Shows
ValidatedMaple's Model for Institutional Lending w/ Sid PowellIn this episode, Austin chats with Sid Powell, co-founder and CEO of Maple Finance, to explore how institutional credit is moving on-chain. Sid breaks down how Maple has facilitated over $5 billion in loans, how it manages risk and transparency in a post–Celsius world, and what’s next for tokenized private credit. We also discuss stablecoins, regulation, and how crypto finance is maturing for the long term.00:00 - Understanding Maple Finance 02:03 - Comparing Maple to Celsius 09:39 - Institutional Clientele 16:42 - Maple's Navigation of Different Blockchain Ecosystems 22:58 - The Case for Vert...
2025-11-1845 min
DevNTellEP. 192- Powering high-performance distributed systems with DoubleZero ft. Austin Federa In this week's episode of DevNTell we will be joined by Austin Federa who is the Co-Founder of DoubleZero. DoubleZero is a network of dedicated high-performance links engineered to bring low-latency networking to everyone, everywhere. Viewers of this DevNTell will get to meet Austin, learn about DoubleZero and more! — TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (00:33) Austin's Background and Journey into Tech (04:24) Austin's Solana Experience and Insights (10:19) Introduction to DoubleZero (13:07) Technical Deep Dive into DoubleZero (19:57) DoubleZero's Utility and Significant Recent SEC News (28:52) Ge...
2025-10-2433 min
brainpowerAustin Federa & Team Built DoubleZero Network in Under a Year. Now 30% of Solana Runs On ItAustin Federa left his role as Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation to solve a problem most don't know exists: the public internet is killing decentralized AI and blockchain scalability.In under 12 months, his team built DoubleZero Network—a parallel internet on private fiber that now powers 30% of Solana validators and $23 billion in connected stake. This is 70 live fiber links across 5 continents, solving the infrastructure bottleneck that would've killed Solana's million-TPS roadmap and made decentralized AI agents impossible.Austin breaks down:→ The One Thing Your future AI agent needs to survive→ Why Facebook is the...
2025-10-2242 minValidatedHow Marinade Went from Hackathon OG's to Wall Street w/ Michael RepetnyIn this episode, Austin chats with Michael Repetny, a core contributor to Marinade. They discuss the history and technical details of Marinade, its role in the Solana ecosystem, and its approach to staking. Michael covers Marinade's origins in a 2021 hackathon, the development of its custom stake pool contract, and its early competition with Lido. The conversation addresses the evolution of validator economics on Solana, the impact of MEV and priority fees, and Marinade's response to sandwich attacks. They also discuss the protocol's products, including its liquid staking token (mSOL) and Marinade Native, a non-custodial delegation service. The episode concludes...
2025-10-1443 min
The RollupWhy DoubleZero Got The Rarest Letter From The SEC With Austin FederaToday we sit down with Austin Federa, co-founder of DoubleZero Foundation, to cover:- How 12 Independent Fiber Contributors Power the Network- The Rare SEC No-Action Letter Breakthrough- Eliminating Jitter: Zero Variance Data Transmission- Multicast Technology for Fair Market Distribution- Validator Economics & The Path to Profitability- Why Traditional Exchanges Might Finally Move Onchain- L1 vs L2: Which Benefits More from Double Zero?Timestamps:00:00 Intro 01:05 Mainnet Launch Reaction03:59 SEC No-Action...
2025-10-0436 min
0xResearchDoubleZero Mainnet-Beta Launch with Austin Federa | LivestreamWe went live with DoubleZero Co-Founder, Austin Federa! We discussed DoubleZero’s mainnet-beta launch, the 2Z token, and the DePIN sector going forward.
Thanks for tuning in!
As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.
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Bitcoin DeFi is heating up on Aptos, the BTCFi growth chain with nearly $400M in BTC assets supported by a secure, fast, and affordable MVM environment. Aptos users can acquire, hold, an...
2025-10-0357 min
11AM w/ Seed ClubAustin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero, October '25Austin Federa, former head of strategy at Solana Foundation, is co-founder of DoubleZero,
-a new infra layer focused on accelerating communication in high-performance distributed systems by increasing bandwidth and reducing latency.
-launched mainnet and token this week
-immediately saw over 20% of Solana's stake migrate to DoubleZero
-signaling strong validator demand for infrastructure that addresses fundamental networking bottlenecks.
Ecosystem: Solana
Investors: Multicoin Capital, Dragonfly Capital
DoubleZero Mainnet Lauched Oct 2nd, They received a No-Action Latter from the SEC earlier this week
• 24% of Solana validators are now on DoubleZero
• 331 validators across 21 locations around the globe
• 101 million SOL
• Over 60k wallets staking Solana t...
2025-10-0300 min
The Index PodcastDoubleZero: Building a Faster, Safer & Censorship-Proof Internet with Austin FederaWhat if blockchain networks could process transactions hundreds of times faster than they do today? This fundamental question led Austin Federa to leave his position at the Solana Foundation and co-found Double Zero, a revolutionary project building what might be the future of the internet itself.Austin reveals the surprising limitations of our current internet infrastructure that most people never consider. While engineers at Solana had built validator clients theoretically capable of processing a million transactions per second, the public internet simply couldn't support those speeds. Even more concerning, the entire internet is controlled by approximately 20 tier-one...
2025-10-0234 min
The Delphi PodcastAustin Federa: From Solana Foundation to Double Zero's Fiber RevolutionJoin Alex Golding as he sits down with Austin Federa, Co-founder of DoubleZero, to explore how they're building permissionless high-performance fiber infrastructure that could revolutionize blockchain performance. Austin shares the technical vision behind creating a parallel internet for distributed systems, starting with Solana validators as their initial market.DoubleZero: https://doublezero.xyz🎯 Key Highlights▸ The internet bottleneck: why high-performance blockchains are hitting infrastructure limits▸ Building a parallel internet with dedicated fiber, FPGAs, and multicast technology▸ Proof of utility...
2025-09-251h 15
Bitcoin.com News InterviewsAustin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero | Why Solana Could Hit a Million TPS — But Not on Today’s Internet | Bitcoin.com News PodcastAustin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero and former Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation, joins Bitcoin.com News Lead David Sencil (@_dsencil) to discuss why the next leap in blockchain scalability won’t happen on today’s internet.In this episode, Federa reveals how DoubleZero is building a dedicated physical fiber network for crypto — infrastructure capable of supporting millions of transactions per second (TPS) for networks like Solana. He explains how latency, congestion, and centralized choke points in the existing internet are limiting blockchain performance — and how DoubleZero’s low-latency mesh could unleash a new generation of on-chain applicatio...
2025-09-0229 min
LightspeedThe Internet Capital Markets Roadmap | Lucas Bruder, Max Resnick & Austin FederaGm! This week we're joined by Lucas Bruder, Max Resnick & Austin Federa to discuss the internet capital markets roadmap. We deep dive into how to bring more assets onchain, the latest happening with DoubeZero, how to improve Solana execution & more. Enjoy!
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The Internet Capital Markets Roadmap...
