Shows
Chain ReactionQuantum Computing Will Break Crypto: ZKSync's Porter Adams Explains How & WhenPorter Adams from Matter Labs joins Chain Reaction to discuss ZKSync's biggest technical milestone in years: achieving full EVM equivalence. No more custom compilers, no more modified tools - developers can now truly copy-paste their Ethereum code to ZKSync.But that's just the beginning. Porter reveals how major banks like Deutsche Bank and UBS are already experimenting with ZKSync chains, using "providiums" (private validiums) for compliance-friendly blockchain adoption. We explore why institutions are drawn to ZK technology and how billion-dollar wire transfers taking weeks is costing banks massive opportunity costs.As...2025-08-0842 min
Chain ReactionPolygon to Avail - Building the Future of Web3 InteroperabilityEpisode Highlights: In this deep-dive conversation, Prabal Banerjee, co-founder of Avail, takes us through his incredible journey from academia to building critical blockchain infrastructure. From his early days researching at Polygon to spinning out Avail as a chain-agnostic data availability layer, Prabal shares insights that every Web3 builder needs to hear. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why data availability is the "secret sauce" behind secure rollups ✅ The real differences between L1, L2, and L3 chains (and when each makes sense) ✅ How Avail is solving the interoperability nightmare plagui...2025-08-071h 05
Chain ReactionBitcoin Security Revolution - Babylon's David Tse on Bridging EcosystemsStanford Professor and Baylon Labs Founder David Tse, whose wireless research powers every smartphone today, explains how Babylon Protocol has attracted 50,000 Bitcoin (~$5B) to secure proof-of-stake networks. We explore the technical and philosophical differences between proof-of-work and proof-of-stake, why Bitcoin holders trust Babylon's trustless approach, and the mysterious whale who staked 10,000 Bitcoin. David shares his journey from pioneering cellular technology to solving blockchain's biggest coordination problems, plus his vision for connecting Bitcoin and DeFi ecosystems. Features gas war stories, miner thank-you messages, and why prediction is hard—especially about the future....2025-08-0747 minChain ReactionFrom L2s to Bitcoin: Building Enterprise Blockchain InfrastructureTyler Sloan, Product Lead for Asphere's scaling solutions, demonstrates how enterprises and developers can launch custom blockchains in 15 minutes using their no-code deployer. We explore the evolution from L2s to L3s, different rollup stacks (Arbitrum, OP, Polygon, ZK), and enterprise demand for private chains. Tyler reveals major partnerships, including Solana permission environments, Polkadot rollup support, and introduces Bitcoin Secured Infrastructure (BSI) as a new category. Plus: live demo of chain deployment, institutional adoption trends, and a sneak peek at the upcoming project Neura.2025-08-0744 min
Chain ReactionBuilding Decentralized AI Markets with Allora's Nick EmmonsNick Emmons, co-founder of Allora, discusses the evolution from Upshot's NFT pricing to building decentralized AI coordination networks. We explore how Allora transitions from model-centric to objective-centric AI, creating markets for intelligence that enable developers to access the best AI outputs without having to choose specific models. Nick shares his vision of hyperfinancialization, AI as public utility, and how decentralized networks can democratize access to cutting-edge machine learning. Plus: insights from traditional finance, the future of prediction markets, and why everything might become a market. 2025-08-0739 min
Chain ReactionArbitrum - Ethereum Scaling Built on Credible NeutralityIn this episode of Chain Reaction, Feroz Lakhani interviews Chase Allred from Arbitrum/Offchain Labs about how Arbitrum is revolutionizing the Ethereum ecosystem through advanced Layer 2 scaling solutions. Chase explains Arbitrum's role as the first and largest optimistic rollup on Ethereum, providing faster and cheaper transactions while maintaining Ethereum's security guarantees. With 250 millisecond block times (8x faster than competitors) and fraud proofs live from day one, Arbitrum has established itself as a leader in the L2 space. The conversation explores Arbitrum's innovative features including: 2025-08-0742 min
Chain ReactionHow Stacks Is Making Bitcoin Programmable - The Future of BTC-Fi ExplainedIn this episode, Feroz Lakhani interviews Andre S (Head of Product at Bitcoin L2 Labs) and Jonas Gerber (Hero Systems) about Stacks - a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution bringing smart contract capabilities and DeFi to Bitcoin. Discover how Stacks has grown into a genuinely decentralized ecosystem with over 30 independent entities working together to expand Bitcoin's functionality without compromising its core principles. Learn about SBTC, a decentralized Bitcoin-backed asset that enables programmable, faster, and cheaper Bitcoin transactions in DeFi applications, and how it compares to other Bitcoin assets like Coinbase's CBBTC or BitGo's Wrapped Bitcoin. 2025-08-0753 min
