Layer One podcast

Layer One

The Block

The Layer One podcast, created in collaboration with Avalanche, features co-hosts Kelvin Sparks and John Wu as they unpack the real forces driving the crypto market forward. Through candid conversations with the industry’s true movers and shakers, the show delivers clear, grounded insights that cut through the noise.

20 Episodes

OpenTrade CEO cites bank lobby's $3 trillion deposit-flight warning
9/17/2026
21:02
The day after the Clarity Act stalled in the Senate, OpenTrade co-founder and CEO David Sutter argues that the fight over stablecoin yield is the clearest signal yet that his product works.Recorded at Avalanche Summit New York 2026, this Layer One conversation is about who captures the yield when dollars move on-chain, and why the bank lobby is worried.Chapters:0:00 Intro3:16 Clarity Act: no surprise it failed6:15 The bank lobby's deposit-flight warning7:56 Customers: fintechs serving emerging markets10:20 From yield to borrowing: vaults13:33 Eighteen months of DeFi integration14:24 A new chairman from Swift
Inside Ethena's new neobank built on AVAX
9/3/2026
43:59
Ethena Pay, the internet-money neobank from Ethena Labs, is live exclusively on Avalanche. Founder Guy Young sits down with Ava Labs’ John Nahas to walk through a consumer app built around three jobs — save, send, spend — on stablecoin rails, and why a dollar issuer at Ethena’s scale is launching the neobank itself rather than wrapping someone else’s card program.“I want to save money, I want to send money, and I want to spend money.”Young traces Ethena from on-chain DeFi distribution (Binance, Coinbase, Robinhood, BlackRock Aladdin) to a mobile app that owns the last mile. Nahas’s pitch for the chain underneath is invisible adoption: technology built for businesses, with a path from the C-Chain to an application-specific L1 if a partner outgrows shared blockspace. The tape also covers Avalanche Summit (September 16–17 in New York), RWA perps after TradeXYZ, credit receivables via Black Opal, and a public labs-to-foundation IP shift so equity cannot accrue value going forward.OUTLINE00:00 Open02:10 EthenaPay Overview03:10 Save, Send, Spend06:25 Why Avalanche09:04 Direct to Consumer13:20 Invisible Adoption18:00 No Ethena chain21:02 C-chain today24:54 EthenaPay versus other crypto neobanks27:46 Embedded finance36:06 RWA perps39:18 Black Opal42:00 Buybacks, Labs IP43:33 CloseGuests:Guy Young - Founder, Ethena LabsCo-host:John Nahas - Chief Business Officer, Ava LabsHost links:Kelvin Sparks - x.com/imyoungsparksThe Block - x.com/TheBlockCoLayer One is a podcast focused on the intersection of crypto and the real world, brought to you in collaboration with Avalanche. Nothing on this podcast is investment or financial advice. Always do your own research.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Avalanche Foundation Economists on Value Accrual Mechanisms | Layer One EP18
8/27/2026
52:47
Matias Antonio (Avalanche Foundation Chief Investment Officer, ex-World Bank, ex-IMF) and Eric Lu (Avalanche Foundation Lead Economist, PhD) have built GCP and GCI — blockchain analogues of GDP and GNI — because nobody could say what value actually runs on a chain, only what volume does.The harder half is capture: on every general-purpose L1, the value the chain makes possible does not flow through its token, and the fat-protocol thesis never explained why it should. Their answer is not taxation but a co-op — an incentive-compatible cut applications accept because protocol value is what secures them.OUTLINE00:00 - Cold open00:51 - Welcome: Avalanche's economists on the show01:50 - From the World Bank, the IMF, and a fund that blew up05:54 - GCP and GCI: measuring what a chain actually produces08:31 - Capture: why the value never reaches the token09:24 - Distribute: paying validators without inflation11:09 - The plain-English version: GDP, GNI and a very low tax rate12:37 - Output vs income, and what each costs to tax17:42 - Beyond transaction fees: dormant capital and the gas floor24:39 - The Ethereum staking-ratio fight, and who pays validators31:05 - A Laffer curve for a blockchain? Not a state — a co-op35:26 - Why economists, and why now46:16 - Twelve months out, and the network of networksGuests:Matias Antonio - Chief Investment Officer, Avalanche FoundationEric Lu - Lead Economist, Avalanche FoundationCo-host:John Wu - Senior Advisor, Ava LabsHost links:Kelvin Sparks - x.com/imyoungsparksThe Block - x.com/TheBlockCoLayer One is a podcast focused on the intersection of crypto and the real world, brought to you in collaboration with Avalanche. Nothing on this podcast is investment or financial advice. Always do your own research.