Gen C

The impact of giving synthetic beings a wallet, an identity, and eventually a body.

Jansen Teng, Co-Founder of Virtuals Protocol, joins Sam to lay out one of the most ambitious visions in crypto right now, a parallel society of AI agents that can trade, hire, earn, and eventually inhabit physical bodies. Jansen digs into what it actually takes to build an agentic economy from the ground up, from escrow mechanisms that prevent agents from stealing each other's funds, to real-world robotics deployments at hotels and malls in Southeast Asia. Links mentioned from the podcast: Jansen’s Twitter: ht...

Crypto scams and how to protect yourself with Chainalysis' Eric Jardine.

Eric Jardine, Head of Research at Chainalysis, joins Gen C to break down their latest crypto crime report and the staggering numbers of nearly $17 billion stolen in scams in 2025 alone. Eric explains how AI has changed the scam equation by allowing bad actors to hit massive scale without sacrificing quality, why the people executing scams in Southeast Asian compounds are often trafficking victims themselves, and why crypto's measurability is actually an argument in its favor and not against it. Links mentioned from the podcast: Chainalysis Website...

Diving deeper on AI with Gary Vaynerchuk.

Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX and CEO and Creator of VeeFriends, joins Gen C to discuss why we are living through the most consequential technological moment since electricity. Sam and Gary dig into his long-held conviction that NFTs are a generational collectible, not a fad, his bold thesis that the rise of AI will trigger a massive IRL comeback, and why agentic commerce will make brands more important, not less. Links mentioned from the podcast: Gary’s Twitter: https://x.com/garyvee Vayner Website: https://vaynerx.com/ VeeFriends Website: https://ve...

An in depth conversation with Raoul Pal from Consensus Miami.

Sam sits down with Raoul Pal, founder of Real Vision, fresh off the main stage at Consensus Miami for a wide-ranging conversation about the most consequential moment in human history. They cover everything from why AI represents a fundamental shift in human civilization, to how crypto's $2.7 trillion market could hit $100 trillion within a decade, to why Raoul believes NFTs will ultimately become the fabric of our economic system. Links mentioned from the podcast: Raoul’s Twitter: https://x.com/RaoulGMI Real Vision Website: https://www.realvision.com/

Unpacking the long-game philosophy of SDF's new CMO.

Jason Karsh, the new CMO of Stellar Development Foundation, has built his career moving through some of tech and crypto's most formative companies, from Google to Coinbase to Block, and he's bringing his long-game philosophy to one of the industry's oldest and most quietly consequential blockchains. In this episode of Gen C, Sam sits down with Jason to talk about why crypto keeps leading with the wrong message, how Stellar went from $500M to $2B in real-world assets in a single year, and why a "get rich slow" approach...

Bitcoin's origin story is the greatest unsolved mystery in financial history and the team behind Finding Satoshi spent years doing what dozens of others couldn't: actually closing in on an answer.

In this episode of Gen C, Sam sits down with documentary director Tucker Tooley, investigative journalist Bill Cohen, and private investigator Tyler Maroney to break down a multi-year investigation rooted in real methodology — cryptographers whispering names, blockchain data analysis, and years of trust-building with the cypherpunk community. Links mentioned from the podcast: Finding Satoshi Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVxAwomug08 Finding Satoshi Website: http://fi...

Cronos Labs CEO, Ryan Wyatt, reveals the roadmap to fix the "bad taste" crypto left for Gen Z by trading technical jargon for a mobile-first investment engine

Ryan Wyatt, CEO of Cronos Labs, joins Gen C to reveal why the biggest disruption for blockchain is no longer in gaming, but in a multi-trillion dollar financial overhaul. Ryan breaks down the strategy behind building a mobile-first app that strips away crypto jargon to onboard the 90% of Gen Z who have been "screwed" by traditional economic promises. 

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Avalanche CBO, John Nahas, reveals the roadmap to solve the $100 trillion institutional distribution problem by trading general purpose blockchains for custom L1s.

