The Charlie Shrem Show

What happens when you take the discipline of an Oxford-trained surgeon and apply it to crypto? You get Nic Roberts-Huntley, founder of Concrete and Glow, two of the fastest-growing DeFi protocols.In this episode, Nic and Charlie dive deep into the frameworks, philosophies, and practical decisions that turn ideas into billion-dollar realities. From early mornings at 4:30 AM to late-night calls across continents, Nic’s journey shows how rigor, kindness, and a surgeon’s precision can reshape digital finance.🔑 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeFrameworks that scale: How lessons from medicine and private equity apply to building DeFi products.Concrete & Glow explained: Institutional-grade yield tools and Solana’s first “margin-first” liquidity engine.Funding playbook: Why the best founders raise on milestones, not desperation.AI + blockchain: Are we building better AI with crypto, or crypto that powers better AI?Team building: The human capital edge — why your first hires define your destiny.Investor relations: Managing Polychain, VanEck, Tribe Capital, and more on your cap table without losing your sanity.Tokenization’s future: From side letters to employee incentives, why tokens are the new equity.Morning routines matter: How Nic structures his 4:30 AM wake-ups, workouts, and workdays to stay sharp.The acquisition story: How Jet Protocol became Glow, and why consolidation is a sign of DeFi’s maturity.🧭 Episode Highlights“**Never raise capital because you need the money. Only raise it because you deserve it.**” — Nic Roberts-HuntleyThe dangers of “vibe coding” in Solidity and how to protect users from liquidation risks.Why DeFi protocols live or die by trust — rugged users rarely return.How Glow is pioneering liquid restaking ($glowSOL) on Solana.The inside story of raising $17M+ and building with backers like Polychain, VanEck, and Portal Ventures.🎙️ About the GuestNic Roberts-Huntley is the founder of Blueprint Finance, the company behind Concrete and Glow. A former Oxford surgeon (MD, MBA) turned Point72 investor, Nic has built a reputation for bridging worlds — from the operating room to private equity to DeFi infrastructure.Concrete: Tokenized DeFi-native asset management and yield optimization on Ethereum (now with $650M+ TVL).Glow: Margin-first liquidity engine and liquid restaking on Solana, acquired from Jet Protocol.🔖 Tags / KeywordsDeFi, Concrete, Glow Finance, Solana, Ethereum, Yield Farming, Tokenization, Restaking, Venture Capital, Polychain, VanEck, Tribe Capital, Crypto Investing, AI + Blockchain, Startups Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

In this episode of The Charlie Shrem Show, Charlie sits down with Ian Farrar, a 30-year biohacker, longtime investor, and founding brand partner at Puriam, a direct-to-consumer superfood company. While the crypto space is full of financial innovation, Ian brings the focus back to the most valuable asset you have—your body.They dive deep into what it means to live a "superhuman" lifestyle, how modern diets are failing us, and why wealth without health is a ticking time bomb. Ian shares how green superfoods, gut microbiome balance, and small daily changes can radically transform your life—even if you’re not ready to go full health guru.Topics covered:🥬 Why every Bitcoiner should be thinking about alkalinity and cell charge🍌 How walking barefoot on the beach is better than most supplements📉 Why nutrient density in food has collapsed since the 1970s💊 The harsh truth about Big Pharma vs. lifestyle medicine🧠 How your mindset and gut health are directly connected🛑 Why most alkaline water products are BS (and what actually works)🌍 The case for local food as natural medicine—Colombia vs. the U.S.📱 EMF radiation, cell phones, and protecting your “Faraday bag” body🧪 Full-body scans, thermograms, and futuristic diagnosticsIan also explains the financial literacy parallels between long-term investing and long-term health: both require daily discipline, clarity of purpose, and an understanding of what's coming years down the line.🌿 Mentioned in the episode:Ian’s superfood site: ishopPURIAM.comDiscount code: IAN for $50 off or 25% offIan’s show: Superhuman on Nausik TVBook: Identity Is the New Money by David Birch (also mentioned in Ep. 446)🧘 Bonus:Listeners who use the code “IAN” can also get a free 30-minute lifestyle consultation with Ian. Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