2025-08-051h 02ValidatedReinventing Onchain Order Books on Solana w/ Tristan Frezza (Bullet)In this episode, Austin chats with Tristan (Bullet) to discuss the significant evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi), particularly focusing on the re-emergence of Central Limit Order Books (CLOBs) and the innovative development of Bullet on Solana. Tristan dives into the history of order books, their challenges in the DeFi space, and the technological advancements that are now overcoming these obstacles. They explore the unique position Bullet occupies in the Solana ecosystem, advancements in smart contract programming, the importance of co-location for trading efficiency, and the promise of ZK proofs for verifiable off-chain compute. Additionally, they cover how Bullet seeks...
2025-08-0542 min
Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech LeadersS11 E5: Austin Federa, DoubleZeroAustin Federa has a non-traditional path into the blockchain world. In college, he studied political & environmental science, and economics. Interestingly enough, those studies map a lot to the blockchain first principles. He was seriously looking to do his PhD, but fell out of love with that space, and joined NPR as a journalist for a while. Then, of course, he got bit by the startup bug. Outside of tech, he enjoys living in Brooklyn, photography, and engaging in some form of learning at all times. He enjoys reading, mention the Children of Time series, as though it was fiction...
2025-06-2428 minValidatedA Decade on the Frontlines of Crypto Policy w/ Peter Van ValkenburghIn this episode, Austin and Peter Van Valkenburgh Coin Center's mission and the critical role of educating policymakers. The discussion spans over Coin Center's inception, its efforts in shaping sound crypto regulations, and its battles against adverse policies. Peter sheds light on Coin Center's ongoing lawsuits, the implications of recent DOJ guidance, and the controversy surrounding meme coins in American politics. Peter also provides insights into future challenges and opportunities in crypto regulation, emphasizing the vital importance of nuanced policies that balance innovation with oversight. Whether you're a crypto enthusiast, policymaker, or just curious about the intersections of technology...
2025-06-031h 06
The RollupAustin Federa on Solving Crypto's Bandwidth Problem with DoubleZeroThe real scalability bottleneck isn't computation, it's communication.In today's episode, we tackle crypto's real scalability bottleneck with Austin Federa, co-founder of DoubleZero.Austin, who was the Strategy lead at Solana, walks us through a crucial issue that impacts blockchain performance: network latency. While improvements in validator software are making a difference, the underlying network delays still limit the system’s overall efficiency. Subtle (but big) problem.Double Zero is building a specialized private network using technologies like multicast, the same approach high-frequency traders use. By focusing on optimizing communication, they're opening the do...
2025-05-2153 minValidatedSelf-Custody. No Seed Phrase. w/ Ouriel Ohayon (Zengo)In this episode, Austin chats with Ouriel Ohayon (Zengo) about the evolving landscape of crypto wallets and wallet security. The conversation dives into the history and challenges of crypto custody solutions, from the problems with centralized custodians and self-custody methods to the sophistication of hacking groups. Ouriel discusses how Zengo is tackling these issues with their MPC wallets where there's "nothing to give away". He provides insights on the unique security features of Zengo, such as its passwordless experience, recovery protocols, theft protection, and physical attack safeguards. The episode also explores the business model of crypto wallets and how...
2025-05-2032 min
0xResearchThe Bandwidth Bottleneck Holding Blockchains Back | Mateo Ward & Austin FederaIn this episode, we’re joined by Austin Federa and Mateo Ward to dive into DoubleZero! They explain why bandwidth—not compute—is the real blockchain bottleneck, and how DoubleZero addresses it. We also cover validator economics, token incentives, critiques on DePIN, performance benchmarks, and plans for Solana and beyond.
Thanks for tuning in!
As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice.
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Join us from June 24th-Jun...
2025-05-1959 min
CryptoNews Podcast#438: Austin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero, on The Next Internet, The Future of Solana, and ValidatorsAustin Federa is the Co-Founder of DoubleZero, a dedicated high-performance network for modern distributed systems, and President of the DoubleZero Foundation.Prior to co-founding DoubleZero in 2024, Austin served as Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation where he was responsible for setting the direction of the Foundation and working with projects and developers building across the Solana ecosystem. Previously, Austin worked on marketing and product at Bison Trails, and was Director of Marketing at Republic and Republic Crypto, a private investing platform.In this conversation, we discuss:- The future of Solana...
2025-05-1240 min
ExpansionLightspeed Cross-Post: The Future Of Solana, DoubleZero & The Firedancer Impact | Austin FederaGm! This week we're joined by Austin Federa to discuss the latest happening with Solana & DoubleZero. We deep dive into the importance of speed for capital markets, the rise of alt L1s, how to remain competitive as a blockchain & more. Enjoy!
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L2s and L3s are history. Supra Containers give you dedicated, customizable AppSpace on Supra’s Layer-1 to rescue you from th...
2025-05-0940 minLightspeedThe Future Of Solana, DoubleZero & The Firedancer Impact | Austin FederaGm! This week we're joined by Austin Federa live at Solana Crossroads to discuss the latest happening with Solana & DoubleZero. We deep dive into the importance of speed for capital markets, the rise of alt L1s, how to remain competitive as a blockchain & more. Enjoy!
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Follow Austin: https://x.com/Austin_Federa
Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave
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Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed
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Zenrock is a permissionless, decentralized custody network backed by 1RoundTable Partners, 10T, Maven11, and Spartan. Live on Jupiter, $ROCK is the native...
2025-04-2941 minValidatedA Hardware-Accelerated Sidechain for Scaling Solana w/ Chaofan Shou (Solayer)In this episode of Validated, host Austin talks with Chaofan Shou about building Solayer, high-performance side chain for Solana. Chaofan describes the specifics of Solayer's hybrid model, which sits between a traditional Layer 1 and Layer 2, offering faster execution environments for market makers and reducing high priority fees. They get into its technical architecture, including the use of specialized hardware like FPGA and SDN for optimized transaction processing and state management. The conversation also touches on their plans for ecosystem development, particularly within the DeFi and gaming sectors, and addresses the balance between scalability and decentralization. Ho...
2025-04-2931 minValidatedEngineering Agave for Solana's Next Chapter w/ Brennan Watt (Anza)In this episode, Austin speaks with Brennan Watt, VP of Core Engineering at Anza, about the evolution of Solana’s validator clients. The conversation centers on Agave, originally developed at Solana Labs and now, by Anza. Brennan offers perspective on the critical role validator clients play in overall network performance, recounting challenges encountered in 2022 and 2023 and the improvements that have shaped the current landscape. They dive deep on topics such as memory allocation optimizations, the development of the Agave scheduler, and the broader movement toward a multi-client ecosystem. 00:00 - Anza's Origin and Early Challenges with Solana 07:47 - T...
2025-04-1542 min
Block by Block: A Show on Web3 Growth Marketing[PODCAST] Austin Federa: Increase Bandwidth, Reduce Latency: The DoubleZero StoryEpisode is brought to you by Infinex. Experience Crypto designed for humans. Get your free account today: https://app.infinex.xyz/?r=B2KSQJ77-------------------------SummaryIn this conversation, Austin Federa shares his journey into the world of cryptocurrency, detailing his early experiences with Bitcoin and his eventual pivot to the blockchain space. He discusses his transition from working at the Solana Foundation to founding DoubleZero, a company focused on building a high-performance fiber infrastructure network designed to support the demands of modern blockchain technology. The conversation explores the challenges of c...
