Crypto Token Talk

In this week’s episode we share a recording of a panel discussion featured on the Women of Crypto stage as a part of LA Blockchain Week. This discussion is moderated by our Crypto Token Talk host, Kelley Weaver. The guests are Crystal Rose (CEO and co-founder of Sensay), Emily Bush (co-founder of shEOS), Sarah Austin (CMO and co-founder of SOMA Open Network), and Jessica VerSteeg (CEO and founder of Paragon). The entrepreneurs share their journeys into blockchain. The group represents a diverse range of projects and each woman provides insights into the challenges that each industry has and is facing. They discuss current technological innovations that will develop blockchain and mass adoption. The entrepreneurs each advise on key features of a startup and give recommendations for beginner entrepreneurs. To conclude, the women hypothesize about the future impact of crypto and blockchain.   Topics covered: - Introductions to Crystal, Emily, Sarah, and Jessica. - How each guest got involved in technology and bl

Jeremy Musighi, founder of Immutable Capital, joins the show today. He is an entrepreneur who began investing in Bitcoin in 2013 and has founded several companies. Immutable Capital started as a consultancy but is in the process of adding an investing branch. Jeremy shares with us how he thinks blockchain will change the way that society and government operate. He explains how blockchain can be used in developing countries to give individuals more financial freedom. Although he concedes that there will be roadblocks, he argues that the benefits will outweigh the difficulties. He concludes by sharing which educational resources have helped him build a foundational knowledge of crypto and blockchain.   Topics covered: - Jeremy’s background and how he got started in crypto. - What excites Jeremy about blockchain. - Blockchain affecting developing countries. - Why it matters for people in developing countries to have access to crypto. - Barriers for cryptocurrency in developing nations. - Smartphone and bank acco

We are joined by Ana De Sousa who leads operations at FalconX, a cryptocurrency fintech company. Ana shares her vetting process for clients and how execution is perhaps the most important point of the process. She proposes the idea that the blockchain and crypto will continue to succeed and grow as industries because there are so many talented teams working to improve current industries or build new ones specifically for the blockchain. For Ana, however, her deep interest lies in applications dealing with privacy. She adamantly believes that any current issues or criticisms related to privacy in bitcoin or crypto exchange will be solved with time. Furthermore, she is optimistic that the ongoing regulation of crypto will not affect its followership. Ana is hopeful that the crypto space will advance greatly in the next decade. She finishes with advice for people who want to get involved with crypto.   Topics covered: - Ana’s background and an introduction to FalconX. - Differentiating good projects from great o

Kevin Beauregard joins us today to discuss AUX-Augmented Exchange. Kevin began in blockchain and crypto in 2013 when he founded GoCoin, which processes fiat-to-crypto payments. Then in 2017, after working with various start-ups, he and a co-worker founded AUX. AUX is a decentralized auction that uses smart contracts and allows users to set their own values for tokenized assets. The platform is in beta stage and ready for use. Kevin shares with us the barriers he has faced in building the company and what he believes to be the greatest barriers to the expansion of crypto. He concludes the episode with resources for newcomers to the crypto space.   Topics covered: - Kevin’s history in crypto. - What AUX does. - Fungible vs. non-fungible assets and how smart contracts work. - Problems with auctions that have led to creating AUX. - The types of assets that should be tokenized. - The ongoing AUX beta and how to get started. - The future of blockchain and its liquidity. - What needs to happen in the crypto space to

Today we are joined by Simona Pop, Head of Marketing & Community for The Bounties Network. This network created and uses the Bounties protocol, which enables users to create tasks across any vertical business. The user pays in ETH or any ERC20 token in order to incentivize behaviour. The protocol allows people to impart change in global communities and shift cultural norms all together. Some use cases of Bounties Network include broadening access to blockchain for people with non-technical backgrounds and for non-English speakers, cleaning up oceans and providing free education. Simona is passionate about using blockchain to strengthen a global sense of community. She discusses how blockchain is so much more than an investing tool; she believes the technology can change our world. She wraps up by encouraging listeners to contact her with social impact suggestions and sharing some advice about blockchain.   Topics covered: - How Simona discovered crypto and started the Bounties Network. - Use cases for the

