What if the smartest AI didn’t live in a hyperscale data center—but across millions of everyday devices?In this episode, Chris Davis sits down with Ivan Nikitin, co-founder of Fortytwo, an AI network built on crypto rails that turns idle consumer hardware into a global swarm of specialized models. After a decade in traditional AI—training agents, conversational systems, and even a spatial reasoning foundation model—Ivan hit the hard wall of AI scalability: not enough compute, endlessly bigger data centers, and no sustainable path forward.Fortytwo flips that script. Instead of one giant “god model,” it orchestrates small, specialized models into a swarm inference network. Each query is handled by a sub-swarm of experts that generate answers, peer-rank each other’s outputs, and aggregate the best result—creating a system that’s more robust to hallucinations, prompt injection, and noisy prompts (yes, including the “cat on the roof” test).Messari’s State of AI Report calls decentralized inference “one of the most important emerging architectures in AI,” and this conversation offers a firsthand look into how that future might unfold.Read the Full State of AI 2025 for FREE: https://messari.io/report/state-of-ai00:00 – Introductions03:05 – Crypto & Security10:16 – Models & Swarm Performance24:02 – Consumer Devices & Nodes38:02 – Custom Model Training43:16 – Demand & Pricing53:31 – Future, Token & Data Use59:00 – ConclusionHosted by Chris Davis of MessariSubscribe for more conversations at the intersection of crypto, DePIN, and real-world infra.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
In this episode, Messari's Chris Davis sits down with Shayon Sengupta, Partner at Multicoin Capital, to unpack how crypto-native markets are reshaping everything from wireless networks and AI compute to data collection and talent markets. They trace the lineage from Bitcoin mining to Helium and today’s DePIN / “internet labor markets,” dig into why verification is the hardest (and most under-rated) problem, and explore how crypto can fund the massive resource aggregation AI requires.We also connect these themes to insights from Messari’s newly released State of AI 2025 report, discussing how AI, decentralized data markets, and crypto-native coordination are converging to reshape the economic landscape.Read the Full State of AI 2025 for FREE: https://messari.io/report/state-of-aiThe conversation then zooms out to the future:• Can agents run zero-employee companies?• How will we pay humans for the data and labor that trains AI?• Why proof of personhood and content authenticity may become existential primitives for the internet.Shayon closes with candid advice on breaking into VC and how to actually be useful to founders.0:00 – Introductions1:01 – Background (Shayan’s path from math & startups to Multicoin)4:30 – Investing Thesis (DePIN, internet labor markets, crypto as “money + markets”)13:02 – Data & Verification (capital formation, network taxonomy, and why verification is hard)22:40 – AI & Labor (compute markets, inference clouds, talent networks, zero-employee orgs)43:28 – Identity & UBI (proof of personhood, Worldcoin, deepfakes, online identity)49:20 – Future Ideas (data-poor domains, specialized data DAOs, brain–computer interfaces)53:56 – How to Get Into VC (advice on writing, differentiation, being useful to founders)57:30 – Conclusion (wrap-up + future BCI episode tease)Hosted by Chris Davis of MessariSubscribe for more conversations at the intersection of crypto, DePIN, and real-world infra.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
The public internet wasn’t built for high-performance blockchains.In this episode of Fully Diluted, Messari’s Dylan Bane and Matthew Nay sit down with Austin Federa, co-founder of DoubleZero, to unpack how a global mesh of privately contributed fiber links is becoming the low-latency “private internet” for Solana and other high-throughput chains.Austin explains why 20–30 hops over the public internet introduce jitter, slow block propagation, and widen trading spreads—and how DoubleZero’s 70+ fiber links, multicast, and future FPGA acceleration aim to fix it. They also get into the 2Z token, DZ SOL liquid staking, validator incentives, and what it will take to push Solana toward 100k+ TPS and eventually 1M+.You’ll learn:🔹 Why major financial firms and web2 giants don’t rely on the public internet—and why blockchains shouldn’t either🔹 How DoubleZero’s contributors (Jump, DRW/Cumberland, and