Encrypted

#EP.113: “TradFi Meets Web3: Dr. Jez Mohideen on Laser Digital’s Vision." #LaserDigital

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re excited to release our latest, 113th episode of the Encrypted Podcast: “TradFi Meets Web3: Dr. Jez Mohideen on Laser Digital’s Vision,” produced by the Dubai Blockchain Center and powered by Myco (myco.io).
💡Dr. Jez Mohideen, CEO and Co-Founder of Laser Digital—Nomura’s digital asset subsidiary—dives into how his systematic trading background shaped Laser’s strategy, why blending traditional risk with crypto-native needs matters, and how they’re bringing real-world assets on-chain with VARA approval.
✅We discuss their vision in a competitive market, balancing full-service depth, the importance of market surveillance, and how centrally cleared derivatives—like their Bitcoin options trade—drive institutional adoption.
🚀And as we release this, big news—Laser Digital is now pursuing a U.S. banking license. Exciting times!

Special Guest: Dr. Jez Mohideen.

#EP112:“Gate’s Global Play: How Dr. Han Lin Is Shaping Crypto’s Next Chapter”.

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:45:00 +0400

🎙️ We’re thrilled to release our latest, 112th episode of the #Encrypted podcast, “Gate’s Global Play: How Dr. Han Lin Is Shaping Crypto’s Next Chapter”.
🟢This time, we sat down with Dr. Han Lin, the Founder & CEO of Gate — one of the longest-running and most trusted crypto exchanges in the world.
🚀From a PhD researcher in optoelectronics ➝ to launching Gate in 2013 — Dr. Han has spent more than a decade building through every market cycle. Today, Gate spans centralized trading, a native blockchain (GateChain), Web3 infrastructure, and products like Gate Wallet & Gate Pay — all while securing major licenses across the U.S., UAE, and Europe. 🌍
🎯 We dive into:
• How scientific thinking still shapes Gate’s strategy and product decisions
• The resilience playbook behind Gate’s continued growth during every market cycle
• Why strong compliance and risk management became key to global expansion
• The CeFi ↔️ DeFi convergence and what users will actually experience next
• Gate’s recent regulatory milestones — VARA and MiCA
• The roadmap for Gate’s evolving role in the global crypto landscape.
🧩 Whether you’re a trader, builder, or investor — this episode is a masterclass in innovation, resilience, and building for the long game.

EncryptedPodcast #podcast #DubaiBlockchaincenter #Gate #CryptoExchanges #CeFi #DeFi #Web3 #GateChain #GateWallet #DrHanLin #GatePay #MiCA #VARA #Dubai #CryptoInnovation #Cryptoregulations #FutureOfFinance

Special Guest: Dr. Han Lin.

#EP111: “Inside Hashgraph: How Eric Piscini Is Redefining Trust in the Agentic Era".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We’re thrilled to release our latest, 111th episode of the #Encrypted podcast, “Inside Hashgraph: How Eric Piscini Is Redefining Trust in the Agentic Era.”
🚀This episode of #Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by Gate, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange established in 2013, serving over 35 million users with spot, futures, and margin trading for 3,600+ cryptocurrencies, holding $12 billion in reserves with a 124% reserve ratio, and ranked second worldwide in 24-hour spot trading volume:
https://www.gate.com/
🟢This time, we sit down with Eric Piscini, CEO of Hashgraph, the company powering and accelerating the Hedera ecosystem.
✅Eric isn’t just leading a tech company — he’s reshaping how the world builds trust in the age of intelligent machines.
🌐After 25 years at IBM, Deloitte, IBM Watson Health, and several global ventures, he’s now on a mission to merge enterprise rigor with Web3’s open innovation — to build the internet of value.
❇️In this episode, we explore:
💡 The vision behind HashSphere and Hashgraph’s approach to open-source collaboration.
🏛️ How Hashgraph and the Hedera Council are redefining governance in a decentralized world.
🌍 The rise of RWA tokenization, and why institutional adoption is accelerating.
🧠 The dawn of the Agentic Era — where AI and blockchain converge to power a new layer of digital trust.

🎧 Tune in now to uncover how Hashgraph is engineering the future of decentralized trust.

EncryptedPodcast #Encrypted #podcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Hedera #Hashgraph #AI #Tokenization #Hashsphere #Hbar #Gate #Myco #Web3 #Innovation #Trust #DigitalEconomy #AgenticAI

Special Guest: Eric Piscini.

#EP110: “Core vs. Knots: Jimmy Song on the Debate Shaping Bitcoin’s Future”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0400

🎙We’re happy to share with you our latest, 110th episode of the #Encrypted podcast, “Core vs. Knots: Jimmy Song on the Debate Shaping Bitcoin’s Future”.
🚀This episode of #Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by GateCom, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange established in 2013, serving over 35 million users with spot, futures, and margin trading for 3,600+ cryptocurrencies, holding $12 billion in reserves with a 124% reserve ratio, and ranked second worldwide in 24-hour spot trading volume:
https://www.gate.com/
🌐This week, we’re joined Jimmy Song, one of Bitcoin’s most respected voices, a developer, educator, and entrepreneur who’s been at the heart of the ecosystem since 2011.
💡In this episode, we dive deep into one of the hottest debates in Bitcoin today: Core vs. Knots. From the controversial OP_RETURN changes to questions about network philosophy, decentralization, and the future of sound money, Jimmy unpacks it all.
✅ What you’ll learn:
Why the removal of the 80-byte limit on OP_RETURN is more than just a technical change.
How philosophical differences are shaping Bitcoin’s culture and adoption.
The potential implications of Knots’ growing popularity on consensus and the network.
Lessons from past Bitcoin debates and what they mean for today’s governance battles.
❇️If you care about the future of Bitcoin, sound money, and the evolving culture of crypto, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Special Guest: Jimmy Song.

#EP109: "Inside CoinFund: The Next Big Moves in Web3 & Crypto Investing"

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0400

🎙We’re thrilled to share our 109th episode of the Encrypted podcast, "Inside CoinFund: The Next Big Moves in Web3 & Crypto Investing."
🚀This episode of #Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by Gate, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange established in 2013, serving over 35 million users with spot, futures, and margin trading for 3,600+ cryptocurrencies, holding $12 billion in reserves with a 124% reserve ratio, and ranked second worldwide in 24-hour spot trading volume.
https://www.gate.com/
💡This week on Encrypted, we sit down with Christopher Perkins, President and Managing Partner at CoinFund, to explore the intersection of institutional finance and crypto innovation.
🌐As a co-founder who has been shaping CoinFund for over a decade, and with a background spanning Citi, Lehman Brothers, and service as a U.S. Marine Corps Captain, Chris shares insights on:

The future of decentralized AI and where the next breakthroughs are coming from.
How regulation, like the GENIUS Act, will shape the stablecoin landscape.
Balancing risk and reward when investing in cutting-edge technologies
CoinFund’s expanding focus on Dubai and the UAE’s dynamic digital asset ecosystem
What it takes to succeed in Web3 over the next five years.

✅If you’re looking for institutional-grade insights into crypto and AI, and want to understand how regulations will shape the stablecoin landscape, this episode is a must-listen.

EncryptedPodcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #CoinFund #Gate #Gatecryptoexchange #Web3 #CryptoInvesting #AI #Stablecoins #InstitutionalCrypto #Dubai #UAE #Blockchain #GENIUSAct #UScrypto

Special Guest: Christopher Perkins.

#EP108:"Beyond Today’s Encryption: Kostas 'Kryptos' on Sui and Post-Quantum Cryptography".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We’re thrilled to share with you our latest, 108th episode of the Encrypted podcast, "Beyond Today’s Encryption: Kostas 'Kryptos' on Sui and Post-Quantum Cryptography"
💎This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by CoinRoutes: https://coinroutes.com
🌐CoinRoutes is a leading institutional crypto trading platform that has rapidly established itself as a market leader in systematic trading solutions, offering a powerful algorithmic order execution management system that empowers the world’s largest crypto trading firms.
✅From leading Meta’s cryptography for Libra and Novi to co-founding Mysten Labs and building the lightning-fast Sui blockchain, Kostas “Kryptos” Chalkias has been shaping the future of secure systems for over a decade.
In this episode, we explore:
🔐 The future of privacy and post-quantum cryptography
⚙️ The breakthroughs behind Sui’s parallel execution and object-centric model
🌍 Why Sui wants to rebuild the internet
🇦🇪 Sui’s growing presence in the Middle East with the new Dubai Incubator Hub
🔗 His journey from WhatsApp and R3 to zkLogin and Winterfell
💡Kostas also reveals whether he really named his son “Kryptos” 👀
📚If you’re passionate about Web3 security, scalability, and cryptographic innovation, this one is for you.

EncryptedPodcast #DubaiBlockchaincenter #Myco #Coinroutes #Web3 #Cryptography #SuiBlockchain #ZeroKnowledge #PostQuantum #PrivacyTech #BlockchainSecurity #MoveLanguage #DubaiTech #KostasChalkias #MystenLabs #Sui #CryptoPodcast #ZKProofs #Web3Identity #BlockchainInnovation

Special Guest: Kostas "Kryptos" Chalkias.

#EP107:"Celestia Unpacked: Mustafa Al-Bassam On Modular Blockchains, and What's Next for Scaling.”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re thrilled to share our latest, #107th episode of the Encrypted Podcast:
🔵 ”Celestia Unpacked: Mustafa Al-Bassam On Modular Blockchains, and What's Next for Scaling.”
💎This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by CoinRoutes: https://coinroutes.com
🌐CoinRoutes is a leading institutional crypto trading platform that has rapidly established itself as a market leader in systematic trading solutions, offering a powerful algorithmic order execution management system that empowers the world’s largest crypto trading firms.
💡Mustafa started programming at age 9, and his first hack was tweaking an online calculator during math homework.
✅Today, Mustafa Al-Bassam, the co-founder and CEO of Celestia, is leading the charge in modular blockchain design and data availability innovation.
In this deep-dive episode, we explore:
🔹 How Mustafa’s early curiosity sparked a lifelong passion for cybersecurity and decentralization
🔹 Why he left academia after a PhD on blockchain scalability to start Celestia
🔹 The critical role of Data Availability Sampling (DAS) in scaling blockchains securely
🔹 Why modular blockchains are the future—and how Celestia compares to the cloud vs. mainframe analogy
🔹 The importance of zero-knowledge proofs, interoperability with platforms like Cosmos and Arbitrum, and what’s next for the modular ecosystem
❇️Plus, he shares a glimpse of the most exciting projects launching on Celestia—and the challenges still ahead.
🎧 Watch and listen now to find out how one of the space’s most brilliant minds is reshaping blockchain’s base layer.
#EncryptedPodcast #DubaiBlockchaincenter #Celestia #Myco #Coinroutes #Blockchain #Web3 #ModularBlockchain #ZKProofs #MustafaAlBassam #DataAvailability #DAS #Rollups #Cosmos #Arbitrum #Decentralization

Special Guest: Mustafa Al-Bassam.

#Ep.106: ”Sandeep Nailwal: Reinventing Polygon and Never Giving Up!”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re thrilled to share our latest, exclusive #106th episode of the Encrypted Podcast:
🔵” Sandeep Nailwal: Reinventing Polygon and Never Giving Up!”
💡 This episode of Encrypted is powered by Myco.io and sponsored by Coinroutes: https://coinroutes.com
✅CoinRoutes is a leading institutional crypto trading platform that has rapidly established itself as a market leader in systematic trading solutions, offering a powerful algorithmic order execution management system that empowers the world’s largest crypto trading firms.
💬In this episode of Encrypted, Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder and CBO of Polygon, opens up about his journey from tech entrepreneur to global Web3 leader. He shares how setbacks turned into breakthroughs, lessons learned scaling Polygon from 80 to 600 people in just one year, and the tough decision to hit reset. Sandeep also reveals the critical steps he took to pivot, reassess Polygon’s strategy, and drive its remarkable comeback — all while sustaining momentum.
🎙️ Key Insights:

The pivotal moments behind Polygon’s meteoric rise
How AggLayer is driving Web3 adoption
Balancing enterprise partnerships with decentralization
Collaboration with the Dubai Blockchain Center on verifiable certificates for digital identity
Why decentralization is crucial for AI's future
The steps Sandeep took to steer Polygon back on course for success 🌍 Tune in now for Sandeep’s powerful lessons on resilience, leadership, and shaping the future of Web3. #EncryptedPodcast #Polygon #Web3 #Blockchain #AI #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Coinroutes #Leadership #Innovation #Decentralization #Agglayer

Special Guest: Sandeep nailwal.

#Ep.105: “Crystall Intelligence: The Future of Compliance and Financial Crime Prevention” (feat. Navin Gupta).

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:00:00 +0400

🚀 We’re thrilled to share our latest, 105th episode of the Encrypted podcast, “Crystall Intelligence: The Future of Compliance and Financial Crime Prevention”, featuring Navin Gupta, CEO of Crystal Intelligence and former Managing Director of MENA at Ripple! 🎙️💡
💡 This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io, and sponsored by CoinRoutes: https://coinroutes.com
✅CoinRoutes is a leading institutional crypto trading platform that has rapidly established itself as a market leader in systematic trading solutions, offering a powerful algorithmic order execution management system that empowers the world’s largest crypto trading firms.
In this episode of #Encrypted, we explore:
🔍 How Crystal Intelligence is revolutionizing crypto compliance and financial crime prevention
🌍 The UAE’s growing role as a global crypto hub and Crystal’s expansion in Dubai
🤝 The game-changing MoU with Dubai Police to combat economic crimes
🔐 Lessons from the Bybit hack – how users can protect their crypto assets
⚡ The future of blockchain analytics and upcoming innovations at Crystal Intelligence
With crypto adoption surging and regulations evolving, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone in Web3, finance, and compliance. 🎧

Crypto #Blockchain #Compliance #Web3 #AML #RegTech #Dubai #FinancialCrime #CrystalIntelligence #EncryptedPodcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Coinroutes

Special Guest: Navin Gupta.

