• 32. Jay Steinback: RWA On-Chain and Fully Regulated
    Dec 23 2023

    Welcome to EARLY. DSide’s guest today is Jay Steinback of yWhales. 

     

    Summary

    • Jay discusses their newest project, FinRamp, which focuses on tokenizing real world assets, starting with the voluntary carbon credit market. 

    • FinRamp aims to provide a regulated and compliant platform for the trading of these assets, ensuring transparency and trust. 

    • The project is built on the principles of RegTech and aims to adhere to traditional finance rules and regulations. 

    • Steinbeck emphasizes the importance of regulation in the Web3 space and the need for a legal foundation to ensure consumer protection. 

    • FinRamp is currently raising funds and seeking partnerships to scale their platform.



    Segments

    00:00 Introduction to yWhales and FinRamp

    03:18 The Need for FinRamp and Real World Asset Tokenization

    08:01 The Voluntary Carbon Credit Market

    12:10 What Sets FinRamp Apart

    17:43 The Challenges of Regulatory Compliance

    21:23 Carbon Credit Projects and Verifiers

    23:14 Other Potential Industries for FinRamp

    27:23 Marketplace Participants and Fundraising

    35:18 The Importance of Regulation in Web3

    41:23 Conclusion and Future of Web3



    ·  Project Overview

    • FinRamp Website - Digital Front

    • FinRamp Data Room - Document Hub

    ·  Investor Materials

    • NDA Free Pitch Deck - Visual Overview

    • FinRamp LitePaper - Technical Outline



    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

    ***Links***

    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

     

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    43 mins
  • 31. Dr. Sergey Kachur & OxHunter: How to incentivize truth through professional consensus
    Sep 12 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guests today are Dr. Sergey Kachur and 0xHunter. Dr. Kachur is the founder of the UMedHub and UHub protocol, while OxHunter is a software consultant from Bankless Consultancy who collaborated with Dr.Kachur on the project. The protocol seeks to align incentives with purpose in the healthcare profession by rewarding industry professionals for answering questions from the community. The answers are fully audited by other industry professionals, which creates a virtuous reward cycle. The cycle rewards the most palatable and accurate information based on consensus, as well as rewarding the community member who initiated the question.

    The episode delved into the evolution of the UMed protocol, emphasizing its core goal of monetizing and delivering physician expertise while expanding into a broader information management system. DSide and the guests get into discussing Dr. Kachur's "Aha moment," which led to the creation of the UMed protocol. It stemmed from his experience studying for board exams and the realization that there could be a way to incentivize users and automate the process of extracting value from repetitive question answering.

    The episode progresses to an extensive Q and A session with the two guests. They explore further Dr.Kachur’s Aha moment, his excitement about how the protocol can extend beyond the Healthcare Industry, and his desire to disrupt the social media industry by creating a repository of consensus-oriented data that distinguishes accurate information from the rest.

    The episode concludes with a discussing of incentive models for truth and the risks associated with consensus being wrong. The guests were particularly excited to test the tokenomic assumptions of attaching value to niche knowledge communities and turning hobbies into valuable assets. 

     

    ***Timestamps***

    0:00 - Bankless introduction

    8:30 - Guest introduction

    10:25 - Dr. Kachur’s experience working with Bankless

    20:38 - UHub’s evolution

    25:25 - OPEN QUESTIONS:
    - 26:09 - Dr. Kachur’s Aha! moment

    - 29:34 - Work / Life Balance and Bandwidth

    - 30:52 - Disrupting Social Media

    - 34:35 - Creating incentive models for the truth?

    - 37:57 - What happens if the consensus is wrong?

