yWhales

Carbon Credits Redefined: FinRamp’s Blockchain-Powered Future

Allan Matheson, Founder & CEO of Golden Pear Capital and yWhales member takes the audience on a captivating exploration at the crossroads of finance and innovation, delving deep into FinRamp, the pioneering fully-regulated Carbon Credit solution. Alongside Co-Managing Directors Jay Steinback and Dr. Zemfira Khisaeva, the trio unravels the tech and blockchain (r)evolution that birthed FinRamp.
 
As the founders put it “Our vision for FinRamp is to become a leading operating system that leverages blockchain to issue, store, transfer, and exchange digital assets. It will be the first fully regulated solution providing both asset tokenization and liquidity services to global professional and institutional clients with a closed-loop system.”
 
The team shares insights into the genesis of yWhales and the imperative to build in Web3. Dr. Zemfira Khisaeva delves into her engineering roots, journeying from traditional finance to the crypto space. The podcast explores the mission of FinRamp - to revolutionize carbon credit issuance. It addresses the core problems FinRamp tackles, emphasizing the crucial role of regulatory compliance in their approach. The mechanics of FinRamp's operation, from tokenization to liquidity services, are laid bare, highlighting the team's expertise and commitment to safety first.
 
The episode concludes with a peek into FinRamp's roadmap and vision, inviting listeners to join the journey toward a sustainable future. For those eager to engage, discover more about FinRamp's groundbreaking solutions at finramp.io/pitch. Welcome to the forefront of innovation in carbon credit trading!
Company Social Links:
FinRamp’s Website: https://www.finramp.io/
Get Involved: https://www.finramp.io/pitch/
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finramp/
Podcast Library: https://www.ywhales.com/podcasts 
Guest Social Links: 
Jay’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysteinback/
Zem’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zemfira-khisaeva-8a50042/
About Guests
Jay Steinback serves as the Co-Managing Director of FinRamp and holds pivotal roles as Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of yWhales. Boasting a robust background in corporate ecosystems, Jay adeptly navigates the realms of technology, collaboration, and team structures. The inception of yWhales originated from the demand of numerous global business professionals eager to delve into and invest in the impending Web3 transition. Utilizing the expansive YPO network, Jay turned this transition into a full-time commitment, assembling a dedicated team and co-founders along the journey.
 
Harnessing disciplined onboarding procedures with Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, yWhales meticulously upholds a secure environment. This ensures business leaders worldwide can seamlessly interact 24/7, fostering global connectivity irrespective of time or location. Before his venture with yWhales, Jay orchestrated the successful sale of his family's retail empire to private equity in 2019. Jay, along with his wife Amanda, founded VUE Enterprises, another corporate ecosystem rooted in the residential and commercial real estate market.
 
With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in venture capital and startups, Jay also played a foundational role as one of the founding board members of Arch Grants. In this capacity, he was responsible for constructing the competition's selection and due diligence process. Jay's multifaceted expertise underscores his strategic leadership in both FinRamp and yWhales, contributing significantly to the evolution of Web3 and corporate ecosystems.
Dr. Zemfira Khisaeva, Co-Managing Director of FinRamp and Co-Founder and President of yWhales, brings over a decade of corporate governance and successful strategy creation and execution experience.
Zemfira co-founded yWhales after serving as a senior finance executive at Scotiabank, one of Canada's largest financial institutions. Exposure to new and emerging technologies, coupled with the challenges of Web2.0 adoption by traditional banking, redirected her focus to Web3.0—a foundational building block of the future of finance. In the past decade, Zemfira has successfully invested in and advised numerous Web3.0 companies, earning recognition for creating top-performing teams and being at the forefront of disruption.
 
Before her tenure at Scotiabank, Zemfira was a consultant at McKinsey&Co, advising enterprises on strategy, investment due diligence, and M&A, later specializing in Business Turnarounds and Operations. A native of Russia, Zemfira holds a PhD in Solids Mechanics from McGill University in Canada and a Candidate of Science degree in Materials Science from Ufa Petroleum University in Russia. Her early career involved co-founding a nanotechnology startup in Russia, contributing to Space Antenna structures at MDA Space Missions in Canada, and participating in the design of the next generation of aircraft at Bombardier Aerospace in Canada and China.
 
Zemfira is passionate about making the world a better place. In service of that vision, she is an angel investor, startup mentor, and YPO chapter board member. Her multifaceted background positions her as a key figure in both FinRamp and yWhales, contributing significantly to the evolution of Web3.0 and corporate ecosystems.
Timestamps
0:35 Allan’s Intro 
2:02 Jay’s Background: Tech Beginnings And Introduction To Crypto World
5:52 Zemfira’s Background: From Engineering, Computer Science And Technology To Tradfi Experience And Introduction To Crypto And yWhales
8:35 Why Build In Web3 And Blockchain?
15:20 The Problem Finramp Is Looking To Solve And The Role Of Regulation
23:30 Self-Inflicted Problems In Web3 & Crypto
24:28 How Finramp Works & The Launch In Europe
28:51 Use Cases For Finramp
34:00 Why Blockchain Tech Is The Solution
39:09 The Tech Stack: Safety First
44:23 The Expertise Behind Finramp 
51:26 Finramp’s Roadmap And Vision
1:00:16 How To Get Involved And Learn More About FinRamp
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | Poloniex Hack | HSBC Taps Ripple’s Metaco For Custody

In this episode of yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech, we delve into crucial developments in the Web3 sphere. Our featured guests include Dash Lavine, CEO of Concord, shedding light on data privacy; Coert Voorhees, CEO of Arden, discussing blockchain integration; and Claus Skaaning, CEO of DigiShares, sharing insights on digital assets. We chat about everything from data privacy to blockchain integration and digital assets.
 
