Web3 with Sam Kamani

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sit down again with Denis from Humea to dig into something that keeps coming up across 500+ episodes: brilliant technical founders building serious infrastructure who just can't get traction. Denis has worked with blockchain, fintech, and hardware infrastructure providers , including projects in the Polygon CDK and Aglayer ecosystem, and institutions like Fidelity and Capital One , and he shares exactly what separates the projects that win from those that burn through capital and stall. We talk about why 80-90% of your buyers don't understand your tech, why flashy websites and feature lists are killing your conversions, and how to run proper user research without falling into the focus group trap. Denis also breaks down the output vs outcome mindset shift every infrastructure founder needs, why design sprints should happen every quarter in Web3, and how AI tools are making it faster than ever to fail intelligently and find product-market fit. I also share two tools I've been exploring , Instinct and Mirofish , and we unpack what they signal about where AI-driven research and simulation is heading. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
Humea Website: https://humea.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humea

Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Introduction , why infrastructure founders struggle with traction despite building great tech
• [02:00] The core challenge: most blockchain infrastructure deals are B2B, and buyers are business-oriented, not technical
• [05:00] Why the Web3 space rewards loud screaming over real value , and how to stand apart from the noise
• [08:39] Surprising insight: 80-90% of infrastructure buyers don't understand the tech , you must translate features into value into feeling
• [11:30] Real example: a Polygon CDK/Aglayer client whose interface blocked non-engineers from completing purchases
• [12:00] How Optimism and Polygon eventually narrowed their message to financial rails , and why that took too long
• [14:30] Denis's first steps when an infrastructure project comes to him wanting growth
• [16:45] Why design sprints every quarter are non-negotiable in Web3
• [17:28] Simulated market entry: probe with 20 small things before building the big machine
• [18:20] The danger of "cusdev" (customer development interviews) and false positive data
• [19:28] Nielsen Norman standard: 5-8 people per cohort is enough , more wastes time and money
• [20:04] Watch what people do, not what they say , and why focus groups are almost always misleading
• [22:34] Output vs Outcome: the short book every infrastructure founder should read
• [24:00] Paying an industry leader for a single expert interview , an underused and undervalued research move
• [27:25] AIDA still works: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action , and why flashy Web3 websites kill the funnel
• [29:57] Sam shares Instinct (the $10B AI agent startup) as a masterclass in simplicity over complexity
• [32:00] Mirofish: simulating the future with AI agents arguing scenarios in real time
• [35:41] Why AI makes it faster and cheaper to fail fast, learn fast, and iterate toward product-market fit
• [36:10] Don't be discouraged by BlackRock and Stripe signing with Polygon , the whole world still needs to adopt this technology

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sit down with Michael Huynh, Chief Marketing Officer at Lumia, to unpack why real-world asset tokenization is the next massive wave in crypto. Michael has worked with some of the biggest names in the space , Polygon, Avalanche, and more , and now he's all in on RWAs. We dig into what Lumia is actually building, why they're taking a slower and more precise approach to launching tokenized assets, and why Michael sees RWAs as DeFi 2.0. We talk about the full asset chain of gold, the mortgage market that isn't on chain yet, why STOs were the V1 that failed so RWAs could be the V2 that wins, and what it would actually take to sell a house or a Lamborghini on-chain. Michael also shares his bold marketing vision , including potentially airdropping someone a house. If you're a founder, builder, VC, or just someone trying to understand where crypto is heading, this episode will shift how you think about what's possible. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
Lumia Twitter/X: https: https://x.com/BuildOnLumia
Lumia Website: https://lumia.org/
Michael LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huynh-michael/
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Sam introduces Michael Huynh, CMO of Lumia, and why this episode matters for founders, builders, and investors in the RWA space
• [01:42] Michael's crypto journey from 2017 through Polygon and Avalanche, and why he went all in on RWAs
• [02:50] Why RWAs aren't sexy like meme coins but represent the liquidity layer DeFi has always been missing
• [03:36] What problems Lumia solves , from asset issuance and verification to the full custody chain of physical assets like gold
• [07:21] The contract and collateralization layer: diamonds, REITs, and invoice financing as untapped RWA verticals
• [09:18] Why STOs in 2018 were the V1 of RWAs and why the second iteration is finally gaining traction
• [11:11] Why no assets are live on Lumia yet , the deliberate approach to building airtight validation rails before launch
• [12:33] The billion-dollar pipeline deals Lumia has waiting and why they're not rushing to onboard them
• [14:00] Sam and Michael discuss liquidity challenges in tokenized asset markets and lessons from prediction markets like Augur and Polymarket
• [20:49] Who will use Lumia , both institutional and retail users , and the vision for developers building on top of tokenized assets
• [23:52] The biggest challenge Lumia faces right now as a CMO: navigating multi-jurisdiction regulation
• [26:51] What scaling challenges Michael anticipates once product-market fit is achieved
• [29:01] How the Pokemon card craze was an early signal for RWA adoption, and what it tells us about where the market is heading
• [34:07] Stocks on-chain, car fleets as RWAs, Tesla robotaxis, and the endless verticals beyond gold and silver
• [37:33] The massive untapped opportunity in mortgage and home equity lending coming on-chain
• [39:45] Michael's call to action: think beyond the obvious RWA use cases and build on Lumia
• [42:38] Michael's personal goal to airdrop someone a house or a Lamborghini as a viral marketing campaign
• [45:13] Lumia will be at Binance Blockchain Week in Bangkok , why Michael thinks it's worth attending
• [51:26] How Michael decides which conferences to sponsor versus attend based on CTA potential

