Shows
Social BlockEpisode #23: The Re-staking Revolution with Mike Silagadze, CEO & Founder of EtherFiEver wondered what the big deal is with staking, solo staking, re-staking, liquid staking, and even liquid re-staking? If yes, (or if just the list of all these concepts intimidates you 😀) then this is the perfect Social Block episode for you.Meet Mike Silagadze, CEO and Founder of EtherFi – the renown decentralized, non-custodial liquid staking platform! Mike sat down with Magy for a dedicated episode on all things staking on Ethereum. Buckle up, ‘cause here we go! 👇Here’s what you can look forward to in this episode:🙆 The key differences and similarities between staking...2024-07-0247 min
Social BlockEpisode #22: Bitcoin DeFi & Bitcoin-based Stablecoins with Jakob Schillinger, Founder and CEO of Hermetica LabsThis time on the Social Block, we dive into the fascinating world of Bitcoin DeFi and Bitcoin-based stablecoins, exploring their potential and impact on the ecosystem.Joining us is Jakob Schillinger, Founder and CEO of Hermetica whose expertise as a builder and active participant in the blockchain space recently led to the launch of the very first Bitcoin-based stablecoin.Here’s what you can look forward to in this episode:🎉 Bitcoin-based Stablecoins! The rationale behind creating a stablecoin that can live on the Bitcoin blockchain.👀 Why stablecoins are outpacing even Bitcoin adoption...2024-06-1143 min
Social BlockEpisode #21: Post-Halving Play-by-Play with Allen FarringtonIt’s been a month since the Bitcoin halving. The dust has settled, we’re past the supposed 2-week danger zone for BTC prices. All in all, it’s a good time to look back and see what happened in the ecosystem and where we’re headed from here.Have a listen to our post-halving episode where Magy was joined by none other than Allen Farrington, co-author of Bitcoin Is Venice.The episode features stories from how the Nexo team spent the halving, a breakdown of events following it, and after the end...2024-05-311h 15
Social BlockEpisode #20: DeFi Points Farming & Stuff with Dan from PendleWondering what all the buzz about DeFi points farming is about? Us too. In Episode #20, we dial into the heart of one of DeFi's currently much-contended trends, exploring how points aren't just digital tallies but pivotal opportunities for loyalty and reward.Join Dan from Pendle – the permissionless yield-trading protocol – and Magy as they pinpoint (pun intended 😎) exactly how these mechanisms are reshaping the landscape of digital finance.In this episode:⛓️ Yield tokenization and trading! How Pendle creates new investment opportunities by separating a token into two parts – its principal and its yield.🌟 Why DeF...2024-05-1348 min
Social BlockEpisode #19: Gaming Wars? Web3 v. Big Tech with Can Picak from EldaruneFor Episode #19 of the Social Block, we ventured back into the space of Web3 gaming to complete our quest to learn its value. Our guide was Can Picak, CEO and Co-founder of DIGA Labs and popular Web3 game development company – Eldarune.Can and Magy teamed up to complete the following quests together (just kidding, they just talked about these topics):🧩 Why interoperability is a vital feature for Web3 games.🎮 How gaming will be a profession in the future far more than it already is now.🇹🇷 The crypto scene in Turkey.🏙️ Is Big Tech moving into We...2024-04-3057 min
Social BlockEpisode #18: The Halving & the Hype with Joe NakamotoWhat’s up in the crypto space? Bitcoin halving!If you’re still a little frazzled by that fact, then it might help to sit back and listen to the Social Block episode dedicated to the halving. Magy celebrated the landmark event with a discussion on the Bitcoin halving as explained by Bitcoin advocate and independent journalist, Joe Nakamoto (no relation to Satoshi, unfortunately). Joe and Magy talked about: 🎓 Bitcoin halving 101: The basics about the halving, plus common misconceptions. 📖 Tales of halvings past…and present. Joe and Magy sha...2024-04-1952 min
Social BlockEpisode #17: Blockchain’s Backbone – Nodes & More with Eugene Aseev, CTO and Founder of ChainstackIn this episode of Social Block, we’re putting the spotlight on the guardians of blockchain infrastructure, namely nodes. From there, this session also touches on what our host Magy likes to call “the spectrum of decentralization.” Meanwhile, our guest, Eugene Asseev, the Founder and CTO of Chainstack, the Web3 development stack designed for building scalable applications, shares why he thinks blockchain should become… well, boring.Here’s what Eugene and Magy talked about:🏗️ The place and importance of infrastructure providers in the blockchain space.🗝️ Nodes. What are they & what is the difference between full, archiv...2024-04-091h 04
Social BlockEpisode #16: Zero Knowledge & the Future of Trust with Pavel Sinelnikov from ZKM.ioIf you have zero knowledge about zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), this episode is for you.For this session, Social Block host Magy made it her prerogative to learn more about ZKPs, exploring what they are from a technical standpoint, as well as their use cases. To help her, she had ZMK.io’s Pavel Sinelnikov who specializes in the development of zkMIPs solutions, and took the time to unpack the complexity of a technology that is finding crucial application in the blockchain space.In this episode, Magy and Pavel started with a breakdown of ZKPs as a...2024-03-131h 09