We will cover hot topics like the Poloniex hack and the interesting partnership between HSBC and Ripple's Metaco for their security token custody solutions. Join us as we explore NFT trends, analyze the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain, and delve into the intricacies of self-custody versus institutional custody. Stay tuned for an in-depth discussion on Argentina's rising inflation and the recent security token custody development with HSBC and Ripple's Metaco.
 
 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Guest Social Links:
Dash’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dashlavine/
Dash’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/dashlavine
Concord Tech’s Website: https://www.concord.tech/
Concord Tech’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConcordTech
 
Coert’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coert-voorhees/
Coert’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoertVoorhees
Arden’s Website: https://www.arden.cc/
 
Claus’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clausskaaning/
Claus’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/clausskaaning
DigiShares’ Website: https://digishares.io/
DigiShares’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DigiSharesDK
About Guests
Dash Lavine, the co-founder and CEO of Concord, is a seasoned executive and adept team builder with nearly two decades of expertise spanning data analytics, predictive sciences, data privacy, digital marketing, agencies, and startups. Concord stands at the forefront of data privacy, providing a comprehensive platform for compliance and privacy-first data collection that drives superior data quality, user loyalty, and tangible business results. Prior to Concord, he started and ran two successful consulting agencies and had a long and accomplished career at Webtrends, which was acquired by Oracle in 2017. Having worked with an extensive group of prominent brands and agencies, including Microsoft, Facebook/Meta, Samsung, AT&T, CVS, HSBC, Orbitz, Reuters, WPP, and Publicis Sapient, he brings a comprehensive understanding of how technology can be used to drive success across different industries.
Coert Voorhees is the CEO and Co-Founder of Arden, a blockchain infrastructure company that enables the integration of web3 into legacy systems and experiences. A novelist and entrepreneur, Coert is a former Fulbright Scholar and Rice University Visiting Writer in Residence. Prior to Arden, Coert founded Six Foot Press, a Houston-based publisher of popular culture art books, comic books, and fiction. He is also the creator of the multi-platform edtech company Grammaropolis, a story-based approach to teaching grammar and writing, which WIRED Magazine called “pure gold.”
 
Claus Skaaning, the accomplished CEO of DigiShares since 2018, boasts a rich and diverse career journey. With a stellar background, he served as the Senior Business Developer at AAU Innovation from 2017 to 2020, held the position of COO at VentureFusion from 2017 to 2019, and was the COO of Aglance Solutions/Navigate Pain from 2016 to 2018. From 2014 to 2020, Claus founded Sales on Tap and CS Consult, where he played a crucial role in mentoring IT and research-based startups.
In the tech realm, Claus served as the visionary CEO of Dezide from 2001 to 2014, where he spearheaded groundbreaking AI-driven diagnostic software. His journey began in 1997 as a Technical Project Manager at Hewlett-Packard, and in the same year, he earned a Ph.D. in Bayesian networks, showcasing his commitment to continuous learning and innovation. Claus Skaaning's impressive career reflects not only his wealth of experience but also his dedication to pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.
Timestamps
0:37  Jay’s Intro 
2:03 Guests Intro 
4:06 Digital Assets Have Surpassed $1b+ In Inflows This Year
14:06 Nft Blue Chips Are Up 71% Over The Last Month
23:06 “Ponzi Coins” Are Seeing Triple Digit Returns
28:05 How To Bring Blockchain Tech To Legitimate Tradfi
29:54  Self-Custody vs Institutional Custody
36:30 Hsbc Taps Ripple’s Metaco To Launch Security Token Custody
42:20  Argentina’s Inflation Rises
50:47 Poloniex Hot Wallets Hacked With $114m Seemingly Stolen: On-Chain Data
59:31 How To Get In Touch & Closing Thoughts
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | BlackRock Spot BTC #ETF | MasterCard’s Web3 Collabs

In this episode of yWeb3 Navigating Frontier Tech, our host Jay Steinback, yWhales CEO and founder, engages in a thrilling conversation with Adam Jones, CEO and founder of Token Events, and Josh Cowell, Head of Product at XGo. Together, they dive deep into the world of Web3 and emerging tech, offering insights that resonate with executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs interested in building, investing, and learning about the latest in technology and Web3 advancements.
 
Their discussion kicks off with a focus on BlackRock's recent ETF filing, which has sparked considerable interest due to its securing of a CUSIP number, making tracking more efficient. What's more, they explore the possibility of "seeding" the ETF, hinting at the potential arrival of a spot Bitcoin ETF sooner than expected. This development showcases the rapid evolution of the crypto landscape, especially in the context of traditional financial institutions like BlackRock. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they delve into the U.S. Court of Appeals' mandate, allowing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review Grayscale Investments' application for a spot Bitcoin ETF. This legal battle and regulatory review are pivotal moments in the journey toward greater crypto accessibility and innovation.
 
Shifting gears, they provide insights into BlockFi's recent emergence from bankruptcy and what this means for creditors and customers. Understanding the recovery process and the timeline for accessing funds is vital for anyone with a stake in BlockFi. Jay, Adam, and Josh unravel the strategic collaborations that Mastercard is exploring with self-custody wallet firms like MetaMask and Ledger. These partnerships aim to enhance user engagement and crypto spending, potentially opening up new regions to digital assets. Mastercard's commitment to transparency and their focus on consumer protection and transaction monitoring sets the stage for a new era in digital payments.
Lastly, they touch upon Mastercard's partnership with MoonPay, a cryptocurrency and NFT payments app. By utilizing Mastercard's Crypto Credential system and integrating services like Mastercard Send and Click to Pay, they aim to redefine customer loyalty and engagement in the digital economy, bringing a fresh perspective to consumer interactions in the Web3 era.
 
In this episode, you'll gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of Web3 and emerging technologies, presented in a professional yet approachable manner. It's a must-listen for business leaders and tech enthusiasts looking to navigate the forefront of innovation in the digital age.
 
