Podcast
Lightspeed
Hosted by Blockworks · EN
Lightspeed is a podcast for those interested in how crypto can solve real problems and create products users love. It's a callback to the garage days of Silicon Valley, where builders pushed the limits of hardware and software to build world-changing products. We interview the projects and founders that will make this same impact today.
35episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Agentic Finance for Everyday Users | Chris
Yesterday00:57:41Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Chris from Loyal to discuss building smart-account infrastructure on Solana to automate onchain financial tasks, including stablecoin yield optimization and agent-driven policies. We cover smart wallets, Seeker app development, consumer crypto UX, token-based fundraising through MetaDAO, community building, and the broader future of agentic finance and payments. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Loyal: https://x.com/loyal_hq Follow Chris: https://x.com/candyflipline?lang=en Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:27) Why Smart Wallets Matter (4:02) Loyal’s Origin Story (14:16) Smart Accounts Meet Fintech (18:59) Why Solana Lagged EVM (21:54) Real Agent Finance Use Cases (32:13) Why Launch on Seeker (37:56) Token Launch Lessons (54:42) Loyal’s Roadmap (56:37) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Inside Jito’s New Solana Plugin Strategy | Eric & Hayden
4d ago00:57:38Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eric and Hayden from Jito to discuss Solana Accelerate, the launch of Jito’s Maker Prioritization Plugin, and broader efforts to improve Solana’s market structure through more deterministic transaction scheduling. We also cover validator incentives, BAM architecture, plugin experimentation, perp and prediction markets, tokenized assets, and why user experience and distribution will be critical for driving on-chain trading adoption. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Jito: https://x.com/jito_sol Follow Hayden: https://x.com/magicdhz Follow Eric: https://x.com/gzalz_sol Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:23) Solana Accelerate Recap (6:22) Jito’s Maker Prioritization Plugin (9:56) Why Scheduler Rules Matter (13:42) Bam Adoption and Validator Incentives (18:22) Competing for Top of Batch (22:42) Faster Onchain Time (29:12) Bam After Solana Upgrades (34:13) Plugins Unlock New Use Cases (38:57) Building for Perps (41:32) What Better Market Structure Enables (49:06) UX, GTM, and Card Markets (56:05) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Inside Upshift: Building the Future of Onchain Vaults | Aya Kantorovich
1w ago00:58:38Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Aya Kantorovich, Co-CEO of Upshift, to discuss the development of multi-chain vault infrastructure, its origins in onchain prime brokerage, and key lessons from past market failures. We cover security risks, institutional adoption, evolving regulation, cross-chain expansion, and broader trends including 24/7 markets, credit strategies, and tokenized assets. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Upshift: https://x.com/upshift_fi Follow Aya: https://x.com/aya_kantor Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:24) Upshift’s Vault Origin (5:41) Customer Demand Shapes Product (9:18) Vault Security and Risk (17:49) Why Institutions Want Vaults (24:53) Solana Vault Roadmap (32:53) Avoiding Mercenary Capital (38:32) Regulation Gets Easier (42:46) 24/7 Markets and Perps (56:48) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Solana Was Too Late to Perps
2w ago00:55:21Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode we discuss Solana’s Q1 performance, highlighting growth in tokenized real-world assets and shifting trading activity. We also cover Pumpfun’s buyback changes, Pumpcade’s token-equity model, and broader challenges in building competitive perpetuals markets on Solana, including liquidity, user acquisition, and infrastructure constraints. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Toma: https://x.com/toma_adv Follow Sam: https://x.com/minnus Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:53) RWA Momentum Builds (9:17) Pump Fun Buyback Burn (20:44) Pump Cade’s ACE Experiment (32:10) Solana Perps Debate (37:55) Bulk’s Validator Sidecar Bet (51:31) Phoenix’s Onchain Bet (53:45) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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LPing Is Trading: Rethinking DeFi Strategies | Dann & Miir
2w ago00:45:55Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dann and Miir of Meteora to discuss their role as a core liquidity layer on Solana. We cover their evolution from integrations to product focus, the shift from passive yield farming to active LP strategies, and what’s next for DeFi liquidity.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Meteora: https://x.com/MeteoraAG Follow Miir: https://x.com/0xmiir Follow Dann: https://x.com/dannxbt Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:57) Meteora Origins (5:49) Launchpad Integration Push (11:33) Jupiter And Meteora (12:55) Yield Farming Evolves (21:22) LPing As Trading (25:50) Long Tail Liquidity (34:37) Product Roadmap (41:55) What Comes Next (45:06) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Tokenizing Private Markets: Inside the Rise of PreStocks | Xavier Ekkel
