How Hyperliquid Came to ‘Threaten the Very Existence’ of CEXs Like Binance

Perp DEXs are on fire, with volumes topping $1 trillion a month for the first time. Aster, backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), has suddenly vaulted to the top of volume charts, but is its rise organic, or manufactured? But while everyone frames the battle as Aster vs. Hyperliquid, Syncracy’s Ryan Watkins and Sunny Shi argue the real fight is much bigger: decentralized exchanges versus centralized giants like Binance. Plus: what role Solana will play in the next chapter in the perps dex wars? And won’t Ethereum even compete?

The Flywheel Strategy

On this week's episode of MARS, Matthew & Rizzle deep dive into the latest crypto meta: NFT Strategies by TokenWorks. Shout-outs & Shots-fired: @token_works @cryptopunksnft @rhynotic @meebitsnfts @avastarsnft @decentraland @baybackner @fractilians7 @kimbonft @lifeofc @rogerdickerman Evolutionary Leftovers: @base @solana @cryptovoxels @bnolan

FG Nexus Tokenizing On Ethereum

FG Nexus plans to tokenize its stock on Ethereum. Lido CSM V2 goes live on mainnet. Gitcoin announces GG24 domains. And Base unveils local stablecoins. Read more: https://ethdaily.io/796 Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.

10 Myths of Crypto Marketing: Memes, Cults, and Shitposting

In this episode of Decentralized Voices, Daria sits down with Aixa, who leads the ecosystem at Sophon and Bachi, who heads brand and community at Rootstock, to bust 10 biggest myths in crypto marketing. From “build it and they will come” to “airdrops create loyalty,” the trio dives into 10 of the most viral takes from crypto twitter, debunking, confirming, and laughing along the way. Discover:
 🔸 Why web3 community isn’t always what it seems
 🔸 Whether tokens and airdrops actually drive long-term engagement
 🔸 How memes, shitposting, and personal stories shape growth strategies 🔸 The truth about marketing budgets and crypto hype cycles

Referral Rewards & Onboarding Glowups: GM Farcaster ep293

Referral Rewards & Onboarding Glowups: GM Farcaster ep293 Wednesday, October 1, 2025  TLDR: 📱Mini-app chaos & leaderboard gossip 🦅 Referral rewards + free sign-ups 🎉Stablecoin vs. cards vs. Apple Pay 💳 FDIC safety talk & bank drama 🏦  From our ChatGPT intern: Adrienne rebooted her laptop, Prof roasted her for coding too much, and somehow this spiraled into mini-app notifications, leaderboard drama, and whether moving to Mongolia with eagles is a legitimate growth hack. By the end, they’d congratulated newlyweds, debated stablecoins vs. Apple Pay, and reminded everyone that FDICinsurance is basically the plot twist from It’s a Wonderful Life.  Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should beconsidered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:03:41 FC News0:33:16 Clanker News0:43:07 Builders Building0:47:40 fun on the timeline

Your Follower Count Is Not Your Worth (But Your Bag Is Cute): GM Farcaster ep292 with @mintedmerch

Your Follower Count Is Not Your Worth (But Your Bag Is Cute): GM Farcaster ep292 Monday, September 29,2025 with @mintedmerch  TL:DR 🤖Clankcaster Monday kicked off with chaotic clanksand an updated intro/outro 🔔 Farcaster news covered Sky Castle debates, PlayLARP fantasy crypto, and Emerge workflows 🎮 Weekend was dominated by Bracky’s sports takeover 🏈 Follower count drama sparked hot takesabout worth vs. metrics 📉 Minted Merch crew joined to show off custom bags, shirts, and more 👜  From our ChatGPT intern: GM Farcaster Monday morning circus: the hosts forgot half their props, Prof broadcasted from a glass fishbowl of a clubhouse while dodging fire alarms, and they christened the first-ever “Clankcaster Monday” with chaotic clanks, follower-count therapy, and a cameo by the Minted Merch crew. In short: it’s Farcaster news mixed with sports recaps, crypto gossip, and existential debates about whether losing followers makes you enlightened or just confused—wrapped up in a bag ofmerch and the sound of clanking metal.   Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube   Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should beconsidered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:05:28 FC News0:30:15 Clanker News0:31:56 MintedMerch1:08:54 fun on the timline