#Ep.104: “From Hong Kong to Dubai: dYdX & DeFi’s Next Leap”.

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re thrilled to share our latest, #104th episode of Encrypted Podcast, “From Hong Kong to Dubai: dYdX & DeFi’s Next Leap” with Charles d’Haussy!
💡 This episode of Encrypted is powered by Myco.io and sponsored by Coinroutes: https://coinroutes.com
✅CoinRoutes is a leading institutional crypto trading platform that has rapidly established itself as a market leader in systematic trading solutions, offering a powerful algorithmic order execution management system that empowers the world’s largest crypto trading firms.
🚀DeFi is evolving at lightning speed, and dYdX is leading the charge. In this episode, I sit down with Charles d’Haussy, CEO of the dYdX Foundation, a true pioneer in blockchain and fintech.
🖌️With a career spanning ConsenSys, InvestHK, and shaping Asia’s crypto landscape, Charles has been at the forefront of crypto adoption and regulation since 2011. 🌐A Top-50 FinTech influencer in Asia, he has advised governments, built businesses, and co-authored a book like “Block Kong” and is now working on “Arabian Crypto”, chronicling the rise of blockchain powerhouses.
🔎In this episode, we discuss:
🔹 Why dYdX migrated from Ethereum’s StarkEx to a standalone Cosmos blockchain
🔹 Balancing decentralization, scalability, and user experience
🔹 How dYdX is ensuring fair governance & DAO participation
🔹 The future of on-chain trading vs. centralized exchanges
🔹 The role of AI, Deepseek, and DeFi security in shaping 2025
🔹 Why Charles moved dYdX’s HQ from Hong Kong to Dubai
❇️We also explore the ever-evolving crypto market trends shaping the industry today, the rise of crypto derivatives, and Charles’ vision for DeFi synergy with the artificial intelligence.
📖If you’re interested in the future of decentralized finance, this episode is a must-listen! 🎧
👉 Tune in now and let us know your thoughts!

Encrypted #Podcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #CoinRoutes #Myco #Crypto #dYdX #Dubai #Innovation #cryptotrading #institutionalinvestors #spot #derivatives #DeFi #Crypto #Blockchain

Special Guest: Charles d'Haussy.

#Ep.103:“CoinRoutes’ Dubai Leap: Transforming Crypto Trading on a Global Scale”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re excited to share with you our latest, #103rd episode of Encrypted Podcast, powered by Myco.io,“CoinRoutes’ Dubai Leap: Transforming Crypto Trading on a Global Scale”, featuring Ian Weisberger, CEO and Co-Founder of CoinRoutes, a leading provider of algorithmic trading strategies and execution management in the crypto space. Over the past five years, CoinRoutes has revolutionized crypto trading, supporting over 3,600 spot and derivative instruments across 60+ major exchanges and liquidity providers.
🤖 Special Feature: For the first time, our podcast includes an AI guest appearance. Don’t miss the chance to meet Ian’s AI-powered robotic dog, Sparky!
🔎 In this episode, we’ll also delve into:
💡 The Evolution of CoinRoutes: Insights since its inception in 2017.
📈 Proprietary Algorithms: Strategies for minimizing slippage and optimizing order placements for traders.
🚀 Funding and Growth: Details on the last $16M funding round and CoinRoutes’ plans.
🌐 Strategic Relocation: The decision to move headquarters to Dubai and the impact of the region’s regulatory environment.
❇️ Future Vision: Ian’s perspective on the future of crypto trading and upcoming innovations at CoinRoutes.
✅ Ian also shares his journey as a tech visionary, from founding his first company in 2008 to shaping the future of digital finance. His passion for innovation and deep crypto knowledge make this a conversation you won’t want to miss!
🎧 Tune in now to discover how CoinRoutes is setting the standard for seamless, reliable, and cutting-edge trading solutions.
👉 Listen here: [Insert Link]

Encrypted #Podcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #CoinRoutes #Myco #Crypto #AlgorithmicTrading #Dubai #Innovation #cryptotrading #institutionalinvestors #spot #derivatives

Special Guest: Ian Weisberger.

#EP102: "The Evolution of USDC: Miriam Kiwan on Circle, Stablecoins, and Driving Financial Inclusion"

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:30:00 +0400

🎙️We're thrilled to welcome Miriam Kiwan, Vice President at Middle East&Africa at Circle, and Co-Chair on Digital Assets at the MENA Fintech Association, to the latest, #102nd episode of the Encrypted Podcast, "The Evolution of USDC: Miriam Kiwan on Circle, Stablecoins, and Driving Financial Inclusion"!
This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io and sponsored by The HBAR Foundation: https://www.hbarfoundation.org/
The HBAR Foundation cultivates vibrant economies and ecosystems on the Hedera network by providing financial, community, and marketing support for projects attracting millions of users and billions of dollars to the ecosystem!
🌍Miriam brings a wealth of experience, including her previous role leading Digital Assets and Tech Ecosystem Development at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and holding strategic positions across technology, finance, and nonprofits in the UAE and Europe.
📌 As a key leader in both Circle and the MENA Fintech Association, Miriam plays a vital role in driving innovation, financial inclusion, and fintech ecosystem development across the region.
In this insightful conversation, we dive deep into:
🔗 The latest Circle and USDC updates, including the ADGM license, partnerships with LuLu Holdings and Binance, and key announcements from Abu Dhabi Finance Week.
📈 USDC’s market evolution and Circle’s major milestones in the Middle East&Africa under Miriam’s leadership.
🌍 The increasing adoption of stablecoins in the global financial system, with a spotlight on the UAE’s Central Bank stablecoin framework.
🌐 MiCA regulations and their game-changing impact on Circle’s strategy.
🔄 Cross-chain transfer protocols and Circle’s integration with Ethereum’s zkSync layer-2 solution.
✨ The untapped use cases of stablecoins, from remittances to financial inclusion, and beyond.
💡 Miriam’s passion for longevity, and how it shapes her forward-thinking approach to innovation.
🎧 Tune in now and join us as we explore the intersection of stablecoins, technology, and the future of finance.
💬 What are your thoughts on the role of stablecoins in shaping the global economy? Drop your comments below!

#EncryptedPodcast #Stablecoins #USDC #Circle #Blockchain #WEB3 #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #Longevity #MENAInnovation #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Hbar #HbarFoundation #Hedera #HederaHashgraph

Special Guest: Miriam Kiwan.

#EP101:"From National Security to DePIN: Unlocking Borderless Web3 Opportunities” #BorderlessCapital

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0400

🎊Happy upcoming holidays!
🎙️We’re thrilled to announce our latest, #101st episode of #Encrypted podcast, "From National Security to DePIN: Unlocking Borderless Web3 Opportunities”, featuring Patrick O'Kain, General Partner at Borderless Capital!
💡This episode of Encrypted is sponsored by The HBAR Foundation: https://www.hbarfoundation.org/
✅The HBAR Foundation cultivates vibrant economies and ecosystems on the Hedera network by providing financial, community, and marketing support for projects attracting millions of users and billions of dollars to the ecosystem!
🚀With a career spanning over 18 years across venture capital, national security, and federal law enforcement, Patrick has a unique approach to analyzing Web3 startups and doing the due diligence.
🔑 What to Expect in This Episode:
How Patrick’s experience in national security and financial crime investigations at the DEA has influenced his approach to crypto and Web3 investments.
The evolution of Borderless Capital, managing $500M+ in assets with 250+ investments since 2018.
The launch of their third DePIN-focused fund and how it builds on the success of previous funds.
His work establishing the Opportunity Fund paves the way for the next wave of Web3 growth.
The challenges and opportunities for Web3 startups amid regulatory changes.
Partnerships with #Web3 companies, such as Peaq, Solana Foundation, Jump Crypto, and IoTeX to accelerate global adoption.
Borderless Capital’s vision for emerging markets, including the UAE, and the intersection of Web3 with AI and tokenized RWAs.
🎧 Tune in now to learn how Patrick and Borderless Capital are unlocking the future of decentralized technologies.

EncryptedPodcast #Web3 #DePIN #OpportunityFund #Blockchain #DubaiBlockchainCenter #VentureCapital #BorderlessCapital #Crypto #Innovation #Myco #Hbar #HbarFoundation #Hedera #HederaHashgraph

Special Guest: Patrick O'Kain.

#EP.100: “Trust Yourself: Eowyn Chen on Security, Innovation, and Self-Custody”! #TrustWallet

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We are so happy to share with you our anniversary, #100th episode of #Encrypted podcast, featuring Eowyn Chen, CEO of Trust Wallet, one of the largest multi-chain, non-custodial crypto wallets serving tens of millions globally, that has recently moved its headquarters to #Dubai! 🚀
💡This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io and sponsored by The #HBAR Foundation: https://www.hbarfoundation.org/
✅The HBAR Foundation cultivates vibrant economies and ecosystems on the Hedera network by providing financial, community, and marketing support for projects attracting millions of users and billions of dollars to the ecosystem!
🔎 In this episode, Eowyn shares her incredible journey from building Binance’s central marketing team to scaling Trust Wallet into a leader in Web3. With her unique perspective—rooted in history, finance, and tech—she dives into:
🔑 The Philosophy of 'Trust Yourself': How Trust Wallet empowers users in a decentralized world.
🌍 Blockchain Integration: The criteria and challenges behind supporting a vast ecosystem of blockchains.
🛡️ Security First: How Trust Wallet leads the way in safeguarding user funds across multiple blockchains.
🌐 The Future of Crypto Wallets: Eowyn’s vision of a Web3 experience akin to the “Amazon of Web3.”
💡 New Innovations: From decentralized ‘Launchpool’ features to UI/UX upgrades that cater to both beginners and pros.
📜 Regulatory Readiness: Balancing compliance while staying true to decentralization.
🎤 Eowyn also opens up about Trust Wallet’s independence from Binance, the profitability challenges in the wallet space, and the role of education in combating Web3 social engineering risks.
📺 🎧 Watch and listen now to hear Eowyn's insights and explore the exciting future of self-custody and Web3!
👉 Link to the episode: [Insert link]
🙌Let us know your thoughts on this inspiring discussion and how you see crypto wallets evolving! 💬

EncryptedPodcast #TrustWallet #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Hedera #Hbar #HbarFoundation #Web3 #Blockchain #CryptoInnovation #SelfCustody #TrustYourself #Security

Special Guest: Eowyn Chen.

#EP99: "Blockchain Revolution: Architecting the Digital Future with Don Tapscott."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:00:00 +0400

🎙️We're thrilled to share with you our latest, #99th episode of Encrypted podcast, titled “Blockchain Revolution: Architecting the Digital Future with Don Tapscott,” featuring a globally renowned thought leader on technology’s impact on business and society, Executive Chairman of the Blockchain Research Institute Don Tapscott
💡This episode of Encrypted is powered by myco.io and sponsored by the The HBAR Foundation: https://www.hbarfoundation.org/
✅The HBAR Foundation cultivates vibrant economies and ecosystems on the Hedera network by providing financial, community, and marketing support for projects attracting millions of users and billions of dollars to the ecosystem!
📚Don has shaped how we understand the digital economy through his bestselling books, including “Blockchain Revolution”, “Wikinomics”, and more.
📢In this episode we dive deep into:
🌐 His visionary predictions on blockchain and how they’ve held up over the past 8 years.
🤖 The convergence of Web3, AI, IoT, and Extended Reality—and what this means for our digital future

🔓 The journey toward data ownership and privacy, and blockchain’s transformative potential

🛡️ Addressing the “dark side” of tech and building a new social contract for the digital age

🌍 How blockchain can tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from financial inclusion to sustainability

🔎This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in the next wave of technological innovation and the strategies that will shape our future!

BlockchainRevolution #Web3 #DonTapscott #EncryptedPodcast #FutureOfTech #DigitalTransformation #Blockchain #Innovation #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Hedera #Hbar #HbarFoundation #Myco #TEDtalks #BlockchainResearchInstitute #AI #IOT

Special Guest: Don Tapscott.

#EP98:"Breaking the Mold: Crypto Disruption, AI Hype, and Betting Big with Dragonfly Capital".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re excited to share with you the latest, #98th episode of the Encrypted podcast, "Breaking the Mold: Crypto Disruption, AI Hype, and Betting Big with Dragonfly Capital", featuring Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly Capital, a programmer, a writer, a teacher, a public speaker, an Effective Altruist, and a former professional poker player, for an in-depth conversation on the future of Web3 and crypto investing.
💡This episode of Encrypted is powered by Myco.io and sponsored by the Hbar Foundation:https://www.hbarfoundation.org/
✅The HBAR Foundation cultivates vibrant economies and ecosystems on the Hedera network by providing financial, community, and marketing support for projects attracting millions of users and billions of dollars to the ecosystem!