 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Guest Social Links:
Adam Jones’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-j-9802b88
Token Events’ Website: https://tknevents.com/ 
 
Josh Cowell’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcowell/
XGo’s Twitter: @XGo_official
XGo’s Website: https://xgo.id/
 
About Guests
Adam Jones, a tech leader with extensive experience in Web3, digital transformation, and management consulting. He's the CEO of Token Fan Commerce and previously held senior tech roles at R/GA and Crispin Porter + Bogusky. With 21+ years in global roles for brands like Domino’s and JP Morgan Chase, he combines expertise with a BS in Computer Science and MIS from Southern Illinois University.
Josh Cowell is a builder, spokesperson, researcher, and champion of blockchain technology and crypto since 2010 in parallel to operating for the past decade in TradFi risk. He is the Head of Product at XGo.id (“XGo ID”) where he’s driving crypto mass adoption.
Timestamps
0:37 Jay’s intro
2:41 Guests intro
6:51  The state of crypto: The cycles and what they mean for entrepreneurs
9:25 BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF Gets Ticker; Crypto Funds Jump
10:50 US court issues mandate for Grayscale ruling, paving way for SEC to review spot Bitcoin ETF
14:03 BlockFi Emerges from Bankruptcy
21:31 The conference landscape
27:12 Mastercard Plans Web3 Collaborations With Self-Custody Wallet Firms & 
Mastercard Teams Up With MoonPay for Web3 Push
32:40 Closing thoughts
36:40 How to get in touch
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.
 
#yWeb3 #yWhales #Web3 #CryptoNews #Blockchain #BTC #ETF #BitcoinETF #Grayscale #SEC  #BlockFiRecovery #Mastercard #MetaMask #Ledger #MoonPay  #DigitalAssets #Web3Trends #TokenEvents #AdamJones #NFTs #FANtoken #XGo #JoshCowell #CryptoWallet #Web3Wallet #BlackRock #DigitalEconomy

Real-World Assets Tokenization: The Future of Blockchain-Based Finance

In this episode of the RWA Tokenization series, your host, Jay Steinback, yWhales CEO & Co-Founder, Siva Avvaru, Managing Director at yWhales Solutions, and Brad Yasar, founder and CEO of EQIFi, discuss the intersection of blockchain and traditional finance. They emphasize the importance of custody for regulated assets and the need for trusted custodians in the crypto space. They also highlight the challenges of self-custody and the benefits of using regulated institutions for asset storage. The conversation touches on liquidity and the need for regulated execution venues to attract institutional capital. Jay, Siva, and Brad stress the importance of compliance and regulation in building trust and investor confidence. They talk about the potential for tokenizing real-world assets and the benefits it can bring to the capital markets. Listen as they discuss the future of blockchain-based finance and the role of traditional financial institutions in adopting this technology.
Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is a process in the Web3 and blockchain space where physical or tangible assets, such as real estate, art, commodities, or even financial instruments, are represented as digital tokens on a blockchain. These tokens are often referred to as "security tokens" or "asset-backed tokens."
 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Guest Social Links:
Siva’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivaavvaru/ 
Brad’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyasar/ 
Yasar Corp: https://www.yasarcorp.com/ 
EQIFi: https://www.EQIFi.com/
 
About Guests
Siva Avvaru brings a strong background in Web3 advisory, monetization strategies, executive consulting, technology strategy & development, organizational agility, and market penetration execution.
Prior to yWhales Solutions, Siva was an Engagement Leader for the Advisory practice of Advanced Technology Group, the industry thought leader in Lead-to-Cash serving the global Fortune 1000 & XaaS-based startup clientele.  As a testament to his success, Siva has yielded 30+ clients in realizing over $500m+ in revenue uplifts across the banking, construction, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, technology, telecom, travel, and private equity industries throughout his consulting career. His breadth & depth of domain and industry expertise equips him with the insights & foresight his clients leverage in advance of their competition.
Siva relies on a deep intellectual backbone of technology, being one of the first advisors of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in intent and utterance definition in the 2010s, and is one of the sought-after experts in re-orienting organizations towards an agile product-centric mindset.  Starting in 2015, he dove into the world of cryptocurrency by investing in Ethereum, Ripple, Stellar Lumens, Antshares (now known as NEO) and was enamored by the underlying blockchain technologies and what their implications meant for businesses in the future. He has since developed expertise in data models for organizations looking to hybridize traditional cloud-based architectures with node-based technologies.
Brad Yasar is an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and advisor with a global focus on blockchain and innovative technologies. He has conceived and bootstrapped several companies to maturity over the past 30 years. Brad is currently the CEO of EQIFi, the premiere decentralized global banking platform. He is also Founder of Beyond Enterprizes, offering strategic and technical leadership, advisory, and support to projects in all blockchain implementation and development stages. 
As the co-founder of Blockchain Investors Consortium (BIC) with over 5 Billion dollars allocated to blockchain/cryptocurrency projects, Brad has access to extensive deal flow with experience analyzing disruptive technologies. He has participated in dozens of successful crowd sales, raising billions from hundreds of thousands of investors since 2016. 
Brad also serves as the President of Yasar Corporation, where he mentored, advised, and invested in more than 100 companies. Brad’s expertise and enthusiasm for the intersection of technology and world markets make him a sought after speaker. He is frequently invited to speak at events on entrepreneurship, angel investing, and business strategy. He has presented at EBAN, WBAF, d10e, NexChange, and CoinAgenda to name a few, and was most recently featured onTRT World, CNN International, and Spectrum News 1.  
Supporting younger generations of entrepreneurs, Brad serves as a mentor for the Pepperdine Alumni Association. Mr. Yasar holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Management (1999) from Pepperdine University (Malibu, California) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Sciences Math (1996) from Académie de Grenoble (France). 
His charitable efforts focus on Goodwill Industries, the LA County Museum of Art, the LA Philharmonic, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to name a few. 
You’ll learn about:
Custody is crucial for regulated assets, and self-custody may not be practical or secure for most people.
Regulated custodians provide security, compliance, and insurance for assets, which is essential for investor confidence.
The lack of liquidity and access to regulated execution venues is a significant barrier for institutional capital in the crypto markets.
Tokenizing funds can provide liquidity and open up investment opportunities for a wider range of investors.
Traditional financial institutions, such as UBS and Morgan, are exploring blockchain technology and tokenization, signaling the growing interest and adoption in the industry.
Timestamps
[00:36] Jay’s Intro
[1:01] Overview of the New Series 
[2:43] Self-Custody of Regulated Securities
[7:45] Market Liquidity & Mitigating Risk
[11:25] The Transitionary Period: Connecting the Old and New Worlds
[14:41] Insurability & Adapting Regulation 
[18:40] Blockchain-based Finance
[25:29] The UK FCA Working on Blueprints for Fund Tokenization
[30:55] UBS Launches Tokenization Trial on Ethereum 
[36:27] What will see over the next few years
[40:26] Tokenizing Real-World Assets
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.
#yWeb3 #yWhales #RWA #TokenizationSeries #BlockchainAndFinance #CustodyMatters #TrustedCustodians #CryptoSpace #SelfCustodyChallenges #RegulatedInstitutions #AssetStorage #Liquidity #ExecutionVenues #InstitutionalCapital #ComplianceAndRegulation #TrustAndConfidence #TokenizingRealWorldAssets #CapitalMarkets #FutureOfBlockchainFinance #TraditionalFinancialInstitutions #AdoptingTechnology #BradYasar #EQIFi 

