Vlad Tenev on Robinhood’s Bold Move into Crypto, DeFi, and Ethereum L2s

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, to explore how Robinhood is bringing tokenized U.S. stocks to the EU, launching an Ethereum L2 with Arbitrum tech, and shaping the future of finance. From tokenized private shares to the long-term vision of blockchain adoption, Vlad shares insights on regulation, innovation, and the battle between Robinhood and Coinbase. Is crypto the backbone of global finance? Tune in to find out!Chapters:00:00 Intro: How do you get people in the U.S. excited about stocks onchain?00:52 Introduction to Vlad Tenev, Co-Founder and CEO of Robinhood01:30 Tokenized U.S. stocks, private company stocks, Robin Hood blockchain, USDG, and other announcements02:35 Robinhood offers tokenized U.S. stocks to customers in the EU06:52 Primary market for private companies’ tokenized shares13:55 Robinhood launches Ethereum L2 using Arbitrum tech18:45 Will Robinhood launch a token?20:00 What regulation will need to happen in the U.S. to launch these products here?24:47 How do these crypto announcements fit into the long term vision of RH?28:43 RH chain as an enabler for this vision of global adoption30:45 Will crypto remain a niche asset class or become the backbone of finance?35:10 Robinhood vs. Coinbase37:10 The DeFi Mullet: UX and DeFi on Robinhood41:55 What makes Vlad a believer in crypto innovation?46:10 Closing remarks

Looking to understand stablecoins, onchain yields, and the future of DeFi? 🚀 Join us as Vikram Arun, CEO of Superform, shares expert insights on stablecoin yield strategies, the role of Web3 technology in automation, and whether 20% onchain yields are truly sustainable in today’s crypto economy. Plus, we explore the impact of the GENIUS Act on the crypto industry and discuss the intersection of innovation and regulation in shaping the future of digital assets. Topics Included: The evolution of stablecoins as a financial tool Why automation is critical for DeFi growth The long-term potential of yield-generating assets The fading stigma of crypto and its real-world financial integration Chapters:00:00 Defiant Info00:41 Introduction to Vikram Arun, Founder and CEO of Superform01:31 Crypto is a better form of money03:30 Early AMMs as an entry into crypto05:44 Stablecoins and yield 07:35 20% onchain yield on Superform: is it sustainable?11:03 Web3 tech with Web2 functionality 13:23 Automation in stablecoin yield15:51 The GENIUS Act’s effects on the crypto ecosystem17:30 GENIUS and decentralization21:20 The importance of demand in ideating crypto products22:55 Circle, Stripe, Paypal, and public sentiment towards stablecoins24:27 Interest rates hold steady, what’s the impact on crypto?26:40 Speculation and the memecoin resurgence30:00 Yield-generating assets and age demographics32:05 Integrating wealth building into people’s mindsets with DeFi33:45 The next phase of onchain yield36:25 Will this innovation be enough to defeat crypto’s bad reputation?37:48 Crypto’s rising tide into TradFi and daily life39:55 NFTs in the next DeFi summer41:48 Advice for people who want to start earning yield43:00 Lightning round!43:55 Closing remarks

What happens when traditional finance and decentralized finance collide? Join us in this insightful interview with Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, as we explore the firm’s groundbreaking crypto experiments, DeFi-enabled opportunities, and the future of tokenized money market funds. Key Topics Covered Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund How evolving crypto infrastructure is reshaping TradFi New TradFi products enabled by crypto Tokenization vs. stablecoins Supply chain and enterprise resource management powered by DeFi Regulation, obstacles, and the merging of TradFi and DeFi Get a front-row seat to how one of the world’s leading financial institutions is driving innovation in the space.Chapters:00:00 Defiant Intro01:04 Introduction to Sandy Kaul, Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton06:56 Franklin Templeton experimenting with crypto to save costs08:11 Franklin Templeton’s onchain money market fund09:26 Evolving crypto infrastructure from 2019 to today11:42 What do institutions look for when planning to launch a product onchain?13:41 Choosing blockchains based on use cases16:15 Three new TradFi offerings enabled by crypto19:56 Additional applications for DeFi: supply chain management21:56 Additional applications for DeFi: enterprise resource management systems22:49 Tokenized money market funds vs. stablecoins25:11 Product bundles and asset classes28:31 Obstacles to offering more crypto products31:26 What clarity are you looking to regulation for?34:16 Complex DeFi products being accepted in TradFi 35:13 DeFi and TradFi need to support one another37:04 Regulation will open up new pools of assets and value 38:56 What will the merging of TradFi and crypto look like?41:10 Will the back of house for these firms move onchain?42:55 Consumer demand for crypto products47:15 Payments outside of fiat48:34 Incorporating crypto into Franklin Templeton model portfolios50:35 What is the demand for current crypto offerings?54:30 What does success look like for Franklin Templeton?55:30 Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Defiant Podcast, Vinny speaks with Alex Estorick, Editor in Chief of Right Click Save, about the evolving landscape of NFTs and digital art. They discuss the convergence of art and technology, the financialization of culture, and the role of artists in a world where art and finance are increasingly intertwined. The conversation also touches on the emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts, the diversity within the crypto community, and the challenges artists face regarding royalties in the NFT space. Highlights of this episode include:The convergence of art and technology The emergence of meme coins as cultural artifacts Diversity and challenges within the crypto and NFT space Opportunities for artists in DeFi and Web3 The role of AI, tokenized data, and decentralized ownership in the future. 00:00 Episode Intro03:08 Introduction to Alex Estorick and the NFT Revolution04:55 Financialization of Art and Culture08:37 The Role of Artists in a Financialized World12:13 Cultural Moments and Meme Coins15:38 Diversity of Habits and Politics in the Crypto Community17:40 Takeaways from Conversations at NFC19:10 Is the Battle for Blockchain Dominance Necessary?20:25 Renewed Bullishness on Ethereum22:45 Reactions to the Debate Around Royalties28:30 The Evolution of Value in Digital Art30:20 Exploring DeFi Opportunities for Artists35:35 The Intersection of Crypto and AI37:25 Tokenizing Personal Data and Personhood42:01 Decentralized AI and Data Ownership45:05 The Future of Crypto in a Dystopian Landscape48:15 Navigating the Complexities of Web3 and Digital Economy50:15 Closing Remarks