MSV Podcast

Guests:Sami, CEO of Cross The Ages Leo, Founder of STYLE ProtocolThe Big Brawler, CEO of Bit BrawlTop 3 Key Takeaways from Our Guests1. Web3 gaming has changed with recent market conditions At the roundtable, we asked our speakers to share their thoughts on how recent market conditions have affected the Web3 gaming industry, particularly compared to the previous cycle. The speakers agreed that in the previous cycle, many games capitalized on the success of Axie Infinity, resulting in a surge of play-to-earn games. However, due to the time it takes to develop a game, market constraints restrict availability and accessibility. Games take years to build, which means that we are yet to see progress and adoption. Nonetheless, there are some great games currently available that could succeed in the upcoming bull run. Additionally, the speakers mentioned that in this cycle, many games emphasize cross-functional assets and interoperability, which makes the ecosystem more engaging.2. Balancing fun and financial rewards is still a driving narrative within Web3 game developmentOne of the speakers in the roundtable expressed skepticism about the current state of web3 gaming, citing a lack of proper valuations and an imbalance between marketing and gameplay. They believe the industry needs to focus more on creating a fun and engaging gaming experience to attract more users. Another speaker emphasized the importance of balancing fun and financial elements in crypto games and highlighted the need for iteration and user involvement. According to this speaker, finding the right balance between the two elements is crucial to ensure that the game is both enjoyable and rewarding. The third speaker shared their perspective on creating a fun and engaging gaming experience, highlighting the need for iteration and finding the right balance between information and ownership. They believe it is vital to keep the game simple and easy to understand while giving players a sense of ownership over their assets. Overall, the speakers agreed that there is still a long way to go before web3 gaming becomes indistinguishable from web2 gaming, but they are optimistic about the future and see great potential in the industry.3. Virtual assets need to be interoperable across blockchainsThe speaker suggests that virtual assets should be interoperable across different environments. With so many virtual environments emerging, it is not feasible for people to have their assets in each environment. They believe that projects making virtual assets resellable long-term across different virtual environments are crucial. The speaker thinks that a few big players will emerge as the primary infrastructure providers in the market for virtual asset infrastructure, similar to the telecommunication industry.

The New Era of PrivacyGuest: Shahaf Bar-Geffen, CEO  of COTIHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest:1. Privacy is not to be confused with anonymity Shahaf explained that privacy should not be confused with anonymity. Blockchain stands for transparency, but that doesn’t mean privacy is not required. Privacy is often recommended and required when a party wants to send sensitive data to another. Transparency and privacy can and do exist simultaneously, and that is what Coti wants to ensure so the cryptospace can take that next step and mature the industry.2. Garbled circuits improve user experience.Garbled Circuits is a new encryption technology that encrypts data quickly. The main advantage is the technology's “lightness". This feature allows messages and data to be encrypted and decrypted fast, improving user experience and ensuring easy usage for shareholders who want to transact on the blockchain securely and privately.3. Who will benefit from this new technology?Shahaf explained that there is no target audience because it’s for everybody. Anyone who creates almost any kind of dapp will want to use this technology, especially those who create financial services like Dexes, governance, and data-sharing platforms. However, the utility doesn’t stop with them. Privacy is crucial in various industries, e.g., healthcare, where traceability and transparency are important, but privacy is a must.

Guests:Eden, Co-Founder of AARK DigitalRitwik Rudra, Co-Founder of SYNTHRBrian Gallagher, Co-founder of Partisia BlockchainTop 3 Key Takeaways from Our Guests1. "There are still significant adoption hurdles for DeFi"The speakers emphasized that user experience (UX) issues are the primary obstacle to the wider adoption of DeFi solutions. They pointed out that challenges such as wallet experiences and incentives still pose significant adoption challenges. Additionally, they suggested that there is a pressing need for user support in the DeFi space, and highlighted the importance of providing more customer support to help users better understand these tools. 2. "Having multiple blockchains is necessary for innovation and quality improvement"During our discussion about the future of the crypto space and its impact on DeFi, the speakers had differing opinions. While one speaker wasn't convinced that RWA, AI, and SocialFi would have a lasting impact, others saw great potential in these areas and believed synergies could exist. Additionally, there was a debate about the need for new blockchains and whether Ethereum was the only one required. However, some speakers felt that multiple blockchains were necessary to drive innovation, create solutions that challenge other systems, eliminate issues such as high fees, and give builders more control.3. "Creating a seamless on-chain experience is crucial for retail users and investors"The speakers raised an important issue regarding DeFi. There are several problems with DeFi, such as high slippage costs, lack of liquidity, and VCs controlling tokenomics, which results in retail investors being excluded from participating. This makes it less attractive for retail investors to engage with DeFi. Therefore, DeFi protocols must continue to focus on interoperability and building efficient liquidity layers. This will lead to wider adoption and democratization of DeFi.

