Unchained: Building the Future of Bitcoin Wealth with Joe Kelly

What is the future of Bitcoin wealth? This week on The Index, Alex Kehaya sits down with Joe Kelly, CEO of Unchained, to explore the rise of a Bitcoin-focused financial services company built on self-sovereignty.From pioneering Bitcoin-backed loans to securing over 100,000 BTC as a full-suite wealth management platform, Kelly shares how Unchained grew into a 140-person team while staying true to core Bitcoin values.At the heart of their model is collaborative custody. Unlike traditional custodians, Unchained’s multi-signature approach gives clients two keys, while the company holds just one—allowing access to loans and IRAs without giving up control. After the collapse of FTX, this model gained serious traction as a safer, more aligned alternative.Kelly opens up about balancing Bitcoin ideals with business realities, building products that satisfy both regulators and sovereignty-minded clients. The conversation also dives into Unchained’s Bitcoin IRA, which blends tax compliance with key control—something never before possible in retirement accounts.You’ll also hear about Unchained’s Legacy Project, which supports education, development, and philanthropy in the Bitcoin ecosystem. As ETFs and institutions move in, Unchained keeps its sights set on empowering individual holders to truly own their financial future.Learn more at https://www.unchained.com/Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What happens when traditional finance collides with decentralized networks? Hadley Stern, Chief Commercial Officer at Marinade Finance, takes us on a fascinating journey from his 18-year career at Fidelity Investments to the cutting edge of decentralized finance. Drawing from his pioneering experience leading Bitcoin initiatives as early as 2014, Hadley provides unique insights into why decentralized networks represent the future of global finance.The conversation explores the revolutionary convergence of traditional finance with blockchain technology. As tokenized equities begin trading on Solana through platforms like Superstate, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in market accessibility. Unlike previous attempts that merely tracked prices, these new offerings provide actual ownership with voting rights while enabling 24/7 global trading – a stark contrast to traditional exchanges' limited hours.Hadley articulates why this matters: "It comes back to this ethos of decentralization and the idea that networks, tools, software, things that we do every day that are currently handled by centralized entities can actually be handled by decentralized entities, and that's better for the world."The total addressable market for "internet capital markets" is staggering – potentially many trillions of dollars. With Solana processing more transaction volume than all other blockchains combined, Marinade Finance is strategically positioned at the center of this revolution as a staking provider for institutional players entering the space.The discussion also touches on fascinating technological parallels, including how AI and "vibe coding" are enabling developers to build applications that reach $100 million in revenue within months – a pace unimaginable even during the early internet boom.Whether you're an investor, builder, or simply curious about where finance is heading, this episode provides an illuminating roadmap to the future of capital markets. Subscribe to The Index Podcast for more conversations with visionaries shaping the next generation of technology and finance.Learn more at https://marinade.finance/Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What if blockchain networks could process transactions hundreds of times faster than they do today? This fundamental question led Austin Federa to leave his position at the Solana Foundation and co-found Double Zero, a revolutionary project building what might be the future of the internet itself.Austin reveals the surprising limitations of our current internet infrastructure that most people never consider. While engineers at Solana had built validator clients theoretically capable of processing a million transactions per second, the public internet simply couldn't support those speeds. Even more concerning, the entire internet is controlled by approximately 20 tier-one ISPs worldwide, creating both performance bottlenecks and potential censorship vulnerabilities.Double Zero's solution is breathtakingly ambitious yet practical: create a parallel infrastructure using dedicated fiber connections that enable direct routing between nodes. By September 2023, they had connected 50 different fiber links across 18 global locations, offering 20-100 times the bandwidth capacity of typical blockchain nodes. What makes this approach unique is the consortium model, bringing together 11 different companies to contribute existing fiber to the network rather than attempting to build this massive infrastructure alone.The economic innovations are equally fascinating. Austin explains "proof of utility," their novel reward system based on Shapley values that measures actual contribution to network performance. Unlike traditional cryptocurrency models, if you operate a fiber link that nobody uses, you earn nothing. This creates fierce competition to provide the fastest, most reliable connections.Perhaps most intriguing is Double Zero's long-term vision: eventually eliminating IP addresses entirely in favor of cryptographic routing. This would remove centralized intermediaries like certificate authorities and DNS servers, creating a more secure and truly decentralized internet infrastructure resistant to spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks.As traditional finance increasingly explores blockchain solutions, the demand for high-performance networks will only grow. Double Zero isn't just improving existing technology—it's rebuilding the internet from the ground up. Listen now to understand how this revolution might transform our digital infrastructure forever.Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What happens when one of crypto’s most prestigious investment firms decides to go all-in on Solana?In this episode of The Index Podcast, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Cosmo Jiang, General Partner at Pantera Capital, to unpack their groundbreaking move into the Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) space with HSDT Helios—a $500 million Solana-focused venture already making waves across the industry.Why Solana over other blockchains? Cosmo shares a refreshingly straightforward thesis, drawing on Jeff Bezos’ “holy trinity” of consumer wants: faster, cheaper, and more accessible. It’s this simple yet powerful framework that explains how Solana surged from generating $50,000 in revenue in 2020 to $1.4 billion in 2024—a growth curve impossible to ignore.Together, Alex and Cosmo dive deep into what makes Digital Asset Treasury companies work, why Solana-based DATs hold fundamental advantages over Bitcoin alternatives, and how these entities function more like sophisticated financial institutions. “These businesses look a lot like banks,” Cosmo explains. “If they can generate a return above their cost of capital, then they trade above book value.” It’s a lens that helps founders and investors alike understand why premier DATs command sustainable premiums.For founders and crypto investors, this conversation is a master class on the rapidly expanding $80B DAT landscape, from evaluating which companies might outperform to exploring how regulatory tailwinds are opening new possibilities for tokenized equity in DeFi.Want to understand the future of institutional crypto adoption and how Solana is positioning itself at the center of this revolution? This episode is your essential guide.🔗 Learn more at Helius ➡️ ✨Solana Company✨ - https://www.solanacompany.co/Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What does the future of Ethereum and blockchain really look like — a few massive chains, or thousands of specialized ones working together? This week, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Sam McIngvale, Head of Product at OP Labs, to explore the evolution of Optimism from an Ethereum scaling solution into the creator of an entire ecosystem powered by the OP Stack.Sam breaks down the idea of the “Superchain” and many others share both technology and revenue. It’s a model that combines customization with the security of shared, battle-tested infrastructure, creating a powerful network effect.You’ll also hear his take on enterprise adoption and the rise of what he cleverly calls “DeFi Mullets” — familiar, traditional-looking financial products with decentralized rails underneath. Sam explains why users often trust brands like Coinbase over abstract decentralization, while still stressing the need for “escape hatches” to protect blockchain’s core values.For builders in web3, this conversation offers a compelling vision: how institutions managing trillions could drive the next wave of adoption, and how enterprise solutions, better infrastructure, and interoperability are shaping that path.Ready to explore how open-source infrastructure is reshaping Ethereum and the broader blockchain landscape? Tune in and discover why the future may belong to those building bridges rather than walls between ecosystems.🔗 oplabs.coShow LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

The blockchain world is undergoing a fundamental shift. What once seemed possible—scaling Web3 to internet size with a single chain—is now recognized as unrealistic. The future belongs to specialized chains that excel at specific tasks while seamlessly communicating with one another.This week on The Index, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Mark Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs, to discuss the next chapter in open source development and explore how the Aggregation Layer is unlocking a new era of blockchain interoperability. Unlike traditional bridges that rely on wrapped assets, the Aggregation Layer leverages zero-knowledge proofs to verify chain states and enable secure cross-chain transactions—solving critical issues with settlement control and reorganization risks that have long plagued current solutions.Boiron also unpacks the rapid evolution of zero-knowledge development. What experts once predicted would take 5–10 years has already been achieved in just two, hinting at an even greater wave of breakthroughs to come—both within and beyond blockchain.Rather than framing chains as competitors, Boiron envisions an ecosystem of collaboration, where specialized networks focus on their strengths—whether payments, gaming, or DeFi—while remaining interconnected. Even chains often seen as rivals, like Solana, could eventually integrate into this unified experience as demand for cross-chain assets grows.Ready to rethink blockchain scaling and interoperability? Tune in now to discover why the next era of Web3 won’t be about competition between chains, but collaboration across them.Website: https://polygon.technology/Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

Is Wall Street Ready to Be Tokenized? In this episode of The Index, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Jim Hiltner, Co-founder of Superstate, to explore one of the most important questions in modern finance: Can we tokenize Wall Street? As the lines between traditional markets and blockchain continue to blur, Superstate is at the forefront of building a new kind of financial infrastructure and shaping the future of capital markets. Jim shares his journey from the back offices of Citibank to launching a fintech startup that’s helping companies bring their equity on-chain through Superstate’s flagship platform, Opening Bell. By allowing shareholders to hold real company stock directly in their blockchain wallets, Superstate is unlocking a future of 24/7 global market access, DeFi integration, and direct shareholder relationships.The regulatory landscape is shifting too. Superstate is working directly with the SEC and partners like the Solana Foundation to build compliant secondary markets where tokenized equities can trade on automated market makers. Companies like Upexi, Sol Strategies, and even tech leaders like Figma are exploring this frontier—because on-chain equity isn’t just a crypto experiment, it’s the future of capital markets.Beyond trading, these tokenized assets open up new models for engagement and innovation. Imagine shareholders earning special dividends for staking, or AI agents managing personalized portfolios in real time. This is more than a tech trend—it’s a reimagining of finance itself.Are you ready for the Internet Capital Markets revolution? With trillions in assets set to move on-chain, this episode is your front-row seat to the transformation already underway.