Joining us today is Dylan Dewdney to talk about Mimblewimble. Mimblewimble protocol was started anonymously and allows cryptocurrency transactions to be conducted without sharing any previous transaction history. He explains that this element of security is what will enable crypto be truly fundgible. With exchanges becoming increasingly targeted by regulation, Dylan proposes that this security feature of Minblewimble will eliminate the need for most centralized exchanges altogether. Dylan concludes with advice for newcomers who want to get involved with crypto.   Topics covered: - Dylan’s discovery of cryptocurrency. - How the idea for the Mimblewimble protocol came to be. - What things can be powered by Mimblewimble. - The anonymity of the protocol. - Potential government regulation of Mimblewimble and the whole crypto space. - The dominance and future of exchanges. - A closer look at the term “fungible” and how it relates to crypto. - Completing a mass volume of daily transactions. - Dylan’s specific involv

Our guest today is Sloane Trugman, an advisor and activist in blockchain. Sloane focuses her work on social impact and believes that blockchain can assist in solving the 17 sustainable goals that the UN intends to fix by 2030. She explains that cryptocurrency functions better than fiat in trying to solve global issues because crypto does not belong to any of the current geo-political economies; it lies outside of the current practiced industries. She expounds by providing examples of how blockchain can be used to track resources so that items such as food will not get wasted, and how voting can be democratized.   Topics covered: - How Sloane first got involved with cryptocurrency. - Advising companies and using cryptocurrencies creatively. - Blockchain for Impact. - Why fiat won’t work to solve all the problems in the world. - The 20th century models of investment and growth. - Blockchain’s use in delivering information. - How measurable success regarding the UN’s 17 goals can be achieved with crypto. - Trac

This episode welcomes Micah Winkelspecht, Founder and CEO of Gem. Micah first discovered blockchain while working as a programmer. Today Gem is launching a new user friendly wallet designed specifically for non-blockchain-saavy users. Gem has undergone several iterations and released multiple blockchain related products, but Micah maintains that the goal for him has always been to give access and power back to the individual. The newest product launch from Gem does just this. It’s a wallet and portfolio tracker, that manages all of a user’s activities in one space. The wallet goes live in 2019. Outside of making blockchain more accessible to the public, Micah is an enthusiast who is passionate about the industry and speaks openly about the need for security. More specifically, he comments on a recent article about the security risks associated with cell phone carriers and how they can be avoided.   Topics covered: - Micah’s programming background and discovery of Bitcoin. - Creating a crypto wallet library. -

Our guest today is Zayi Reyes, VP Marketing at MetaX. She began working at MetaX in in it’s early stages when the company was first transitioning to blockchain. Now MetaX is partnered with ConsenSys and Microsoft for the adChain Registry project. Adchain Registry is a community-curated whitelist on the Ethereum mainnet for the advertising industry. Zayi explains how websites can apply to be added to the whitelist and acceptance is decided on by participant voting. She emphasizes that marketing is key to enabling mainstream adoption of blockchain. To conclude, Zayi shares some of her favorite potential applications and shares resources on expanding blockchain knowledge and awareness.   Topics covered: - Zayi’s responsibilities at MetaX. - How Zayi got involved with cryptocurrency. - adChain Registry and what it wants to accomplish. - Applying domains on adChain. - Marketing strategies for adChain. - Marketing in relation to mainstream cryptocurrency adoption. - The blockchain applications that Zayi is excited

Steve Beauregard is founder and chairman at GoCoin and chief revenue officer at Bloq. Steve shares his experiences starting out GoCoin and explains to us the premise behind the platform. GoCoin lets merchants safely and easily accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as payments. After GoCoin, Steve transitioned to Bloq which is a B2B that delivers comprehensive, blockchain solutions to businesses. He shares with us the roadblocks that he’s faced in working with the evolving technology in the past and local projects that excite him now. Steve concludes the interview by sharing some personal relationships in the space that have helped him grow.   Topics Covered: -   How GoCoin came to be and what purpose it serves. -   GoCoin helps mitigate the risk of crypto price volatility. -   Bloq is tackling challenges in the blockchain application space. -   Opportunities and challenges seen today with blockchain networks. -   Tax complications caused by using crypto. -   Steve’s favorite applications of blockchain tec

