Solfate Podcast - Interviews with blockchain founders/builders on Solana

A conversation with Thorsten, the creator of Luzid, a Solana test validator at light speed. Thorsten, the creator of the Luzid validator, joins James in our first in person episode. Thorsten shares his unique journey getting into software development and into Solana, starting as a jazz musician, then a poker player, then writing poker bots and diving into more development. Including building some of the most popular developer tooling at Metaplex. The conversation explores the features and capabilities of Luzid, a tool for testing Solana programs. James and Thorsten discuss the setup process and navigate through the Luzid.app, exploring transactions, accounts, and snapshots. They also discuss the ability to undo actions and perform regression testing. Thorsten touches on the future plans for Luzid, including the business model and collaboration with MagicBlock. The hosts conclude by providing information on the public release of Luzid and expressing excitement for its potential. This conversation explores the concept of emotional intelligence and its importance in various aspects of life. It discusses the definition of emotional intelligence, its components, and how to develop it. The conversation also highlights the role of emotional intelligence in leadership and relationships. Find Thorsten and Luzid online @thlorenzLuzid.app Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Andriy, the founder of AllBridge, a cross-chain bridging protocol that uses stable coins. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint49 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/49 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show Andriy, the co-founder of AllBridge, discusses his background and transition into the crypto space. He shares the early days of AllBridge and its role in bridging stable coin assets between different chains, particularly on Solana. He explains the architecture of AllBridge and the transition from the common “mint and burn” model to the current liquidity pools. Andriy also discusses the future plans for AllBridge, including the potential introduction of governance and partnerships with other protocols. He provides insights into the user flow and technical process of bridging, as well as the returns and risks associated with liquidity pools. Lastly, he talks about the integration with Phantom and the role of bridge aggregators in the ecosystem. The conversation with Andriy from AllBridge focused on the importance of collaboration over competition in the blockchain industry. Andriy emphasized the need to work together with other companies to provide better solutions for users. He shared an example of how AllBridge partnered with Wormhole to offer a more convenient cross-chain solution. Additionally, Andriy discussed the potential for B2B solutions in the future, where protocols can leverage AllBridge’s infrastructure for liquidity transfers. He also highlighted the importance of informed decision-making and transparency in the crypto ecosystem. Takeaways Find Andriy and AllBridge online @avelykyyallbridge.io Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Matty, the co-founder of Colosseum and former Head of Growth at the Solana Foundation. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint48 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/48 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, Nick and Matty discuss the Solana Global Hackathons and the launch of Colosseum. Matty shares his background in crypto and how he got involved with the Solana ecosystem, starting at Solana Labs and then to Solana Foundation. They explore the unique structure of the Solana Global Hackathons, which focus on driving long-term sustainable startups in the ecosystem. Matty explains the decision to leave the Solana Foundation and start Colosseum as an independent organization to build a product specifically catered to running hackathons. Nick and Matty Tay discuss the Colosseum accelerator program and venture fund, which invests in the top teams from the hackathons. Matty covers the terms and requirements for Colosseum funding, including the 7% equity stake and the remote nature of the accelerator program. They also highlight the value of the network and mentors provided by Colosseum. Matty Tay explains the importance of having a strong idea and a well-structured pitch in order to win a Colosseum hackathon. He also shares tips for creating a compelling submission video. Finally, they discuss their excitement for projects that utilize token extensions and open up new markets in the ecosystem. Takeaways Find Matty and Colosseum online @mattytaycolosseum.org Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Toly, the co-founder of Solana Labs and the Solana blockchain. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint47 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/47 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, Toly discusses various topics about Solana and his personal experiences. The main themes covered include the next technical hurdle for Solana with asynchronous execution, balancing family and work, growing up in the post-Soviet Union, Toly's stress-seeking, the emotional impact of Solana's journey, working relationship with Raj, the importance of marketing and community, career vs. personal pursuits, and so much more. Takeaways Find Toly and Solana online @aeyakovenkosolanalabs.com Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Nico, the co-founder of Elusiv. