What Happened to the Modular Blockchain Thesis? w/ Dino (...

What this episode covers

Rex sits down with Dino, co-founder of Fluent, to ask a simple but loaded question: what actually happened to the modular / “VM meta” everyone was so excited about? They trace how the narrative around modular blockchains went from red-hot to ice-cold, what still matters underneath the hype cycle, and why today’s real bottleneck isn’t infra anymore but product taste, startup execution, and culture. Along the way they talk about “price is the product,” the blurring line between good and bad actors, and why it’s so hard to attract serious builders who treat blockchains as boring backend tools rather than casinos. Dino also shares how Fluent and its Blended Builders Club are trying to cultivate “crypto Navy SEALs” and ship apps that normal people actually want to use, from creator markets to prediction platforms and new kinds of payments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Signaling Theory?

This episode is 44 minutes long.

When was this Signaling Theory episode published?

This episode was published on December 11, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Rex sits down with Dino, co-founder of Fluent, to ask a simple but loaded question: what actually happened to the modular / “VM meta” everyone was so excited about? They trace how the narrative around modular blockchains went from red-hot to...

Can I download this Signaling Theory episode?

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