Susan Brazer is a digital and mobile transformation exec. She has launched disruptive digital media and mobile platforms globally and has worked for companies such as Apple, DirecTV, Viacom, and Nokia. Currently, Susan is an investment advisor with Decentralized Global and the CEO of LionShare Media. LionShare is a platform that integrates video streaming and blockchain tech to create a decentralized distribution platform. This episode gives us an inside look into both businesses and uncovers various aspects of investing in blockchain.   Topics covered: - How Susan and Decentralized Global evaluate companies to invest in. - Investment strategies: long-term hold, quick exit, or a mix? Every deal is unique. - Evolving security laws, Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). - Countries fostering innovation and welcoming ICOs. - Negative and positive experiences working globally. - The excitement around blockchain space and how the speed of change is faster than other technologies in the past. -

This episode of Crypto Token Talk was recorded live with Arun Kalaiselvan, co-founder and CTO of Blockdaemon; Niki Williams, Community Curator of ConsenSys; and Cyrus Taghehchian, co-founder and CEO of Splyt at the General Assembly camplus in Santa Monica. The panel focuses on how blockchain applies and can apply to various industries such as gaming and e-commerce. All three guests give their take on how far away they think we as consumers are from interacting with blockchain technology, how we should make sure it is user friendly, and the extent of awareness the general public may have about the technology. The guests discuss various career routes that can lead to involvement with the blockchain community and share how people can begin interacting with crypto and learn from trustworthy news sources.   Topics covered: - A brief background of each guest’s company. - How blockchain will affect gaming. - The industries that ConsenSys is influencing. - The problems with present-day e-commerce. - An open discussio

Today’s guest is Kirill Bensonoff from Caviar, a crypto trading platform. Kirill shares how he transitioned from working for a web hosting company to becoming an early investor in Bitcoin. Since his initial investment in 2013, Kirill has become a blockchain advisor and the host of the Boston Crypto Meetup, founder of the Boston Blockchain & AI Angels group. Recently, Kirill wrote about the advantages of bear markets and discusses with us strategies to get through one. He segues to discuss the current shift from crowdfunding to private capital and his assessment of the role of venture capitalists in crypto investing. The episode closes with some advice and resources to entrepreneurs and people who want to get more involved in the space.   Topics covered: - Kirill’s diverse background in technology. - How Kirill is currently involved in crypto. - Buying a Bitcoin in-person in 2013. - Kirill’s recent article about bear markets. - Strategies that can be used during bear markets. - Investment from venture capi

Anita Motwani is the head of business development for Celsius in North America. Celsius is a new way to deposit, borrow, and earn interest with crypto. The platform allows users to earn up to 5% interest while they HODL, or borrow fiat at 9% against crypto stored in a Celsius wallet.  They’re aiming to get the next 100 million people into cryptocurrency, and offer an option for those who want to HODL but need cash right away. By taking a loan rather than selling the crypto, users can also avoid large capital gains hits. Currently, Celsius is only lending to institutions, but their goal is to have the protocol available to everybody. The hope is to provide crypto banking services on the international scale.   Topics covered: - How Celsius works and why people would want to borrow against their crypto. - What happens if the price of crypto fluctuates during your loan period. - Technology behind the Celsius platform and how it’s secured. - How Celsius earns and pays interest. - What happens if you want your cryt

This episode’s guest is Juan Hernandez, CEO of OpenFinance Network. Juan introduces us to the OpenFinance trading platform and explains why there is a high demand for security token trading. He offers up information about the different types of security tokens and why he believes they are the key to attracting more mainstream users for crypto trading. We conclude with Juan’s recommendations for first-timers hoping to get involved in crypto.   Topics covered: - Juan’s eighteen years of experience in technology and finance. - What OpenFinance Network does. - The difference between a security token and a utility token. - Investing in STOs (security token offerings) and the four different types. - Juan’s entry point into the crypto space. - The recent launch of the OpenFinance Network trading platform. - The user interface of the platform. - Tasks that Juan sees as a struggle for crypto users. - The next six months-one year in cryptocurrency and an upcoming buzzword. - OpenFinance Network’s partners and advisors.