🎧 Listen now and subscribe to The Index for more on Defi, AI, blockchain, and the future of the Internet. Website: https://superstate.com/X: https://x.com/superstatefundsShow LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What happens when a computer science PhD specializing in AI pivots to blockchain technology? For Radha Dasari, Lead Technical Advocate at the Web3 Foundation, it was a journey fueled by a mission to combat digital misinformation and bring fairness to the internet.In this eye-opening episode of The Index, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Radha to explore how Polkadot has evolved since its early days of parachain auctions. He breaks down the move to Agile Coretime—a major innovation that dramatically lowers entry barriers for developers while keeping Polkadot’s integrated security model intact. Unlike other multi-chain ecosystems where chain security varies, Polkadot’s validator shuffling ensures uniform security across all parachains—a true differentiator in the blockchain space.The most fascinating part of our discussion emerges at the intersection of AI and blockchain. Drawing from his academic background in artificial intelligence, Radha explains how deepfakes and digital misinformation pushed him toward seeing blockchain as an “anchor for truth.” He shares exciting developments in content authenticity solutions built on blockchain technology and introduces us to Jam Protocol—a Gavin Wood project creating a decentralized supercomputer capable of running programs indefinitely.Radha’s vision for Web3 goes far beyond financial applications—his passion lies in designing digital spaces rooted in fairness, authenticity, and trust.👉 If you’re a developer, researcher, or just someone fascinated by the intersection of AI and blockchain, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.Website: https://web3.foundation/Polkadot: https://polkadot.com/Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What happens when you combine addictive gameplay with blockchain technology? According to Rick Johanson and Dan Peng, Founding Partners at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, the answer isn't simply "add a token and hope for the best." Their refreshing approach prioritizes the core gameplay experience first, with blockchain features thoughtfully layered in only when they truly enhance the player experience.The gaming landscape is undergoing a profound transformation at the intersection of Web3 and artificial intelligence. As Dan Peng explains, "The core loop is ultimately what matters about a game, and then features built on top that offer benefits attached to crypto could make sense." This player-centric philosophy marks an evolution from earlier crypto gaming efforts that often prioritized tokenomics over fun.Where blockchain truly shines is in enabling verifiable user-created content, cross-game asset ownership, and new collaborative models between publishers and players. Meanwhile, AI tools are dramatically accelerating development cycles—what once took months or years can now be prototyped in days or even hours. Alex shares his experience vibe-coding an entire game prototype and viral marketing system in mere days using tools like Codex, demonstrating how these technologies are democratizing game development.This technological democratization creates what Rick Johanson calls "a window of opportunity where anyone, regardless of their technical proficiency, can turn ideas into action." Yet with this new power comes a surprising shift in competitive dynamics: "It's all go-to-market," Alex Kehaya notes, "Distribution is really the only thing that matters." As creation barriers fall, reaching and engaging users becomes the primary challenge.Arbitrum Gaming is addressing these evolving needs through their "Project Easy Mode" initiative, providing tailored support to different developer personas. Whether you're an established Web2 developer exploring blockchain or an indie creator pushing boundaries, their unconventional venture model offers flexibility and resources beyond mere funding.Curious about the future of gaming, AI, and blockchain? This conversation offers valuable insights for developers, investors, and players navigating this rapidly evolving landscape. The winners of tomorrow will be those who can harness these powerful tools while staying laser-focused on creating genuinely compelling player experiences.Arbitrum Gaming: https://arbitrum.io/X; https://x.com/arbitrumShow LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube

What happens when we can no longer trust the performance claims of AI model creators?That’s the challenge driving LayerLens, an innovative platform bringing transparency and practical evaluation to the rapidly evolving AI landscape.In this episode, host Alex Kehaya sits down with Archie Chaudhury, Co-founder of LayerLens, to explore how blockchain-powered benchmarking can cut through the hype and deliver verifiable, real-world AI performance metrics. Unlike traditional academic benchmarks focused on abstract intelligence scores, LayerLens enables practical evaluations that reflect the real use cases businesses care about.Archie explains how the platform’s integration with EigenLayer makes every step of the evaluation process transparent — every question, every answer, and whether the model got it right or wrong — removing the need to rely on self-reported claims from model creators.We also dig into LayerLens’ vision for democratizing benchmark creation, empowering subject matter experts across industries to design their own domain-specific evaluations. This community-driven model builds a diverse library of practical tests that can better reflect the complexity of real-world challenges.From decentralized evaluation to the broader “Open Intelligence” stack — decentralized data, compute, training, and inference — this conversation reveals how LayerLens is shaping the future of AI accountability at a critical moment in the technology’s evolution.Whether you’re building with AI, investing in the space, or simply curious about how we can trust the systems making decisions on our behalf, this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s really under the hood of your favorite AI models.🔗 Learn more: layerlens.ai | X (Twitter)Show LinksThe Index X ChannelYouTube