Web3 with Sam Kamani

EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs, a fascinating builder who has worked across NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism before landing at the intersection of crypto, stocks, prediction markets, and AI. We dig into why Gen Z is financially nihilistic right now and why that actually creates a massive opportunity. Smit breaks down the concept of hyper-financialization, explains why retaining Gen Z users is far harder than acquiring them, and shares the raw growth lessons he picked up at big tech and in the trenches of a Layer 2 ecosystem. We also talk about what most Web3 founders get wrong, why bad UX has been the industry's dirty secret for too long, and how Cronos is building an everything trading app for eight tier one markets around the world. If you are building in Web3 or crypto and want a no-BS growth perspective from someone who has seen it all, this one is for you. 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/ CONNECT Cronos Website: https://cronos.com/Cronos App on X/Twitter: https://x.com/CronosAppCronos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getcronos/Web3 with Sam Kamani Podcast: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Smit Vachhani from Cronos Labs and previews the episode themes• [01:55] Smit's background: growing up in the Bay Area, engineering at Cal, early Bitcoin experience selling video game gold• [03:30] Working at Optimism, building blockchain infrastructure for Coinbase, Kraken, Sony and others• [04:17] Why bear markets are the best time to build and how to filter signal from noise• [04:43] Introducing the concept of hyper-financialization and what it means for the next generation• [06:10] Why Cronos is not just an everything app for everyone , eight tier one markets and the Gen Z focus• [08:13] Why Gen Z is financially nihilistic and how that shapes product thinking• [11:25] Prediction markets as exhibit A of hyper-financialization, and a nod to Kalshi and Polymarket• [14:02] Onboarding is easy for Gen Z , retention is the real challenge• [15:53] Growth lessons from NVIDIA, LinkedIn, and Optimism applied to Cronos• [18:07] The single most important lesson for early-stage Web3 founders• [21:28] How to retain users and why being unopinionated about your own product is a superpower• [24:40] September 17th launch date for the Cronos app V1 , sports, stocks, perps, crypto, and more• [27:25] Products Smit admires: FOMO, Polymarket, and Tempo• [29:00] Partnerships with Polymarket, Hyperliquid, Morpho, and Chainlink• [30:39] The one ask: download the app, give feedback, and follow @CronosApp on X

EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Rick Thomas, co-CEO of OnRamper, to dig into a problem most crypto projects hit eventually: on-ramping is way more complicated than it looks. OnRamper aggregates over 30 on-ramping services into a single API and widget, giving wallets, exchanges, neo banks, and trading apps full global coverage without the headache of managing dozens of integrations. Rick breaks down why the on-ramp market is so fragmented, how their AI-powered routing algorithm maximises success rates across countries and payment methods, why KYC is still the biggest bottleneck in the space, and where the whole fiat-to-crypto journey is heading as TradFi and on-chain finance continue to merge. We also get into their identity layer product, the no-KYC card world and its risks, where we are in the current market cycle, and what OnRamper is building next. 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/ CONNECT OnRamper Website: https://onramper.com/OnRamper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onramper/Rick Thomas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-thomas/OnRamper Twitter/X: https://x.com/getonramper?s=21&t=GgYr5F_q7Jm-R2MfE-A6xAOnRamper Telegram: https://t.me/onramperstandardRick Thomas Twitter/X: https://x.com/RickTho16000125Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Introduction to Rick Thomas and OnRamper , aggregating 30+ on-ramps into one API and widget• [01:33] How Rick got into crypto in 2015 via a Moscow office full of Bitcoin mining rigs strapped to the ceiling• [04:19] The origin story of OnRamper , founder Thijs Maas was building a wallet, kept hitting on-ramp dead ends, and decided to build the aggregator instead• [06:24] Why the on-ramp market is so fragmented , licensing, regional requirements, fraud engines, KYC layers, and low barriers to entry• [08:09] OnRamper's B2B2C model , clients include TrustWallet, Exodus, Coinbase Wallet, Axiom, Pump.fun, gate.io, and more• [09:18] The rise of neo banks and card programs, and why aggregating card issuers is OnRamper's next big move• [13:44] KYC as the biggest unsolved bottleneck , and OnRamper's identity layer built in