In this episode of The Charlie Shrem Show, Charlie is joined by Michael Rihani, Head of Product at Coinbase, to talk about how Bitcoin is finally going mainstream—not just as an investment, but as a spendable, usable financial asset.Michael breaks down the launch of Coinbase’s new American Express-powered credit card, which gives users up to 4% back in Bitcoin on every purchase. Together, they explore what this means for the next generation of crypto adoption and why stablecoins, Lightning payments, and Bitcoin-backed loans are rapidly reshaping the financial stack.Topics covered:🪙 Why the Coinbase Amex card could be crypto’s iPhone moment⚡ The reality of using Bitcoin and Lightning at Steak & Shake📈 $500M in loan originations and the rise of Bitcoin-backed borrowing🌍 How stablecoins are rescuing families from hyperinflation💳 The behind-the-scenes story of working with American Express💡 “Identity is the new money” and the future of frictionless crypto payments🧠 Coinbase's internal X402 project and how it could reinvent internet-native payments🔒 Balancing privacy, identity, and usability in a decentralized futureMichael and Charlie don’t just nerd out on payment protocols—they get real about product-market fit, what crypto users actually want, and how we're moving from trading to real-world utility.📚 Mentioned in the episode:X402 ProtocolIdentity Is the New Money by David BirchCoinbase Credit Card Waitlist: coinbase.com/creditcard Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

During the darkest days of the last bear market, 5 years ago, I met my friend and guest @CJKonstantinos at The Green Flash in Florida. This guy is the definition of OG by doubling down and starting @peoplesreserve. He's creating Bitcoin-backed financial products that are reshaping the way we think about money.Tomorrow we are both speaking at BitcoinDay Tampa, which always has a way of keeping the culture alive! See you all there!Charlie Highlights:🔒 Bitcoin’s Unmatched Strength: Discover how Bitcoin's undilutable supply creates a truly pristine collateral asset, reshaping loans and financial security.🏡 Never Sell Your Bitcoin for Real Estate Again: CJ shares his unforgettable story of spending 100 Bitcoin on a house—and how @peoplesreserve now helps you secure your dream home without selling your BTC.📊 Smart Adjustable Interest Rates: Learn how adjustable interest rates prevent liquidation and turn Bitcoin volatility into your advantage.🚀 Cross-Collateral Revolution: Understand the groundbreaking combination of Bitcoin and real estate collateral introduced by @peoplesreserve, creating safer financial products.🌐 Redefining the Yield Curve: CJ explains how Bitcoin is creating a new "risk-free" borrower class, challenging traditional finance forever.Why Listen:Explore the future of finance through the lens of Bitcoin-backed mortgages and collateral, directly from one of crypto's boldest innovators. Charlie and CJ unpack how Bitcoin is rapidly becoming the safest, most reliable foundation for wealth preservation and growth.Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to The Charlie Shrem Show, your twice-weekly source for deep dives with crypto’s most visionary leaders.Guests & Social:CJ Konstantinos → @CJKonstantinosPeople's Reserve → @peoplesreserve Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