2025-04-1048 min
Y-Axis PodcastAustin Federa: DoubleZero, New Internet, Distributed Networks, and Consensus ProtocolsIn this conversation, Tristan Yver interviews Austin Federa, co-founder of Double Zero, discussing the limitations of the current internet for distributed systems and how Double Zero aims to create a new internet optimized for blockchain technology. They explore the challenges of data transfer, the role of hardware, and the importance of decentralization in building trust within the network. Austin shares insights on the target customers for Double Zero, the innovative business model for value capture, and the future steps for the project.
2025-04-0756 minValidatedHow MegaETH's Node Specialization Enables Real-Time Applications w/ Lei Yang (MegaLabs)In this episode, Austin sits down with Lei Yang of MegaLabs to explore the architecture behind MegaETH and its unique approach to enabling real-time blockchain applications. By specializing node roles and optimizing for high-frequency transactions, MegaETH tackles technical challenges like network latency and state propagation head-on. The conversation also delves into data flow models and the practical implementation of a scalable, high-performance Ethereum Layer 2 solution—designed to outperform the speed limitations of traditional finance systems. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell...
2025-04-0149 minValidatedThe Aptos Roadmap w/ Avery Ching (Aptos Labs)In this episode, Austin chats with Avery Ching (Aptos Labs) about the latest developments and future vision for Aptos. Avery recounts his early involvement with Libra/Diem at Meta, his journey into the crypto space, and the technical challenges and solutions that Aptos is tackling. The episode dives into the architectural framework of Aptos, dynamic parallelism, and the concept of Shardines. Avery details the project’s aim to optimize scalability, latency, and cost-efficiency, while highlighting the innovative features with a focus on developer experience and real-world applications. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educa...
2025-03-1852 minValidatedIs Social Trading Crypto's Next Big Thing? w/ Ilja Moisejevs and Richard WuIn this episode, Austin chats with Ilmoi and Richard Wu about Vector, a social trading app that combines elements of Robinhood and Twitter. They delve into the core functionality of Vector, its community-building strategies, and the sophisticated technical infrastructure underpinning its seamless experience. The discussion also addresses broader topics including the relationship between timing and PMF and the nuances of moderation policies in web3. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, fu...
2025-03-0440 minValidatedIncrease Bandwidth, Reduce Latency w/ Mateo Ward and Andrew McConnell (Malbec Labs)In this episode of Validated, Austin discusses his new venture DoubleZero with co-founders Andrew McConnell and Matteo Ward. They discuss the necessity of creating high-performance networking specifically tailored for blockchains, comparing it to the traditional internet and private networks. They delve into their backgrounds and how their experiences in telecom and high-frequency trading influence the development of Double Zero. This episode covers various technical topics including the limitations of the public internet, the importance of a purpose-built network, and how DoubleZero provides a decentralized, efficient, and secure connectivity for blockchain validators. DISCLAIMER The content her...
2025-02-251h 00LightspeedEverything You Need To Know About DoubleZero | Austin FederaGm! This week, we're joined by Austin Federa to discuss the launch of DoubleZero. We deep dive into leaving the Solana Foundation, Austin's vision for reshaping the internet, the DoubleZero business model, what to expect in 2025 & much more. Enjoy!–Follow Austin: https://x.com/Austin_FederaFollow Mert: https://x.com/0xMert_Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknaveFollow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/LightspeedpodhqSubscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Utilize the Solana Dashboard by Blockworks Research: http://solana.blockworksresearch.co...
2024-12-111h 00ValidatedWill Stablecoins and PayFi Replace Traditional Banking? w/ Anna Yuan (Perena)In this episode, Austin chats with Anna Yuan about the founding of QuineCo, the company behind Perena, a new protocol designed to support the liquidity, interoperability, and capital efficiency of stablecoins. The conversation covers the comprehensive value chain of stablecoins, the existing inefficiencies in current stablecoin ecosystems, and the potential transformative impact of "PayFi" on global finance. The discussion also touches on the regulatory landscape, the evolving role of stablecoins in traditional versus decentralized finance, and the future of payment systems and financial services in a more interconnected digital economy. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided fo...
2024-12-0344 min
EmpireInside Baseball of Building a Crypto Brand | Austin Federa & Ekram AhmedIn today's episode Austin Federa (Head of Strategy at Solana Foundation) and Ekram Ahmed (CMO of Celestia) - break down what actually works in crypto marketing. They discuss why Web2 marketing principles fail in crypto, reveal how Solana and Celestia developed their distinct narrative positions, and explain what most projects get wrong about crisis communications and community building. The conversation covers everything from the "modular vs monolithic" narrative war to why marketing agencies rarely work in crypto. Thanks for listening!- -Start your day with crypto news, analysis and data from Katherine Ross and...
2024-11-141h 25ValidatedLet's Make Solana Cypherpunk w/ Yannik Schrade (Arcium)In this episode, Austin chats with Yannik Schrade (Arcium) about the current state of zero knowledge technology. The conversation delves into various aspects of zero knowledge proofs, secure multi-party computation (MPC), and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE). Yannick explains the historical development of these technologies, their applications, and how they differentiate from traditional encryption methods. The discussion also covers challenges in the field, such as computation complexity and the need for hardware acceleration. Yannick introduces Arcium’s approach to confidential computing, emphasizing developer accessibility and practical implementation in DeFi and DePIN. The conversation also explores the potential future of these te...
2024-11-1239 minValidatedThe Placeholder Playbook w/ Chris Burniske and Joel MonegroIn this episode, Austin chats with Chris Burniske and Joel Monegro from Placeholder, a cryptocurrency venture capital firm. They delve into the firm's unique approach to investments, combining venture capital structures with public market practices. The conversation covers the formation of Placeholder, their investment strategies focusing on long-term holds, and how they developed conviction in Solana. Chris and Joel discuss the importance of managing valuations, the role of market cycles, and the importance of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in crypto market structures. They also offer advice for entrepreneurs on fundraising and selecting the right investors. DISCLAIMER...
2024-10-011h 09ValidatedWTF RPC? w/ Brian Long (Triton One)In this episode of Validated, Austin chats with Brian Long (Triton One) about the significance and functionality of RPC (Remote Procedure Call) services in blockchain. They delve into the complex roles RPCs play in enhancing blockchain usability, data retrieval, and transaction processing. Brian shares insights from his experience during the early adoption phase of Solana's network and discusses the operational challenges and hardware requirements for RPC nodes. They also touch on topics such as Solana's state compression, historical state ledger storage, decentralized trading infrastructure, and data accessibility through projects like Old Faithful. DISCLAIMER The content herein is...
2024-09-1758 minValidatedBlinks and Actions w/ Jon Wong (Solana Foundation) and Chris Osborn (Dialect)In this episode, Austin chats with Jon Wong (Solana Foundation) and Chris Osborn (Dialect) about the development of and use cases for Blinks and Solana Actions. Blinks, short for "blockchain links," allow users to take direct "Actions" on the Solana blockchain such as swapping tokens, donating, or voting on governance directly from a link on platforms like X. This technology integrates with Chrome extension wallets like Phantom and Backpack, rendering these interactions seamlessly in the browser. The conversation highlights the rapid adoption and excitement within the developer community around these new features, the security model ensuring safe transactions, and...