    - 41:12 - Monetizing niche knowledge markets

     

    ***Additional Resources*** (Couldn’t find any additional resources)
    • LinkedIn - Dr. Sergey Kachur

    • Website - DiveDeep.io

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

     

    ***Links***
    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

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    46 mins
  • 30. Miho Shinke: The intersection of Web3 and personal well-being
    Sep 6 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guest today is Miho Shinke, an operational development trainer and consultant for manufacturing companies and NGOs across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Miho is distinguished as an ABNLP master coach, which she utilizes to empower individuals and organizations alike by amplifying employee engagement through psychology coaching. 

    In the episode, Miho elaborates on how her training as a master coach in ABNLP merges emotional intelligence with logic, enabling better communication and cohesion between individuals. The conversation segues into how the ABNLP aligns perfectly with her current work at The Minglo project with Atrae Inc. Miho discusses how Minglo as a platform aims to nurture individual well-being within a communal context. The project focuses on individual fulfillment through application data collection that allows individuals to understand better the needs and motivations of the people they are engaging with.  

    DSide shifts the conversation to how blockchain technology and Web3 can be implemented across the Minglo project. Miho discusses how offering lifelong data ownership and self-sovereignty over an individual's data set can generate the most accurate results for personal growth and fulfillment. She describes how Minglo is attracting various applications, spanning music, health, sports, and finance, to synergize and promote holistic well-being. At the same time, it allows the individual complete control over access to their data.

    The platform's expansion plan is to establish a DAO that opens doors for users to sell their data, fostering a marketplace benefiting researchers, advertisers, and beyond. Towards the end of the episode, the two address the security concerns and use of KYC across all applications on the platform. They conclude the episode by examining the difference in cultural approaches between nations, why Vietnam is the ideal country for launching the Minglo platform, and how the Minglo platform can be leveraged for remote work.

     

    ***Timestamps***
    • 0:00 - Guest introduction - Miho Shinke

    • 1:51: - What is ABNLP?

    • 7:05  - How ABNLP led to Miho to the Minglo project

    • 11:05 - Meaning of individual well-being 

    • 13:15 - Web3 and the Minglo project

    • 20:45 - How does Minglo promote well-being?

    • 23:20 - Minglo platform security and KYC

    • 24:35 - What is next for Minglo?

    • 28:30 - Remote work

    • 34:31 - Minglo end user

     

    ***Additional Resources***
    • Twitter - @Minglo_info

    • Website - Minglo

    • LinkedIn - Miho Shinke

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

     

    ***Links***
    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

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    40 mins
  • 29. Samantha Marin: The Do’s and Dont’s of DAOs
    Aug 30 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guest today is Samantha Marin, a content writer and editor at Aragon and owner/operator of Quorum's newsletter. Samantha is an experienced creative writer and spends her time empathetically breaking down the complexities of Web3 and DAOs through her role at Aragon. She specializes in introductory guides on DAO creation and maintenance and recently contributed to version one of the Aragon DAO creation manual for the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation. In addition to her work at Aragon, Samantha curated an anthology of some of the preeminent thinkers in the DAO space through Meta Label.

    In the episode, Samantha and DSide explore Aragon's modular approach, with its OS and plugins, and how it allows users to build and customize DAOs like building blocks. The distinction between token and wallet voting is explored, and Samantha explains how multi-sig voting is the common starting point for many DAOs due to its authorization features. She explains that token-based voting has also emerged as a powerful tool for governance, while innovative concepts like "soul-bound NFTs" and dual-token voting layers further enhance the decision-making process.

    The conversation delves into the broader ecosystem around Aragon, highlighting the decentralized nature of the plugins and the potential for an ecosystem database. Samantha explains how she envisions DAOs as vehicles for inclusive engagement across various industries, including fundraising communities, HOAs, and PTAs. 

    The episode ends with the two discussing the evolution and impact of DAOs, emphasizing their role in reshaping decision-making, governance, and community collaboration in the digital age. With examples from the collaboration for the DAO anthology, insights into Aragon's capabilities, and Samantha's own journey, the conversation underscores the significance of DAOs and their potential to revolutionize traditional organizational structures.