Shaping AI OwnershipGuest: Whitney Gibbs, Founder of RingfenceHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest:1. AI has positively contributed to our daily lives.To kick off the conversation, we asked Whit what he thinks about AI’s effects on our daily lives. He explained that even though there are some negative effects on the media or social platforms, he finds AI’s contribution to our lives a significantly positive tool. He highlighted how AI improved medicine in recognizing unwanted cells or in the creative space and how AI can help somebody with a good idea who lacks graphic or content creation skills transform their vision into visual content.  2. The AI industry must have a platform where creators are paid for their work. Whit carried on the conversation and highlighted that even though there are countless applications for Generative AI, the big companies are still unable to use them due to the unknown origin of the content. Companies are afraid of using content where the original creator is unknown or hard to determine as that could bring uncertainties from a legal point of view; therefore, a platform where the creators are paid for their work and the copyright is well established is a must to move this industry in the right direction. 3. AI regulation should not get in the way of industry development. Finally, Whit explained that navigating AI regulations is not as complicated as it may sound. Existing regulations are a work in progress, and more is to be expected. However, if we apply common sense and operate in the AI industry as we would operate in more traditional business considering asset ownership and copyright, AI regulations should not get in the way of the development of this industry.

Guests:Emile, Co-Founder of XDEFI WalletGabby Dizon, Co-Founder of Yield Guild GamesAltcoin Sherpa, Angel Investor & InfluencerTop 3 Key Takeaways from Our Guests1. The following crypto cycle could be potentially more significant due to mainstream adoption. During the roundtable discussion, our guests shared their reactions to the latest news in the cryptocurrency world. They discussed the approval of ETF and the upcoming halving in April. Although predicting the market's movement is complex, the guests agreed that crypto is becoming more accessible and inclusive. This leads to a growing community and an influx of capital, especially in anticipation of the next significant event. However, the guests anticipate that the next few months will still be turbulent, particularly regarding the price of Bitcoin. The Federal Reserve rates will continue to have implications for the macro environment and affect the market's movement.2. Infrastructure and DeFi projects will need seamless integration to host the new influx of users. We dove deeper into various crypto industries and what our guests thought about the development. Given Gabby’s background in gaming, he says that price adoption and crypto adoption will drive teams to create better products than they had in the previous cycle. With his background in wallets and infrastructure, Emiel added that user experience is vital in gaming, and companies like his need to ensure that wallet integrations are seamless for games to stay competitive. Segueing into wallets and infrastructure, Emiel also said that DeFi protocols would be on the sidelines in the upcoming year as the audience changes. DeFi will have to be democratized and made easier to use. The need for multi-chain-friendly tools and improving the user experience will be the way forward in the upcoming cycle. 3. "This cycle's all-time high will be very different from what we saw in 2021"In 2024, we can expect to see the growth of various narratives. Our guests all agree that last year, the trend was very much around SocialFi and NFTs. Since October 2023, more people have been talking about EVMs and RWAs, which also reflects the big projects in the market. With this being said and the trends foreseen in the coming months, Sherpa states that he is bullish and sees us reaching an all-time high in 2024/2025. However, how we reach an all-time high will be very different from how it happened in 2021. We will see more gradual growth in this cycle than sudden candle spikes. With that, all speakers advise people to continue to research, understand what is happening in the market, and take caution of people’s advice. 

Guests:Pavel Bains, Executive Producer of MixMobNico del Pino, Co-Founder of OLA GGBorislav Hrinchev, CEO of MSV.GGThree Key Takeaways from Our Guests:1. Guilds have evolved their focus from scholarships to building engaged communities and providing hands-on initiatives.To start the roundtable, our guests were asked to define a guild in their own words. All our guests agreed that guilds had evolved their focus from scholarships that helped early on adoption within the gaming space to building engaged communities and directly supporting projects through hands-on initiatives. This includes assisting with user acquisition in target regions/demographics, localization of content and marketing, and identifying issues early by facilitating extensive testing and feedback cycles before product launch. Ola GG and MSV.GG, being guilds and working closely with games and other crypto projects, agreed that community, infrastructure, economic support, and distribution were key elements of today’s guilds.2. Guilds can grant access to expert communities whose skills can aid in go-to-market efforts.Our guests moved on to talk about the relationship between guilds and games. They stressed that partnering with specialized guilds with expertise in specific regions, languages, or genres enables web3 projects to enhance user acquisition strategies and distribution. This approach proves more effective in reaching niche target audiences than general guilds. Additionally, it grants early access to smaller testing communities associated with these specialized guilds, facilitating the identification of bugs or suggesting improvements before a wider launch. This collaborative effort contributes to an overall improvement in product quality. These engaged guild testing communities' structured and detailed feedback proves invaluable, particularly for early-stage projects.3. Projects released great alphas and are preparing for more community initiatives.To end the roundtable, our guests revealed a couple of exciting alphas. MixMob, the game is in a great state, and last week, the team launched their whitepaper paper along with a video. They are also kicking off their “Flip web2” campaign, which aims to garner more attention to the future of web3 and all its benefits. Ola GG introduced its leaderboard and community ranking to track merit and engagement. They will continue to work on Ola GGs on this initiative and more reward programs.Furthermore, they will travel around Latin America and Spain to meet their community face-to-face and, finally, MSV.GG will be pushing the next recruitment cycle soon. The team will also work closely with Fusionist, BitsCrunch, and Apeiron. You can follow all these initiatives on the project's discords and Twitter channels.