others) provide fiber that validators can “plug into” alongside the public internet🔹 How jitter, least-cost routing, and bandwidth caps quietly limit DeFi and on-chain trading today🔹 The design of the 2Z token and DZ SOL stake pool, and how they align network costs and validator economics🔹 What multicast, edge filtration, and hardware acceleration could unlock for next-gen L1s and cross-chain apps🔹 DoubleZero’s 2026 roadmap, new geographies and tenants, and how non-crypto systems might eventually tap the network00:00 – Introductions01:17 – Double Zero Basics02:00 – How It Works04:09 – Chain & Solana Use07:03 – Network Flow32:06 – Token & Rewards39:44 – Solana Future48:06 – ConclusionHosted by Dylan Bane and Matthew Nay of MessariSubscribe for more conversations at the intersection of crypto, deepin, and real-world infra.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Monad is gearing up for one of crypto’s most anticipated launches — a high-speed, censorship-resistant L1 built to merge scalability with true decentralization. In this episode of Fully Diluted, Dylan Bane and Matthew Nay sit down with Monad’s Kevin and Jack to discuss the tech behind Monad’s 10,000 TPS architecture, how decentralization fits into the next phase of crypto, and what users can expect from day one of mainnet.We cover the team’s origin story, the challenges of building from zero to a thriving ecosystem, and why Monad believes it’s the endgame architecture for the EVM.0:00 — Introductions1:13 — Monad Story & Team6:51 — Decentralization & Vision17:02 — Ecosystem & Features21:00 — Growth & Community30:03 — Launch & Goals38:28 — Market Outlook45:03 — ConclusionHosted by Dylan Bane and Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Messari CTO Diran Lee sits down with Karam Lakshman, CEO & co-founder of Dabba, to unpack how a DePIN marketplace, local cable operators, and crypto incentives could build a new Telco in the world’s toughest market—India. We cover broadband vs. mobile realities, Dabba’s business model and token system, the choice of Solana & BONK, incentives, and the growth roadmap.0:00 Introductions 1:33 Tech Journey 7:04 Internet in India 13:29 Business Model 21:17 Token System 24:46 Solana & BONK Choice 26:34 Incentives & Vision 31:12 Future Growth 32:07 ConclusionAbout the episode:Dabba helps India’s long-tail of local operators deliver affordable broadband by standardizing ops and crowdsourcing last-mile buildout through a tokenized incentive model—aiming to onboard the next hundred million (and beyond).Hosted by Diran Lee of MessariSubscribe for more conversations at the intersection of crypto, deepin, and real-world infra.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Q3 was ETH’s quarter. Messari Research digs into why ETH ETFs saw more inflows than BTC, how ETH-focused DATs amassed ~3.8% of ETH supply in one quarter, and what MNAV convergence means for future buy pressure. We also cover stablecoin growth (and USDe’s breakout), the slow-but-real maturation of tokenized equities/commodities, the rise of “corporate chains” (Stripe/Tempo, Circle/Arc, JPMorgan/Kinexys, Google Cloud), and the debate around next-gen EVMs (Monad, MegaETH). We wrap with Internet Capital Markets (ICM) / launchpad wars and what we’re doing on-chain.00:47 — Introductions02:09 — ETF Market Updates 05:33 — Mining Competition 07:55 — Solana & Ethereum 9:24 — Bitcoin & Stablecoins 16:07 — On-chain Assets 26:26 — New Chains & Launchpads 48:52 — On-chain Activity 52:14 — ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
In this episode of Fully Diluted, Messari’s Dylan Bane and the Messari Research team sit down with Mert Mumtaz, Co-founder and CEO of Helius, to unpack the evolving privacy landscape in crypto. They dive deep into Zcash’s resurgence, Solana’s growing DeFi ecosystem, and the regulatory and technical hurdles shaping the next generation of privacy-preserving systems.Mert discusses why privacy is fundamental to crypto’s future, how advancements in ZK proofs, FHE, and MPC are transforming usability, and why regulation may finally be catching up to innovation. The group also explores Solana’s momentum in trading infrastructure, perps, and DeFi market structure—and what it means for a truly decentralized financial internet.00:41 – Introductions03:54 – Why Privacy Matters05:15 – Privacy Apps 11:58 – Zcash & Privacy Tech 17:58 – Zcash Updates 29:03 – Solana & Privacy 41:01 – Future & Learning42:55 – Conclusion Hosted by Dylan Bane of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