Chain ReactionIP in the AI Era: How Story Foundation is Making Content Creation Fair AgainIn this insightful episode of Chain Reaction, host Feroz Lakhani sits down with Andrea Muttoni, President of Story Foundation, to explore how blockchain technology is revolutionizing intellectual property rights. Andrea shares his journey from Amazon and Dapper Labs to now leading Story Foundation, where they're building a decentralized protocol that makes IP registration and licensing as easy as uploading an image to social media. The conversation dives into how Story transforms IP protection through programmable licenses, token-bound accounts, and attestation services that verify content originality. Andrea explains how Story is addressing the growing challenge of...2025-08-0756 min
Chain ReactionStellar's Evolution and the Future of Blockchain DevelopmentIn this episode of Chain Reaction, host Feroz Lakhani speaks with Tyler Van Der Hoeven, a 10-year veteran of building on Stellar who currently works at the Stellar Development Foundation. Tyler shares insights on Stellar's longevity in the blockchain space, having recently celebrated its 11th birthday.They discuss how Stellar has maintained its core mission of facilitating value transfer and micro-transactions while the broader crypto ecosystem evolved in different directions. Tyler explains Stellar's approach to partnerships with financial institutions, highlighting how their stability and reliability have created a unique moat in an industry known for...2025-08-071h 08
Chain ReactionXAI Games - Bridging Gaming With Web3In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Feroz Lakhani sits down with EJ Ayala, Head of Partnerships at Ex Populus and core contributor to XAI blockchain, to discuss the evolution of Web3 gaming. EJ shares insights on XAI's origin as a Layer 3 blockchain on Arbitrum created to solve actual gaming problems, and introduces Raijin.gg - their new platform that rewards Steam gamers with real-world prizes for achievements. The conversation explores how Web3 gaming is moving beyond unsustainable play-to-earn models to create genuine value for mainstream gamers. EJ explains their approach...2025-08-0736 min
Chain ReactionLet's Get Agentic - With ElizaOS & ZerebroIn this thought-provoking panel from Asphere's "Blueprint: Mapping the Future of Web3 Infrastructure" event at ETH Denver, industry leaders from Zerebro and ElizaOS dive deep into the evolving landscape of AI agents. Watch as these pioneers discuss: -The current state of autonomous AI agents and their frameworks -Technical challenges in building truly autonomous systems -Business models and monetization strategies for AI agent platforms -The intersection of AI agents with Web3 infrastructure -Their visions for the future of human-agent collaboration. ...2025-08-0621 min
Chain ReactionUnderstanding Next-Gen Infrastructure from ETH DenverPanel discussion from ETH Denver featuring infrastructure innovators from Facet, DIA, and Somnia discussing their unique approaches to blockchain architecture. Tom Lehman (Facet) advocates for truly decentralized rollups, Dillon Hanson (DIA) explains their transparent oracle systems, and Ignacio (Somnia) showcases their ultra-fast EVM implementation. The panel explores key tensions between decentralization, speed, and security, with each project challenging different Web3 assumptions. Discussion highlights include corporate adoption challenges, DeFi infrastructure needs, and visions for blockchain's role in finance over the next five years. Perfect for developers, infrastructure teams...2025-08-0635 min
Chain ReactionReturn of the King - Innovations on Bitcoin from ETH DenverJoin our insightful panel discussion from ETH Denver featuring industry leaders exploring the cutting-edge innovations happening on Bitcoin. Moderated by Tyler Sloan, Product Manager at Ankr, this conversation brings together experts from TAC, Botanix, and BitFlow (representing Stacks) as they discuss the renaissance of development on the world's first cryptocurrency. Our panelists explore the latest advancements in Bitcoin infrastructure, the growing ecosystem of applications, and how new technologies are unlocking Bitcoin's potential beyond simple transactions. Discover how layer-2 solutions, smart contracts, and novel protocols are transforming Bitcoin's...2025-08-0627 min
Chain ReactionAI Agents - Knowledge As A CommodityJoin host Feroz Lakhani for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Asphere is revolutionizing blockchain technology through AI integration. In this episode, Feroz sits down with CTO Stanley Wu and Infrastructure Lead Roman Fasakhov to explore the development of Moniqa, an innovative AI system enhancing blockchain infrastructure. Learn how this groundbreaking project began, the challenges the team overcame during development, and the surprising benefits they've discovered along the way. Stanley and Roman share insights on their collaboration with the ElizaOS team and reveal exciting plans for future developments. Discover...2025-08-0639 min
Chain ReactionBitcoin's Evolution & BitLayer's Vision with Kevin HeHost Feroz Lakhani sits down with Kevin He, co-founder of Bitlayer, for a deep dive into the evolution of Bitcoin from a simple payment system to a programmable DeFi ecosystem.Kevin shares his journey from translating the Bitcoin whitepaper into other languages to building four EVM-compatible chains and now pioneering Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions. Discover how Bitlayer is achieving on-chain verification without requiring Bitcoin upgrades, using innovative BitVM technology to create the most secure Bitcoin bridge in the market.Key highlights include:The Bitcoin Scaling Dilemma: Balancing...2025-08-0629 min