Combatting Fraud with AI nad DataGuest: Vijay Pravin, Founder and CEO of BitsCrunchHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest:1. bitsCrunch helps clients be compliant with AI as the underlying technology.To kick off the interview, we asked Vijay why bitsCrunch is an asset to the crypto industry. Vijay highlighted one of the most common but overlooked aspects that slows adoption and institutional integration – Fraud! bitsCrunch, with AI as the underlying technology, offers monitoring and checking transactions and asset authenticity to ensure that users and companies get what they pay. They monitor the market and the transactions and flag any suspicious activities like wash trading to ensure that the price of an asset is not artificially increased and users will get the value they are paying for. 2. bitsCrunch will offer services for users and companies alike.Vijay explained that although bitsCrunch services sound like the target customers are companies, users can also benefit from it. In the case of a company, while with their easy-to-integrate API big volume data can be monitored, helping in filtering malicious activities and projecting upcoming trends, dedicated platforms will also be put in place for single users. He mentioned that, for example, the Unleash NFT platform will allow people to check the authenticity of the NFT they want to buy. 3. bitsCrunch will continue to monitor the Metaverse. Toward the end of the interview, one of our audience members asked if bitsCrunch would also work in the Metaverse. Although there is no current plan to be in the Metaverse, Vijay stated that, given their product capability along with being an active “investigator” of transactions, markets, and activity, they aim to be present in the Metaverse with a sharp focus on upcoming cross-chain transactions and cross-community game activities of player to provide gaming studios accurate data about their gamers preferences to improve the services they offer.

The Next Generation GamingGuest: Ike T., CEO of Fusionist Host: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest:1. “Data ownership is not the most important element of Web3 Gaming”.We kicked off the Twitter Spaces by asking Ike about the importance of data ownership for Web3 gamers. Ike explained he doesn’t think data ownership in gaming is very important because, according to his gaming experience, fun, and enjoyability is the key factor for gamers to continue playing – which is an element many Web3 game producers are still trying to navigate and integrate into their games.2. “In the future, Layer 1 and Layer 2 infrastructures will support complex Web3 games.”The conversation then dove deeper into the complexity of games and whether blockchain infrastructures can support them. Ike explained that at the moment, blockchain infrastructures will not be able to support a fully complex game and will need to be built on both Web2 and Web3. For example, Fusionist is not built 100% on the blockchain and consists of Web2 elements. This was a conscious decision, as it was necessary for the game to compete with already existing traditional games. In the future, Ike believes that various Layer 1 or 2 infrastructures will be capable of hosting complex games, however, as at the moment, games need to be built on both traditional technologies and blockchain to ensure a smooth user experience.3. “Fusionist welcomes new users to join and engage with its community”To close off, Ike welcomed new users to engage with the Fusionist ecosystem. All one has to do is create an account and earn tokens by playing the game. Some smaller parts of the game, called exhibitions, are live and ready for play. The game is currently in the test phase, but will soon be released on Steam for everyone to enjoy.

Guests:Justin Colón, Head of Community at Ancient8Alper Çimik, CMO of Coin MuhendisiAbhinav Pathak, Research Partner at Woodstock Fund Three Key Takeaways from Our Guests:1. Emerging markets are embracing innovation, given their growing economic nature.We started the conversation by asking our guests why cryptocurrency is significant in their local communities. In Vietnam, it's embraced due to being an emerging market with a sizable unbanked population. Additionally, the tech-savvy environment and a robust community of blockchain developers contribute to its popularity. India ranks second in crypto adoption due to its fast-growing economy, mobile-first approach, affordable internet, and widespread digital payment adoption across generations and income classes. Integrating NFTs is expected to engage further and monetize Indian users. In Turkey, the thriving crypto community drives numerous events and adoption efforts, prioritizing community engagement.2. Regulation will affect people positively, but there is still a long way to go.Considering the current rules and regulations, we wanted to hear our guests' thoughts on what's good and bad about them. All our guests agreed that regulations in their areas are moving positively. However, there are still many different rules in different countries and some unclear areas that governments need to sort out so that blockchain can be used for various purposes. The speakers also think it's important for countries to work together globally to ensure blockchain is open for everyone, not just limited to one region.3. Education and making products relatable will help global blockchain adoption.To close the roundtable, we inquired about the main barriers to Web3 adoption in our guests' respective countries. All our guests agreed that education and user familiarity with the systems they engage with are key factors. They emphasized the importance of ensuring that the products are relatable to users through localization, encompassing all languages, and ensuring accessibility. Additionally, they highlighted the need for government support for both startups and users to enhance the appeal of blockchain. Another factor currently impacting adoption is the bear market, with the hope that we may witness increased adoption during a bull market.

