340: Building Planet X: James Ashton on Creator-Owned Gaming, 200M Reach, and Treasure Hunt Gameplay

Forget speculation, what if DeFi could be the safest place to save?In this episode, I chat with Manny and Jamie, the founders of Blend, a DeFi savings platform focused on long-term wealth preservation and capital protection. They bring serious credentials, having worked on major crypto infrastructure like UMA and Across—and now they’re building what they call the “global savings layer” for everyone, regardless of passport or currency.We dive deep into why DeFi's next big leap isn't about trading or yield farming, but offering real, safe financial tools to a global user base. From personalized FX hedging to cookie-jar level account isolation, Blend is rethinking everything about on-chain finance—and making it accessible even to your non-crypto friends.Whether you’re a DeFi power user or just getting started, this episode will expand your view of what’s possible in crypto today.🧠 Key Learnings:[00:04:00] Jamie's entry into crypto via Bitcoin and building complex systems at Risk Labs.[00:06:00] Why Blend isn’t a yield platform—it’s a savings-first platform.[00:08:00] How Blend builds capital safety into every decision—from Gnosis Safes to FX hedging.[00:14:00] Live demo of Blend’s intuitive app: savings, swaps, and yield in one place.[00:17:00] Personalized FX protection explained—and why it's a game-changer for emerging markets.[00:22:00] Their bold North Star: 1 million users, $10,000 average deposit each.[00:30:00] The future of local stablecoins and how Blend plans to support them.[00:35:00] How they’re building trust in a low-trust industry (7 audits help too).[00:41:00] What’s next: localized experiences, mobile apps, and tokenized real-world assets.Connect with BlendWebsite: https://blend.money/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kwAhFnFz X/Twitter: https://x.com/blend_money DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.RequestIt 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 guestBe a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

🎙️ Episode DescriptionWhat happens when traditional finance meets cutting-edge crypto? In this episode, I chat with Sidrah Farik from Deribit and Augustine Fan from SignalPlus to explore how crypto options are evolving—and why institutional players are diving in headfirst.We unpack the macro forces shaping the space, the slow but steady drop in volatility, and what that means for both retail and institutional traders. You'll also hear how education, infrastructure, and partnerships are creating the rails for the next wave of crypto adoption.This is a deep dive into how options are no longer niche and why 2026 might be the breakout year for crypto derivatives.⏱️ Key Learnings with Timestamps[00:01:30] Sidrah's journey from digital marketing to leading retail at Deribit[00:02:50] Augustine’s path from Goldman Sachs to building SignalPlus[00:05:00] Institutional adoption post-ETF and falling crypto volatility[00:08:00] Why crypto options are maturing and how traders are evolving[00:10:30] ROI from educational initiatives like podcasts and competitions[00:15:00] Importance of reliable infrastructure and trust in crypto platforms[00:18:00] Institutional barriers and how Deribit addresses them[00:22:00] Complex strategies: How hedge funds are using options[00:24:00] Regional trends: US hours dominate as macro correlation grows[00:29:30] Regulation as a growth unlock, especially in India and Europe[00:32:00] Deribit’s north star metrics: retention and meaningful trading volume[00:34:00] The macro trend to watch for 2026: interest rate cuts[00:36:00] The ask: partnerships, adoption, and education at scaleConnecthttps://www.deribit.com/https://www.signalplus.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidrahfariq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/augustine-fan-9a4802141/ ⚠️ 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/

