291: From TradFi to ZIGChain — RWAs, Private Credit & Building a Real Economy L1

Runwago wants to make running pay—without ponzinomics. Founder Martin explains how their SportsFi app lets everyday runners monetize realistic goals using a transparent “challenge pool” model: everyone joins a challenge, finishers get 100% of their stake back plus rewards funded by those who don’t finish. No shoe NFTs, no inflationary reward token.Timestamps[00:00] Opening & why SportsFi still matters[00:03] Martin’s crypto OG journey (since 2012)[00:05] The problem: 300M daily runners, almost zero monetization[00:08] The model: pooled challenges; finishers earn from non-finishers[00:11] Devices & anti-cheat: Garmin/Apple/WearOS integrations[00:16] App Store realities: compliance, custody, reviews[00:19] Tokenomics done differently (RUNWAGO ≠ reward token)[00:22] Fiat challenges, company revenue, future revenue-share to holders[00:25] GTM: Puma tie-ins, offline activations, club strategy[00:29] Community > celebrities; micro-KOLs and run clubs[00:36] What they’re hiring/raising/partnering for next[00:39] How to try the app + meet at Token2049Connecthttps://www.runwago.com/https://x.com/runwagohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-lepka-12b51120b/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Alex (ex-BMO investment banker turned founder) shares how Futr.network is flipping the ad/data model with AI agents that pay you for training them. We dig into why the Web2 barter economy (free services for your data) is collapsing, how zero-party data and a data supply chain can route value back to consumers and data contributors (think: mortgage brokers, lenders), and why agentic advertising will disrupt Google/Meta style targeting.Timestamps[00:00] “Time for a new data model” — agents that pay you for training data [00:01] Alex’s path: BMO (M&A → FIG → Digital Assets), fund, stables, now AI agents [00:03] What’s broken: Web2 barter system, cookies/pixels, hidden training sets [00:05] Futr.network: self-sovereign AI agent + incentives for data contributors [00:06] Mortgage example: underwriting pack → agent training → recurring royalties [00:09] Why prior “get paid for your data” failed; why now works (AI agents = $$) [00:15] KPIs: users, dollars on rails, brand demand for zero-party data[00:16] Beachhead: auto loans (optimize payments, save interest, set-and-forget) [00:18] Rails: bank links, credit/debit, embedded wallet, stablecoin payments [00:19] Next verticals: mortgages, student loans; beyond finance → life data [00:21] What most miss about AI: it ran Web2 behind the scenes for years [00:24] High-fidelity AI: no hallucinations when money moves; enterprise-grade stacks [00:28] AI × crypto: machine-speed decisions need machine-speed value settlement [00:30] Data supply chain (like music royalties) via blockchain micropayments [00:32] The disruption: agentic advertising eats digital ads in 3–5 years [00:33] The ask: brands & enterprises; network effects; just raised $5.1M; more to come [00:37] Beta access coming; train your agent, earn tokensConnecthttps://futrnetwork.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefutrcorporation/https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mcdougall-290b0b39/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Billy, founder of Intuition Systems (ex–VC/early crypto), digs into the biggest risk in AI: models trained on garbage, regurgitated data and algorithm-shaped behavior. We unpack how attestations, signed data, and web-of-trust reputation can give both humans and AI better intuition at decision time — from picking a chair to routing agentic AI across platforms.Timestamps[00:00] We’re being shaped by algorithms; slop-in → slop-out AI [00:02] Billy’s path: distributed systems, fintech, game bots, early Bitcoin [00:05] The problem: fragmented info (web + people’s heads) & costly context-switching [00:06] What Intuition is: structured expression + rediscovery + rewards [00:08] Attestations & incentives (economic + reputational) without spam [00:12] Can bots game it? Bonding curves, loss for bad signal, web-of-trust filters [00:18] Best content should win: TikTok-style merit + trust primitives [00:19] Use case #1: AI agents—personalization, agent reputation, platform reputation [00:22] Why these reputations must be decentralized (avoid platform capture) [00:23] GTM: unopinionated dev platform + opinionated apps to show PMF [00:24] Biggest challenges: focus, hitting PMF, AI acceleration outpacing products [00:27] Mission: give AI “intuition” via signed, attributed, reputational data [00:28] Reducing AI’s recursive slop problem; verifiable attribution with keys [00:30] Humans act differently per platform; algorithms distort expression [00:33] Call to action: build at the AI × Web3 trust layer; join the community [00:35] Layer Zero Ventures origins (people = Layer 0); why Intuition exists [00:37] Events: Korea Blockchain Week & Token 2049; Intuition side eventsConnecthttps://www.intuition.systems/https://www.linkedin.com/company/0xintuition/https://x.com/0xintuitionhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/william-luedtke-b0a3bb5a/https://x.com/0xbillyDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Patrick (Tracer Labs) breaks down Trust ID, a consent + identity layer that replaces cookie pop-ups with a portable, user-owned identity (and embedded wallet). We dig into how Tracer helps brands unify siloed data without storing PII, verify real humans amid AI traffic, and enable one-click privacy that travels site-to-site.Timestamps[00:00] AI = most traffic; attribution is broken [00:01] Intro — Patrick, Tracer Labs & Trust ID [00:02] Patrick’s crypto origin story & prior ventures [00:05] The problem: siloed brand data + compliance burden [00:06] What Trust ID does: consent + identity + embedded wallet [00:07] One-click wedge: spin up wallet, tokenize consent, no more cookies [00:09] Brands get real humans, no PII; users keep privacy & control [00:12] GDPR/CCPA costs; why a new US standard is needed[00:15] AI search & bot traffic: restoring pre-intent signal[00:18] Federated identity, modular plug-in, keep existing auth[00:19] Agentic “child IDs” w/ wallets & rule sets (Q1 roadmap)[00:20] KYC/KYB as commoditized credentials that travel with you [00:22] Live MVP; replacing legacy consent managers; early clients [00:24] Who’s adopting: cards, casinos, banks, travel; multi-brand SSO [00:25] Unifying loyalty & rewards across properties [00:26] Founder advice: talk to customers on day one [00:31] Digital identity misconceptions; why this time is different [00:33] Abstraction for users; less friction, fewer decisions[00:36] Vision: 0.5–1B users; cut spam; programmatic commerce [00:38] The ask: hiring devs; enterprise intros; $15M seed openConnecthttps://www.tracerlabs.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/tracerlabs/https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmoynihan1/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Jay from AxonDAO breaks down decentralized science in plain English: giving people ownership of health data, enabling ethical AI insights, and funding research via a governed community. We cover live use cases like A+Voice (voice biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s/dementia signals) and CureRING+CureOS (a data vault + wearable), plus how AxonDAO supports external researchers and projects (e.g., LymeDAO). Jay also shares a sharp playbook for storytelling, positioning, and growth in frontier tech—who to learn from, what to avoid, and how to keep product, narrative, and feedback loops tight.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — science x AI x Web3 [00:01:05] Jay’s path: SA banking → security → tech → crypto[00:02:40] What AxonDAO is (and isn’t): DeSci, data ownership, ethical AI, funding [00:03:35] Projects: A+Voice (voice biomarker analysis)[00:04:35] CureRING + CureOS: wearable + personal health data vault [00:05:45] How AxonDAO supports researchers (network, platform, milestone funding) [00:07:05] Why not start with hospitals/gov data? Design partners and product truth [00:08:20] The hard part of marketing DeSci; proving the model [00:09:35] Explaining DeSci to family: “the commons for science” [00:10:45] Selecting projects: societal value, acceleration potential, founder grit [00:12:05] Storytelling that converts: category, positioning, emotional resonance [00:13:20] Shout-outs: Myosin’s Simon Yi; Celestia’s Ekram Ahmed; BioProtocol [00:14:40] Three growth tips: talk to users; avoid shiny pivots; roadmap with feedback [00:16:50] Host’s advice: ask better questions; product > marketing > sales [00:18:10] Vision (2–3 yrs): self-sovereign health data; infra for global researchers [00:20:05] Challenges ahead: crowded wearables; agentic AI UX; controlled growth [00:21:05] The Ask: Series A opening; looking for ML/AI talent; links & contactConnecthttps://www.axondao.io/https://x.com/Axondaohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrod-frankel/https://x.com/jay_franks91DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Live from Bali at Coinfest and ZIGChain Connect, Abdul (co-founder, ZIGChain) shares how he went from Standard Chartered → early crypto investor → co-founder of Zignaly → now launching a purpose-built L1 focused on wealth generation and access for the Global South.We get into: why bootstrapping a chain (no massive grant spigot) can work, backing independent founders (10+ dApps at mainnet), and why private credit will be the next breakout RWA after stablecoins. Abdul explains DIFC fund tokenization, sustainable yields, and mixing TradFi discipline with Web3 velocity.Founders: don’t miss his notes on finance fluency, AI-first ops, and using your token as a product marketing door-opener.