Ringo in the Bracket, Skycastle in the Clouds: GM Farcaster ep291

Ringo in the Bracket, Skycastle in the Clouds: GM Farcaster ep291 Friday, September 26, 2025   TL:DR 💸 swap-error chaos in the warplet 🎨 brand refresh + onboarding updates 🎤 shout-outs to guest hosts 🎶 hottakes on Beatles brackets and Devconnect adventures 🏰 SkyCastle launched as a tokenized incubator  From our ChatGPT Intern: Two co-hosts reunite after three weeks apart, gleefully catching up on Farcaster drama, swap-error chaos, and whether photos should be NFTs or just “coined.” In between shouting out guest hosts, dunking on Ringo, and plotting Devconnect adventures, they somehowmanage to squeeze in actual Farcaster news. OH and a new Clanker sponsorship is announced!  Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should beconsidered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:07:04 FC News0:21:51 Base0:34:24 builders building0:36:44 CastOut 0:38:32 Clanker partnership0:41:48 Skycastle

Clank the Rainbow: GM Farcaster ep290 with guest cohost Burr.eth

Clank the Rainbow: GM Farcaster ep290 Wednesday, September 24, 2025 with guest cohost Burr.eth  TL:DR ⚡ Burr returns with new lights & Monster Rehab 📉Farcaster feeds go “gnarly” 🌈 Rainbow drops surprise Clanker acquisition letter, team says nope 👀 SBF tweets from prison while Vitalik shares Mozart trivia 🦅 Adrienne popped by to clarify “eagle hunting”  From our ChatGPT Intern: Prof and guest cohost Burr rolled back into GM Farcaster with new lights, new mics, and aMonster Rehab in hand, just in time to cover Farcaster’s gnarly feed outage that had everyone convinced they’d been blocked. Between rainbow-colored acquisition drama, Clanker’s fresh “sniper tax,” Vitalik shitposting Mozartfacts, and SBF somehow tweeting from prison, the episode played like an onchain mashup of Succession and meme roulette. OH and Adrienne popped by for a photo dump from her Mongolian adventures!  Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube   Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should beconsidered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:04:35 FC News0:15:55 Clanker & Rainbow0:32:21 Adrienne’s adventure0:48:01 betr  0:56:12 builders building

Hide Your L’s, Not Your Casts: GM Farcaster ep278

Hide Your L’s, Not Your Casts: GM Farcaster ep278 Monday, August 18, 2025   From our ChatGPT Intern: Today’s GM Farcaster felt like a Monday morning group chat where half the cast was about hiding your wallet balance so you don’t cry over L’s, andthe other half was about whether every stray thought deserves to become a coin. Between Betr intros, Livecaster with @bracky, and Base app beta gripes, the hosts basically confirmed that Farcaster is thriving—even if the real alpha isfiguring out how to post without typos while your kid eats donuts at senior sunrise.  Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube   Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should be considered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:05:40 FC news0:12:18 Base App news0:22:26 ETH Global 0:27:11 builders, mini app, FC fun

GM Farcaster ep267 Wednesday July 16, 2025 with guest cohost @erica /uno

GM Farcaster ep267 Wednesday July 16, 2025 with guest cohost @erica /uno  From our ChatGPT Intern: On today’s GM Farcaster, Erica swooped in last-minute to co-host, armed only with day-old black coffee and strong Canadian energy. They dished onBase’s mysterious “TBA” app launch, Uno’s end-of-summer App Store debut, and whether Gary Vee is about to accidentally discover Farcaster while looking for a podcast mic. Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube   Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should beconsidered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:03:03 TBA/Base0:29:53 FC news

Pump.fun Just Raised $600M. What Does This Mean for DeFi, Solana & Social Media?

What if crypto’s next big narrative isn’t DeFi, but financial entertainment? The weeks leading up to Pump.fun’s ICO were contentious: accusations that it was extractive, debates over decentralization, and outrage over allocations.  In the end, the company ⁠pulled off⁠ the third-largest ICO in crypto history, raising $600 million in 12 minutes. The day of, Solana barely flinched under the load, and onchain platforms like Hyperliquid and Raydium left CEXes looking outdated. In this episode of Unchained, Haseeb Qureshi of Dragonfly and Joe McCann of Asymmetric join Laura to break down: Whether this marks the return of ICOs The objections to the small ($10 million) airdrop to creators How Pump.fun’s ambitions could reshape memecoins, and maybe Solana itself And why TikTok might not need to worry just yet