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | #BTC spot #ETFs | Binance.US Halts Withdrawals | Crypto Market

In this episode of yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech, your host, Jay Steinback, yWhales CEO & Co-Founder, brings together a panel of experts to delve into the world of emerging technology and cryptocurrencies. Our guests for today's episode are Lucia Gallardo, Founder & CEO of Emerge, and Siva Avvaru, Managing Director at yWhales Solutions. The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the Bitcoin ETF and its impact on BTC prices, with a special focus on Siva's insights regarding the compatibility of traditional finance (tradfi) and decentralized finance (defi). The episode also covers Morgan Stanley's optimistic call signaling the end of the crypto bear market, as well as the letter from Senator Warren and legislators concerning cryptocurrency's potential link to funding terrorism. The show further explores the temporary halt of direct dollar withdrawals by Binance.US and Palau's mission to become a "Crypto Island" in the Western Pacific Ocean. The episode concludes by examining Reddit's decision to discontinue Crypto Community Points Tokens. This episode promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the latest developments in the world of cryptocurrencies and emerging tech. 
 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Guest Social Links:
Lucia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciagallardo/
Lucia’s WEF Profile: https://www.weforum.org/people/lucia-gallardo
Lucia’s Website: https://www.luciagallardo.com/
Emerge’s Website: https://www.emergetechlab.com/
The Aeternals’ Website: https://www.aeternals.io/
 
Siva’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sivaavvaru/ 
 
About Guests
Lucia Gallardo is an accomplished visionary and a dedicated advocate for impactful and innovative endeavors with a strong focus on financial viability. Her remarkable journey encompasses an array of pivotal roles in various pioneering initiatives.
As the Founder and CEO of Emerge, a groundbreaking impact innovation lab, Lucia operates at the intersection of sustainable development, technological innovation, and reimagined socio-economics. Through Emerge, she is at the forefront of driving change in these critical domains.
In addition to her role at Emerge, Lucia is also recognized as the Co-Founder of The Æternals, a regenerative collection of digital collectibles that transcend traditional boundaries, connecting their intrinsic value to collectors' proof-of-impact contributions towards rainforest preservation. This innovative concept bridges the worlds of finance and environmental conservation.
Furthermore, Lucia is the Co-Founder of "Dona un Libro, Cambia una Mente," a non-profit organization that pioneers original education content and programs for corporate social responsibility departments. Her commitment to education and social responsibility is both impactful and commendable.
Beyond her professional commitments, Lucia generously dedicates her time and expertise to several organizations that align with her core values. She serves on the boards of Rainforest Partnership, a non-profit organization devoted to safeguarding the world's tropical rainforests; the Caribbean Blockchain Alliance, which champions decentralized technologies across the region; and WE Global Studio, an innovation studio that empowers female entrepreneurs on a global scale.
Lucia's extensive experience spans both the public and private sectors, where she has been involved in diplomatic missions, trade relations, AI-enabled mobile technology, and early-stage innovation investments. Her multifaceted background equips her with a unique perspective on the intersection of innovation and impact.
A notable member of the World Economic Forum working groups, Lucia actively contributes to discussions on Stablecoins, DAOs, and Digital Identity. She is also an integral part of the Crypto Impact and Sustainability Accelerator and the Crypto Sustainability Coalition, where her insights are valued and respected.
Lucia's achievements and contributions have garnered significant recognition. As a 2017 Venture for Canada Fellow and a 2018 RBC Future Launch Fellow, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. She is the only individual to have received both the Money 20/20 2018 Rise Up and 2021 Amplify Cohorts awards, a testament to her exceptional contributions.
Her commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is affirmed by her certification as a UN SDG Advocate. In 2020, she was distinguished as one of MIT Technology Review's Innovators under 35, a testament to her groundbreaking work.
Lucia's influence extends to the corporate world, where she has been recognized as a Royal Bank of Canada Women of Influence and nominated for prestigious awards, including the Royal Bank of Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year, Future of Good's Founders to Watch, and the Cartier Science and Technology Pioneer Award.
In her role as a dynamic speaker, advisor, and consultant, Lucia is accessible for engagements that seek to harness her exceptional expertise and visionary leadership.
 