The Cross-Chain RevolutionGuest: Simon Harman, CEO & Co-Founder of ChainflipHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest1. Chainflip is a fully native cross-chain DEX. At the start of the interview, Simon explained that Chainflip functions as a swap solution rather than a bridge. It adopts a similar approach to centralized exchanges, with its distinctive feature being the involvement of 150 independent validators distributed globally within the vault. This design choice ensures a high degree of decentralization for the swap process. The architecture of Chainflip also addresses the issue of elevated gas fees on the Ethereum blockchain. While it doesn't directly decrease these fees, users of Chainflip are exempt from paying gas fees for the actual swap. Their only financial commitment lies in the transaction fee incurred when transferring funds from their wallet to Chainflip's vault in preparation for the swap. In essence, Chainflip goes beyond a mere bridge and can be better described as a "fully native cross-chain DEX."2. User-friendliness and simplified onboarding will accelerate DEX onboarding.We asked Simon how decentralized exchanges (DEX) can get more market share. He shared that DEXs are becoming more user-friendly lately, while CEXs are becoming a bigger hassle to set up with increased KYC and verification processes. Nevertheless, he doesn’t think DEXs will completely take over, as buying crypto with Fiat is only possible using a CEX. On the other hand, crypto-to-crypto swaps will predominantly be processed on DEXs. Simon gives the example of Uniswap, which improves its interface and simplifies the user experience for new members. Efforts, as such,  might accelerate the rate at which people switch from CEX to DEX in the future.3. Comprehensive market scans help Chainflip select prime chains for their ecosystem.Finally, Simon explained that the team is constantly scanning the market. This helps them choose which new chains to add to their ecosystem. The main goal is to ensure they can save money for users. Implementing a chain on Chainflips ecosystem only makes sense if they can offer the users a way to save on gas fees or better prices. For example, implementing Phantom wouldn’t make sense as the on-chain liquidity is not big enough. However, they believe Chainflip will significantly impact the Solana network with prices and gas fees; therefore, that is where most of the focus goes.

Guests:Ian Estrada, Co-founder of XLD FinanceMichael Eerhart, CPO at Skynet TradingAhmed Serghini, Co-founder of Hatom ProtocolThree Key Takeaways from Our Guests:1. There is still a lack of tooling in the DeFi space.We kicked off the spaces by asking our guests about the state of DeFi in the industry. The guests shared that the user experience offered by DeFi apps still needs improvement, which many projects are trying to improve daily. Another trend that the speakers have been seeing is that liquidity has been sparse in decentralized exchange ever since the FTX scandal. Furthermore, DeFi did see a surge in use after the FTX scandal. However, that has subsided almost 1 year after the event, and we see more people returning to centralized exchanges as if nothing ever happened. Finally, the lack of tooling in the DeFi space is another hurdle to overcome, and once that happens, we will see more DeFi adoption from institutions. 2. Projects need to react to a fast-changing regulatory environment.When asked about regulation, our guests agreed it could impact the crypto industry in two ways – at the project level and user acquisition and retention level. One way regulators can essentially “choke” DeFi is by restricting the onramp and offramp processes, which would hinder the transition from fiat to crypto. If this were to happen, then there might not be any real-world value to the assets classifying them as computer money. Projects must react to regulation, and our guests say this could happen in two ways. However, there might also be other people in the DeFi space who view regulation as an opportunity, as it can bring legitimacy, consumer protection, and more visibility to their projects. 3. AI can potentially enhance the user experience of DeFi protocols. At the end of the session, an audience member asked our guests about the integration of AI in DeFi. All guests agree that AI has the potential to enhance user experience and hopefully make it easier for users to understand how some of these rather “complicated” protocols and products work. AI agents could help with trades and offer educational content on storing crypto, trading, and using various functions properly. 

