a lost episode and a personal hackathon for James?

A conversation with Toly, the co-founder of Solana Labs and the Solana blockchain.

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/47

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

In this conversation, Toly discusses various topics about Solana and his personal experiences. The main themes covered include the next technical hurdle for Solana with asynchronous execution, balancing family and work, growing up in the post-Soviet Union, Toly's stress-seeking, the emotional impact of Solana's journey, working relationship with Raj, the importance of marketing and community, career vs. personal pursuits, and so much more.

Takeaways

• Solana's next technical hurdle is asynchronous execution.
• Balancing family and work is a personal challenge for founders.
• Growing up in the post-Soviet Union has influenced Toly's perspective.
• Stress-seeking activities can foster team building and camaraderie.

Find Toly and Solana online

• Follow Toly on twitter - @aeyakovenko
• Visit the Solana Lab's website - solanalabs.com

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Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Nico, the co-founder of Elusiv.

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/46

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

Elusiv is a privacy protocol built on Solana that allows users to conduct private transactions while remaining compliant. The transaction fees for using Elusiv are relatively low, making it an affordable option. The combination of privacy and compliance makes Elusiv a valuable tool for individuals and businesses.

In this conversation, Nico shares his crypto origin story and how he transitioned to working on Elusiv, a privacy solution for blockchain. He explains the concept of zero-knowledge technology and how Elusiv incorporates compliance into its privacy solution. The technical details of Elusiv's privacy solution, including the role of Warden nodes and homomorphic encryption, are discussed. The incentive mechanism for running Warden nodes and the cost and fees associated with using Elusiv are also covered.

Takeaways

• Elusiv is a privacy solution for blockchain that incorporates compliance.
• Zero knowledge technology allows for privacy on the blockchain by proving transactions without revealing sensitive information.
• Elusiv uses a network of Warden nodes to decrypt transactions in a privacy-preserving manner.
• The incentive mechanism for running Warden nodes is based on fees paid by users of the Elusiv network.
• Elusiv provides a privacy solution for conducting transactions on Solana while complying with government regulations.
• Transaction fees for using Elusiv are relatively low, making it an affordable option for users.
• Upcoming ZK updates on Solana will enable more use cases and integration with other applications.

Find Nico and Elusiv online

• Follow Nico on twitter - @cryptopapi997
• Visit the Elusiv's website - Elusiv.io

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Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Rishi, the CEO and Founder of Mycelium Network

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/45

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

The conversation covers the background and journey of Rishi in the crypto and DePin space, specifically focusing on the Helium IoT network. They discuss the concept of decentralization and the efficiency of the IoT network compared to traditional networks. Rishi explains the business model of Mycelium Networks and how they earn rewards through their infrastructure. They also highlight the importance of the testbed and attracting users to test and develop new use cases on their network.

This conversation with Rishi from Mycelium covered various topics related to expanding the physical nodes for coverage, challenges in conversations with property owners, the unique host network model, shielding hosts from crypto volatility, the innovative approach to host acquisition, the importance of increasing options in the test bed, the significance of Solana for DePIN, and the inspiration to get involved with DePIN.

Takeaways

• DePIN focuses on expanding physical nodes to ensure coverage.
• Conversations with property owners require addressing their concerns and finding solutions that meet their needs.
• DePIN uses a unique host network model that provides stability and a clear expectation of monthly payments.
• The host network is shielded from crypto volatility, allowing hosts to receive a flat monthly fee in US dollars.
• DePIN's innovative approach to host acquisition has been successful in growing their network.
• Increasing options in the test bed is crucial for DePIN's continued growth.
• Solana plays a significant role in the success of DePIN and the DePIN industry.
• James is super inspired by Rishi and Mycelium to get more involved with DePIN and explore its possibilities.

Find Rishi and Mycelium online

• Follow Rishi on twitter - @rishirmittal
• Visit the Mycelium's website - MyceliumNetworks.com

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Brandon M, the CEO and co-founder of Phantom, and David Wu, Head of Growth at Phantom.