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Andrey Didovskiy, co-founder of Seasons Protocol, to break down how they are delivering sustainable yields of 24-30% APY paid out in Bitcoin, tokenized gold, and stablecoins , twice a week, directly to your wallet. No staking, no lockups, no complexity. Andrey walks me through the three-part yield generation engine behind Seasons: the Vaults, the Transactional Transfer Tax, and the Stablecoin Module , and explains how their on-chain orchestration system distributes real yield at near-zero cost. We also dig into why they built on Solana, who their users are today, where they are seeing traction across Europe, and what the road ahead looks like as they move toward agentic finance infrastructure. If you have ever been frustrated by price dependency in crypto and want to understand how on-chain cash flow actually works, this episode is for you. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
Seasons Website: https://seasons.wtf/
Seasons Twitter/X: https://x.com/SeasonsDEFI
Andrey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreydidovskiy/
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Sam introduces Andrey Didovskiy from Seasons Protocol and the episode focus on real on-chain yield
• [00:48] Andrey shares his journey from early Bitcoin exposure in 2014 to writing ICO white papers during the 2017 boom
• [02:22] How Andrey became a top Bitcoin ATM distributor and moved into CEO and COO roles before founding Seasons
• [03:20] The core problem Seasons solves: eliminating price dependency through on-chain cash flow
• [05:12] How Seasons achieves 24-30% APY and what assets users are paid in (Bitcoin, tokenized gold, JLUSDC)
• [05:35] Deep dive into the three-part Yield3 mechanism: Vaults, Transactional Transfer Tax (TTT), and the Stablecoin Module (SSYM)
• [07:09] How the Vaults work using delta-neutral Bitcoin strategies and tokenized gold liquidity provision
• [08:29] How the TTT works as a 10% transfer fee that feeds directly back into the yield engine
• [09:42] How the SSYM holds queued assets in stablecoins and compounds yield during distribution
• [10:16] How users receive yield: directly to their wallet twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays
• [12:20] The on-chain distribution innovation Seasons built that is 99% cheaper than existing solutions
• [13:12] Why Andrey chose to build on Solana and what gives him conviction in the chain long-term
• [14:44] Current user base: mostly private individuals in Europe, with institutional conversations beginning
• [17:00] Why Seasons is focused on Europe and what makes that market uniquely positioned for crypto adoption
• [18:38] How to get started with Seasons: buy on any DEX, hold 1,000-10,000 tokens, become a node automatically
• [20:03] Biggest current challenge: finding and retaining the right people and team members
• [21:38] How trust and consistency over time is the foundation of scaling a yield protocol
• [22:44] Andrey's view on the next 12 months in crypto: maturity, tokenization, and the shift to invisible infrastructure
• [24:41] Discussion on capital flows from crypto to AI and whether that interest returns
• [28:10] What is next for Seasons in the next 6-12 months: protocol sprint, commercial API, and enterprise cashback tools
• [29:55] Andrey's biggest asks: talented people, smart capital, and quality technical and marketing partners