partnership with Sumsub• [15:10] The biggest mistake projects make when adding on-ramps , assuming one or two providers will be enough• [17:19] Customer success story: closing Solflare at a pizza-and-ping-pong side event at Breakpoint 2023• [19:18] How OnRamper's dual AI routing algorithm works , real-time routing across payment methods, countries, pricing, and historical success rates• [22:05] Why end-to-end success rates are the North Star metric , and how rates can plummet in markets like Indonesia without local payment methods• [24:21] Where fiat on-ramps are heading , consolidation, bank crypto integrations, virtual accounts, stablecoin rails, and card programs• [28:29] The no-KYC card world explained , how they work, the risks involved, and why compliance exposure falls entirely on the user• [32:49] OnRamper is still breaking volume and revenue records despite a broader bear market• [35:02] Biggest current challenge: an aggressive product roadmap and a need for more engineers• [37:27] Key asks , engineers near or open to Amsterdam, and projects still running single on-ramp integrations looking to upgrade

EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Baron, a 20-year veteran of the oil and gas industry who started his career as a trader at Petronas and has spent decades working across crude oil, fuel oil, refined petroleum products, and derivatives. Baron is writing a book called The Litro Standard, and his thesis is fascinating: instead of anchoring money to gold or the US dollar, we should be anchoring digital finance to verified energy. We dig into how the current commodity settlement system is broken , why it takes 90 days to get paid for oil you sold today, why buyers never actually know the price they'll pay, and how tokenizing energy could compress that into an instant. We also get into the real-world oil market dynamics most people miss: why the Brent crude price hasn't exploded despite the Strait of Hormuz crisis, why China is the single biggest factor keeping oil below $100, and what would actually need to happen for oil to hit $130. This is one of those conversations where I genuinely felt like I was downloading years of insider knowledge in under an hour. 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/ CONNECT Baron LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baron-idriss-lamarre-00a390169/Baron Twitter/X: https://x.com/Baron_LamarreWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Baron and the Litro Standard , the idea of pegging digital money to verified energy instead of gold or the dollar• [02:00] Baron shares his background: 20 years in oil and gas, starting at Petronas in 2003 as an oil trader, covering crude, fuel oil, refined products, and derivatives• [03:53] What is the Litro Standard? Linking digital money to verified, audited energy , crude oil, natural gas, electricity , as collateral for settlement and trade• [05:17] Key benefits: energy-producing nations can anchor their currency to an asset they control, reducing dependence on the dollar• [08:20] How tokenizing oil in the ground works , buyers get direct access to producers, cutting out intermediaries• [10:13] The 90-day settlement problem: sell oil today, get paid in October , and the invoice price is not the price you agreed on• [13:52] The Strait of Hormuz problem and how the Litro Standard's location swap mechanism could reroute cargo through pooled reserves• [16:38] What is broken in today's financial system: trust is slow, costly, and politically fragile; Swift and correspondent banking have become geopolitical chokepoints• [20:20] The historical lesson people miss , monetary systems follow infrastructure revolutions, not the other way around• [25:35] Who really controls the oil price today: 80% is determined by financial markets and speculators, not producers• [27:01] Common misconceptions about the oil market , it is not as opaque or elite as people think, and refineries sometimes run at a loss just to keep operating• [30:43] Why Brent crude is still around $80 despite the Strait of Hormuz crisis , China's strategic reserve, alternative routes, and the $100 demand destruction threshold• [33:04] China as the buyer of last resort and how ADNOC leaving OPEC and joining the Shanghai Energy Exchange is reshaping price benchmarks• [38:33] Baron's boldest prediction: the next monetary revolution will not begin in central banks , it will begin in commodity markets, transaction by transaction• [40:27] Baron's ask: read the book, question assumptions, and join the conversation about the convergence of energy, technology, and money

EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sit down with Martin Pokorski from Skynet Trading , one of the earliest market makers in the space, operating since 2019 , to pull back the curtain on what's really happening inside token markets. Martin breaks down what founders consistently get wrong about liquidity, why checking CoinGecko every day is not a liquidity strategy, and what a proper liquidity audit actually reveals that surface-level metrics will never show you. We talk about the infamous "Houdini liquidity" trick, why some billion-dollar market cap projects have no product, and why thinking liquidity-first before your listing strategy could be the most important decision you make as a founder. If you're a VC, an investor, or a builder with a token live or in the pipeline, this conversation gives you the framework to understand what healthy markets actually look like , and how to get there. 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/ CONNECT Skynet Trading Website: https://skynettrading.com/Skynet Trading Twitter/X: https://x.com/SkynetTrading_Skynet Trading LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skynet-trading/Martin Pokorski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinpokorski/Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Introduction to Martin Pokorski and Skynet Trading , what they do and why liquidity matters for token projects• [01:42] Martin's origin story , how a university LAN party in Australia in 2014 sparked his crypto career• [03:48] Running one of the first Bitcoin OTC desks in Australia with over 6,000 clients• [04:45] What Skynet Trading does: market making for token issuers and designated market making for exchanges• [06:26] What Martin is seeing on the ground , token launches are still happening, and the current market is actually an advantage for serious projects• [07:39] The RWA narrative and why sovereign funds and traditional finance firms are quietly exploring tokenization• [09:21] The first question Martin asks every founder: do you actually need a token?• [10:49] Why the GameFi opportunity is still real but requires patience , and lessons from the AAA gaming world• [15:52] What Skynet's liquidity audit reports cover , spread, depth, consistency across venues, and price dislocations• [17:41] Why checking CoinGecko is not a liquidity strategy and what the data actually reveals• [19:43] The biggest misconception founders have about liquidity• [22:00] Key warning signs in token markets , pulled liquidity, blown spreads, and "Houdini liquidity" explained• [24:23] The questions Martin asks early-stage founders and what the liquidity masterclass covers• [26:27] How Skynet Trading grew almost entirely through word of mouth and referrals• [28:02] Where the industry is in the current cycle and why Martin is optimistic for the next few years• [32:05] The single most important piece of advice for founders with a live token: think liquidity-first• [34:30] Why your token price becomes a daily public proxy for how your entire business is perceived• [37:04] What's being built quietly during the current crypto winter , and why the next bull run could feature far stronger products• [40:26] Martin's offer to run a free liquidity audit report for any founder who heard him on this podcast

EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with John O'Connor from RealFi to dig into one of the most overlooked problems in crypto , the fact that the $350 billion sitting in stablecoins is doing almost nothing for the people who hold it. Tether and Circle pocket the yield while you hold a digital dollar that just sits there. John walks me through exactly how RealFi flips that model, channeling your stable coins directly into real world credit markets and passing the returns back to you. We talk about USDR and sUSDR, how they manage liquidity risk and redemptions, why DeFi security is an existential threat right now, and why John actually wants RealFi to be called boring. We also get into the future of decentralised neo-banking in emerging markets, what lessons he carried over from his time as the first hire at Cardano, and why product market fit today matters more than a promised roadmap. 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/ CONNECT Website: https://realfi.coRealFi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/real-fi/Twitter/X: https://x.com/realfi_coRealFi Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Real_FiJohn O'Connor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjtoconnor/John O'Connor Twitter/X: https://x.com/jjtoconnor?lang=enWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/ KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces John O'Connor from RealFi and the topic of productive stablecoins• [01:02] John shares his origin story , from Eve Online in-game currencies to Bitcoin to Cardano as its first hire• [02:54] The core problem: $350 billion in stablecoins sitting idle while Tether and Circle keep all the yield• [04:21] Who the