Podcast

Grigore Rosu is the Founder & CEO of Pi Squared, a groundbreaking Web3 infrastructure company revolutionizing verifiable computing with its Universal Settlement Layer. As a distinguished professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and founder of the K framework and Runtime Verification, Grigore brings unparalleled expertise in formal methods and blockchain innovation. He dives into his journey from NASA to Web3, the philosophy behind Pi Squared’s “Proof of Proof” technology, and the mission to unify fragmented blockchain ecosystems with language-agnostic, zero-knowledge solutions. He dives into his seasoned perspective on unifying the fragmented Web3 space, the art and science behind building trustless, scalable systems, and the nuances of leveraging zero-knowledge proofs for universal computation.

Ammar Zaeem is the CEO & Co-Founder of Revolving Games, a leading innovator in blockchain gaming, building immersive, decentralized gaming experiences powered by Web3 technology. Backed by top-tier investors like Pantera Capital, Animoca Brands, and Polygon Ventures, Revolving Games is redefining the gaming industry with scalable, player-owned ecosystems. In this episode, Ammar shares his journey from traditional gaming to pioneering Web3 game development, overcoming challenges in blockchain scalability, and creating engaging, community-driven gaming universes. He discusses Revolving Games’ innovative approach to integrating NFTs and decentralized economies, their robust tech stack, and strategic partnerships that empower players with true ownership and interoperability. Ammar also highlights Revolving Games’ latest milestones, positioning the studio as a trailblazer in the future of decentralized gaming.

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Josh Benaron is the Founder & CEO of Irys, the world’s first programmable Layer-1 datachain designed to integrate low-cost, scalable storage with high-performance, EVM-compatible execution via IrysVM. Backed by Lemniscap, Framework Ventures, and Primitive Ventures, Irys is revolutionizing onchain data infrastructure for AI, IP, and consumer applications. In this episode, Josh shares his journey from building Bundlr Network to launching Irys, overcoming challenges in transaction scalability on Arweave, and creating a network where data is not just stored but programmable—embedded with instructions to automate AI workflows, enforce ownership, and trigger smart contracts. He discusses Irys’s innovative multi-ledger system, hybrid consensus model, and strategic partnerships, which enable composable utilities and cost-efficient data solutions. Josh also highlights Irys’s testnet achievements, positioning Irys as the future of trust and scalability in decentralized ecosystems.

Yat Siu is Co-Founder and Chairman of Animoca Brands, a global leader in blockchain gaming, investing and web3, championing digital property rights through decentralized ecosystems. Yat shares his thoughts on stakeholder capitalism, redefining economic models by empowering users as network owners, as well as  groundbreaking initiatives like Open Campus, which integrates blockchain into education to revolutionize student loan financing. He discusses the emergence of  AI crypto use cases, and its role in enhancing transparency, reflections on the positive developments in the evolving U.S. regulatory landscape, and his vision for a decentralized future where crypto fosters equitable digital economies and cultural innovation. Yat's insights are some of the most valuable in the world.

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Deborah Simpier is Co-Founder and CEO of Althea, a decentralized infrastructure platform revolutionizing internet access through blockchain-based, community-driven networks. Deborah shares her journey from advocating for net neutrality and running a rural IT business to co-founding DePIN network, Althea, a company pioneering multi-stakeholder networks with innovative products like KeyLTE and Liquid Infrastructure. She discusses Althea’s milestones, including deploying networks in rural Oregon, powering connectivity in the Arctic Circle, and enabling the first ApplePay transaction on CBRS spectrum. Deborah dives into how Althea’s price-aware routing protocol and blockchain-based payment system empower communities to build affordable, resilient internet infrastructure, challenging legacy telecom models. She also shares her vision for a decentralized future where blockchain and 5G converge to democratize connectivity, foster equitable digital access worldwide, and usher the convergence of DeFi, DePIN, and real-world utility pushing forward the vision of democratized, autonomous infrastructure.

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