2024-09-0349 minValidatedTurning BTC into a Programable Asset on Solana w/ Justin Wang (Zeus Network)In this episode, Austin chats with Justin Wang (Zeus Network) about bringing Bitcoin onto Solana. Unlike previous BTC x Solana integrations, Zeus has built a new communication layer, termed as "Layer 1.5," to enable programmability for Bitcoin and other non-programmable UTXO chains on Solana. Justin shares Zeus' security model and other technical details about how Zeus manages transactions. He ultimately shares a vision for the future of web3 applications that could leverage Zeus to build more integrated and functional decentralized apps, suggesting the potential for Solana to interact with any PoW chains, not just Bitcoin. DISCLAIMER The co...
2024-08-2025 minValidatedHow Zeta Markets’ L2 Makes a DEX Feel Like a CEX w/ Tristan FrizzaIn this episode, Austin chats with Tristan Frezza about Zeta Markets, a decentralized perps trading platform on Solana. Tristan shares insights on Zeta's inception in early 2021 and their mission to bring Nasdaq-like derivatives markets on-chain. The conversation delves into the technical challenges of building such a platform in a fully decentralized manner, the benefits and drawbacks of different trading mechanisms, and the ongoing development of Zeta Markets' L2 solution optimized for high-speed trading. Tristan elaborates on the importance of transparency, security, and the philosophical approach of open DeFi systems, as well as future plans to enhance Zeta's trading infrastructure...
2024-08-1349 minValidatedHow Gameshift's API Is Simplifying web3 Game Development w/ Davis Hart (Solana Labs)In this episode, Austin chats with Davis Hard (Solana Labs) to talk about GameShift, a new API designed to streamline blockchain integration for game developers on Solana. GameShift aims to simplify the process of incorporating blockchain elements into games by providing a Rust-based API that intermediates between the game and the blockchain, reducing the need for developers to manage keys and do blockchain development themselves. Davis explains but the technicalities and practicalities of Gameshift, using current and future game projects as case studies. The conversation also touches on the broader context of Solana’s gaming ecosystem, the potential of me...
2024-08-0636 minValidatedA Blockchain Dev's Guide to Leaving Cities w/ Austin Adams (Anagram)In this unconventional episode, Austin talks with Austin Adams of Anagram and Metaplex about his decision to leave urban life behind. Unlike most of his peers who work in major tech hubs, Adams has settled in rural Texas, where he spends his free time farming and operating his tractor. Their conversation explores the benefits and challenges of working on cutting-edge technology from a remote location, contrasting the ironic loneliness of city life with the sense of community found in rural living. Adams also offers insights into setting technology boundaries in his personal life and expresses his interest in bringing...
2024-07-3056 minValidatedWhat Futarchy Looks Like in Practice w/ Kollan House (MetaDAO)In this episode, Austin chats with Kollan House, cofounder of MetaDAO, the first project to put the concept of futarchy into practice since its conception in the early 2000's. Put simply, futarchy is a system of governance that uses market mechanics to make decisions. MetaDAO provides a platform to create, manage, and participate in futarchies, and is itself governed by a futarchy. Kollan breaks down how market-based governance works, gives real-world examples of futarchic voting proposals, and addresses the viability of futarchy's economics and ethics. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment pu...
2024-07-2345 minValidatedBringing Blockchain to Music Streaming w/ Ray Jacobson (Audius)In this episode, Austin chats with Ray Jacobson (Audius) about what decentralization unlocks for the music streaming ecosystem. In contrast with legacy streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, Audius leverages blockchain to increase accounting transparency for artists. The platform allows artists to have more control over monetization methods, helping to build deeper and more direct relationships with fans through tools like remix competitions, pre-release options, and more. The conversation further dives into Audius' partial migration from Ethereum to Solana, the integration of traditional music licensing with decentralized systems, product-market fit, and more. DISCLAIMER The c...
2024-07-1646 minValidatedThe CBDC Debate (Part 2) w/ Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL)In this second episode on CBDCs, Austin and Amira return to chat with Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL). Foster recently voted against the CBDC Anti-Surveillance Act. Unlike Congressman Emmer, Foster believes in the importance of controlled privacy, distinguishing between continuous government surveillance and the ability to de-anonymize transactions under specific legal circumstances. He elaborates on his point of view, suggesting that traceable wallets will prove to be a cornerstone of fighting financial crimes. They also discuss the topics of financial inclusion, US dollar dominance, and the trustworthiness of the US government in the context of tighter regulation. DI...
2024-07-1046 minValidatedThe CBDC Debate (Part 1) - Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN)In this episode, Austin and Amira (Head of Policy, Solana Foundation) chat with Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN), a champion of the the recently passed CBDC Anti-Surveillance Act. Congressman Emmer details his concerns about government surveillance through CBDCs, emphasizing his beliefs in individual privacy and financial freedom. They also discuss topics such as the development of CBDCs in other global economies, the importance of stablecoins for the US dollar, and the need for regulatory clarity for crypto in the US.DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an...
2024-07-0929 minValidatedThe Pro-Crypto 2024 Election w/ Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN)According to Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), being pro-crypto is being pro-American. In this conversation, Austin and Senator Hagerty discuss the many partisan divides on crypto and the industry's global implications. Hagerty explains his views on regulatory overreach, CBDCs, repatriating American crypto founders, and much more. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, nor should not be relied upon as advice to bu...
2024-07-0555 minValidatedThe Infinite-LST Future w/ FP Lee (Sanctum)In this episode, Austin chats with FP Lee (Sanctum) about the liquid staking landscape on Solana. They discuss the architectural differences between staking on Solana and other blockchains, such as Ethereum, and how seemingly trivial implementation details have profound downstream implications for builders. FP breaks down Sanctum's product suite and the full range of LSTs that the ecosystem currently utilizes - Validator LSTs, Project-based LSTs, Individual LSTs, No-Loss Lottery LSTs, and more. They also reflect on the potential issues of liquidity during market downturns and the extent to which blockchain foundations should play an interventionist role. ...
2024-06-2550 minValidatedA Crypto Native's History of Markets w/ Tarun Chitra (Gauntlet)In this episode, Austin chats with Tarun Chitra (Gauntlet) about the history of markets and the evolution of the math which underpins them. Over the course of their free-form conversation, they cover everything from the ancient history of futures (literally) to the impact of computers on finance in the 80's to the creation of financial products on blockchain that couldn't exist in TradFi. According to Tarun, DeFi will succeed in the long run not by emulating TradFi instruments onchain, but by forging these net new opportunities. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, i...
2024-06-181h 06LightspeedThe State Of Solana In 2024 | Austin FederaGm! This week we invite Austin Federa to the show for a discussion on the current state of Solana & the most exciting developments happening in crypto. We deep dive into the current state of Firedancer, how to build community within crypto & attracting developers to Solana. We then debate is economic security a meme & of course the latest meta... social tokens & meme coins. Enjoy!--Follow Austin: https://x.com/Austin_FederaFollow Mert: https://twitter.com/0xMert_Follow Dan: https://twitter.com/smyyguy--Get 15% off an...
