How Ukraine Became a Crypto Innovation Hub - Alex Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine

TAC is a purpose-built blockchain for EVM dApps to access TON and Telegram Ecosystem’s 1B+ user base. TAC makes it seamless for Ethereum dApps to be deployed on TON. EVM functionality and liquidity brought to the TON ecosystem enable builders to focus on consumer use cases.Marco Monaco, Co-Founder and Growth Lead at TAC, recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk about the technology. Marco discussed his work with TON, focusing on TAC’s strategy to bridge the gap between TON’s large user base and its relatively small developer community by creating an EVM-compatible layer-1 chain using a Cosmos SDK and integrating with Babylon’s Bitcoin Security Network. A successful $370 million Summoning Campaign provided liquidity for the project, with a phased launch planned starting with a developer mainnet in May, followed by a token launch.(podcast player to appear here after publishing)Marco Monaco is the Co-Founder and Growth Lead at TAC. Before that, he co-founded Linea, an Ethereum rollup built at Consensys, where he helped onboard 500,000 users and supported 500+ teams. A longtime Ethereum supporter, Marco has also worked on key products like Metamask and Infura, and has advised several Ethereum products.Earlier in his career, he founded a blockchain advisory firm acquired by PwC Italy, where he later led crypto strategy and coordinated global blockchain initiatives. Now focused on the TON ecosystem, Marco co-founded TAC to drive the next wave of Web3 adoption.To learn more about the project visit tac.build, and follow the team on X.The Bitcoin.com News podcast features interviews with the most interesting leaders, founders and investors in the world of Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), NFTs and the Metaverse. Follow us on iTunes or Spotify.

In a recent podcast episode, MacLane Wilkison, CEO of tLabs and co-founder of Threshold Network, shared a compelling vision for Bitcoin’s future in decentralized finance (DeFi). At the center of the discussion was tBTC, a permissionless Bitcoin bridge designed to expand Bitcoin’s utility across DeFi ecosystems, while maintaining security and user control.A Journey Through the Crypto SpaceWilkison’s crypto journey began back in 2013 at the Hacker Dojo, where he first explored Bitcoin and connected with early builders of projects like Cosmos and Dfinity. That curiosity later led him to co-found NuCypher, a data privacy protocol for decentralized applications. Today, his experience fuels the direction of Threshold Network and tBTC, with a strong focus on unlocking new use cases for Bitcoin without compromising core principles like decentralization and transparency.Understanding tBTC: A Safer, Fully-Decentralized Bitcoin BridgeUnlike centralized solutions like Wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), which rely on a single custodian, tBTC uses a decentralized network of signers to hold Bitcoin in custody. This distributed model minimizes counterparty risk and allows users to retain ownership of their BTC, even while it’s being used in DeFi applications.One of tBTC’s most promising features is that it allows users to put their Bitcoin to work—earning yield through lending, market making, and other DeFi strategies—without selling their BTC. As Wilkison explains, “We want to give Bitcoin holders more tools to participate in DeFi, while staying true to Bitcoin’s core values of control and self-sovereignty.”Threshold Network has recently undergone a strategic shift—streamlining its focus solely on tBTC and ending inflation of the T token. This restructuring has created a direct link between the adoption of tBTC and the value of the T token, contributing to reported network profitability in Q1 through bridge fee revenues.Bridging Across Ecosystems, Not Betting on Just OneWilkison noted that the current DeFi ecosystem remains fragmented, with platforms like Ethereum, Solana, and new Bitcoin layer-2s all competing for developer attention. But tBTC is built to be platform-agnostic—bridging Bitcoin into whatever ecosystem users choose to participate in.Looking ahead, Threshold is keeping a close eye on developments like BitVM2, which could further strengthen the security and decentralization of Bitcoin bridges. “Our goal is to make tBTC the most secure and trust-minimized way to use Bitcoin in DeFi,” Wilkison said.As the conversation wrapped, Wilkison offered a clear message to developers: focus on building tools that matter. “Don’t chase trends. Build something that lasts and solves real problems,” he said.MacLane Wilkison’s insights into tBTC and the broader DeFi ecosystem underscore the potential for Bitcoin to play a pivotal role in decentralized finance. By prioritizing security, user control, and innovative yield opportunities, tBTC is poised to become a key player in bridging Bitcoin with the diverse world of DeFi. 

Jordi Alexander is the founder and CEO of Selini Capital. Selini Capital specializes in market making, high-frequency trading (HFT), and early-stage venture investing. He also co-hosts the wonderful crypto-focused podcast Steady Lads.In this interview with Bitcoin.com News’ David Sencil, Jordi talks about his firm's activities in crypto, the impact of meme coins and the need for regulation, the potential of AI in crypto, the dynamic nature of the crypto market, and more.