John Nahas, Chief Business Officer of Avalanche, joins Gen C to reveal the roadmap for transforming global finance through custom tailored, sovereign L1 blockchains. John breaks down the industry's much-needed transition away from "one-size-fits-all" technology to solve the $100 trillion distribution problem for institutions like JP Morgan and Citi. He shares the strategy behind Avalanche becoming the invisible backbone for everything from FIFA collections to tokenized equity markets, delivering the institutional rails required to move...

Sam Ewen breaks down the absence of crypto from the 2026 Super Bowl, comparing today’s silence to the frenzy of 2022.

Sam Ewen asks the question: where are all the 2026 Super Bowl ads? He explores the mystery of why crypto’s biggest players are sitting on the sidelines of the world's largest advertising event, even as "AI hyperscalers" and consumer staples take over the broadcast.

NOTE: Recorded prior to the Super Bowl airing and yes, Coinbase did run a Super Bowl.

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IOTA CMO, Karen O’Brien reveals the high-stakes roadmap to transform the $35 trillion global trade industry from archaic paper systems into a frictionless, blockchain-powered infrastructure.

Karen O’Brien, CMO of IOTA, breaks down why the industry is finally hitting a much-needed trust reset, trading short-term hype for the work of fixing global trade. O’Brien touches on how she’s helping solve the $35 trillion "paper and email" bottleneck to create an invisible backbone for global supply chains—a true blockchain for machines.

- Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Karen's Twitter 

IOTA Website

From building Braintree to launching Blueprint, Bryan Johnson reveals how the systems architecture of FinTech and the philosophy of crypto are powering a new, autonomous roadmap to reverse human aging and operationalize immortality.

Founder and CEO of Blueprint and Don’t Die, Bryan Johnson, joins Gen C to discuss why the philosophy of crypto has the same mindset required to solve human aging. Bryan reveals how he is applying FinTech systems-thinking to the human body through "Autonomous Health" and bio-algorithms. We explore his journey to reverse his biological age and why the tech community is the primary dr...

OpenSea, CMO, Adam Hollander reveals the high-stakes roadmap to transform the world’s leading NFT marketplace into a frictionless, universal hub for the entire onchain economy.

From flipping digital land to becoming CMO for OpenSea, Adam Hollander shares his vision for the future of digital ownership. After surviving the NFT boom and bust, OpenSea is staging a major comeback by broadening its scope to every digital asset through a complete platform rebuild. He outlines a roadmap to transform OpenSea from a simple marketplace into a universal interface for the entire on-chain economy, abstracting away backend complexity to se...

Yorke Rhodes III, Co-Founder, Blockchain at Microsoft, reveals how Credible Neutrality and the convergence of AI agents and stablecoins are powering the next, decentralized wave of technological innovation.

Drawing on lessons from the early internet, Yorke Rhodes III, Co-Founder, Blockchain at Microsoft, explains why credible neutrality is vital to prevent the centralization of Web2 and emphasizes the urgent need for digital provenance in the age of synthetic media. He details how the convergence of AI agents and stablecoins creates instant liquidity and accelerates enterprise value, urging the industry to think bigger for the next generation.

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Dapper Labs Co-Founder & CEO, Roham Gharegozlou discusses the expansion of the Flow ecosystem into DeFi and how programmable assets and Agentic AI will power the next generation of tokenized creator economies.

Dapper Labs Co-Founder & CEO Roham Gharegozlou joins Gen C to discuss the evolution of digital collectibles and the next major wave of crypto adoption. He shares the strategy behind building the Flow blockchain, from NBA Top Shot’s success to onboarding millions of consumers, emphasizing economic alignment through their pivot to DeFi with Peak Money. He sees the future powered by stablecoins and Agentic AI, where ev...

Coinbase's CMO, Cat Ferdon, shares the strategy for moving beyond crypto natives, normalizing "internet money," and defining the future of finance through culturally resonant campaigns.