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint46 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/46 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show Elusiv is a privacy protocol built on Solana that allows users to conduct private transactions while remaining compliant. The transaction fees for using Elusiv are relatively low, making it an affordable option. The combination of privacy and compliance makes Elusiv a valuable tool for individuals and businesses. In this conversation, Nico shares his crypto origin story and how he transitioned to working on Elusiv, a privacy solution for blockchain. He explains the concept of zero-knowledge technology and how Elusiv incorporates compliance into its privacy solution. The technical details of Elusiv's privacy solution, including the role of Warden nodes and homomorphic encryption, are discussed. The incentive mechanism for running Warden nodes and the cost and fees associated with using Elusiv are also covered. Takeaways Find Nico and Elusiv online @cryptopapi997Elusiv.io Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Rishi, the CEO and Founder of Mycelium Network ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint45 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/45 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The conversation covers the background and journey of Rishi in the crypto and DePin space, specifically focusing on the Helium IoT network. They discuss the concept of decentralization and the efficiency of the IoT network compared to traditional networks. Rishi explains the business model of Mycelium Networks and how they earn rewards through their infrastructure. They also highlight the importance of the testbed and attracting users to test and develop new use cases on their network. This conversation with Rishi from Mycelium covered various topics related to expanding the physical nodes for coverage, challenges in conversations with property owners, the unique host network model, shielding hosts from crypto volatility, the innovative approach to host acquisition, the importance of increasing options in the test bed, the significance of Solana for DePIN, and the inspiration to get involved with DePIN. Takeaways Find Rishi and Mycelium online @rishirmittalMyceliumNetworks.com Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Brandon M, the CEO and co-founder of Phantom, and David Wu, Head of Growth at Phantom. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint44 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/44 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, the CEO and co-founder of Phantom Wallet, Brandon M, discusses the origin story, their approach to product decision-making, and the future of wallet technology. He emphasizes the importance of user-centric design and the role of wallets in driving ecosystem growth. The team also addresses the challenges of scaling a startup and navigating online controversies. They discuss the potential for open-sourcing parts of Phantom in the future. We discuss Phantom's approach to multi-chain support and belief in a future where wallets abstract away the complexities of different chains. The conversation highlights the company's focus on user experience and their gratitude for being part of the Solana ecosystem. Takeaways Find Brandon, David, and Phantom online @BChillman@itsdavidwuphantom.app Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with GJ Flannery, the Head of Community at Flipside Crypto. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint43 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/43 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, GJ Flannery, the Head of Community at Flipside Crypto, discusses the onboarding process and documentation for Flipside's data analytics tool. He also explains how Flipside provides resources for beginners in data analysis and offers insights into how engineers and project founders can benefit from Flipside's data and offerings. GJ explains Flipside's revenue model, which includes a stake delegations from the Solana Foundation and the distribution of tokens to community members from their staked validator. He highlights the importance of data transparency and the public goods provided by Flipside. He also discusses the infrastructure and maintenance required to keep the data accessible and up-to-date. The conversation concludes with insights into the onboarding process for analysts and the involvement of academics in the Flipside community. We also touch on the distinction between a data analytics provider, like Flipside, and an indexer or RPC provider. We wrap with GJ shares his thoughts on the current market trend in the Solana ecosystem and emphasizes the need for more dApps and localization to drive adoption. Takeaways indexer or RPC provider Find GJ and Flipside online @GJFlannery19@flipsidecryptoflipsidecrypto.xyz Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Siong, the co-founder of Jupiter swap. ❤️‍🔥 Click here to mint this episode as an NFT on Solana - solfate.link/mint42 💪 Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/42 Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The conversation covers the background and journey of the Jupiter swap aggregator, a popular protocol in the Solana ecosystem. It starts with the early days of Solana with the launch of Mercurial finance and eventually Jupiter. Our discussion also highlights the scaling and optimization of Jupiter's infrastructure, its user base, and revenue model. Finally, we explores the timing of Jupiter's token airdrop and the market excitement surrounding it. In this conversation, Siong, co-founder of Jupiter, discusses the growth and revenue of the business, the token launch and community involvement, the goal of the JUP token, engaging the community with tokens, scaling challenges and user growth, and the power of governance tokens. Takeaways Find Siong and Jupiter online @sssiongggjup.ag Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Armani Ferrante, the co-founder of Backpack Exchange and MadLads. Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/41 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/aSSnPs0vcck Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show Armani discusses the genesis of Backpack Exchange and the challenges of building an exchange. He highlights the importance of compliance and the operational aspects of running an exchange. Armani also shares the vision for Backpack and how it aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the crypto economy. He emphasizes the transparency and auditability of the exchange, as well as the focus on corporate governance and accountability. As well as the need for a circle of trusted individuals to share the burden of decision-making and responsibility. Finally, Armani highlights the role of regulators in ensuring the integrity of any exchange, crypto or otherwise. We discuss the importance of exchanges as bridges between the traditional financial system and the new crypto ecosystem. He explains the challenges of operating in the US and the potential partnerships with licensed companies. Our conversation touches on the capital requirements and fundraising efforts of Backpack. Armani shares the company's approach to source availability and open source. He also reveals the timeline for the launch of Backpack Exchange and expresses his focused mindset during this crucial moment. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to try out the exchange beta and provide feedback. Takeaways Find Armani and Backpack online @armaniferrantebackpack.exchange Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Matt Luongo, the founder of Thesis.co and Threshold Network (aka tBTC). Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/40 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=A05AtK7WX1I Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, Matt Luongo discusses Threshold Network and tBTC, a cross-chain bridge for Bitcoin. He explains how Threshold Network combines the capabilities of Keep and NuCypher to enable threshold cryptography and custody of ECDSA keys off-chain. Matt also highlights the role of Bitcoin's scripting language in tBTC and the challenges of bridging Bitcoin to other chains, including Solana. He emphasizes the importance of trust models and settlement times in the tBTC ecosystem. Finally, Matt shares the availability of tBTC on Solana and the potential for expanding Threshold Network to support decentralized custodial escrow systems for various assets. Takeaways Find Matt and Threshold Network online @mhluongo@TheTNetworkthreshold.networkthesis.co Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

A conversation with Vidor, the founder and CEO of Solflare Wallet Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/39 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=rNORX_o8-lE Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show In this conversation, Vidor, the founder of Solflare, discusses building the wallet and how his past experience across multiple blockchain ecosystems build his strong confidence in Solana. He shares his background in software development and his exploration of different blockchains before discovering Solana. Vidor highlights the performance and user experience of Solana as a key factor in choosing to build on the network. He also discusses the transition from a fun project to a business and the revenue model of wallets. Vidor concludes by sharing his personal perspective on working on Solflare and the crypto industry. Takeaways The performance and user experience of Solana were key factors in choosing to build Solflare on the network. Wallets generate revenue through convenience fees for swaps and by partnering with protocols to bring users and generate volume. Working on Solflare and in the crypto industry provides a dynamic and exciting environment, but also comes with challenges in fundraising and dealing with people. Vidor's day-to-day involves a mix of operational, product, and technical meetings, as well as high-level strategic thinking about the future of wallets and self-custody. The future of self-custody is evolving, and there may be different approaches for different types of applications. Wallets play a crucial role in self-custody, especially for financially heavy applications. Solflare is focused on providing a seamless and user-friendly experience for managing assets on Solana. Find Vidor and Solflare online @vidor_solflare@solflare_walletsolflare.com Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

A conversation with Dimitris (aka Takisoul), contributing member of Dean's List DAO and AthensDAOx. Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/38 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=uuN2k-Njm4I Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show Dean’s List is a services DAO, meaning their members offer various services to the broader Solana community including detailed product feedback and marketing services. Dimitris shares the overarching visions that the Dean’s List DAO is perusing, progressing towards a network state of citizens that are able to earn a living wage. With their current members of about 55 people, each is earning an average of +$2k a month this year. We also talk about some of the logistical concerns for how to manage various aspects of a DAO in the current world. Including who handles payments for non-crypto payments and who manages the social media accounts for a DAO. AthensDAOx: if you are interested in attending AthensDAOx (in Athens, Greece) on Dec 9-10 2023, you can register for a free ticket here: https://lu.ma/cim7z9o5 Find Takisoul and Dean's List online @Milimalism@DeansListDAO@AthensDAOx Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

A conversation with Brian Long, co-founder of Triton One. Full show notes: solfate.com/podcast/37 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=oVhif85sv_I Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show Brian has been in the Solana ecosystem since very early days. Pre-mainnet days. He and his company, Triton One, helped Solana Labs bring up mainnet in March 2020. Even to this day, Brian and Triton continue to be active contributors to the Solana ecosystem. Not only does Triton operate the public mainnet and devnet RPCs nodes for the public, Linus Kendall from Triton is one of the few active contributors of the DAS API and infrastructure that is vital to compressed NFTs on Solana. Triton has also been hard at work on improving the Solana RPC Geyser interface with Project Yellowstone. In this umbrella project, the Triton team is focused on several aspects of the Geyser interface to make many improvements. One of those includes Old Faithful, the effort to put the entire Solana history (200TB+ of data) on the IPFS network. This is especially interesting, not only because Solana produces so much data that grows rapidly every day, but also because it this is being not only theorized by engineers at Triton and Firedancer, but is also a collaboration with Protocol Labs (the creators of IPFS and Filecoin). Multiple Layer 1 blockchains working directly together. Find Brian and and Triton online @BrianLong@triton_onehttps://triton.one Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The time has come, the annual BreakPoint Conference is finally here! Sadly, neither James nor Nick will be attending BreakPoint this year. But we will be watching the talks from home still and these are the talks we will be keeping a close eye on. Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show A conversation with Nicholas Chen, co-founder of SolanaFM. Alpha alert: Nicholas Chen shares a screencast of the new version of SolanaFM. One of the first around! Find the video on our YouTube channel here. SolanaFM is one of the most popular block explorers in the Solana ecosystem. They are well known for their “visual explorer” that allows even the least technical people clearly see how tokens and funds flow through a transaction on the Solana blockchain. Not to mention they have been around in the ecosystem for longer than most! Nicholas Chen and the team at SolanaFM have been cooking up some big changes for the site. After taking in so much feedback from the community, they have have rebuilt and rewritten most of their website to give an even better user experience, including more clear “what happened in this transaction” and “why did this transaction fail” type of information. They have big plans on how to us machine learning and social interactions within the explorer to take it to the next level. In this episode we also talk about: Note: Even though SolanaFM owns a domain TLD for “solana”, they are not a part of the Solana Foundation or Solana Labs. Find Nicholas Chen and and SolanaFM online @nixxholas@SolanaFMsolana.fm Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show A conversation with Tommy Johnson, founder of PsyFi and PsyOptions. Tommy has been in the Solana ecosystem longer than most, having participated in one of the first global hackathons. From building one of the first options markets on Solana, to now launching their latest product: ArmadaFi. The goal of the ArmadaFi platform is to allow people to create better tokenomics by providing the tools teams need to pull it off. Having been through the ups and downs of the blockchain’s financial markets, and working in the DeFi world, Tommy shares his insights on how the journey was first hand. And why this has helped shaped his opinions on blockchain based financial markets. Find Tommy and PsyOptions online @tomjohn1028@PsyOptionsPsyOptions.io Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The Squads protocol is known throughout the Solana ecosystem. Co-founder and CEO of Squads, Stepan, joins to explain why multi signature wallets (aka “multi-sigs”) are so very important in the blockchain world. Stepan shares his background of working in traditional company governance and structure while he was working in mergers and acquisitions before diving full time into web3. Find Stepan and Squads online @SimkinStepan@SquadsProtocolVisit the Squads website Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The Web3 Builders Alliance (WBA for short) is a white glove developer school, focused on blockchain. The people focking ship. How? Because they are all about the people. Co-founder of the Web3 Builders Alliance, Jeff (@japarjam), shares his background of not only coming from outside the tech industry as a traditional educator, but also his experience with cancer. We talk about how the cadets in each WBA cohort have to prove themselves in a few different ways: from simply showing up every day, to their initial screening process. Participants will attend 1 of the 2 sessions a day, spaced 12 hours apart to support builders around the world. Having already completed 2 cohorts, with 11 projects shipped in the first cohort (including 5 global Solana hackathon submissions, they recently started their third cohort. Aside from their clear capability to get code shipped during each cohort (11 projects and 5 hackathon submissions during cohort 1), Jeff and WBA are also cooking a few new opportunities for their graduates. The new “Artisan group” is a small group of WBA graduates that are teaming together for employment by the WBA. These select individuals are going to continue to work together after completing their cohort to continue to build projects for the rest of the Solana ecosystem as part of the new WBA dev shop. Find Jeff and WBA online @japarjam@ComeBuidlwithUsVisit WBA's website Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13

Follow the @SolfatePod show on Twitter for updates. Thanks for listening frens :) Notes from the show The creator and lead developer of Solang, Sean Young, a compiler that allow developers to write Solana programs (aka smart contracts) in the Solidity programming language. This has been a multi year effort to allow existing Solidity developers, like all those existing in the Ethereum ecosystem, to use their existing language knowledge to write Solidity smart contracts on the Solana blockchain. Sean describes how he started his developer journey in the blockchain space, starting as writing his own compiler for the Solidity programming language for a EVM compatible blockchain for the purpose of processing traditional documents. Sean began hitting roadblocks when he was trying to add new features into the Solidity language, which is effectively only used for Ethereum and EVM compatible blockchains and maintained by the Ethereum community. As a general overview, Sean describes how a compiler actually works. Including how compilers like Solang and even native Solana uses LLVM toolkit (Low Level Virtual Machine) to maximize compatibility for multiple programming languages. Words and acronyms used throughout the episode Find Sean and Solang online Follow Sean on twitterSolang's documentationSolang getting started guide Follow us around Nick @nickfrostygithub.com/nickfrostyhttps://nick.afJames @jamesrp13github.com/jamesrp13Solfate Podcast @SolfatePodsolfate.com/podcast