What happens when a former energy financier decides to reshape the future of finance? In this episode, I chat with Daniel Liu, CEO of Republic Tech, on how his journey from solar and wind farms to crypto trading led him to build one of the most ambitious infrastructure plays in Web3.Daniel shares why Ethereum is central to their strategy, how they’re accumulating and deploying ETH, and why now is the moment for institutions to get involved. From synthetic mining to validator services, we unpack Republic Tech’s unique two-pillar model and what’s next for digital asset treasuries. This is a must-listen if you're curious about the future of Ethereum, institutional crypto, or where Web3 infrastructure is really heading.⏱️ Key Learnings with Timestamps[00:01:00] Daniel’s shift from energy finance to crypto in 2018[00:03:00] Founding RelayX and pioneering zero-confirmation deposits[00:05:00] Republic Tech’s two-pillar strategy: ETH accumulation and validator services[00:07:00] Why Ethereum is "digital oil" and central to their vision[00:08:00] How synthetic mining boosts ETH yield (80–120% APY)[00:12:00] The power of long-term holding over short-term trading[00:15:00] Why each crypto cycle brings a new cohort of adopters[00:20:00] How Republic Tech runs lean with a high-impact team[00:21:00] Daniel’s contrarian take: the 4-year crypto cycle isn’t over[00:26:00] The next liquidity wave? Nation-states and sovereign wealth funds[00:32:00] Ethereum-based tokenization beyond finance—passports, car keys, and more[00:34:00] Why users shouldn’t need to “learn” crypto to benefit from it[00:38:00] Prediction for 2026: Stablecoin apps will go mainstream[00:40:00] Ethereum will become as essential as the US dollar in corporate treasuries[00:41:00] Republic Tech’s focus for 2026: growth, safety, and ETH preservation🔗 Connect Website: ⁠https://republictech.io/⁠ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/republictechio/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/republictech_io 👉 Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - ⁠https://www.web3pod.xyz/⁠ ❤️ RequestIt 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.📢 DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.

Is it possible to build a Web3 game that’s actually fun—and not just hype? Kam Punia, founder and CEO of Pixion Games, joins us to break down exactly how he's doing it with Fableborne. In a world full of bots, overfunded flops, and quick token grabs, Kam shares the gritty reality of building something that lasts.From killing 5 games before getting to one that truly clicks, to building a 400,000-strong player community without spending a cent, Kam reveals how Pixion is changing the rules of Web3 gaming. We talk community building, real KPIs, what VCs got wrong, and how his team is turning power (literally) into progress.If you're into gaming, Web3, or just love stories of underdogs doing things the right way, this episode is a must-listen.⏱️ Key Learnings with Timestamps[00:02:00] Kam’s background and entry into the gaming industry.[00:03:00] The vision behind Pixion Games and Fableborne.[00:05:00] The three-stage playtesting process and why five games were killed.[00:06:00] How Fableborne mixes base building and ARPG mechanics.[00:09:00] Why most Web3 games failed: chasing tokens, not gameplay.[00:11:00] Misaligned incentives between VCs and builders in 2021–2022.[00:16:00] Lessons from launching Yu-Gi-Oh! in Europe: community-first strategies.[00:19:00] Building real community: no NFTs, no token talk for 2 years.[00:22:00] What makes the Power token different in Fableborne’s ecosystem.[00:27:00] The #1 mistake Web3 game studios make.[00:30:00] When we’ll see a “Silksong” level hit in Web3—and why it’s close.[00:33:00] Fableborne’s 2026 global launch plan and broader ecosystem goals.[00:35:00] What Kam would do differently if starting again.[00:36:00] Key metrics and roadmap for Pixion in 2026.[00:37:00] Kam’s final ask: builders, partners, and talent—get in touch.🔗 ConnectWebsite:https://fableborne.com/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/fableborne Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karmveerpunia/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/fableborne 🎤 Be a guest speakerBe a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/⚠️ DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.♥️ RequestIt 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.

What if you could build a full-stack app just by chatting with friends? In this episode, I talk to Coop, founder of Nullshot, a groundbreaking platform merging AI, Web3, and social collaboration. From his early days buying Bitcoin in 2012 to building a multi-million dollar Web3 game studio, Coop shares how he's now creating the future of app development—faster, cheaper, and more collaborative than ever. We dive into how Nullshot lets strangers build apps together, remix each other’s work, and even co-own projects through a DAO.We also get real about the current state of AI agents, the shift from individual to community innovation, and why memes and video shorts might just be the next frontier in AI-driven creativity.🧠 Key Learnings & Timestamps[00:02:00] – Coop’s origin story: From buying Bitcoin in 2012 to building Web3 games.[00:03:30] – What Nullshot solves: AI-powered app building in social chat rooms.[00:05:00] – The magic of collaborative building: Wake up to strangers improving your project.[00:07:30] – What people are building today: Calorie trackers, Navy study tools, and more.[00:09:30] – How Nullshot runs cheap infrastructure with Cloudflare, not AWS.[00:12:00] – Real talk on AI costs and why it's getting cheaper fast.[00:14:00] – Using internal tools to auto-generate marketing from code commits.[00:16:00] – Why AI agents haven’t gone mainstream yet—and how they might.[00:18:30] – Trust and AI agents: Why full automation still needs time.[00:22:00] – Nullshot’s wild go-to-market plan: Social video shorts built with AI and memes.[00:24:30] – Advice for indie builders: Talk to users while you build.[00:27:00] – The roadmap: Games, agents, co-ownership, and a permissionless launchpad.[00:29:00] – Coop’s ask: Builders to test Nullshot and give feedback.Connect with Nullshot and Coop:Website: https://nullshot.ai/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/nullshot  X/Twitter: https://x.com/Nullshot_aiLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codingcoop/ Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on ApplePodcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.