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/44

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

In this conversation, the CEO and co-founder of Phantom Wallet, Brandon M, discusses the origin story, their approach to product decision-making, and the future of wallet technology. He emphasizes the importance of user-centric design and the role of wallets in driving ecosystem growth.

The team also addresses the challenges of scaling a startup and navigating online controversies. They discuss the potential for open-sourcing parts of Phantom in the future. We discuss Phantom's approach to multi-chain support and belief in a future where wallets abstract away the complexities of different chains. The conversation highlights the company's focus on user experience and their gratitude for being part of the Solana ecosystem. 

Takeaways

• Phantom is a user-centric wallet that aims to provide users a seamless and secure experience.
• The founders of Phantom have backgrounds in mobile development and design, which has influenced the wallet's user-friendly interface.
• Phantom is focused on becoming a platform for developers and businesses to grow and engage with users in the Solana ecosystem.
• The team at Phantom takes user feedback and data-driven insights into account when making product decisions.
• While there may be different niches and use cases for wallets, Phantom aims to be the best initial touchpoint and usage point for users in the Solana ecosystem.
• Phantom is considering open-sourcing certain parts of the wallet, such as key management while prioritizing security and user experience.
• Multi-chain support is a key focus for Phantom Wallet, with a goal of supporting chains that complement their existing user base.
• The vision for a multi-chain future involves abstracting away the complexities of different chains.
• Phantom Wallet prioritizes user experience and aims to predict and provide features that users enjoy.

Find Brandon, David, and Phantom online

• Follow Brandon on twitter - @BChillman
• Follow David on twitter - @itsdavidwu
• Visit the Phantom's website - phantom.app

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with GJ Flannery, the Head of Community at Flipside Crypto.

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/43

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

In this conversation, GJ Flannery, the Head of Community at Flipside Crypto, discusses the onboarding process and documentation for Flipside's data analytics tool. He also explains how Flipside provides resources for beginners in data analysis and offers insights into how engineers and project founders can benefit from Flipside's data and offerings.

GJ explains Flipside's revenue model, which includes a stake delegations from the Solana Foundation and the distribution of tokens to community members from their staked validator. He highlights the importance of data transparency and the public goods provided by Flipside.

He also discusses the infrastructure and maintenance required to keep the data accessible and up-to-date. The conversation concludes with insights into the onboarding process for analysts and the involvement of academics in the Flipside community. We also touch on the distinction between a data analytics provider, like Flipside, and an indexer or RPC provider.

We wrap with GJ shares his thoughts on the current market trend in the Solana ecosystem and emphasizes the need for more dApps and localization to drive adoption.

Takeaways

• Flipside Crypto provides onboarding and documentation for its data analytics tool, making it easy for users to get started.
• Flipside offers resources for beginners in data analysis, including tutorials and educational material.
• How Flipside is able to provide access to their data as a free and public good, including sharing rewards from their staked validator.
• Engineers and project founders can benefit from Flipside's data and offerings for business intelligence and insights.
• There is a distinction between a data analytics provider like Flipside and an indexer or RPC provider like Triton/Helius.
• The Solana ecosystem is still in its early stages, and there is a need for more dApps and localization to drive adoption.

Find GJ and Flipside online

• Follow GJ on twitter - @GJFlannery19
• Follow Flipside on twitter - @flipsidecrypto
• Visit the Flipside website - flipsidecrypto.xyz

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Siong, the co-founder of Jupiter swap.

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Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/42

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

The conversation covers the background and journey of the Jupiter swap aggregator, a popular protocol in the Solana ecosystem. It starts with the early days of Solana with the launch of Mercurial finance and eventually Jupiter. Our discussion also highlights the scaling and optimization of Jupiter's infrastructure, its user base, and revenue model. Finally, we explores the timing of Jupiter's token airdrop and the market excitement surrounding it.

In this conversation, Siong, co-founder of Jupiter, discusses the growth and revenue of the business, the token launch and community involvement, the goal of the JUP token, engaging the community with tokens, scaling challenges and user growth, and the power of governance tokens.

