The Agenda Podcast: Decoding Crypto – Details, episodes & analysis

Theta Labs head of strategy Wes Levitt shares his views on the role of decentralization within cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Levitt also gives insights into how corporate clients view cryptocurrencies and decentralization, along with the role AI, LLMs and cloud computing play in academia.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up). Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he made the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Wes Levitt on X at  @wes_levitt.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

(00:00) Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:52) What is Theta Network?
(03:37) Theta’s journey into artificial intelligence
(06:21) Why decentralizing cloud computing is so important
(09:17) Why are blockchain and a token needed to decentralize computing? 
(13:00) Security and privacy on Theta Network
(18:43) Who uses Theta Network?
(22:13) Is there a shortage in computing demand for LLMs? 
(27:04) Regulation and AI
(30:06) Corporate clients’ comfort level with decentralization
(34:18) Theta’s role in the entertainment industry
(41:27) Reasons why workers make the jump from Web2 to Web3
(42:33) Outro

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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Jeff Garzik, an OG Bitcoin developer and the co-founder of Hemi Network, sits down to share his earliest Bitcoin memories and explain why layer-2 protocols are the future of BTC mass adoption. He also shares his thoughts on the balance between crypto’s cypherpunk roots and institutional adoption, as well as the importance of open-source technologies.

(00:00) Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:48) Jeff’s intro to Bitcoin and early memories
(11:20) Mass adoption and the role of Bitcoin layer 2s
(15:48) Breaking down the Hemi blockchain
(25:29) What is superfinality?
(29:51) Balancing Bitcoin’s cypherpunk roots with mass adoption
(38:24) Open-source technology vs. Big Tech
(46:36) DeFi under a crypto-friendly Trump administration

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up). Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he made the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Jeff Garzik on X at @jgarzik.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Ramon Recureo, co-founder and CEO of Kinto, joins The Agenda podcast to explain how tokenized real-world assets open up new opportunities for institutional and retail investors and how tokenization will eventually integrate blockchain into all areas of the financial industry.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Ramon Recuero on X at @ramonrecuero.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:38) - What are real-world assets (RWAs), and what is Kinto?
(08:37) - How do RWAs and Kinto differ from Robinhood and Fidelity?
(14:43) - How secure are tokenized assets?
(16:24) - How do we know RWAs are not another “crypto bubble?”
(22:38) - RWAs unlock fragmented liquidity in assets
(23:57) - DeFi is actually “safer” than traditional finance
(31:30) - RWAs will unlock trillions, but when?
(33:44) - Are there limitations to tokenizing everything?
(46:30) - Are RWAs and KYC laws compatible?
(49:50) - The role of governance at Kinto

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

The Agenda podcast is joined by John Wingate of BankSocial and Azeem Khan of Morph to discuss the ways blockchain and crypto can be used to financially empower regular people and make the world a better place through DeFi-focused credit unions and value-driven layer 2s.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow John Wingate on X at @PresidentHODL and Azeem Khan at @azeemk_.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:43) - What is BankSocial, and what is its mission?
(07:04) - Are there securities and regulatory risks for users?
(10:03) - What a DeFi-focused bank actually does
(12:37) - How BankSocial handles banking and blockchain challenges
(17:08) - What is the Morph layer-2 blockchain?
(19:01) - Bringing DeFi to places that lack banking infrastructure
(22:05) - What type of projects will be built on Morph?
(23:56) - What the UNICEF CryptoFund does
(26:08) - Why Azeem first got into blockchain
(29:39) - Can Morph help with international aid delivery?
(32:03) - Morph and the future of AI
(33:49) - Will the AI revolution overall hurt or help people?
(34:56) - Can billionaire philanthropists save the world?
(37:40) - Can crypto address global poverty?