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Coinfest Bali & ZIGChain Connect[00:01:10] Abdul’s path: Pakistan → banking → Bitcoin → Zignaly → ZIGChain [00:03:30] Access gap in emerging markets; why build rails, not just apps [00:05:20] TradFi skills in Web3: how capital really moves[00:06:15] Why another chain? Purpose-built for investment/yields (not generic L1)[00:07:10] Bootstrapping vs grants; investing in external founders (10+ dApps at TGE) [00:08:40] Culture & team: 60 ppl / 14 countries; resilience across cycles [00:10:05] Founder advice: business-first decisions; know your numbers; AI for leverage [00:12:20] Roadmap: testnet → public mainnet; DIFC tokenization; first tokenized fund [00:13:40] Bitcoin treasury yield use case; RWA infra as a service [00:14:30] Growth: token as GTM, mixing Web2 talent with Web3 speed [00:15:40] Events ahead: Token2049, BNB Chain Week, ADGM/FinTech, Switzerland Summit [00:16:40] RWA outlook: private credit as “next stablecoins” (12–16% in GCC) [00:18:10] The ask: builders > grants; strategic capital; play with (test/main)netConnecthttps://zigchain.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zignaly/https://zignaly.com/https://x.com/zigchainhttps://x.com/zignalyhttps://x.com/arafaygaditDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Pauline (CMO, ChangeNOW) joins Sam in Bali to unpack how ChangeNOW carved a distinct niche from big CEXs by serving retail users and wallets with instant, account-free swaps (flash custody, fixed/floating rates). She explains the B2B engine behind their growth (wallets, casinos, travel, payments), why direct traffic + brand beats blunt ads, and how LLM-SEO is changing discovery.They cover CEX vs DeFi UX, security tradeoffs, meme coin mania, stablecoin rails, and what Binance/Coinbase did right in brand and distribution. Practical gems for founders on partner-led growth, API monetization, and real content > AI content.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Bali session + setup [00:02:00] Pauline’s start: grad school → crypto → ChangeNOW (6 ppl → 400+) [00:04:30] What ChangeNOW does: instant swaps, flash custody, fixed vs floating [00:06:00] Business model, fees, and who it serves (retail, low-commitment swaps) [00:08:30] CEX UX vs retail needs; why simplicity wins[00:10:00] Growth levers: brand, direct traffic, PR, product marketing[00:11:30] B2B to C: wallets, casinos, travel; API rails to monetize wallets [00:13:00] Partner acquisition: plug-and-play swap/payments/nodes custody [00:14:30] Market trends: DeFi security, stablecoins, “newbie-friendly” pivots [00:16:30] Incidents & user protection: pause/rollback vs “pure” decentralization [00:20:00] Meme coins vs real communities; reputational drag and utility [00:23:00] Crypto’s real value: remittances, NGOs, private donations [00:24:30] Ethereum UX, ZK, gas, and why ETH needs PR (and grants) [00:26:30] Brand lessons: Binance community flywheel; Coinbase legitimacy play [00:30:00] Social tone without cringe; distribution > cleverness [00:31:30] The ask: partners (wallets, tokens, exchanges, payments, “crypto banks”) [00:33:00] Bonus: LLM-SEO tips & why humans must write your contentConnecthttps://changenow.io/http://linkedin.com/company/changenow-io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-shangett/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Tae Oh, founder of Gluwa and Spacecoin, joins Sam to share his vision of bringing internet and banking access to the unconnected billions. Tae explains how Spacecoin combines blockchain, telecommunications, and satellites to build a decentralized global network that enables lifeline services like financial transactions and messaging, even in regions without internet.He discusses the challenges of launching satellites, the cost breakthroughs driven by SpaceX, and why decentralization matters in connectivity. Tae also talks about adoption strategies through telcos, the financial model behind Spacecoin, and the long-term goal of creating a trustless, open internet from space.