🃏We sat down with Haseeb during the Token 2049 week in Singapore. He shared his unique journey from poker pro and a programmer to venture capitalist, the lessons he learned from navigating the high-stakes crypto markets, and why he believes “AI in crypto” might be overhyped. We also dive into:

🔑 The sectors Dragonfly Capital is prioritizing for its fourth fund.

🌐 The battle between EMV-compatible and EVM-non-compatibleLayer 1s.
♠️ The striking similarities between poker and crypto.

📈Decoding Effective Altruism in the Crypto World.
🔧 Why tokenomics and sustainability matter now more than ever.

🌀 How Dragonfly adapts investment strategies in bull and bear markets.
🚀Which startups Haseeb finds the most promising at Token2049 in Dubai and Singapore, and more…

If you're interested in the future of Web3, crypto investments, and how to navigate extreme market volatility, this episode is for you! 🔥

Web3 #Crypto #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Encrypted #Hedera #Myco #Hbar #HbarFoundation #VentureCapital #DragonflyCapital #HaseebQureshi #DeFi #Tokenomics #EffectiveAltruism #Ethereum #Solana #Blockchain #Podcast

Special Guest: Haseeb Qureshi.

#EP97:"DePIN and Tokenized #RWAs: Drivers for Hedera&HBar’s Adoption”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We’re excited to share with you the latest, #97 episode of the #Encrypted Podcast, “DePIN and Tokenized RWAs: Drivers for Hedera/HBar’s Adoption”, featuring Vignesh Raja, Director of Business Development, The HBAR Foundation, Middle East & South Asia.

🚀In this episode, we dive deep into:
🌐The main layers of the Hedera ecosystem and the role of the HBAR Foundation.
📈Strategies for driving enterprise adoption of Hedera in the Middle East & South Asia.
🤖Groundbreaking partnerships like Humans.ai&Deca4, integrating AI and blockchain.
💼The tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) and how it’s transforming industries.
🚚The rise of DePIN, and how projects like “Kwik Pik” are revolutionizing logistics in Africa.
🛠️Strategies to stand out in a world of Layer-2 solutions.
🎶Partnerships with the world-known composers like A.R. Rahman, and more…
🔗Tune in now and get ahead on what’s shaping the future of Web3 and AI adoption!

Blockchain #Hedera #HBAR #Hederaenterprise #Web3 #DePIN #AI #RWA #Encrypted #Podcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Innovation #MiddleEast #SouthAsia #Tokenization #Web3adoption

Special Guest: Vignesh Raja .

#Ep.96: "Fueling Dubai's D33 Vision: DFDF's Investments into the Tech Future"

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0400

🎙️We’re happy to share our latest, #96 episode of the “Encrypted” podcast, "Fueling Dubai's D33 Vision: DFDF's Investments into the Tech Future", featuring an insightful conversation with Nader Albastaki, Managing Director of the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF).
✅This episode of Encrypted is sponsored by TransFi: https://www.transfi.com, and powered by Myco.io!
🚀 TransFi powers the world’s payments, helping businesses and individuals access better ways to move money!

🎧 Listen now to gain more insights into how Dubai is shaping its future and fueling innovation on a global scale.
💡In this episode, Nader delves into:

The primary vision and goals of DFDF.
Criteria for investing in tech startups and VC funds.
How DFDF supports business development and aligns with Dubai’s long-term economic vision.
The role of DFDF in advancing Dubai’s D33 economic agenda.
Insights on tech trends like Web3 and AI and their impact on Dubai’s future.

❇️Nader also shares his unique experiences as a startup entrepreneur and offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs aiming to join the DFDF portfolio.
💫 Special guest: Nader AlBastaki.
🌟Podcast host: Maria Vovchok.

❗️And remember to subscribe to our Youtube channel, so you don’t miss out on our future episodes:
https://youtube.com/@dubaiblockchaincenter?si=ZRxBlhyHCgTyPr2t

Encrypted #Podcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #DubaiFutureDistrictFund #DFDF #D33economicagenda #TechInvestment #D33 #Innovation #Future #Techstartups #Entrepreneurship #Web3 #AI #startupinvestments #VC

Special Guest: Nader AlBastaki.

#Ep.95: “From Oracles to Interoperability: Chainlink's Impact on DeFi and Capital Markets."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 21:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We're thrilled to share with you our latest, #95th episode of the #Encrypted podcast, powered by Myco.io, “From Oracles to Interoperability: Chainlink's Impact on DeFi and Capital Markets,” featuring an in-depth conversation with Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink, the industry-standard technology platform for on-chain data, cross-chain interoperability, and blockchain abstraction.. 🚀
🌐 Chainlink's Journey:
Sergey takes us through Chainlink’s evolution from its inception to becoming a pivotal player in enabling cross-chain interoperability. Discover how their oracle solutions have become indispensable for leading banks, and Defi companies.
💥 CCIP & SWIFT Collaboration:
Get the inside scoop on the groundbreaking Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) that connects blockchains to bank chains. Sergey talks about its launch as well as Chainlink's strategic cooperation with SWIFT.
💡 Unlocking the Potential of Tokenized RWAs:
Tokenized RWAs hold immense potential in transforming capital markets. Sergey shares insights from Chainlink's comprehensive industry report on tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), featuring contributions from BCG, 21 Shares, Paxos, and Backed. Tune in for key takeaways on what’s needed to unlock the full benefits of tokenized assets.
🔍 Chainlink Proof of Reserve:
Explore how Chainlink Proof of Reserve is working with Ark Invest and 21 Shares on a Bitcoin ETF to verify that the ETF is backed by the correct amount of Bitcoin. Sergey also discusses the future of capital market products leveraging Proof of Reserve.
🏦 Adoption of Blockchain by Financial Institutions:
Despite its potential, financial institutions have been cautious in adopting blockchain technology. Sergey identifies the primary obstacles and shares his vision of how these can be overcome, facilitating a smoother integration of blockchain into traditional finance.
🏙️Blockchain Development in Dubai:
Dubai has emerged as a global hub for blockchain development. Sergey recounts his experiences and impressions from Dubai, shedding light on the vibrant and forward-thinking blockchain community in the region.
🎯 Chainlink’s Top Priorities:
What’s next for Chainlink? Sergey outlines the top priorities and strategic goals for Chainlink over the next three years, giving us a glimpse into the future of blockchain technology and its potential to reshape various industries.
💫 Special guest: Sergey Nazarov.
✨ Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.
✅We hope you enjoy this deep dive into the future of blockchain with Sergey Nazarov. Stay tuned for more episodes featuring the brightest minds in the industry! And don’t forget to subscribe to our @DubaiBlockchainCenter #Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/@dubaiblockchaincenter?si=in0qORZMa4cB6w1L

Special Guest: Sergey Nazarov.

#Ep.94: "Near AI Is Back: Empowering User-Owned AI."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 23 May 2024 18:00:00 +0400

🎙️” We’re bringing the NEAR AI back”, says Illia Polosukhin, Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol, and CEO of the Near Foundation, in an exclusive interview for the #94 episode of #Encrypted #podcast, powered by Myco.io! 🙌Join us and be the first to know more!

🚀In this episode, we’ll explore:

🔍From AI to Blockchain: Discover why Illia pivoted from his original AI company to create NEAR Protocol, a scalable, robust, and highly usable blockchain platform, and how they bring the NEAR AI back!
💡Building a Dream Team: Learn how the core team's expertise from Google and AI research contributed to NEAR’s early development and eventual growth.
🔑Keys to Rapid Expansion: The crucial factors behind NEAR Protocol's rapid success and its aim to onboard a billion users to the Open Web.
🌐The NEAR Foundation: Understand the motivation behind its establishment, its transformative role within the NEAR ecosystem, and how it supports decentralized development.
⛓️‍💥 Innovative Chain Abstraction Stack: A deep dive into how NEAR allows users to transact on every chain with a single NEAR account, making Web3 more accessible.
🤖 AI Engineers Wanted: NEAR’s new initiative to hire AI engineers and develop user-owned AI within the next 3-6 months—an exciting step towards integrating AI and blockchain.
⏳AI in DAO Governance: Insights from the latest Token2049 panel in Dubai on how integrating AI can revolutionize DAO governance.
🌍 Expanding in the Middle East: the NEAR team's major goals and strategic plans for growing their presence and impact in the Middle East.

⏰Tune in to learn more about Illia's vision and the future of NEAR Protocol! 🚀🌍
💫Special guest: Illia Polosukhin
✨Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.
✅ And don’t forget to subscribe and follow:
https://youtube.com/@dubaiblockchaincenter?si=pQ8SYBKRoc_NQHUB

Special Guest: Illia Polosukhin.

#Ep.93: "Future Money: Banking Analyst Who Went Crypto."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0400

🚀 Excited to announce our latest, #93rd episode of the Encrypted podcast, powered by Myco.io, “Future Money: Banking Analyst Who Went Crypto”, featuring Ronit Ghose, Global Head of Citi’s Future of Finance team!
🎙️ Join us as we dive into the future of money, fintech, and blockchain with one of the industry's leading voices.

🔍 In this episode, Ronit shares insights on:

His journey from banking analyst to crypto enthusiast
The role of centralized CBDCs in blockchain adoption
The drivers behind blockchain technology and the future of securities
His recently published book “Future Money” features how money changes in the internet era.
The intersection of AI and finance, and its transformative impact.

💡 Don't miss out on Ronit's perspectives on the rise of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in regions like the Middle East and Asia, and how they're shaping the future of finance.

📖 Tune in to discover more about the future of money in the internet era, including cryptocurrency, DeFi, Web3, and AI, in our latest episode of Encrypted! Available on all major podcast platforms. #EncryptedPodcast #FutureOfFinance #Blockchain #AI #Cryptocurrency #Fintech

EncryptedPodcast, #DubaiBlockchainCenter, #Myco, #Blockchain, #Cryptocurrency, #FutureMoney, #FutureofFinance, #Blockchain, #AI, #Metaverse, #Fintech

Special Guest: Ronit Ghose.

#Ep.92: "Defining Security: Ledger CEO On Clear Signing and Crypto Hacks".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 21:00:00 +0400

🎙️ Welcome to an insightful #92nd episode of the #Encrypted podcast, joined by Pascal Gauthier, Chairman&CEO of Ledger, a leading provider of hardware wallets for crypto self-custody.
🔊We discuss the importance of self-custody in the age of crypto ETFs, the evolving security landscape for digital assets, and Ledger's vision for the future of crypto.
🔒Join us and find out, what Pascal has to say to the critics of the “Ledger Recover” feature, and how his team dealt with a hack when Ledger’s Connect Kit software got compromised. Pascal shares valuable insights into navigating security challenges, including recent exploits and data breaches. Discover how Ledger is innovating to protect users' digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats.
👥Also, learn about Pascal’s stance on Bitcoin ETFs and which sessions at the Satoshi Round Table he found the most exciting.
🚀 Additionally, explore how Ledger is shaping the future of DeFi and user education. Learn about upcoming developments and products that will shape the industry's future.
💫 Special guest: Pascal Gauthier.
🌟Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.

CryptoSecurity #Ledger #Encrypted #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Podcast #Myco #LedgerCEO #CryptoInnovation #cryptocurrency #selfcustody #bitcoin #BitcoinETF #SatoshiRoundTable #wallet #DeFi #security #blockchain

Special Guest: Pascal Gauthier.

#Ep.91: "Bitcoin Evangelist: The Roger Ver's Experience."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:00:00 +0400

🎙️ Tune in to our latest Encrypted podcast episode, powered by Myco.io, #Ep.91: "Bitcoin Evangelist: The Roger Ver's Experience", featuring Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus", co-founder of Bitcoin.com, Blockchain.com. and a pioneer in the cryptocurrency space!

✅ Discover Roger's journey as the world's first Bitcoin investor, his role in promoting Bitcoin and later Bitcoin Cash, and his perspective on the ongoing Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Cash debate. Find out why he believes that BTC Cash is the original vision of Satoshi Nakamoto and what book Roger Ver is working on now.

🚀 Learn about Roger's motivation to get involved in cryptocurrencies, his insights on the scalability challenges facing them, and the role of Bitcoin Cash in the broader ecosystem.

💡 Explore Roger's vision for the future of decentralized finance (DeFi), the barriers hindering mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies, and how Bitcoin.com is driving adoption and usability.

📈 Plus, get exclusive updates on Cashscript, Roger's views on the cryptocurrency industry's challenges and opportunities, and his advice for newcomers navigating the complexities of the crypto space.

🔥 Moreover, what happened to Bitcoinstore.com and the CoinFlex crypto exchange? And why does Roger like to spend more time in the UAE? About this and more, listen now on the Encrypted podcast.

💫 Special guest: Roger Ver.
🌟Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.

Special Guest: Roger Ver.

#Ep.90: "Inside Solana: Navigating Outages&The Satoshi Round Table."

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 19:00:00 +0400

🎙️ Join us for an exciting #90th episode of the Encrypted podcast: “Inside Solana: Navigating outages&Satoshi Round Table,” as we delve deep into the Solana ecosystem with Lily Liu, co-founder of Anagram and president of Solana Foundation! 💼

🚀Lily Liu, a seasoned veteran in the crypto space with a decade of experience, shares insights into her journey from early Bitcoin adoption to her current role shaping the future of blockchain technology with Solana.