Joining Gen C, Coinbase CMO, Cat Ferdon shares the strategy behind marketing one of the world's most powerful crypto brands. Cat discusses why economic freedom is Coinbase's core mission, how the company is moving beyond the "crypto native" audience to onboard the next generation, and her plan to normalize "internet money" by delivering culturally resonant campaigns that define the next decade of global adoption.

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Circle's SVP of Marketing, Tim Queenan, shares why stablecoins and the new Arc blockchain are creating the ‘Economic OS for the internet.

Tim Queenan, SVP of Marketing, Circle, joins Gen C this week to share that stablecoins and programmable money represent a foundational shift in the global financial system, similar to the early internet. He discusses how Circle is spearheading this transformation with USDC and its new blockchain Arc, creating the ‘Economic OS for the internet

- Links mentioned from the podcast:

Tim's Twitter 

Circle's Twitter

Circle Website

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Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, shares the company's vision for democratizing finance by prioritizing customer access and education.

In this episode of Gen C, Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood, discusses how the platform approaches the digital asset space, prioritizing access and education over institutional control. Robinhood’s investment in stablecoins, tokenization, and Layer 2 technology represents a clear bet on the next generation of decentralized financial infrastructure.

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MoneyGram’s Anthony Soohoo, discusses how stablecoins are the critical financial innovation that will simplify cross-border payments and drive massive-scale digital adoption for hundreds of millions of users in the coming year.

 Are we at the precipice of a true revolution in finance? This week's Gen C episode, recorded at Stellar Meridian, features MoneyGram's CEO, Anthony Soohoo, who shares his bold prediction: hundreds of millions of users leveraging crypto for real-world problems in just one year. Revealing the key to this shift, the discussion highlights the global push to use stablecoins and financial innovation for massive-scale digital ado...

Ariel Wengroff, EVP, Marketing & Communications, Ledger, explores how media and crypto are converging around transparency, trust, and digital ownership in today’s evolving digital landscape.

In this episode of Gen C, Ariel Wengroff, EVP of Marketing & Communications, Ledger, reflects on her time at VICE and discusses the changing landscape of the media industry and the growing demand for truth and authenticity in the age of AI. In running marketing for the unicorn hardware company, Ledger, Ariel connects these shifts to Ledger’s vision of digital ownership—giving individuals control over their privacy, identity, and assets through secure signin...

May Zabaneh, Head of Crypto at PayPal, shares how PYUSD, stablecoins, and AI are powering the next wave of global payments—and why the future of money is happening on-chain.

In this episode of Gen C, May Zabaneh, Head of Crypto at PayPal, shares how PYUSD, stablecoins, and AI are powering the next wave of global payments—and why the future of money is happening on-chain. From scaling mobile payments to championing blockchain, May shares what it takes to drive change within a global payment leader. 

Links mentioned from the p...

Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of OnChain Studios, is redefining play by merging toys, gaming, and blockchain to create immersive, collectible experiences with iconic brands like Disney and Star Wars.

In this episode of Gen C, Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of OnChain Studios and creator of Cryptoys, shares how his daughter’s passion for toys inspired him to build digital collectibles on the blockchain. Weinraub explores the declining traditional toy industry, the rise of digital play through Fortnite and Roblox, and why he believes blockchain-based digital ownership represents the future of how people of all ages wi...

Kyle Chayka, Staff Writer at The New Yorker and author of Filterworld, breaks down how algorithmic sameness is reshaping global culture—and what it means for creativity, identity, and authenticity online. He explores how creators are challenging traditional media, why crypto could become the internet’s native currency, and how digital identity is evolving in a world shaped by metrics, machines, and media. Joining him is Keith Soljacich of Publicis Media, as they explore opportunities to create deeper meaning amid these cultural shifts.

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Jack Butcher, Artist and Founder of Visualize Value, shares how he turned a decade-long career in corporate design into one of the internet’s most recognizable creative brands. He explains how simplifying ideas into bold, viral visuals led to a new kind of artistic practice—one rooted in transparency, leverage, and working in public. Jack dives into how crypto unlocks new layers of creative ownership and why the most valuable assets today are driven by community.

