Why Ethereum Needs Based Applications Now | SSV Labs

In this episode of the Building Web3 Podcast, Jax Dwyer sits down with Alon Muroch, co-founder and CEO of SSV Labs, to explore the future of decentralized infrastructure on Ethereum. Alon breaks down how SSV Labs went from a research initiative within the Ethereum Foundation to one of the largest staking protocols in the world — currently running nearly 90,000 Ethereum validators and on track to become the second-largest validator network on mainnet. The conversation dives deep into staking, validator security, and the emergence of “staking 2.0” — a new paradigm where validators can extend their functionality beyond securing Ethereum. Alon shares the vision behind SSV 2.0, why “based applications” matter, and how these apps allow Ethereum validators to earn more by securing protocols like oracles, bridges, ZK provers, and even AI agents. Jax and Alon also unpack why Ethereum needs to evolve in order to stay competitive against faster, more centralized chains like Solana. They explore how synchronous composability, better validator incentives, and leadership alignment could help Ethereum capture more value and mindshare — particularly among institutional players. From decentralized RPC ideas to prototyping frameworks for based apps, this episode is packed with startup ideas and insights for builders. If you're working on Web3 infrastructure, validator tooling, or scaling Ethereum, this is a must-listen. Chapters include: Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: How Staking Changed the Game Inside SSV Labs’ Validator Network The Problem with ETH’s Value Capture What Based Applications Actually Are Staking 2.0 and Validator Monetization Solana’s Advantage and ETH’s Fragmentation Startup Ideas for Builders: Decentralized RPC & Based Prototyping The Future of Shared Security in Web3 Whether you're an infrastructure founder, Ethereum developer, or crypto VC, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you a fresh perspective on where decentralized infrastructure is headed. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro to Alon & SSV 01:00 – What is staking and why it matters 03:00 – Proof of stake vs. proof of work 05:30 – SSV’s validator network growth 07:00 – The problem with Ethereum’s value capture 09:00 – Why restaking isn’t enough 10:30 – Staking 2.0 & the case for based apps 13:00 – Ethereum’s narrative problem on Wall Street 15:00 – The role of EF and why narrative matters 16:30 – What “based apps” actually are 18:00 – How based apps differ from restaking 20:00 – Decentralization as a service explained 21:30 – How to build and deploy a based app 24:00 – Future: Multi-chain validators for shared security 25:30 – Startup idea: decentralized RPC 27:00 – Startup idea: AWS for based app deployment 29:00 – Where to find SSV & Alon online Want to grow your Twitter? Book your call: https://buildingweb3media.com/twitter-offer Connect with Jax on Twitter: https://x.com/jaxxdwyer Connect with our guest: https://x.com/AmMuroch https://x.com/ssv_network https://ssv.network/ Disclaimer: Nothing said on Building Web3 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. Jax, and Need technical content? Book a free strategy session with our team at https://jaxdwyer.com/