Citizen Web3 Podcast

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Vik Sharɱa from Cake Wallet Vik Sharma, believes cryptocurrency must remain permissionless, self-custodial, and truly connected to the blockchain, empowering people rather than surveillance companies. His mission is to make crypto accessible, human, and private for everyone, guided by the idea that the will of the people ultimately wins out. Cake Wallet is a self-custody, privacy-focused crypto wallet that makes using Monero, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies simple and accessible for everyone. Designed to balance ease of use with powerful privacy features, it helps users stay in control while protecting their financial freedom. We spoke to Vik Sharɱa (https://x.com/vikrantnyc) about Cake Wallet (https://x.com/cakewallet) and: Permissionless self-custody money A true blockchain wallet to communicate with the blockchain Traceability being practiced by chain analysis companies Will of the people does win out Making cryptocurrencies less intimidating for non-techie people Do what your gut tells you Don't listen to other people We just want to belong as human beings We're to provide privacy for everyone Timestamps 00:00 – 03:01 : Intro 03:01 -- 08:30 : Combining steel and Monero 08:30 -- 14:14 : Importance of privacy 14:14 -- 16:37 : Winning the war on privacy 16:37 -- 18:50 : The paradox 18:50 -- 22:00 : Private and Public, Citizens and Governments 22:00 -- 28:50 : The goal 28:50 -- 36:01 : Regrets and/or challenges 36:01 -- 45:20 : Adoption and infrastructure 45:20 -- 48:17 : Talking about this space to others 48:17 -- 51:30 : Building community 51:30 -- 56:30 : Tribalism 56:30 – 01:00:57 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/VlQEP7MtMR0) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Vik Sharɱa.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Temujin Louie from Wanchain Temujin Louie, warns that while compromise is inevitable, the industry must not abandon its original cyberpunk values and should focus on solving fundamental problems rather than chasing unsustainable trends. He stresses moving beyond token bridges, avoiding proprietary infrastructure, and aiming for true innovation that delivers lasting, open solutions. Wanchain is a blockchain interoperability project connecting nearly 40 chains, enabling seamless cross-chain transactions and decentralized applications. Its mission is to replace fragmented, proprietary systems with open, sustainable infrastructure that drives real adoption and innovation. We spoke to Temujin Louie (https://x.com/TemujinLouie) about Wanchain (https://x.com/wanchain_org) and: Fear of technology Shift on power Undoubtedly there will have to be some compromise Solve fundamental problems first or cut ourselves out by the knees Adoption and losing some of these values The original vision Cyberpunk values 99% of the industry is not sustainable The next innovative thing that's going to happen Move away from purely just token bridges Replacing core infrastructure with proprietary product is never a good idea An actual win outcome in solving this problem Timestamps 00:00 – 07:50 : Intro 07:50 -- 09:50 : Shift of power 09:50 -- 11:45 : Social networks 11:45 -- 16:40 : Spectrums 16:40 -- 21:30 : Adoption and values 21:30 -- 26:03 : Growing from the community 26:03 -- 33:25 : Difference between Web2 and Web3 33:25 -- 40:50 : Blockchains bring in real revenue 40:50 -- 46:15 : Bridges and failure point 46:15 -- 52:04 : Cross-chain developer community and tribalism 52:04 -- 53:56 : Biggest myth or misconception about bridges 53:56 -- 58:59 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/NWYkvjOKxSA) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Temujin Louie.