2024-06-0756 minValidatedFiredancer w/ Kevin BowersIn this episode, Austin visits Jump Crypto's office in Chicago (The Pit) to talk about Firedancer, Solana's second independent validator client. They discuss its roadmap, its rollout, and the ways in which it will optimize and improve upon the architecture of Solana's existing client. Kevin elaborates on his unconventional views on programming languages, scaling solutions, data flow optimization, and much more. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives r...
2024-06-051h 00ValidatedHow Metaplex Core Moves Beyond NFT Standards w/ Stephen Hess (Metaplex Studios)In this episode, Austin chats with Stephen Hess about the evolution of the Solana NFT ecosystem from the summer of 2021 to the present. Starting from the initial creation of the Solana NFT standard, Austin and Stephen reflect on recent technological advancements such as compressed NFTs, programmability, and the introduction of the "Core" standard. According to Stephen, the creation of "Core" represents a shift away from NFT standards toward more of a "digital asset protocol". The conversation also covers the Metaplex DAO's role in governance, controversies around features like programmable NFTs, the introduction of protocol fees, and more....
2024-05-2846 minValidatedBuilding web3 Login Your Grandma Can Use w/ Itai Turbahn (Dynamic)In this episode, Austin chats with Itai Turbahn (Dyanmic) about the future of wallet onboarding. Dynamic is building web3 authentication that allows crypto-enabled companies to seamlessly serve web3 natives and crypto novices alike. Over the course of the conversation, they discuss things like user management for multi-wallet users, tokenizing KYC, and the role of passkeys in web3 authentication.DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities...
2024-05-2140 minValidatedParallelizing the EVM on Solana w/ Andrey Falaleyev (Neon)In this episode, Austin chats with Andrey Falaleyev, CTO of Neon, an EVM that lets devs build and deploy dApps from EVM chains to Solana, all while maintaining compatibility with the EVM opcode set. Andrey discusses Neon's decentralization and security, elucidating technical details around how Neon's parallelization works. He also sheds light on the kinds of teams interested in building on or migrating over to Neon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2024-05-1438 minValidatedDoes DEX Liquidity Need a Defense Layer? w/ Nitesh Nath (DFlow)In this episode, Austin chats with Nitesh Nath of DFlow, a protocol that protects DEX liquidity against toxic order flows on Solana. According to Nitesh, users of DFlow will gain benefits such as tighter spreads, lower volatility, and more efficient price discovery, among others. He explains DFlow's unique system of "endorsers" for identifying types of order flow, presenting a long-term vision of sustainability for the protocol.DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy...
2024-05-0740 minValidatedWhat's Behind the Move Movement? w/ Rushi Manche (Movement Labs)In this episode, Austin chats with Rushi Manche (Movement Labs) about bringing the Move programming language to Solana and other blockchains. They discuss some of the hype behind Move, such as its "built-in" security, and the inherent trade-offs that every programming language has. Rushi further explains topics like the difference between the Sui and Aptos versions of Move, how Movement Labs' parallelization works, and more. According to Rushi, the intuitiveness and flexibility of programming in Move will serve as an effective bridge for web2 developers to step into web3. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is pr...
2024-04-3038 minValidatedWhy Does Mexico Want to Tokenize Its Treasuries? w/ David Taylor (Etherfuse)In this episode, Austin talks with David Taylor (Etherfuse) about tokenizing Mexican bonds and equities. By bringing these assets onchain, Etherfuse is drastically reducing global barriers to entry in emerging markets. David discusses the Mexican government's enthusiastic response to their partnership and how their success could set a precedent for other governments tokenizing their treasuries through Etherfuse. Beyond their flagship "stablebonds", David speculates on how developers will use Etherfuse's SDK to build protocols to bring other secure financial assets, such as 401Ks, onchain. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and d...
2024-04-2342 minValidatedThe Long-Term Vision for the DA Layer w/ Connor O'Hara (Celestia)In this episode, Austin chats with Connor O'Hara (Celestia) about the scope of DA projects like Celestia. After a reflective discussion on a wide range of topics from the early days of Bitcoin to tradeoffs of proof-of-stake networks, Connor gets at the heart of how data availability works, how it differs from settlement and state, and where data availability and verifiability intersect. He also addresses questions around the long-term vision for the DA layer, what attacks on the DA layer may look like, tradeoffs of enshrining apps in the L1, and much more. DISCLAIMERTh...
2024-04-1657 minValidatedThe Restaking Thesis w/ Sreeram Kannan (Eigen Labs)In this episode, Austin chats with Sreeram Kannan (Eigen Labs) about EigenLayer's vision for restaking. Sreeram argues that restaking is merely a way of making proof-of-stake networks more programmable, addressing the economic and architectural considerations required to make the restaking thesis work. The conversation also elucidates the relationship between EigenLayer and the Ethereum L1, particularly in the context of settlement and data availability, and how restaking may also one day be applied to blockchains outside the Ethereum ecosystem. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does n...
2024-04-091h 03ValidatedLevel Up. Go Crankless. w/ Jarry Xiao (Phoenix)In this episode, Austin chats with Jarry Xiao from Ellipsis Labs about Phoenix, the fastest on-chain orderbook on Solana. They explore Phoenix's innovative design, which enables settlement without the need for asynchronous cranks, setting it apart from previous order books on Solana. The conversation covers a range of topics including capital efficiency in DeFi, strategies for market making, the importance of competition within Solana's DEX ecosystem, and more.DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer...
2024-04-0243 minValidatedRethinking Solana's Validator Client Paradigm w/ Ahmad Abbasi (Syndica)In this episode, Austin talks with Ahmad Abbasi (Syndica) about Sig, a new Solana validator client built in Zig. Unlike other Solana validator clients, Sig is optimized for reads as opposed to writes. Ahmad unpacks the seemingly herculean task of writing a new validator client from scratch and why this was an important decision for Syndica's core business of providing RPC node infrastructure. He explains Zig's unique advantages in this context and how Sig will ultimately make running validators node more accessible for the entire ecosystem. DISCLAIMER The content herein is provided for educational, informational, an...
2024-03-2628 minValidatedWhat Solana Unlocks for GameFi's Backend w/ Albert Chen (Genopets)Web3 gaming is one of the oldest proposed use cases for blockchain. In this episode, Austin chats with Albert Chen (Genopets) about the state of web3 games on Solana and beyond. They dive into Genopets, exploring its gameplay, its web3 integration, and the philosophy guiding its backend design. The discussion also covers Genopets' semi-custodial approach to in-game assets, composability, and the crucial role of Phoenix in Genopets' design. Albert also compares transaction dynamics on Solana versus Ethereum, claiming a game like Genopets is only possible to build on Solana. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is pr...