First God Game On The BlockchainGuest: Frank Cheng, Co-founder & CEO of ApeironHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Takeaways from Our Guest1. Aperion’s mission is to grow its gameplay and create a franchise continuously.The interview started by diving deeper into understanding the most important aspects of building a God-Game on the blockchain. Frank explained that he started building a game because, as a gamer, he felt that the games on the market were unfinished – they were missing something. Therefore, he created a game that is not only a game but a franchise. He elaborates on cross-chain interoperability between games and emphasizes that he wants Apeiron players to experience playing a game where they can explore different worlds and not just finish a specific journey to move on to the next level. 2. Aperion is focusing on attracting more mobile gamers.When asked about the difference between Web2 and Web3 gaming communities, Frank explained that Apeiron’s current major focus is attracting more mobile gamers. Especially those who show an interest in crypto. Frank believes Aperion has an advantage over Web2 games as competition is too high, whereas Aperion is still the first god-gam built on the blockchain. Comparatively, Web 2 gamers will need more convincing to start playing blockchain-based games, as PC gamers are the most loyal community members and require exceptional games to switch over to a new one. 3. “The Metaverse will someday allow players to travel between virtual countries”.The metaverse is an important topic within gaming. Frank shared his opinion on what the future of the metaverse will hold and thinks that even though the metaverse is not “popular” as it was one year ago, it will still be seen in gaming. He also thinks there will be only one metaverse, and games will act as countries within that metaverse, allowing players to travel to different “virtual countries” via a passport. This way players can visit and stay for a gamer as long as they want. Frank also expanded on how helpful generative AI could be in realizing this. He believes with AI, even if the games are very different in graphics, in-game assets could be adapted to the game the player wants to play without any major update of the assets somebody holds in their wallet. 

Guests:Ran Neuner, Founder of Crypto BanterAustin King, Co-founder of Omni NetworkAlexei Kulevets, Co-founder of WalkenTop 3 Key Takeaways:1. “We are in a raging bull market.”To kick off the conversation, we asked our guests where we were in the market; there was some discussion between the three if we were in a bear or bull market right now. Ran states that we are in a “raging” bull market, with Bitcoin up 85% compared to last year and seeing the highest level of on-chain transactions. Though Alexei shared how difficult it was starting Walken during a bear market, he agrees we still see signs of a bull market, despite not having 100x altcoin increases. Austin speaks from a builders perspective, stressing that one of the failures people make is demoralization and demotivation during a bear market. Building a team culture who are excited to build despite market conditions is essential. But he says there are many opportunities in the last six months and to come in the upcoming half year. Ran finishes the conversation by stating that his bull market differs from the others as it’s led by institutional inventions, like BlackRock, instead of retail investors. 2. People are starting to understand that crypto is the neutral financial rail that fuels our global economy.The conversation then discusses how the previous bear market demoralized the community. Ran told the audience that he left crypto for two months in 2021 but re-entered when DeFi became a top narrative. Austin says that when comparing the previous 2018 bear market, people didn’t know if crypto would make it. Still, in this cycle, you have people saying that tools like Bitcoin have the potential to revolutionize the financial system – but the fundamental difference is that the world understands that crypto is inevitable. That is why the US government is looking to clamp down on crypto through regulatory action. On the other hand, other global governments, like in Europe and Asia, are starting to understand and seize the opportunity that crypto will be the neutral financial rail that the global economy runs on. 3. With the increase of rules and regulations, the days of 100x might be over.Going deeper into regulation, the three guests mentioned that people don’t want anarchy and chaos; at the end of the day, people in the crypto space want to build valuable systems meaning they are very open-minded about moving their businesses to countries that have a better understanding of crypto and the potential it has in the future. Additionally, Alexei mentioned that one of the reasons the SEC is cracking down on crypto right now proves that the industry is maturing and could become a threat to other fiat currencies, like the dollar. He goes on to say that regions like the UAE are embracing innovation and will be an interesting place for the future of crypto to evolve. 

Web3 Adoption In AfricaGuest: James Zhang, CEO & Co-Founder of Jambo TechnologyHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Key Takeaways 1. Jambo sees product market fit in Africa’s fast-growing and adopting demographic.James introduced the project to kick off the conversation, saying it fundamentally combines two major components: hardware and software. The team is preparing to launch Jambo Color, a $99 Android smartphone to be released across Africa. James continues to say they see an opportunity given by the continent's young demographics and fast adoption of smartphones. Jambo Color will come with preinstalled Jambo software, which consists of tutorials about crypto and Web3 and earning opportunities for its users. The team is hoping this will jump-start the adoption of crypto and Web3 in Africa.2. Web3 is a great opportunity for improving lifestyle. James explained that the unemployment rate in Africa is above 60%, with a population of average age below 35 years old. Coupled with high inflation across many countries, most of the population earns a stable high-value income. For this, Web3 can offer alternative income and an opportunity for many people to change their financial future and gain an improved lifestyle.3. Africa will adopt crypto faster than any other continent.Referencing a personal anecdote, James said his friends from Congo use crypto more frequently than his friends from New York – and this is due to the primary purpose of crypto, namely its permissionless nature, and interoperability. Crypto is essentially the bank of the unbanked, and its fast and easy cross-border payment system allows people without bank accounts to still pay for their everyday needs. James finished the interview by stating that no single coin will bring solutions to all personal needs; however, the technology itself is very much needed, which is why Africa will adopt crypto faster than any other continent.