In this episode, we discuss:
🌐The Recent Satoshi Round Table event in Dubai.
🔍 Solana's goals for ecosystem development and growth.
🔒 Understanding the Proof of History Consensus Algorithm.
💡 Strategies to enhance Solana's scalability and performance.
🛠️ Steps taken to address past challenges and ensure network reliability.
🌱 Solana's role in fostering developer engagement and supporting DApp creation - more on Solana Hacker House.
🔹The intersection of blockchain technology and longevity projects.
🌐 Solana's position in Web3 and DeFi ecosystems, etc.
✅Visa's expansion of stablecoin settlements using Solana and its implications.

🎧Don't miss out on this insightful conversation! Tune in now to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of Web3.

💫 Special Guest: Lily Liu.
⭐️ Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok

EncryptedPodcast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Myco #Blockchain #Cryptocurrency #Solana #Web3 #DeFi #Visa #Innovation #SolanaEcosystem #SatoshiRoundTable #NavigatingOutages #SolanaHackerHouse

Special Guest: Lily Liu.

#Ep.89: “MENA Fintech Association: Spot Bitcoin ETFs and Green Finance”

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 20:00:00 +0400

🎙️Join us in a captivating conversation with Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) and Founder & CEO of Fils in our latest, #89 episode on Encrypted, “MENA Fintech Association: Spot Bitcoin ETFs and Green Finance”, powered by Myco.io. Recently recognized as MENA's Future Fintech Leader by the UAE Central Bank, Nameer shares his journey, insights, and exciting projects shaping the industry.

🌐 Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval: After the recent news that the Securities and Exchange Commission has finally approved the Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Nameer shared his views on how this decision will impact both retail and institutional investors in the long run, paving the way for diversified portfolio strategies.

🚀 MFTA's Remarkable Journey: Under Nameer's exceptional leadership, MFTA has become the 4th best global fintech body. Discover the strategies and initiatives that distinguished MFTA on the global stage, and what partnerships play the key role in the industry's success.

💚 Green FinTech Innovation: Nameer's passion for green fintech innovation is evident. Learn how he envisions the intersection of fintech and sustainability shaping the future of the financial industry, and the role MFTA plays in promoting green fintech initiatives.

🌐 Web3 and MFTA: Explore the exciting developments in the intersection of DeFi and TradFi within the MFTA. Nameer shares intriguing projects building bridges between these worlds, fostering innovation and collaboration.

🔥 Future of FinTech: Nameer shares his vision for the future of fintech, especially in the MENA region. Discover exciting developments and projects on the horizon that promise to shape the industry's trajectory.

🌟 Fils and Unique Contributions: Learn about Fils and its distinctive contributions to the fintech ecosystem. Nameer discusses what sets Fils apart from other players in the industry and how they are making waves in the evolving financial landscape.

FinTech #Sustainability #Innovation #BitcoinETF #MFTA #Web3 #DeFi #TradFi #FutureOfFinance #Podcast #GreenFinance #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Encrypted #Myco

Special Guest: Nameer Khan.

#Ep.88: "Cryptocurrency's Godfather: Privacy, DigiCash, AI, and the Quantum-Secure Future".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0400

🎙️ We’re thrilled to have the visionary David Chaum on our latest, #88th episode of Encrypted, powered by Myco.io, "Cryptocurrency's Godfather: David Chaum on Privacy, DigiCash, AI and the Quantum-Secure Future"!
📝Renowned as the 'Godfather of Cryptocurrency,' David's pioneering work in applying cryptography to cash in 1982 set the stage for today's digital currency landscape. From #ecash to groundbreaking #cryptographic #protocols, his contributions have reshaped #privacy and #security in the digital realm.
🔖 In our discussion, David shared his insights about Project #Tourbillon, a CBDC collaboration with a Swiss central bank, emphasizing its paramount focus on preserving user privacy—a critical stride in the realm of Central Bank Digital Currencies.
💡We dived into the evolution from challenging centralized financial players with cryptographic digital cash to collaborating on CBDCs, exploring the intersection of privacy, decentralization, and the future of currency.
✅We also spoke about 'better than money' (BTM) concepts, their connection to e-cash, and the intriguing realm of #cMoney.
💡David highlighted the urgency of quantum-resistant cryptography, offering foresight into forthcoming developments crucial for safeguarding digital systems against quantum threats in the current landscape.
📚Discover more about the meaningful contributions of the cryptocurrency industry to the core of useful computer science and the crucial discussion about AI, and data accumulation.
🎧Join us in exploring the future of #cryptography, privacy, and technology with David Chaum on the Encrypted podcast!
💫 Special guest: David Chaum
🌟 Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.

Cryptocurrency #Privacy #security #cryptography #ecash #digicash #CBDCs #AI #DigitalInnovation"

Special Guest: David Chaum.

#Ep87: Redefining Tomorrow: Decentralized ID, Wellness, HealthTech, and Synthetic Biology".

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 19:00:00 +0400

🎙️Hello and welcome everyone to another exciting, #87 episode of the “Encrypted” podcast, powered by Myco.io, “Redefining tomorrow: Decentralized ID, Wellness, Healthtech, and Synthetic Biology”.
🌐Join us on an insightful journey through the tech universe with Charles Hoskinson, visionary entrepreneur, mathematician, and co-founder of Input Output Global, Inc. and Cardano. His leadership in blockchain technology has reshaped the landscape of decentralized systems, pushing boundaries in tech, wellness, and synthetic biology.
📜In our conversation, Charles shares untold aspects of his endeavors, exploring the misconceptions surrounding Cardano, the power of type-based programming in #Plutus development, and the pivotal role of interoperability in shaping the future of blockchain networks.
🤖Discover the lesser-known aspects of Cardano's technology, and delve into the promising potential of decentralized identity technology globally. We also explore the intersection of AI and decentralization, navigating the fine balance between power and custodianship in this transformative era.

✅That’s not all! We uncover Charles’s newest venture, the Hoskinson Health and Wellness Clinic, and his expansive focus on pioneering projects in health tech and synthetic biology.
🎧Tune in to gain invaluable insights from Charles Hoskinson, a tech visionary reshaping tomorrow’s world!
💫 Special guest: Charles Hoskinson,
🌟 Poscast Host: Maria Vovchok.

Special Guest: Charles Hoskinson.

#Ep.86: "Breaking Frontiers: #Cardano's Vision for Blockchain Advancement”.

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0400

🎙️Hello and welcome everyone to an exciting #86 episode of Encrypted, powered by myco.io, "Breaking Frontiers: #Cardano's Vision for Blockchain Advancement”. Join us as we sit down with Frederik Gregaard, the visionary CEO of the Cardano Foundation, to uncover the dynamic landscape of Cardano and its impact on the future.

🔍 Dive deep into the layers of the Cardano ecosystem with Frederik as he explains the Cardano Foundation's role in it. Discover how the foundation drives adoption strategies, integrates its mission, and fosters value creation for inclusive growth worldwide using Cardano.

💡 Unraveling misconceptions! Frederik sheds light on the most common misunderstandings people have about Cardano and also highlights active participation and significant contributions of the Cardano community.

🌍 Challenges are part of the journey. Frederik shares the main hurdles encountered by the Cardano Foundation and the valuable lessons learned, offering insights into their strategies for overcoming obstacles.

💬 Engaging with the community matters! Learn how the Cardano Foundation handles criticism and feedback, taking proactive steps to address concerns raised by community members.

🌐 Looking forward, Frederik unveils his long-term vision for Cardano and the instrumental role the foundation aims to play in achieving these ambitious goals.

🤝 Decentralized governance in action! Discover how the Cardano community actively participates in decision-making processes for the platform's development and growth.

🌐 Partnerships that pave the way! Gain insights into upcoming collaborations that align with Cardano's values and mission and how the foundation builds partnerships, including those in the Middle East and Africa.

📚 And, of course, about education as a driving force! Learn about the Cardano Foundation's initiatives aimed at educating and bringing widespread adoption of blockchain technology.

💫Special guest: Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation.
🌟Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok, Podcast Host&Journalist, Dubai Blockchain Center.

Cardano #Blockchaintechnology #cardanofoundation #IOG #Emurgo #partnerships #MiddleEast #DubaiBlockchainCenter #Podcast

Special Guest: Frederik Gregaard.

#Ep.85: Game Changers: Decoding NFTs, Open Metaverse, And Digital Economies.

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0400

🎙️Hello and welcome everyone to the #85 episode of Encrypted, where we explore the Future of Blockchain, NFTs, and the Open Metaverse!

🚀In this exciting episode of Encrypted, we sit down with the extraordinary Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, a global powerhouse in the blockchain and gaming industry. With an awe-inspiring investment portfolio of over 450 blockchain companies worth a staggering $5 billion, Yat Siu is a true visionary shaping the digital landscape.

🎶Meet the Multitalented Innovator: Dive deep into Yat Siu's world as he shares his fascinating journey—from his accolades as a classically trained musician to becoming a renowned tech entrepreneur, recognized by institutions like the World Economic Forum and BAFTA.

🕹️Blockchain Gaming and NFTs: Explore the evolution of Animoca Brands, from mobile games to groundbreaking ventures in blockchain gaming and NFTs. Discover Yat Siu's take on Bitcoin #Ordinals NFTs and the intriguing concept of #RWA tokens in the ever-changing digital marketplace.

🌐Demystifying the Open #Metaverse: Yat Siu challenges misconceptions about the open metaverse and shares his insights on building new economies, including the innovative concept of #Mocaverse. Explore the potential of enterprise-oriented metaverses and their impact on the future of technology.

💡NFTs, Web3, and Market Dynamics: Delve into the rise, fall, and potential resurgence of #NFTs as Yat Siu discusses their role in driving #Web3 adoption. Uncover Animoca Brands' due diligence processes and the criteria guiding their investments in Web3 startups amidst market downturns.

🌍Focus on the Middle East: Learn about Animoca Brands' strategic expansion into the #UAE and the Middle East. Discover the untapped opportunities in the region and how it's becoming a focal point for Animoca Brands' innovative endeavors.

🔥Don't Miss This Episode! Join us in this eye-opening conversation with Yat Siu, where we explore the intersection of technology, creativity, and innovation. Get ready for insights that will reshape your understanding of the digital future.

🎧 Subscribe: Never miss an episode! Like and subscribe to stay ahead in the world of technology and innovation.
Special guest: Yat Siu.
Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.

Special Guest: Yat Siu.

#Ep.84: "Beyond the Sandbox: Unveiling Middle East Adventures with Sandbox Game's New Partnerships"

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0400

Welcome to the #84th episode of the “Encrypted” podcast, empowered by Myco, the place where tech and innovation collide! Today, we have a special guest who's not just a tech whiz but also a genuine enthusiast for all things creative and fun. Sebastien Borget, the Co-Founder and COO of The Sandbox, is here to tell us more about the trailblazing decentralized gaming virtual world that's capturing the imagination of millions.

Sebastien, with his rich background in computer science engineering and over 16 years of entrepreneurial experience, is not just a tech visionary, but also a champion for the integration of blockchain and NFTs in the gaming industry. As the President of the Blockchain Game Alliance, he's been advocating for the power of NFTs and blockchain in transforming the way we play and create games.

Today, we're diving deep into the heart of The Sandbox. Sebastien will unravel the mysteries of the open Metaverse, share the platform's incredible journey from its mobile gaming hits to the expansive virtual world it is today, and provide insight into the creative process that fuels this innovative platform. We'll explore the practical use cases of The Sandbox, learn about the tools and resources empowering creators, and discover inspiring success stories that showcase the impact this platform has had on both creators and players.

Stay tuned as we unravel the secrets behind The Sandbox's partnerships, including their recent collaboration with Sandsoft Games, and understand the strategies they employ to bring renowned brands into their virtual realm. Plus, we'll talk about why the GCC region is one of the major focuses of the company.

So get ready for an enlightening conversation with Sebastien Borget, a driving force in the future of gaming and the open Metaverse. You're in for a thrilling ride!

Special Guest: Sebastien Borget.

#Ep.83: Revolutionizing Finance: Middle East Crypto Hedge Funds Shaping the Future of Global Finance.

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:45:00 +0400

Welcome to the 83# episode of the “Encrypted podcast”, where we delve deep into the future of finance and the world of cryptocurrencies with a visionary leader who’s actively shaping our financial landscape. Today, we are happy to have a true trailblazer with us, Henri Arslanian, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Nine Blocks Capital Management.

Henri is not just a prominent figure in the crypto world; he's a force driving change. With a sterling background as the former global crypto leader at PwC, Henri has advised governments, financial institutions, and tech giants on crypto initiatives. He's a TEDx speaker, a best-selling author, and the host of The Future of Money podcast and the CryptoCapsules™ social media video series, and he is regularly featured in global media, including Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and the Financial Times.

Join us as Henri shares his insights on the evolving landscape of crypto hedge funds, the impact of regulations on the industry, and the strategies employed to navigate the volatile crypto market. Find out how crypto hedge funds should properly handle the security and custody of digital assets, learn the difference between active and passive crypto funds, and whether more traditional hedge funds are entering crypto now. Why did Henri choose Dubai as a manager's location for Nine Blocks Capital Management, and how the crypto hedge funds in the Middle East are shaping the future of finance? About this and more…
Stay tuned for an episode that promises to be both enlightening and inspiring. Let’s dive in!
Special guest: Henri Arslanian.
Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.

Special Guest: Henri Arslanian.