FarCon NYC: Bringing Social to Coinbase Wallet

Jesse Pollak’s talk – Bringing Social to Coinbase Wallet -- was recorded at FarCon nyc on May 2, 2025. FarCon is Farcaster’s annual event organized by the community for innovators, builders and network contributors. Prior to taking the main stage, Jessechatted with GM Farcaster and after GM Farcaster chatted with Chintan from the Coinbase Wallet team.  Thank you to all the sponsors who made this conversation possible including Base, media partner GM Farcaster, media sponsor Nouns DAO and the FarCon team of volunteers. Learn more at FarCon.nyc.   Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/ Base: https://www.base.org/  Learn more about partnering with GM Farcaster: https://mediakit.gmfarcaster.com/  Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should be considered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sellany assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 Intro 0:00:48 GMFC interview with Jesse0:09:30 Jesse Pollak main stage talk0:23:47 GMFC interview with Chintan

Episode 16 – Inside Farcaster: Why Culture Comes First with Dan Romero

In this conversation, Coach Coale and Dan Romero discuss leadership, management, and the importance of culture in organizations. Dan shares his journey from a small town in Massachusetts to becoming a founder at Farcaster and his experiences at Coinbase. They explore the challenges of managing teams, the significance of hiring practices, and the necessity of maintaining a strong company culture. Dan emphasizes the importance of communication, decision-making, and the cultural immune system in fostering a productive work environment. The discussion also touches on the pay-it-forward mentality prevalent in Silicon Valley and how it shapes the startup ecosystem.

GM Farcaster ep264 Wednesday July 9, 2025 with @tike from Noice

GM Farcaster ep264 Wednesday July 9, 2025 with @tike from Noice  From our ChatGPT Intern: Technical glitches couldn’t stop Prof and Adrienne from streaming live in their “New England B&B chic” backgrounds to cover everything from leaderboard dog drama (shoutout Everyday Bailey!) to vertical video anxiety and programmable social chaos. The highlight? TK from Noice joined to chat about their recent airdrop while Adrienne admitted she'd rather write scripts tounfollow 2,311 people than figure out how to post a 30 second clip of her own face. Full Show Notes and Links on YouTube Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should be considered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 GM 0:04:18 rewards0:06:44 FC news0:26:13 @tike from Noice

Why We’re Irresponsibly Long DeFi

In this special crossover episode, we take the hot seat as guests for the first time, to talk about why we remain so bullish on DeFi! Guided by Wallfacer Podcast host Ryan Rodenbaugh, we cover a wide range of investor topics including how Bitcoin’s ideological roots still shape today’s industry, why Ethereum and ETH remain fundamentally undervalued, the growing tension between narratives and reality in crypto, and how our perspective as DeFi users informs how we invest as angels. We even share some of the actual protocols and tokens we’ve been allocating to, something we rarely do in such detail. Special thanks to our friend Ryan for hosting! He is the CoFounder & CEO of Wallfacer Labs, the team behind vaults.fyi, connecting users directly to 500+ DeFi vaults across 50+ protocols and 10+ blockchain networks. Ryan was kind enough to originally invite us on The Wallfacer Podcast and then allow us to republish this episode for our own audience. ------ 🔗 Essential Show Links 🔗 ► Newsletter: https://the-edge.xyz ► Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DeFiDad ► Apple: https://tinyurl.com/edgepod ► Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/edgepodspotify ► Linktree: https://linktr.ee/edge_pod ► Follow DeFi Dad: https://x.com/DeFi_Dad ► Follow Nomatic: https://x.com/Nomaticcap ► Learn DeFi: http://defidad.com/ ------ The Edge Podcast Sponsor Resources 🪄 NEWTON | SIMPLER CRYPTO UX WITH VERIFIABLE AI AGENTS https://newton.xyz/ 🔮 ⁠PYTH NETWORK⁠ | SMARTER DATA FOR SMARTER CONTRACTS https://pyth.network/ 🤙 FAIR | THE FIRST L1 BLOCKCHAIN TO ELIMINATE MEV AT CONSENSUS https://www.fairchain.ai/ 📊 iYIELD | YOUR FINANCIAL PICTURE, SIMPLIFIED https://go.iyield.com/edge 🏦 MANTLE | INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF ONCHAIN FINANCE https://group.mantle.xyz/ 🌔 MOONWELL | THE LEADING LENDING AND BORROWING APP ON BASE https://moonwell.fi/ ⚙️ GEARBOX PROTOCOL | ONCHAIN LENDING REIMAGINED https://gearbox.fi/ 🐡 PUFFER UNIFI | AN ETHEREUM BASED ROLLUP WITH NATIVE YIELDS https://unifi.puffer.fi/ 🥞 SYRUPUSDC BY MAPLE | DEFI'S PREMIUM YIELD ASSET https://app.maple.finance/earn?referral=Mig0gHP59IYC ------ Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 5:37 - Our start in crypto 16:46 - How our roots in Bitcoin grounds us 21:46 - Bitcoin vs Ethereum vs high-performance L1 ideologies 30:05 - Sponsor break 30:46 - Ethereum and ETH’s bright path ahead 41:24 - All investments start with our POV as users 47:58 - Pros and cons of narratives over reality 54:33 - Notable winners from DeFi 1.0 to now 1:08:18 - Sponsor break 1:09:57 - What needs to happen for DeFi tokens to reprice? 1:22:44 - DeFi ideas, protocols, tokens we’ve bet on recently 1:40:46 - Closing ------ 🔗 Guest Links 🔗 ► vaults.fyi website: https://vaults.fyi/ ► vaults.fyi on X : https://x.com/vaultsfyi ► Ryan on X: https://x.com/ryanrodenbaugh ► Wallfacer Labs on X: https://x.com/wallfacerlabs ► Subscribe to The Wallfacer Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wallfacer-podcast/id1709530326 ------ All opinions expressed by hosts and podcast guests are solely their own opinions. Podcast guests and hosts may have positions in the assets or other matters discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Do your own research. This is not a recommendation or endorsement to buy any token(s) related to any platform(s) discussed.