     

    ***Timestamps***

    0:00 - Guest introduction - Samantha Marin

    4:26  Anthology Collaboration

    8:24  What does Aragon do?

    12:25  Governance Formation - token vs. wallet voting

    18:05  Ecosystem being built around Aragon

    21:00  Samantha's Entry into Web3

    35:00  Industries that can benefit from DAOs.

    37:05  Aragon working with IRL organizations 

    42:28  Samantha’s current work at Aragon

    44:38  How badly can you screw up DAO creation

    47:40  Aragon Education

    53:40  Regional differences for DAOs

     

    ***Additional Resources***
    • Aragon -  https://aragon.org/

    • Twitter - @samanthajmarin

    • Quorum - DAO Anthology

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

     

    ***Links***
    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 28. Mark Phillips: Decentralizing Cellular Communication Networks
    Aug 23 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guest today is Mark Phillips, the Vice President of Business Development at Nova Labs. Nova Labs is a for-profit entity that operates on the Helium infrastructure, which delivers public wireless coverage in 192 countries for 5G and IoT devices. They offer a disruptive solution for wireless coverage and IoT connectivity. Nova Labs was launched in 2022 to distinguish the for-profit aspect from the open Helium network.

    In this episode of the podcast DSide and Mark Phillips discuss the community-driven approach, cost-effectiveness, and expanding cellular capabilities of the Helium Network and Nova Labs. They discuss how The Helium network focuses on providing coverage in areas where larger carriers are absent by leveraging local community-driven hotspots. 

    The two then examine how Helium has expanded into cellular connectivity through the Helium DAO and the deployment of 9,000 cellular towers. Phillips explains how this enabled Nova Labs to introduce Helium Mobile, a subscription service based on the Helium infrastructure, aiming to replace traditional cellular providers. He explains the model leverages blockchain technology by compensating individuals who run the hardware with blockchain tokens.

    Phillips then describes how there is growing momentum and adoption, particularly in industrial supply chains and asset tracking. He explains the use cases of Nova Labs' deployment of sensors on the Helium network and how it has improved trust and reduced waste in supply chains. DSide and Phillips then break down the cost of connectivity historically and how it has been a major challenge for IoT adoption before explaining how Helium offers a significantly cheaper alternative.

    The podcast ends with DSide and Phiilips discussing the future of IoT being in the symbiotic relationship between supply and demand. Companies create a virtuous cycle by deploying sensors to contribute to network coverage, and as demand for sensors grows, coverage expands further. The two address concerns about IoT security, with Phillips explaining how Helium ensures data encryption and decentralized control through blockchain technology, preventing user data from being exploited. 

     

    ***Timestamps***

    0:00 - Guest Background

    1:30 - Helium and Nova Labs

    10:58 - Helium DAO

    13:25 - Helium Cellular

    19:00 Where is the IoT now

    28:47 - Incentives

    34:10 - Future of IoT

    37:40 - Risks of IoT

    40:55 - Future of Nova Labs

    53:00 - Solana

     

    ***Additional Resources***
    • HelloHelium.com

    • Helium.com

    • Helium Coverage Map

    • Helium Discord

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

     

