Making Blockchain Mainstream: Azeem Khan, Co-founder, Morph

Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder and CPO of Mysten Labs, returns to Glitchwire to give us a dive deep into the evolution of the Sui blockchain and its ambitions to build a better internet.In this catchup episode, Adeniyi shares key milestones since Sui’s mainnet launch in May 2023, including its rapid developer adoption and groundbreaking innovations like ZK Login and Enoki, which streamline blockchain access for Web2 users.The conversation explores Sui’s vision as a global coordination layer, its competitive stance against traditional tech giants versus other L1 blockchains, and the crucial role of a seamless developer experience in shaping the future of Web3. Adeniyi also shares Mysten Lab's latest development – Walrus – a decentralized storage solution and data availability layer that empowers developers to build scalable, engaging experiences from the back-end to front. From the shifting ad model in gaming to the broader implications of decentralized data management, this episode also unpacks the trends and technologies set to define Web3 in 2025 and beyond.

Leonard Tan, CTO and co-founder of Web3Auth, shares his journey from a career in finance to programming and the creation of Web3Auth – a pluggable wallet infrastructure for Web3 wallets and applications. Leonard discusses the role of social logins in bridging Web2 and Web3, the evolution of digital identity, and the challenges of balancing user experience with security. He also talks about the importance of user feedback in shaping solutions for the crypto space and Web3Auth’s focus on SDK development and enterprise applications. We explore: The early days of Web3Auth. How social logins are helping connect Web2 and Web3. The role of incremental security in onboarding mainstream users. The evolution of digital identity and its connection to user behavior. Balancing UX and security in Web3 design. SDKs as tools for simplifying blockchain integration for enterprises. Advancing crypto adoption, one solution at a time.

In this episode, Marissa Trew interviews Guy Young, the founder of Ethena Labs, to unpack the protocol’s meteoric rise and its impact on the synthetic dollar landscape. Ethena, a synthetic dollar protocol built on Ethereum, took the crypto industry by storm in 2024, rapidly accumulating over $3.5 billion in total value locked (TVL) within the first few months since its launch. Guy shares his journey from traditional finance to crypto and explains how Ethena distinguishes itself from fiat-backed stablecoins with its decentralized, high-yield approach. They discuss Ethena's associated risks, its target customer, and how the protocol navigates an evolving regulatory landscape post-US election. Guy also offers his candid take on the competitive landscape within the stablecoin/digital dollar space, and what lies ahead for DeFi.

In this episode, Marissa Trew speaks with Anurag Arjun, the co-founder of Avail, described as the “unification layer of web3”. Anurag was arguably one of the pioneers of the L2 movement as co-founder and chief product officer of Polygon, the Ethereum layer 2. In this interview, Anurag shares his path into the crypto space, his thesis on L2s and rollup frameworks, and why he believes the industry must embrace modularity and interoperability to unlock its full potential. Anurag describes how Avail aims to bridge this gap as a "unification layer," and how modularity gives developers the flexibility to innovate within their niches. What will it take to foster greater user trust and long-term adoption? The difference between censorship resistant and credibly neutral infra. Why VMs are the foundations on which all innovation will sit. What it will take to engineer a web3 super app.– Educating developers on blockchain’s practical value to support innovation. The balance between maintaining open accessibility and building reliable, user-centered applications that serve diverse needs.... and much, much more.

Marissa Trew interviews Luca Prosperi, CEO and co-founder of M^0, an on-chain protocol powering the first open federation of crypto dollar issuers through interoperable money middleware. Learn how M^0 is on a mission to revolutionize digital money creation by introducing unparalleled transparency and efficiency. Drawing from his 20 years in banking, Luca challenges the conventional narrative that traditional finance is broken, but simply slow to innovate. Get insights into why the stablecoin market is still in its infancy, te hidden risks lurking beneath their surface, and their pivotal role in shaping our financial future. And, we address the delicate balance between traditional finance and DeFi, the territorialism that prevents these industries from collaborating effectively, and the innovations that could redefine how we think about money.

In this episode, we dive into the world of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) with the Helium Foundation's COO, Scott Sigel. Scott breaks down the concept of DePIN and its transformative potential in merging blockchain with physical networks. We discuss how Helium is blazing this trail by overcoming the limitations of traditional infrastructure networks, offering real-world utility in IoT applications like flood detection, air quality monitoring, and asset tracking. Scott also explains how Helium’s community-driven approach, powered by Solana, sets it apart, and how DePIN is poised to bridge the gap between blockchain and global connectivity. Tune in to learn how Helium is pioneering a new era of decentralized, hyper-connected infrastructure.

Azeem Khan, co-founder of Morph, shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities of blockchain L2s, emphasising the need for differentiation, understanding cultural nuances, and building region-specific solutions. Key highlights include: The "main character syndrome" of infra providers The underestimation of soft skills in crypto Why we struggle to convert developers and users to blockchain The potential of women as underestimated end users Escaping the web3 echo chamber The next wave of brand endorsements Avoiding the fate of crypto peaking too early Azeem calls for a shift from vanity metrics to genuine developer support and strategic marketing, focusing on creating compelling stories and products that appeal to a wider audience.

Stephen Smith, Head of Protocol at Tools for Humanity takes us deep into the development of WorldChain, a blockchain designed to protect our digital personhood in an era dominated by AI. Steven explains how WorldChain harnesses blockchain to prioritize human-verified transactions over automated bots, how the iris-scanning orbs that emerged around the world work to protect our privacy, not invade it, and what to expect from WorldChain's ambitious roadmap in the coming months.

This episode, we speak to Rushi Manche, the co-founder of Movement Labs – a team that aims to accelerate the growth and adoption of the Move programming language in blockchain development. Rushi shares his sharp takes on the limitations of Ethereum's virtual machine, why security has been a critical, but overlooked element of blockchain development, and how the Move VM addresses that vulnerability. He also gives his take on the evolution of blockchain frameworks, from monolithic to modular to integrated, and why he believes Move lies at the epicentre of it all. Plus, hot takes on the importance of degen culture, founder-led community growth, and striking the balance between competition and collaboration.

Yat Siu, the founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, delves into the transformative potential of digital property rights and Web3 for reshaping capitalism into a more equitable system. Reflecting on his upbringing in a divided Europe and his extensive experience in the tech industry, Yat shares how these experiences have shaped his understanding of capitalism's evolution and its shortcomings. The episode also explores the technical and societal challenges of Web3 and blockchain technology, including the balance between individualism and collective benefits, and the importance of transparency in promoting ethical behaviour. Yat also builds the case for the necessity for financial literacy and educational initiatives to help people navigate and embrace these emerging technologies.