VALR - The South African Exchange Going Global

Greg Siourounis is the managing director of the Sui Foundation, advancing and supporting Sui, the layer 1 blockchain designed to make Web3 fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. Why you should listen Mysten Labs' objective is to provide the basic architecture for Web3, creating tools for the future of Web3 to make it secure, dependable, and ready for widespread adoption. The Sui Blockchain was established to overcome common blockchain limitations and create a new blockchain with horizontal scalability. This unique approach aims to maintain low gas fees and high transaction processing capacity, offering improved security, scalability, and a user-friendly experience at a low cost. Mysten Labs, the creator of the Sui blockchain, closed a $300 million Series B funding round, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, and Binance Labs. The Sui Foundation is an independent organization with a mission to onboard the next billion users to web3 by advancing the global adoption of the Sui blockchain. The Sui Foundation exists in service of the Sui community and is committed to decentralization. The Sui Foundation marshals financial and personnel resources to fulfill its mission, including by educating, activating, funding, and promoting builders and creators working on Sui-based projects. It administers a few key programs including the Developer Grant Program, the Delegation Program, and the Ambassador Program. Supporting links Sui Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Meina Zhou is co-founder and CEO at Native. Native’s mission is to improve the web3 user experience by solving fragmented liquidity and capital inefficiency in DeFi. They’ve built a unified, cross-chain liquidity layer combining on and off-chain liquidity sources using RFQ architecture. Why you should listen Native Labs is building Web3’s Liquidity Layer, a protocol built to unify crypto’s fragmented liquidity and radically enhance capital efficiency for PMMs. Via their RFQ System, Native’s platform aggregates and connects order flow to PMMs for efficient off-chain pricing and on-chain execution. Since launching in April 2023, Native has onboarded over $100M in PMM liquidity and executed $2.2B+ in trading volume. Supporting links Native Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

William Simonin is the c-founder of Ta-da - a data platform for AI. Projected to reach $109B by 2032, the data collection market is primed for disruption. Ta-da offers high-quality data at lower costs, outperforming outsourcing and micro-tasking companies with a hybrid model that ensures quality, cost-effectiveness and scalability.   Why you should listen Data is the new oil. Several growth factors are present in the data market, one of them being artificial intelligence, a big consumer of data. By 2032, the data collection market will experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25%, meaning that the market will grow from $63 billion to $109 billion dollars. Ta-da is innovating an old data collection technique, crowdsourcing, to collect and validate data through their community, at a price you choose. Ta-da specializes in Voice Recordings, Images, Videos, Text, and labeling to cater to user data collection needs. Companies can get more accurate AI models with custom datasets at a fair price.  Although the data collection market is promising, it still relies on mechanisms and technologies that can be improved. There is a market with great potential which is still based on outdated processes. In this context, Ta-da aims to become the first decentralized web3 micro-tasking data collection platform on the blockchain.  Ta-da is a solution that enables cost-effective, high-quality, and diversified data collection. Their web and mobile application allows users to provide data that meets precise criteria through our clients. Ta-da offers flexibility by enabling companies to specify and customize their requirements in detail.  The Ta-da platform promises traceability of the production and verification process, as well as fair remuneration of the community via its TADA token. Their goal is to establish Ta-da as the standard for data collection. Supporting links Ta-da Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin  If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

Josh Olszewicz, renowned crypto trader and technical analyst, joins Andy to celebrate the 500th episode of the Crypto Conversation.  Why you should listen Andy and Josh discuss Bitcoin, alts, American politics, memecoins, and Josh explains why he is serious about his $333k by July 2025 Bitcoin price target. It’s the 500th Episode of Crypto Conversation, thank-you so much for listening! Supporting links Josh on Twitter Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