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Seun Lanlege from Hyperbridge In an interview, Seun Lanlege shared bold views on philosophy, science, blockchain, and politics—ranging from calling math “alchemy” to claiming Nigeria has the worst election fraud and that the government is the “biggest criminal.” He criticized Ethereum, praised Solana, warned that states could destroy humanity, and touched on profit, capitalism, and the moral compass of life. Polytope Labs is a blockchain R&D company focused on interoperability, privacy, and scalability, best known for its Hyperbridge protocol. Backed by Web3 Foundation and Polkadot grants, it develops infrastructure to securely connect decentralized networks. We spoke to Seun Lanlege (https://x.com/seunlanlege) about Hyperbridge (https://x.com/hyperbridge) and: Philosophy is all about asking questions Science is downstream from philosophy The language of math, is a description of the universe Math is this like alchemy Nigeria has the worst election fraud Doubling down on why Ethereum sucks Solana is where Ethereum it’s at Maximizing profit Market always does capitalism Grifters and all kinds of unsavoury characters Blockchains inevitably will inherit the legal frameworks of countries The right way, the hard way Taxation Biggest criminal, which is the government The state is going to destroy humanity Timestamps 00:00 – 03:36 : Intro 03:36 -- 10:20 : Being a developer and philosophy 10:20 -- 13:19 : Involvement with Polkadot and Ethereum 13:19 -- 15:30 : Mad scientist is born 15:30 -- 19:30 : Seeking truth 19:30 -- 26:19 : There are there only two 26:19 -- 34:30 : Use case for Tron 34:30 -- 36:10 : Getting people to want to make the world better 36:10 -- 42:02 : Government and legislation 42:02 -- 47:41 : Community building 47:41 -- 53:55 : Hacks and bridges 53:55 – 01:00:03 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/jkwXZlxd8QM) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Seun Lanlege.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Zac Williamson from Aztec Zac Williamson, co‑inventor of the PLONK zero‑knowledge proof system, is a former Oxford particle physicist who calls himself a “physics refugee.” He leads the development of privacy‑focused blockchain tools to make money a form of autonomy and agency, aiming for fairer systems as breakthrough technologies reshape trust and justice. Aztec Labs is a Layer‑2 network on Ethereum that uses zero‑knowledge proofs to enable private, scalable smart contracts. Its goal is to give users more autonomy and fairness in digital finance through privacy‑preserving technology. We spoke to Zac Williamson (https://x.com/Zac_Aztec) about Aztec (https://x.com/aztecnetwork) and: Physics refugees Breakthrough technology, it becomes a gold rush. And you get scammers. Trust infrastructure technology I want things to be more fair Software you can run only once Quantum computers Play to your strengths Find people to cover for your weaknesses The arc of history always tends towards justice Money is autonomy, it's agency Timestamps 00:00 – 01:17 : Intro 01:17 -- 06:11 : Physics to Web3 06:11 -- 15:20 : Explaining the values of Web3 15:20 -- 17:05 : P2P 17:05 -- 24:24 : What it looks like in five years 24:24 -- 28:40 : Breaking the system 28:40 -- 34:00 : Cryptography 34:00 -- 41:15 : ADHD 41:15 -- 46:30 : Semantics and privacy 46:30 -- 53:19 : Fear 53:19 -- 57:02 : Filling the gaps 57:02 -- 58:30 : The next generation 58:30 -- 01:03:00 : Increasing decentralization 01:03:00 – 01:05:15 : Data centres 01:05:15 – 01:16:20 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/Q3lgZunFrAI) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Zac Williamson.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features David Pinger from Warden Protocol David Pinger envisions a future where AI and blockchain merge to enable trust-minimized, autonomous systems. Known for saying “blockchain isn’t for humans,” he challenges conventional thinking with a bold, machine-first perspective. Warden Protocol is a Layer-1 blockchain designed for secure, verifiable AI integration with smart contracts and autonomous agents. It enables AI-driven applications to operate across multiple chains in a trust-minimized way. We spoke to David Pinger (https://x.com/WorldWideWarden) about Warden Protocol (https://x.com/wardenprotocol) and: Decentralized trust minimized financial system Converging of blockchain and AI The shoes of the founder Majority of startups fail Blockchain as a panacea Blockchain isn't for humans Blockchain and AI can't naturally talk to each other A wave of a new generation of applications Exercise or go crazy Timestamps 00:00 – 05:47 : Intro 05:47 -- 10:00 : Valuable lessons brought to Web3 10:00 -- 11:41 : Web3 vs Web2 founders 11:41 -- 13:40 : Developers vs community 13:40 -- 23:00 : Blockchain change 23:00 -- 27:20 : AI centralization 27:20 -- 33:25 : Hype 33:25 -- 38:33 : Optimism, Hope and technology 38:33 -- 48:00 : Tribalism and building community 48:00 -- 52:25 : To be a validator 52:25 -- 58:12 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/S2gIpYeYL88) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: David Pinger.