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Chris Maurice, CEO and Co-Founder of Yellow Card, reveals how stablecoins are shaking up global payments. From discovering Bitcoin at college parties to a chance encounter at a Wells Fargo, Maurice shows how stablecoins tackle real problems by making cross-border transfers faster, cheaper, and easier. With rapid expansion into new markets and game-changing partnerships, Yellow Card is driving the mainstream adoption of stablecoins and reshaping the future of digital payments. 

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Chris's Twitter

Yellow Card Website

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From...

Refik Anadol, a world-renowned Visionary Media Artist and Founder of Refik Anadol Studio,has revolutionized the art world by transforming raw data into breathtaking immersive experiences using AI as his creative partner. From pioneering the groundbreaking concept of “data painting” to building vast digital universes onchain and launching Dataland, a cutting-edge museum dedicated to AI-driven art, he is shaping the future of creativity where dreams, data, and machines collide to redefine reality itself.

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Olivia Santarelli, Gemini’s Head of Marketing, breaks down how innovative campaigns and visionary storytelling drive long-term growth, simplify crypto adoption and redefine the future of finance.

Olivia Santarelli, Gemini’s Head of Marketing, has been building Gemini's marketing strategy for six years, helping transform the exchange from a small team into a major crypto brand. In this conversation, she breaks down Gemini's approach to marketing, from Guinness World Record-breaking drone shows to their "Revolution Needs Rules" campaign that welcomed regulation when others feared it. Santarelli discusses how Gemini focuses on educating mainstream users through products like thei...

Frank Mong of Helium reveals how blockchain-powered hotspots and shared infrastructure are disrupting traditional telecom to build a decentralized, user-owned wireless network.

In this episode of Gen C, Frank Mong, COO of Helium, unpacks how blockchain, crypto incentives and shared infrastructure are transforming global connectivity. From early IoT use cases and crypto hotspots to major telco partnerships, Helium is decentralizing the internet one user owned network at a time. Their approach is creating an open, affordable and community-driven wireless network that puts power back in users hands.

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Maya Draisin, Chief Brand Officer at TIME, highlights how the 102-year-old brand evolves with new technologies while maintaining its core values of trust and integrity.

TIME's Chief Brand Officer, Maya Draisin, outlines how the iconic brand is adapting to transformative technologies such as generative AI, blockchain and NFTs. She highlights TIME’s dedication to blending innovation with its enduring values of trust and clarity. Draisin also addresses the evolving media landscape, shifting consumer behaviors and the critical importance of maintaining journalistic integrity.

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Haun Ventures CMO Rachael Horwitz breaks down how crypto is going mainstream through stablecoins and why the industry needs better storytelling to reach broader audiences.

Haun Ventures CMO Rachael Horwitz shares insights on branding in crypto, from navigating market volatility to building long-term conviction. Drawing on leadership roles at Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Coinbase, she breaks down how crypto challenges conventional tech narratives—and why VCs must rethink how they position themselves in a rapidly evolving space. A strategic lens on the future of venture and Web3.

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Jonathan Ledgard of Tehanu explains his revolutionary concept of "interspecies money" where animals and natural resources can hold digital identities with crypto wallets to receive payments for the services they provide to humans.

Jonathan Ledgard is the CEO of Tehanu and the pioneering mind behind "interspecies money" - a concept that extends digital identity and cryptocurrency payments to animals, plants and natural resources. With a background at The Economist and extensive experience in robotics and AI, Ledgard has developed a system where species can "stake" their existence and receive payments for the essential services they provide to...

Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, joins Sam Ewen on an episode of "CoinDesk Spotlight" with a conversation about the transformative potential of AI and the journey that led him from computer science to digital art and the NFT ecosystem. Beeple shares insights into the evolution of his artwork, the role of technology in his creative process, and the impact of AI tools in pushing the boundaries of digital art.

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This content should not be construed or relied upon as investment advice. It is for entertainment and general information purposes.

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Yield Guild Games founder Gabby Dizon breaks down the state of Web3 gaming, from Axie Infinity's cultural moment to building sustainable crypto-native games today.

