425: Product Market Fit: The Human Psychology Behind Billion-Dollar Growth with Guest Speaker Denis Soldatenko from Humea

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Denis from Humea , a product and research company that has catalyzed over $1 billion in ARR for their clients. We go deep on what it actually takes to achieve product market fit, and why most founders are looking in completely the wrong direction. Denis brings a rare dual background in physics and psychology, and he uses it to reveal how human behavior , not technology , is the real driver behind whether a product succeeds or dies. We talk about why Web3 is uniquely challenging because money arrives before product market fit, the hidden psychology of why founders resist pivoting, how Doordash generated over $300 million in additional revenue through better user understanding, what blockchain banks must do to win trust, and why simplifying your message for non-technical decision makers might be the most valuable thing you do this year. Whether you are building in DeFi, fintech, AI, or SaaS, the principles Denis shares here are universal and immediately actionable. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Humea Website: https://humea.com/Humea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humeaWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Humea has catalyzed over $1 billion ARR for clients across fintech, banking, and infrastructure• [02:49] Denis explains his dual background in physics and psychology and how it shapes his approach to product research• [05:57] The difference between output and outcome , and why measuring the wrong thing gives you false positive data• [08:54] Why working with an agency should always start with a friendly conversation to find genuine alignment before any contract• [14:13] In Web3, money comes before product market fit , the complete opposite of the Web2 world• [17:42] The IKEA effect and sunk cost fallacy explain why founders get emotionally attached and resist pivoting• [23:08] Why mid-stage startups throw money at ads instead of fixing the underlying product and customer understanding• [28:24] Doordash case study , course correcting the user journey generated over $300 million in additional annual revenue• [31:45] Blockchain banking case study , turning a deeply negative NPS into a positive one through empathy-driven research• [33:20] The four things users want from banking: returns, versatility, problem solving for their segment, and trust• [34:04] Trust in crypto products is not about gaining confidence , it is about removing doubt• [38:19] Why human-crafted content creates energy and connection that AI-generated content currently cannot replicate• [43:58] Even in cutting-edge Web3, all major deals are still done human to human the old-fashioned way• [45:24] Most B2B decision makers are not technical , your communication strategy needs to reach non-technical buyers• [47:30] Polygon CDK dashboard case study , a brilliant engineer could not explain the interface to a colleague in another department

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Rafsun, founder of Sahaj Mobile, at Money2020 to unpack one of the most exciting fintech stories I've come across in a long time. Rafsun went from managing billions in asset-backed securities at Guggenheim to building a phone financing company in Bangladesh , a market that has been starved for credit for decades. With over 58,000 customers and millions deployed entirely from their own capital, Sahaj Mobile is proving that emerging markets can outperform the West on default rates. We dig into how they used merchants, OEMs like Samsung and Xiaomi, and TikTok influencers to scale fast, how AI powers everything from fraud detection to Bengali-language customer service, and where they are headed next , including a fascinating cross-border financing model for South Asian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. If you are a founder or investor looking at where the real opportunities are, this conversation is one you cannot afford to miss. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Sahaj Mobile Website: https://www.sahajmobile.org/Sahaj Mobile LinedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sahajmobile/home/Sahaj Mobile Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SahajMobileBDWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Rafsun introduces Sahaj Mobile's core model , financing phones in Bangladesh with no credit score required• [01:00] Sam introduces the episode and explains why Sahaj Mobile stands out among fintech startups• [03:03] Rafsun's background: UC Berkeley, Kiavi (acquired by Figure), and managing $10B in ABS at Guggenheim• [05:24] How Sahaj Mobile works: down payment, device locking, and repayment via bKash and Nagad wallets• [06:16] Growth story: from a 100-phone pilot to 58,000+ customers since launching in 2024• [07:09] How they got initial traction: partnering with merchants, then OEMs like Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi• [08:57] TikTok influencers and social media as a key growth channel in Bangladesh• [12:07] How AI runs 24/7 , from loss reserve calculations to NDA reviews , augmenting Rafsun's workflow• [13:30] AI in underwriting: ID fraud detection, face matching, and machine learning on alternative data• [14:55] AI-powered customer service responding in Bengali using voice models and Hugging Face• [16:49] HeyGen for AI-generated marketing videos , cutting production time to under 30 minutes• [20:18] The SaaS and legal disruption debate , and why AI tools are actually creating more lawyer work, not less• [27:44] Fundraising update: Series A equity round with a lead investor and a separate debt round from an emerging market credit fund• [29:06] Expansion into MENA: financing phones in Bangladesh for migrant workers paying from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Malaysia• [30:06] Next product: the Sahaj wallet with EMI discount incentives for customers who pay through it

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Todd Ault III, founder of Ault.com, a man with 37 years in traditional finance who has seen the future , and it is fully tokenized. Todd walks me through how Ault Markets is being built as a Bloomberg-style platform for Web3, why he borrowed $50 million in DeFi in 20 minutes on Morpho, and why he believes every stock, bond, piece of real estate, and commodity will eventually trade on Web3 rails. We get into stable coins, the dominance of the US dollar, why AI is creating jobs not killing them, and what founders can do right now to tokenize their assets on Ault's platform. If you want to understand where institutional finance meets blockchain, this episode is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Ault Website: https://ault.com/Todd Ault Twitter/X: https://x.com/ToddAultIII?lang=enTodd Ault LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miltontoddault/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Todd Ault III and frames the episode around tokenization and the RWA space• [00:56] Todd shares his 37-year background in traditional finance and how he discovered Bitcoin around 2011• [02:35] Why TradFi won't disappear overnight , Todd compares the shift to a generational standard-of-care change in healthcare• [03:34] Ault Markets explained: a Bloomberg-style Web3 platform with a DEX, lending, staking, tokenized stocks, commodities, and more• [05:28] How Ault integrates with DeFi Capital Markets, Universal Mint tokenization platform, and the Only Bulls wallet via Privy• [06:50] Why stablecoins are still massively underutilized and what gets tokenized next , stocks, commodities, and eventually real estate• [10:00] Todd's real-world DeFi story: borrowing $50 million against Bitcoin on Morpho in 20 minutes• [12:25] Why Todd built Ault's own blockchain after being debanked 10 times in the US for Bitcoin mining• [13:33] Bitcoin Max explained: trading Bitcoin down to the Satoshi level, denominated via a Swiss-based trust• [14:06] The 98% US dollar dominance in stablecoins vs 55% in fiat , and why Todd sees dollar dominance continuing• [17:25] How Ault uses AI for financial modeling, market making, staff accountability, and an integrated AI layer in Ault Markets• [20:10] Sam shares how AI is actually increasing workloads for lawyers and why history shows tech creates more jobs than it destroys• [23:38] Todd's goal to tokenize 100,000 assets over 10 years and grow TVL to $100 billion• [26:28] How founders can use Ault right now to tokenize securities, raise capital, and list on the DEX• [28:28] North Star metric: growing TVL, with 97–99% of all protocol revenue used to buy back the Ault token daily on a TWAP• [29:50] Todd's key asks: traders, founders wanting to tokenize, and hiring in tokenization , contact [email protected]• [33:15] Todd highlights Holiday as a standout payments innovation backed by Andreessen Horowitz• [34:36] Ault's hybrid private equity arm: owning and planning to tokenize hotels, a crane company, and other hard assets

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Jia Hang from DCS Group, a payments veteran with over two decades of experience at China UnionPay and Alipay, to explore how stablecoins are quietly revolutionising the way the world pays. Jia walks me through why the traditional card and mobile payment waves are giving way to a stablecoin-powered third wave, how DCS is acting as a Web 2.5 bridge so consumers can spend stablecoins at any merchant without the merchant needing to change a thing, and what it really takes to build trust on both sides of that equation. We also dig into the macro battle for stablecoin dominance, whether the US dollar will tighten its grip or lose ground to other currencies, and what the developing world's rapid adoption of stablecoins means for financial sovereignty. If you work in fintech, payments, or crypto infrastructure, this episode is packed with hard-won insights from someone who has built global payment networks from the ground up. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT DCS Website: https://www.dcsfintech.com/ DCS LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dcsccJia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hang-jia-81a83a234/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Jia Hang from DCS Group and his background spanning UnionPay and Alipay• [01:27] Jia's journey: from computer engineer to 9 years at China UnionPay building the Americas market• [03:05] Why Jia left Alipay after 10 years and stepped into the stablecoin payments world• [04:43] Why the global south leads on payment innovation , infrastructure gaps drove QR code adoption• [10:43] The three waves of payments: card, mobile, and now stablecoins , and why stablecoins merge information flow and fund flow• [14:23] How DCS focuses on C2B (consumer-to-merchant) stablecoin payments, not just B2B cross-border• [17:02] How the merchant experience stays unchanged , they still receive local fiat, DCS handles the stablecoin conversion• [20:39] DCS as a Web 2.5 bridge: connected to Web3 on the consumer side, Web2 on the merchant side• [22:27] The chicken-and-egg challenge , and why merchant-side adoption is harder than consumer-side• [25:44] DCS's Visa-backed stablecoin card: live in 9 countries, expanding to 70+• [28:10] What sets the DCS card apart: banking licence in Singapore, physical and metal cards, credit functionality, and Visa rewards• [33:12] The macro stablecoin currency war: will USD dominance in stablecoins exceed its fiat dominance?• [35:32] Jia's belief that all currencies will eventually become stablecoins , and what that means for smaller nations• [39:03] DCS's roadmap: auto-debit, subscription payments, smart contract-powered UX that feels like Web2• [42:07] Closing thoughts and preview of Token2049

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs, a fascinating builder who has worked across NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism before landing at the intersection of crypto, stocks, prediction markets, and AI. We dig into why Gen Z is financially nihilistic right now and why that actually creates a massive opportunity. Smit breaks down the concept of hyper-financialization, explains why retaining Gen Z users is far harder than acquiring them, and shares the raw growth lessons he picked up at big tech and in the trenches of a Layer 2 ecosystem. We also talk about what most Web3 founders get wrong, why bad UX has been the industry's dirty secret for too long, and how Cronos is building an everything trading app for eight tier one markets around the world. If you are building in Web3 or crypto and want a no-BS growth perspective from someone who has seen it all, this one is for you. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Cronos Website: https://cronos.com/Cronos App on X/Twitter: https://x.com/CronosAppCronos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getcronos/Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs and previews the episode themes• [01:55] Smit's background: growing up in the Bay Area, engineering at Cal, early Bitcoin experience selling video game gold• [03:30] Working at Optimism, building blockchain infrastructure for Coinbase, Kraken, Sony and others• [04:17] Why bear markets are the best time to build and how to filter signal from noise• [04:43] Introducing the concept of hyper-financialization and what it means for the next generation• [06:10] Why Cronos is not just an everything app for everyone , eight tier one markets and the Gen Z focus• [08:13] Why Gen Z is financially nihilistic and how that shapes product thinking• [11:25] Prediction markets as exhibit A of hyper-financialization, and a nod to Kalshi and Polymarket• [14:02] Onboarding is easy for Gen Z , retention is the real challenge• [15:53] Growth lessons from NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism applied to Cronos• [18:07] The single most important lesson for early-stage Web3 founders• [21:28] How to retain users and why being unopinionated about your own product is a superpower• [24:40] September 17th launch date for the Cronos app V1 , sports, stocks, perps, crypto, and more• [27:25] Products Smit admires: FOMO, Polymarket, and Tempo• [29:00] Partnerships with Polymarket, Hyperliquid, Morpho, and Chainlink• [30:39] The one ask: download the app, give feedback, and follow @CronosApp on X

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sit down with Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, the world's first crypto tax platform founded all the way back in 2012 when Bitcoin was under $100. We dig into how they bootstrapped their way to 2.2 million users, why authentic education beats paid placements every time, and how they're navigating AI in a space where a single wrong number could land you in trouble with the IRS. Berken shares what channels are actually moving the needle, why they turned down the idea of launching their own token, and what their upcoming MCP integration means for connecting your Claude or ChatGPT directly to your tax data. Whether you're a crypto trader trying to avoid overpaying taxes, a founder looking for growth lessons, or someone curious about how a SaaS company stays relevant in a fast-moving space, this episode is packed with practical insights. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT CoinTracking Website: https://cointracking.info/ CoinTracking Twitter/X:https://x.com/Coin_Tracking Berken LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berken-mengesWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Berken, CMO of CoinTracking, and frames the episode around crypto taxes, AI, and startup growth• [02:12] Berken shares his journey from personal crypto investor in 2019 to CMO, starting as an affiliate marketing manager• [03:56] CoinTracking overview: 2.2 million users, 400+ exchange integrations, portfolio tracking and one-click tax reports• [06:32] CoinTracking was the world's first crypto tax tool, founded in 2012 by Dario Kachel who built it for himself• [08:00] The bootstrapped, organic growth story: users gave feedback, helped translate, and shaped the product over 13 years• [10:20] Sam and Berken discuss how fragmented the crypto landscape is across DeFi wallets, CEXs, and blockchains• [13:11] Why CoinTracking is a SaaS and not a crypto asset service provider, and how that makes compliance and partnerships simpler• [14:58] How CoinTracking is approaching AI: an MCP integration coming soon to connect Claude or ChatGPT to your tax data• [17:27] Why they are not allowing AI to edit tax data yet , reproducibility and accuracy are non-negotiable for tax filings• [21:43] Berken's biggest CMO challenge: navigating daily shifts in regulation, exchange strategies, and market conditions• [23:07] Business model breakdown: mostly B2C, but growing B2B with CPAs, funds, and a new white-label solution for exchanges• [24:18] North star metrics: user growth and retention, with a focus on making CoinTracking a daily portfolio tool, not just a tax tool• [26:08] The most common mistake people make: filing taxes with missing wallets or transactions, which can result in overpaying• [29:08] What marketing channel works best: long-form YouTube content, authentic KOL partnerships, and connecting KOLs with CPAs• [34:58] CoinTracking has been profitable since day one and is not looking for funding, but actively seeking exchange partnerships• [36:09] Why they decided against launching their own token: sentiment risk, distraction, and wrong-type user acquisition• [39:00] Sam draws a parallel to Xero's accountant-led growth strategy and how CoinTracking could follow a similar path

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Rick Thomas, co-CEO of OnRamper, to dig into a problem most crypto projects hit eventually: on-ramping is way more complicated than it looks. OnRamper aggregates over 30 on-ramping services into a single API and widget, giving wallets, exchanges, neo banks, and trading apps full global coverage without the headache of managing dozens of integrations. Rick breaks down why the on-ramp market is so fragmented, how their AI-powered routing algorithm maximises success rates across countries and payment methods, why KYC is still the biggest bottleneck in the space, and where the whole fiat-to-crypto journey is heading as TradFi and on-chain finance continue to merge. We also get into their identity layer product, the no-KYC card world and its risks, where we are in the current market cycle, and what OnRamper is building next. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT OnRamper Website: https://onramper.com/OnRamper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onramper/Rick Thomas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas/OnRamper Twitter/X: https://x.com/getonramper?s=21&t=GgYr5F_q7Jm-R2MfE-A6xAOnRamper Telegram: https://t.me/onramperstandardRick Thomas Twitter/X: https://x.com/RickTho16000125Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Introduction to Rick Thomas and OnRamper , aggregating 30+ on-ramps into one API and widget• [01:33] How Rick got into crypto in 2015 via a Moscow office full of Bitcoin mining rigs strapped to the ceiling• [04:19] The origin story of OnRamper , founder Thijs Maas was building a wallet, kept hitting on-ramp dead ends, and decided to build the aggregator instead• [06:24] Why the on-ramp market is so fragmented , licensing, regional requirements, fraud engines, KYC layers, and low barriers to entry• [08:09] OnRamper's B2B2C model , clients include TrustWallet, Exodus, Coinbase Wallet, Axiom, Pump.fun, gate.io, and more• [09:18] The rise of neo banks and card programs, and why aggregating card issuers is OnRamper's next big move• [13:44] KYC as the biggest unsolved bottleneck , and OnRamper's identity layer built in partnership with Sumsub• [15:10] The biggest mistake projects make when adding on-ramps , assuming one or two providers will be enough• [17:19] Customer success story: closing Solflare at a pizza-and-ping-pong side event at Breakpoint 2023• [19:18] How OnRamper's dual AI routing algorithm works , real-time routing across payment methods, countries, pricing, and historical success rates• [22:05] Why end-to-end success rates are the North Star metric , and how rates can plummet in markets like Indonesia without local payment methods• [24:21] Where fiat on-ramps are heading , consolidation, bank crypto integrations, virtual accounts, stablecoin rails, and card programs• [28:29] The no-KYC card world explained , how they work, the risks involved, and why compliance exposure falls entirely on the user• [32:49] OnRamper is still breaking volume and revenue records despite a broader bear market• [35:02] Biggest current challenge: an aggressive product roadmap and a need for more engineers• [37:27] Key asks , engineers near or open to Amsterdam, and projects still running single on-ramp integrations looking to upgrade