CLOB Battles, Disclosure Fights, and the Meme-ification of Circle – The Chopping Block

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, we’re joined by Vlad, the leverage legend behind Lighter, a zk-powered DEX taking aim at Hyperliquid in the rising CLOB wars. We unpack the new Token Transparency Framework from Blockworks and whether self-regulation can fix crypto’s disclosure problem. Should VC wallets be public? Are market-making deals legally risky? And why do most projects still say nothing? Plus: Vlad explains how Lighter uses zero-knowledge proofs to enforce fairness and fight toxic flow—without harming retail. And Circle’s stock goes full meme mode, TikTok retail piles in, and Robert reveals he’s short. Is crypto finally growing up—or just evolving its chaos?

"Building for People, Not Wallets" with Privy cofounder Henri Stern | ZEROPOD S2 E16

What if crypto products weren’t built for wallets, but for people? In this episode of ZEROPOD, Privy.io founder Henri Stern joins host Toady Hawk to talk about building user-first infra, why account abstraction matters, and what it’ll take to onboard the next billion. From his Parisian roots to Protocol Labs and now Privy, Henri shares sharp takes on fragmentation, EIP-7702, and why most crypto apps still miss the point. Come for the insights, stay for the travel tips and Italian bread slander. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro: Meet Henri Stern, founder of Privy01:44 - Henri’s backstory: Growing up in Paris, moving to NYC03:55 - Adjusting to life in New York and early education04:32 - Choosing Stanford over the French education system06:00 - Discovering computer science and why it stuck07:54 - Founding Shout: a peer-to-peer marketplace experiment10:01 - What went wrong with hyperlocal marketplaces12:20 - Filecoin and Protocol Labs: Henri’s next chapter13:49 - What Filecoin taught Henri about zk, consensus, and infra19:00 - Falling in love with crypto, then falling out of it for a bit20:06 - The origin of Privy: starting with privacy, landing on onboarding24:00 - What Privy does today: abstracting onboarding, not just accounts26:10 - The nuance of account abstraction vs. 4337/770228:30 - Privy’s internal values: focus, experimentation, ownership33:00 - Wallet sprawl and the identity fragmentation dilemma36:00 - Wallets as identity tools, not just money holders39:00 - Why crypto infra must be built now, not later41:00 - Notable partnerships: Farcaster, Pump.fun, Hyperliquid & more45:10 - Privy's current roadmap: chains, funding UX, identity UX47:02 - EIP-7702: What it is and why it matters50:00 - Speculation vs stability: the real bifurcation in crypto52:40 - Henri’s vision for 2025 and hiring at Privy54:08 - Rapid-fire round: food, music, tech, travel, and more1:04:28 - Where to find out more about Privy and wrap-up--- Podcast recorded by Toady Hawk, edited by Toady Hawk. Hosted by Toady Hawk. Produced by Zero Rights Media. This content is zero rights reserved (cc0), please remix and reuse it in any way you like! #base #onchain #ethereum #privy #crypto #stripe

Why JPMorgan and Shopify Are Rolling Out New Products on Ethereum Layer 2 Base - Ep. 855