2024-03-1229 minValidatedThe Enterprise Self-Custody Problem w/ Connor and Nicolas from Cordial SystemsIn this episode, Austin talks with Nicolas and Conor from Cordial Systems, an enterprise custody solution initially developed for Jump Crypto. They discuss how to build a self-custody solution that serves crypto-native businesses without compromising the security standards of traditional systems. Nicolas and Conor explain the limitations of current enterprise custody solutions and how Cordial Systems addresses these issues. They also go into detail about their approach to building a distributed policy layer and Cordial System's architecture. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not c...
2024-02-2734 min
The Wolf Of All StreetsHere Is Why I Am So Bullish On Solana | Austin FederaJoin Austin Fedra as he delves into the resilient world of Solana in this podcast journey. From its survival to exploring its ecosystem, including projects like Helium and DePIN, the discussion touches on the evolving landscape of DeFi 2.0, token extensions, and the intersection of Solana with governments and regulations. Tune in for insights on scalability, infrastructure readiness, airdrops, and the potential of Layer 2 solutions, all while contemplating the self-sovereignty and interoperability challenges Solana faces in the crypto realm.Austin Federa: https://twitter.com/Austin_Federa►► Sponsored by iTrust Capital
2024-02-1852 minValidatedHow DRiP Is Able to Give Away Millions of Free NFTsIn this episode, Austin chats with Vibhu Norby, CEO of DRiP, a platform that has distributed millions of digital collectibles to its community ... for free. Among other topics, Vibhu discusses the unlikely emergence of the company's vision and how the innovation of compression helped that vision become a reality. According to Vibhu, platforms like DRiP not only offer new experiences to creators' collectors and patrons, but also to creators themselves, particularly when it comes to better web-based payment rails. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does no...
2024-02-1335 minValidatedA Cross-Chain DePIN Conversation w/ Alex Rawitz (DIMO)In this episode, Austin chats with Alex Rawitz, co-founder of DIMO, a DePIN project built on Polygon which allows users to collect and monetize their car's data. Instead of pitting one blockchain against another, Austin and Alex have an optimistic, open-minded discussion about the DePIN space in general. The conversation also highlights a non-maxi, cross-chain attitude toward building DePIN projects; though built on Polygon, DIMO leverages the Helium network (which migrated to Solana last year) for its IoT piece. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...
2024-01-3042 minValidatedThe Case for Onchain Options Trading w/ Lev & Serge from DeVol NetworkIn this episode, Austin chats with Lev Gelfer and Serge Levin from DeVol Network, a low-cost, fully onchain option trading platform. Serge and Lev dive deep into complex trades and the advantages of bringing options to blockchain, but at a higher level, this episode is an exploration of exactly the kinds of projects that are only possible on Solana. It's a testament to how every step-function change in performance or cost unlocks entirely new use cases that were impossible to build before and how projects like DeVol are making use of these changes. DISCLAIMER
2024-01-1644 minValidatedWhy Payment Processing Companies Need to Start Thinking About Blockchain w/ Nabil Manji (Worldpay)In this episode, Austin chats with Nabil Manji of Worldpay, one of the largest payment processing companies in the world. In a recent collaboration with Worldpay, Visa expanded its USDC settlement to the Solana blockchain. Austin and Nabil chat about the current landscape of card payments and what the integration of blockchain unlocks for large financial institutions. Why complicate the legacy fiat payment system if it seems to work so well? Drawing on the firsthand experience at Worldpay, Nabil discusses the due diligence behind adopting USDC, the way USDC rails work for merchants, the internal process of adopting blockchain...
2024-01-0246 minValidatedIs Bitcoin Still Relevant in a Smart Contract World? w/ Matt Luongo (Thesis)In this episode, Austin chats with Matt Luongo (Thesis) about the role of decentralized custodial solutions for Bitcoin such as Threshold's tBTC. Beyond the technical details of how tBTC works and what its holders can do, the conversation often digresses into Bitcoiner views of the world in the context of a crypto industry now dominated by smart contracts. What should the role of BTC be in DeFi? What are the cultural implications of the flippening if it happens too early? How will the BTC network remain "relevant" for decades to come? Austin and Matt exchange views on these questions...
2023-12-1251 minValidatedAn Open-Source Toolset for Token Infrastructure w/ Tommy JohnsonIn this episode, Tommy Johnson discusses Armada, a collaborative project between PsyFi and HXRO that provides an open-source toolkit for launching tokens from inception to full decentralization. He and Austin reflect on the historical pain points of token launches, the evolution of tokenomics over the last several years, "governance-light" vs. "governance-heavy" DAO models, and more. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to se...
2023-11-2143 min
Steady LadsSteady Lads #17: w/ Austin Federa • Solana Foundation—Head of StrategyThis week, the Lads are joined by Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation and host of Validated, Austin Federa. The Lads share their thoughts and experiences with Solana, ask "What is Money, Really", and dig into what separates Solana from other chains? A jammed-packed episode you're not gonna wanna miss!
In this episode we cover:
00:00 Intros/Jordi & Austin's Tweets
02:08 Solana Ecosystem Experiences
10:49 Is 'Crypto As Money' A Meme?
39:26 What Separates Solana?
59:45 Pasta of the Week 🍝
...
2023-11-171h 05ValidatedLive from Breakpoint: Conversation w/ Rune Christensen (MakerDAO)In this episode live from BP 2023, Austin sits down with Rune Christensen to discuss MakerDAO's Endgame plan. Rune outlines how the concept of subDAOs will fix the current problems faced by DAOs, why SVM architecture is best suited to carry out his Endgame vision, the toxicity of tribalism, and more. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, nor should not b...
2023-11-0428 min
defireSolana's Climb to the Top: A Chat with Austin FederaWhen I sat down with Austin Federa a few weeks ago, the crypto world's sentiment, especially around Solana, was still a bit bleak. Fast forward to today, and the landscape seems to have shifted dramatically. In our wide-ranging conversation about Solana, we delved deep into:
- Solana's unique approach to scaling blockchain at its core.
- The history and evolution of computing and its parallels with blockchain.
- The economic dynamics of crypto and how Solana fits into the bigger picture.
- The challenges and criticisms faced by Solana in the crypto community.
- Austin's journey from environmental studies to...
2023-10-311h 17defireSolana's Climb to the Top: A Chat with Austin FederaWhen I sat down with Austin Federa a few weeks ago, the crypto world's sentiment, especially around Solana, was still a bit bleak. Fast forward to today, and the landscape seems to have shifted dramatically. In our wide-ranging conversation about Solana, we delved deep into:
- Solana's unique approach to scaling blockchain at its core.
- The history and evolution of computing and its parallels with blockchain.
- The economic dynamics of crypto and how Solana fits into the bigger picture.
- The challenges and criticisms faced by Solana in the crypto community.
- Austin's journey from environmental studies to...
2023-10-311h 17ValidatedCrypto's Killer App Is Already Here: Stablecoins w/ Dante Disparte (Circle)In this episode, Austin is joined by Amira Valliani (Solana Foundation) to chat with Dante Disparte (Circle) about stablecoin adoption, regulation, and more. Dante envisions a promising future for stablecoins as he explores fundamental questions about their ultimate objectives and distinct applications in the world of payments. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, nor should not be relied up...