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Nym CEO Harry Halpin joins The Agenda to discuss the state of privacy and civil liberties in 2024, including the sentencing of Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev, the power of AI to increase and expand surveillance, the censorship risks of central bank digital currencies, and more.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Harry Halpin on X at @harryhalpin.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:40) - Complying with regulations and sanctions as a privacy project
(05:50) - Reaction to Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev’s jail sentence
(09:44) - The future of privacy around the world
(12:22) - Are CBDCs a privacy nightmare?
(15:51) - The politicization of CBDCs
(18:47) - Are AI fears accurate or overblown?
(22:08) - How Ukranians use Nym VPN to stay safe
(25:43) - Mixnets vs. traditional VPNs

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Markus Levin of XYO joins The Agenda to explain everything about DePIN: what it is, how people can participate, why DePINs can help improve AI, and why the technology could be the future of mass adoption. This is the first interview in a series recorded in person at Consensus 2024.

*Please note that this episode was recorded on May 30, not June 30 as stated in the intro*

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Intro to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode
(01:13) - What is DePIN, and how can you participate?
(04:02) - DePIN makes AI more trustworthy
(07:44) - Is there a DePIN bubble?
(10:50) - Do DePINs have privacy or security risks?
(11:56) - IoT vs. DePIN
(12:42) - What is the XYO token? Who can participate?
(15:58) - How XYO handles data privacy and regulations
(16:49) - Is the DePIN space oversaturated?
(17:51) - Who are XYO’s clients? Who can build on it?
(20:29) - Use cases for solutions built on XYO
(21:07) - Can DePIN bring crypto mass adoption?
(22:43) - DePINs collaborating

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Aki Balogh, co-founder and CEO of DLC.Link, joins The Agenda podcast to break down the significance of Bitcoin DeFi, the importance of security and efficiency in DeFi, and why he believes wrapping BTC and bringing it to other chains is the smartest move.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Aki Balogh on X at @AkiBalogh.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction to The Agenda podcast and this week’s episode

(02:30) - What is Bitcoin DeFi, and why should people use it?

(07:01) - Digital gold vs. physical gold

(09:19) - Is Bitcoin DeFi user-friendly?

(12:00) - What is DLC.Link?

(14:18) - Security risks when wrapping Bitcoin

(18:47) - Dealing with high network fees

(21:03) - The advantages of bringing BTC to Ethereum

(25:38) - Is DeFi too centralized?

(29:37) - What if you accidentally lend Bitcoin to criminals?

(31:10) - Fallout of the U.S. actions against Tornado Cash

(33:19) - Is Bitcoin safe from regulatory actions?

(35:47) - Could a market maker manipulate DLC.Link?

(40:20) - What happens if your wrapped BTC is stolen?

(41:15) - Why Aki Balogh is so passionate about DeFi

(43:59) - The future of DLC.Link

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Zach Bruch, founder and CEO of MyPrize, joins The Agenda podcast to explain how blockchain-based casinos have the potential to absorb significant market share within the gambling industry and how MyPrize aims to make betting more fun and communal while also sharing revenue with creators.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Zach Bruch on X at @zachbruch.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Miles of FanSociety joins The Agenda podcast to break down why musicians typically get such a small cut of the money generated by their music, and how blockchain-based fundraising tools may offer a lifeline and help artists build sustainable careers without needing record labels.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on Twitter at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he makes the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

If you want to help build FanSociety, reach out to Miles on Telegram at @MilesAwayNoww.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Memecoins have been the superstars of the 2024 crypto bull market, but are the vast riches made from unserious tokens a sign that crypto is unable to deliver on the promise of revolutionizing the investing landscape? SideShift.ai founder Andreas Brekken explains why memecoins are a net positive for the crypto space.

The Agenda is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted/produced by Ray Salmond and Jonathan DeYoung. Follow Cointelegraph on X (Twitter) at @Cointelegraph, Jonathan at @maddopemadic and Ray at @HorusHughes. Jonathan is also on Instagram at @maddopemadic, and he made the music for the podcast — hear more at madic.art.

Follow Andreas Brekken on X (Twitter) at @abrkn and SideShift.ai at @sideshiftai.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.