S4E36 Fifth Era: Investing in Blockchain in 2026 (w. Mitch Mechegian)

2026 is the 'Year of Institutions' for Blockchain & Crypto. But who will lead the adoption, and more importantly who will 'win' in this new era?📃 Iggy has the perfect CV for this discussion: a former Wall Street MD, head of VC at Polygon Labs, and now CIO and tokenisation tech company TheoIn this show we'll discuss:- Iggy's background and transition from TradFi to Web3 (and back)- Tokenisation Tech 101- Current trends and imperatives in Institutional Adoption- What infrastructure is needed next, and who will the 'winners' be- Predictions for tokenisation and Web3 adoption in 2026

You can't deny the influence and appeal of AI right now. What the Action Model team have built is something remarkable. And you'll want to learn more if you're into crypto, build blockchain apps, or are a traditional business...AI is transforming the way we automate and conduct our daily (and business) activities. But we're still sharing our personal data or opinions in exchange for chatbot responses most of the time..The Action Model has combined a way for users to earn rewards from training AI models based on their ACTIONS (how they use apps and websites), build workflows for their most-used activities (a la ClaudeBot) and can drive Bottom of the Funnel impact for businesses or apps looking for usersIn this show we talk about:- The difference between LLMs and Large Action Models- How democratising AI works in practice- Common use cases for the Action Model- ActionFi: a better replacement for InfoFi- How to get early access to the Action Model

What are the 'professionals' investing in this year, and how do you drive success from investments in Blockchain and Crypto startups?These are important questions for VCs, for individuals, and for Web3 as an industry as we move deeper into the 'era of institutions'Mitch brings significant experience investing in innovative technology companies and Blockchain ecosystems. On this show, we discuss:1. Mitch's Background & Web3 Journey 2. An Intro to Fifth Era & Blockchain Coinvestors 3. His Current Investment Thesis for 2026 4. What Makes a Successful Investment 5. What More is Needed For Wider Web3 Adoption

It's the first show of 2026, and we're kicking off with things we all care about. Staking rewards, institutional impact, and predictions for the year ahead. Andrew has been on both sides of the Web3 fence and brings deep insight to the table.So 2025 wasn't the year many of us hoped for, but what can we expect in 2026? Andrew will help us break down the state of current institutional adoption of Blockchain and Crypto, where staking rewards and institutional-level staking can change the yield game in future, and some predictions for 2026.On this show, we discuss:1. Andrew’s journey from AML and JP Morgan into Web32. An Introduction to Twinstake3. Current state of institutional interest in crypto, digital assets and staking4. What more is needed for wider adoption of staking and digital asset investing 5. Top 3 predictions for 2026

Wallets are where the value is, where users transact, and where we can link intent and action. So why is everyone sleeping on Web3 wallets?Following a 'charmed' panel performance at Zebu Live, Mo and I reconnect to take you through the opportunities and challenges of engaging customers through Web3 wallets, and what's possible for brand and chains todayIn this show we cover:- Mo's diverse history in Web2 and what brought him to Web3- The current state of Web3 wallets and wallet UX- How 'easy' it is to track and target Web3 wallet users- Opportunities and implications for brands and marketeers- Privacy considerations for on-chain data trails

Many complain about the state of usability and user experience (UX) in Web3, and how it's hindering widespread adoption. But Michael argues, we've already solved these issues TODAY...Sequence has a fascinating history, from early days of Web3 Gaming to a modern, EVM-compatible, multi-chain dApp toolkit which is making life easier for builders and users alike. This is a story you need to hear.In this show we cover:- The fascinating Sequence origin story - Current state of the Ethereum and EVM ecosystem- What people mean by 'improving Web3 UX' (and how Sequence solves this)- Interoperability (making cross ETH, L2 and non-ETH chain transactions easy and secure)- What more is required for wider adoption of Web3 and decentralised apps

The institutions are coming! And they're currently driving the next wave of investment and growth in Web3. But what are they looking for in 2025, and how has the go-to-market offering changed for VCs as the industry matures? Mathias and CV VC have been one of the leading institutions driving forward Web3 adoption, first in Crypto Valley and today across the globe. From partnerships in the UAE, reach into LatAm and AsPac. The model today, as with Web3, is truly global.But it's not just capital that the CV team bring to the table. The business model has evolved a LOT since 2018, as has the competition, as TradFi, Exchanges and even wealthy OGs look to muscle in on traditional VC turf.On this show, Mathias will take us through: - The origins of CV VC and CV Labs - What's changed over the years in terms of thesis and offerings - What has the 2025 'Institutional Wave' brought from his viewpoint - What more is needed from VCs to support wider Web3 growth - A look forward to CV Summit in Zurich, Sept 23-24th

People with crypto are ready to pay. This is a call to action for businesses from the travel industry to real estate, from Forex to iGaming. There are 600 Million+ people holding cryptocurrency of some kind, and with EU crypto regulation MiCA comes fully into force, the Genius Bill and stable coin sentiment escalating in the USA; it’s only a matter of time before crypto payments become mainstream.And the good news is, there’s already a solution for businesses: a ‘one button click’ style crypto payments feature today.I’m joined by Max Krupyshev, leader of CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid - crypto payment gateway, which helps businesses plug into the global crypto economy: fast, secure, and friction-free. He believes that if you think crypto payments are still a thing of the future, you’re already behind, crypto users are no longer so niche.In this show we cover:- How many people with crypto are ready to pay and for what- What paying with crypto looks like for merchants- How IRL businesses really accept crypto - and why they do it- Merchant use cases: what they ask, what they fear, what makes them stay- How to address security, fraud, and fiat conversion- Any question you may have about payments, crypto or CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid

Cosmos has contributed a LOT to the Web3 space, and is going through a significant revival. It's time to dig deeper into this OG Blockchain ecosystem that has contributed so much to interoperability and cross-chain apps.If you're in Web3, you've probably heard of Cosmos. You've probably heard of Osmosis, and if you're vaguely technical you've probably heard of IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication protocol). But that's not where the story ends.The Cosmos ecosystem is smart, vibrant and determined. However, for many reasons (which we'll cover on this show) Cosmos hasn't received the recognition or escape velocity it perhaps deserves.On this LinkedIn Live, we meet Crypto Cito, one of the strongest and longest-serving advocates for the Cosmos ecosystem, so who better to give us the story of what was and what will be...In this show we cover:- Cosmos 101 (The tech and why it matters)- Cosmos 201 (The ecosystem and evolution of the community)- Use cases, builders and apps you should know- The roadmap - where next for Cosmos

Animoca Brands are one of the few groups in Web3 that have successfully moved and pivoted with the evolution of Web3. And we're going to learn what it takes to read and succeed in such a tumultuous industry...Yat Siu is one of the busiest, most travelled leaders in Web3. Through deep engagement with founders, investors and innovators all around the world, Yat can filter out what will succeed vs. what is just Crypto Fluff...On this podcast we cover:- The current Animoca Brands investment thesis- Why certain portfolio companies have succeeded of failed- The rise, fall and renovation of Web3 gaming- How to think about Digital Assets, and their many sub-categories- What more is needed to see wider adoption of Web3 technology