Crypto Token Talk

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of Public Relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our tenth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with PR and communications maven Aubrey Strobel to discuss her journey to Bitcoin, how she’s grown her social and editorial networks, the need for more robust social strategies in the digital age, the humanitarian side of Bitcoin, and so much more!   To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.  

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of Public Relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our ninth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with fellow entrepreneur Josh Hubberman, CTHDRL Co-Founder / Partner to discuss building the bridge between Web3 tech that can solve Web2 problems, visual identity for a brand, how blockchain tech is like a new paintbrush, the creative intersection of tech and digital design, and so much more!  To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.   

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of Public Relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our eighth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with Jacquelyn Melinek, Senior Crypto Reporter at TechCrunch to chat through the importance of knowing what makes a good story versus being assigned a story, why having a good read on people is paramount in journalism, being a free bird when it comes to social media, and so much more!  To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.   

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3. In our seventh episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR, sits down with Joe Nakamoto, Bitcoin journalist at Cointelegraph. Kelley and Joe dive into his old-school approaches to journalism, why trust between reporters and PR professionals is paramount, the ethical fine lines of using ChatGPT/other AI tools, and why loads of salt water is the key to great hair. You won’t want to miss this one! To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.   

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our sixth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR, sits down with Kelsey McGuire, CGO at Shardeum. Kelsey started her Web3 journey in 2018 at Consensys, where she led experiential marketing efforts before joining Shardeum. Kelley and Kelsey dive into the challenges of marketing and PR in an ever-changing media landscape and how titles can pigeonhole career trajectories.  Tune into this episode to also hear how to successfully cut through the noise of chaotic media cycles and why Kelsey feels the title CGO better encompasses the role of a marketer in Web3. To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.  

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our fifth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with Cory Klippsten, CEO of Swan.com who has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, NYT, WSJ, and more. Kelley and Cory dive into how he’s developed strong relationships with reporters and become a go-to resource when there’s breaking news across the crypto and Bitcoin industries. Tune into this episode to also hear how Cory leverages his Twitter presence, navigates time sensitive media cycles and has grown an exceptional team.  To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.   

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3.  In our fourth episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with Isabel Foxen Duke, Ordinals Advisor and previously Comms Director for the Ordinals Core team to discuss the unique PR tactics Isabel leveraged to make Ordinals the most talked about Bitcoin story in years. Kelley and Isabel discuss how to harness the power of passionate communities on both sides of the crypto divide, how to hook a reporter, the latest trends in mass adoption messaging, plus much more!  To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.  

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3. In our third episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with Cam Thompson, Web3 Reporter at CoinDesk.   Kelley and Cam discuss objective reporting, crypto being here to stay, why you shouldn’t ghost reporters who DM you, the importance of maintaining reporter relationships, and much more! To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR. 

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3. In this episode, our host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR sits down with Hailey Lennon, Partner at Brown Rudnick, President of Crypto Connect and renowned crypto Twitter persona. Kelley and Hailey discuss working in the Bitcoin space for several years, navigating challenges on a professional and personal level, and the opportunities associated with building a strong personal brand on Twitter.  To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.  

Welcome to Proof-of-PR, your passport into the world of public relations for Bitcoin and Web3. In our first episode, host Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR, sits down with Abram Smith,  Vice President at Greenbrier Partners, who leads their crypto division.  Kelley and Abram discuss common mistakes and PR tips for navigating a crisis, how social media plays an important role in crisis comms, devising policies to navigate new territory presented by AI, and much more! To stay up-to-date on upcoming guests and news follow us on Twitter at @ProofOfPR.   