Siva Avvaru is the Managing Director of yWhales solutions, a boutique management consultancy focused on helping businesses harness the power of emerging technologies as a strategy to unlock their next level of growth. Our clients are Fortune 500s, mid-market companies, PE/VC-backed portfolio companies, Investment Syndicates, and HNW family offices that are looking to get a technology competitive edge within their markets. 
 
Timestamps
0:37 Jay’s intro
1:15 Guests intro
3:08 Bitcoin ETF & Bitcoin price
13:00 Morgan Stanley Calls End of Crypto Bear Market, Pointing to Bullish Spring
20:00 Sen. Warren, 100+ legislators write White House, Treasury about crypto and terrorism
31:18 Binance.US Halts Direct Dollar Withdrawals
38:00 Palau, a country in the Western Pacific Ocean is on a mission to become “Crypto Island”
53:38 Reddit Is Killing Crypto Community Points Tokens—And Holders Are Dumping Their Bags
54:23 Contact 
 
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.
#yWeb3 #BTC #ETFs #BinanceUS #CryptoMarket #Bitcoin #Cryptocurrency #EmergingTech #Finance #Regulations #CryptoIsland #DigitalIDs #Podcast #yWhales #TechLeaders #Innovation #Blockchain #FinancialMarkets #DigitalFinance #CryptoCommunity #BlockchainTechnology #Web3Technology #Investment #DigitalAssets #FinancialInnovation #DigitalEconomy #EmergingMarkets #BlockchainNews #CryptoUpdates #TechDiscussion #EconomicTrends #RegulatoryNews #CryptocurrencyNews #BitcoinPrice #CryptoInvestment #MarketInsights #TechnologyLeaders #FinancialAnalysis #CryptoCommunityPoints #CryptocurrencyMarket #CryptoPodcast #EmergingTechDiscussion #FinancialServices #PolicyMatters #TechLeadership #CryptoAnalysis #EconomicOutlook #InnovationInsights #TechIndustry #FinanceNews #CryptoInsights #EconomicDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #BlockchainRevolution #FinancialTech #CryptoInnovation

Wand AI’s Data-Driven Journey: In Conversation with Philippe Chambadal

In this episode, Jay Steinback, CEO & Founder of yWhales, speaks with Philippe Chambadal, President & CRO of Wand.ai, a no-code platform that allows business users to build their own AI solutions without writing a single line of code. Philippe discusses the power of AI in the enterprise space. He shares his background in building virtual databases and leveraging AI to streamline processes. Philippe explains the challenges with traditional AI frameworks and how Wand AI is solving these issues with their no-code platform. He discusses the need to empower business users to build their own AI solutions and the time and cost savings that can be achieved. Philippe also discusses the security measures in place to protect data and the future of AI in the enterprise.
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Company Social Links:
Wand.ai’s Website: https://wand.ai/
Wand.ai’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wand1/
Wand.ai’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/WandAI_
Wand.ai’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wandaicommunity
 
Guest Social Links:
Philippe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippechambadal/
 
About Guest
Philippe Chambadal is currently President and co-founder of Wand.ai, a leading genAI and ML platform vendor. Wand was selected out of 1,200 companies to join the AWS genAI accelerator program. Before founding Wand, he was President of LeapYear.io, the leading data privacy company acquired by Snowflake.  Prior to LeapYear, he was Group Vice President for C3.ai, Tom Siebel's company. Prior to C3, Philippe was in charge of corporate development for Temenos, the core banking software leader. Before Temenos, Philippe led the acquisition of SmartStream and became its CEO, transforming the company into a post-trade processing leader, with 75 of the top 100 banks as clients. He co-founded and ran MetaMatrix, the leading virtual database company, which was acquired by RedHat. He was the head of Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Support at Fame, which was acquired by FIS/Sungard.  Philippe Chambadal was voted Fintech Person of the Year in 2016:  https://www.ftfnews.com/ftf-focus-spotlights-the-2016-ftf-awards-winners-special-edition/14096 
 
You’ll learn about:
Wand AI is a no-code platform that allows business users to build their own AI solutions without writing code.
Traditional AI frameworks have limitations, including long development times and low success rates.
Wand AI solves these issues by providing an end-to-end AI framework that is easy to use and scalable.
The platform can integrate with various data sources and generate predictions and insights in real-time.
Wand AI prioritizes data security and offers role-based permissioning to ensure data is only accessible to authorized users.
 
Timestamps
[00:37] Jay’s intro 
[02:24] Philippe’s intro
[06:55] Problems in AI
[09:33] Tackling the big data problem
[12:14] What is Wand.ai 
[15:02] Use cases & how Wand.ai works
[21:36] Why Wand.ai is different
[26:00] Data security
[28:01] Wand.ai’s Roadmap
[31:04] The future of Wand.ai
[36:00] Envisioning the future of AI
[39:10] How to get in touch
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.
 
