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CEX vs. DEX in 2025: The future of trading feat. Armani Ferrante (Backpack)

Feb 13, 2025 • Season 1 • Episode 69 • 38 min 30 sec

In this episode of Hashing It Out, host Elisha Owusu Akyaw sits down with Armani Ferrante, CEO of Backpack, to discuss the evolution of centralized exchanges, Backpack’s innovative approach to trading and the role of compliance in crypto. From proof of reserves to Backpack’s new perpetual futures system, they dive into how exchanges can build trust in a post-FTX world.

(00:00) – Intro and guest Introduction
(01:12) – Crypto in 2025
(06:02) – The birth of Backpack
(09:51) – Lessons from FTX
(15:04) – Proof of Reserves debate
(22:05) – What makes Backpack unique?
(27:32) – Traders’ reactions
(29:04) – New blockchain integrations
(31:22) – Solana’s future
(35:50) – DEXs vs. centralized exchanges

This episode of Hashing It Out is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted by Elisha Owusu Akyaw, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up).

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.

Follow this episode’s host, Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy), on X at @ghcryptoguy.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Untitled Episode

Mar 12, 2025 • S1E71 • 22 min 42 sec

The UX problem in Web3 and how to solve it (feat. Ponder One)

In this episode of Hashing It Out, host Elisha Owusu Akyaw sits down with Moe El-Shibib and Selim Sezgin, co-founders of Ponder One, to explore the evolving Web3 landscape.

They discuss the challenges of usability and adoption, the role of AI in simplifying blockchain interactions and the importance of interoperability in a multichain world. The conversation also touches on governance, decentralized ownership and what the future holds for Web3 applications.

(00:28) - Host and guest introduction
(01:21) - Founders’ journey into Web3
(03:26) - Web3 adoption and usability trends
(05:45) - What is Ponder One?
(10:41) - AI’s role in simplifying Web3
(13:49) - Governance and user involvement
(17:16) - Crosschain usability solutions
(19:54) - Ponder One’s 2025 roadmap
(21:35) - Closing thoughts on Web3’s future

This episode of Hashing It Out was brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted by Elisha Owusu Akyaw, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up).

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Follow this episode’s host, Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy), on X at @ghcryptoguy.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Mar 13, 2025 • S1E71 • 22 min 42 sec

DeFi’s missing link: Fixed income (feat. Treehouse)

The global fixed-income market is massive, yet it’s nearly absent in crypto. In this episode of Hashing It Out, Elisha Owusu Akyaw sits down with Treehouse CEO Brandon Goh to explore how DeFi can integrate fixed-income products, why benchmarks matter and what’s next for institutional adoption. They dive into risk management, yield generation and the future of decentralized finance.

(00:03) – The fixed-income gap in DeFi
(01:15) – Brandon Goh’s journey to Web3
(02:53) – Why fixed income matters in crypto
(05:43) – DeFi’s missing infrastructure
(07:39) – Treehouse: a new DeFi primitive
(09:58) – Risks in yield-generating products
(14:46) – Decentralized offered rates (DOR)
(18:29) – Treehouse’s growth to $340M TVL
(21:20) – Choosing the right blockchain for DeFi expansion
(25:38) – The future of DeFi and institutional adoption

This episode of Hashing It Out is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted by Elisha Owusu Akyaw, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up).

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Follow this episode’s host, Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy), on X at @ghcryptoguy.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Feb 20, 2025 • S1E70 • 27 min 37 sec

Wearables and AI: The future of health data (feat. CUDIS)

Wearable technology is evolving, and blockchain is playing a key role in reshaping how health data is owned and used. In this episode of Hashing It Out, host Elisha Owusu Akyaw speaks with Edison Chen, CEO of CUDIS, about the intersection of wearables, Web3 and AI.

They dive into everything data privacy, blockchain’s role in securing health information and the future of user-controlled data in a decentralized world.