    ***Links***

    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

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    59 mins
  • 27. Mike Montgomery: Building the future platform for content creators on Web3.
    Aug 16 2023
    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting. DSide's guest today is Mike Montgomery, the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at Remx, a Web3 platform that enables creators to grow their communities with exclusive memberships, rewards, and loyalty programs. The Remx platform consists of three core components: community, rewards, and commerce. The platform will operate as a one-stop shop for creators to build a following and offer token-gated rewards while also incorporating e-commerce, providing a centralized location for community engagement and merchandising. In the episode, Montgomery expresses his desire to make these tools accessible to everyone and build the infrastructure necessary to facilitate their widespread adoption. The two discuss Montgomery’s previous work in owning an apparel store and how it led him to recognize the value of digital wearable assets, particularly after witnessing the popularity of Fortnite among his children. He talks about how he envisions a future where fashion and the metaverse intersect, allowing people to purchase physical items and unlock identical digital versions. He noted that high-end fashion companies like Louis Vuitton have already experimented with digital assets, such as exclusive drops that reward customers with the right to purchase new items. The two then move on to discuss the current limitations in the industry and how Web3 is currently too technical for most people. Montgomery emphasized the importance of meeting users where they are. He explains how Remx aims to make the platform approachable, allowing users to join with either a crypto wallet or their email address and credit card. Their goal is to reduce entry barriers and gradually transition users to single wallets as the industry evolves. At the end of the episode, DSide asks what the future looks like for Remx. Montgomery explains that Remx plans to launch the first version of its platform accessible to everyone in July 2023. They aim to establish their own community, implement their own rewards, and start selling. Social features will be added later based on community feedback, as Remx aims to grow alongside its user base. Montgomery reemphasizes that Remx has a solid foundation but acknowledges that they are still in the early stages of explaining the true potential of Web3 to a larger audience. ***Timestamps*** 0:00 - Guest Background 2:40 - NFTs 8:04 - Three components of Remx 11:08 - Loyalty and loyalty programs 13:30 - Experimenting with different models in Remx 19:20 - Mike Montgomery’s previous work owning an apparel store 25:40 - Gaming 30:44 - Dream client 37:14 - Future of Remx ***Additional Resources*** Remx Website Remx Twitter Mike Montgomery Website If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow! Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha. ***Links*** Bankless Consulting Twitter Bankless Consulting LinkedIn Bankless Consulting Newsletter Early Podcast on YouTube
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    41 mins
  • 26. Christophe Lassuyt: How Request Finance is building the global Web3 financial payment infrastructure
    Aug 9 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guest today is Christophe Lassuyt, an experienced Financial Analyst and data-driven insights specialist who co-founded Request Finance in September 2017. Starting as the CFO, he now serves as the CEO. He is a YC W17 alumni and an active member of the web3 CFO club, a community of Finance & Operations leaders in Web3. Prior to his involvement with Request, Christophe held various positions in finance companies, including Moneytis, Euranka, and Amaris, where he served as a co-founder, Chief Financial Officer, and International Finance Manager, respectively.

    Request Finance offers an all-in-one finance solution for web3 businesses. The platform allows organizations, DAOs, and freelancers to manage their invoicing, payroll, and expenses in cryptocurrencies. Trusted by leading web3 companies like The Sandbox, Aave, The Graph, and Near Protocol, Request Finance raised a seed round of $5.5 million in April 2022, with investments from notable VCs such as Animoca Brands and Balderton Capital.

    In the episode, DSide and Christophe discuss why building out the financial infrastructure for finance in Web3 may be the key to unlocking its potential. They discuss the current limitations and hurdles preventing adoption, including poor UX and the chicken-and-egg problem in Web3 preventing mainstream adoption. Currently, Web3 needs better products to draw in a more extensive user base. Christophe believes Request can assist this transition by building out the financial infrastructure that Web3 will run on in a seamless, easy-to-understand on-ramp for Web2 companies.

    Dside and Christophe talk about how businesses may become early adopters of Web3 due to the inefficiencies in the current systems of cross-border payments. I.e., SWIFT. They discuss the need for a privacy layer for companies to operate. They also touch on compliance in Web3 and how Request assists this by establishing a standardized global invoicing service that can be catered to each region. They end the episode discussing specifically which industries will be the earliest adopters before finishing on the merits of cooperation between industry leaders in Web3 vs. the competitive nature in Web2.

     

    ***Timestamps***

    0:00 - Guest Background

    9:10 - What's missing in blockchain accounting and payments?