2023-10-2449 minValidatedThe Toly EpisodeIn this episode, Austin has a freeform conversation with Anatoly Yakovenko about the state of Solana. Beyond the cliches of the past, present, and future of the network, Austin and Toly explore higher level ideas such as design philosophy, hardware limitations, balancing new features with network performance, AI and blockchain, and much more. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, n...
2023-10-1046 min
CRYPTO 101Ep. 567 Full Update on the Solana Network with Austin FederaIn this episode of Crypto 101 we have back on one of our favorite guests Austin Federa who is Head of Strategy for the Solana Foundation. This is a true must listen for anyone interested in learnings about all the updates around Solana including their partnerships with fortune 500 companies like Visa, the technology they continue to innovate, and an important conversation all the FUD about the Solana token locked up in the FTX bankruptcy. Hedge Fund Summit FREE TICKET: https://www.cryptohedgefundsummit.com/registration1675302455773Please Support Our Sponsorsww...
2023-10-0334 minValidatedWhat Decentralized Credit Means for Emerging Markets w/ Thomas Bohner Private credit in emerging markets like Latin America generally lacks modern infrastructure. According to Thomas Bohner (Credix), blockchain is the perfect technology to bring these markets into the future. With a company like Credix, investors and borrowers are able to leverage smart contracts for things like instant settlement and frictionless cross-border transactions, all while operating within legally compliant frameworks. In this episode, Austin and Thomas discuss Credix's model and the broader implications of DeFi 2.0 projects, many of which heavily rely on off-chain components. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and ent...
2023-10-0351 min
BanklessAustin Federa: Is SOL Money?Bankless hasn’t had the most coverage of Solana, the network, and SOL, the asset, but in this episode that changes. Our guest, Austin Federa is Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation and is the host of the Validated podcast. David was recently a guest on Austin’s podcast where they went back and forth on some of the cultural and philosophical differences between the Solana and Ethereum projects. Today is a continuation of that episode. Despite some differences in community perspectives, Austin brings a fresh perspective on the design philosophy that relates Solana the ne...
2023-08-101h 01ValidatedHow Compression is Changing the Way We Think of NFTsIn today's episode, Austin moderates a panel discussion about compression with Jon Wong (Solana Foundation), Noah Prince (Helium Foundation), and Ilmoi (Tensor). Compression is a way of storing data on Solana that reduces costs by orders of magnitude. For now, its most common use case is compressed NFTs. With compression, you can mint one hundred million NFTs for two thousand dollars. Jon, Noah, and Ilmoi dive into the tech of how compression works, the ways in which developers are utilizing it, and how it may be a driving force in Solana's mass adoption. DISCLAIMERThe c...
2023-08-0251 min
The CoveInside the Solana Foundation with Austin FederaToday we have Austin Federa from the Solana Foundation chat all things Solana, we talk about what Austin is excited for, what it's like being the face of the foundation on Twitter, what the role of the foundation is versus Labs and a ton more.
Enjoy!
🌐 Make sure to check our Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCovePodcast?s=20
2023-07-1944 minValidatedRethinking High Performance Computing with Kevin F****** BowersIn this episode, Austin talks with Kevin Bowers, Chief Science Officer at Jump Trading. Kevin and his team are the brains behind Firedancer, Solana's second independent validator client. As Kevin describes the process of building Firedancer, it's clear that this episode is not only about building a validator client; it's about Kevins unique perspective on the 1% of computer science focused on making things as fast and efficient as possible. Throughout his interdisciplinary career, Kevin has again and again proven to be an iconoclastic thinker, unabashedly dissatisfied with the status quo. He expresses his unconventional views on programming languages, scaling...
2023-05-301h 09ValidatedThe Philosophy of Ethereum According to Bankless' David HoffmanIn this episode, David Hoffman (Bankless) and Austin have an honest and multi-faceted conversation about the differences between Solana and Ethereum’s decisions, community, and future. David makes the case for an Ethereum-dominant future, and in doing so, illuminates much about Ethereum's philosophy of design and the culture of its most fervent believers. Naturally, Austin makes a similar case on behalf of Solana. This is a conversation between two people who have mutual respect for each other, but fundamentally different opinions about how a blockchain should be built. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provi...
2023-05-231h 34
The ZeitgeistAustin Federa, Head of Strategy & Comms - Solana FoundationOur guest this week is Austin Federa. Austin is head of strategy and communications at Solana Foundation, responsible for setting the direction of the Solana Foundation and working with projects and developers building in the Solana ecosystem. Austin discusses Solana's pragmatic engineering culture and the need for developers to focus on building things that are truly only possible on Solana. He also highlights the Foundation's role in supporting infrastructure-level initiatives and turning R&D into stable, standardized solutions. Finally, he stresses the importance for founders to focus on revenue and business models during the bear market and t...
2023-05-1133 minValidatedLive Show: When to Work with web2 | The Pro-CBDC Case | Crypto Twitter vs. the HillIn this live taping of Validated from NFT.NYC, Austin has an informal chat with his Solana Foundation colleagues Amira Valliani and Pedro Miranda. They discuss how web3 x web2 partnerships are evolving, the pros and cons of Central Bank Digital Currencies, and the disconnect between crypto Twitter and conversations among crypto regulators. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, n...
2023-05-0251 minValidatedTwo Ex-OFAC Lawyers Walk into a Bar ... and Discuss the Warren-Marshall BillIn this episode, Austin, Amira (Head of Policy at the Solana Foundation), and two ex-OFAC lawyers discuss regulation in web3 as it pertains to national security. Naturally, they discuss OFAC's sanction of Tornado Cash and consider other ways in which the government could have handled the situation. While the Tornado Cash sanction may be old news at this point, thoughtful conversations about the intersection of blockchain, national security, and technology ethics are always relevant. The recent Warren-Marshall Bill threatens to hold blockchain validators responsible for illicit activity on chain, which, like the Tornado Cash sanctions before it, will have...
2023-04-2554 min
Crypto CurrentAustin Federa on bringing blockchain to the people with SolanaAustin Federa is the Head of Communications for Solana Foundation, where he works across communications, marketing, strategy, and product.Introducing Validated, the weekly podcast focused on expanding discussions with web3 industry leaders to cover a wide range of topics for those who are eager to learn more about blockchain and crypto.In each episode of Validated, host Austin Federa (the Solana Foundation’s head of communications) tackles some of the big questions people have about the world of web3 — including NFTs, DeFi, decentralized governance, games, and more — alongside some of the world’s leadin...
2023-02-1333 minCRYPTO 101Ep. 508 Solana State of the Union Address with Austin FederaIn this episode of Crypto 101, brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs we talk to Austin Federa who is head of Strategy and Communication at the Solana Foundation who gives us a deep dive on everything Solana. Consider this episode the Solana State of the Union Address where you get everything from a recap of the FTX fiasco to where Solana stands today and all the awesome things they are working on to grow their network, community, and technology. Digital Currency Summit Registrationhttps://www.digitalcurrencysummit.com/registration43922607Sponsored link:w...
2023-02-0738 minValidatedHow Crypto Journalism Actually Happens with Danny NelsonBeing a crypto journalist - a good crypto journalist - is hard work. When it comes to reporting, no other sector requires the same level of technical proficiency, an understanding of financial markets, and a primer in digital anthropology. In this conversation, Austin and Danny navigate a lot of complicated topics including conflicts of interest within crypto native media, reporting in an industry where everyone has a hidden objective, citizen journalism on Twitter, and more.DISCLAIMER The information on this podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of...