On this episode of Fully Diluted, Messari’s Dylan Bane and Chris Davis sit down with Yan, founder/CEO of OpenMind (and Stanford engineering professor on sabbatical), to unpack the near-future of physical AI—LLMs embodied in robots that can navigate homes, talk, learn, and even pay for services.00:00 – Introductions01:58 – Robotics & AIState of robotics, near-term use cases (security checks, eldercare prompts, math tutoring), why start with quadrupeds vs. humanoids, form-factor tradeoffs and safety/insurance.19:05 – Data & SecurityReal-world deployment frictions (liability, public perception, unions) and deep dive on privacy: on-device face processing, edge AI, and confidential computing for cloud inference.26:32 – Crypto in RobotsWhy robots use crypto rails (identity, payments, tasking, proof-of-location), “robots with wallets,” agent payments, and machine-to-machine economies.35:08 – Manufacturing & PolicyWho can build millions of robots (auto OEMs, Asian supply chains), how the U.S. catches up, and the role of government vs. private sector.42:48 – Social ImpactJobs, aging populations, productivity tradeoffs, and how rapid AI progress stresses education and labor markets.51:46 – Business ModelOpen-source core + enterprise SaaS endpoints (healthcare, spatial RAG), rev-share with manufacturers, and data/micropayment services.56:38 – Future PlansHome pilots of autonomous quadrupeds, target markets/timeline for broader rollouts, building charging/payment networks.58:44 – ConclusionHosted by Dylan Bane of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
In this Episode, Messari's Enterprise team digs into three hot threads: why stablecoins are the best onramp for mainstream users, whether on-chain neobanks can beat custodial fintech, and the latest in the Perp Wars (Hyperliquid vs. Aster/Lighter). We close with Double Zero’s launch, token design debates, and what it means for high-speed crypto networks.0:00 – Introductions1:24 – Plasma & XPL Launch3:45 – Self-Custody & Web3 UX20:27 – Aster & BNB Ecosystem28:02 – Perp Market Share Outlook30:48 – Double Zero & Tokenomics41:15 – On-Chain Activity (What We’re Doing)44:20 – ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Injective CEO Eric Chen joins Messari’s Dylan Bane on Fully Diluted to unpack a finance-first Layer-1 built for performance and markets. Injective is a Cosmos SDK chain with instant finality (~25k TPS) and MEV-resistant orderbook/financial modules that power apps like Helix. We cover permissionless market creation (including pre-IPO perpetuals for OpenAI, SpaceX, Stripe via Theta pricing), the multi-VM roadmap with a new EVM environment and exchange precompiles, wallet abstraction and LayerZero bridging, and how RWAs show up on Injective (Pineapple Financial’s on-chain mortgages and a proposed staked INJ ETF). The theme: breadth of offerings, distribution to non-crypto users, and an “everything finance” app strategy.0:48 Introductions1:22 About Injective3:40 Trading & Perp DEX9:38 Prediction Markets13:23 On-Chain Adoption16:59 Institutional Interest22:22 Developers & EVM29:47 Crypto Future34:09 Games & Resources34:38 Conclusion Hosted by Dylan Bane of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Botanix co-founders Willem Schroé and Alisia Painter join Messari's Dylan Bane on Fully Diluted to unpack a Bitcoin Layer-2 built for real finance. Botanix is a proof-of-stake Bitcoin L2 where 50% of gas fees flow to stakers via STBTC—a liquid, up-only, native Bitcoin yield backed by on-chain economic activity (not points or new tokens). We cover how users bridge BTC → Botanix → stake → earn, instant peg-outs, and why the team’s Spiderchain design prioritizes decentralization and censorship resistance (federation today, dynafed next, more than 1,000 nodes over time).We also dive into catalysts for BitcoinFi adoption (monetary incentives + trusted apps), BTC-backed stablecoins like Palladium (PUSD), perps and tokenized assets, and the 6–12 month roadmap as STBTC becomes base collateral across the Botanix ecosystem.0:00 – IntroductionsMeet the hosts and Botanics’ founders, William and Alicia, and hear how the project began.3:30 – Bitcoin L2 TodayState of Bitcoin Layer 2s, scaling challenges, and why Botanics is building for the long term.6:15 – Bridging & Spider ChainHow to bridge Bitcoin to Botanics, plus a deep dive into the Spiderchain security model.10:45 – Yield & IncentivesUnderstanding STBTC, gas-fee-backed Bitcoin yield, and