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Mayur Relekar from Arcana network Mayur Relekar, entered crypto for the hype but stayed for its ideals, now advocating for pragmatic, business-driven approaches to Web3. He emphasizes that not everything needs to be fully decentralized and sees the future in users engaging with apps, not chains. Arcana Network is a Web3 infrastructure startup focused on simplifying blockchain use through its Chain Abstraction Protocol, allowing users to manage and spend assets across multiple chains without bridges or gas fees. Its tools—like Arcana Auth, Gasless SDK, and Wallet—aim to make Web3 as seamless as Web2. We spoke to Mayur Relekar (https://x.com/mayurrelekar?lang=en) about Arcana network (https://x.com/ArcanaNetwork) and: Got in with shitcoins and stayed for the tech The ideals and the philosophies of crypto Degenerating into just a pure casino No money in Web3 gaming yet Not everything needs to be pure Web3 No money in Web3 social yet Making choices purely based on business requirements The choice of building on so many more stacks People start using apps instead of using chains Timestamps 00:00 – 07:20 : Intro 07:20 -- 14:50 : Idealistic future we hoped for 14:50 -- 18:04 : Pure Web3 stack 18:04 -- 26:31 : Helping people 26:31 -- 36:40 : Decentralization and centralization spectrum 36:40 -- 42:48 : Binaries 42:48 -- 49:40 : Memes, community building and feeding developers 49:40 -- 54:13 : Maintaining security and efficiency 54:13 – 59:28 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/fi_81y-OvaY) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Mayur Relekar.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Barry Plunkett from Skip Protocol Barry Plunkett, advocates for reclaiming digital ownership and identity from big tech through first-principles thinking and decentralized systems. He sees Cosmos as a platform offering infinite ways to solve problems, where technology, community, and values-aligned tokens converge to reshape the digital future. Skip Protocol is a Cosmos-based infrastructure platform that helps blockchains and validators capture and distribute MEV through tools like sealed-bid auctions and block SDKs. Its mission is to democratize MEV while protecting users from harmful practices like frontrunning. We spoke to Barry Plunkett (https://x.com/bpiv400) about Skip Protocol (https://x.com/SkipProtocol) and: Try to always think from first principles Data and our identities are in the custody by big tech Taking back digital ownership rights Communication is infinite Cosmos gives an infinite number of ways to solve problems Taking back digital property rights Gun to my head, I'm probably picking the community Arcane dark art We just want to crush the narrative Token that aligns with the technology platform and values of the ecosystem Timestamps 00:00 – 10:32 : Intro 10:32 -- 20:10 : Coming to realization 20:10 -- 27:30 : Deleting others 27:30 -- 38:31 : Decentralized world 38:31 -- 41:40 : Developers or a large community 41:40 -- 50:30 : Things from the Cosmos 50:30 -- 55:20 : Education and leading by example 55:20 – 01:07:06 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/KVyOJjkReks) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Barry Plunkett.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Eric Brakey from The FreeState Project Eric Brakey, Executive Director of the Free State Project and former Maine State Senator, champions individual liberty, medical cannabis reform, and limited government. He believes New Hampshire is fertile ground for building a freer society based on the principle: “Don’t hurt people or take their stuff.” The Free State Project is a movement to recruit 20,000 liberty-minded individuals to move to New Hampshire and create a stronghold for limited government and personal freedom. It aims to build a free society through peaceful activism, community-building, and principled resistance to state overreach. We spoke to Eric Brakey (https://x.com/EricBrakey) about The Free State Project (https://x.com/FreeStateNH) and: Medical cannabis policy The bureaucracy and special interests are relentless The ground is fertile in New Hampshire for freedom Building a free society Don’t hurt people or take their stuff You can look like a radical or you can advance radical things Take every opportunity to question our understandings and assumptions Liberty is one of the most beautiful ideas The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance State shrinking and I see Liberty expanding Timestamps 00:00 – 03:47 : Intro 03:47 -- 10:00 : Moving from politics 10:00 -- 13:54 : New Hampshire 13:54 -- 22:57 : Building a libertarian community 22:57 -- 28:44 : Maintaining core principles 28:44 -- 39:50 : Moral convictions and bureaucracy 39:50 -- 46:00 : Does liberty need a state? 46:00 -- 51:25 : Liberty in a bubble 51:25 -- 57:38 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/OaEAnSclUa4) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Eric Brakey.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Emmanuel Aldeguer from Axone Emmanuel Aldeguer, champions decentralized AI as the ultimate revolution, emphasizing the shift from speculative ventures to meaningful, collaborative innovation. He envisions a Web3 "Cambrian explosion" where blockchain enables a new era of transparent knowledge sharing and coordination. Axone is a decentralized Layer 1 protocol, designed to orchestrate collaborative AI workflows by connecting data, models, and infrastructure across a trust-minimized, blockchain-powered network. Built on the Cosmos SDK, it enables participants to share and monetize AI resources securely and transparently, fostering a more equitable and open AI ecosystem. We spoke to Emmanuel Aldeguer (https://x.com/E_Aldeguer) about Axone (https://x.com/axonexyz) and: Venture capitalists who are seeking quick exit Speculative situation for everything Dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants Blockchain technology and the power of the decentralization Nash equilibrium with blockchain Decentralized AI the ultimate revolution Data, information, and knowledge Cambrian explosion of Web3 Timestamps 00:00 – 10:53 : Intro 10:53 -- 19:52 : Balancing life 19:52 -- 25:50 : Cambrian explosion of Web3 25:50 -- 29:04 : AI and decentralization 29:04 -- 34:40 : AXONE 34:40 -- 38:31 : Surveillance industry 38:31 -- 46:03 : The future 46:03 -- 50:37 : Tribalism 50:37 -- 01:00:01 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/RW-r-gGnxCg) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Emmanuel Aldeguer .

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Sterlin Lujan from Logos Sterlin Lujan entered the blockchain space through activism, viewing the state as a parasitic, illegitimate institution upheld by cultural propaganda and public schooling. Embracing cypherpunk values and high risk tolerance, he sees blockchain as a tool for productive resistance and the foundation for emerging alternatives like network states. Logos is a fully decentralized, privacy-focused, and politically neutral technology stack designed to support self-sovereign virtual territories and network states. It integrates blockchain-based protocols—Nomos for consensus, Codex for storage, and Waku for messaging—to enable the creation of borderless, trust-minimized institutions governed by voluntary communities. We spoke to Sterlin Lujan (https://x.com/SterlinLujan) about Polis Labs (https://x.com/polis_labs) and: Got into this space, because of activism A good kid in paper prison Why the system is so corrupt State is this parasitic organization Doing things that are active and productive rather than complaining Being black-pilled Government is an illegitimate institution that has the mystique of legitimacy The problem is cultural indoctrination and propaganda Public schooling is a propaganda machine Propaganda and risk tolerance Uncle Sam, the fatherland, the motherland A lot of scams in Ponzi's Cypherpunk values Proliferation of network states Having a tremendous amount of risk tolerance Governance is not solved, it's an open question Timestamps 00:00 – 09:16 : Intro 09:16 -- 14:20 : The why 14:20 -- 31:50 : Why don't people act? 31:50 -- 40:00 : Has the movement done anything? 40:00 -- 47:53 : What’s happening right now? 47:53 -- 54:19 : Why will it succeed? 