The Block Research Podcast

In this episode, Eigenlayer founder Sreeram Kannan explains how his background in tech and interest in peer-to-peer wireless systems led him to explore the potential of crypto and blockchain technology.OUTLINE:00:00 Introduction05:31 Eigenlayer's Vision10:22 Federalizing Eigenlayer11:17 Digital Commons19:37 Bringing Off-Chain Data Onchain30:31 Eigenlayer x Ethereum Foundation41:45 Eigenlayer Development Challenges45:10 $EIGEN Token49:09 30-Year Plan

In this episode, Safe co-founder Richard Meissner explains how Safe attempts to abstract away many of the complexities currently plaguing Web3 UX.OUTLINE:00:00 Introduction03:07 Safe’s User Base09:31 Business Model11:40 Account Abstraction15:33 EIP-307421:49 Keystore Rollup25:47 Ethereum Layer-2s33:22 $SAFE Token Design43:15 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, Matter Labs co-founder and CEO Alex Gluchowski explains why zero-knowledge proofs are considered to be the "end game" for blockchain scalability and how zkSync's technology stack compares to that of other teams building layer-2 scaling solutions for Ethereum.OUTLINE:00:00 ZK is the Endgame05:23 Trustless Verifiability08:31 ZK-Rollups on Bitcoin11:15 Hyperscaling22:22 L2 Competition29:35 EVM Compatibility34:39 zkSync Milestones42:10 Application Layer47:45 Closing Thoughts

In the first half of this episode, The Block CEO Larry Cermak and StarkWare co-founder and CEO Eli-Ben Sasson discuss Starknet's past, present, and future, including the upcoming launch of the $STRK token.Next, The Block Research Director John Dantoni gives an overview of StarkWare's founding rounds and analyzes the deal flow in the Starknet ecosystem.OUTLINE00:00 Introduction00:51 Blockchains & ZK Proofs03:03 StarkWare CEO Transition05:23 StarkWare Ecosystem08:48 Starknet Ecosystem13:53 Mass Adoption15:46 Gaming on Starknet17:51 L2 Competition20:00 ‘Ethereum Alignment’22:32 STARKS on Bitcoin24:06 $STRK Airdrop Design29:07 Decentralizing Starknet31:40 Starknet’s Future37:36 Funding Analysis

In this episode, The Block CEO Larry Cermak interviews long-time bitcoiners and Taproot Wizards co-founders Eric Wall and Udi Wertheimer, followed by a deep dive into the data behind Ordinals' meteoric rise with The Block Research Analyst Rebecca Stevens.OUTLINE:00:00 Introduction02:30 Udi’s Bitcoin Arc07:56 Eric’s Wizard Journey11:20 Inscription Angst14:00 Ordinal Theory17:38 BRC-20s24:25 Bitcoin Innovation30:30 High Transaction Fees33:58 Spot ETF Cultural Impact36:55 2024 Bitcoin Predictions42:11 Eric’s Plan to Save Earth43:51 Data Analysis with Rebecca Stevens

In this episode, The Block CEO Larry Cermak interviews Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko and Helius Labs co-founder Mert Mumtaz, followed by a deep dive into the data underpinning Solana's recent rally with The Block Research Analyst Rebecca Stevens.OUTLINE:0:00 - Introduction0:48 - Solana Stress Test05:28 - Solana DeFi08:19 - ‘Total Value Locked’12:29 - Only Possible On Solana18:50 - Next Gen Blockchains21:50 - Scaling Performance25:41 - Ethereum Layer 2s30:20 - Solana Layer 2s?34:58 - Closing Thoughts40:40 - Data Analysis w/ Rebecca Stevens