On Tuesday, JPMorgan announced that its blockchain unit is launching JPMD, a USD deposit token for institutional clients, on Base. That’s right: the world’s biggest bank by assets and the 12th largest company by market cap is putting real dollars onchain. JPMD isn’t quite a stablecoin, but it’s close. It represents actual dollar deposits at JPMorgan and will be used by institutional clients for blockchain-based transactions. The bank plans to run a pilot over the coming months and eventually expand it to other user groups and currencies, pending regulatory approval. To understand what this means for the broader crypto ecosystem (and why JPMorgan chose Base), we brought on Jesse Pollak, head of Base and Coinbase Wallet. In this episode, Jesse explains: Why JPMorgan (and Shopify) chose Base What deposit tokens are, and how they differ from stablecoins Why infrastructure is finally “ready” for institutions How Base scaled from 2.5 million to 35 million gas/sec What’s next for Coinbase users who’ll have one-tap access to onchain assets And Jesse’s response to the critics who said that Coinbase doesn’t give enough credit to Ethereum

Onchain Media Episode #011 with XMAQUINA | DAOs, Robotics & AI | Hosted by Rachel Onchain

In our latest episode of Onchain Media, we’re joined by Mauricio, one of the founders of XMAQUINA 🤖🧠💥 This one’s for the builders, the dreamers, and anyone curious about what happens when you combine robotics, artificial intelligence, and decentralized governance. In this episode, we explore: ➡️ How XMAQUINA is reimagining the future of robotics using onchain infrastructure ➡️ What it means to structure a robotics project as a DAO — and why that matters ➡️ The practical implications of open, autonomous systems powered by AI ➡️ How token incentives, contributor dynamics, and governance frameworks play into it all ➡️ The team’s long-term vision to build a decentralized robotics network governed by the people who use and contribute to it If you’re excited about the intersection of intelligent machines and collective ownership, this conversation is your gateway into the next evolution of onchain coordination. Tune in as we unpack how XMAQUINA is pushing the boundaries of what's possible at the edge of autonomy, AI, and DAO innovation. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives from the frontiers of the onchain world. — 🌐 Resources & Links: 🔗 XMAQUINA Website – https://xmaquina.xyz 🔗 Join the DAO – https://discord.gg/xmaquina 🔗 Follow XMAQUINA – https://x.com/xmaquina_xyz 🔗 Learn More – https://xmaquina.xyz/whitepaper — 🎥 Produced by: Onchain Media 📍 Join the conversation: http://t.me/letstouchbase

Walk & Talk? How about a Walk & Clank with Clank Dot Fun (MUST CLANK BONUS CLIP)

Join JackWyldes from Zero Rights Media and the Must Clank Show as he experiments with a bold new paradigm -- the Walk and Clank, and shows you how to use the new Clank.fun V2. Clank.Fun is the ultimate token launchpad and trading terminal on Base. The updated platform has everything from instant token launches via Telegram to fully customizable token pages, social-driven discovery, and powerful on-chain trading tools. Whether you’re a creator launching your first memecoin or a trader hunting for alpha, Clank.fun gives you the tools to build, grow, and trade smarter.

045 - antimeme.

cameron and christin yapped about "there is no antimimetics division" by qntm i.e. memes, antimemes, and everything we have already forgotten about against our will if you wish you got on the meme boat early in the game it's ok you can now get into antimemes

MINIHASH 008 | The Future of AI, Blockchain, and Financial Systems w/Alexis (Safe)

In this episode, Alexis, Global Partnerships Manager at Safe, joins us to discuss the intersection of AI with financial systems, particularly in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape.

This Founder's App Was Going Nowhere. Now It's #1.

