The Defiant – DeFi, Web3 & NFT Insights

The Defiant - DeFi, Web3 & NFT Insights

TezDev Highlights: Blockchain Innovation, Gaming, and Real-World Impact

Explore the groundbreaking discussions and announcements from TezDev. Dive into:

1. Why roll-ups are the key to scaling beyond L1s
2. Real-world asset tokenization that moves past the buzzwords
3. How gaming and ...gamification are driving blockchain adoption
4. The exclusive unveiling of Reaper Actual on Etherlink
5. Tezos' role in NFT art, real decentralization, and scaling without compromise
6. Plus, insights on liquidity solutions, off-chain compute, and the future of Web3.

Hear directly from the builders and visionaries shaping the blockchain ecosystem. Watch now to catch all the highlights from TezDev.

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TezDev Highlights: Blockchain Innovation, Gaming, and Real-World Impact

Morpho Hits $10 Billion in Total Deposits - Watch CEO Paul Fambrot on the Defiant Podcast

DeFi’s Dance with Fintech: Choreographing Tomorrow’s Finance with Paul Frambot

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, Paul Frambot, Co-Founder of Morpho, details how DeFi is transforming the financial industry by intersecting with fintech, shifting value to network users, and ...reshaping how lending protocols work. He outlines the evolution from early peer-to-peer lending to today's permissionless, immutable infrastructure, highlighting Morpho's product design, its approach to risk management, and specific use cases in institutional finance and global wallet integration. Discussions cover the role of risk managers, transparency benefits, the emergence of DeFi as backbone infrastructure for fintechs, and how platforms like Coinbase now use Morpho behind the scenes.

Paul reflects on how Morpho enables global liquidity, allows businesses and individuals to create custom lending markets, and how DeFi’s open competition leads to better rates and more efficient markets. The conversation wraps with thoughts on unsecured lending, the path to real-world financial product integration, and Morpho's long-term vision to become the foundational protocol for global financing.

Chapters:
00:00 Fintech disruption, DeFi’s impact on infrastructure
01:21 Founding Morpho: backstory and protocol design
03:04 Pushing for permissionless, immutable protocol infrastructure
04:16 Institutional adoption, wallet integrations, and B2B use cases
07:01 Managing risk and collateral in open protocols
10:32 Shift in institutional engagement and business adoption
15:20 Native on-chain fund issuance, regulations, and international frameworks
17:04 Equity and securities as next steps for on-chain finance
19:03 Real-world example: Coinbase leveraging Morpho for global lending liquidity
20:28 End-to-end DeFi integrations: wallet abstraction and feature parity
22:26 Four core benefits when fintechs use DeFi as backend
24:07 Transparency, self-custody, and proof of reserves in DeFi
25:06 Institutional desire for infrastructure ownership—not just distribution
26:29 Competitive rates: DeFi vs. traditional finance lending
27:51 Barriers for banks: regulation, compliance, privacy, and operational hurdles
30:00 Privacy on-chain: transaction anonymity vs. amount privacy
32:29 How DeFi lending markets evolved: competition and network effects
34:00 Differing visions: Morpho as infrastructure vs. Aave as integrated bank
37:12 Market size: overcollateralized and undercollateralized lending potential
38:04 How DeFi could unlock unsecured credit
41:24 Under-collateralized lending, trust, and on-chain identity primitives
44:28 Morpho’s long-term vision and the future of DeFi/fintech convergenceExplore The Defiant ✨

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Bridging DeFi and TradFi: Niklas Kunkel on Chronicle Labs and the Future of Finance

Exploring Stellar Flipside Quests: Earn, Learn, and Contribute on the Blockchain

From Digital Gold to Everyday Finance: Matt Luongo On How Bitcoin is Growing Up

Join Matt Luongo, founder of Thesis, as he dives into Bitcoin's evolution and its growing acceptance within traditional finance. In this episode, Matt explores how Bitcoin has matured from being ...seen as a "boomer coin" to a widely accepted "digital gold" and how its utility is shifting toward practical, real-world applications.