Takeaways

• Jupiter started as a project to bring volume back to Mercurial but evolved into a dominant protocol in the Solana ecosystem.
• The team focused on scaling and optimizing Jupiter's infrastructure to improve user experience and reduce costs.
• Jupiter's revenue model includes fees from limit orders, DCA, and perpetuals, as well as a portion of fees charged by partners who integrate with Jupiter.
• The announcement of Jupiter's token airdrop generated significant market excitement and increased user traffic and volume on the platform. Jupiter has experienced significant growth in revenue.
• The JUP token launch involves community input and decision-making, allowing users to contribute their opinions and ideas.
• The goal of the Jupiter token is to distribute fees and create a sense of community among users.
• Siong feels tokens are a powerful tool for incentivizing behavior and allowing the community to govern the protocol.
• Future plans for Jupiter include exploring stable coins and launching Jupiter Start to support other projects in the Solana ecosystem.

Find Siong and Jupiter online

• Follow Siong on twitter - @sssionggg
• Visit the Jupiter swap website - jup.ag

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Armani Ferrante, the co-founder of Backpack Exchange and MadLads.

Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/41
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/aSSnPs0vcck

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

Armani discusses the genesis of Backpack Exchange and the challenges of building an exchange. He highlights the importance of compliance and the operational aspects of running an exchange. Armani also shares the vision for Backpack and how it aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the crypto economy.

He emphasizes the transparency and auditability of the exchange, as well as the focus on corporate governance and accountability. As well as the need for a circle of trusted individuals to share the burden of decision-making and responsibility. Finally, Armani highlights the role of regulators in ensuring the integrity of any exchange, crypto or otherwise.

We discuss the importance of exchanges as bridges between the traditional financial system and the new crypto ecosystem. He explains the challenges of operating in the US and the potential partnerships with licensed companies.

Our conversation touches on the capital requirements and fundraising efforts of Backpack. Armani shares the company's approach to source availability and open source. He also reveals the timeline for the launch of Backpack Exchange and expresses his focused mindset during this crucial moment. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to try out the exchange beta and provide feedback.

Takeaways

• Building an exchange involves challenges in compliance and operations, in addition to the technical aspects.
• Personal networks and connections play a crucial role in finding the right people to manage compliance and legal aspects.
• Backpack Exchange aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the crypto economy, providing a transparent and auditable platform. Corporate governance and accountability are essential for building a trustworthy exchange.
• Regulators play a vital role in ensuring the integrity and compliance of the exchange. Operating an exchange comes with a significant burden of responsibility, and it is important to have a circle of trusted individuals to share the load.
• Exchanges serve as bridges between the traditional financial system and the new crypto ecosystem, offering a range of services from self-custody to full custody.
• Operating in the US presents challenges due to the high costs and time required to obtain licenses, but partnerships with licensed companies can provide a solution.
• Capital requirements are a significant hurdle for creating exchanges, and fundraising efforts are necessary to meet these requirements. Backpack's approach to source availability and open source is to make the extension source available and keep the exchange and mobile app closed source.
• The launch of Backpack Exchange is planned for the near future, with the first markets expected to be listed by a specific date.
• Armani maintains a focused mindset, staying present and taking one step at a time during this crucial moment for Backpack.

Find Armani and Backpack online

• Follow Armani on twitter - @armaniferrante
• Visit the Backpack Exchange website - backpack.exchange

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Matt Luongo, the founder of Thesis.co and Threshold Network (aka tBTC).

Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/40
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=A05AtK7WX1I

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

In this conversation, Matt Luongo discusses Threshold Network and tBTC, a cross-chain bridge for Bitcoin. He explains how Threshold Network combines the capabilities of Keep and NuCypher to enable threshold cryptography and custody of ECDSA keys off-chain.