Rossen is a core contributor at Azuro,  an infrastructure/liquidity layer for on-chain predictions. It utilizes a new Liquidity Pool design, the Liquidity Tree, which creates and maintains market liquidity.   Why you should listen Azuro is an infrastructure/liquidity layer for on-chain predictions. It utilizes a Liquidity Pool design, the Liquidity Tree to create and maintain market liquidity. The Azuro Protocol is a decentralized protocol that enables peer-to-pool prediction markets without intermediaries. It's built on EVM-compatible blockchains and consists of several smart contracts that handle different aspects of the prediction process, such as liquidity pools, odds, live betting, and payouts. The protocol uses a hybrid oracle/ automated market maker solution to determine the odds of different outcomes and to ensure that the process is fair and transparent. Azuro supports thousands of sports markets and other games, plus a rich feature set, which can be utilized by anyone permissionlessly for the creation of apps, embedded integrations or derivative products. The human desire to take risk for a gain is more widespread than ever. A generation of degens within and outside of crypto is here. A bet was one of the first forms of contract used by ancient people. Azuro enters the space with the mission to break down the barriers, creating a protocol dependent on community participation and ownership. A piece of critical on-chain infrastructure which acts as a black hole for liquidity for decentralized predictions and gaming. Azuro’s approach to concentrating liquidity can deliver much deeper liquidity vs any centralized options. Azuro's tooling and oracle solutions can be utilized by any blockchain, starting with EVM-compatible ones. Azuro's open design will allow anyone to launch a prediction site/app with no upfront costs and zero risk management capacity needed.  Supporting links Azuro Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

Farzam Ehsani is co-founder and CEO of VALR, a South African crypto exchange headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. With regulatory approval to operate in Europe, VALR has 1000 corporate and institutional clients, more than half a million users, and now is expanding globally. Why you should listen VALR has raised $55 million in equity funding from leading investors such as Coinbase Ventures, Pantera Capital, and Avon Ventures. Inspired by the adage "it is expensive to be poor," they’re committed to creating a financial ecosystem that is accessible to all, challenging the status quo and reducing the frictions imposed by outdated systems. The VALR platform is a testament to their belief in a socio-financial evolution. They envision a future where the global community is not defined by national boundaries but united by a shared vision of justice and prosperity. VALR caters to the specific needs of professional traders with a high-performance trading platform that boasts one of the industry's most advanced API systems. Their commitment to professional traders is matched by their dedication to making crypto trading accessible to everyone, ensuring a comprehensive, inclusive financial ecosystem. VALR's platform combines professional-grade tools with an intuitive interface, making it the ideal choice for traders at every level of expertise. Supporting links VALR Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Sasha Mitchell is Head of Operations at Bel2. Imagine if Bitcoin could talk to other blockchains, make deals, execute contracts, and expand its influence without ever compromising its integrity. That's BeL2, the Bitcoin Elastos Layer 2 Protocol. Why you should listen BeL2 transforms EVM-compatible blockchains into Bitcoin Layer 2s, without bridging BTC. It utilizes a secure ZKP data feed, enhancing Bitcoin's utility from a store of value to a foundational layer for BTC-powered applications. BeL2 allows smart contracts to communicate with Bitcoin, utilizing a specialized proof and relayer mechanism. This allows services to connect into the Bitcoin network and its liquidity. ELA, is Elastos' Layer 2 coin merged-mined with Bitcoin since 2018 with over 50% of Bitcoin's miners security. It has a total supply of 28.22 million coins by 2105 and current circulation of 21.3 million. Within BeL2, ELA is essential, serving as collateral for Relayers, powering trust and stability. Stake ELA, earn BTC contributes to network security, empowering holders to shape Bitcoins smart economy. Elacity's Decentralised Digital Rights Management (dDRM) protocol eliminates license servers using blockchain technology and edge computing, delivering secure business models to Web3. Elacity dDRM transforms digital rights and asset management in Web3. It addresses key challenges in Digital Rights Management (DRM), such as packaging, transparency, and secure playback, through the use of blockchain and peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies. By offering a decentralised, scalable networking solution, Elacity enables a digital asset marketplace which features robust IP protection and scarce, tradable access, ownership and distribution rights. Elacity delivers decentralised business models, instant royalties, and inclusive economics to owners in Web3, automating contractual challenges, optimising resource sharing, and enabling equitable control and monetisation of digital assets through a democratised online Access Economy. Supporting links Bel2 Elastos Elacity Slaugherbots Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