Guests:Nick Rose, Founder of Ethernity ChainVijay, Founder of bitsCrunchJason Hu, Co-Founder of  YoloYoloTop 3 Key Takeaways :1. The underlying value of NFTs will depend on different use cases and applications that the community accepts and encourages. The discussion started with the guests going deeper into the potential of brand value in the blockchain and how being a first mover in the space can provide a significant advantage. They highlighted the importance of bringing established brands with real-world value, such as Lionel Messi or Disney, onto the blockchain, as it can enhance their value and reach. The underlying value of NFTs depended on the community's acceptance and encouragement of different use cases and applications. While the market sentiment and various factors can influence the trading price of NFTs, all three guests emphasized that there is still much progress to be made in allowing communities to unlock and expand the utilities of NFTs, creating opportunities for users, members, and holders. 2. Given the current stigma around it, NFTs will become an underlying infrastructure that people will interact with and shift gears.During the spaces, we raised the question of whether there is a stigma associated with NFTs, to which the guests acknowledged the existence of resistance and stigma surrounding the term. They mentioned that prominent brands like Roblox have started using the term "digital collectibles" instead of NFTs, aiming to distance themselves from the negative reputation of unsuccessful projects in the space. However, they emphasized the importance of considering that the NFT market has only experienced one bull run so far, and even within that limited timeframe, numerous innovations have emerged and are still being developed. The guests emphasized that we are currently standing at the precipice of what an NFT truly represents, and it is still in its early stages. As a result, they believe that the concept of NFTs is bound to evolve and change significantly in the future. 3. Art and gaming will continue to be disrupted by NFTs, but the sky is the limit in the future. At the end of the conversation, we asked the guests what industry will be most disrupted by NFTs. Without a doubt, gaming came up first, as it is the perfect fit for mass adoption and inclusion, and we can already see use cases happening in real time. For example, Polygon recently made an announcement about its partnership with EA Sports. This collaboration is expected to progress and lead to the introduction of their offerings. In the short term, the disruption in the art sector will persist, as it was the original domain of NFTs, allowing for easy integration of digital art onto the blockchain. Our guests say that artists will witness ongoing innovation within the art sector, and beyond that, the possibilities for NFTs are limitless. As technology evolves, new avenues and opportunities are expected to emerge.

Building AAA Games On The BlockchainGuest: Vlad Korolev, CEO & Co-Founder of Gunzilla GamesHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Key Takeaways:1. Building a strong team is the key to building a strong gameVlad started the interview with a brief introduction, explaining that gaming is as much a job as it is a hobby for him. Throughout his career, he founded and co-founded important Web2 games like Warface, which is also the game he likes to play on the weekends. When creating a game, the most important factor for him is the “fun – this was first and foremost when building Off The Grid. He goes on to say that the Gunzilla Games team he put together all come with their unique skill sets, ultimately the key to making the game as high quality as possible. For example, his colleagues (a studio with 200+ employees) come with experience from games like Assassins Creed and game studios like Rockstar Games and Ubisoft. 2. Gunzilla Games’ Off the Grid is a game for pure enjoymentOff the Grid, the AAA game by Gunzilla Games is not a “traditional” Web3 game. Vlad explained that the game being on the blockchain is not a marketing stunt or an attempt to onboard people to crypto – instead, Off the Grid is on the blockchain to give full control of the assets to the gamers. With the game, he wants to eliminate the centralization of assets. For example, in Web2, if a player’s account is suspended, he will lose all his assets; however, in Gunzilla’s Off The Grid Game, everything can be stored on a hardware wallet, meaning that one's in-game assets are safe. Nevertheless, it is the player’s choice to create a wallet or not, as they can also play the game without being involved in the Web3 features. The game is a game first for pure enjoyment, and if somebody wants to use the perks of the blockchain to improve, buy and sell in-game assets, the option is always there to link a wallet to the account.3. Gunzilla Games is building its Layer 1 Subnet to improve the efficiency of the gameAt the end of the interview, Vlad stated that most of the game's requirements are lower than what a blockchain can offer. Gunzilla Games is building its Layer 1 subnet on Avalanche. Vlad is convinced that the efficiency of the blockchain is more than enough to operate the game smoothly without overloading the potential capacity at hand therefore, it is a no-brainer to give the assets to the gamers and let them decide how they want to transact in-game items, setting scarcity by supply and demand, therefore the price as well.

