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"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

Most Startups Misunderstand Incentives feat. Joseph Al-Chami

The future of crypto might not be bots, bulls**t, and broken incentives — but first, we have some serious receipts to go through. This week we are joined by researcher Joseph Al-Chami for a wide-ranging dive into the biggest consumer crypto stories of the week — and an honest reckoning with how points systems, appcoins, agentic investors, and open social graphs are actually playing out. From Circle’s IPO drama to AI SEO strategies, we’re connecting the dots on what’s really happening across consumer crypto, AI, and internet culture. We kick off with a quickfire rundown of Appcoins, AI discoverability, and the death spiral of poorly launched tokens, before moving into a deep, revealing conversation with Joseph about the hidden dangers behind points-based growth strategies — and why blind copying Duolingo-style gamification just doesn’t work for crypto projects. This episode unpacks: * Ohara’s new Appcoin model and the future of vibe coding * AI SEO tactics and why discoverability is about to change forever * Why launching a token will not save you * The rise and potential fall of Circle’s stablecoin empire * The launch of LensChain and the mini-app revolution on Farcaster * How agentic investors are creating novelty arbitrage (for now) * Open social graphs vs. corporate controlled platforms * Why vanity metrics are destroying crypto ecosystems * A real breakdown of why “points and quests” mostly attract bots * How to build loyalty systems that actually work Chapters: 0:00 — Intro and a Brand New Home 00:39 — Live Show Chaos and Vibe Check 01:50 — Market Sentiment and Real Builders 03:09 — Introducing Joseph Al-Chami and Topics 04:53 — Appcoins, Vibe Coding, and Token Models 08:11 — AI SEO and Discoverability Shifts 12:55 — Why Launching Tokens Can Fail 16:11 — Circle’s IPO Drama and Fallout 19:38 — LensChain, Open Social, and Mini-Apps 24:16 — Farcaster Airdrops and Notification Burnout 26:51 — Rise of Agentic Investors and Novelty 29:09 — “It’s All Base’s Fault” Twitter Meltdown 30:14 — Credible Neutrality and Blockchain Trust 32:59 — Joseph’s Research on Points Farming 39:48 — How to Build Real Loyalty 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

The Internet Loves Ghibli... But Not Enough to Pay?

Ghibli memes took over the internet. But the studio captured none of the value. In this week’s Internet Explorers, Jess and Josh break down how OpenAI’s viral Ghibli-style image launch became a masterclass in attention-hijacking — and why crypto, NFTs, and tokens still fail to help artists and IP holders capture their fair share. From meme coin spikes to the role of protocol design, they unpack how this moment exposed crypto’s biggest cultural opportunity (and blind spot). Later, Priyanka from Tribute Labs joins to debut ADIN, their new AI-native investment DAO. The crew explores whether AI agents can outperform VCs, how 10% carry for deal submissions flips sourcing on its head, and why this might be the most compelling new DAO model since 2021. Plus: buy-and-burn backlash, Solana’s Nikita play, and the accelerating weirdness of AI-powered internet culture. This episode unpacks: * OpenAI’s viral Ghibli-style image generation * Attention, IP, and meme-driven value gaps * Can crypto help creators capture cultural upside? * Buy-and-burn vs. dividend token models * When ownership still matters in token design * Priyanka from Tribute Labs introduces ADIN, an AI VC DAO * AI agents evaluating early-stage investments * Deal flow incentives with 10% carry for submissions * Can AI replace human VC decision-making? * Nikita Bier joins Solana to fix crypto UX Chapters: 0:00 — Intro and a classic throwback 4:07 — Crypto the Game segment: Upcoming content and winners 6:05 — Studio Ghibli style image launch impact 9:26 — Valuation of IP through crypto tokens 11:43 — Tokenization and IP rights discussion 15:04 — Cultural Dialogue and Internet Theory insights 18:21 — Network dynamics and virality discussion 20:13 — Buy and Burns impact analysis 22:55 — Stablecoins and monetary supply nuances 26:52 — Dividends and market expectations implications 30:38 — Consumer-facing infrastructure debate 34:02 — Tribute's role in investment DAOs 36:51 — DAO structure and Aiden's role 40:54 — Project types and data input discussion 43:05 — Founder tools and improvement recommendations 46:35 — Emergent projects and agent opinions 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

The Harsh Reality of Onchain Games

What if a game you built today could still be played a thousand years from now? Onchain gaming is one of the hardest bets in crypto — and Kamigotchi is taking a radically different path to survive. Lethe joins to break down why most projects fail, and how building the simplest possible game could create a world that lasts for centuries. Later, Jaimin from Beans joins to share how they’re turning Internet speculation into a daily game of discovery. Plus: the future of three-person unicorns, AI-native teams, tokenized subforums, and how Plastic Labs could reshape memory and personalization for AI apps.  This episode unpacks: How Plastic Labs is leveling the AI playing field with user memory techWhy AI-native startups are scaling massive impact with tiny teamsHow tokenized subforums like Subs could reinvent online communitiesThe case for three-person unicorns in the AI eraKamigotchi’s vision: a decentralized MMORPG that lasts for centuriesTechnical hurdles in building fully onchain games todayWhy Celestia and Initia were chosen to launch yominetBeans’ launch strategy: daily token drops tied to internet sitesHow Beans plans to rival algorithmic content feedsLessons from shipping speculative crypto apps in today’s market Chapters: 00:19 — Internet Explorers Kicks Off: Topics Preview 02:33 — Plastic Labs $5.35M Raise and AI Personalization 06:04 — Tokenized Forums: Exploring Subs.Fun 10:39 — The Rise of Three-Person Unicorns 17:22 — Lethe Joins: Kamigotchi’s Origins and Vision 21:55 — Why Building Onchain Games Is Brutally Hard 23:52 — Designing Kamigotchi: Simplicity or Death 28:28 — Launching on Initia and Celestia 32:12 — Building a Game Studio for the Long Term 36:35 — Jaimin Joins: Beans and Speculating on Internet Attention 43:05 — Inside the Beans Token Launch Mechanism 47:04 — The Bigger Vision: Beans as a New Social Layer 55:36 — Building in Solana vs EVM 59:08 — Farcaster Miniapp Spotlight Announcement 1:01:15 — Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off 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