#Ep.82: The Rise of Dubai: Why The World's Tech Community is Focusing on Dubai!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0400

We are thrilled to announce the grand return of the "Encrypted" podcast! This time, it's not just for your ears but also for your eyes - both listen and watch! 🎧📺

In our latest episode, we're honored to converse with the illustrious Dr. Marwan Alzarouni, CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center and the esteemed Strategic Advisor of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Recognized as a blockchain luminary by CoinTelegraph, ranking amongst the Top 100 global influencers, his insights are truly invaluable.

Moreover, we're proud to introduce the Dubai Blockchain Center as our strategic partner for the “Encrypted podcast”!

Delve into Dr. Marwan's compelling vision of positioning the UAE, especially Dubai, at the forefront of blockchain innovation globally. Learn about the pivotal role Dubai Blockchain Center plays in transforming this ambitious vision into reality. Their dedication and contributions to the blockchain community are genuinely groundbreaking.

Gain exclusive insights into the Dubai Future Foundation's offerings for attendees of the imminent AI Assembly in the Museum of the Future. Get a sneak peek into the objectives of this year's government summit, which paints a transformative picture for Dubai's future. Wondering about other buzzing tech happenings in Dubai? Stay tuned!

Discover Dubai's tech evolution, as Dr. Marwan shares exhilarating accounts of partnering with global tech behemoths, establishing Dubai as a magnet for tech giants worldwide.

For all this and more, tune in and immerse yourself in our enriching podcast, also available for viewing on YouTube.

Special Guest: Dr. Marwan Alzarouni.
Podcast Host: Maria Vovchok.🌟

Special Guest: Dr. Marwan Alzarouni .

#Ep. 81: DIFCs take on building Fintech and Crypto success in MENA

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:00:00 +0400

In this episode we speak with Christian Kunz, Head of Group Strategy at DIFC Authority, a leading financial center based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In his capacity as Head of Group Strategy at DIFC Authority, Christian is responsible to develop and continuously evolve the strategic agenda and initiatives of DIFC in line with the UAE’s commitment to innovation and development of future economies.

We start off speaking about the foundations of his experience in the region and work towards the future of fintech, blockchain and crypto within DIFC's ecosystem and the regional market places.

If you are looking to know more about regulations, setting up and getting ahead within the region, this episode is a great listen.

We want to give a special shoutout to our sponsor Blockfinex. Blockfinex offers one of the most competitive trading fees compared to industry leading competitors as well as a quick onboarding process for its users. You can find them at blockfinex.com

Special Guest: Christian Kunz.

#Ep. 80: NFTs - The Direct to Avatar Economy & The Open Metaverse

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0400

In this episode we speak with Ryan Gill, founder at Crucible.

Did you hear about that $69 million NFT sale on Christie’s? Well, we just dove right into NFTs! NFTs or non-fungible tokens are unique digital items that are not interchangeable. We are beginning to see the rise and value of NFTs take off, mostly in the creative industries, where we see digital art, music and other creative work being bought and sold as NFTs. In this episode we explore the state of play of the NFT world and how they have taken the world by storm this past year. Our guest, Ryan goes on to discuss the origins and beginnings of NFTs and the creative industries, namely creators and artists in Hollywood, his former hometown.

We continue discussing the potential and opportunity NFTs hold for creators that have been traditionally left out of the spotlight and off the stage. Ryan describes how new and young creators can take work into their own hands and start making a living for themselves without necessarily needing to answer to the current “gatekeepers” of the creative industry.

Ryan shares the work they are doing at Crucible and his vision for the platform and how it will contribute to a larger paradigm shift of what he calls an Open Metaverse. We also touch on the future of NFTs and how the world will look in a decade’s time because of this new technology.

We want to give a special shoutout to our sponsor Blockfinex.

Special Guests: Ryan Gill

Special Guest: Ryan Gill.

#Ep. 79: Scalability and Advancement of Enterprise Blockchain

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 19:00:00 +0400

In this episode we speak with Saqr Ereiqat, consultant at IBM and Akbar Farook, founder of Just Chain, a justice in the public blockchain space solution.

We start off speaking about what blockchain applications are currently live in the region and where enterprise utilizes blockchain for the betterment of business. Saqr and Akbar both share their views on the current state of blockchain use in the Middle East and general region.

We go on to discuss the challenges of raising funding for Proof of Concept projects. Both our guests walk us through their experiences in each of their domains and advise companies on how best to approach funding for a POC.

Finally we discuss what adoption of blockchain technology will look like, specifically for enterprises.

Special Guests: Akbar Farook and Saqr Ereiqat.

#Ep. 78: Tech Scoop on Bitfinex and Tether from Stablecoins to Global Decentralised Liquidity

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 20:00:00 +0400

In this episode, we hear from one of the most influential figures in the space, Paolo Ardoino who is the CTO of Bitfinex and Tether.

In the beginning we discuss Paolo's background and his vision for the space. We then delve into the rise of DEXs and how decentralised vs centralised exchanges will fair in the years to come. Paolo shares what his vision for a decentralised exchange will look like and lays out Bitfinex's plans for doing so.

We also touch on the heavy stablecoin topic. We hear Paolo's views on the future of stablecoins, the differences between the various forms of stablecoins we see today, and also USDT's future roadmap. Paolo also shares recent updates with regards to the New York Attorney General's lawsuit against Tether and we discuss misconceptions that have arisen about Tether.

Additionally, we discuss the technical aspects of Tether's tech stack, specifically with regards to layer 2 and scalability. Finally, we discuss the role of Defi and what this means in the context of Bitfinex and Tether.

We want to give a shout out to our sponsor Blockfinex (Not to be confused with Bitfinex). Blockfinex is the Global cryptocurrency exchange where you can trade your cryptos in seconds. With one of the fastest matching engines in the space, and high liquidity, you can trade your favourite cryptocurrencies quickly and seamlessly. Blockfinex offers one of the most competitive trading fees compared to industry leading competitors as well as a quick onboarding process for its users. You can find them at blockfinex.com

Special Guest: Paolo Ardoino.

#Ep. 77: The rise of institutional adoption in crypto and blockchain

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 08:00:00 +0400

This is another excellent episode from the Future Blockchain Summit which was part of GITEX in Dubai, one of the only in-person events that has taken place during COVID times.

Our guests for this episode are Thamim Ahmed from UCL Center for Blockchain Technologies and Dotun Rominiyi from the emerging technology division at the London Stock Exchange. We talk about the rise of reasearch and development leading into emerging and new technologies to drive adoption in enterprise.

We cover financial securities and tokenisation, how ideation leads to solid research and then real world products.

We talk about how the London Stock Exchange moved from paper to digital and how it now is working towards a future that embraces next generation infrastructure and digital tranformation.

If you are looking to understand more about how the London Stock Exchange and UCL view blockchain and cryptocurrency, then this episode is definitey for you.

We want to give a shout out to our sponsor Blockfinex. Blockfinex is THE Global cryptocurrency exchange where you can trade your cryptos in seconds. With one of the fastest matching engines in the space, and high liquidity, you can trade your favourite cryptocurrencies quickly and seamlessly. Blockfinex offers one of the most competitive trading fees compared to industry leading competitors as well as a quick onboarding process for its users. You can find them at blockfinex.com

Special Guests: Dotun Rominiyi and Thamim Ahmed.

#Ep. 76: The humble beginnings of crypto art and its meteoric rise

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0400

We're super excited to be recording this episode live at the Future Blockchain Summit which was part of Gitex 2020 in Dubai, one of the only in-person events that took place in this crazy 2020 year.

Our guest for this episode is Vesa, a Finnish artist who has had a unique journey following his interests throughout his life. After stumbling into art, and finding his hidden talents there, Vesa has helped to pioneer digital art which is now seeing tremendous growth in the crypto sphere. Vesa is unique in that he embraces both the physcial and digital forms of art, where his physcial copies go for a rate at 1 btc per piece (thats $19,200 at time of writing!)

We really enjoyed this episode as we discuss the early forms of digital art, what the transition of art will look like from the physical to digital realm, how will digital art be used and look like in the context of NFT (non fungible tokens), VR and AR, and how people can get involved!

Special Guest: Vesa.

#Ep. 75: Crypto Communications - How PR can make or break projects

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 05:00:00 +0400

In this episode we talk public relations and the blurring lines of promoting, community engagement and shilling. Our guests are Mohanned Halawani, founder of Crypto-PR.io and David Wachsman Founder and CEO of WACHSMAN. Both our guests are leaders in the Crypto and Blockchain space for communications.

This was a great episode for us, both Ahmed and I really enjoyed challenging Mohanned and David to the perception and roles of PR in the industry. If you are looking to leverage PR and comms for your own project or want to know how agencies perceive the space then this episode is for you.

We want to give a shout out to our sponsor Coinsapp, a global social payments application for cryptocurrencies based on the Dan blockchain ecosystem. It empowers the world to send money around the world in seconds. You can find coins app on google and Apple stores. https://coins.app/

Special Guests: David Wachsman and Mohanned Halawani.

#Ep. 74: Build it and they will come - How one firm is designing chain infrastructure to enable you to scale

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +0400

In this episode we have special guest Joe Lallouz, CEO and Co-founder of Bison Trails.

In this talk, we deep dive into what running a remote company is like, the transition from physical to remote, how to maintain strong leadership virtually, and more importantly how to retain talent (and how to peacefully allow your good ones to leave if they have an entrepreneurial bug!) There were so many awesome nuggets shared by Joe in this episode even way before we talked about crypto!

On the crypto side, Joe dives into what Bison Trails are doing and how they are helping to achieve a robust infrastructure set up to ensure blockchains can be easily secured and anyone can easily set up and run a node! This core infrastructure is crucial to the development and uptake of blockchain networks, where we learn how Bison Trails are leading the pack in this area.

So many things and more in this episode of Encrypted!

This is absolutely the episode for you if you are looking to know more about running a remote company, leading in a virtual world, a crypto entrepreneur or a project/fund/exchange needing core infrastructure services.

We hope you enjoy the episode and many thanks again to our wonderful sponsor, CoinsApp! You can find out more at https://coins.app/

Special Guest: Joe Lallouz.

#Ep. 73: Blending Securities and Defi - Bringing reg tech into CEFI & DEFI

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +0400

Todays episode is a great mix of enterprise scaling of tokenised securities and the blending with DeFi. We have the co-founders from Securrency, a leading blockchain and crypto technology platform helping transform the digital securities industry.

Having started this journey long before ICOs/IEOs and many of form of security or utilities tokens starting gaining steam, John Hensel and Dan Doney began their journey to build their interoperable and very versatile financial supply chain infrastructure.

With a big focus on compliance and meeting regulatory requirements they are leading the way in enabling cross chain, cross border and cross regulation movement. And with the growth in DeFi and CeFi they are well positioned to be ready for the future of digital finance across the globe.

This is absolutely the episode for you if you are looking to know more about becoming friends with regulators and building long term visions for you blockchain and fintech business.

We hope you enjoy the episode and many thanks again to our wonderful sponsor, CoinsApp! You can find out more at https://coins.app/

Special Guests: Dan Doney and John Hensel.

#Ep. 72: Connecting Africa to the World with Danny Oyekan

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:00:00 +0400

We're super excited to have Danny Oyekan on this episode today. He has been slowly and quietly building his own blockchain empire and ecosystem through a variety of ventures he is spearheading, one of which is CoinsApp, which is one of the sponsors of this show!

In this episode, we hear more about CoinsApp and the incredible traction it recieved post launch, how they're disrupting the remittance industry and hearing the low down about blockchain and crypto in Africa.

We also discuss the Defi craze and when the crypto market will be maturing because quite frankly this Defi craze is showing that we are still some time away from any maturity.

We hope you enjoy the episode and many thanks again to our wonderful sponsor, CoinsApp! You can find out more at https://coins.app/

Special Guest: Danny Oyekan.

#Ep. 71: The Nod of Approval - How Bitt pioneered the world's first concept of a blockchain Central Bank Digital Currency

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 19:30:00 +0400

In this episode, we uncover the story of how Barbados set its sights on creating a digital dollar and how this set the course for a legal central bank digital currency across the Caribbean.

We speak to 3 amazing guests, Dr. Delisle Worrell (the Former Governor of the Barbados Central Bank), Gabriel Abed (Founder of Bitt.com) and Simon Chantry (CBDO at Bitt.com). The three share with us stories from the past of how Bitt.com came about, how the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency came to light and how Dr. Delisle Worrell as the Governor of the Central Bank gave Gabriel and his team the nod of approval to build out this concept.

We dive deeper into how the events unfolded over the years, what the future holds for CBCDs and how Bitt.com plans to implement CBDCs across the Caribbean.

All this and more on this episode of Encrypted!
If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

This episode is sponsored by CoinsApp!

Special Guests: Dr. DeLisle Worrell, Gabriel Abed, and Simon Chantry.

Sponsored By:

Dan Holdings

#Ep. 70: AI Generated Content - The Why, What and How

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:00:00 +0400

We speak to Arif Khan, CEO and Founder of Alethea.AI, which is a blockchain marketplace for synthetic media.

We discuss all things under the sun related to synthetic media, specifically AI generated content.

With the drop in costs of computing power, according to Moore's Law, this allows people to experiment with new technology and in this context AI generated content. This is where you have fully AI generated audio, videos and imagery leading people to experiment to create content without needing a particular person in the flesh. Take Alethea.AI's recent demo of Ex-President Obama where you see a virtual baby face Obama reading a script in a voice resembling much like his actual voice which was all created through AI. Essentially you can use Obama's voice to say anything you want!