54:19 -- 58:00 : Advice to keep core values 58:00 – 01:04:34 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/0vMM5aUiPXw) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Sterlin Lujan.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Gabriel from Cartesi Gabriel Coutinho de Paula, a researcher at Cartesi, envisions a decentralized future where ecosystems are free from centralized control and nurtured by collaborative effort. He emphasizes honest validation, coordination to prevent the tragedy of the commons, and the importance of innovation—while reminding us not to take things too seriously. Cartesi is a decentralized Layer 2 infrastructure that enables scalable, verifiable computation using standard software tools like Linux. By bridging traditional programming with blockchain, Cartesi empowers developers to build more complex, real-world dApps while preserving decentralization and trust. Timestamps 00:00 – 06:36 : Intro 06:36 -- 10:30 : Personal vs professional challenge 10:30 -- 14:28 : Biting our own tail 14:28 -- 21:20 : Foundations 21:20 -- 26:46 : Researching in Web2 and Web3 26:46 -- 35:19 : Cartesi 35:19 -- 41:18 : Security, Decentralization and Scalability 41:18 -- 57:30 : An honest validator 57:30 – 01:05:07 : The Blitz We spoke to Gabriel Coutinho de Paula (https://x.com/GCdePaula_) about Cartesi (https://x.com/cartesiproject) and: Synthesizing drugs Challenge is very nice, but it doesn't hold you New industry that will revolutionize the world Beneficial for everyone to coordinate The tragedy of the commons Ecosystem should be free from any single influence The spirit of decentralization Gardeners that tend to this ecosystem and trying to make it grow An honest validator In the end, have assumptions and a first step Trusting the L1 Getting reminded to not take things too seriously If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/MIg5RINy-bk) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Gabriel Coutinho de Paula.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Tom Trowbridge from Fluence Tom Trowbridge, champions decentralized technology as essential to preserving freedom in an increasingly centralized internet. He warns against the control of big tech and governments, urging the development of alternatives like Web3 to protect individual autonomy and resist centralized power. Fluence Labs is building a decentralized computing protocol that enables peer-to-peer applications to run without centralized servers. By empowering developers to deploy apps on a permissionless network, Fluence aims to create a censorship-resistant, resilient infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem. Timestamps 00:00 – 10:41 : Intro 10:41 -- 17:04 : Changing lives 17:04 -- 21:41 : The industry and surveillance 21:41 -- 26:05 : ELI5 what is dePIN 26:05 -- 31:40 : Decentralized infrastructure for networks 31:40 -- 41:50 : Revenue and memes 41:50 -- 45:35 : Closeness to fully decentralizing computing platforms 45:35 -- 53:35 : Uniting developers across blockchain 53:35 – 59:24 : The Blitz We spoke to Tom Trowbridge (https://x.com/TheTomTrow) about Fluence (https://x.com/fluence_project) and: Decentralized technology is super important for humanity The internet has become more centralized Web3 is an effective way to counter the dominance Amazons term of service agreement, basically allowing them to turn you off Incumbent on us to just be building the alternative Government's DNA is to try and control Power likes to get more power Central bank digital currency Crowdsourced physical infrastructure put together in a network The most scaled decentralized application in history existed before Bitcoin The Medici family If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/Olf5KkTjPc8) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Tom Trowbridge.