In this episode of Web3 with Sam Kamani, I sit down with Kallol from Verified Network, a group at the forefront of tokenized financial products and real-world assets (RWAs).Kallol shares his journey from traditional entrepreneurship to building infrastructure that bridges traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). We talk about the gaps in private banking access, the massive opportunity among the next 750 million investors, and how Verified is building rails for affordable, accessible, and liquid RWA investing.We also dig into how Verified handles compliance, custody, and global issuance across multiple regulated entities. Finally, Kallol reveals what's next in 2026, from fixed-income DeFi distribution to tokenizing mutual funds and expanding partnerships worldwide.🧠 Key Takeaways with Timestamps [00:02:00] Why the next 750 million investors are underserved and what that means for the future of finance[00:04:00] What are Real World Assets and how Verified solves affordability, accessibility, and liquidity[00:09:00] How fractionalization and tokenization unlock global investing[00:10:00] Bridging TradFi and DeFi through regulated product issuance and custody[00:15:00] Why fixed income is the killer use case for tokenized RWAs[00:17:00] Compliance, KYC, and servicing—how Verified handles the backend complexity[00:22:00] Inside Verified’s global structure: Luxembourg, India, UK, and more[00:24:00] How Verified monetizes across issuance, distribution, and servicing[00:27:00] 2025 trends: RWAs going mainstream, stablecoin growth, and more[00:30:00] Verified’s 2026 roadmap—bringing more assets and custodians on chain[00:32:00] What Kallol’s looking for: more wealth manager partnerships, no fundraising[00:35:00] Why distribution is the next frontier for RWA adoption🔗 ConnectWebsite: https://www.verified.network/ Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/verified-ag X/Twitter: https://x.com/veridefi Substack : https://veridefi.substack.com/ YouTube : https://m.youtube.com/@veridefiDiscord : https://discord.gg/4QDPcdeB8b👉 Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/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.⚠️ Disclaimer Nothing mentioned in this podcast is financial or investment advice and please do your own research.

Tobias built Altitude Finance after running into the classic DeFi lending trade-off: either borrow conservatively and unlock very little capital, or borrow aggressively and risk liquidation when markets move fast.In this episode, we break down how Altitude makes loans more capital-efficient while keeping users at a safer LTV, how their vault automation rebalances positions during volatility, and why their best users love the “self-repaying loan” experience.We also cover Tobias’ take on what changes in DeFi to watch in 2026—especially around token value being tied more tightly to protocol value, and why “stablecoins backed by risky strategies” could be the next blow-up.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Altitude traction, TVL, DeFi trends for 2026[00:01:00] Tobias’ journey: Ethereum → DeFi Summer → full-time crypto [00:02:00] The lending trade-off: capital efficiency vs liquidation stress [00:03:00] What Altitude does: low LTV + protocol adds leverage to ~60% [00:04:00] Differentiation: efficiency, peace of mind, simplified UX [00:06:00] 2025 recap: whitelisted → public vaults, surviving volatility [00:07:00] 2026 focus: simpler onboarding, wallets, on/off-ramps [00:08:00] Automation: rebalances as prices move, keeps vaults healthy [00:09:00] 2026 DeFi trend: tokens aligning more with “common stock” value [00:10:00] Stablecoin warning: risky strategies behind “stable” pegs [00:12:00] Adoption driver: the “self-repaying loan” dopamine [00:14:00] Real-world use cases: Tesla, land, iPhone, engagement ring [00:18:00] Founder advice: simplify, avoid overwhelming choice [00:22:00] AI in DeFi: useful for insights, not autonomous execution (yet) [00:26:00] GTM: reach long-term BTC/ETH holders across better channels [00:29:00] Roadmap: wallets + off-ramps + mainstream user journey [00:31:00] Ask: try the product, give feedback, help simplify onboardingConnecthttps://app.altitude.fi/https://www.altitude.fi/https://www.linkedin.com/company/altitude-labs-defi/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiasvanamstel/https://x.com/AltitudeFi_https://x.com/tobiasvanamstel?lang=enDisclaimerNothing 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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