Join Frank Cheng, founder of @apeironnft as he shares the incredible journey behind creating $APRS and $ANIMA tokens— a groundbreaking hybrid real-time strategy game blending multiple genres and evolving from a Web2 idea into a full Web3 platform.In this interview, Frank dives into:- His transition from management consulting to game development- How tokenomics $APRS and $ANIMA powers ecosystem and community- The role of AI in shaping the future of gaming- Why quality games must attract both Web2 and Web3 audiences- Valuable lessons learned from previous token models- The vision of Apeiron as a multimedia franchise — not just a game, but a universePlus, Frank shares why new players can dive in without needing upfront investment, making Web3 gaming more accessible than ever!

Monad isn’t just another EVM chain — they’re aiming for 10,000 transactions per second and designing a chain that developers actually want to build on.At Southeast Asia Blockchain Week, Bitcoin.com’s Retention Lead Alun sat down with Edwin Lau of the Monad Foundation to unpack:• What it takes to push EVM to new performance ceilings• Why Monad is gaining traction among cross-chain developers• How culture (and mascots like Molandak) play into tech adoptionBonus: Monad's APAC Ecosystem Lead Edwin also walked away with one of our Bitcoin.com Golden Tickets — stay tuned to see what that unlocks at TOKEN2049 Dubai.

Sandra Abrams is the founder of Onboard 60, an organization providing education and resources for senior citizens to understand and engage with cryptocurrency and digital assets. Onboard 60 aims to help older generations navigate the digital financial landscape and participate in the largest generational wealth transfer in modern society.In this interview, Abrams discusses with [Bitcoin.com](http://bitcoin.com/) News Lead David Sencil her initial Bitcoin purchase in 2016, her journey from media-induced skepticism to becoming a crypto educator, the importance of senior citizens understanding digital assets, and her strategies for helping older Americans connect with their digital-native grandchildren through cryptocurrency investments.Subscribe to our channel and hit the bell "🔔" icon to get notifications:https://www.youtube.com/bitcoincomofficialchannel?sub_confirmation=1► Who are we?At Bitcoin.com we create tools that bring more economic freedom to the world. Since 2015, Bitcoin.com has been a global leader in introducing newcomers to crypto. We make it easy for anyone to buy, spend, trade, invest, earn, and stay up-to-date on cryptocurrency and the future of finance.Buy, sell, trade, earn, use, and learn crypto with the Bitcoin.com Wallet:https://branch.wallet.bitcoin.com/I1dhGnyGNpbStay informed with timely and objective crypto, published daily:https://news.bitcoin.com/Get educated with up-to-date content from Bitcoin.com’s learning center:https://www.bitcoin.com/get-started/Trade permissionlessly on Bitcoin.com's decentralized Verse DEX where you can also earn yield:https://verse.bitcoin.com/► What is Verse?VERSE, which launched in December 2022, is Bitcoin.com’s rewards and utility token. Get VERSE for free in the Bitcoin.com Wallet app, and use it to earn Bitcoin and other rewards.VERSE is expanding access to DeFi, enabling more people to benefit from democratized finance and the economic freedom it unlocks.—Join our community and follow us for updates ⬇️►X: https://x.com/Bitcoincom►X News Account: https://x.com/BTCTN ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoin.com_official/►Discord: https://discord.gg/hux4sugcQS►Telegram: https://t.me/GetVerse►LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitcoin.com/►Linkedin News Account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitcoin-com-news/

In this raw and revealing interview, Jamie Redman - News Lead at Bitcoin.com - takes us on a personal journey from libertarian Facebook posts to becoming a key voice in crypto journalism. Discover how a tax refund, Ron Paul's inspiration, and a passion for freedom transformed him into an early Bitcoin adopter and news pioneer. Redman candidly shares his experiences through crypto's wild early days, the Luna crash, and his unfiltered views on Bitcoin's evolution, meme coins, and the future of digital currency.

Titus Kevalny, VP of Go-to-Market Strategy at Civic, discussed his role in promoting Civic's products, which protect apps from Sybil attacks and ensure KYC compliance. He explained the evolution of Civic from Ethereum to Solana, Civic Pass, a verification tool with over a million passes, and Civic Auth, a simpler authentication method for developers. Kevalny emphasized the importance of multiple authentication methods to combat AI bots and deep fakes.

Meet James Au, the CEO of Sol Arena and Founder of Chillchat, who has been instrumental in revolutionizing the Web3 gaming landscape. In this interview, James delves into his personal journey within the industry, shedding light on the inception and development of Sol Arena. He discusses the game's distinctive features, notably the integration of artificial intelligence, and addresses the challenges encountered in the evolving gaming sector. James also shares his vision for the platform's future, emphasizing the significance of community engagement and the transformative evolution of gaming in the Web3 era.If you're intrigued by the convergence of blockchain technology and gaming, this interview offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Web3 gaming.

JC Kim, CEO of Immortal Rising 2 and Co-founder of Planetarium Labs, shares his journey in the gaming industry—from his early inspirations as an OG in Web3 gaming to building one of the space’s most anticipated titles. In this conversation, we explore the challenges of development, the role of AI in shaping the future of Web3 gaming, and why community engagement and ownership are essential to the next era of player-driven experiences. Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s ahead for Immortal Rising 2.