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

Rebuilding Community Infrastructure

In this episode of The Optimism Show, Kris Gligoroski talks with Willy, founder of Nounspace, a customizable Farcaster client evolving into full-stack infrastructure for token communities, DAOs, and creators. Discover how Nounspace is giving every onchain community its own branded hub—combining social, governance, and token utility in one place. Learn why governance, UX, and community coordination still present massive challenges, and how AI and modular tooling could change everything. If you’re building a Web3 project or running a tokenized community, this episode is packed with insights on how to make your community thrive—onchain and beyond. (00:07) Intro – Willy’s background and Nounspace’s origin (01:36) Why the future of social is customizable and mini-app powered (03:25) From tokens to tooling: giving communities their own space (05:12) Nounspace for newsletters, media brands, and DAOs (06:12) What defines a community in Web3 today? (08:36) White-label Nounspace for any DAO or niche audience (10:42) Web3’s presentation problem—and how to fix it (12:37) Big lessons, pivots, and false starts from building Nounspace (13:13) Prioritizing impact: Token spaces, traction, and roadmap (15:44) Building where user behavior doesn’t exist (yet) (16:50) Removing friction: Email logins, mobile UX, and onboarding (17:31) Nounspace for Web2 communities—Farcaster becomes optional (19:59) What onchain communities could look like in 2025 (22:15) DAOs at scale: How AI could finally make governance work (24:20) Where Nounspace is heading—and why timing is everything Connect with Willy / Nounspace Website: https://www.nounspace.com/ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/willywonka.eth Twitter/X: https://x.com/thenounspace Connect with Kris Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/thekris LinkedIn: / thekrispartner For sponsorships and 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).

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).

Building Alone on Farcaster: High Risk, Big Vision

What happens when fintech meets Web3? In this episode, Kris Gligoroski sits down with Sinaver, the founder of PayFlow, to explore how onchain social payments are evolving—especially on platforms like Farcaster. From how he got started to the key differences between building on Lens vs. Farcaster, Sinaver shares honest lessons from the trenches of being a solo founder in a fast-moving ecosystem. We cover how the idea for PayFlow came to life, what it's like building with minimal resources, and the future of decentralized social payments. 00:00 – Intro: Meet Sinaver, founder of PayFlow 00:24 – What’s happening in onchain social payments today 01:33 – How Sinaver discovered Farcaster (through a hackathon!) 02:30 – Why Farcaster initially stood out from other platforms 03:40 – Inspiration from Monobank & the birth of PayFlow 05:15 – Early experiments in social payments 06:00 – Why frames changed the game 06:28 – Realizing the limits of multi-platform building 07:08 – Why Sinaver focused fully on Farcaster 08:15 – Advice for new builders: where to start and what to avoid 09:11 – Picking the right product strategy 10:45 – Understanding Farcaster’s roadmap & how not to get replaced 12:00 – Why being “second best” still works with good distribution 13:05 – Infra vs. consumer apps: what’s the smarter play? 🔗 Connect with Sinaver / PayFlow Website: https://payflow.me/ Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/sinaver.eth 🔗 Connect with Kris Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/thekris LinkedIn: /thekrispartner 📬 For sponsorships and 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 Chopping Block: Rugs, Incentives & Float Lies, Mosi Breaks It All Down

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra break down the biggest stories in crypto. This week, we’re joined by one of the most iconic anons on Crypto Twitter: Mosi, aka @vanacharma. Known for calling out sketchy tokenomics and vaporware valuations, Mosi joins the crew for a ruthless teardown of market maker games, OTC dumps, and the “hallucination yield” driving this cycle’s worst bets. From the $60M Movement Labs fiasco to OTC pump schemes and the collapse of community trust, the gang goes deep on why crypto’s market structure is broken—and what it’ll take to fix it. If you’ve ever wondered how the sausage gets made in crypto token launches, this one’s for you. Show highlights 🔹 $60M Movement Meltdown – How a token deal gone wrong became crypto’s latest fiasco and dragged down one of the cycle’s most hyped L1s. 🔹 Anon vs. Everyone – Iconic CT anon @vanacharma breaks down the float games, OTC dumps, and tokenomics illusions plaguing the industry. 🔹 Market Makers or Middlemen? – When is liquidity real, and when is it just backdoor exits? We unpack how MM incentives are getting abused. 🔹 Hallucination Yield & Vapor Valuations – Why funds chase tokens with the fakest traction — and what happens when reality hits. 🔹 Are VCs to Blame? – The crew debates whether investors are complicit in these token games or just bad at picking founders. 🔹 Pump, Dump, Repeat – How OTC discounts, fake float, and circular trading fuel a Ponzi-like system hiding in plain sight. 🔹 Why Retail Gets Burned – Most people never stood a chance. We walk through how asymmetric info and hidden unlocks wreck public buyers. 🔹 Can This Be Fixed? – Haseeb and Mosi clash on the path forward: enforceable disclosures, exchange oversight, or do-nothing chaos? 🔹 Self-Regulation Is the Only Way Out – Before the SEC nukes everything, the industry must grow up. Here’s where that starts.