Tricia Martinez is Founder & CEO at Wala and Director at Dala Foundation. In this episode, Tricia explains how her research led her to use blockchain to encourage financial growth in emerging markets. The foundation Dala and company Wala are able to operate on a no-fee model and aid consumers and small business owners who are often left out of the current financial markets. Wala is a no-fee financial app for emerging markets, and Dala is a multi-chain open-source crypto asset. Wala is the first major contributor to Dala’s open source development, and the first open source application to allow the use of Dala for transactions and peer-to-peer transfers.   Tricia discovered that emerging parts of the world were hungry for a financial system that worked for users and small business owners. It may come as a surprise, but even in emerging countries, cell phones are quite popular, so the idea to use them for peer-to-peer transactions makes complete sense. Adoption has been extremely fast, providing even more ev

David Bleznak is the founder and CEO of Totle, a game-changing ERC-20 token trading platform. The idea for Totle sprung from several challenges that David encountered when he first started trading crypto. He wanted to make everything from balancing his portfolio to dealing with multiple exchanges, and using spreadsheets streamlined, accessible and simple. Totle aims to provide the very best possible user experience to its users. In developing the Totle platform, the user interface was designed before moving on blockchain integration, making Totle a user friendly, decentralized trading platform for everyone-even non aficionados. Currently in beta, Totle’s decentralized exchange platform brings a host of benefits for users, making crypto trading accessible to anyone.   Topics covered: Challenges that helped David realize the need for a solution like Totle. What Totle is and how it works. Totle supports Ethereum and all ERC-20 tokens, which form about 90% of the crypto market. Advantages of Totle compared with

Bailey Reutzel, one of the editors at CoinDesk, joins us this week. She shares with us her journey into the counterculture crypto community and the various projects and stories that eventually led her to her current role at CoinDesk.   Bailey divulges the types of stories she is interested in covering and that most often her goal is to follow the interests of her readers. Analyzing the needs of the reader is the key for Bailey. Her years of experience and knowledge in the crypto scene have eased the challenge of uncovering the core events of the crypto communities. Bailey encourages entrepreneurs and communications teams to similarly consider the needs and interests of the reader when pitching to reporters. We conclude by hearing what resources Bailey likes to use to keep up on crypto, how Twitter may not always be the best resource and her advice for newcomers to the space.   Topics covered: - Bailey’s background and how she first discovered crypto. - Writing about the initial coin offering (ICO) boom of 201

Today’s guest is Gavin Douglas, CEO of iPowow and founder of the HIT protocol, the media company’s blockchain initiative for empowering all players in the ecosystem. iPowow is a participation TV platform which has been experimenting with the use of blockchain and their own token. From the beginning of Gavin’s career, he sought to further engagement between viewers and the content they watched. It wasn’t until 2010 when the technology caught up to his dream and he was able to found iPowow with a group of engineers and TV producers. iPowow founded the idea of “Participation TV” by developing the technology to connect viewers directly to TV content through their second screen device (i.e. smart phones, iPads, etc.). The next iteration in iPowow’s mission to deepen connections between viewers and content providers is to tokenize content viewing by moving iPowow onto the blockchain. In this episode, Gavin delves into this journey, explaining that surrounding himself with experts in storytelling and emerging techno

Nisa Amoils is a venture capital investor with experience as an entrepreneur, a media executive, and a corporate lawyer. She also writes for Forbes and Blockchain Magazine. Nisa tells us about how being part of an Angel Group in New York first got her interested in crypto back in 2013. Today, in addition to investing in blockchain companies, she also works closely with new companies to build communities and raise capital. Nisa educates us about all the industries that blockchain can change, ICO controversies and the adoption rate of cryptocurrency. She shares with us how to create more crypto adoption. To close, Nisa recommends her favorite blockchain literature, with a special focus on a recent book that a colleague of hers wrote.   Topics covered: - Nisa’s previous investments in technology. - How Nisa discovered crypto and her interest in disruptive technology. - The tools that Nisa used to discover more about crypto and blockchain. - Nisa’s day-to-day involvement with cryptocurrency companies. - Projects