Social BlockSocial Block – Episode #15: The Future = AR/VR + AI + Web3? with Aragorn Meulendijks (Mr. Metaverse)Today the Social Block is getting more techy and more philosophical with an episode dedicated to how Web3, paired with augmented and virtual realities, as well as AI will shape the future. Now, imagining the future is no easy feat and to help Magy trudge through the many possibilities before humanity, we had Aragorn Meulendijks, more popularly known as Mr. Metaverse. As a historian turned futurist, Aragorn dedicates a lot of his time theorizing about what’s to come.Aragorn’s vision of the future, definitely includes Web3, making this the perfect listen for our commu...2024-02-251h 09
Social BlockEpisode #14: Women in Crypto 2.0 with Gracy Chen from BitgetIt’s yet another Social Block episode, we unravel the layers behind the funding landscape for female-led blockchain projects, the strides we're making towards inclusivity, and why this will boost the industry overall. The brilliant Gracy Chen, Managing Partner at Bitget, joins Magy in a second episode dedicated to women in crypto. Gracy has dedicated her time to addressing diversity in the industry, specifically by spearheading the Blockchain4Her initiative to uplift female entrepreneurs.What to expect in this episode? Well, there was a lot of ground to cover, but we started with:🚨The Pr...2024-02-1156 min
Social BlockEpisode #13: Consumers Rising with Azeem Khan of MorphThe podcast is back 😎, kicking off 2024 with a fresh perspective. In today’s episode, we invite you to step into the shoes of the non-technical crypto enthusiast and entrepreneur. Magy’s guest is Azeem Khan, COO of Morph with a background in blockchain that also includes Gitcoin, consulting at UNICEF's Crypto Venture Fund, and working with the World Economic Forum In Episode #13, Magy and Azeem chat about the intersection of AI and user experience as well as blockchain education, making these complex topics accessible and engaging for everyone.📱UX on the Rise: Exploring...2024-01-2857 min
Social BlockEpisode #12: Blockchain & Crypto for Social Impact with Niall Dennehy of AIDTech (Holiday Special)This special episode is a great reminder of the immense power we hold when we come together to support and uplift communities in need. Niall gave many examples of how the blockchain space can contribute to this endeavor, with highlights in the conversation such as: 🆔 DID Revolution: transforming disaster relief disbursements with decentralized digital identity🫶 Payments: Merging digital identity with payments🏅 Reputation through NFTs: rewarding real-world actions and building on-chain reputation📖 Niall shares how blockchain brings tangible change worldwideFollow Magy and the Social Block:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@s...2023-12-2656 min
Social BlockEpisode #11: The Subtle Art of DYOR with Dyma Budorin of HackenDyma and Magy covered quite a lot in this episode, starting from a rather more ideological conversation on the modern concept of trust – a.k.a trustlessness, and circling back to Dyma’s practical tips and tricks on researching your way through Web3 waters. Key topics included:🔍 Not just why, but how to DYOR.📊 Stats! Find out what percentage of projects have verified smart contracts and follow their initial whitepaper plans. The numbers are surprising and important to know. ⚖️ The blockchain dilemma on whether or not we want entities and i...2023-12-1252 min
Social BlockEpisode #11: The Subtle Art of DYOR with Dyma Budorin from HackenDyma and Magy covered quite a lot in this episode, starting from a rather more ideological conversation on the modern concept of trust – a.k.a trustlessness, and circling back to Dyma’s practical tips and tricks on researching your way through Web3 waters. Key topics included:🔍Not just why, but how to DYOR.📊Stats! Find out what percentage of projects have verified smart contracts and follow their initial whitepaper plans. The numbers are surprising and important to know.⚖️The blockchain dilemma on whether or not we want entities and i...2023-12-1252 min
Social BlockEpisode #10: Web3: the Ultimate Kickstarter for Startups with Eric Winer of Pagoda/NEARFill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/L7M5L3Qe This week, Magy sat down with Eric Winer from NEAR. Eric is the CTO of Pagoda – the NEAR ecosystem’s development arm, which is making startup-building in the blockchain space user-friendly, more interconnected, and, just, well, better. 🫢Why the existence of blockchain alone isn't sufficient for creating great apps and what tools the space still needs to be more builder-friendly.🤖 How automation, which is part of...2023-11-2846 min
Social BlockEpisode #9: The Rise of Bitcoin Ordinals & Ethscriptions with Andrea Chang from NGC VenturesFill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/L7M5L3Qe Beyond the rather saucy title, this episode is actually about the potential behind Bitcoin Layer 2s, making the chain more like Ethereum, of course, with Bitcoin’s signature qualities intact. Andrea and Magy also discuss DeFi’s potential, a little about the importance of narratives in the blockchain space, and trends in the Asian market. Some highlights:🌟Intentional inclusion: Why giving opportunities to women that wo...2023-11-1447 min
Social BlockEpisode #8: Women in Crypto with Amanda Wick of the AWICFill out the Social Block survey for better episodes tailored to you: https://nexo-finance.typeform.com/to/...In this inspiring, and (hopefully) industry-changing discussion, Magy and Amanda dissect crucial topics surrounding women's growing influence in the cryptosphere, such as:🌟Intentional inclusion: Why giving opportunities to women that would have otherwise been given to men is crucial for industry progression.🔍Risk assessment: Why women's unique approach to evaluating risks is increasingly being valued in the blockchain space.💼Trends among female investors: Namely, extensive research, risk assessment, a notable confidence gap, and a tendency...2023-10-3158 min