(00:00) – Introduction
(01:00) – Meet Edison Chen
(03:00) – The wearables market
(05:00) – Why CUDIS?
(07:30) – Data ownership and privacy
(10:00) – Security and AI
(13:00) – Crypto incentives for wellness
(16:00) – Solana vs. other blockchains
(19:30) – Web3, AI and the future of wearables
(22:30) – Final thoughts and what’s next

This episode of Hashing It Out is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted by Elisha Owusu
Akyaw, produced by Savannah Fortis, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up).

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Follow this episode’s host, Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy), on X at @ghcryptoguy.

Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Jan 30, 2025 • S1E68 • 24 min 43 sec

Decentralized AI and AI agents driving the Web3 2025 supercycle

In this episode of Hashing It Out, Elisha Owusu Akyaw sits down with Michael Heinrich, co-founder and CEO of 0G Labs, to explore the intersection of Web3 and AI in 2025. They hash out the hype of Web3 AI, the best applications, the pros and cons of AI agents and what goes into a decentralized AI operating system.

[02:15] - AI simplifies Web3 user experiences
[04:38] - Functionality of AI agents
[05:17] - What is verifiable inference and why we need it
[08:02] - Journey to Web3 AI development
[12:02] - Urgency of decentralizing AI and preventing monopolization
[14:50] - What makes a decentralized AI operating system?
[18:55] - Challenges in AI alignment and blockchain's role
[21:23] - Is an AI apocalypse possible?
[23:49] - Working with a modular tech stack
[27:11] - Use cases for decentralized AI in critical applications
[32:50] - 2025 roadmap and the Web3 AI supercycle
[36:00] - Web3: Two truths and a lie

This episode of Hashing It Out is brought to you by Cointelegraph and hosted by Elisha Owusu Akyaw, produced by Savannah Fortis, with post-production by Elena Volkova (Hatch Up).

Follow this episode’s host, Elisha Owusu Akyaw (GhCryptoGuy), on X @ghcryptoguy.

Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph.
Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com.

If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review!

Jan 16, 2025 • S1E67 • 38 min 22 sec

2025 and beyond: DePIN's role in the next crypto wave

Dive into the future of decentralized infrastructure with Elisha Owusu Akyaw and Fluence Labs CEO Tom Trowbridge on this episode of Hashing It Out.

Discover how DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) disrupts centralized giants, enables real-world utility and shapes blockchain's next frontier. Tom unpacks the challenges, opportunities and innovations driving Fluence Labs and the broader DePIN ecosystem, offering a compelling vision for 2025 and beyond.

(00:03) Introduction to Tom Trowbridge and DePIN
(01:24) Tom’s Journey into Web3 and DePIN
(03:26) What is DePIN? A Clear Definition
(05:20) Is DePIN a Meme or a Game-Changer?
(08:26) Why Fluence Labs? Tackling Centralization in the Cloud
(11:53) How Decentralization Enhances Security and Scalability
(13:42) Marketing DePIN: Product First, Crypto Second
(19:27) Role of Tokens in DePIN Projects
(23:28) DePIN Use Cases: What Excites Tom Most?
(27:07) Lessons Learned from Building in DePIN
(28:58) What’s Next for Fluence and DePIN in 2025?
(30:32) Closing Remarks

Follow Tom Trowbridge on X: @TheTomTrow

Dec 19, 2024 • S1E66 • 30 min 55 sec

Authors

Elisha Owusu Akyaw

Elisha Owusu Akyaw, also known as GhCryptoGuy, is a social media specialist at Cointelegraph. Since discovering cryptocurrency at 16, he has taken it upon himself to educate the masses about crypto.

About podcast

Hashing It Out is Cointelegraph’s technical crypto podcast, covering innovations, emerging technology and important stories from the blockchain industry. It features interviews with thought leaders in the space, focusing on BTC, Ethereum, altcoins and new technological advancements in the cryptocurrency industry.

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Disclaimer These podcasts (and any related content) are for entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial advice, nor should they be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcasts' participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.