2023-01-2451 minValidatedWhat Keeps a Crypto OG Hopeful? with Ryan SelkisRyan Selkis, founder of Messari, has been a crypto investor, writer, and advocate since 2013. As someone who has witnessed multiple market cycles firsthand, Ryan is as optimistic as ever about the future of blockchain. Throughout this episode, Austin and Ryan find paradoxical silver linings in the tumult of 2022. Looking forward, they discuss how DC's views of crypto are changing, exciting new sectors within crypto like DeSoc and DePIN, and more.DISCLAIMER The information on this podcast is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties...
2023-01-1743 minValidatedIntroducing Validated (Trailer)Introducing Validated, a new podcast where host Austin Federa talks to people who are rethinking the internet — and our world. No hype cycles. No financial advice. Just conversations on the biggest ideas shaping the future of the internet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
2023-01-1001 min
ACQ2 by AcquiredCrypto Self-Custody 101 (with Austin Federa)The Acquired community's own Austin Federa joins us for a 101 primer on how to self-custody your crypto assets, and why it’s the only truly safe way to hold them. Given all the current turmoil (and fraud) in crypto-land, we were thinking “how could we do something to help the Acquired community right now”, and Austin gave us the perfect idea. In addition to running the #digital-assets channel on the Acquired Slack, Austin is the head of communications at the Solana Foundation and has plenty of hard-won experience through previous crypto cycles and implosions. This episode covers both the nuts a...
2022-12-031h 08ValidatedAmir Haleem - CEO, Nova Labs & Founder, Helium Ep #71Amir Haleem (CEO, Nova Labs & Founder, Helium) talks with Austin about the Helium story and the current proposal to move Helium to the Solana blockchain.0:00 - Introduction1:05 - Origins of the Helium network5:24 - Early challenges for Helium7:19 - Helium’s unique growth and economic models compared to other blockchains11:35 - The geo-specificity of Helium’s rewards14:18 - Why Helium started on its own L1 16:55 - Current disadvantages of Helium running on its own L1 20:46 - Why the time is right for a Helium...
2022-09-1546 minACQ2 by AcquiredThe 2022 State of Crypto + Web3 with Solana's Austin Federa We sit down with long (long!) time-acquired community member Austin Federa to discuss the current state of crypto and Web3. By day Austin is the head of marketing & communications at the Solana Foundation, where he was one of the earliest employees. But many of you also know Austin from his "night job" as the founder and lead of the #digital-assets channel in the Acquired Slack, where he does an incredible job curating some of the best and most accessible digital asset discussion on the internet. No matter whether you're already deep in Web3, curious but sitting on the sidelines, o...
2022-08-221h 29ValidatedChewing Glass - CronosChewing glass is what Solana developers do. Introducing the fifth episode in a new series on the Solana Podcast, Chewing Glass. Chase Barker (Developer Relations Lead at Solana Labs) talks shop with the most interesting builders in the Solana ecosystem. It’s for devs, by devs.Today's guest is Cronos, an on-chain task scheduler that allows users to schedule instructions and winner of the recent Riptide Hackathon. 00:38 - Introductions01:25 - How they started 02:48 - How they met 04:26 - Who else is in Austin 05:09 - Cronos backstory 07:34 - How they started building tasks ...
2022-06-2132 minValidatedStrata Protocol & Metaplex Ep #68Noah Prince (Co-Founder/ CEO, Strata Protocol) and Austin Adams (Lead Protocol Dev, Metaplex Studios) sit down with Austin Federa to discuss the integration of Strata's Dynamic Pricing Mint tool into the Metaplex Program Library.00:51 - What is Strata?02:12 - Challenges when launching a token04:43 - Why is Strata more successful than competitors?06:15 - Fundraise and the changing use cases of tokens on Solana08:47 - Changing mentalites around the function of tokens10:48 - How is Metaplex's approach different11:51 - Description of the flow using Strata
2022-06-1437 minValidatedBrett Harrison - President, FTX.US Ep #67Brett Harrison is the President of FTX US, a US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange. Prior to joining FTX US, Brett was Head of Semi-Systematic Technology at Citadel Securities, where he managed technology for the firm’s Options, ETF, OTC, and ADR trading globally. He began and spent the majority of his career at Jane Street, where he led the firm’s algorithmic trading system development. 00:34 - The role of FTX.US’ president01:24 - About FTX02:55 - Nontraditional brand marketing08:05 - Educating people about Crypto10:46 - Being at the forefront of regul...
2022-06-0740 minValidatedKanav Kariya - President, Jump Crypto Ep #65Kanav Kariya (President, Jump Crypto) joins the Solana Podcast to discuss his optimism for the future and the many areas in which Jump Crypto is innovating in the crypto and blockchain space. Austin Federa (Head of Communications, Solana Labs) guest hosts. 00:49 - What is Jump?03:07 - The path to operationalizing crypto06:00 - Optimism for Crypto10:49 - Discovering and Building in Crypto with Jump14:24 - Personal Journey at Jump16:43 - What's being built at Jump?17:55 - Reasons to want to build19:39 - W...
2022-05-0356 minValidatedukraine.sol Ep #60On a special episode of the Solana Podcast, Sergey Vasylchuk (CEO, Everstake) talks about Aid for Ukraine, a DAO created by Everstake and endorsed by the government of Ukraine and Anatoly Yakovenko to support Ukraine during the ongoing crisis — and how it came together on Nation.00:38 - Intro02:51 - Origin of the initiative / How it works06:25 - Ukrainian government receiving FIAT currency 09:13 - Banking, a legacy system10:04 - News on the ground12:39 - What can people do to get involvedDISCLAIMERThe information on this podcast is provided for...
2022-03-0416 minValidatedSolana Foundation Ep #59In this episode, Dan Albert (Executive Director), Lily Liu (President) and Mable Jiang (Board Member) discuss the role of the Solana Foundation in advancing the Solana protocol and ecosystem with support and initiatives around the world. Austin Federa (Head of Communications, Solana Labs) guest hosts. 0:43 - Intros / Roles3:13 - The appeal of working at the foundation level07:48 - Establishing scope for the foundation12:42 - What’s working in the ecosystem?20:01 - From the ecosystem to the foundation21:21 - Growing Solana in new markets33:50 - S...
2022-03-0143 minValidatedPayments Ep #58In this special Payments episode of the Solana Podcast, Austin Federa guest hosts a conversation between Jeremy Allaire (CEO, Circle) and Sheraz Shere (Head of Payments, Solana Labs). They discuss merchant payments, stablecoins and Solana Pay: the newly released, open, and free-to-use payments framework built on Solana.00:45 - What is Circle?03:35 - The use case for stablecoins and the mechanisms to build them09:34 - Solana Pay13:42 - Integration of USDC and Stable Coins18:45 - How could Solana Pay become mainstream? 25:27 - The Solana Pay toolkit27:39 - Can businesses operate without a ba...
2022-02-0836 min