#yWhales #Web3 #Blockchain #AI #Wandai #AIinEnterprise #NoCodeAI #EmpoweringBusinessUsers #StreamliningProcesses #VirtualDatabases #NoCodePlatform #TimeandCostSavings #DataSecurity #FutureofAI #AIPlatform #MachineLearning #ML #ChatGPT #FinTech

Revolutionizing News Distribution with Blockchain and AI | David McInnis and Mark Willaman | Newsworthy.ai

In this episode, Jay Steinback, CEO & Founder of yWhales, and Jessica Billingsley speak with Mark Willaman and David McInnis, Founders of Newsowrhty.ai, a news marketing platform. Mark and David discuss the evolution of the news industry and the role of AI in news marketing today. They explain how Newsworthy.ai uses AI and blockchain technology to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for companies to distribute and promote their press releases. They highlight the importance of authenticity and provenance in the age of fake news and explain how their platform ensures the credibility of news content. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities in the news industry and how Newsworthy.ai is positioned to help small and medium-sized businesses gain visibility in the news stream.
 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
 
Company Social Links: 
Newsworthy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewsworthyAI
Newsworthy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newsworthyai
Newsworthy’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAWp6V46oRa5lzFYvYf2Dg/
Newsworthy’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newsworthyai
Newsworthy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newsworthyai/
 
Guest Social Links: 
Mark’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwillaman/
David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmcinnis/
 
 
About Guests
David McInnis, founder of PRWeb, revolutionized online visibility through cutting-edge marketing platforms. For nine years, he led PRWeb to become a powerhouse before being acquired by Cision. With innovative digital marketing strategies, he has transformed how brands engage with audiences, achieving great success. Beyond tech, he empowers others through mentorship and community involvement. David's dedication and contributions to online marketing have established him as a trailblazer, continuing to push the boundaries of digital innovation.
Mark Willaman, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of multiple SaaS marketing and data analytics platforms, complements David's work in newswire distribution and SEO at Newsworthy.ai. Known for fostering collaborative work culture, his focus on strong teams has fueled success in his ventures and impacted those he's mentored. Together with David, Mark's expertise is reshaping the landscape of online marketing, promising innovation and growth.
 
 
You’ll learn about:
How Newsworthy.ai is leveraging AI and blockchain technology to provide a comprehensive suite of tools for news marketing
Authenticity and provenance of news content through blockchain registration
Using AI to analyze and optimize press releases, as well as generate complementary content for news marketing campaigns
The Advocacy Tool: how it allows companies to engage their stakeholders and amplify the reach of their press releases
How the influencer marketplace connects companies with relevant influencers to further promote their press releases.
 
Timestamps
[1:20] Mark Willaman’s Intro
[4:20] David McInnis’ Intro
[11:22] Generative AI & Newsworthy Origin Story
[15:49] The Source of Truth
[19:50] The Challenges with Generative AI & Finding the Source of Truth
[21:17] How Newsworthy Solves these Problems
[24:48] AI Integrations
[34:15] Live Demo of the Platform
[41:04] Target Customers
[44:03] The Outlook on the Media and AI Industries
[50:03] Contact Info and Closing Thoughts
 
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.
 
#yWhales #Web3 #Blockchain #AI #NewsDistribution #NewsworthyAI #DigitalMarketing #NewsMarketing #AIinNews #BlockchainTech #PressReleases #AuthenticityInNews #EmergingTech #DavidMcInnis #MarkWillaman #PRWeb #SaaS #DataAnalytics #AIIntegration #MediaIndustry #AIDemo #MarketingTools #FakeNews #SmallBusiness #InfluencerMarketing #BusinessMigration #Web3Ecosystem #Influencers #SocialMedia #NewsContent 

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | #BitBoy’s Arrest | Will #SEC Approve BTC #ETF? | ChatGPT’s Upgrade

In this compelling episode of yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech, Jay Steinback, CEO & Founder of yWhales, we're privileged to have two trailblazing guests who are at the forefront of the Web3 revolution. Patrick Sweeney, the innovative Founder & CEO of DaVinci 3.0, joins us alongside Hristo Piyankov, a versatile expert serving as a Data Scientist, Crypto Economist, and Tokenomics Consultant at FinDaS. Throughout this episode, we embark on a journey through the dynamic world of Web3 and explore pivotal moments that are shaping its future. We start by unraveling the intriguing case of Ben Armstrong, Founder of Bitboy Crypto Channel, who recently made headlines with his release on bail following an arrest. This event holds profound implications for the crypto community.
 
Continuing our exploration, we delve into the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulations as lawmakers exert pressure on the SEC for the immediate approval of Bitcoin ETFs. The potential impact of this decision on the broader crypto market is a topic of keen interest. Amidst these developments, industry leaders make a significant announcement as they unveil the Tokenized Asset Coalition, a revolutionary initiative set to reshape the digital asset landscape. We'll delve deep into what this means for the future of Web3 and the wider blockchain ecosystem. Additionally, we'll examine ChatGPT's remarkable new capability to browse the internet, pondering its potential implications for the world of AI and information dissemination. In the financial sphere, we analyze MicroStrategy's strategic move, having acquired 5,445 Bitcoin for $150 million since August. The motives behind this substantial investment are worth exploring. Lastly, we venture into the innovative domain of Arbitrum, where users can trade Bitcoin mining power amongst themselves, reshaping the cryptocurrency mining landscape. Get ready for a thought-provoking episode as Patrick Sweeney and Hristo Piyankov provide valuable insights into these pivotal developments in the digital frontier. Stay tuned for an episode that promises to expand your understanding of the Web3 revolution. Let's dive right in.
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
Guest Social Links: 
Patrick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefearguru/
Patrick’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/PJSweeney 
DaVinci3’ Website: https://davinci3.io/
 
Hristo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hpiyankov/
Hristo’s Twitter:
FinDAS’ Website: https://www.findas.org/
About Guests
 
Patrick Sweeney is a true Renaissance individual, a tech mogul, adventurer, motivational speaker, author, and CEO retreat host. The illustrious Founder & CEO of DaVinci 3.0, is not just a tech entrepreneur; he's a multifaceted force of nature. With a background that includes reaching Olympic-level athletic heights, his journey embodies the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life. This relentless drive for success has propelled him to millionaire status in the tech world, where he continues to make waves and inspire others. Beyond his tech prowess, Patrick is a renowned adventurer who has ventured into the world's most challenging environments, pushing the boundaries of human achievement. His adventures have not only defined him but have also provided him with a unique perspective on overcoming challenges and achieving greatness. As a motivational speaker, Patrick Sweeney has graced stages around the world, captivating audiences with his captivating stories of triumph and resilience. His ability to inspire individuals and transform corporate cultures has made him a sought-after speaker in the business world.
 