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 https://www.theblock.co/newsletters--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 https://theblock.co/campus
Stani Kulechov on Aave V4, Avalanche, and why RWAs will hit $100 billion this year
7/15/2026
46:29
In Episode 17 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and Ava Labs President John Wu were joined by Aave Labs Founder Stani Kulechov, who explained how the protocol that processed over $3 trillion in deposits is pointing its infrastructure at tokenized real-world assets — starting with Aave V4's first non-Ethereum deployment on Avalanche and the Horizon securities market. He also breaks down GHO, the forthcoming consumer Aave App, and why he thinks RWAs will double to $100 billion by the end of 2026. OUTLINE00:00 - Introductions03:15 - Aave by the Numbers04:50 - V4 and Horizon06:26 - The Great Convergence11:11 - Why Avalanche18:19 - Killing the Prime Broker24:39 - Walled Gardens32:33 - The GHO Engine37:18 - The Aave App44:23 - $100B by 2026Guest links:Stani Kulechov - x.com/StaniKulechovAave - x.com/AaveHost links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
Why this Wall Street veteran is betting on Avalanche
7/9/2026
40:40
In Episode 16 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks is joined by Avalanche Treasury Company CEO Bart Smith. Bart explained the thesis behind treasury companies as a way to get regulated, permanent-capital exposure to AVAX and the Avalanche ecosystem. He also covers his Wall Street/ETF background, why real-world-asset tokenization needs "productive" assets to matter, and why he thinks crypto's investment thesis is stronger than ever. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:22 - What Is AVAT?03:59 - Wall Street Roots & Crypto's Rise06:19 - The Bitcoin ETF Bet08:58 - Hiring a COO11:13 - Why Own AVAT?15:56 - Scaling Avalanche & RWAs22:54 - DeFi, TradFi & AI Fears33:03 - Policy Risks & RWA Forecast40:08 - Closing ThoughtsGuest links:Bart Smith - https://twitter.com/gbartsmithAVAT - https://twitter.com/avat_coHost links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
Blockchain Capital’s Contrarian Bet on Crypto’s Next Decade
6/11/2026
52:16
In Episode 15 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Blockchain Capital General Partner Spencer Bogart. The conversation explores stablecoins, prediction markets, token value accrual, privacy, public versus private blockchains and why the most valuable crypto applications of the future may not even exist today.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction02:01 - Things That Don't Exist05:25 - Token Buybacks09:11 - Privacy Challenge11:06 - Regulation vs Privacy12:17 - Value Accrual Debate13:59 - Public vs Private Chains17:43 - The Great Repricing20:42 - Stablecoin Adoption28:06 - Prediction Markets45:18 - Crypto's Next OpportunityGuest links:Spencer Bogart - https://x.com/CremeDeLaCryptoBlockchain Capital - https://x.com/bcapHost links:Kelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuThe Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
Stablecoins Are Creating a New Financial System
5/28/2026
56:10
In Episode 14 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by OpenTrade CEO David Sutter and Mercury Partner Samantha Lewis to break down the rapid growth of stablecoins and why yield infrastructure could become one of the most important layers of the onchain financial economy.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:26 - Bitcoin Origins02:46 - Mercury’s Thesis06:09 - Stablecoins Win08:47 - Yield Infrastructure11:58 - OpenTrade’s Model20:59 - Stablecoin Adoption31:32 - Clarity Act38:07 - AI and Blockchain51:46 - Bear Market Builders55:31 - Closing ThoughtsGuest links:David Sutter - https://x.com/btc_daveSamantha Lewis - https://x.com/sjolewisOpenTrade - https://x.com/opentrade_ioMercury - https://x.com/mercuryfundHost links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