    10:50 - Evolving market

    14:30 - User experience Infrastructure

    16:40 -  Privacy

    18:45 - How payments work

    24:00 - Request Roadmap

    26:10 - Global Compliance

    16:40 -  Privacy

    30:00 - Onboarding businesses into crypto

    34:55 - Education

      ***Additional Resources***
    • Twitter - Christophe Lassuyt

    • Twitter - Request Finance

    • Website - Request Finance

    • LinkedIn - Christophe Lassuyt

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

      ***Links***
    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

     

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    49 mins
  • 25. Caio Leta: A Closer Look at Bitcoin and Energy Consumption with Arthur Mining's Head of Research
    Aug 2 2023

    Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

    DSide's guest today is Caio Leta, Head of Research at Arthur Mining.

    Caio Leta's unique transition from geologist to Head of Research at a Bitcoin mining company presents an intriguing perspective on everything Bitcoin. 

    The conversation begins with an introduction to Caio and his work at Arthur Mining, setting the stage for a deep dive into the intricacies of Bitcoin, its adoption, and its potential as a store of value. Caio's unique perspective on the future of Bitcoin and the concept of "Bitcoin First" provides listeners with a fresh take on the cryptocurrency's role in the global economy.

    The discussion then shifts to Bitcoin's significant foothold as a store of value in the global south. Caio shares his insights on the adoption of Bitcoin among different wealth groups in Brazil and talks about communities where Bitcoin is used as a medium of exchange. This exploration of Bitcoin's role in the global south offers a unique perspective on the cryptocurrency's potential to drive economic growth and disrupt traditional financial systems.

    Caio's journey from being a geologist to becoming involved in Bitcoin mining forms a fascinating part of the conversation. He discusses the connection between geology and Bitcoin mining and the potential of geothermal energy for Bitcoin mining. This discussion addresses concerns about Bitcoin mining's environmental impact and explores the trade-offs of different energy sources used for Bitcoin mining.

    The episode wraps up with Caio sharing his thoughts on the future of Bitcoin mining and the role of renewable energy and sharing details of his educational project, “Explain Bitcoin.” He discusses the potential of Bitcoin mining to drive innovation in the energy sector and the importance of understanding Bitcoin's complexity. The potential of Bitcoin to become a global reserve currency and the role of decentralization in its future are also discussed, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future potential of Bitcoin.

     

    ***Timestamps***

    • 01:48 - Bitcoin, global perspectives, and Caio’s background/podcast

    • 05:59 - Bitcoin's significant foothold as a store of value in the global south

    • 08:58 - The adoption of Bitcoin among different wealth groups in Brazil

    • 10:46 - Communities in Brazil where Bitcoin is used as a medium of exchange

    • 15:52 - Caio’s journey from being a geologist to becoming involved in Bitcoin mining

    • 16:12 - Bitcoin's impact on financial education

    • 25:24 - The various energy options for Bitcoin mining

    • 27:33 - Concerns about Bitcoin mining's environmental impact

    • 29:47 - Trade-offs of different energy sources used for Bitcoin mining

    • 37:05 - The potential of Bitcoin mining to drive innovation in the energy sector

    • 44:09 - Investing in AI, data processing and the future of Bitcoin mining

    • 48:58 - Arthur Mining expanding and diversifying in Brazil

     

    ***Additional Resources***

    • Caio Leta's LinkedIn

    • Caio Leta’s Twitter

    • “Explain Bitcoin” Linktree

    • Arthur Mining website

    • Arthur Mining’s Twitter

    • Arthur Mining’s Instagram

    • Arthur Minining’s Medium

    If you found this show informative, enlightening, fun, or just plain fire - please leave us a review on Apple podcasts to help us grow!

    Be sure to follow us and our guest on social media to unlock the latest web3 alpha.

     

    ***Links***

    • Bankless Consulting Twitter

    • Bankless Consulting LinkedIn

    • Bankless Consulting Newsletter

    • Early Podcast on YouTube

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    57 mins