Discover how innovations like Mezo are enabling new ways to use Bitcoin, such as Bitcoin-backed mortgages and stablecoins, which play a crucial role in lending. Matt also discusses the importance of security in Bitcoin systems, the demand for fixed rates and low borrowing costs, and how acquisitions like Lolli aim to expand Bitcoin's utility globally.

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:24: Introduction
Matt Luongo returns to discuss Thesis and Bitcoin's evolution.
00:25 - 00:45: Bitcoin's Perception in Finance
How Bitcoin is viewed by traditional finance and the crypto community.
00:46 - 02:06: Bitcoin as Digital Gold
The consensus around Bitcoin as a global store of value.
02:07 - 03:36: Early Bitcoin Payments and Fold's Journey
The challenges and successes of early Bitcoin payment systems.
03:37 - 04:12: Bitcoin-Backed Mortgages
Matt's personal experience financing a home with Bitcoin.
04:13 - 05:12: Permissionless Finance and Bitcoin Utility
The focus on enabling real-world use cases without intermediaries.
05:13 - 06:23: Challenges of Borrowing Against Bitcoin
The evolution of borrowing and lending in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
06:24 - 08:20: Lessons from BlockFi and Decentralized Systems
How transparency and decentralization are reshaping Bitcoin finance.
08:21 - 10:02: Bitcoin's Role vs. Ethereum and Solana
Why Bitcoin doesn't need to replicate other blockchains.
10:03 - 12:25: Security and Sidechains
The importance of security and the role of sidechains like Mezo.
12:26 - 14:18: Bitcoin's Lindy Effect and Long-Term Security
How time-tested systems build trust and security.
14:19 - 17:18: Bitcoin-Backed Stablecoins and Fixed Rates
Introducing MUSD and the benefits of fixed-rate borrowing.
17:19 - 20:06: Expanding Bitcoin Utility with Layered Lending
The vision for long-tail lending and Bitcoin-backed yield.
20:07 - 22:07: Acquisition of Lolli and Global Expansion
How Lolli fits into Thesis' ecosystem and plans for global reach.
22:08 - 25:13: Bitcoin's Maturity and Real-World Use Cases
The shift from punk rock to practical finance for growing families.

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Unlocking Bitcoin's Potential: Bitlayer's Vision for DeFi and Beyond

On this episode of the Defiant Podcast, Charlie Hu, co-founder of Bit Layer, discusses the evolution of Bitcoin beyond its role as a store of value. The conversation addresses trends ...in Bitcoin programmability, the development of layer two networks, liquidity in DeFi, and adoption by institutions. Cami and Charlie discuss technical distinctions among Bitcoin scaling solutions and the integration of Bitcoin with other blockchain ecosystems. Then, they conclude by exploring practical considerations for developers and users interested in these changes.

NOTE: At the time of publishing (Aug. 4) BitLayer TVL was at $400M, higher than at the time of recording which was at $300M, mentioned in the podcast intro.

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:17 Introduction; Bitcoin’s binary narrative debated
00:17 - 00:28 Potential impacts of low network activity
00:37 - 00:59 Bitlayer overview and recent platform developments
00:59 - 01:26 Bitcoin’s price rally and changing role
01:26 - 02:09 Guest background: early experiences in Web3
02:09 - 03:15 Lessons from Ethereum and cross-chain growth
03:15 - 06:06 Founding Bitlayer; motivations and industry context
06:06 - 09:59 Network sustainability and security considerations
09:59 - 16:00 Bit Layer’s technology focus and design choices
16:00 - 30:08 Bitcoin Virtual Machines and cross-ecosystem cooperation
30:08 - 45:00 Unlocking Bitcoin liquidity; DeFi adoption and risks
45:00 - 52:00 Institutional involvement and new use cases
52:00 - End Onboarding, governance, and next steps for the ecosystem

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Dogecoin is the People’s Crypto Says DogeOS and MyDoge CEO Jordan Jefferson

