Web3 with Sam Kamani

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Todd Ault III, founder of Ault.com, a man with 37 years in traditional finance who has seen the future , and it is fully tokenized. Todd walks me through how Ault Markets is being built as a Bloomberg-style platform for Web3, why he borrowed $50 million in DeFi in 20 minutes on Morpho, and why he believes every stock, bond, piece of real estate, and commodity will eventually trade on Web3 rails. We get into stable coins, the dominance of the US dollar, why AI is creating jobs not killing them, and what founders can do right now to tokenize their assets on Ault's platform. If you want to understand where institutional finance meets blockchain, this episode is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Ault Website: https://ault.com/Todd Ault Twitter/X: https://x.com/ToddAultIII?lang=enTodd Ault LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miltontoddault/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Todd Ault III and frames the episode around tokenization and the RWA space• [00:56] Todd shares his 37-year background in traditional finance and how he discovered Bitcoin around 2011• [02:35] Why TradFi won't disappear overnight , Todd compares the shift to a generational standard-of-care change in healthcare• [03:34] Ault Markets explained: a Bloomberg-style Web3 platform with a DEX, lending, staking, tokenized stocks, commodities, and more• [05:28] How Ault integrates with DeFi Capital Markets, Universal Mint tokenization platform, and the Only Bulls wallet via Privy• [06:50] Why stablecoins are still massively underutilized and what gets tokenized next , stocks, commodities, and eventually real estate• [10:00] Todd's real-world DeFi story: borrowing $50 million against Bitcoin on Morpho in 20 minutes• [12:25] Why Todd built Ault's own blockchain after being debanked 10 times in the US for Bitcoin mining• [13:33] Bitcoin Max explained: trading Bitcoin down to the Satoshi level, denominated via a Swiss-based trust• [14:06] The 98% US dollar dominance in stablecoins vs 55% in fiat , and why Todd sees dollar dominance continuing• [17:25] How Ault uses AI for financial modeling, market making, staff accountability, and an integrated AI layer in Ault Markets• [20:10] Sam shares how AI is actually increasing workloads for lawyers and why history shows tech creates more jobs than it destroys• [23:38] Todd's goal to tokenize 100,000 assets over 10 years and grow TVL to $100 billion• [26:28] How founders can use Ault right now to tokenize securities, raise capital, and list on the DEX• [28:28] North Star metric: growing TVL, with 97–99% of all protocol revenue used to buy back the Ault token daily on a TWAP• [29:50] Todd's key asks: traders, founders wanting to tokenize, and hiring in tokenization , contact [email protected]• [33:15] Todd highlights Holiday as a standout payments innovation backed by Andreessen Horowitz• [34:36] Ault's hybrid private equity arm: owning and planning to tokenize hotels, a crane company, and other hard assets

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Jia Hang from DCS Group, a payments veteran with over two decades of experience at China UnionPay and Alipay, to explore how stablecoins are quietly revolutionising the way the world pays. Jia walks me through why the traditional card and mobile payment waves are giving way to a stablecoin-powered third wave, how DCS is acting as a Web 2.5 bridge so consumers can spend stablecoins at any merchant without the merchant needing to change a thing, and what it really takes to build trust on both sides of that equation. We also dig into the macro battle for stablecoin dominance, whether the US dollar will tighten its grip or lose ground to other currencies, and what the developing world's rapid adoption of stablecoins means for financial sovereignty. If you work in fintech, payments, or crypto infrastructure, this episode is packed with hard-won insights from someone who has built global payment networks from the ground up. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT DCS Website: https://www.dcsfintech.com/ DCS LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dcsccJia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hang-jia-81a83a234/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Jia Hang from DCS Group and his background spanning UnionPay and Alipay• [01:27] Jia's journey: from computer engineer to 9 years at China UnionPay building the Americas market• [03:05] Why Jia left Alipay after 10 years and stepped into the stablecoin payments world• [04:43] Why the global south leads on payment innovation , infrastructure gaps drove QR code adoption• [10:43] The three waves of payments: card, mobile, and now stablecoins , and why stablecoins merge information flow and fund flow• [14:23] How DCS focuses on C2B (consumer-to-merchant) stablecoin payments, not just B2B cross-border• [17:02] How the merchant experience stays unchanged , they still receive local fiat, DCS handles the stablecoin conversion• [20:39] DCS as a Web 2.5 bridge: connected to Web3 on the consumer side, Web2 on the merchant side• [22:27] The chicken-and-egg challenge , and why merchant-side adoption is harder than consumer-side• [25:44] DCS's Visa-backed stablecoin card: live in 9 countries, expanding to 70+• [28:10] What sets the DCS card apart: banking licence in Singapore, physical and metal cards, credit functionality, and Visa rewards• [33:12] The macro stablecoin currency war: will USD dominance in stablecoins exceed its fiat dominance?• [35:32] Jia's belief that all currencies will eventually become stablecoins , and what that means for smaller nations• [39:03] DCS's roadmap: auto-debit, subscription payments, smart contract-powered UX that feels like Web2• [42:07] Closing thoughts and preview of Token2049

