Lightspeed

Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a podcast for people interested in how crypto can solve real problems and create products users love. It looks back to the garage days of Silicon Valley and talks with the founders and projects aiming to build world-changing products in crypto today.

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How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu

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How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu

How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Catherine Gu, Head of Product, Digital Assets at Solana, to discuss her transition from Visa to Solana, the institutional adoption of blockchain, tokenization, payments infrastructure, and developer platforms. We also cover privacy and compliance challenges, onchain metrics, liquidity dynamics, and Solana’s vision for internet capital markets.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Solana: https://x.com/Solana Follow Catherine: https://x.com/catgu_ 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 (1:31) Catherine's Crypto Journey (8:45) Why Solana Now (12:05) Solana Developer Platform (17:00) Privacy for Institutions (21:23) KYC and Attestations (27:50) Better Onchain Metrics (31:42) Solana’s Liquidity Pitch (35:35) Institutional Adoption Inflection (40:12) Internet Capital Markets (44:30) Memecoins, Brand, and Growth (49:25) 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.

Titan's Solution to Onchain Pricing | defipancakes

Titan's Solution to Onchain Pricing | defipancakes

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by defipancakes, Co-Founder and CTO of Titan, to discuss a major social engineering exploit affecting Drift, broader DeFi security practices, and the Solana ecosystem’s response. We also explore Titan’s new Dart routing product, market structure trends, stablecoin and tokenized asset activity, and evolving competition in onchain trading and perps. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Titan: https://x.com/Titan_Exchange Follow defipancakes: https://x.com/defythepancake 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 (2:12) Drift Hack Fallout (4:28) Lessons From the Drift Hack (10:27) Titan Launches Dart (17:02) Conditional Liquidity Debate (22:09) Stablecoin and New Asset Flow (30:38) Onchain Routing’s Future (36:23) Solana Foundation’s Role (41:25) Phoenix vs. Bulk Perps (50:34) 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.

The Institutional Shift Driving Crypto Forward

The Institutional Shift Driving Crypto Forward

Gm! In today’s episode, we cover institutional crypto adoption, tokenization, and regulatory developments, along with Blockworks IR and disclosure frameworks. We also explore perpetual markets, product innovation, and trends across DeFi, neobanking, stablecoins, and DePIN as crypto and traditional finance continue to converge. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Dan Smith: https://x.com/smyyguy 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 (1:59) Institutional Bull Market (5:20) Perps Come to America? (9:05) Why TTF Matters (14:31) Blockworks IR Is Live (19:30) What’s Real at DAS? (28:13) Crypto Apps Become Neobanks (35:50) DePIN Finally Scales (42:26) What’s Crypto’s Next Game? (44:41) 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.

The Future of DeFi Trading: Routers, Perps, and MCP | Eugene Chen

The Future of DeFi Trading: Routers, Perps, and MCP | Eugene Chen

Gm! In this episode, Eugene Chen, CEO of Ellipsis Labs, joins us to break down Solana’s evolving market structure and the launch of Phoenix Perps. We explore onchain trading design, routing and sequencing challenges, MCP’s role, and how user behavior and incentives are shaping the future of DeFi. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Ellipsis Labs: https://x.com/ellipsis_labs Follow Eugene: https://x.com/0xShitTrader 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 (2:25) Solana Market Structure Shift (8:07) Why Phoenix Perps Now (21:16) Why Perps Need No Router (29:39) What Solana Must Improve (34:49) The Block Builder Problem (43:24) Will DeFi Mimic TradFi? (52:48) Phoenix Perps Launch Plans (53:38) 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.

Designing the Future of Payments Systems | Konstantin Richter & Tom Zschach

Designing the Future of Payments Systems | Konstantin Richter & Tom Zschach

Gm! This episode features a panel from DAS New York with Konstantin Richter and Tom Zschach. The discussion covers traditional financial infrastructure, the integration of digital assets, and emerging concepts like agentic payments, along with regulatory gaps, system design challenges, and how SWIFT intersects with evolving crypto-based payment systems.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Konstantin Richter: https://x.com/konstantin11 Follow Tom Zschach: https://x.com/TomZschach 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 (4:08) What Are Agentic Payments? (7:29) Machine Accountability (12:23) Regulation Still Lags (17:16) Do Rails Replace Swift? (20:48) Crypto Needs Systems Design (22:14) 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.