Karim Chaib is the founder of Dopamine a "superApp" for crypto. In an era where human attention drives software revenue, 'Dopamine' stands as your tokenized web3 software license, powering businesses and Super Apps with Web 3 Code, AI, Big Data, and Compliance. Why you should listen Dopamine combines AI and compliance infrastructure with super app capabilities, deployed primarily on Solana before expanding to a multichain ecosystem, giving users the power to manage wallets, and centralized and decentralized exchanges with the latest AI and compliance advancement.  Users can connect their banks and participate into launchpads, RWA and much more. Elon is building the everything app, Dopamine built the everything app for crypto! The Dopamine token is the license token for the app and also allows banks and exchanges to access all the api and source code. Supporting links Dopamine Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Edward Mehrez is Co-Founder at Arrow Markets, a hybrid options protocol built on the Avalanche Blockchain   Why you should listen Arrow Markets is a hybrid options protocol built on the Avalanche Blockchain. In the traditional options market, options must be sold by a writer who receives the premium from the buyer and is responsible for paying the buyer if the option is exercised in the money. As an options protocol on Avalanche, Arrow Markets gives users the ability to buy options without the need to be matched by a middle-man. Arrow will facilitate the creation and settlement of options on popular underlying assets such as AVAX, ETH, and BTC. The name Arrow Markets is a nod to Nobel laureate economist Kenneth Arrow, who showed that options contracts form a basis for prices and payoffs of financial assets. Options make it possible to construct a wide variety of derivatives and structured products, by forming specific portfolios. Arrow Markets brings a new paradigm to options trading on Avalanche, combining centralized efficiency and on-chain transparency. The RFQ (Request for Quote) enables traders to request quotes from multiple market makers with a single click, providing a simpler, faster, and more secure trading experience. Supporting links Bitget Bitget VIP Link with BONUS 1000 USDT Bitget Academy Bitget Research Bitget Wallet Arrow Markets Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin   If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.  

Sunil Srivatsa is the founder and CEO of Storm Labs, an open-source software development studio. They help build and maintain infrastructure for decentralized protocols like Cove. Why you should listen Storm Labs is an open-source software development studio that builds infrastructure for the next financial generation. Their mission is to build and share foundational infrastructure that enables economic empowerment for all. Storm Labs raised $3 million in pre-seed funding from leading venture capital firms and angel investors to launch their protocol Cove, the first onchain portfolio manager that addresses the challenges of Automated Market Makers (AMMs). The round was led by Electric Capital. The current scarcity of dedicated onchain management platforms forces retail crypto users to navigate DeFi's complexities and potentially lose through DIY yield-farming. According to the survey conducted by Storm Labs, 25% of investors spent 3+ hours a week manually managing their portfolios. Cove’s platform empowers users to tailor their investments to their risk appetite and goals to build their optimal DeFi portfolio without any need for manual management, while addressing the limitations of traditional AMMs and eliminating Loss-Versus-Rebalancing (LVR). They achieve this through a unique execution mechanism that guarantees fair and transparent trades, minimizing issues like price impact, slippage, MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). Trades within Cove are facilitated through a proprietary matching engine, while external trades are routed through CoW Swap for added security while still eliminating MEV and capturing positive slippage. This means the platform can seamlessly match individuals holding complementary liquidity positions, facilitating efficient trades and maximizing returns. Marking Stage 1 of the product roll-out will be the launch of Cove Boosties. Boosties is the first dedicated liquid locker and staking platform specifically designed to simplify and enhance the Yearn experience. It allows users to effortlessly earn boosted APY on Yearn vaults and mint coveYFI, with flexible dYFI rewards and early access to Cove's governance token ($COVE). Boosties is built using Yearn V3 and optimized by Gauntlet and audited by Trail of Bits, Quantstamp, and yAudit. The main protocol is slated to launch during Stage 2 later this year. Supporting links Bitget Bitget VIP Link with BONUS 1000 USDT Bitget Academy Bitget Research Bitget Wallet Cove Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.