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs, a fascinating builder who has worked across NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism before landing at the intersection of crypto, stocks, prediction markets, and AI. We dig into why Gen Z is financially nihilistic right now and why that actually creates a massive opportunity. Smit breaks down the concept of hyper-financialization, explains why retaining Gen Z users is far harder than acquiring them, and shares the raw growth lessons he picked up at big tech and in the trenches of a Layer 2 ecosystem. We also talk about what most Web3 founders get wrong, why bad UX has been the industry's dirty secret for too long, and how Cronos is building an everything trading app for eight tier one markets around the world. If you are building in Web3 or crypto and want a no-BS growth perspective from someone who has seen it all, this one is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Cronos Website: https://cronos.com/Cronos App on X/Twitter: https://x.com/CronosAppCronos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getcronos/Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs and previews the episode themes• [01:55] Smit's background: growing up in the Bay Area, engineering at Cal, early Bitcoin experience selling video game gold• [03:30] Working at Optimism, building blockchain infrastructure for Coinbase, Kraken, Sony and others• [04:17] Why bear markets are the best time to build and how to filter signal from noise• [04:43] Introducing the concept of hyper-financialization and what it means for the next generation• [06:10] Why Cronos is not just an everything app for everyone , eight tier one markets and the Gen Z focus• [08:13] Why Gen Z is financially nihilistic and how that shapes product thinking• [11:25] Prediction markets as exhibit A of hyper-financialization, and a nod to Kalshi and Polymarket• [14:02] Onboarding is easy for Gen Z , retention is the real challenge• [15:53] Growth lessons from NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism applied to Cronos• [18:07] The single most important lesson for early-stage Web3 founders• [21:28] How to retain users and why being unopinionated about your own product is a superpower• [24:40] September 17th launch date for the Cronos app V1 , sports, stocks, perps, crypto, and more• [27:25] Products Smit admires: FOMO, Polymarket, and Tempo• [29:00] Partnerships with Polymarket, Hyperliquid, Morpho, and Chainlink• [30:39] The one ask: download the app, give feedback, and follow @CronosApp on X