Investor Relations in the Onchain Era

Investor Relations in the Onchain Era

In this special episode, we introduce Blockworks’ new investor relations platform for onchain businesses. As institutional capital continues to enter crypto markets, expectations around transparency, standardization, and professionalism are rising. But instead of replicating legacy systems, Blockworks IR takes a different approach, leveraging real-time, onchain data to create a more transparent, data-driven, and low-friction investor relations model. The platform combines curated analytics, branded investor portals, and white-glove advisory support into a single solution, helping teams tell a clearer, more credible story while giving investors a more efficient way to evaluate opportunities. Launched at the Digital Asset Summit in New York, Blockworks IR aims to fill a critical gap in the industry. Listen to learn more about the vision behind the product and what it means for the future of investor relations in crypto.

Making Privacy the Default | Kru & Cal

Making Privacy the Default | Kru & Cal

Gm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kru and Cal, co-founders of Umbra, to discuss building privacy infrastructure on Solana using MPC and zero-knowledge technologies. We cover product design, compliance, SDK integrations, and how privacy could drive institutional adoption and improve crypto usability. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Umbra Privacy: https://x.com/UmbraPrivacy Follow Cal: https://x.com/typi_cal_ Follow Kru: https://x.com/kru_tweets?lang=en 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 (1:12) Founders' Backgrounds (5:53) Why Privacy Matters Now (7:38) What Umbra Is Building (12:01) How Privacy Works (15:57) Expansion and Regulation (22:50) UX, Adoption, and Business Model (26:32) Token and Roadmap (32:07) Future of Privacy (41:57) 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.

The Future of Digital Assets | Regulation, Value Accrual, and Token Design

The Future of Digital Assets | Regulation, Value Accrual, and Token Design

Gm! In today’s round up we are joined by Noah Goldberg of Theia Capital to discuss new SEC guidance distinguishing digital commodities and securities, implications for token design and valuation, and evolving regulatory clarity. We also discuss token versus equity models, KYC tradeoffs, global market access, and whether the industry will shift toward tokenized equity or maintain diverse structures. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Noah: https://x.com/TraderNoah 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 (2:00) SEC Framework (6:35) Market Impact & Value Accrual (13:47) Token Design & Tradeoffs (18:25) Onchain Securities & Regulation (23:50) Market Structure: Public vs. Private (28:54) Early Tokenization (37:28) Global Access & KYC (48:42) Token Models & Endgame (1:08:21) 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

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.

MetaDAO's Permissionless Launchpad

MetaDAO's Permissionless Launchpad

Gm! In today’s episode we discuss crypto market volatility amid geopolitical tensions and rising institutional interest reflected in Solana ETF inflows. We also discuss tokenized equities and the push toward 24/7 trading, before exploring MetaDAO’s evolving launchpad model, including permissionless fundraising, tokenholder protections, and challenges around launch cadence, incentives, and long-term platform sustainability. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv 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 -- 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 (4:04) Solana ETF Inflows (11:42) Tokenized Equities & Nasdaq Kraken (18:01) MetaDAO & Ownership Tokens (37:05) MetaDAO Business Model (53:51) 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.

Crypto’s Rebirth Moment | Tushar, Shayon and Spencer

Crypto’s Rebirth Moment | Tushar, Shayon and Spencer

Gm! In this episode we are joined by Tushar Jain, Shayon Sengupta and Spencer Applebaum from Multicoin Capital to discuss their updated crypto investment thesis, emphasizing blockchains as infrastructure for global financial markets. The conversation explores themes including stablecoin-driven fintech, DeFi integration with traditional apps, tokenized assets, credible neutrality in blockchains, venture opportunities, evolving crypto market cycles, and emerging application experimentation. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Multicoin: https://x.com/Multicoin Follow Shayon: https://x.com/shayonsengupta?lang=en Follow Spencer: https://x.com/SpencerApplebau Follow Tushar: https://x.com/tushar_jain 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 (2:39) Multicoin Update (9:18) Multicoin’s New Crypto Thesis (14:26) FinTech 4.0 & Stablecoins (20:45) The DeFi Mullet Model (25:02) Credibly Neutral Blockchains (32:06) Where Multicoin Is Investing (37:10) The Current Crypto Market (42:46) Venture Opportunities in Crypto (53:06) 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.

Tokenized Equities, Kamino RWAs and zachXBT Investigation

Tokenized Equities, Kamino RWAs and zachXBT Investigation

Gm! In this episode, we discuss recent trends in the Solana ecosystem, including declining onchain revenue, continued inflows into Solana-related ETFs, and growth in tokenized equities. We also cover liquidity and structural challenges in onchain equity markets, RWA expansion on Kamino, and the Axiom insider trading controversy. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv 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 (3:17) Solana Monthly Update (8:18) Tokenized Equities Explained (20:11) Onchain Stock Liquidity (24:16) RWAs on Kamino (38:51) Axiom Insider Trading (52:31) 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.

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