Social BlockEpisode #7: OSS & Blockchain: Communities & Progress with Max Howell from tea.xyzMagy and Max Howell, developer of Homebrew and CEO of tea.xyz, break down the connection between open-source software and blockchain, digging into the nuts and bolts of how community-led software development has been the linchpin in the innovation and ethos of many chains and decentralized ecosystems. In this episode:🤑How blockchain can change the way open-source devs are compensated for their work.🐝Why the “hive mind” community thinking inherent in OSS skyrockets progress in blockchain.🌱How open source and blockchain developers’ non-financial impetus for creating software has shaped the decentralized ethos of our space2023-10-1649 min
Social BlockEpisode #6: Why Do Blockchain & AI Vibe So Well? with Toufi Saliba from HypercycleToufi joined Magy on the Social Block, lending his extensive experience in AI to explain where this industry is headed, and why the blockchain space appears both extensively interested in, and capable of boosting AI’s ascent. The episode explores: 🛠️ Why AI is actually creating more jobs than it is taking away.🌐 Why a decentralized, peer-to-peer model like blockchain’s can skyrocket us from just AI to…🧠 AGI! (artificial general intelligence). Follow Magy and the Social Block: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@social.block Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristovaMagySe...2023-10-0246 min
Social BlockEpisode #5: The Social Impact of CBDCs with Conor Brady from Ethereum BrazilConor and Magy talked extensively about CBDCs with a focus on the digital real in Brazil. The project for this CBDC is already being piloted and its potential for adoption and use once it goes live is quite high. Learn more about the digital real and how CBDCs can affect a country, its citizens and the world beyond in this episode. Highlights include:🤝 How the digital real can improve access to banking for small businesses & individuals in Brazil.🔗 The link between the Brazilian digital real and its PIX payment system.💸 The potential and motivatio...2023-09-1945 min
Social BlockEpisode #4: So You Wanna Start a Crypto Reality TV Show? with Jett Tang from The Hourglass CollectiveThis time, Magy met with Jett Tang, president of The Hourglass Collective and executive producer of “The Next Crypto Gem” – a brand new reality TV show.Magy and guest Jett unraveled the motivation and importance of creating a TV show about crypto, as well as its goal of bringing the industry into the mainstream, breaking harmful stereotypes, and boosting adoption. Jett also reveals some behind-the-scenes stories and hilarious production blips.Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: socialblock@nexo.com2023-09-0547 min
Social BlockEpisode #3: Will Web3 Gaming Take Over Reality? with Ian Bentley from WAGMI GamesWe finally have a not-so-financial podcast episode. Our host Magy converses with Ian Bentley, CEO of WAGMI Games, as they explore our new realities and whether Web3 gaming will take over the (real) world.Web3 gaming refers to decentralized projects where players have ownership of in-game assets, like a skin for your character or a rare item. Where it differs from more traditional games is the features including transparency, ownership and interoperability, in-game economy, and new monetization methods.Magy and Ian go over the role of NFTs (a “three-letter bad word” according to Ian) in thes...2023-08-1553 min
Social BlockEpisode #2: Will Blockchain Blur Country Borders? with Esteban Villegas from ZuluBefore you decide that this episode is about starting a new global federation, we'll just say it's actually about cross-border transactions – not just of money, but of any kind really.In this episode, Magy talks to Esteban Villegas, CEO & Co-founder of Zulu, and together they go through how blockchain can be handy for remittances, and transferring money internationally fast.Of course, since it is the Social Block we also talked about how blockchain's potential to transcend borders can help with other aspects of life like getting university degrees verified abroad, tracking international supply chains, and mu...2023-08-0143 min
Social BlockEpisode #1: Who Owns Your Money? With Shahar Zohar from FireblocksDive into our very first episode “Who Owns Your Money?” with guest Shahar Zohar from Fireblocks. So what does blockchain bring to the table when it comes to the delicate balance between personal ownership and institutional custodianship, and why do we think money ownership is a spectrum rather than a black-and-white concept? Listen to find out.In this episode, we redefine money ownership in a world of fiat, banks, stablecoins, CBDCs, cryptocurrencies, and even Web3 and NFTs, exploring the transformative potential of blockchain through self-custody and sovereignty, and the role of custodial solutions.Follo...2023-07-0357 min
Social BlockSocial Block Episode #1 Coming Soon!This is the Social Block, your new destination for exploring the riveting intersection of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and society. Our inaugural episode, "Who Owns Your Money," is coming soon, so stay tuned and get ready to reimagine the world around you with the Social Block.Send your feedback, topics, and guest suggestions to: socialblock@nexo.com2023-06-2600 min