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Tae Oh and Spacecoin’s mission. [00:02:00] Early Crypto: Tae discovers Bitcoin in 2010 and founds Gluwa in 2012. [00:06:00] Spacecoin’s Goal: Connecting the unbanked by launching low-cost satellites. [00:10:00] Challenges: Building vs. launching satellites, and supply chain hurdles. [00:14:00] Decentralization: Competing with Starlink through open, trustless networks. [00:17:00] Adoption: Governments, telcos, and the natural pull of internet demand. [00:19:00] Constellation: First 10 satellites could serve millions per region. [00:21:00] Financial Model: Local telcos as gateways, Spacecoin as payment rail. [00:25:00] Bold Predictions: AI agents will dominate crypto transactions by 2030. [00:29:00] Roadmap: Spacecoin minting, three new satellites, hiring 200 people.Connecthttps://spacecoin.org/https://x.com/_Spacecoinhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/spacecoin-official/https://x.com/taelimohhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tae-lim-oh/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Farbod, founder of TheBlock, joins Sam to talk about tokenization, RWAs, and building Dubai’s first retail hub for virtual assets. He shares his journey from Europe to the UAE, how TheBlock helps projects with issuance, compliance, and liquidity, and why Dubai is emerging as a global crypto hub. Farbod also breaks down the misconceptions around tokenization, lessons for founders on transparency and retention, and his roadmap to expand TheBlock to 10 countries.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces the episode with Farbod from TheBlock.[00:01:00] Getting Started: Farbod shares his journey from software in Vienna to blockchain and Web3.[00:03:00] TheBlock’s Mission: Helping projects with token issuance, compliance, liquidity, and PR.[00:04:00] Virtual Asset Hub: Launching tokens at The Block’s Dubai event space.[00:06:00] RWA Strategy: Simplifying licensing, compliance, and tokenization processes.[00:08:00] Why Dubai: Farbod explains why UAE is a global leader in crypto adoption.[00:11:00] Differentiation: How The Block provides business development for its partners.[00:13:00] Leadership Lessons: Building teams based on passion, not just CVs.[00:14:00] Overhyped Trends: RWAs and why they aren’t an instant liquidity solution.[00:17:00] Founder Advice: Transparency, no fake roadmaps, and focusing on retention.[00:18:00] Misunderstood Tokenization: Why liquidity doesn’t come automatically with token issuance.[00:19:00] Roadmap: Expanding TheBlock to 10 countries in the next five years.[00:20:00] The Ask: Farbod invites advisors, partners, and collaborators to join TheBlock’s movement.Connecthttps://the-block.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-block-global/https://www.linkedin.com/in/farbodsadeghian/https://x.com/farbodsadeghianDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/

Tony Pham, Head of Marketing & Growth at Kava.io, joins Sam to share lessons on building and scaling in Web3. He explains how Kava combines Cosmos scalability with Ethereum compatibility, their push into decentralized AI, and why community-first marketing beats massive budgets. Tony also weighs in on what’s overhyped (meme coins) and underrated (wallets), plus Kava’s roadmap into DePIN and AI.Key Timestamps[00:00] Intro: Tony Pham joins to discuss growth, Kava, and industry trends.[00:01] Background: From Web2 marketing to crypto stablecoins in 2018.[00:03] Kava’s mission: low-cost, scalable L1 combining Cosmos + Ethereum.[00:04] Kava AI: blockchain-native, open-source AI for DeFi and Web3 tasks.[00:05] Web2 vs Web3 marketing: grassroots, community-first, cooperative.[00:07] Competing with giants: why budgets don’t win—community and content do.[00:09] Authentic growth: partnerships, AMAs, co-marketing as a scrappy strategy.[00:12] Tether on Kava: stability and adoption vs gimmicks.[00:15] Underrated trend: wallets as gateways for mainstream adoption.[00:18] Overhyped trend: meme coins—and the hype cycle around criticizing them.[00:20] Roadmap: expanding into DePIN and decentralized AI.[00:22] Inspirations: marketers at Chainlink, Avalanche, and Eco Stablecoin.[00:24] Partnerships: Binance relationship, future AI and DePIN collaborations.[00:25] Ask: Builders, partners, and community engagement—plus meet at Token 2049.Connecthttps://www.kava.io/https://x.com/KAVA_CHAINhttps://t.me/kavalabshttps://x.com/tonyphamDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, 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/