Of course, there are many implications of this, and Arif shares the good and the bad that can arise and the future demands we may see from such a technology, in particular the various use cases that can arise.
Arif argues that the model of Cut, copy and paste of text transformed our lives, and we're able to do this with cut, copy and paste of a face. Think of how movies, individuals, influencers, can create tell and share new stories. Weird right and if you want to get weirder, think Black Mirror! Arif further argues how during a pandemic, AI generated content becomes more feasible for celebrities and brands to work together.

We talk about how this is connected to blockchain and why it would enhance the technology further and enable its widespread adoption.

This is an amazing episode where we learned so much about a new technology, the potential market for it, use cases for our private lives and businesses and how this could truly impact society in the long run.

Special Guest: Arif Khan.

Sponsored By:

Dan Holdings

#Ep. 69: A World Divided - Covid19 is the World's Chief Digital Officer

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0400

In this episode we have special guests Maja Vujinovic, Ex CIO of Emerging tech globally for GE Digital and Vinny Lingham, Founder and CEO of Civic.

With the world living through a pandemic, economic uncertainty and political upheaval through the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S., we discuss how the world is becoming divided and old traditions being highly questioned.

We first talk about vaccinication where Vinny walks us through how vaccination will become an underpinning factor for our digital lives and future digital identities. We explore the opportunities, risks and implications of such a system that should be private and free from government control to protect user data.
Maya with her background in tech and operations shares her experience and the advice and considerations she proposes to governments, leaders and private corporations, particularly around tech ethis. We also discuss the ideas around biohacking and relevant solutions that Maja has been working on.

With the increasing need of digitization in this COVID19 reality, we also discuss how blockchain is increasingly significant as the technology already exists but needs open mindedness, structural change and acceptance.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guests: Maja Vujinovic and Vinny Lingham .

Sponsored By:

Dan Holdings

#Ep. 68: Digital Keynote - A Global Economic Crisis is Looming, Now the Time for Blockchain to Leave Self Isolation

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 31 May 2020 18:00:00 +0400

Encrypted is excited to partner up with the Future Blockchain Summit who have recently held their first ever Digital Keynote! Digital Keynote, a live webinar series dedicated to tackling and exploring the world of Blockchain. Join us as we discuss with foremost experts from around the globe and break down topics such as Blockchain Development, Use cases, Tokenization , Sustainability, Business Networks and more.

In this episode of Encrypted, we are sharing the Digital Keynote as a podcast on our channel, to share with our community and audience! In this episode we have superstar speakers from the United Nations, Ant Financial and Swedish Government, moderated by a world-famous radio host & TEDx Speaker all debating on how Blockchain technology will be leveraged to fight the economic collapse caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key takeaways from this panel includes:

Innovation and adoption has to come from both government/public sector and the private sector
Actual serious adopotion after pilot project/demos is still low
Blockchain has a marketing problem

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guests: Ben Treganna, David Suomalainen, Ken Rutkowski, and Tony Sun.

#Ep. 67: Web3 + Egypt + Global Users = Next Gen Privacy Email

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 25 May 2020 09:00:00 +0400

Ahmed sits down with Mohamed Abdou, the founder and CEO of Pravica where they discuss a wide range of topics ranging from privacy centric apps being accessible to millions, the opportunities blockchain represents, how it is perceived in emerging countries like Egypt, where do we expect to see adoption coming from and all the learnings Mohamed has had building a Web 3 start up in MENA.

Special Guest: Mohamed Abdou.

Sponsored By:

Dan Holdings

#Ep. 66: Mike Dudas on how Covid19 is growing attention in the crypto and digital assets space

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:30:00 +0400

Mike Dudas is the founder and CEO of The Block, the leading research, media & information brand in the digital asset marketplace.

In this episode, Ahmed and Mike discuss the global impacts Covid19 is currently having on the tech industry and the chain of events that is happening in Silicon Valley tech companies so far. They also discuss impacts on crypto, and impacts on both their underlying businesses as Mike shares The Block had its record break revenue generating month in March 2020 and also some of their metrics and numbers from a geographical standpoint.

Ahmed drives the discussion to understand what leaders and CEOs should do during these intense times and what attributes a wartime CEO should have to navigate uncertain times. They also talk about how we can make this industry move forward as it's an industry which has still not burst out into the mainstream and still lives within its own confines and communities.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: Mike Dudas.

#Ep. 65: Covid19 Special - A Pandemic of Fake News

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:00:00 +0400

In this Covid19 special, we have an interesting discussion on how this pandemic became widespread with the advent of lies and fake news.

Our special guest, Arwen Smit, walks us through a few eye opening topics in times like this:

Three questions regarding lies:
How strong is a lie?
Who can the lie reach?
How to sever the link between the two
Taxonomy of “fake news”: Mis-information, Mal-information, Dis-information
What type of fake news was spread during the outbreak and where does it fit in?
Is Corona virus used to push adversarial narratives?
What are the Debunked stories regarding Corona?
How can we solve these problems moving forward? What role does tech have to play?

All this and more on this week's episode of Encrypted!

Special Guest: Arwen Smit.

#Ep. 64: How Orchid is revolutionizing the VPN space through blockchain and crypto!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:00:00 +0400

Ahmed was in Denver, Colorado speaking with Dr. Steven Waterhouse from Orchid Protocol.

Dr. Steven (or as he’d like to be called Seven), is quite an experienced individual who can do loads of English accents as well as researching and implementing AI before the dotcom boom, built companies and sold them, and was also a VC investing in a variety of tech companies. He is now decentralizing VPN - Woah hold up, what does that even mean?

In this really interesting discussion, Ahmed and Seven discuss a variety of topics:

What was working on AI like before it was called AI
How Seven got involved in the crypto space and why he did
How Seven played a part in building Pantera Capital, one of the oldest and respected blockchain and crypto funds
‘The flavor of the day’
Being sim swapped and how that led Seven to start Orchid
What decentralizing/distributing VPNs mean? What does it mean for end-users?
Token economics and business model of Orchid and stakeholders
UX of utility tokens

Do make sure to check it out, especially as these guys are rebuilding the VPN model, particularly in how normal people can make money from providing their bandwidth!

Special Guest: Dr. Steven Waterhouse.

#Ep. 63: Scale matters, Localization doesn't

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +0400

Nic had the opportunity to speak with Hussein Khanji, partner at Hoxton Ventures during ArabNet Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hussein walks us through his theory on venture capital, searching for unicorns and avoiding copycats.
Plus he discusses why business models should be able to transcend borders and why it plays to their investment strategy.

Special Guest: Hussein Kanji.

#Ep. 62: How the UAE is saving AED 11 Billion through blockchain implementation? - World Economic Forum Special

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0400

We welcome Mariam AlMuhairi live from Davos at the World Economic Forum to discuss with us today the newly published whitepaper from the WEF and Dubai Future Foundation: Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain - Case Studies and Learnings from the United Arab Emirates.

Mariam who is the Head of the Center for the 4th Industrial Revolution led the report's formation, paritcularly from a policy standpoint. In this episode, we discuss:

Mariam's insights from Davos
Key takeaways from the report
How particular challenges such as regulation and stakeholder engagement will be overcome?
A brief look into the 7 Case Studies included in the report
C4IR's stance on cryptocurrencies
Top down vs bottom up approach to deploying innovative opportunities

This was an extremely insightful podcast where we see the Dubai Blockchain Strategy and the Federal Blockchain Strategy achieving higher levels of success!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: Mariam Al Muhairi .

#Ep. 61: Creating and encouraging Fintech in Saudi Arabia

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0400

This is part 1 of a series of podcasts recorded during Arabnet Riyadh 2019. We had the pleasure of speaking with Ali Al Omran, Chief Information Officer for Arab Bank.

We go in to details on how banks in the region are diversifying their interests, creating collaborative environments for startups to work with banks and where the future of fintech is heading as Saudi Arabia moves quickly to disrupt and create growth in its economy.

Special Guest: Ali AlOmran.

#Ep. 60: How an ICO can get you fired and open doors unimagined

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:00:00 +0400

In episode 60 (woot woot, 60 episodes and counting), Ahmed and Nic speak to Anthony Gilman, Founder and CEO of Aqua.

We dive into some company drama that unfolded during Aqua's fundraise, especially as they opted to do an inital coin offering (ICO). In this episode Anthony's shares:

How not to do an ICO
How he fired his CTO
How he made a good situation out of a bad one
The hotel and hospitality inudstry's current problems
How Aqua is out to solve them

We loved this story Anthony shared because it showed outright the true colours of how certain individuals can be manipulative for personal gain, and more broadly exposed the intention behind most ICOs.

Special Guest: Anthony Gelman.

#Ep. 59: Regulating Crypto in the GCC - The Lowdown

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 05:00:00 +0400

In this episode, we sit down with lawyers to pick their brains and know how about regulation surrounding blockchain and crypto in the region. Karm Legal is a home grown legal practice based out of the UAE focusing on Fintech and blockchain.

On the show we have Kokila Alagh, Founder of Karm Legal and Akshata Namjoshi, Senior Associate at Karm Legal speaking to us.

We discuss:

How progressive the implementation of regulation has been
Comparing regulations/initiatives around ADGM, DIFC, ESCA and Central Bank of Bahrain
The recent public consultation paper issued by ESCA
How to enter the MENA market from a regulatory and strategic standpoint? What licenses should companies look at? How as a company entering the region should we label ourselves?
How long it takes companies to graduate from a sandbox?
International regulatory landscape
Why Karm Legal are bullish on security tokens?

Nic also asks his usual bunch of futuristic ‘What if’ questions which results in inspired answers and we also diverge into other Fintech topics too.

Special Guests: Akshata Namjoshi and Kokila Alagh.

#Ep. 58: WEEKLY ROUND UP: China, New York, FINCEN, TON

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0400

After several requests by regular listeners, we get back to summarising interesting news that has happened in the last 7 days.

With Matt Hamilton and Gary Sheynkman as our guest news commentators.

We discuss some unlikely stories, including you’re not a banana if you say you’re a banana and how this ties into stable coins and FinCEN, how China appears to be 'protecting' (cough cracking down cough) its crypto businesses and a quick catchup on where Telegram Open Network is heading with the SEC.

Special Guests: Gary Sheynkman and Matt Hamilton.

#Ep. 57: How an early YouTube employee is competing against Uber and Airbnb!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Ahmed is in San Francisco for his first ever visit! As well as attending the San Francisco Blockchain Week, Ahmed set some time to explore a bit of SF and also spent time interviewing one of the pioneers of blockchain technology in SF; Matthew Liu from Origin Protocol.

In this episode, the pair discuss:

Matt’s experience and key lessons as a product manager at Youtube in its early days
Matt’s ups and downs in entrepreneurship
What it takes to be a real entrepreneur
Why Origin is building a platform for decentralised marketplaces
How incentivisation functions in Origin
Real practical use cases
Differences in the business models between open sourcing your tech (tokens) vs keeping it private (equity)
Culture and personality around delivering impact

They also discuss the race to digital supremacy between the U.S. and China!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: Matthew Liu.

#Ep. 56: Cre8ting a future of music artists

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Nic Watson and Ahmed Al Balaghi co-host todays episode with a Millennial angle, with guest star Erik Mendelson, a music executive with Grammy Award Winning artists under his belt.

We discuss how the record industry is not paying it forwards to the artists and creative teams involved in music production and how blockchain through Tune Token and Cre8tor app will enable a fair share of earnings.

Learn about:

Their journey to securing recognition in technology
Gaining momentum with music industry executives
Onboarding and recognising tomorrows future artists
Using blockchain tech where it matters
Why being completely decentralised is not a reality

We also have some fun with music industry stories that involve millennials, rock stars, chickens, tents, blockchain and “wasta”.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: Erik Mendelson.

#Ep. 55: THE (DIS)TRUST GENERATION: Genuine, Fake and Fraudulent

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0400

Nic Watson and Ahmed Al Balaghi co-host todays episode, with guest Damu Winston, author of “I Don't Trust You, But Blockchain Will Help”

Today we focus on distrust and what it means to live in a world of genuine, fake and fraudulent trust. In a world where every day you are surrounded by information that directs your decision making and purchasing habits, how can you be sure what you are basing your decisions on are real.

There are so many factors that impact trust and how organisations, individuals and social groups are more than ever relying on fraudulent information to make decisions.

Damu covers key technologies including blockchain that will enhance how genuine trust can replace fake trust and its impact on how we interact daily with each other, corporations and governments.

Expect to walk away with:

A different opinion of what trust is
How future technologies will impact even greater what is genuine and what is not
Where you can get Damu’s free ebook
Why distrust is more important to understand than trust
How Alexa, Siri and other game changing voice tech will impact trust

And don’t forget to stick around for the whole episode as we have a few laughs about 6 year olds teaching enterprise technology decision makers about bitcoin.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: Damu Winston.

#Ep. 54: Encrypted @ Gitex - The Future of Programmable Money

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 05:00:00 +0400

We are live! We held a live podcast at Gitex and discussed an awesome topic ‘The future of programmable money’!

