Harmonic Fires Back in Solana’s Block Building Wars | Ben Coverston
Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Harmonic CEO Ben Coverston to discuss his background in quantitative trading and transition to crypto, the evolution of DeFi on Solana, and Harmonic’s approach to block building and transaction scheduling. We also cover market structure debates, decentralization concerns, competition among block builders, and potential protocol changes like MCP and Alpenglow.
Enjoy!
--
Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq
Follow Harmonic: https://x.com/harmonic_gg
Follow Temporal: https://x.com/temporal_xyz
Follow Ben Coverston: https://x.com/HypoNyms
Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg
Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_
Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh
--
Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March! Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200 to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!
Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026
--
Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
--
Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction
(2:14) Ben's Background
(9:34) The Temporal Ecosystem
(13:14) Inside Harmonic: Solana's New Block Builder
(22:37) Block Builder Wars & Criticism from Competitors
(29:26) Solana's Future Architecture
(50:07) The Future of DeFi Market Structure
(1:00:13) Closing Comments
--
Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.
Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Harmonic Fires Back in Solana’s Block Building Wars | Ben Coverston
Subscribe & Listen
MetaDAO's Permissionless Launchpad
The Future of Digital Assets | Regulation, Value Accrual, and Token Design
More from Lightspeed
Is DePIN Entering Its Next Growth Phase?
Gm! In this episode, we break down the latest developments in tokenized equities, including Backpack’s stock offerings on Solana and growing competition from Base. We also discuss the rise of social trading platforms like Fomo, Noble Mobile’s acquisition of Helium Mobile, Helium’s evolving network economics, HIP-149, and what these changes could mean for the next phase of growth across the DePIN sector. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Nick Carpinito: https://x.com/0xMetaLight Follow Joe: https://x.com/j0e_cooks Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (4:04) Tokenized Equities Heat Up (9:21) Coinbase, IPOs, and Listings (19:26) Fomo’s Big Raise (23:26) Can Fomo Escape Memes? (33:03) Noble Acquires Helium Mobile (37:56) Helium Economics and HIP-149 (48:10) DePIN’s New Funding Models (53:39) Geodnet Bucks the Trend (56:47) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
Future-Proof Money on Solana | Hardhat Chad
Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Hardhat Chad, Foreman at ORE, to discuss the origins and evolution of ORE Protocol, including its transition from proof-of-work mining on Solana to its current grid mining system. We cover mining incentives, token emissions, protocol revenue and buybacks, proof of useful work, community governance, security improvements, quantum-resistant infrastructure, validator decentralization, and future plans for ORE’s ecosystem, liquidity, and foundation structure. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow ORE: https://x.com/ORE Follow Hardhat Chad: https://x.com/HardhatChad Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:43) ORE’s Origin Story (7:18) Why Bitcoinomics Broke (10:49) Proof Of Work’s Value Leak (12:57) Mining Design Tradeoffs (21:42) Revenue, Buybacks, And Burns (23:48) Rewarding Long-Term Holders (28:29) V4 Reduces Roulette Risk (35:33) Forks, Rugs, And Security (44:37) Future-Proofing ORE (52:45) Foundation And Liquidity Roadmap (55:05) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
From Memecoins to Markets: Solana’s Next Trade
Gm! In today’s episode we cover prediction market activity around major sporting events, growing interest in tokenized equities following recent IPOs, the role of platforms like Backpack in bringing stocks onchain, liquidity and market structure challenges, the relationship between tokens and equity, evolving governance models, DeFi use cases for tokenized assets, and the rise of institutional-focused trading infrastructure on Solana. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv Follow Joe: https://x.com/j0e_cooks Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (3:22) Prediction Markets Chase Sports (7:04) IPOs Push Stocks Onchain (15:10) Liquidity Fragmentation Risks (25:28) Backpack Token Meets Equity (32:29) Do Tokens Still Matter? (37:03) Tokens And Equity Converge (46:40) Equity Collateral In DeFi (47:51) Solana Trading Frontends Rise (56:17) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.