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Pavel from Zano Ravaga Pavel Ravaga embraces the cypherpunk ethos, advocating for privacy blockchains while critiquing government oversight, meme coin speculation, and the permanence of transaction histories. He sees crypto’s potential for financial freedom but acknowledges that mainstream users prioritize convenience over privacy. Zano is a privacy-focused blockchain designed for secure, untraceable transactions and decentralized applications. It combines cryptographic techniques with a flexible architecture to enhance financial privacy while ensuring scalability and usability. We spoke to Pavel Ravaga (https://x.com/pavelravaga) about Zano (https://x.com/zano_project) and: Hardcore cryptocurrency The cypher punks Against the government and try to stay off the radar Tin-head foil theories Storing your personal wealth on privacy blockchains Meme coins Gambling addiction Room to grow Stealing games from Steam People use tokens more than anything else History of your transactions stored in blockchain forever Normal people don't care about privacy Timestamps 00:00 – 03:00 : Intro 03:00 -- 08:40 : Staying off the radar 08:40 -- 13:01 : Arriving in web3 13:01 -- 18:00 : Memes 18:00 -- 20:06 : Battling tribalism 20:06 -- 23:07 : Coin versus token 23:07 -- 28:29 : Privacy and libertarianism 28:29 -- 34:21 : Fears role 34:21 -- 40:00 : Advice on building a crypto project 40:00 -- 48:28 : Distribution 48:28 -- 51:01 : Building a community 51:01 -- 57:47 : Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/wI81Bim92Dw) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Pavel Ravaga.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Aliaksandr Hudzilin an Angel Investor Aliaksandr "Sasha" Hudzilin, co-founder of Human Guild, is a blockchain and Web3 innovator focused on rebuilding the internet and navigating the fast-moving AI and crypto landscapes. He values cultural understanding, risk-taking, and personal balance through activities like hiking and reading. Human Guild, co-founded by Aliaksandr "Sasha" Hudzilin, supports creators and developers in building sustainable Web3 projects on NEAR Protocol. NEAR is a scalable, developer-friendly blockchain designed to enable decentralized applications with low fees and high performance. We spoke to Aliaksandr Hudzilin (https://twitter.com/SashaAngel87) about Near (https://near.org/) and: Culturally understanding people locally Yin and yang Rebuilding the internet Blockchain being used for all kinds of use cases The AI space is moving really fast Pre-training to reasoning models Seeing cooler Web3 startups Navigating the law Building copycats Killing whales Risk capital Hiking, reading, staying healthy Learning Balance Timestamps 00:00 – 03:20 : Intro 03:20 -- 06:50 : Making and keeping connections 06:50 -- 10:10 : Yin and yang 10:10 -- 24:50 : Opinions on blockchain apart from financial 24:50 -- 28:37 : Being airheaded 28:37 -- 31:10 : Fear 31:10 -- 45:30 : Advice for founders 45:30 -- 48:26 : Examples of Web3 investing 48:26 -- 54:50 : Removing that stigma 54:50 – 01:0:23 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/00tNmSuVvAY) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Aliaksandr 'Sasha' Hudzilin.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Mohammed Patla from Secure Secrets Mohammed Patla is a strong advocate for Web3, data sovereignty, and financial sustainability, emphasizing user choice, education, and learning from failures. He believes in balancing data sharing for benefits, challenges government transparency, and envisions a future where decentralization empowers individuals despite regulatory resistance. Since 2019, Secure Secrets has helped build Secret Network’s infrastructure as a validator and developer. Committed to privacy, they see Secret Network as key to enabling programmable privacy in Web3. We spoke to Mohammed Patla (https://x.com/mohammedpatla?lang=en) about 𝕊ecure 𝕊ecrets (https://twitter.com/securesecrets) and: We lose data on a daily basis Give away some of your data for the benefits Web3 is an emerging technology Give people the choice Education, learning to distinguish between the good and the bad The governments and regularity bodies don't like it Government can never be fully transparent Getting my parents and friends onboarded Financials are important Learning from failures Building towards sustainability What the future could look like Timestamps 00:00 – 07:00 : Intro 07:00 -- 15:30 : Privacy 15:30 -- 20:20 : Overcoming fear 20:20 -- 28:55 : Personal goal 28:55 -- 35:06 : Biggest challenge 35:06 -- 47:35 : Projects need to eat 47:35 -- 55:00 : Self hosting 55:00 – 59:34 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/DHa9VDfej2c) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Mohammed Patla.