems view of what drives progress and his current work focuses on bringing religious conservatives into the conversation, balancing tech’s internal logic with the realities of the world it seeks to reshape. This week on Endgame, Glen joins Amanda to explore a future where AI may replace capitalism with a 'Gaia'-like system. He draws on examples from India and Taiwan, where tech and religion are integrated to drive innovation, design public infrastructure, and create neutral protocols that produce hyper-competitive markets, offering a model for how Bay Area–driven tech could close its own gaps.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Future of Labor and Capital05:18 Eschatology and AI Doomerism11:09 The Role of Religion in Technology17:01 Human Value in an AI-Driven World22:57 Rethinking Value and Hierarchies29:50 Global Perspectives on Innovation and Governance31:45 The Role of Individuals vs. Collective Systems37:09 Democracy in the Age of Information43:42 Balancing Spirituality and Technological Advancement50:59 Decentralization through Technology: The India Stack55:38 Government Intervention and Economic GrowthRESOURCES:Follow Glen: https://x.com/glenweylSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast Amanda on X: https://x.com/amandacassatt Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440 Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ

What if you could choose your child before they’re born?Noor Siddiqui, founder of Orchid, joins Amanda Cassatt to explore one of the most profound frontiers in biotech: genetically screening and selecting embryos during IVF. At the intersection of science, ethics, and the human desire for legacy, this conversation asks how far we’re willing to go to optimize health, reduce suffering, and rethink what it means to become a parent.They examine the promises and perils of “super babies,” a futuristic term quietly approaching reality. Once reserved for preventing rare genetic diseases, embryo testing is now exploring polygenic scoring, offering parents insight not only into potential health outcomes but also into cognitive traits such as IQ. With that insight comes questions about eugenics, equity, and where the line lies between informed choice and engineered outcomes.Noor shares how the burden of genetic disease shapes families and why she believes informed embryo selection can empower rather than control. Amanda and Noor also discuss the fertility crisis, the economic and cultural shifts reshaping family planning, and what it would take to build a world where having a child doesn’t demand superhuman effort or superhuman genes.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction to Orchid and IVF Technology02:57 Understanding Genetic Testing in Embryos06:08 The Concept of 'Super Babies' and Genetic Blessings09:03 Selection Pressure in Embryo Choices12:02 The Burden of Genetic Diseases14:43 Ethical Considerations in Genetic Selection17:49 The Future of Reproductive Technology20:49 Enhancements vs. Remediation in Genetic Technology23:36 The Role of Cost in IVF Accessibility26:32 The Future of Genetic Editing and CRISPR29:40 Conclusion and Future Outlook40:57 The Future of Reproductive Technology44:21 The Global Fertility Crisis48:40 Cultural Shifts in Parenthood51:24 The Purpose of Life and Parenthood55:53 Nature vs. Nurture in Child Development59:47 Personal Aspirations and Family Planning01:02:09 The Ethics of Genetic Selection01:08:54 Existential Questions and Identity

Crypto began as a rebellion against banks, bailouts, and surveillance. But what happens when the same forces it tried to outrun start reshaping the industry from within?Megan Knab, founder of Franklin, joins Amanda Cassatt on Endgame to examine where crypto may be drifting off course. She raises concerns about what happens when privacy disappears, how unbanking and financial exclusion play out in practice, and why stablecoins, if implemented incorrectly, could entrench the very systems crypto was meant to disrupt.From Tornado Cash and the prosecution of developers, to the ethical standards builders should hold themselves to, the conversation circles back to what it means to take cypherpunk values seriously in 2025. For Megan, that extends beyond manifestos and protocols, it’s about how anyone involved in crypto can carry those values forward in practice, from the tools they use to the way they choose to build, transact, and communicate.The lingering question: if crypto repeats the mistakes of legacy finance, what was the point of building it at all?TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Coinbase Military Parade Controversy03:02 The Origins of Cryptocurrency and Its Antithetical Nature to Government05:39 The Dangers of Government Involvement in Crypto08:49 The Unbanking Phenomenon and Its Implications11:52 Corporate Compliance and the Erosion of Cypherpunk Values14:51 Standards for Cryptocurrency Companies17:34 The Role of Privacy in Financial Transactions20:39 The Impact of Institutionalization on Crypto's Goals27:47 The Cypherpunk Values and Their Evolution31:33 Privacy Technology: Tornado Cash and Its Implications39:59 Stable Coins: Bridging Traditional Finance and Crypto45:36 The Future of Privacy in a Centralized World

➡️Like this episode? Leave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/endgameIt feels like crypto adoption is moving at lightning speed, but is anyone still "in it for the tech"?Eddy Lazzarin, CTO of a16z crypto, joins Amanda Cassatt on Endgame to explore the growing influence of capital markets, and government and regulatory access, in the current landscape, as well as the specific breakthroughs he anticipates in AI and privacy that would make technology once again the driver of progress.Touching on Tornado Cash, they discuss whether privacy technology has a future in an environment where governments are active players in the industry, the impact of the coming massive wave of asset tokenization, and how Eddy expects AI and crypto will actually converge and find product-market fit.From his vantage point at the intersection of new technology and venture investing, Eddy reflects on what real innovation looks like when the narrative is shaped as much by capital as it is by code.This conversation offers a window into how one of crypto’s most influential firms evaluates technology, risk, and opportunity.➡️Talking Points: 00:00 Understanding the Role of CTO at A16Z02:56 A16Z's Evolving Perspective on Venture Capital05:56 The Impact of Regulation on Technology Innovation08:46 Navigating the Intersection of Traditional Finance and Crypto11:46 The Future of Corporate Integration with Blockchain14:43 The Coexistence of Legacy Systems and New Technologies17:43 The Role of AI in Bridging Old and New Systems29:27 Trusting AI: Expanding Boundaries32:31 The Privacy Paradigm: Current Challenges and Future Solutions42:49 Navigating the Future: Privacy, Compliance, and User Experience55:31 Envisioning the Future: A Non-Custodial Financial Ecosystem➡️Show Links: Follow Eddy: https://x.com/eddylazzarinSubscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd   Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440  Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