In today’s episode, Nikki Del Principe is joined by guests Evan Shapiro and Izaak Meckler. CEO Evan and CTO Izaak are both Co-Founders of O(1) Labs, the team behind Mina.  Mina (formerly Coda Protocol), the world's lightest blockchain powered by participants, deploys recursive zk-SNARKs to ensure the blockchain remains the same size—22 kb—enabling anyone to sync the chain in seconds, ushering in a new era of blockchain accessibility. We hear how Evan and Izaak became interested in cryptocurrency and the technology behind it in high school and collaborated together on coding projects before bringing O(1) Labs to life. We learn about the transformation of the Coda Protocol to Mina and the importance of community input on the project. Evan and Izaak hope to solve the problems inherent to today’s internet and bring back creative expression through providing developers with the foundation and tooling they need to build Snapps, verifiable SNARK-powered smart contracts. They take us through the technology behind Min

In today’s episode, Nikki Del Principe is joined by Tram Vo. Tram is Founder and COO of MOBI (Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative), a company dedicated to improving and supporting the development of an efficient digital, multi-sided mobility marketplace. With a varied background in academics and non-profit, Tram came to blockchain in 2015 when she and her husband began to consider the possibilities of tracking and tracing using the nascent technology. In 2018, MOBI was founded and Tram began her mission to build the new economy of movement while utilizing blockchain to create greener cities. We hear how Tram left her position at the Getty Conservation Institute to create MOBI and the company’s mission to establish standards for the mobility space. We learn how blockchain, along with a convergence of other technologies, can create security for data and the importance of seamless background processes. Tram goes on to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the digitization of cities and how MOBI is contributing to th

In today’s episode Kelley Weaver is joined by Carol Van Cleef, Founder and CEO of Luminous Group and pioneer in legal issues involving cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Additionally, she is Chair of the Blockchain and Digital Assets practice with Bradley, based in Washington, D.C. With Luminous Group, Carol offers general blockchain consulting with a speciality in compliance. As a certified AML specialist, Carol’s expertise is invaluable to her clients, which include banks, securities firms, and money services businesses. We hear how Carol entered the cryptocurrency market and her 20-year experience working with alternative payment systems. She discusses the modernization efforts in the banking industry and the hurdles it faces. Carol goes on to take us through what she believes have been the pivotal regulatory advancements in the crypto space and the biggest setbacks. Wrapping up the episode, Carol tells us what she is excited about in regulatory advancements and the new wave of crypto adopters. To

In today’s episode, Kelley Weaver is joined by Sunayna Tuteja, Head of Digital Assets at TD Ameritrade. Sunayna begins by telling us her background in finance and how she ended up in the cryptocurrency sector. TD Ameritrade aims to aid clients with adoption of cryptocurrency and lead the industry in technological innovations. We hear how Sunayna joined TD Ameritrade to spearhead their digital transformation while looking at emerging technology to continually add value for customers and the company. We learn how client demand drives adoption of crypto and blockchain technology. Sunayna takes us through the company’s three-pronged approach to services, partnerships, and education and how every aspect is tailored to the TD Ameritrade's core clientele. Sunayna wraps up the episode by discussing custody solutions and what she is excited about for the future of crypto and blockchain technologies. Topics covered: - What got Sunayna into crypto - TD Ameritrade’s background in innovation within the financial sector -

Today, guest host Nikki Del Principe is joined by Dave Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace. Dave begins by telling us how he first discovered crypto in 1999 when he got involved in the Cypherpunk movement and how that led him to become a founder of CipherTrace. The goal of CipherTrace is to make cryptocurrencies globally available and safe for everyone, including banks and other financial institutions. CipherTrace provides services to crypto exchanges to ensure that their customers are not using their platforms to launder money or engage in other criminal activities. CipherTrace recently launched a Central Bank Digital Currency Initiative, and Dave discusses the initiative's prioritization of security, privacy, and compliance. When it comes to mass adoption of digital currencies, Dave emphasizes the need for a contactless solution, such as debit cards, that doesn't require a smart phone with internet connectivity to use. Summarizing the findings from CipherTrace's Spring 2020 Cryptocurrency Crime and Anti-Money Launde