Gabby Dizon founded Yield Guild Games during the height of the Axie Infinity craze, helping players in developing markets access play-to-earn opportunities through innovative guild structures. In this conversation, he shares insights on what made Axie a watershed moment, why gaming guilds remain relevant despite market downturns and how his team is approaching casual crypto gaming with their new title LOL Land.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Dr. Melyn McKay of Coala Pay explains how blockchain rails are transforming humanitarian aid by enabling instant, secure payments to partners in the world's most challenging locations.

Dr. Melyn McKay brings 15 years of humanitarian aid experience to her role as founder of Coala Pay, a blockchain-based payment platform revolutionizing how aid money moves globally. In this conversation, she shares her journey from carrying cash in war zones to building technology that enables instant, transparent aid disbursements through stablecoins and smart contracts. McKay discusses the massive inefficiencies plaguing the traditional aid sector, the trust challenges preventing more direct...

Maz ElJundi, Head of Crypto at Revolut, discusses how the financial app is creating a bridge between traditional banking and Web3, driving crypto adoption through education and intuitive user experiences.

In this episode of Gen C, Avery comes back to join Sam and welcome Mazen ElJundi, who leads crypto at Revolut. With his global perspective from living across the Middle East, Europe and the US, Mazen shares insights on Revolut's growth to 52.5 million users and $4 billion in revenue. The conversation explores how Revolut is simplifying crypto for everyday users, the importance of education in driving adoption and...

Razorfish President, Dani Mariano, explores how brands can build authentic connections through emerging technologies and explains why Gen Alpha is reshaping the future of marketing and commerce.

In this episode of Gen C, host Sam welcomes Dani Mariano, President of Razorfish, a 30-year-old creative agency known for innovation in the marketing world. Dani discusses how Razorfish has evolved from a digital agency to a "marketing transformation agency" helping brands navigate emerging technologies like blockchain, Web3 and AI. She shares insights on the shift from points-based loyalty programs to creating authentic emotional connections with consumers and reveals research...

Rebecca Barkin discusses Lamina1's mission to create a decentralized platform that empowers creators with more control and direct audience engagement, showcasing their partnership with "Owen Nowhere," a new animated series about a teen influencer with vampire parents created by Chris Jammal and Jaclynn Demas of We Ghosted Media.

Rebecca Barkin, CEO of Lamina1, joins Sam to discuss her journey from Magic Leap to developing the MSG Sphere and now leading a Web3 company focused on empowering creators. They're joined by Chris Jammal (Bob’s Burgers) and Jaclynn Demas (Peg+Cat, Wonder Pets) of We Ghosted Media to...

Returning for another season of ‘Gen C’, Sam sits down with Kyle and Jay to learn how they transformed Milk Road into a leading crypto media brand and why they believe media should be the foundation of every business.

Kyle and Jay, co-owners of Milk Road and co-founders of marketing agency Impact3, discuss their journey from meeting in a Toronto bar to building successful crypto-focused businesses. They explain their philosophy of using media to grow communities, simplifying crypto for everyday investors and their expansion plans beyond crypto into macro economics and AI. The pair also share insights on t...

In this farewell episode, Avery and Sam reflect on her journey as co-host and share insights on the evolving digital landscape and what’s next for the pod.

Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, records her final episode as co-host of the Gen C podcast after a two and a half year run spanning 112 episodes. They discuss the evolution of Web3 adoption among brands, from the initial NFT boom to today’s landscape and the valuable lessons learned during her time as co-host.

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Christina Smedley of Lightspark, live from Consensus HK, to discuss how their technology enables cross-border payments without high fees and serves both developed and emerging markets.

Christina Smedley, who has previously worked at Amazon, PayPal, Facebook, and Robinhood, discusses her current role at Lightspark where she's helping to revolutionize payments through Bitcoin's Lightning Network. She explains Lightspark's Universal Money Address (UMA) solution that allows people to send money as easily as emails and talks about Spark, their open-source Layer 2 blockchain designed specifically for payments and stablecoin transactions.

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