Nick Confrey’s first app was all promise, no traction—until one bold pivot changed everything. This week on Internet Explorers, the crew starts with the messy fallout from Base’s content coin launch—an experiment in onchain media that spiraled into backlash, infighting, and meme coin chaos. But the real story comes in the second half, when Nick joins the show to share how he turned a floundering generalized social platform into Tome—a viral BookTok hit that hit #1 in the App Store’s books category. Nick walks us through his journey from building for “everyone” to focusing on one deeply passionate community. Along the way, he breaks down why Tome rejects ad-based business models, how it’s building creator-first monetization, and what crypto-native lessons helped shape a product for people who don’t care about crypto at all. If you’ve ever wondered how to pivot toward product-market fit—or how to go viral without selling out—this episode is for you. This episode unpacks: Why Base’s content coin launch blew up on Crypto Twitter The cultural clash between meme coins and new creator tools How one mechanism flaw tanked Base’s experiment Why Rodeo’s TikTok virality didn’t translate into growth Nick’s early app failure and what wasn’t working How focusing on BookTok turned Tome into a breakout success The philosophy behind Tome’s anti-ad, user-supported model How Tome leverages intrinsic motivation over speculation What crypto can learn from Tome’s mainstream product strategy Why the best crypto apps might never mention crypto at all Chapters: 00:27 — Jess Returns From Vacation 01:14 — Twitter Meltdown Recap 03:44 — Base Launches Content Coin 07:06 — Mechanism Fail & Blowback 08:55 — Cynicism Killing Innovation 13:55 — What Meme Coins Reveal 20:41 — Outro: Base Drama Ends 21:44 — Rodeo’s Viral Flop 25:52 — Incentives vs. Organic Behavior 29:07 — Guest Intro: Nick Confrey 30:52 — The Pivot to BookTok 36:23 — How Tome Went Viral 40:29 — Monetizing Without Ads 43:01 — Incentives for Creativity 46:41 — Mini Apps & Remix Culture 49:34 — Growing Niche to Platform 54:35 — Tome’s Puzzle Launch 57:22 — Final Thoughts & Shoutouts 58:47 — Cozy Social, Big Lessons 01:02:29 — Crypto Growth Beyond Crypto 01:05:33 — Closing Vibes Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences. Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET. Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

What It’s Really Like to Build a Startup in Web3

From startup lawsuits to DAO-powered launches, Willy (founder of Nounspace) shares his unfiltered Web3 founder journey. We talk about his early exits, how Nounspace evolved from a Nounish client into a full-blown platform, and the tough reality of building in crypto. This episode dives into funding, pivots, community ownership, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in Web3—especially when things don’t go as planned. 00:42 — Startup lessons: from lawsuit to successful exit 01:50 — Launching Nounspace with Nouns DAO funding 02:38 — What changed in DAO governance & the challenge of sustainability 03:46 — Revenue, traction… but still not enough? 04:38 — The reality of building to change the world 05:29 — Why community is Nounspace’s strongest asset 06:12 — From one community to many: growing through network effects 07:04 — Tokens, incentives, and the flywheel effect 08:39 — The problem with airdrop farming & how to avoid it 09:34 — Nounspace token model: aligned ownership via staking 10:15 — Letting communities experiment with their own incentive models 10:37 — Mini apps as a tool for community-led problem-solving 11:18 — White labeling Nounspace for non-Noun communities 12:37 — The path forward: dual-focus, bigger vision Connect with Willy / Nounspace: Website: nounspace.com Warpcast: warpcast.com/willywonka.eth Twitter/X: x.com/thenounspace Connect with Kris: Farcaster: warpcast.com/thekris LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thekrispartner For sponsorships & collaborations: Email: pod@optimism.show DISCLAIMER: This episode does not constitute financial advice. DAOs, Web3 tools, and token-based systems carry risks. Always do your own research (DYOR).

The Big Shift fireside chat with Dan Romero and Fred Wilson

The Big Shift fireside chat was recorded at FarCon nyc onMay 2, 2025 with Farcaster co-founder Dan Romero interviewing Fred Wilson, legendary investor and co-founder of Union Square Ventures. FarCon is Farcaster’s annual event organized by the community for innovators, builders and network contributors. Thank you to all the sponsors who made this conversationpossible including media partner GM Farcaster, media sponsor Nouns DAO and the FarCon team of volunteers. Learn more at FarCon.nyc. Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/ Fred Wilson’s blog: https://avc.xyz/  Learn more about partnering with GM Farcaster:https://mediakit.gmfarcaster.com/    Copyright 2025 cc-by GM Farcaster - reuse/remix allowed with attribution and link back to GMFarcaster.com.  NOTE: Cryptocurrencies are often volatile assets. Nothing in this episode should be considered financial advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing should be considered investment advice, nor solicitation to buy or sell any assets. NFA, DYOR.  Chapters: 0:00:00 Intro 0:00:46 mini app s/o 0:02:27 summer 2007 0:06:22 mobile shift 0:07:40 Foursquare/app constellations 0:10:25 Soundcloud 0:12:12 crown jewels 0:12:27 Twitter/protocol 0:14:06 Farcaster 0:14:25 Coinbase/crypto 0:20:18 defi is all fi 0:21:21 Free is good/freemium 0:23:02 Brian Armstrong 0:25:11 AI and crypto