Episode is brought to you by Infinex. Join here: app.infinex.xyz/?r=B2KSQJ77

Summary

In this conversation, Stephen Hess, co-founder of Metaplex, opens up about his journey from healthcare to crypto, how early exposure to Bitcoin shaped his curiosity, and what ultimately drew him into the Solana ecosystem. He explains how lessons from healthcare—especially the need to understand human psychology—have shaped his entrepreneurial thinking. Stephen shares how Metaplex has become foundational infrastructure for NFTs on Solana, providing standards, tooling, and developer support. The conversation also explores how NFTs could evolve into AI agents, the resilience of the Solana community, and what lies ahead for Metaplex as AI and regulatory challenges reshape the industry.

Takeaways

— Stephen first encountered Bitcoin in 2013, sparking his curiosity in crypto

— His healthcare background taught him to prioritize human behavior and decision-making in product design

— Metaplex sets the standard for NFTs and token issuance on Solana

— Solana’s architecture allows developers to build better UX without wrestling with infrastructure

— The Solana ecosystem has shown resilience through multiple downturns

— Stephen envisions NFTs becoming AI agents capable of acting on behalf of users

— A strong social layer keeps the Solana community motivated and mission-aligned

— Metaplex is focused on giving developers tools that abstract away complexity

— The team is watching regulatory shifts closely as AI, NFTs, and tokens converge

— Solana developers are united by a shared goal: radically better UX in crypto

Timeline

(00:00) Introduction to Stephen Hess and Metaplex

(00:54) Stephen’s journey into crypto and the Solana ecosystem

(02:59) How his healthcare background informs his approach

(09:52) The early days and evolution of Metaplex

(11:15) Navigating challenges and staying resilient

(19:15) NFTs as programmable AI agents

(25:59) What’s next for Metaplex and the Solana ecosystem

Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.

This episode would not be possible without the support of Infinex. Sign up, experience what hassle-free DeFi feels like.

https://app.infinex.xyz?r=B2KSQJ77

Summary

In this conversation, Yurii, co-founder of Wallchain, shares his journey into the crypto space, detailing his experiences with MEV bots and the transition to developing Wallchain Quacks. The discussion covers the importance of attention in the crypto market, the challenges of building a consumer brand, and how Wallchain Quacks aims to quantify and leverage attention for influencers and brands. Yurii also addresses the competitive landscape, the two-sided market dynamics, and the blockchain aspects of their product, while outlining future plans for expansion and feature development.

Takeaways

— Yurii’s journey into crypto began with his co-founder Max during their academic years.
— They transitioned from B2B MEV protocols to B2C products due to market inefficiencies.
— Attention is a fundamental currency in the crypto space.
— Wallchain Quacks aims to quantify attention for crypto projects.
— The platform seeks to eliminate middlemen in influencer marketing.
— Loyalty and consistency are prioritized in rewarding influencers.
— The focus is on creating a new market rather than competing with existing players.
— The product is currently in closed beta with plans for future expansion.
— On-chain activity will be used to validate influencer credibility.
— Future features will include leaderboards and support for multiple content types.

Chapters

(00:00) Yurii’s Journey into Crypto
(06:09) Transitioning to Wallchain and Market Analysis
(12:47) Introducing Wallchain Quacks
(19:09) Differentiators and Competitors in the InfoFi Space
(25:26) Building a Two-Sided Market
(31:37) The Blockchain Aspect of Wallchain Quacks
(41:07) Future Roadmap for Wallchain Quacks

Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.

Episode is brought to you by Infinex. Join here: app.infinex.xyz/?r=B2KSQJ77

Summary

In this episode, Matej from Oasis Labs and Oasis Foundation shares his journey from mechanical engineering into the world of Web3 and why privacy on-chain is more urgent than ever. He breaks down how Oasis works as a privacy protocol, helping developers easily integrate privacy into their dApps. The conversation dives into the rising importance of agents in Web3, the overlap between AI and privacy, and how Oasis is building tools to support verified autonomy for AI agents. Matej also explains the team’s approach to developer engagement—leaning into hackathons, social media, and interoperability with other chains. Throughout, he emphasizes that the future of privacy in Web3 depends not just on tech, but on community-driven adoption.

Takeaways

– Matej’s background in mechanical engineering eventually led him to crypto

– Oasis enables privacy for on-chain transactions through developer-first tools

– Developers are the main target audience for Oasis’s offerings

– A smooth dev experience is key to onboarding more builders

– AI and privacy are deeply intertwined in Oasis’s vision

– Decentralized AI alternatives can help protect user data and integrity

– Verified autonomy is a foundational need for future AI agents

– Imperial is a project working on deploying autonomous agents

– Oasis provides off-chain secure logic infrastructure for agents

– Privacy is becoming essential across verticals—DeFi, NFTs, and beyond

– Hackathons offer valuable insight into what developers actually need

– Crypto Twitter remains a primary channel for reaching the community

– Developer-driven solutions are the backbone of Oasis’s growth strategy

– Interoperability is crucial to making privacy available across chains

– Oasis is collaborating with multiple protocols to enable cross-chain privacy

– Events are core to Oasis’s 2025 strategy for brand and community building

– There’s a natural synergy between developer and retail community needs

– Oasis plans to double down on hackathons and events throughout 2025

Timeline

(00:00) Matej’s journey into Web3 and crypto

(02:57) What Oasis is and why privacy matters

(06:08) Developer focus and target users

(08:46) Making Oasis easy to build on

(11:47) The intersection of AI, privacy, and crypto

(15:50) AI agents and their use cases

(29:04) Why agents are gaining traction in Web3

(30:24) Why privacy should be a default, not an option

(34:47) How Oasis reaches and supports developers

(40:52) Navigating developer vs. retail community needs

(45:19) Oasis’s approach to cross-chain privacy integration

(52:38) What Oasis has planned for hackathons and events in 2025

Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.