why it’s a catalyst for adoption.20:25 – Adoption DriversKey ingredients for Bitcoin DeFi growth: incentives, builders, and decentralization.23:50 – StablecoinsExploring Palladium (PUSD) and the opportunity for Bitcoin-backed stablecoins in emerging markets.30:15 – DEXs & AssetsPerpetual DEXs, tokenized assets, and why Bitcoin collateral changes the game.36:55 – Roadmap AheadWhat’s next for Botanics: STBTC rollout, new apps, and expanding the federation.40:55 – Learning MoreWhere to find docs, tutorials, and how to start earning yield with Bitcoin.42:30 – ConclusionFinal thoughts on Bitcoin yield, self-custody, and building a sustainable Bitcoin DeFi future.Hosted by Dylan Bane of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
This week, the Messari Enterprise team digs into the next big unlocks and headwinds across crypto:🔹 Exotic RWAs (Pokémon cards, watches, wine): why tokenizing non-financial collectibles finally improves UX (instant settlement, lower trust frictions) and could onboard normies.🔹 Macro setup: weak jobs, CPI/PPI ahead, gold ripping, and why a surprise 50 bps cut isn’t crazy — plus what that means for BTC, SOL, and funding conditions.🔹 Solana DATs & flows: Galaxy/Jump/Multicoin’s $1.65B vehicle, what’s actually bullish (cash vs. locked), and realistic expectations for SOL vs. ETH.🔹 Pump.fun buybacks: short-term alignment vs. long-term cash needs to compete with Web2 social — when buybacks help and when they starve growth.🔹 Stripe’s Tempo L1: distribution monster or Libra 2.0? Permissionless claims, payment fast lanes, and the impact on ETH/Solana liquidity and “corpo chain” UX.🔹 Hyperliquid’s native stablecoin (USDH): Paxos, Agora, FRA, and Native Markets bids; revenue-share math; what it signals for Circle/USDC and for L1/L2 treasury design.🔹 MegaETH & new networks: timelines, yield vs. distribution in stablecoin wars, and why “attention + loyalty” may be the next moat.00:00 Exotic RWAs primer2:00 Macro & Fed odds (25 vs 50 bps)6:00 Solana DATs, flows & SOL/ETH12:40 Pump.fun buybacks debate23:00 Stripe Tempo L1 & “corpo chains”40:20 Hyperliquid USDH proposals56:00 Exotic RWA momentum & UX1:07:20 What we’re doing on-chainHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
VC Brandon Potts (Framework Ventures) joins Fully Diluted to cut through the noise on crypto venture right now. We cover why “let the token rip” is a dead-end playbook, where real demand and distribution come from, and why the next wave looks like application-specific infrastructure, stablecoins at scale, and energy/DePIN feeding AI—not generic infra or meme “vibe-coded” apps.What we cover🔹 Why most CT hot takes are wrong & why we’re still early🔹 The new bar for founders: demand, distribution, revenue (not pre-launch tokens)🔹 Application-specific infra (e.g., Hyperliquid, Plasma) vs. generic chains🔹 Stablecoins after policy clarity (“Genius”): cost of capital, distribution, yield🔹 Energy x DePIN: on-chain finance for power, credits, and data centers🔹 Crypto ↔ AI reality: how miners morphed into the AI backbone; investable angles🔹 GPU marketplaces: where the thesis works—and where it breaks🔹 The coming B2B crypto/SaaS moment and why execution beats narratives00:32 Introductions02:17 Crypto Venture Market15:09 Stablecoins & Tokenization30:25 AI & Energy Investments39:29 GPU Compute & Infra Protocols43:06 Mapping & Decentralized Data47:41 Potts’ contrarian take: we’re still early50:50 ConclusionHosted by Dylan Bane and Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
In this week's episode, the Messari Enterprise team covers a loaded agenda:🔹 Helium Mobile’s move to burn 100% of revenue in HNT🔹 Fed pivot sparks a rally in ETH and TradFi equities🔹 Capital rotation across majors, altcoins, and onchain flows🔹 Hyperliquid smashes volume records and cements its spot as a top onchain venue🔹 Prediction markets (Flipper, Polymarket, KHI) gaining new traction🔹 Bio Protocol’s flywheel and the future of DeSci funding00:53 Introductions1:53 Market Outlook3:34 On-Chain Flows14:44 Hyper EVM17:34 Prediction Markets20:54 Product Growth40:03 Coinbase43:18 Helium (HNT)50:57 On-Chain Work54:08 ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