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Nixo from Ethereum Foundation Nixo shared candid insights on trust in centralized exchanges, the small yet influential nature of Crypto Twitter, and the importance of following genuine interests over money. He also highlighted challenges in finding competent legal experts and how people are naturally inclined to pick sides in the crypto space. The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Ethereum’s development, research, and ecosystem growth. While it doesn’t control Ethereum, it funds key upgrades, research, and community initiatives to ensure the network remains open, decentralized, and innovative. We spoke to Nixo (https://x.com/nixorokish?t=ouWgiEmgpDMG0gI7_br-Sg&s=09) about Ethereum Foundation (https://x.com/ethereumfndn) and: I was like, of course, I trust centralized exchanges Sketchy Russian exchange Breeds of Oceanographers Solo stakers Go where you’re interested instead of following the money Synthesizing cocaine Finding competent lawyers and CPAs Crypto Twitter is extremely small Evolutionarily predisposed to picking a team Timestamps 00:00 – 11:30 : Intro 11:30 -- 18:10 : Dream journey 18:10 -- 24:00 : Sirens are calling and the loss of physical cash 24:00 -- 29:20 : Changing lives 29:20 -- 36:10 : Overwhelmed and values 36:10 -- 41:50 : Tribalism and memes 41:50 – 55:40 : Data centres 55:40 – 01:00:01 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/VkgjyhF2xtY) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Nixo.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Thomas from High Stakes Thomas reflected on the crypto space, from vanishing millions and GPU shortages to the importance of strategic positioning through foundations. For him, success comes down to a broad assessment—analyzing white papers, infrastructure quality, and costs—while only engaging in truly interesting projects, all with a bit of a Batman mindset. High Stakes provides reliable, secure validator services for multiple blockchains, backed by strong Swiss-based infrastructure. Committed to decentralization, they actively engage in governance, develop community tools, and support other validator teams in the open-source spirit. We spoke to Thomas (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslafaille/) about High Stakes (https://x.com/HighStakes_CH) and: Seeing about a million dollars that just vanished Bored out of my mind You couldn't buy a GPU because of all the miners Foundations, the fastest way of securing a position Only get involved with interesting projects It's about a broad assessment Reading the white paper Hobo asking for money Multiple parameters, quality of the infrastructure, also the cost Being Batman Timestamps 00:00 – 05:20 : Intro 05:20 -- 10:41 : The switch 10:41 -- 13:02 : Deciding to go that way 13:02 -- 22:01 : What not to do and chain selection 22:01 -- 29:20 : Validators contributing to adoption 29:20 -- 36:08 : Cosmos and goals 36:08 -- 51:00 : Setup 51:00 – 55:37 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/E-0f6KWHGqg) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Thomas Lafaille.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Sandy Carter from Unstoppable Domains Sandy Carter is a tech visionary who champions continuous learning, innovation without a "playbook," and the power of mindset in driving success. She advocates for blockchain, AI, and digital ownership while emphasizing customer obsession, creative “playstorming,” and the balance of purpose and profit in technology. Unstoppable Domains aims to give everyone a user-owned digital identity through Web3 domains that empower individuals to control their data. These domains go beyond traditional use, offering unique capabilities in the decentralized web. We spoke to Sandy Carter (https://x.com/sandy_carter) about Unstoppable Domains (https://x.com/unstoppableweb) and: I've always loved tech AI is much broader than just chat GPT A bucket list No freaking playbook Ask the question because nobody's done it Continuous learner It has to do with your mindset Words that we need to adjust Play storm Not just Brainstorming it, Playstorming Purpose and profit Data ownership People are naive about blockchain You build it and they will come Domains are the world's first real digital asset Customer obsessed; user obsessed Timestamps 00:00 – 04:12 : Intro 04:12 -- 08:00 : Internal driver 08:00 -- 15:18 : A day and missing the Web2 world 15:18 -- 23:50 : Adoption within our generation 23:50 -- 31:30 : Web3 and mass adoption 31:30 -- 37:00 : AI and power 37:00 -- 40:00 : Surveillances on chain 40:00 -- 46:01 : Devil’s Advocate question 46:01 -- 50:25 : How to decide 50:25 -- 53:30 : Working with community 53:30 – 01:00:21 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/2NUjA3FZX6k) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Sandy Carter.