Blockhash: Exploring The Blockchain

For episode 685 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Muriel Médard, CEO of Optimum, where they are building the fastest decentralized internet protocol for Web3, starting with a high-throughput, low-latency networking protocol that permissionlessly integrates with any blockchain. Optimum is building infrastructure that helps crypto networks and communities operate at peak efficiency. By aligning incentives, streamlining participation, and optimizing on chain activity, Optimum aims to create smarter, more sustainable ecosystems across decentralized networks. As blockchain adoption accelerates, fragmented participation and misaligned incentives continue to slow growth. Optimum tackles this head on by providing tools and systems that empower builders, validators, and communities to coordinate more effectively and unlock long term value. 

For episode 684 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Hoolie Tejwani, Head of Coinbase Ventures.Coinbase Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, launched in 2018 to invest in early-stage crypto and Web3 startups. Its mission is to support "exceptional founders" building the foundation of an open financial system, aligning with Coinbase's overarching goal of increasing economic freedom in the world.  The firm has backed over 600 companies and operates with a highly collaborative approach, offering portfolio companies operational guidance, strategic partnerships, and access to the wider Coinbase ecosystem. 

For episode 683 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Rob Tökölyi, CEO of WeChange, a global noncustodial fiat-to-crypto on-ramp designed to make crypto access simpler, more transparent, and more affordable. They support local bank transfers worldwide and prioritize user self-custody, allowing users to buy and sell crypto without unnecessary complexity or excessive fees.WeChange announced the official launch of its noncustodial fiat-to-crypto on-ramp, designed to simplify how everyday users buy and sell digital assets while maintaining full control of their funds. The platform went live globally on January 30, supporting bank transfer methods across more than 190 countries. 

For episode 682 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Sydney Huang, Founder of HumanAPI at ETHDenver. Sydney Huang is the Founder of Human API and CEO of Eclipse, where she leads product and strategy for AI-native infrastructure. She launched Turbo Tap, scaling it to 300K users, 50K DAU, and 22B+ in-game transactions, and has held product roles across Web3 projects including DeGods, y00ts, and Unstoppable Domains. Previously, she worked in M&A and Venture Capital at Dell Technologies and is a Babson College graduate.

For episode 681 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Catherine Daly, CMO for Space and Time, a decentralized data warehouse designed to connect on-chain blockchain data with off-chain enterprise data to support AI, smart contracts, and Web3 applications. 

For episode 680 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Jay Kurahashi-Sofue, CMO of Eco at ETHDenver.Eco is a blockchain-based, full-stack infrastructure protocol designed to unify stablecoin liquidity across different blockchains and make onchain payments, transfers, and app interactions as fast, cheap, and simple as possible. It is not a new stablecoin itself, but rather a "Stablecoin Economy" layer—often referred to as a "stablelayer"—that helps developers and users move, manage, and spend stablecoins (like USDC or USDT) across various chains without dealing with fragmented networks, manual bridging, or gas fees in native tokens. 

For episode 679 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe.OKX is an innovative cryptocurrency exchange with advanced financial services. They rely on blockchain technology to provide everything you need for wise trading and investment. 

For episode 678 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Micky Watkins, Founder and CEO of World Mobile, a blockchain-enabled 5G network, has just crossed over 2 million users in its mission to connect everyone, everywhere, while returning control of data and connectivity to the people.Micky is a telecom entrepreneur challenging the monopoly of Big Wireless. He previously founded Yallo, one of the first internet-calling platforms, and over his career has raised millions from global backers including Deutsche Telekom and Carmel Ventures. Today, he leads World Mobile in building the world’s first decentralized, community-owned mobile network, with a mission to connect everyone, everywhere, while returning control of data and value to the people. 

For episode 677 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Parth Kapadia, Co-founder and CEO of OpenVPP.OVPP is Building The Internet of Energy by Providing Regulated Digital Asset Rails for Power & Utility Providers. OpenVPP is led by Co-Founder & CEO, Parth Kapadia. Parth brings a wealth of experience from the electric utility industry, including roles at Exelon Corp and AutoGrid (acquired by Uplight, a Schneider Electric company), where he served as Director of Technical Product Management.

For episode 676 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Lux Thiagarajah, CCO of OpenPayd.  Lux Thiagarajah has over 17 years experience working for some of the largest and most innovative organizations in finance, including JP Morgan, HSBC, BCB and FalconX. He started his career as an FX trader at JP Morgan, before moving to the buy side to run a macro trading desk. More recently he has moved into senior roles in payments, becoming the CRO of BCB and now Chief Commercial Officer at OpenPayd.  Lux joined OpenPayd with a track record for taking businesses to their next stage of development, and is responsible for driving revenue and growth from both new and existing clients, as well as and identifying strategic partnerships that can further OpenPayd's ambitions. 

For episode 675 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by John Hargrave, a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and one of the world’s leading voices on crypto and the future of finance. Author of The Intelligent Crypto Investor (Wiley, 2026), he’s known as the “Buffett of Bitcoin” for applying value-investing principles to digital assets. His insights have appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg, MSNBC, and the BBC, and his TED Talk on the future of money is a must-watch. John helps investors understand the historic shift to digital, programmable money—and how to profit from it intelligently.Buy the book:https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Crypto-Investor-John-Hargrave/dp/1394366426  

For episode 674 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Les Borsai, a Los Angeles-based serial technology entrepreneur, former music promoter and manager, and advisor in the cryptocurrency, blockchain and music-technology industries. He is the Co-founder of Wave Digital Assets.Sitting at the cross-section of entertainment and economics his entire career, Borsai recognized that crypto was the next big cultural and financial revolution early on, taking on an advisor role to Ripple Labs in 2013, and becoming one of the earliest investors in Ethereum, XRP, Tezos, and NFTs. In 2018, he became a Co-Founder at Wave Digital Assets, a digital asset management firm where he leads strategic initiatives across the crypto and digital asset ecosystem. Borsai previously managed artists such as Wynonna Judd and Jason Mraz. Borsai is an author at Spin Magazine, and has been featured in a variety of top-tier global publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, CNBC, Tec