But Patrick's influence extends even further as the host of CEO retreats, where he imparts his wisdom and strategies for success to top executives and business leaders. These retreats have become transformative experiences for those lucky enough to attend, fostering innovation and leadership excellence. In the literary realm, Patrick authored "Fear is Fuel," a Wall Street Journal bestseller that delves into the intricate world of neuroscience. This groundbreaking work provides a roadmap for individuals and companies to embrace fear and use it as a catalyst for fearless living and unprecedented success. Patrick's tech journey is nothing short of remarkable, marked by the creation of groundbreaking startups that have left an indelible mark on the industry. His innovative thinking has resulted in seven patents, a testament to his ability to envision and create technologies that shape the future. Notably, Patrick Sweeney is also an accomplished author, with three award-winning books to his name. His literary works serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for those looking to navigate the complexities of life and business. Patrick's insights into the tech world have garnered attention on a global scale. He has been featured on prestigious media outlets such as CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and major publications, where his expertise and visionary perspectives on technology trends have been sought after by audiences eager to stay at the forefront of innovation.
Hristo Piyankov, a distinguished Data Scientist, Crypto Economist, and Tokenomics Consultant at FinDaS, stands as a paragon of expertise and innovation in the complex realm of tokenomics. With a portfolio that boasts involvement in over 220 projects, he has played a pivotal role in securing funding exceeding the remarkable milestone of $1 billion. Hristo's unrivaled proficiency shines through in his ability to engineer sustainable, data-centric token economies that span diverse industries and scales. At the core of Hristo's methodology is a meticulous approach that places paramount importance on financial stability and the mastery of game theory principles. His expertise extends to the development of intricate tokenomics calculator models, finely tuned to optimize economic ecosystems and ensure their resilience in a rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
Hristo's impressive track record is underscored by his extensive advisory roles, spanning a period of over two years. During this time, he has provided invaluable insights and guidance to numerous projects seeking to navigate the intricate web of tokenomics and blockchain technology. His advisory contributions have been instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of these ventures, ensuring their success in an ever-competitive market. Furthermore, Hristo has garnered hands-on experience as a Chief Product Officer (CPO) in a pioneering decentralized crypto insurance venture. This role not only exemplifies his commitment to innovation but also showcases his ability to lead and execute visionary projects in the cryptocurrency space. In the rapidly evolving and dynamic world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, Hristo Piyankov stands as a trusted leader and visionary. His unparalleled expertise, honed through years of dedication and involvement in numerous projects, has made him a sought-after figure in the field. With a reputation for excellence and a profound impact on the tokenomics landscape, Hristo continues to shape the future of blockchain technology and digital finance. Hristo Piyankov's journey is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the realm of tokenomics and cryptocurrency. With a wealth of experience, a portfolio of remarkable achievements, and a commitment to advancing the industry, he is a true luminary in the field, inspiring and guiding projects towards success in the ever-evolving crypto ecosystem.
Timestamps
 
1:31 Jay’s intro
2:25 Guests’ intro 
4:40  Ben Armstrong, Founder of Bitboy Crypto Channel, Released on Bail After Arrest
18:22  Lawmakers tell SEC to approve bitcoin ETFs 'immediately’
26:50 Industry Leaders Announce Groundbreaking Tokenized Asset Coalition
37:03 ChatGPT Can Now Browse The Internet
45:50  MicroStrategy Bought 5,445 Bitcoin for $150M Since August
50:27 Arbitrum Users Can Now Trade Bitcoin Mining Power With Each Other
56:12 Closing thoughts & End
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | Decoding the Future of #AI with Einaras Gravrock

In this episode, Jay Steinback, yWhales CEO & Co-Founder engages in a thought provoking conversation with Einaras von Gravrock, CEO of CUBE3.ai and a prominent figure in the tech industry. Einaras is a distinguished serial entrepreneur and technology investor and brings a wealth of expertise to our discussion. Together, they embark on a riveting journey through groundbreaking developments and insights, ranging from Goldman Sachs' visionary predictions of an impending AI revolution to the expansive realm of Adobe’s Firefly generative AI tools. Explore the transformative influence of AI in education and Elon Musks’ remarks surrounding AI regulation. Delve into the latest advancements in Web3 payments with PayPal's introduction of On and Off Ramps. Uncover invaluable perspectives on SEC Chair Gensler's assessment of the cryptocurrency industry, while also diving deep into the intricate realm of blockchain security. Gain valuable insights into the challenges encountered by institutions, all while discovering BASE Chain's top three favorite features.
 
This episode of 'yWeb3 Navigating Frontier Tech' is poised to provide a comprehensive perspective on the ever-evolving tech landscape, ensuring that you're not just informed but also inspired. Join us as we decode the intricate tapestry of technology and Web3 in a format that's both digestible and captivating.
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
Guest Social Links: 
Einaras’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techceocalifornia/
Einaras’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Einaras 
Cube3’s Website: https://www.cube3.ai/
About Guest
Einaras von Gravrock is a distinguished serial entrepreneur and technology investor with a primary focus on the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) industries. As the visionary founder of CUBE3.AI, Einaras is on a mission to shape a safer future for the decentralized web3 ecosystem. CUBE3.AI has pioneered a groundbreaking web3 security platform, proficient in real-time cyber threat detection and prevention. This innovative venture has garnered substantial support from investors and is set to launch its products in July 2023. 
 