3w ago00:47:08Tap to summarizeGm! In this episode, we’re joined by Xavier Ekkel, Founder of PreStocks, to explore the rise of PreStocks and tokenized access to private equity. We cover pricing and liquidity dynamics, Solana’s role in distribution, retail participation, onchain price discovery, IPO transitions, and the broader evolution of tokenized pre-IPO markets. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow PreStocks: https://x.com/PreStocks Follow Xavier: https://x.com/XavierEkkel Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:33) PreStocks' Background (6:02) How PreStocks Are Priced (14:59) Why Solana and Why Retail (24:43) Price Discovery to IPO (35:01) Which Private Names Matter? (40:14) Distribution and Next Steps (46:30) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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The KelpDAO Hack and DeFi’s Stress Test | Ian Unsworth
3w ago01:02:12Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ian Unsworth, Co-founder of Kairos Research, to break down the KelpDAO hack and its impact on DeFi, from liquidity outflows to risk management. We also cover stablecoin yield strategies, Ethena’s backing model, Layer 2 risks like Scroll, and emerging infrastructure like DoubleZero Edge. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Kairos Research: https://x.com/Kairos_Res Follow Ian: https://x.com/Ian_Unsworth Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:56) rsETH Hack (11:40) Are DeFi Rates Worth It? (19:45) Scroll’s Gas Price Controversy (25:46) Ethena’s Backing and Yield Model (38:48) Why DoubleZero Edge Matters (45:39) Solana Value Capture Debate (58:22) Where DoubleZero Goes Next (1:00:55) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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DoubleZero Edge: Democratizing the Speed Advantage | Austin Federa
4w ago00:48:19Tap to summarizeGm! In this episode, we’re joined by Austin Federa, Co-Founder of DoubleZero, to discuss the network’s growth, its shift to Edge-based data monetization, and the role of high-speed data in trading. We also cover Solana’s roadmap, validator dynamics, DeFi fairness, and evolving Foundation strategy amid shifting regulatory and institutional conditions. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow DoubleZero: https://x.com/doublezero Follow Austin Federa: https://x.com/Austin_Federa Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:39) DoubleZero Growth Update (3:41) Why Edge Changes Revenue (6:48) Why APIs Are Too Slow (9:22) How Shreds Create Alpha (16:13) Can DeFi Be Fair? (20:07) Alpenglow and Constellation (28:58) What Comes Next? (31:01) Solana Foundation’s New Playbook (35:02) Where Foundations Should Compete (46:51) Edge Launch Timeline (47:46) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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How Institutions Are Moving Onchain | Catherine Gu
4w ago00:50:16Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Catherine Gu, Head of Product, Digital Assets at Solana, to discuss her transition from Visa to Solana, the institutional adoption of blockchain, tokenization, payments infrastructure, and developer platforms. We also cover privacy and compliance challenges, onchain metrics, liquidity dynamics, and Solana’s vision for internet capital markets.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Solana: https://x.com/Solana Follow Catherine: https://x.com/catgu_ Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:31) Catherine's Crypto Journey (8:45) Why Solana Now (12:05) Solana Developer Platform (17:00) Privacy for Institutions (21:23) KYC and Attestations (27:50) Better Onchain Metrics (31:42) Solana’s Liquidity Pitch (35:35) Institutional Adoption Inflection (40:12) Internet Capital Markets (44:30) Memecoins, Brand, and Growth (49:25) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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Titan's Solution to Onchain Pricing | defipancakes
Apr 900:51:12Tap to summarizeGm! In today’s episode, we’re joined by defipancakes, Co-Founder and CTO of Titan, to discuss a major social engineering exploit affecting Drift, broader DeFi security practices, and the Solana ecosystem’s response. We also explore Titan’s new Dart routing product, market structure trends, stablecoin and tokenized asset activity, and evolving competition in onchain trading and perps. Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: https://x.com/Lightspeedpodhq Follow Titan: https://x.com/Titan_Exchange Follow defipancakes: https://x.com/defythepancake Follow Carlos: https://x.com/0xcarlosg Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: https://t.me/+QHlbNTNS4gc1ZTVh -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:12) Drift Hack Fallout (4:28) Lessons From the Drift Hack (10:27) Titan Launches Dart (17:02) Conditional Liquidity Debate (22:09) Stablecoin and New Asset Flow (30:38) Onchain Routing’s Future (36:23) Solana Foundation’s Role (41:25) Phoenix vs. Bulk Perps (50:34) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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