We had two great guests on the show: Gabriel Abed from Bitt.com and Aruba Khalid from the Dubai Future Foundation. In this episode, we discussed:

Why programmable money is important (04:17)
What is programmable money (06:32)
Money for the authorities: Is there an argument for separating political decisions from economic outcomes (09:47)
How Bitt.com have helped central banks to create central bank digital currency (11:47)
Advantages of central bank digital currencies (16:42)
Are banks needed if central banks create their own central bank digital currencies? (18:00)
Money for the corporations: Libra and how money is based on its usefulness (19:18)
Can we program money that is useful and is private? (22:22)
The roles of regulators when regulating Money for the corporations (25:17)
The advent of corporation based money (29:45)
Now it all depends on who you trust (32:02)
Money for the people: Cryptocurrencies have forced the conversation (35:29)
Bitcoin is designed to protect the 99% (36:22)
Bitcoin prices and fluctuations (39:17)

This was another amazing live panel we hosted as we discussed the real problems and questions surrounding programmable money and what sound money looks like.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guests: Aruba Khalid and Gabriel Abed.

#Ep. 53: How a young Chinese entrepreneur is building a crypto empire

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 11:30:00 +0400

Interested in hearing about how a young 27 year old is building a crypto empire?

Ahmed is in one of his favourite places in the world, Shanghai, for the Shanghai Blockchain week. In this episode, he caught up with James Wo, CEO and Founder of Digital Finance Group.

The two delve right in to talk about James’ incredible ventures as well as latest topics in the crypto world including:

Digital Finance Group’s $80 million venture fund which was raised from traditional capital in Shanghai (02:10)
Bridging UAE and China: Why are they setting up an exchange in Abu Dhabi and how they got an In Principal Approval from the ADGM (04:50)
How MENA is a big enough market for multiple exchanges to operate (09:00)
Proof of work Vs Proof of Stake (12:30)
Would you choose Bitcoin or Ethereum. Interesting thoughts from James! (15:15)
Blockchain and crypto ecosystem in China (16:54)

All of the above and more is discussed on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and hitting that subscribe button!

Special Guest: James Wo.

#Ep. 52: The TikTok vs Baidu Court Case, Switzerland as a Blockchain Hub and why Homeschooling rocks!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Ahmed jetted off to China for the Shanghai Blockchain Week and in this episode, he is joined by an old friend of his, David Johnston. David is literally an OG in this space getting involved as early as 2012 and has contributed in more ways than one since joining. He is currently the Chairman of Factom and the Managing Director of Yeomans Global Capital.

Ahmed reminisces the first time he and David first met, remembering a quote he would never forget; ‘Everything that can be decentralized will be decentralized’. This was jokingly described as Johnston’s law when David first introduced this at the Coin Summit in 2014. Great, things will be decentralised but when and to what extent? David does a good job showcasing how and when certain processes and use cases should be decentralised.

The two dig deeper to explore what use cases we are seeing today that is both decentralised and has some credible adoption behind it. Other than Bitcoin, of course, David goes onto explain how Factom, a decentralised blockchain that anchors into bitcoin and ethereum, has secured hundreds of millions of business records and cites a couple of uses by real companies using Factom as a way to record business documents. This is where the amazing TikTok Baidu case was revealed by David. You definitely don’t want to miss this interesting court case story, oh and the supreme court of China was involved too.
David goes into what Factom is and why it exists claiming that it solves as many problems as bitcoin does as its core focus is on record keeping which allows for strong transparency and accountability.

Ahmed shifts the conversation to see David’s opinion on which jurisdiction is the best for blockchain and crypto. In his words - ‘Switzerland. Hands down’. Ahmed, a bit shell shocked dove in to understand why David thinks Switzerland is the hotspot for blockchain and David urges blockchain projects should consider moving to Zug, which is dubbed as Crypto Valley.

David further shocks Ahmed when Ahmed asks him Bitcoin or Ethereum. David chooses Ethereum for a number of reasons - Do make sure to listen to hear why!

Before the end of the show, the pair go off on a completely random topic - Homeschooling. As David mentioned he was homeschooled, Ahmed was intrigued to find out what is homeschooling about, hows it different from public schooling and why parents make the decision to homeschool their children.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: David Johnston.

#Ep. 51: Assessing token models: Why tokens are a unit of trust?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed sits with Pranav Sharma, Founding Partner of Woodstock Fund.

Woodstock Fund is a new and emerging crypto fund based out of India and Pranav delves into how their fund operates, in particular, their 3 core focuses, which include:
Public decentralised ledger technology
Decentralised finance
Web 3.0

Pranav shares his experience of co-creating creative solutions in sales and distribution and how his learnings through creating this led him to create the fund he is running today.

Ahmed sets the theme for the episode which focuses on the right investment vehicles behind cryptocurrencies and assessing the optimal token models that make sense.

Starting off with public chains, Pranav explains their thesis behind the investments they made in Holochain, Casper Labs and Elrond. From a decentralised finance perspective, Pranav shares why this emerging sector is not just important for the new value it can bring but how it’s solving problems that currently exist in traditional finance. Web 3.0, according to Pranav, is all about being more human and unbundling of the human potential wherever you are in the world.

Pranav expresses that the right economics has to come into play before any consideration of investment. Ahmed is intrigued about what is the right vehicle when investing in these projects as the investor can invest in equity, tokens and convertible notes. In the past two years, countless projects used tokens as a way to raise money without necessarily thinking about how token economics will play and pan out in the future.

How do you define the right instrument when building out a project? Pranav argues the business model should drive this decision and currently, in this cycle of the crypto market we are seeing more projects using the right instruments during fundraising.
But the question still arises, should investors go for equity (which has legal recourse) or go for tokens which are still largely unregulated with not so much legal recourse.

Running a pro token investment fund, Pranav gives many suggestions to the above, from a dual equity-token structure, or raising through an STO which can then be converted to a utility, or the project themselves having to bootstrap the project until they find minimum viable utility where a token is the right instrument in this case.

Tokens as a unit of trust
Ahmed and Pranav then discuss the different ways to assess token models and how an investor can discern whether a token model makes sense or not. Pranav shares his experience with the 6 investments they have made and that a token model should be looked at from two important aspects: Ecosystem and adoption.

Someone can create the best technology ever, but if the ecosystem is small and there is zero to little adoption, then what is the point? Pranav also shares a technical-economic response between demand and supply and how the right economics should facilitate more adoption in a perpetual enforcing cycle.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Pranav Sharma.

#Ep. 50: Special 50th episode - Everyone's an 'Economist'

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 05:00:00 +0400

It’s our 50th episode anniversary!!! In this episode, Nic and Ahmed are back to co-hosting together, and for this special milestone, we have a special topic in store.

We are joined by Amin Elkholy, Siddiq Farid and Matt Hamilton to discuss all things economy, crypto, sound money, pending recessions, global reserve currency and much more!

The first topic is all about crypto or fiat, examining traditional currencies and what sound money could look like in the future. Amin and Ahmed look from a historical point of view whereas Matt and Siddiq look at this from a technological perspective.

Since currencies and money are tied with central banks and monetary policy, the conversation diverges into the role of central banks in the future, how credit, leverage, and distribution of money works, particularly the distribution of money into private banks, and ultimately why the tools that central banks use today could be totally disrupted with transparent distribution of money via the concept of central bank digital currencies.

The conversation then goes into the pros and cons of central bank digital currencies, the impact of removing cash and China’s plans to be the first country to issue a central bank digital currency.

Amin gives fascinating ideas around how commercial banks can possibly innovate when central bank digital currencies do become a reality. In this scenario, will consumers be in the driving seat if there is an efficient allocation of money and capital from the central bank to the consumer and then the consumer decides which bank they can deposit their money, effectively leading to dynamic and competitive interest rates and pricing?
The discussion continues into the concept of money vs gold, and how consensus plays a big role in whether a currency is accepted or not.

As a limited supply of a currency can bring certain stability to that currency and an economy, Nic argues that leveraging has created an enormous amount of wealth and is thus a key factor in the economy. However, we see huge amounts of inequality in wealth and income distribution with only a tiny percentage of the world population managing to amass most of the generated wealth. Amin sees it from a different perspective where the distribution of money supply is not distributed properly and thus income and wealth inequality can arise.

As the economy is globally slowing down, the gentlemen speak about an impending recession and look at history lessons to try and dictate the future. Matt speaks out against negative interest rates and explains how the U.S. is currently experiencing it and what he expects the Fed’s reaction will be.

Nic then asks the guests to predict what the future will look like in 15 years! Check out what they had to say.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Amin El-Kholy, Matt Hamilton, and Siddiq Farid.

#Ep. 49: 1 Ethereum address for every 110 people: Why adoption rates are super low in Crypto today!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Ahmed sits down with Fredrik Haga, co-founder of Dune Analytics to discuss crypto and blockchain adoption rates and exploring why these adoption rates are still so low today!

Fredrik is focusing on making data on the blockchain more accessible to project founders, investors, and individuals by analysing and aggregating public blockchain data. The two talk about the right types of metrics needed to measure the right levels of adoptions and how to measure the success of a product and its market fit.

Extraordinary data they showcased in Berlin shows that there is 1 Ethereum address for every 110 people. Only 1 in every 110 people! But is this the right metric to measure for success?
Fredrik argues that they’re creating a platform not just to state what the right metrics are but to allow their users to have a say in what success looks like and what are the right metrics to measure.

Of course, retention rates are top in priority and Fredrik explains a certain case they’ve been seeing within the context of the MakerDAO project. He argues that although the macro data for MakerDAO are positive but when you dig into the data, there are many surprises in store. Surprise surprise, retention rates in crypto-related products such as MakerDAO are still super low!

Fredrik also goes into his enterprise experience, working for one of the largest Norwegian media companies which looked to implement blockchain in their operations. Going into the infrastructure of trust, particularly in a jurisdiction like Norway where people trust their government, the pair really explore if blockchain, privacy by design and all the things this industry stands for matters for these types of institutions and countries.

Before the pair sign off, Fredrik goes into his takeaways from Berlin Blockchain Week. He sees usability and real use cases are coming to front and center instead of fancy tech stuff taking the limelight.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Fredrik Haga.

#Ep. 48: Berlin Blockchain Week: Why is the Ex-CTO and Cofounder of Ethereum preaching Less Trust, More Truth?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Ahmed is in Berlin for Berlin Blockchain Week, and as part of this short Berlin Blockchain Week series, we are super excited to have Dr. Gavin Wood, who is the President and Founder of Web 3 Foundation and notably known for being one of the co-founders and Ex CTO of Ethereum.

Ahmed dives into Gavin’s value system and tries to understand why he is pursuing the path he is currently on. Driven by curiosity, we learn that he helped to code the ideas that Vitalik drew up for Ethereum and is increasingly curious about what else he can create next!

Ahmed, curious about Gavin’s experiences, wants to find out the challenges he faced in the past 6 years as a prolific tech leader in the field and most importantly how he discerned the cynical from the authentic.

We also get some interesting opinions on a few topics:

Bitcoin vs Ethereum? Gavin gives us his views on which one he’d pick if bitcoin and ethereum were hanging off a cliff!
If blockchain was deployed in a country, which country would you deploy it in? Gavin thinks superpowers!

On one of the last things advocated by Gavin is a push for reducing the need for trust in the world; less trust, more truth.

Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

Special Guest: Dr. Gavin Wood.

Sponsored By:

CBX : CBX is a digital asset trading platform dedicated to providing users with safe and professional digital currency trading services. The company has independent operating teams in UAE, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the London, other countries and regions.

#Ep. 47: "Can't be evil" - Why we should care about Web 3!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Richard Muirhead is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Fabric Ventures. Our host Ahmed recorded this episode in sunny London at the Fabric Ventures office.

With an established career in engineering, entrepreneurship and investing, Ahmed was intrigued to find out Richard’s core and to see what influenced him to become the person he is today. Richard shares parts of his childhood experiences when growing up and how his post-university experiences, particularly in building companies, has built much of who he is today. This led him to believe that developers and computer engineers are the primary driving forces behind successful businesses.

Moving onto Web 3 and its construct, Richard talks about why Web 3 is his focus touching on the intersections of easily architecting software that is easily interwoven in our lives, how the world currently works and how start-ups succeed.
As Google came up with the motto “Don’t be evil’, Fabric Ventures thought about this differently. Their motto is ‘Cant’ be evil’ and Richard discusses the story behind why they came up with this motto and concepts such as privacy by design.

As Fabric Ventures are currently fundraising, Ahmed was intrigued to find out how Richard and the team are trying to convince the wider investor community and traditional LP’s to invest in this new wave. The ideas surrounding Web 3 are great, but how can you rally traditional investors to back you? Richard articulately lays down the the things that get the investors excited and things that they should avoid.

Ahmed shifts the conversation to the types of entrepreneurs that Fabric will typically back. If you’re a Web 3 entrepreneur reading this or listening to the podcast, make sure you listen to what Richard had to say!

Enterprise and tech titans - how are they looking at this and will they be adapting? Ahmed and Richard discussed whether or not the current incumbents will be able to change their business models to the new world of Web 3 and the new value chain that will emerge as a result. Richard draws interesting comparisons from history citing the move from IP to cloud (around 10 years ago) created lots of software applications and resulted in huge value creation. He argues we may see something similar when we move from IP to an architecture whereby people and companies all hold their own data and share it at their will in an interwoven system.

Finally, the two touch on regulation to see how GDPR and Open Banking will be able to aid this nascent industry in moving forward!

All this and more is discussed in the week’s episode of Encrypted!

Special Guest: Richard Muirhead.