I've gotten to know Joey Rosati (@rosaticorp) over the last 3 years working alonside hime in the VC trenches of Druid Ventures. Let me tell you, the VC world is a funny place and there are gems if you know where to find them. Joey is one of them. He knows that behind every successful business, it's all about people. In today's epic episode, Joey joins me to dive into the "silver tsunami," the massive shift as baby boomers retire, handing off old-school businesses to a younger generation. We talk about buying real-world companies like Dock Builder Supply and Boat Storage, the magic and messiness of mixing traditional business with new tech, and why true success often means blending hustle with humility.Joey shares his own wild entrepreneurial journey—from scratch-off lottery chaos in Guatemala to investing in MLS soccer, and why he now loves "ugly," cash-flowing businesses. We get real about stress, purpose, and why hard money lending might just be the smartest investment out there.We also talk about his role in preserving Tampa's adult entertainment legacy by taking over the world-famous 2001 Odyssey and Mons Venus strip clubs. We explore how he's balancing modernization with tradition, ensuring these establishments continue to thrive in a changing landscape.Buckle up as we cover:The real opportunities behind "boomer businesses."Why software can't replace specialized trades.Managing stress, staying sane, and finding purpose.When (and how) to walk away from a bad deal.Joey's top investment advice for 2025.Connect with Joey on X: @rosaticorp Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: you can buy a house with your Bitcoin — without ever selling it.That’s the financial revolution Josip Rupena is building. He’s the founder and CEO of Milo, the fintech startup that’s already issued over $60 million in crypto mortgages — loans backed by your Bitcoin, not your bank account. And here’s the kicker: they’ve never issued a single margin call.In this episode, we break down how it works, what happens behind the scenes, and why this could be one of the most powerful wealth-generating tools in the Bitcoin ecosystem. We also talk about tokenizing mortgages, using AI to streamline lending, and the potential for a future where your Bitcoin unlocks real-world utility — like homes, yield, and financial freedom.This is a rare mix of macro insight, startup strategy, and a deep dive into how crypto is transforming the mortgage game.This episode contains strong language.📚 Mentioned:Milo Crypto Mortgage – www.milo.ioCustodians: Coinbase & BitGoBybit Hack (Largest Hack in History)Tokenized Mortgages & Yield ProductsReal Estate + Bitcoin as a Dual-Asset Lending ModelAI Tools in Underwriting and Client OnboardingUS Housing Inventory Trends (2024–2025)✉️ Feedback or guest ideas?Email Charlie directly and find episodes and transcripts at CharlieShrem.com Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

My buddy Chris Jenkins just got back from ETHDenver, and he’s buzzing about the convergence of crypto and AI.He’s the head of operations at the Pocket Network Foundation, and right now, they’re gearing up for their biggest protocol upgrade ever: Shannon. What they’re doing is wild — opening up full permissionless access to decentralized data, from blockchain RPC calls to AI models, Tor nodes, and everything in between.We talk about agentic systems, LLMs, censorship-resistant data delivery, and why the future of open infrastructure needs crypto tokens to work at all. We also get into what it takes to build B2B tools that feel like B2C, why content creators (like podcasters) should be thinking about data licensing, and why the days of centralized APIs and broken bridges may be numbered.This one’s nerdy, future-forward, and full of practical examples for how it’s all being built right now.This episode contains strong language.📚 Mentioned:Pocket Network Foundation – pokt.networkETHDenver 2025Shannon Upgrade (Pocket Network’s protocol upgrade)fly.pieter.com – Massive AI flight sim built with LLMsTornado Cash and Censorship ResistanceDecentralized RPC and Open Data InfrastructureDrag-and-Drop LLM Interfaces✉️ Thoughts? Guest suggestions?Email Charlie directly and find more episodes at CharlieShrem.com Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

Pete Rizzo Thinks We're Losing Bitcoin's History. I'm Helping Him Fix That.Pete Rizzo’s been called Bitcoin’s historian — and after this conversation, you’ll understand why.He’s spent the past few years diving deep into the stories, people, and drama that built Bitcoin from nothing into a global force. We talk about that work — the threads, the archives, the stories that never made it into the headlines — and how much of our history is already at risk of being forgotten.This one goes deep: early Mt. Gox days, the Silk Road fallout, Ross Ulbricht, Julian Assange, the Dragon’s Den Slack channel, Bitcoin IRC logs, and even a theory that maybe Satoshi was Julian himself. There’s a lot here — from serious analysis to our own untold stories.We also get personal: Rizzo opens up about why preserving this history became his mission, and I share how prison, books, and a Muslim roommate changed how I see the world — and Bitcoin.This episode contains strong language.Mentioned:Pete Rizzo’s “Bitcoin Legends” Twitter threadsThe Genesis Book by Jonathan BierThe Satoshi Affair by Andrew O’HaganAssange’s RubberHose encryption protocolBlockworks’ Supply Shock PodcastFollow Pete:Twitter/X: @pete_rizzo_Podcast: Supply ShockQuotes:"Bitcoin is the only asset where history actually matters — and yet we’re letting it disappear." "We treated Ross like a pariah. Now he’s a symbol. That didn’t happen overnight.""People think Bitcoin started with Satoshi. It didn’t. It started with the people who kept it alive after Satoshi left.""When I left prison, I was at zero — actually, below zero. But I came out with the most valuable thing: stories." Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