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Bobby from TEXITcoin, a man who has been manufacturing gold and silver coins since 2008, created the original physical Bitcoin coin in 2012, and testified before US Congress on crypto before most people had ever heard of it. In this episode, Bobby shares why he believes Bitcoin lost its original mission as peer-to-peer digital cash and became digital gold instead, and what he is doing about it. We dig into how he crowdfunded a community mining operation in his Texas garage, how TEXITcoin became the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet through merge mining, and why he is now building NectarPay, a zero-fee payment terminal network to get crypto accepted at real businesses. We also get into the big picture: the US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, Keynesian versus Austrian economics, Bitcoin retail adoption at a nine-year low, and what a Texas state securities case means for the future of TEXITcoin. This is one of the most grounded, no-nonsense conversations I have had about where honest money stands today and what it will take to get it into everyday hands. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT TEXITcoin Website: https://texitcoin.org/NectarPay: https://www.paymentsjournal.com/nectarpay-tests-demand-for-crypto-payments-among-texas-retailers/Twitter/X: https://x.com/texitcoinTEXITcoin news: https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/technology/202607291027PRIMZONEFULLFEED1001255026Mining network statistics: https://pool.honest.money/Legal case updates: https://texitcoin.org/legalWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Bobby from TEXITcoin and the mission to build the next generation of Bitcoin• [01:46] Bobby explains TEXITcoin as a Bitcoin redo, returning to Satoshi's original vision of fast, cheap, peer-to-peer digital cash• [02:47] Why TEXITcoin chose proof-of-work and layer one: Bobby's background in gold and silver coins and the value of physical, tangible infrastructure• [06:29] Bitcoin has become digital gold, not money , and that gap is exactly why TEXITcoin exists• [08:15] The difference between scarcity and utility: why a coin only has value when people can trade it for things• [11:04] Keynesian versus Austrian economics and the deflationary money debate: why saving can drive a healthy economy• [15:40] How banks and institutions took over Bitcoin conferences by 2017 and what was lost along the way• [19:25] The community-funded mining network in Texas: how Bobby went from a garage in McKinney to becoming the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet• [24:22] What merge mining is and how TEXITcoin mines Doge and Litecoin simultaneously to pay its electric bill• [29:49] NectarPay explained: a zero-fee crypto payment terminal targeting small businesses across Texas and beyond• [33:39] Why physical terminals matter more than QR codes: profit incentive, merchant simplicity, and NFC wearable compatibility• [36:35] The US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, where it is heading, and what history tells us about currency transitions• [39:52] Bitcoin retail adoption is at a nine-year low and why that is the core reason TEXITcoin exists• [42:47] The Texas State Securities Board case: why TEXITcoin is fighting back and what the outcome could mean for crypto regulation• [40:26] Bobby's ask: support crypto-friendly businesses, grab TXC on the open market, and follow the court case outcome in September

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Baron, a 20-year veteran of the oil and gas industry who started his career as a trader at Petronas and has spent decades working across crude oil, fuel oil, refined petroleum products, and derivatives. Baron is writing a book called The Litro Standard, and his thesis is fascinating: instead of anchoring money to gold or the US dollar, we should be anchoring digital finance to verified energy. We dig into how the current commodity settlement system is broken , why it takes 90 days to get paid for oil you sold today, why buyers never actually know the price they'll pay, and how tokenizing energy could compress that into an instant. We also get into the real-world oil market dynamics most people miss: why the Brent crude price hasn't exploded despite the Strait of Hormuz crisis, why China is the single biggest factor keeping oil below $100, and what would actually need to happen for oil to hit $130. This is one of those conversations where I genuinely felt like I was downloading years of insider knowledge in under an hour. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Baron LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baron-idriss-lamarre-00a390169/Baron Twitter/X: https://x.com/Baron_LamarreWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Baron and the Litro Standard , the idea of pegging digital money to verified energy instead of gold or the dollar• [02:00] Baron shares his background: 20 years in oil and gas, starting at Petronas in 2003 as an oil trader, covering crude, fuel oil, refined products, and derivatives• [03:53] What is the Litro Standard? Linking digital money to verified, audited energy , crude oil, natural gas, electricity , as collateral for settlement and trade• [05:17] Key benefits: energy-producing nations can anchor their currency to an asset they control, reducing dependence on the dollar• [08:20] How tokenizing oil in the ground works , buyers get direct access to producers, cutting out intermediaries• [10:13] The 90-day settlement problem: sell oil today, get paid in October , and the invoice price is not the price you agreed on• [13:52] The Strait of Hormuz problem and how the Litro Standard's location swap mechanism could reroute cargo through pooled reserves• [16:38] What is broken in today's financial system: trust is slow, costly, and politically fragile; Swift and correspondent banking have become geopolitical chokepoints• [20:20] The historical lesson people miss , monetary systems follow infrastructure revolutions, not the other way around• [25:35] Who really controls the oil price today: 80% is determined by financial markets and speculators, not producers• [27:01] Common misconceptions about the oil market , it is not as opaque or elite as people think, and refineries sometimes run at a loss just to keep operating• [30:43] Why Brent crude is still around $80 despite the Strait of Hormuz crisis , China's strategic reserve, alternative routes, and the $100 demand destruction threshold• [33:04] China as the buyer of last resort and how ADNOC leaving OPEC and joining the Shanghai Energy Exchange is reshaping price benchmarks• [38:33] Baron's boldest prediction: the next monetary revolution will not begin in central banks , it will begin in commodity markets, transaction by transaction• [40:27] Baron's ask: read the book, question assumptions, and join the conversation about the convergence of energy, technology, and money

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Joao Lobo, founder of Kute Wallet , a Bitcoin-only, non-custodial wallet built for the next generation of crypto users. Joao walks me through his journey from discovering Bitcoin on 4chan forums in 2013, to building a PIX-integrated wallet for Brazil, to now targeting the European market with a product designed to feel as simple as a banking app. We dig into what makes Kute different , from Lightning-powered Polymarket integration to upcoming Hyperliquid stock exposure and Morpho lending features , and why he believes the future of finance is a seamless blend of non-custodial crypto and traditional banking. We also get into the brutal reality of customer acquisition costs, why MetaMask and Phantom overwhelm new users, and the advice Joao has for any founder building in this space right now. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT Kute Wallet Website: https://kutewallet.com/Twitter/X: https://x.com/kutewalletInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kutewallet?igsh=azVtbmc5NDQ5b3Zx&utm_source=qrJoao Lobo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joao-pedro-miranda-0ba478a7/?locale=enWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces the episode and guest Joao Lobo, founder of Kute Wallet• [01:36] Joao's origin story: first hearing about Bitcoin on 4chan in 2013, buying in 2019, and eventually committing his career to crypto• [04:21] How Joao went from working at a gambling company to founding a Bitcoin wallet for Brazil (SAT Sales), then pivoting to Kute Wallet for Europe• [05:11] Why Joao integrated Polymarket directly into Kute via Lightning rather than building a competing prediction market• [08:06] What makes Kute Wallet different: Bitcoin-only, Lightning-powered, clean UI, and cross-chain swaps via Sideshift and Orchestra• [11:24] Upcoming features: Hyperliquid integration for ETFs and stocks, Morpho for USDC yield and Bitcoin-backed loans, and an in-app AI assistant called Sal• [13:40] The long-term vision: combining a non-custodial crypto wallet with a fiat bank account to close the full financial loop• [14:11] Target demographic: 18 to 30 year olds open to new financial technology and risk• [18:18] How Kute tackles complexity , using plain language instead of crypto jargon and an AI mascot to explain features in context• [22:18] The biggest challenge: customer acquisition costs rising rapidly across all software, and how founder-led community building is the counter-strategy• [26:18] The biggest misconception about crypto wallets: most people outside the space don't understand custodial versus non-custodial• [29:27] How stablecoins and blockchain rails are already powering global trade and payments, especially in emerging markets• [37:23] Technical architecture of Kute: BDK, Breeze for Lightning, Sideshift, Orchestra, and direct Polymarket and Hyperliquid integrations via private key• [40:08] Current stage: Android live, iOS App Store approval imminent, part of Antidot Bitcoin incubator in London, seed round targeting September close• [42:53] Joao's advice for founders: use AI tools aggressively now while they are subsidised, iterate fast, build a social presence, and make human connection your moat