primary users are , institutional allocators, trading collateral, and protocol treasuries• [07:05] Explaining USDR and sUSDR , the base stablecoin versus the staked, yield-accruing version• [08:28] How RealFi manages liquidity risk and redemption mismatches across two separate books• [11:27] Why RealFi is not competing with Tether and USDC but playing in a different and faster-growing lane• [13:24] The hardest challenge , bridging TradFi asset management with the crypto world and navigating global regulation• [15:32] Why DeFi security is an existential question right now and how AI is changing the exploit landscape• [17:40] Exploring smart contract insurance and the challenge of underwriting in a fast-moving risk environment• [21:59] North Star metrics , TVL growth, stickiness of capital, and being proud to be called boring• [25:54] Lessons from Cardano applied to RealFi , focus on product market fit today, not five years from now• [28:05] Companies John admires , Athena for tokenising the funding rate trade and neo-banking startups going after idle corporate balances• [31:37] What needs to happen for productive stablecoins to go mainstream , regulation, decentralised account recovery, and a full neo-banking stack• [35:59] The ask , RealFi is launching on Cardano and EVM Mainnet imminently and wants partners, users, and testers

EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, I sit down with Prakash Kamraj, co-founder of DeCharge Network, to explore one of the most overlooked intersections of Web3 and the physical world: EV charging infrastructure. Prakash walks me through how DeCharge is building an Airbnb-style model for EV chargers, where anyone , from a business owner to a crypto community member , can host a charging station and earn passive income from it. We dig into why the B2B market is the real engine of EV growth, how DeCharge keeps the user experience dead simple with a scan-and-pay web app, and why autonomous charging powered by crypto payment rails could be the next massive wave. We also get into the surprising EV adoption stories across India, China, Southeast Asia, Ethiopia, and beyond. Whether you're an EV owner frustrated by fragmented charging apps, a crypto builder looking for real-world use cases, or an investor trying to spot where energy infrastructure is heading, this conversation is packed with sharp thinking and hard-won lessons from the ground up. 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/ CONNECT DeCharge Website: https://www.decharge.ioScout App: https://scout.decharge.ioTwitter/X:https://x.com/DeChargeTelegram: https://t.me/dechargecommunityWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:01] Sam introduces Prakash Kamraj and DeCharge Network, framing it as an Airbnb for EV chargers• [01:09] Prakash shares his background , from medical field to engineering, health tech startups, and catching the crypto bug in 2017• [03:36] How deep involvement in the early Solana ecosystem in India shaped Prakash's builder mindset• [05:33] The core problem: not enough EV charging infrastructure globally, with one charger for every 80 vehicles on average• [06:33] Sam shares firsthand observations from Guangzhou , nearly 100% EV adoption on the streets• [09:25] The personal range anxiety story that validated the problem , getting stuck at 9% battery in Denver in winter• [10:30] Why copy-pasting the Helium model doesn't work and why a more nuanced distributed model was needed• [11:00] DeCharge's three-pillar model: community-owned slow chargers, fast charger funding pools, and a software network incentive for charge point operators• [14:15] How the business model works , revenue share with hosts, transparent dashboards, and community-funded infra• [17:01] The user experience: scan a QR code, pay as you go, no app download required• [19:31] Why DeCharge integrates with default local payment apps (UPI, Promptpay, Stripe) instead of forcing new behavior• [23:16] Why India isn't lagging , 70% of EV usage is commercial, driven by food delivery riders and ride-sharing fleets• [25:40] Southeast Asia generates 80% of DeCharge's current network revenue• [27:21] Biggest challenges: avoiding R&D rabbit holes, sticking to first principles, and iterating fast across hardware and software• [29:05] Funding journey: seed round led by Lemniscap, first Asian startup in Colosseum's hackathon ecosystem• [32:06] Contrarian view: autonomous EV charging powered by crypto payment rails is the next major wave• [33:30] Energy is the truest form of currency , especially as AI data centers drive massive power demand• [35:14] The ask: charge point operator partnerships, community members, and VC conversations welcome• [39:19] The Scout app , a community-curated tool to map charger density and identify demand hotspots at scout.decharge.io