Dinari’s Anna Wroblewska on Bringing US Stocks Onchain
5/11/2026
54:06
In Episode 13 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Anna Wroblewska, Chief Business Officer at Dinari, to break down how tokenized equities are expanding access to U.S. capital markets globally.She explains Dinari’s custodial model, how liquidity is sourced across traditional and onchain markets, and why infrastructure, not speculation, is the real unlock.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:32 - What Dinari Is03:21 - Institutions Arrive06:01 - Tokenized Trades08:38 - 24/7 Markets13:24 - Why B2B Rails16:18 - Regulation and Access24:31 - Global Investor Demand30:29 - S&P Digital Index47:54 - DeFi and CollateralGuest links:Anna Wroblewska - https://x.com/annabelleactaDinari - https://x.com/DinariGlobalHost links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
How Tassat and Lynq Are Rebuilding Financial Infrastructure
4/29/2026
49:44
After appearing in recent episodes, Ava Labs President John Wu officially joins Layer One as co-host. 🥳In Episode 12, he joins Kelvin Sparks alongside Andre Frank, COO of Tassat, and Jerald David, CEO of Lynq, to discuss how Tassat and Lynq are rebuilding financial infrastructure with real-time settlement and yield-bearing assets on Avalanche.The conversation covers the shift from legacy banking rails to always-on blockchain systems, capital efficiency through “yield in transit,” and the growing demand from institutions for compliant, risk-managed solutions. OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:38 - Tassat Background03:37 - What Lynq Is05:55 - Episode Overview06:42 - Avalanche Migration08:48 - Why Avalanche10:57 - Institutional Adoption17:15 - Regulation and Compliance25:23 - Yield in Transit36:59 - Real-World Use CasesGuest links:Andre Frank - / andre-frank Tassat - https://x.com/tassatgroupJerald David - / jerald-david Lynq - https://x.com/Lynq_NetworkHost links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠The Block - https://x.com/TheBlockCoAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabsAvalanche - https://x.com/avax---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus
Inside Bitwise’s Avalanche ETP and Institutional Strategy with Matt Hougan
4/20/2026
43:30
In Episode 11 of Layer One, The Block’s Kelvin Sparks and special co-host Ava Labs President John Wu are joined by Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, to discuss the launch of the Avalanche ETP and how institutional investors are approaching crypto exposure.He breaks down the rapid expansion of tokenized real-world assets, the role of ETFs in onboarding capital, and why this cycle may differ from previous ones.OUTLINE00:00 - Introduction01:40 - Avalanche ETP Overview02:45 - ETF Differentiation04:34 - Staking and Yield06:19 - Institutional Strategy09:04 - Competing L1 Models14:22 - Bitcoin Price Thesis18:49 - Dual Market Narratives21:57 - Institutional Capital Flows30:02 - AI and Crypto FutureGuest links:Matt Hougan - https://x.com/Matt_HouganBitwise - https://x.com/BitwiseAva Labs - https://x.com/avalabsHost links:John Wu - ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/John1wuKelvin Sparks - https://x.com/imyoungsparks⁠⁠⁠ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to The Block's Newsletters!🚨 Breaking News👨‍🔬 Expert Analysis📈 Market InsightsSubscribe now 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://www.theblock.co/newsletters⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hiring in crypto?🧠 Find top talent fast with Campus, powered by The Block!✅ Challenge candidates with our Crypto Assessment Test⚡ Hire faster, build stronger teamsStart your free trial today 👉 ⁠⁠⁠https://theblock.co/campus

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