Today we’re joined by three very talented ladies from Hercode: Nicky Campa, Avalon Barrie, and Heidi Pease. The three begin by telling us their backgrounds and what led to their involvement in the blockchain industry, each bringing unique qualities and experiences to the team. Hercode is an initiative within LA Blockchain Lab that focuses on women and diversity in the blockchain space. Over the past year, Hercode has worked with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering to provide courses to teachers in Afghanistan so that they will be equipped to educate young girls about blockchain technology and coding in Solidity. Another program launched by Hercode focuses on educating high school girls in Los Angeles about blockchain.  As difficult as the coronavirus pandemic has been, it has made the Hercode team realize the importance of online education, which is an area they are now focusing on closely. Nicky, Avalon, and Heidi speak to what can come from educating women worldwide on emerging technologies and their exci

Nikki Del Principe, Director of Content Strategy at Melrose PR, hosts this special episode of Crypto Token Talk focused on "Communications During Crisis" in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Kelsey McGuire, Co-Head of Experiential Marketing at ConsenSys, and Kelley Weaver, CEO of Melrose PR and usual host of Crypto Token Talk, join this episode as guests. We begin with Kelley and Kelsey sharing best practices for PR and marketing during periods of crisis. Key points include: Know Your Audience Share Content that People Crave Be Authentic Don't Over-Generalize Focus on Value-Driven Marketing Next, Kelsey shares how her team has tweaked tactics pertaining to virtual events to add value. She discusses the ETH2 virtual summit and how they are adding gamified components and working with partners to make this online event community-oriented. Kelley shares how Melrose PR had to make strategic adjustments at the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the announcement of Fold's Visa-powered bitcoin reward

In today’s episode Melrose PR Director of Content Strategy Nikki Del Principe guest-hosts Emre Tekisalp. Emre is the Head of Business Development at O(1) Labs, the team behind Coda Protocol. Before joining O(1) Labs, Emre was at Coinbase, the largest exchange in the U.S., and found his way into crypto back in 2015 through roles at Ripple and a few other projects. When you look at blockchains in general, starting with Bitcoin, one of the biggest struggles is how to make these virtual machines more accessible, personal, and powerful. Emre describes this dilemma as the "infamous scaling debate." Coda addresses this problem by deploying zero knowledge proofs to keep the blockchain at a tiny fixed size. At Coda, the data needed to download the blockchain is only about 20 kilobytes, which, when compared to other blockchains that require hundreds of gigabytes, is incredibly small and lightweight. Coda recently introduced a new term, ScaDe ScaDe (Scalability-per-unit-of-Decentralization), that incorporates decentrali

In today’s episode of Crypto Token Talk our guest is Michelle Chuang, COO of Asensys. She spent 20 years in marketing consumer brands before moving into crypto and blockchain. The lack of data security online is what originally sparked her interest in uses of blockchain technology to improve the digital economy. She discusses why decentralization is key to the security of blockchain systems, but that, historically, these networks have had difficulty achieving high performance while retaining decentralization and security. This problem is called the "blockchain trilemma."   Asensys addresses blockchain's scalability problem head-on by introducing the concept of asynchronous consensus zones to reduce redundancies across the network. She uses the analogy of opening up more check-out lines at the grocery store to explain how it works. The consumer awareness about the need for data privacy is there, and so, in terms of mass adoption, Michelle believes that it's a matter of operationalizing blockchain technology to

Our guest for today is Tongtong Gong, COO and Co-founder of Amberdata. She moved to the U.S. from Beijing, China when she was 17 years old, and her inability to speak English properly influenced her to choose Computer Science as an area of study because programming languages actually felt less intimidating to her. She started learning about crypto in 2013 and kept diving deeper from there. Amberdata is a data infrastructure company that provides blockchain network data and market data in a single API, which allows people to build on top of it. During the ICO boom, it seemed like a necessity that could help contribute from a data infrastructure perspective. Amberdata’s customers fall into three categories: developers, traders, and major institutions moving into the digital assets space. In the following five years, Tongtong believes the industry will be growing and, based on financial history, she thinks that it won’t be in a linear, predictable fashion. Rather, it will be a punctuated equilibrium because new