In this episode of Unqualified Opinions, Messari’s Whynonah sits down with Johann Eid , Chief Business Officer at Chainlink, to explore the evolution of Chainlink from solving the oracle problem to becoming a cornerstone of institutional blockchain adoption.Johann shares personal insights on the importance of focus in building within crypto, lessons from Aave’s journey to product-market fit, and why tokenization and interoperability are the key drivers of the next wave of adoption.Key topics covered:🔹 Why focus beats distraction in an ultra-competitive market🔹 The formative moment that proved blockchain’s value🔹 Lessons in product-market fit from DeFi pioneers🔹 Chainlink’s role in connecting TradFi and crypto through tokenization🔹 Why institutional adoption today is different from past cycles🔹 How blockchain technology enables global financial freedom00:33 Introductions1:13 Personal Background5:24 Product Market Fit8:39 Chainlink's Evolution14:10 Institutional Adoption20:30 Future of Crypto & Chainlink25:44 Community & Resources
Ethereum is up over 45% this month, outpacing every major asset — but what’s fueling this explosive move? In this episode, Matthew Nay and the Messari Enterprise team break down the drivers behind ETH’s outperformance, the institutional treasury race between Bitmine and ESB, and how these moves could reshape DeFi markets.We also dive into macro market conditions, CPI expectations, the surprising reception to GPT-5, ETH DeFi fundamentals, the Solana vs ETH narrative battle, and the breakout performance of projects like Zora and Succinct. Plus, we cover on-chain trends, perps, restaking, and why SocialFi may be the next hot narrative.Whether you’re an investor, builder, or DeFi degen, this is your front-row seat to the trends moving crypto markets right now.00:42 Introductions1:08 Macro Outlook8:28 ETH Treasuries15:56 DeFi Shift19:56 ETH vs. Solana25:24 Zora Rally34:24 Ecosystem Trends48:02 On-Chain Activity54:33 ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
💡 Ask Messari Copilot: How will stablecoins reshape global finance if Treasury demand and TradFi adoption continue accelerating?👉 See Copilot's Response: https://messari.io/copilot/share/stablecoin-future-79313968-8b6e-4ae5-b1cf-2fa779c6f098In Episode 10 of Shoot the Pod, the Messari Enterprise team breaks down a jam-packed week across crypto markets, TradFi trends, and frontier tech. We dive into Scott Bessant's bold prediction of a $3.7 trillion stablecoin market, the U.S. Treasury's surprisingly bullish stance, and how stablecoins might be used to backstop U.S. deficits.We also explore the explosion of Ethereum treasury activity, institutional appetite for onchain assets, and the fallout from Pump.Fun’s underwhelming launch. Plus: Zora’s surprise breakout, NFTs staging a comeback, and the emergence of DePIN-powered devices like the Dawn Blackbox.00:44 Introductions5:27 Macro Trends & Predictions7:30 Fund Strategies & Risk26:07 Market Sentiment46:06 Crypto Adoption & NFTs50:46 Stablecoin Forecast & DeFi1:02:18 On-Chain Activity1:10:19 Hyperliquid & Tools Access1:11:38 ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Want a comprehensive look at the stablecoin sector from top Messari analysts and industry-leading contributing partners? 📥 Download the FREE State of Stablecoins 2025 report live now: https://messari.io/report/state-of-stablecoins💡 Ask Messari Copilot: What do you think is the biggest untold story behind stablecoin adoption — enterprise growth, geopolitical implications, or DeFi-native FX innovation?👉 See Copilot's Response: https://messari.io/copilot/share/stablecoin-adoption-untold-stories-548e40d4-bf68-43c6-b361-0c7a0a7d572fAre stablecoins the future of global payments? In this episode of Unqualified Opinions, Messari’s Andrew Young speaks with Anthony Yim of Artemis to discuss the findings of their new State of Stablecoins report.From B2B cross-border transactions to stablecoin-linked card payments and the dominance of Tron and Tether, this episode dives into the data behind the exponential growth of stablecoin infrastructure. Anthony shares insights on enterprise adoption, regional frictions, the realities of replacing legacy payment rails, and why major networks like Visa and Mastercard may not be going anywhere.We also explore:- How stablecoins are already rivaling legacy rails like PayPal and Visa- Why emerging markets are at the forefront of stablecoin usage- The geopolitical risks of dollar dominance in a tokenized economy- What new opportunities could arise from open, programmable money rails00:30 Introductions1:17 Survey & B2B Payment Trends7:17 Speed & Card Usage17:17 Stablecoin Behavior & Liquidity22:09 Regulation & Government Response31:54 Adoption Challenges35:51 Stablecoins as Strategy39:21 ConclusionHosted by Andrew Dyer of MessariFull list of contributing partners includes: Coinbase Developer Foundation, Tether, Tron, Addressable, Circle, Global Dollar Network, Stellar, Sky, Hyperbeat, Perena, fx Protocol, Bitso, Huma, Ondo Finance, Plasma, Firefly, Dragonfly, Anchorage Digital, and Sphere.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