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sit down with Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, the world's first crypto tax platform founded all the way back in 2012 when Bitcoin was under $100. We dig into how they bootstrapped their way to 2.2 million users, why authentic education beats paid placements every time, and how they're navigating AI in a space where a single wrong number could land you in trouble with the IRS. Berken shares what channels are actually moving the needle, why they turned down the idea of launching their own token, and what their upcoming MCP integration means for connecting your Claude or ChatGPT directly to your tax data. Whether you're a crypto trader trying to avoid overpaying taxes, a founder looking for growth lessons, or someone curious about how a SaaS company stays relevant in a fast-moving space, this episode is packed with practical insights. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT CoinTracking Website: https://cointracking.info/ CoinTracking Twitter/X:https://x.com/Coin_Tracking Berken LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berken-mengesWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, and frames the episode around crypto taxes, AI, and startup growth• [02:12] Berken shares his journey from personal crypto investor in 2019 to CMO, starting as an affiliate marketing manager• [03:56] CoinTracking overview: 2.2 million users, 400+ exchange integrations, portfolio tracking and one-click tax reports• [06:32] CoinTracking was the world's first crypto tax tool, founded in 2012 by Dario Kachel who built it for himself• [08:00] The bootstrapped, organic growth story: users gave feedback, helped translate, and shaped the product over 13 years• [10:20] Sam and Berken discuss how fragmented the crypto landscape is across DeFi wallets, CEXs, and blockchains• [13:11] Why CoinTracking is a SaaS and not a crypto asset service provider, and how that makes compliance and partnerships simpler• [14:58] How CoinTracking is approaching AI: an MCP integration coming soon to connect Claude or ChatGPT to your tax data• [17:27] Why they are not allowing AI to edit tax data yet , reproducibility and accuracy are non-negotiable for tax filings• [21:43] Berken's biggest CMO challenge: navigating daily shifts in regulation, exchange strategies, and market conditions• [23:07] Business model breakdown: mostly B2C, but growing B2B with CPAs, funds, and a new white-label solution for exchanges• [24:18] North star metrics: user growth and retention, with a focus on making CoinTracking a daily portfolio tool, not just a tax tool• [26:08] The most common mistake people make: filing taxes with missing wallets or transactions, which can result in overpaying• [29:08] What marketing channel works best: long-form YouTube content, authentic KOL partnerships, and connecting KOLs with CPAs• [34:58] CoinTracking has been profitable since day one and is not looking for funding, but actively seeking exchange partnerships• [36:09] Why they decided against launching their own token: sentiment risk, distraction, and wrong-type user acquisition• [39:00] Sam draws a parallel to Xero's accountant-led growth strategy and how CoinTracking could follow a similar path

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Rick Thomas, co-CEO of OnRamper, to dig into a problem most crypto projects hit eventually: on-ramping is way more complicated than it looks. OnRamper aggregates over 30 on-ramping services into a single API and widget, giving wallets, exchanges, neo banks, and trading apps full global coverage without the headache of managing dozens of integrations. Rick breaks down why the on-ramp market is so fragmented, how their AI-powered routing algorithm maximises success rates across countries and payment methods, why KYC is still the biggest bottleneck in the space, and where the whole fiat-to-crypto journey is heading as TradFi and on-chain finance continue to merge. We also get into their identity layer product, the no-KYC card world and its risks, where we are in the current market cycle, and what OnRamper is building next. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT OnRamper Website: https://onramper.com/OnRamper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onramper/Rick Thomas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas/OnRamper Twitter/X: https://x.com/getonramper?s=21&t=GgYr5F_q7Jm-R2MfE-A6xAOnRamper Telegram: https://t.me/onramperstandardRick Thomas Twitter/X: https://x.com/RickTho16000125Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Introduction to Rick Thomas and OnRamper , aggregating 30+ on-ramps into one API and widget• [01:33] How Rick got into crypto in 2015 via a Moscow office full of Bitcoin mining rigs strapped to the ceiling• [04:19] The origin story of OnRamper , founder Thijs Maas was building a wallet, kept hitting on-ramp dead ends, and decided to build the aggregator instead• [06:24] Why the on-ramp market is so fragmented , licensing, regional requirements, fraud engines, KYC layers, and low barriers to entry• [08:09] OnRamper's B2B2C model , clients include TrustWallet, Exodus, Coinbase Wallet, Axiom, Pump.fun, gate.io, and more• [09:18] The rise of neo banks and card programs, and why aggregating card issuers is OnRamper's next big move• [13:44] KYC as the biggest unsolved bottleneck , and OnRamper's identity layer built in partnership with Sumsub• [15:10] The biggest mistake projects make when adding on-ramps , assuming one or two providers will be enough• [17:19] Customer success story: closing Solflare at a pizza-and-ping-pong side event at Breakpoint 2023• [19:18] How OnRamper's dual AI routing algorithm works , real-time routing across payment methods, countries, pricing, and historical success rates• [22:05] Why end-to-end success rates are the North Star metric , and how rates can plummet in markets like Indonesia without local payment methods• [24:21] Where fiat on-ramps are heading , consolidation, bank crypto integrations, virtual accounts, stablecoin rails, and card programs• [28:29] The no-KYC card world explained , how they work, the risks involved, and why compliance exposure falls entirely on the user• [32:49] OnRamper is still breaking volume and revenue records despite a broader bear market• [35:02] Biggest current challenge: an aggressive product roadmap and a need for more engineers• [37:27] Key asks , engineers near or open to Amsterdam, and projects still running single on-ramp integrations looking to upgrade