How ZK Is Shaping BlockchainGuest: Vince Yang, Founder of ZKLinkHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Key Takeaways:1. ZK Proof has two significant components; Validator and ProverThe conversation started with the topic of security. ZK Proof is looked at as an extra layer that is supposed to keep our privacy and, in the meantime, make underlying actions easier. When we asked Vince about the safety of ZK, he stated that ZK is a bulletproof layer that is mathematically proven to have high security. He explains that ZK Proof has two significant components: Validator: This is based on the information of the proof that validates the existence of what is claimed to be thereProver: Bringing proof of the underlying tech. 2. DeFi needs to become more intuitive and comprehensive for day-to-day usersVince explained that the primary focus of zKlink is the blockchain. Specifically, the segment which needs to upgrade most is DeFi. Since DeFi is unintuitive and complicated for most day-to-day users, many tend to go to CEX solutions to complete their transactions, this needs to change. zKLink builds a layer on top of DeFi applications that offers CEX UI and UE for users who can transact and trade on DeFi using their wallets without giving up the ownership of their assets. 3. Make sure to understand what happens to your assets when you place them on a platformToward the end of the conversation, we asked Vince how zKlink proves the security and the ownership of the assets. Vince answered, "When you place your assets on a platform, do you always know what is happening in the background?” The answer, of course, is that you don’t know. Therefore the team organized a massive campaign called Dunkirk, where they simulated a system shut-down, where every user had to try and withdraw their assets from the platform to prove that with this infrastructure, even if there is a system failure, everyone's assets are safe and can be withdrawn to their wallets, unlike on any CEX at this moment.

Guests:Humayun Sheikh, Founder of Fetch.AIPedro Rente Lourenco, Ceo of DotmoovsSabin Dima, Co-Founder of HumansAITop 3 Key Takeaways:1. AI and Crypto need strong and timely regulation to promote trust, transparency, and fairnessDuring our conversation with industry experts, we delved into the challenges facing the nascent industries of crypto and AI. One point of discussion was the need for regulation in both fields, as it can promote wider adoption and protect users' privacy. However, there are also concerns that excessive regulation can stifle innovation and creativity- arguing that self-regulation could be a viable alternative, but with a potential worry that this approach could lead to exploitation by a few bad actors in the industry. Regardless, a growing consensus is that regulators must ensure fair economic dispensation and copyright governance in AI. This is particularly important given the potential for big corporations to exploit AI for their gain is already leading to job losses and economic inequality. In short, we need strong and timely regulation to promote trust, transparency, and fairness in these exciting and evolving industries.2.  A decentralized AI model can empower individuals with unique skills and capabilitiesThe conversation continued with the hosts stating that most AI solutions today are developed by centralized entities and what the benefits are of a decentralized AI approach. The consensus was while the AI model itself cannot be decentralized, stakeholders involved in its development and utilization can be. A decentralized AI model can empower individuals with skills and capabilities that were previously impossible to attain. In today's world, knowledge is highly valued, and asking a question is considered a luxury. For instance, if we want to draw a difference between how web2 and web3 rewards a question, look at what ChatGPT is doing; it takes credit for the questions we ask and profit from answering questions posed to it.In contrast, through Web3 and decentralized models, the first person to ask a question owns that unique question. Web3 rewards that person's curiosity and creativity, and every subsequent person who asks your question allows you to receive a reward. This is a significant improvement over Web2, where individuals who ask questions are not rewarded for their contribution. 3. We must move beyond the generative aspect of AI and focus on how to use the outputs to create actionable itemsAlthough many people view generative AI as a significant breakthrough, it is just the beginning. We must move beyond the generative aspect of AI and focus on how to use the outputs to create actionable items. To do this, we need to develop the necessary frameworks for deployment. For instance, generating an email is just the start; we must also incorporate an email server to send it. Similarly to this concept, to turn AI-generated content into meaningful actions, we need to focus on artificial general intelligence, which is making slow but steady progress. We need to encourage developers to use AI as a tool to generate new business models and make money. They should experiment with new ideas and applications using the frameworks mentioned above. Educating yourself about the field and questioning if things are being done ethically and properly is crucial. Always DYOR (Do Your Own Research) and don't blindly follow what others are saying. Building confidence that you are doing the right thing for the industry is essential.