Matt also highlights the role of Bitcoin's scripting language in tBTC and the challenges of bridging Bitcoin to other chains, including Solana. He emphasizes the importance of trust models and settlement times in the tBTC ecosystem. Finally, Matt shares the availability of tBTC on Solana and the potential for expanding Threshold Network to support decentralized custodial escrow systems for various assets.

Takeaways

• Threshold Network combines Keep and NuCypher to enable threshold cryptography and custody of ECDSA keys off-chain.
• tBTC uses Bitcoin's scripting language to create a bridge between Bitcoin and other chains.
• Settlement times for tBTC range from one to two and a half hours, depending on the amount being bridged.
• tBTC is available on Solana, allowing users to purchase and trade the token on decentralized exchanges.
• Threshold Network has the potential to expand beyond Bitcoin and support decentralized custodial escrow systems for various assets.

Find Matt and Threshold Network online

• Follow Matt on twitter - @mhluongo
• Find the Threshold Network on twitter - @TheTNetwork
• Visit the Threshold Network website - threshold.network
• Visit the Thesis.co website - thesis.co

Follow us around

Nick

• twitter: @nickfrosty
• github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• twitter: @jamesrp13
• github: github.com/jamesrp13

Solfate Podcast

• twitter: @SolfatePod
• more podcast episodes: solfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Vidor, the founder and CEO of Solflare Wallet

Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/39
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=rNORX_o8-lE

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

In this conversation, Vidor, the founder of Solflare, discusses building the wallet and how his past experience across multiple blockchain ecosystems build his strong confidence in Solana.

He shares his background in software development and his exploration of different blockchains before discovering Solana. Vidor highlights the performance and user experience of Solana as a key factor in choosing to build on the network. He also discusses the transition from a fun project to a business and the revenue model of wallets. Vidor concludes by sharing his personal perspective on working on Solflare and the crypto industry.

Takeaways

The performance and user experience of Solana were key factors in choosing to build Solflare on the network. Wallets generate revenue through convenience fees for swaps and by partnering with protocols to bring users and generate volume.

Working on Solflare and in the crypto industry provides a dynamic and exciting environment, but also comes with challenges in fundraising and dealing with people.

Vidor's day-to-day involves a mix of operational, product, and technical meetings, as well as high-level strategic thinking about the future of wallets and self-custody. The future of self-custody is evolving, and there may be different approaches for different types of applications.

Wallets play a crucial role in self-custody, especially for financially heavy applications. Solflare is focused on providing a seamless and user-friendly experience for managing assets on Solana.

Find Vidor and Solflare online

• Follow Vidor on twitter - @vidor_solflare
• Follow Solflare on twitter - @solflare_wallet
• Visit the Solflare website - solflare.com

Follow us around

Nick

• follow on twitter: @nickfrosty
• follow on github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• follow on twitter: @jamesrp13
• follow on github: github.com/jamesrp13

A conversation with Dimitris (aka Takisoul), contributing member of Dean's List DAO and AthensDAOx.

Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/38
Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=uuN2k-Njm4I

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :)

Notes from the show

Dean’s List is a services DAO, meaning their members offer various services to the broader Solana community including detailed product feedback and marketing services.

Dimitris shares the overarching visions that the Dean’s List DAO is perusing, progressing towards a network state of citizens that are able to earn a living wage. With their current members of about 55 people, each is earning an average of +$2k a month this year.

We also talk about some of the logistical concerns for how to manage various aspects of a DAO in the current world. Including who handles payments for non-crypto payments and who manages the social media accounts for a DAO.

AthensDAOx: if you are interested in attending AthensDAOx (in Athens, Greece) on Dec 9-10 2023, you can register for a free ticket here: https://lu.ma/cim7z9o5

Find Takisoul and Dean's List online

• Follow Takisoul on twitter - @Milimalism
• Follow Dean's List on twitter - @DeansListDAO
• Follow AthensDAOx on twitter - @AthensDAOx

Follow us around

Nick

• follow on twitter: @nickfrosty
• follow on github: github.com/nickfrosty
• website: https://nick.af

James

• follow on twitter: @jamesrp13
• follow on github: github.com/jamesrp13