For episode 673 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Sukhdeep Bhogal, Co-Founder and CEO of Veera, an on-chain neobank built for everyday crypto users. He is a serial founder with three successful exits and a deep background in consumer and social technology, having scaled multiple startups to millions of users over the course of his career. Before Veera, Sukhdeep founded and led several consumer-facing platforms from inception through growth and exit, with a strong focus on product-led growth, community-driven adoption, and building intuitive experiences at scale. His work consistently bridges mainstream consumer design with emerging technologies. At Veera, Sukhdeep has led the company from zero to scale, shaping its product vision and expansion strategy while building a full-stack financial platform that removes friction for users entering crypto. Under his leadership, Veera has grown rapidly across markets, positioning itself at the intersection of consumer fintech and on-chai

For episode 672 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Michael Berman, Co-CEO of Tectonic Labs. Michael Berman is co-CEO of Tectonic Labs, where he drives operations and go-to-market strategy for the company's post-quantum cryptography solutions. With nearly two decades in enterprise software and SaaS, he specializes in building repeatable revenue engines, sharpening operational execution, and translating deep technical products into compelling commercial outcomes. Berman was an early team member at Eventbrite, where he scaled sales through the company's high-growth phase leading to its IPO. He later led strategic accounts at Salesforce, managing enterprise relationships and supporting expansion initiatives. He's also a serial entrepreneur with two successful exits, including the sale of a venture-backed company to a publicly traded acquirer. A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business, Berman is recognized for operational rigor, M&A executi

For episode 671 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Dave Sedacca, Lead & Director of Polkadot Capital Group.Dave Sedacca is the Lead of Polkadot Capital Group and currently sits as Director of Finance at Parity Technologies, the core development team behind Polkadot. He leads Parity's financial strategy, spanning treasury management, planning, and institutional engagement. A long-time believer in emerging tech and crypto, Dave has been actively involved in the space since 2017. Prior to joining Parity, he worked across multiple sectors, driving financial and commercial strategy. 

For episode 670 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Phil Fogel, CEO and Co-founder of Cork.DeFi has a $100B+ problem: you can't trade the risk. Insurance exists, but it's expensive, illiquid, and doesn't cover the economic chaos that actually wipes people out: depeg events, protocol runs, cascading liquidations etc. Phil Fogel, CEO and co-founder of Cork, backed by a16z crypto, Road Capital and more, explains that the system fails when risk is opaque and largely untradeable. Without tools to manage downside dynamically, stress compounds and volatility turns into contagion. Cork is his response. It is not insurance, but market-based risk infrastructure. By making risk programmable and tradable through swap tokens, participants can address stress before it cascades. Phil’s broader perspective is about market structure. DeFi will not scale safely or attract institutions until risk management functions like a market rather than a promise. 

For episode 669 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Matt Carr, Managing Partner of QCI Partners. 

For episode 668 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Harvey Liu, CEO of LeveX Exchange.Harvey Liu is a global tech investor with over 15 years of experience in venture capital, digital assets, and emerging technologies. An early Bitcoin investor and former venture partner at a MAS-licensed Web3 fund, he has played key roles in evaluating major platforms like Huobi and OKCoin while building a diverse portfolio across CEX, GameFi, and blockchain infrastructure. With a background in Computer Science and an MBA from INSEAD, Harvey blends technical expertise with strategic vision, leading LeveX with a community-first, transparency-driven approach to the future of digital finance.  ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(1:02) Who is Harvey Liu?(6:52) What is LeveX?(12:08) Trading features of LeveX(13:24) Security & custody of user funds(14:52) Gamification on LeveX with rewards(17:55) Future of Crypto Trading(22:19) VC capital trends in Crypto(26:07) LeveX roadmap(30:19) Events & conferences(

For episode 667 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Kanny Lee, Co-founder and CEO of SecondSwap, the first issuer-approved secondary market for locked tokens. A veteran of fintech and digital assets, he brings over 20 years of experience across regulated finance, payments, and crypto infrastructure. He’s led MAS-regulated firms including dtcpay and OSL Group, and held senior roles at EY, TransUnion, and Deloitte, advising global institutions on risk, compliance, and cyber forensics.Kanny is also a partner at Libra Capital, giving him a dual vantage point as both operator and investor in Web3. With formal certifications in anti-money laundering (ACAMS) and digital forensics (GIAC), he’s widely regarded as a credible voice on token market structure, real-world asset liquidity, and the next generation of compliant crypto infrastructure.Join the waitlist for he only decentralized on-chain marketplace for trading locked tokens: https://t.me/Secondswapappbot?start=693a9dc7a9c1d4113e029589 

For episode 666 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Hazel Lee, Co-founder of BeatSwap.As blockchain technology expands beyond finance into the cultural content sector, the BeatSwap project is innovating the way intellectual property (IP) rights are distributed. In the traditional IP rights industry, copyright management is opaque and settlements are slow, creating inefficiencies that prevent creators, investors, and fans from fully reaping the benefits.  To address these limitations, BeatSwap standardizes IP rights as real-world assets (RWA), offering a new value proposition where anyone can transparently own and trade them. BeatSwap bills itself as “the world’s first Web3 full-stack IP rights platform” and aims to implement the entire lifecycle of IP rights on the blockchain—from the creation stage and IP rights registration, to fan community participation, rights tokenization, and decentralized trading.