Want a comprehensive look at the stablecoin sector from top Messari analysts and industry-leading contributing partners? 📥 Download the FREE State of Stablecoins 2025 report live now: https://messari.io/report/state-of-stablecoins💡 Ask Messari Copilot: How should emerging markets balance the benefits of dollar-denominated stablecoin access with the risks to their sovereign monetary policy?👉 See Copilot's Response: https://messari.io/copilot/share/stablecoins-in-emerging-markets-a-balancing-act-63575aa2-c161-4091-b2b4-166c5cd640a3In this special Unqualified Opinions episode, Messari’s Andrew dives deep into the cross-border stablecoin economy with Arnold Lee, co-founder of Sphere Labs.They unpack:- What it means to operate without clear money transmitter laws in emerging markets- How “stablecoin sandwiches” are revolutionizing cross-border payments- Why FX inefficiencies still dominate traditional finance rails- The core thesis behind Sphere Pay and the Sphereet private Solana cluster- Why small, agile companies may have an edge over global fintech giants like Wise and Revolut- The looming tension between dollar stablecoin adoption and sovereign monetary policyWhether you're a builder in fintech, a stablecoin researcher, or just crypto-curious, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the real-world implications, frictions, and transformative potential of programmable money.00:45 Introductions1:11 What Sphere Is3:22 User Benefits15:39 How Liquidity Works25:33 Role in Routing34:52 Use Cases44:39 Competitor Talk47:27 Future and Risk1:05:40 What's Next?1:08:08 ConclusionHosted by Andrew Dyer of MessariFull list of contributing partners includes: Coinbase Developer Foundation, Tether, Tron, Addressable, Circle, Global Dollar Network, Stellar, Sky, Hyperbeat, Perena, fx Protocol, Bitso, Huma, Ondo Finance, Plasma, Firefly, Dragonfly, Anchorage Digital, and Sphere.Follow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.
💡 Ask Messari Copilot: How is Phantom’s integration with Hyperliquid reshaping the future of on-chain perps and trading UX?👉 See Copilot's Response: https://messari.io/copilot/share/phantom-and-hyperliquid-integration-fe7767d4-8f7c-4efc-96d7-76682a2b2c75This episode of STSP covers the major catalysts driving crypto forward in July 2025. The team dives into the massive PUMP ICO, Hyperliquid’s breakout moment with Phantom, and what this means for the future of builder codes, trading infra, and Solana’s role in the evolving on-chain stack.Get insights into token launches, altcoin season indicators, macro momentum, and how Hyperliquid’s tech stack is rivaling CEXs in real time. Plus, a bullish Helium update and the team's on-chain plays.00:38 Introductions1:31 Macro & Bitcoin10:10 Crypto Week Impact11:50 PUMP & Meme Wars32:19 Urgency & Price Moves34:19 Hyperliquid vs. Others46:42 Chain Launch Talk47:27 Helium Update52:34 On-Chain Activity56:11 ConclusionHosted by Matthew Nay of MessariFollow Messari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MessariCryptoFollow Unqualified Opinions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uG5qpwFg67zTt0VQRTaZ7?si=13163cbebe01415eFollow Unqualified Opinions on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/messaris-unqualified-opinions/id1455666979____This episode and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Messari, Inc. Hosts and guests may hold cryptocurrencies discussed in this content. This content is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as investment advice. You should conduct your own research, and consult an independent financial, tax, or legal advisor before making any investment decisions. Nothing contained in this content is a recommendation or suggestion, directly or indirectly, to buy, sell, make, or hold any investment, loan, commodity, or security, or to undertake any investment or trading strategy with respect to any investment, loan, commodity, security, or any issuer. This content should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security or commodity. Messari does not guarantee the sequence, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided in this content.