From Meme to Movement: Dogecoin's Next Chapter with Jordan Jefferson

Dogecoin started as a joke, but could it become the foundation of a thriving app ecosystem? In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Jordan Jefferson, CEO ...of MyDoge and DogeOS, to explore why building infrastructure on Dogecoin is an exciting opportunity. We discuss the unique culture of the Doge community, the challenges of building on a meme coin, and how DogeOS is positioning itself as the app layer for the people's currency. Whether you're a DeFi enthusiast, a crypto trader, or just Doge-curious, this conversation is packed with insights, laughs, and a vision for the future of Dogecoin. Welcome to the moon.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Dogecoin's Evolution
A look at Dogecoin's journey from meme coin to movement.
02:04 Meet Jordan Jefferson
CEO of MyDoge and DogeOS shares his vision for Dogecoin.
03:14 Why Build on Dogecoin?
The unique opportunity Dogecoin offers for developers and users.
05:38 The Power of the Doge Community
How memes, vibes, and a strong community drive innovation.
09:07 DogeOS: The App Layer for Dogecoin
Exploring DogeOS's features, from gaming to DeFi and beyond.
15:09 Gaming and Memes: Dogecoin's Secret Sauce
Why casual gaming and meme culture are perfect for Doge.
20:00 DeFi on Dogecoin: Opportunities and Challenges
Building financial infrastructure for the people's currency.
34:20 Why DeFi Users Should Care About Doge
Better yields, safer leverage, and unique opportunities.
49:07 ZK Upgrades and the Future of Dogecoin
How zero-knowledge proofs could unlock Dogecoin's potential.
54:31 Lightning Round: Fun with Jordan Jefferson
Quick-fire questions about Doge, gaming, and digital cash.

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Is Ethereum the Next Bitcoin? Joe Lubin Thinks It’s Much More

Joe Lubin on 10 Years of Ethereum

Ethereum Turns 10: Joe Lubin on Revolutionizing the Global Economy

Sam MacPherson on the Future of Spark

Spark (SPK): The DeFi Protocol Redefining Finance with Explosive Growth and Innovation

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Sam MacPherson, CEO and co-founder of Phoenix Labs, to discuss Spark (SPK)—the DeFi protocol making waves in the cryptocurrency ...world. From its groundbreaking subDAO model to its recent $10 billion TVL milestone, Spark is reshaping decentralized finance. We dive into the latest developments, including the Ignition Airdrop and institutional adoption. Tune in to explore how Spark is bridging the gap between traditional finance and DeFi, and what the future holds for this rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
Meet Sam Macpherson, CEO of Phoenix Labs, and the vision behind Spark.
01:23 - Spark’s Rapid Growth
How Spark became one of the biggest DeFi protocols with $10B TVL.
05:10 - The SubDAO Model
Balancing decentralization and nimbleness to scale effectively.
08:05 - Why Decentralization Matters
Sam’s passionate defense of decentralization as a core principle for global infrastructure.
12:00 - Challenges of Traditional DAOs
The limitations of flat governance structures and how Spark overcame them.
15:30 - Ignition Airdrop and Overdrive Phase
How staking incentives are driving SPK adoption and price action.
20:00 - Institutional Adoption
Spark’s partnerships with Coinbase, BlackRock, and the rise of tokenized RWAs.
24:00 - Spark Liquidity Layer
Enhancing governance and liquidity.
27:16 - Spark Token Launch
Governance, staking, and how SPK empowers the community.
30:00 - Transparency in DeFi
Spark’s commitment to making every layer of its ecosystem visible.
35:00 - The Future of Stablecoins
Why scaling stablecoins requires diverse collateral types.
38:00 - Bitcoin-Backed Loans
Tapping into new markets with OTC Bitcoin loans and institutional interest.
42:00 - Bridging DeFi and Traditional Finance
How Spark is integrating with fintechs and creating seamless user experiences.
45:00 - Ethereum’s Role in DeFi
Sam’s thoughts on Ethereum’s evolution and its renewed optimism.

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