Welcome back, everyone! I sat down with my new friend Daniel Wedman, the head of special situations at Sopris Capital. We delved into a variety of topics, focusing on the dynamic world of Bitcoin and crypto investments, and the evolving landscape of capital markets.Daniel's Career JourneyDaniel shared his fascinating career trajectory, starting from his early days at Citigroup on a special situations team, to his roles at SL Green and Wheelock Street Capital. His journey into the crypto world began as a side hobby of mining Bitcoin, which eventually led him to join Galaxy Digital's Bitcoin mining team.Sopris Capital and Investment StrategiesAt Sopris Capital, Daniel initially joined to build out the real estate arm but soon found himself pitching innovative investment ideas to Andy Paul, the open-minded founder. One notable strategy involved an ASIC arbitrage, where they imported ASICs from Asia, mined Bitcoin while waiting for them to sell, and then sold them at a premium.Bitcoin ATMsWe discussed the lucrative business of Bitcoin ATMs, which Daniel stumbled upon through a meetup in New York. Sopris Capital started with 50 machines in Canada and expanded to 200 in the U.S., with plans for further growth. Daniel highlighted the strong cash-on-cash returns and the significant market potential, especially among the underbanked.Stranded Energy and Bitcoin MiningDaniel explained the concept of stranded energy and how Bitcoin mining can utilize cheap, otherwise wasted energy sources. He shared an example of a curtailed wind energy project in West Texas, where they built a data center to mine Bitcoin using cheap wind energy.Economic Shifts and Investment OpportunitiesWe touched on the broader economic shifts and how they create opportunities for agile and flexible investors. Daniel emphasized the importance of reading the tea leaves and understanding the second and third-order consequences of policies aimed at helping working-class Americans.Compliance and Industry MaturationThe conversation also covered the increasing compliance requirements in the Bitcoin ATM industry and how this is leading to consolidation, with smaller players being acquired or going dark. Daniel sees this as a positive development, signaling the maturation of the industry.Future of Energy and ComputeDaniel shared insights from his time at Galaxy Digital, emphasizing the critical role of energy in the future of digital networks and compute. He expressed optimism about breakthroughs in energy technology, which could unlock a new era of innovation.Closing ThoughtsIt was a pleasure having Daniel Wedman on the show. His deep knowledge and innovative approach to crypto investments provided valuable insights for our listeners. As always, major changes in the world present opportunities for those who are prepared to adapt and innovate.Thank you for tuning in to The Charlie Shrem Show. Stay tuned for more deep dives with influential leaders in the Bitcoin and crypto space. Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Flanagan, the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Maple Finance, a leading institutional lending platform in DeFi. With nearly $6 billion in loans issued, Maple is one of the few crypto companies bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi).We cover some of the biggest trends in crypto right now:The real value of tokenized assets and why tokenization alone isn’t enoughHow Maple built a transparent, institutional-grade lending market on-chainWhy crypto’s next big users won’t come from TradFi—but from meme coin traders evolving into DeFi investorsHow regulations are shifting in 2025 and what it means for institutional adoptionWhy DeFi UX is still broken—and how cross-chain strategies can fix itIf you're interested in real-world adoption, institutional DeFi, and where crypto finance is actually headed, this is an episode packed with insights from one of the builders making it happen.Key Takeaways:✅ Tokenization alone isn’t the game-changer—what matters is the new financial products that emerge from it.✅ Institutional-grade DeFi lending is here, but it’s still mostly crypto-native capital participating.✅ The next wave of DeFi adoption might come from meme coin traders learning how to deploy capital more effectively.✅ With regulatory uncertainty easing, crypto builders finally have the freedom to innovate at full speed.✅ Cross-chain user experience is still fragmented, but new infrastructure is emerging to unify ecosystems.Listen & Subscribe:🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts!Follow Us:📢 Follow me on Twitter (@CharlieShrem) for more insights, behind-the-scenes content, and updates! Thank you for listening to The Charlie Shrem Show. For more free content and access to over 400 episodes, visit www.CharlieShrem.com.