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Dymion from ValidatorVN Dymion describes the leap from crypto trading to validation as a challenging, sleepless journey of self-hosting, community-building, and exploration beyond the Cosmos ecosystem. Amid the struggles, they find solace in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1, embracing the beauty in perseverance. ValidatorVN is a dedicated blockchain validator focused on secure, self-hosted infrastructure and organic community growth. Committed to exploring beyond the Cosmos ecosystem, they navigate the challenges of validation with resilience, technical expertise, and a passion for decentralization. We spoke to Dymion (https://services.validatorvn.com/) about ValidatorVN (https://x.com/ValidatorVN) and: Monkey trying to go to space Figure it out from scratch One line of script everywhere right now 100% new Building a community organically Pump and dump Pain of self-hosting Exploring outside the cosmos ecosystem The wonderful experience of two continuous months with sleepless nights Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1 Timestamps 00:00 – 07:00 : Intro 07:00 -- 13:05 : Overcoming fear of validation 13:05 -- 17:03 : First, Community or Validator 17:03 -- 19:30 : Goal 19:30 -- 27:35 : Investing into test nets 27:35 -- 29:18 : Slash protected 29:18 -- 30:50 : Self-hosting 30:50 -- 37:15 : Workarounds 37:15 -- 38:26 : Concentrating on just one or not 38:26 -- 41:15 : Selecting a chain 41:15 -- 46:25 : Public or private 46:25 -- 48:42 : The past three years 48:42 – 52:19 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/y9BmNUw-7E8) Follow us on Twitter (https://x.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Dymion.

This episode of the #citizenweb3 podcast features Seth for Privacy. Seth emphasizes that financial and personal privacy are essential for human freedom, highlighting how modern systems and governmental overreach erode individual autonomy. He advocates for reclaiming power through critical thinking, community collaboration, and pushing back against prevailing narratives. Seth's blog provides a space for in-depth analysis and thought on the intersection of technology and privacy. He is dedicated to exploring how these advancements empower individuals to reclaim control of their digital lives and data. We spoke to Seth For Privacy (https://x.com/sethforprivacy) about Privacy and: We're winning Financial privacy is critical to human freedom Personal privacy is broadly under attack Giving back autonomy, giving back power to the individual Laws are so nuts is because of the complexity of modern life Money being broken Privacy being broken Laziness in us Government continues harvesting resources from citizens Taxes and money printing are the core funding systems for governments Broken system America is people renouncing their citizenship Everyone has a natural inbuilt desire for community Pushing back against the prevailing narratives Offload critical thinking People crave nuance Make money or just have fun with it Broken social media networks Collaboration and partnership Timestamps 00:00 – 06:24 : Intro 06:24 -- 11:20 : What is freedom? 11:20 -- 17:40 : Taxes 17:40 -- 25:24 : Jumping to conclusions 25:24 -- 35:11 : Memes and tribalism 35:11 -- 41:00 : Optimism 41:00 -- 45:50 : Education and semantics 45:50 -- 52:30 : KYC ‘Know your customer’ 52:30 – 01:00:41 : The Blitz If you like what we do at Citizen Web3: Stake with Citizen Web3 validator (https://www.citizenweb3.com/staking) Listen to the YouTube version (https://youtu.be/3UtjFqLVNVc) Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/citizen_web3) Sign up to the RSS feed (https://www.citizenweb3.com/rss) Special Guest: Seth.