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with Alexis from Yellow aboard their sailing catamaran SV Yellow in Singapore, right in the middle of Formula One weekend. We got into something I think is genuinely underappreciated right now: the shift from human and algorithmic trading to AI agent-driven trading. Yellow has built what they call a trading OS , market making infrastructure, a decentralized liquidity hub, and an MCP connector that gives AI agents like Claude or Gemini actual hands to execute trades. We also went deep on prediction markets, why liquidity is the missing piece most founders overlook, and the brutal reality of launching a token today when everyone from exchanges to market makers is trying to extract value from your project. Alexis shared some really practical advice for founders on how to survive your TGE and grow slowly and organically , and why Yellow even refunded $8 million to their VCs to avoid that sell pressure. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
Yellow Website: https://yellow.com/
Yellow Twitter/X: https://x.com/YellowMedia_HQ
Yellow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yellow-com/home/
Alexis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirkia/
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [02:04] Welcome and setting the scene aboard SV Yellow in Singapore during Formula One weekend
• [09:05] How Yellow has evolved from crypto trading infrastructure into AI agentic trading over the last year and a half
• [10:40] Yellow launches its MCP connector at yellow.pro, enabling AI agents to execute trades directly from a chat interface
• [12:20] Market making remains Yellow's core revenue driver and now feeds liquidity into pools that agents can tap
• [14:35] A banker described Yellow as an operating system for agentic trading , market making, infrastructure, and the MCP connector all in one
• [17:20] Yellow builds Santos, a new trading engine built from scratch to handle prediction markets, RWA, and tokenized stocks
• [18:30] The fragmented liquidity problem in prediction markets and how Yellow is unifying liquidity across venues
• [21:20] Advice for prediction market founders: liquidity is the hardest and most overlooked piece
• [29:00] Yellow is in talks with major LLM providers to integrate the MCP connector directly into their platforms
• [32:30] MCP connectors explained simply: they give hands to your AI model so it can act, not just advise
• [36:20] The crypto industry has become highly professionalized at extracting value from new token projects
• [40:00] Exchanges, market makers, and VCs are all incentivized to dump on your project early , founders need to be prepared
• [44:30] Practical tips for founders: match community size to token supply, avoid simultaneous listings, and don't gift too many tokens without a buying strategy
• [46:50] Exchanges will still list you 6 or 12 months after TGE if your project is solid , don't rush
• [49:05] Hyperliquid is the gold standard: one year of traction, no VCs, strong community before token launch
• [52:15] Yellow refunded $8 million to VCs to remove sell pressure and let the project grow organically

EPISODE DESCRIPTION 
I sat down with John from RealFi live at Token2049 to dig into why most stablecoins are just quietly subsidizing US government debt , and what a truly productive stablecoin looks like. John breaks down how USDR works, why they do their own credit origination instead of just allocating to funds, and how they're targeting 12% yield by rotating into private fintech credit. We also get into the Ethena playbook, the real challenges of scaling a credit book on-chain, AI-powered smart contract audits, and why the RWA narrative is finally moving from talk to reality. This is a genuinely different conversation about stablecoins , one grounded in real lending, real underwriting, and real economic impact. 
DISCLAIMER
Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. 
Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 CONNECT 
RealFi Website: https://realfi.co/
RealFi Twitter/X: https://x.com/realfi_co
Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/
 KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS 
• [00:00] Most stablecoins are essentially subsidizing US Treasury borrowing , RealFi is building something different
• [01:22] Interview recorded live at Token2049 with John from RealFi
• [01:59] RealFi launched mainnet on Cardano three days before recording, with Ethereum launch coming in three weeks
• [02:44] USDR is designed as a productive stablecoin , passing yield from a mixed portfolio of T-bills, CLO ETFs, and private fintech credit
• [04:28] Euro-denominated stablecoins are starting to emerge as real-world use cases like remittances grow
• [07:37] USDR currently yields 9%, with a projected move to 12% as the portfolio rotates into more private credit
• [08:27] John highlights Ethena as the gold standard , a simple, scalable market-neutral funding rate trade with world-class operations
• [10:47] RealFi's portfolio construction: T-bills for liquidity, CLO ETFs, and proprietary fintech credit origination with a one-week cooldown on staking
• [12:36] Alpha decay is less of a concern in credit markets than in capacity-constrained hedge fund strategies
• [13:55] Macro outlook: John is watching US midterms closely before making strong calls; sees opportunity in well-placed fintech credit
• [18:40] AI frontier models are changing smart contract security , audits are no longer one-and-done but a continuous monthly process
• [20:38] RWA narrative is finally moving from eight years of conversation to actual on-chain reality
• [24:19] USDR is live on Cardano now; Ethereum launch imminent , listeners can join the Discord and follow along