How To Find Undervalued AssetsGuest: Ivan On Tech, Co-Founder of Moralis MoneyHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Key Takeaways: 1. Looking at the time rather than the price is more important to define the start and the end of a cycleIvan starts the conversation by going deeper into the “Where are we in the market.” He says that the price still does not convince experienced traders that the bull market has started or that the bear market has ended. Nevertheless, Ivan is bullish now but doesn’t believe we will reach All Time High (ATH) in 2023. Most likely, as we reach the better half of 2024 can expect to see a sideways action for Bitcoin and Altcoins in the cryptospace. He goes on to say until now; the market respects the timing of cycles – as we see the same price action as in 2019. Therefore, looking at the timing rather than the price is more important. He says we are right on time in the cycle, which is the only thing that matters.2. The Best way to prepare for the Altseason is to familiarize yourself with different chains, dApps, and DEXsThe conversation moves on to Altcoins. Ivan stresses it is hard to predict when the Alt season will start. There are excellent returns on Altcoins at the moment, but these gains are nowhere near the whole Alt season we’ve seen in the past. He continues to say the best way to prepare for the Alt season is to familiarize yourself with different chains, dApps, and DEXs so that when the market pumps, one has their wallets set up and is ready to go without wasting time or feeling rushed to research the spot. If you wait, you might just be too late. This is not the time to go all in on Altcoins, but it is time to pay attention and learn as much as possible.3. Moralis Money platform can show users on-chain analytics and highlight assets that are in demand before they hit social mediaIvan explained that his view on assets has shifted. The main focus should be supply and demand if you are looking for undervalued assets. You can’t find undervalued assets on Coingecko or Twitter. By the time they start trending on these platforms, it’s too late – they aren’t undervalued. That is why his team developed Moralis Money, a platform where users can find assets with increasing demand before they hit social media. He goes on to say that the platform is easy to use, where one can focus on finding new tokens, use only a few filters that appeal to your strategy, and pay attention to the risk-reward in terms of potential rug-pulls, which are not rare in a pool of newly listed coins. *Nothing in this recap or the audio file constitutes professional and financial advice from Ivan Liljeqvist (aka Ivan on Tech) and Morningstar Ventures.Link:Websites: https://moralis.ioTwitter: https://twitter.com/moralisweb3

What's Next For MultiversXGuest: Beniamin Mincu, Founder & CEO of MultiversXHost: Szabolcs Gergely, Podcast & YouTube Host at Morningstar VenturesTop 3 Key Takeaways:Beniamin describes MultiversX as a new type of Supercomputer based on a blockchain network. MultiversX enables applications that leverage transparency, cryptographic solid primitives, and deterministic programmable contracts. Builders from MultiversX and projects who build on top of Layer 1 can create products that reimagine financial systems, economic interactions, and money.1. xPortal is the key to onboarding users on a bigger scaleThe first key takeaway is the success of the recently launched xPortal application. Since its launch, Beniamin says he is happy with the progress and features the team has released. He appreciates the community feedback and looks forward to releasing new app versions. The xPortal version prepares the growth engine to show the actual supercomputer the MultiversX team is building. Beniamin says xPortal is the best chance for MultiversX to reach a massive scale of people. The entire point of the app is determining the best way to “ship” the product, allowing for a great user experience for the specific features, such as transferring money, playing with NFTs, the card, and more. Moreover, the app's onboarding and distribution must encourage social interaction that allows people to forget about the blockchain technology behind it. Ideally, if this is structured well, the team can start introducing more community challenges where growth is no longer an abstract goal. Still, everything is very closely correlated in the network layer – which would help the ecosystem grow and become more widely adopted. 2. Blockchain is a necessary solution to some of the challenges we will see in AIThe conversation moved from the recent past to a timely topic in the present and future – AI. Apart from encouraging listeners to dive deeper and educate themselves on AI, Beniamin stresses that AI will become an all-powerful tool that brings challenges and opportunities. Blockchain technology can mitigate those challenges because of its strong sense of truth and rationale. Beniamin elaborates and says that in the next couple of months, not even years, we will be able to see some “borderline shocking” new developments in AI. People will find it challenging to understand the truth, and it will be difficult for many to authenticate what AI creates – given the strength it has to create and edit specific facts. Blockchain technology will significantly counter everything AI can do because it can provide transparency and show digital history, potentially distorted by AI. Nevertheless, AI can also be beneficial and will work complementary to the robust features of blockchain. If used correctly, the combination of AI and blockchain can be an essential tool to many that enhances their daily lives and how they work. 3. Embrace the constant change and never stand still in the everchanging spaceTo onboard new people, MultiversX is always looking for how they can improve their products. It is crucial to avoid standing still in this rapidly moving crypto space. Constant experimentation, product iterations, community surveys/feedback, and monitoring of what is relevant are critical to adopting and onboarding new users. This is also what MultiversX is all about. The team is working on many projects in various verticals. They have new exciting projects coming up within MultiversX. And they are also planning the next XDay!Link:Websites: https://multiversx.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/Multiverx