James Ashton is building Planet X, a new mobile-first extraction shooter that turns gameplay into a real-world treasure hunt—extract prizes, win physical rewards, and build community-driven competition.In this episode, we unpack how Gallaxia is structured as an on-chain gaming and entertainment studio co-owned by 50+ top creators (with a combined 200M audience), why “Web3 gaming” as a label misses the point, and how Planet X plans to scale through execution, brand partnerships, and influencer distribution—without paying creators upfront.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Planet X + 200M creator reach [00:01:00] James’ origin story: Web2 fundraising → Web3 via digital ownership [00:02:00] What Gallaxia is: on-chain studio co-owned by 50+ top creators [00:04:00] Why Web3: instant revenue distribution + co-ownership model [00:06:00] Planet X loop: extraction shooter + real-world treasure hunt [00:08:00] Why it’s different: skill-based prizes, not “incentives to mask boredom” [00:10:00] Creator distribution: co-owners, not paid influencers [00:13:00] What makes games win in 2025: clippable + viral + creator-native [00:17:00] Mobile-first thesis: the real mass market [00:19:00] Biggest challenges: rollout, optimization, scaling correctly[00:22:00] Monetization: microtransactions + brand advertising + prize economy [00:25:00] Roadmap: Jan showcases → open beta → launch window [00:28:00] Ask: community co-ownership + execute the launchConnecthttps://www.playplanetx.com/https://x.com/PlanetXhttps://x.com/MrGallaxiaDisclaimerNothing 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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Ryan Kirkley has been building in crypto since 2013—across protocol development and regulatory compliance. In this episode, we go deep on why true asset ownership is still broken in today’s financial system, why stablecoins aren’t a long-term solution for global commerce, and how Global Settlement Network is approaching interoperability by upgrading existing infrastructure instead of trying to replace it.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: Global Settlement Network + what we cover[00:01:00] Ryan’s journey: crypto since 2013 + compliance background[00:03:00] The thesis: interoperability + regulatory realities[00:04:00] What the financial system lacks: real asset ownership[00:05:00] Why stablecoins aren’t enough globally: autonomy + FX frictions [00:07:00] Primary customers: governments, banks, commodity groups [00:09:00] Why they win deals: regulatory fluency + “upgrade, not replace” [00:10:00] Privacy + compliance: sidechains + ZK rolldowns + vault model [00:12:00] What’s live: tokenization studio + volume metrics + testnet [00:14:00] 2025 trend: fragmentation; 2026 trend: interoperability + consolidation [00:16:00] Regions: HK/Singapore momentum; biggest adoption potential in Africa [00:18:00] USD outlook: slow multipolar shift, not overnight collapse [00:23:00] 12-month roadmap: public testnet, stablecoin studio, TGE window [00:28:00] Ask: partnerships + top engineering talentConnecthttps://globalsettlement.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/globalsettlement/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankirkley/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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/

In this episode, I’m joined by Konstantin from GrantiX, a platform connecting crypto donors with social entrepreneurs who need funding to scale real-world impact.We talk about what’s broken in traditional philanthropy (opacity, inefficiency), why Web3 tools can improve coordination, and what it takes to onboard projects that may have never used crypto before.Key timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: GrantiX + Web3 philanthropy [00:01:00] Konstantin’s background: TradFi + social entrepreneurship[00:02:00] What’s broken in philanthropy: transparency + efficiency gaps [00:05:00] Simple explanation: GrantiX as a bridge between donors + projects [00:07:00] Why now: market timing + growing real-world focus [00:09:00] Early categories: education + empowering women in developing markets [00:12:00] Biggest risk: onboarding + education for non-crypto projects [00:13:00] Monetization: platform + services layer [00:15:00] Why Web3: incentives + community-driven programs [00:17:00] Hardest users: low-tech regions; onboarding plan[00:20:00] Scaling vision: large philanthropy market opportunity [00:22:00] How to get involved: links shared in show notesConnecthttps://grantix.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/grantix/https://www.instagram.com/grantix_sofi/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.Get featuredBe a guest on the podcast or contact us – https://www.web3pod.xyz/