Prior to his current endeavor, Einaras co-founded CAST AI, a prominent venture-backed company that specializes in automating cloud applications. With a global workforce of 100 employees, CAST AI has forged partnerships with numerous Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge startups. Einaras's entrepreneurial journey also includes the establishment of CUJO AI, a cybersecurity powerhouse committed to safeguarding all internet-connected devices. Under his leadership, CUJO AI emerged as the world's largest IoT security firm, protecting over 2 billion devices and more than 50 million homes. Notably, CUJO AI's excellence was recognized through its acquisition by Comcast and Charter (Joint Venture) in 2019. Before CUJO AI, Einaras co-founded Zenedge, a cybersecurity firm specializing in web application firewall solutions, and Zenedge's success culminated in its acquisition by Oracle in 2018.
 
Einaras has achieved significant milestones throughout his career, including founding CUJO AI and transforming it into the world's largest IoT security firm. He was named a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum, with an invitation to attend Davos in 2019, and honored as a "Global Innovator" by the World Economic Forum in 2020. Einaras has also been recognized as one of the "100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs" by Goldman Sachs in 2014 and awarded the Global Lithuanian Leadership prize by the President of Lithuania in 2018. An active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a global network that unites 30,000 business leaders across 142 countries, Einaras holds an undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. Originally hailing from Lithuania, Einaras currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California, alongside his cherished family.
Timestamps
 
0:37 Jay’s intro
1:44 Einaras’ intro 
2:15 Goldman Sachs dismisses AI bubble, predicts upcoming revolution
6:00 EY announces AI model; will train 400,000 employees on it
11:20 What jobs are at risk of AI replacement
13:44 Adobe’s Firefly generative AI tools are now widely available
18:46 AI in education
23:33 'Overwhelming consensus' on AI regulation - Musk
31:00ish Startups and AI 
32:12 PayPal Introduces On and Off Ramps for Web3 Payments
37:07 SEC Chair Gensler: Crypto is full of fraud, abuse, and misconduct 
45:25 Stoner Cats charged by the SEC
50:20 Institutions remain risk-averse about crypto, says Fireblocks CEO
55:18 BASE Chain - Top 3 favorite features
57:04 Closing thoughts and how to get in touch
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.

yWeb3: Navigating Frontier Tech | MetaMask & PayPal Off-Ramp | Visa on SOL | USDC on Base

In this episode, Jay Steinback, yWhales CEO & Co-Founder brings together a panel of esteemed guests to delve into the dynamic world of Web3 and cutting-edge technology. Joining Jay are Janine Grainger, CEO & Co-Founder of Easy Crypto, and Michael Toner, Chief Marketing Officer at Threedium. The episode starts by diving into the new off-ramp game-changing features of MetaMask, including its traditional bank and PayPal cash-out options, poised to redefine the crypto landscape and user experience. The conversation then shifts to the exciting news of Visa's foray into stablecoin settlement on the Solana blockchain, bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain tech. Additionally, we explore SOMA Finance's groundbreaking step towards issuing the first-ever retail-compliant digital security and its potential implications for the financial landscape. This episode offers a deep dive into the cryptocurrency market, Circle's strategic deployment of USDC on Layer 2 networks, and the booming Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) market, projected to hit $7.91 billion by 2030. With concise segments on VR interoperability, Web3 authentication, insights into engineers leaving Meta's Llama models project, and an update on SpaceX's Starship, primed for its IFT2 mission, this engaging discussion provides essential insights for executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders eager to navigate the Web3 and emerging tech landscape. 
yWhales Website: ywhales.com
Podcast Library: ywhales.com/podcasts
YouTube: https://links.ywhales.com/YouTube
Vimeo: https://links.ywhales.com/Vimeo
LinkedIn: https://links.ywhales.com/LinkedIn
Twitter: https://links.ywhales.com/Twitter
Medium: https://links.ywhales.com/Medium
Guest Social Links: 
Janine’s LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/janine-grainger-easycrypto
Easy Crypto’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/easycrypto
Easy Crypto’s Website: https://easycrypto.com/
Learn more: https://links.ywhales.com/easycrypto
 
Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeToner
Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toner/
Threedium’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Threedium
Threedium’s Website: https://www.threedium.io/
Learn more: https://links.ywhales.com/Threedium
About Guests
Janine Grainger is the Co-Founder & CEO of Easy Crypto, where she spearheads the company's strategic development initiatives. With an impressive background in finance, economics, and consulting, Janine has spent several years delivering strategic solutions for prominent corporations such as Air New Zealand and Westpac, along with valuable experience in the public sector.
Michael Toner serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Threedium, a pioneering 3D and AR company that is shaping the future of the 3D Internet. Threedium empowers global brands to craft and disseminate immersive 3D and AR experiences within their e-commerce and web3 commerce platforms, revolutionizing the way products are bought and sold in the 3D web landscape.Before his role at Threedium, Toner accumulated over a decade of experience overseeing B2B digital marketing strategies for Fortune 500 companies and global financial institutions. His journey to Threedium commenced in early 2021, bringing a wealth of expertise to the company's innovative endeavors. Michael holds an MBA from Drexel University and resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons.
Timestamps
0:37 Jay’s intro
3:20 Guests intro 
5:04 MetaMask Introduces Bank and PayPal Cash-Out Options
09:40 Breaking: Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlement Pilot to Solana
13:50 SOMA Finance to Issue the First Retail Compliant Digital Security
23:00 The current state of crypto
27:04 Circle deploys USDC on Layer 2 networks OP Mainnet and Base
33:45 Augmented Reality (AR) And Virtual Reality (VR) In Healthcare Market is estimated to be US$ 7.91 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 26.0% during the forecast period – By PMI 
+ Meta is Reportedly Partnering with LG to Create Apple Vision Pro Competitor
53:20 Engineers who worked at Meta’s Llama models have quit, here’s why
56:56 SpaceX Starship is stacked and ready for IFT2
1:01:26 Closing thoughts and contact
DISCLAIMER: yWhales is not affiliated with YPO. Support and production for today’s episode was done by Truth Work Media. Nothing in the podcast constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the podcast constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.