#Ep. 46: Why this start-up is crucial for the Dubai Blockchain Strategy!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Richard Ma is the CEO of Quantstamp, one of the leading smart contract auditing firms in blockchain space

In this episode, Ahmed and Nic speak to Richard to understand what on earth Quantstamp do and why their smart contract auditing solution is so crucial to the development of this space.

Richard starts off with his background and how the idea of Quantstamp evolved. Using industrial techniques he picked up as an also trader, he and his co-founder wanted to apply those techniques to provide smart contract auditing services to the up and coming projects which are all based on smart contracts.

Nic dives straight intp addressing key concerns associated with smart contracts such as coding a simple mistake and how would a reissue be implemented. Would it be done through contract modularisation or would a fork have to be implemented?
Richard goes into his experiences back in 2016 where the general consensus is code is law but that narrative changed with the introduction and uptake of blockchains such as Hyperledger and Corda. In term of permissionless chains, he goes into the concept of upgradeable contracts which can be implemented on Ethereum and draws upon an example and takes us through this use case along with the challenges it represents.

We also go on to the topic of enterprise and how Quantstamp interacts with different levels of enterprise clients. One colossal client of theirs is Kakao’s Ground X project (Kakao is Korea’s largest messaging platform) and shares how he has interacted with them and the processes involved.
Richard shares how they approach different projects according to their security valuations and how different they have become over time, particularly the big shift from 2017 to 2019.

Ahmed shifts the topic to why Quantsamp is in cohort 6 of the Dubai Future Accelerators program, which is a 12-week program dedicated to bringing in start-ups from around the world to bring innovation to certain government departments. They were paired up with the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in order to help them build a secure system to sync up the different data silos that exist in the various agencies of the RTA to bring the coordination of data from days to seconds. Richard shares his current experiences with the RTA explaining how welcoming and open-minded they are in trialing these projects, in particular how the government departments emphasize the business applications and benefits these solutions would bring rather than focusing on the hype that blockchain.

Richard touches upon their global expansion, such as their new set up in Japan and Noumura’s recent investment in Quantstamp. Nic changes the conversation to trust and data standardization and given Quantstamp’s global footprint and diverse clientele, what this means for them introducing standards in the industry and becoming the trust anchor. Richard dives deep into the 3 verticals of standards they are working on, one of which is the Smart Contract Security Alliance (which Nomura and Fujitsu are current stakeholders).

When Richard started the company there were 300,000 smart contracts on Ethereum and now on there are 12 million contracts deployed on Ethereum! This led them to think that security audits should be automated with future anticipated demand and theoretically a token can be used as a security and utility feature to secure the system and verify the smart contract audits. The QSP token of Quantstamp is the token that powers this protocol and Richard further explains the viability of why the token economics could work in the future.

Nic further questions Richard if they would implement AI and machine learning into their business! Make sure to listen and find out what he had to say!

All this and more was discussed on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

Also, the legal bits for the soundtrack used in the podcast:
Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported “Share Alike” (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Full License HERE – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Special Guest: Richard Ma.

#Ep. 45: Bitcoin Satellites, Lightning Network & Bitcoin as a Store of Value!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Dr. Marwan Alzarouni from the Dubai Blockchain Center went to Singapore to attend and speak at the World Blockchain Forum.

In this episode, Ahmed and the special co-host for this episode, Dr. Marwan, catch up with Samson Mow who is the CSO at Blockstream, a bitcoin infrastructure company.

Having spent two years in China working for BTCC, Samson reminisces over his time in Shanghai and goes over what it's like working in a Chinese exchange in a relatively early period in the industry. We then move on to talk about Blockstream, and how they are building out bitcoin infrastructure.

Blockstream is known for its product Blockstream Satellite (what the hell does this have to do with bitcoin?!). No, it's not a bitcoin node that they launched into space, but rather a satellite that is in space to allow more access to bitcoin where the network broadcasts the bitcoin blockchain around the world 24/7 for free. This means less dependency on internet access to broadcast transactions and according to Samson, adds extra resilience to the bitcoin network through network stability and cost savings.
Samson explains the methodology and rationale behind why they launched a satellite and how it works. Dr. Marwan follows up on extra technicalities on the Satellite and if there are applicable applications to third world countries.

Samson then goes on to talk about the Lightning network, what it is and also applications of it in third world countries. The discussion slowly diverts to bitcoin as a digital asset and what form it would take once the lightning network becomes mainstream. If bitcoin is digital gold now, would bitcoin become a medium of exchange when the lightning network goes live? Samson takes an interesting approach saying that bitcoin is everything and has multiple use cases.

Since Samson’s background is in gaming, Ahmed picks his brains on how blockchain can be applicable to gaming and to declutter the hype from reality on what's possible and not.

All this and more is discussed in this week's episode of Encrypted!

Also, the legal bits for the soundtrack used in the podcast:
Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported “Share Alike” (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Full License HERE – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Special Guests: Dr. Marwan Alzarouni and Samson Mow.

#Ep. 44: Venture as a stack: Why Web 3.0 needs a different kind of investor

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Jamie Burke is a co-founder and CEO of Outlier Ventures, one of the leading European crypto VC incubators.

Ahmed catches up with Jamie in London to learn more about Outlier Ventures, how they’re structured, their investment thesis and what makes them different as a VC investing in this space.

Unlike other VCs, Outlier is funded by the capital of the co-founders, their team is mostly comprised of technical analysts and researchers in order to do a lot of applied learning as well as supporting the projects they invest in and contributing to the wider ecosystem building out open source networks. Jamie likes to describe Outlier as more of an incubator or a Venture as a Platform business where they reinvest all returns into the platform, where they recently committed to reinvesting $30 million of their own capital in the next 3 years to support investments.

Jamie then goes onto to discuss the concept of Convergence and what the Convergence stack is, how autonomous agents work, and how they’re trying to create the new data economy.
He talks about the evolution of the internet citing two main innovations; platforms and cloud. Like every other person who believes in the space, Jamie touches upon the current problems of the internet and these past innovations, in particular how big platforms and cloud providers have become. With European regulators trying to strive ahead to unbundle these mammoth platforms to protect the end consumer, Jamie shares how they are solving these problems and preparing for what consumers demand in the future.

If you’re a governance lover, Ahmed and Jamie discuss the concept of Pathway to Decentralisation. This is a really interesting concept and idea which proposes founders and projects to never codify assumptions early on and to keep some aspects centralised until their assumptions are validated. Jamie also shares their recent partnership with Smart Dubai and how they’re working together.

Ultimately, this awesome episode is all about the new internet, theorizing how it could play out and what's needed to realise the vision. What’s amazing is that this is all a socio-economic experiment and we have no idea what will happen.

All this and more on this week's episode of Encrypted.

Also, the legal bits for the soundtrack used in the podcast:
Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported “Share Alike” (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Full License HERE – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Special Guest: Jamie Burke.

#Ep. 43: Why design is crucial for blockchain and cryptocurrencies!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Asim Janjua, is the Director of Innovation and Design at Consensys in the Middle East.

In this episode we look at blockchain from a design perspective and to answer the most crucial question: how does design intersect with blockchain?

Asim walks us through deisgn thinking techniques and how we can use that for emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrencies. He looks at it from two lenses:

Design as a problem solving tool to create new experiences and use cases
Design from a UX perspective as most blockchain enabled apps/dapps are currently catered for those within the industry

Asim explains how his design led experience at Google led him to use those same principles when building out Consensys in Dubai. We also touch on whether design is one of the best ways to achieve mass adoption and how thinking of it from a human perspective is crucial for mainstream adoption. Examples such as Gemini and Grid Plus from the crypto space was highlighted by Asim as two comapnies which have implemented sound design from both a process and a user experience stand point.

One of the main points we emphasise is that design should be implemented in the beginning before starting any project as opposed to thinking about it later on in the project. These come in the form of user journeys and user personas to test whether or not problems discovered in the research phase can can be solved using the product.

We switch a gear towards the end of the podcast where the discussion leads us to how the paradigm shift with blockchain is bigger than those of the other emerging technologies we are currently seeing, such as AI and IoT.

All this and more on this week’s episode of Encrypted.

Special Guest: Asim Janjua .

#Ep. 42: Facebook's Libra: The good, the bad & the ugly

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Gabriel Abed Is the Founder of Bitt, a company known for inventing central bank digital currencies.

In this special episode, Ahmed and Gabriel take a deep dive into Libra, Facebook’s recently announced cryptocurrency that they will be launching in 2020. Everything you need to know about Libra such as what it is, the economics behind it, how it will work and also the Libra Foundation are all discussed and explained.

More importantly they discuss what Libra means for:
• Common users
• Central banks and banks
• The payments industry and companies such as Paypal, Mastercard and Visa
• The crypto industry and bitcoin in particular
• Governance and data privacy

Among the takeaways from this episode and the Libra project itself are:
• No banks are involved at the foundation level
• Private forms of money that are not government issued rarely exist, and if they do, they operate at such a small scale i.e. loyalty points, community points. Facebook’s willingness to create a cryptocurrency means they are creating a form of private money that can be globally accessed and could potentially be used as a means of payment besides the dollar. This begs the question; will we see more global companies making their own private forms of money via cryptocurrencies?
• Comparing Libra to Bitcoin is like comparing apples and oranges
• Libra could be advantageous for Central Banks as this could allow them to move towards central bank digitally issued national currency which enhances the utility of their national currencies. Just think on ramp and off ramp between cryptocurrencies like Libra and central bank digital currency. This would be huge!
• Announcement of Libra means one thing: The end user is the one that will be empowered! There will be increased competition in the payments space, and it means consumers have more options.

All this and more on this week's episode of Encrypted.

Also, the legal bits for the soundtrack used in the podcast:
Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported “Share Alike” (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Full License HERE – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Special Guest: Gabriel Abed.

#Ep. 41: Education 3.0: Why the education industry is ripe for blockchain?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Almost everyone in the world has or will eventually be bestowed with a grade, certificate or honour that will at some future point need verification.

Today's episode has both Nic and Ahmed interacting with Educhain CEO Mark Balovnev on how to build scalable academic passporting systems. Focusing on interfaces to access documents and wallets for sharing with other gateways and portals.

Mark talks about how sentiment has changed over the last 3 years, why industry is adopting the technology and increasing mobility of these documents.

Key learnings:
-The starting process and how the industry can get involved
-What values can blockchain provide in education and the industries impacted by it
-Finding your blockchain hobbyist and enabling them
-How UAE University put transcripts, certificates, and other metadata on chain for over 70,000 students
-Plus a quick overview as to how the amazing Blockchain report recently launched with Smart Dubai came together.

All this and more on this week's episode of Encrypted.

Also, the legal bits for the soundtrack used in the podcast:
Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED

Track Name: Warm Nights

Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Original upload HERE – https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/warm-nights

License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported “Share Alike” (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.

Full License HERE – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Special Guest: Mark Balovnev.

#Ep. 40: Du: Leading UAE telco operator leveraging blockchain technology

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 05:00:00 +0400

Faisal, finally back on the show, joins Ahmed to welcome a new guest, Fatma Elsafty, who is the Blockchain Technology Manager at Du, which is one of the leading telecom operators in the UAE.

Fatma, in charge of driving Du’s blockchain programs, walks us through why Du are focusing their time and efforts on using blockchain technology and what they are actually building for their diverse customer base.

One of their main products is the Blockchain Platform as a Service (BPaas) which helps enterprises and SME’s alike easily deploy blockchain network and applications in a simple and secure environment. Fatma shares why the BPaaS is a game changer for the region and how they are aiming to lead the enterprise space for blockchain adoption.

With all the focus on their end customer, we also learn about Du’s other ventures in this nascent space such as the Smart Contract Repository and the Dapp marketplace they are building.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Fatma Elsafty.

#Ep. 39: Tezos: Past, Present and Future. With Hubertus Thonhauser

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Mon, 27 May 2019 05:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed and Nic speak to Hubertus Thonhauser, Founding Partner of Enabling Future and a Board Member of the Tezos Foundation.

Hubertus, who was part of the Tezos Foundation board transformation and is currently very active on Tezos operations, speaks to us about how he became involved in the project and gives a rundown on the early days of Tezos, its present status and also the future outlook.

He shares why Tezos was initially created, how they completed a mega crowdsale and the key features that distinguish Tezos from the rest. We also touch on the issues that the Tezos Foundation faced following the fundraise and how the team acted accordingly.

We also talk about the verticals in enterprise that Tezos will initially tackle which are: Digital Assets, Mobility and Gaming. And yes, Tezos are creating their own token security standard under the Digital Assets vertical, so do make sure to watch this space!

Hubertus being an investor himself at Enabling Future, shares his investment experience in both the start-up sphere and blockchain/crypto sphere and what he typically looks out for in projects.

All this and more on this episode of Encrypted. Please subscribe if you still haven’t and remember to rate and review the show!

Special Guest: Hubertus Thonhauser .

#Ep. 38: How a Dubai family office partnered with Techstars and ventured into blockchain? With Gary Sheynkman

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 17 May 2019 23:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed and Nic speak with Gary Sheynkman, an Investment Partner at Ginco Investments and the Corporate Lead for Techstars Dubai.

We find out what Ginco Investments is, their role in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and their enterprise-focused investment thesis. Being the first Emirati family to operate a pure play early-stage VC, they have also ventured into the blockchain space.
We dig deep into the different investments they have made, in particular, their blockchain investments, which revolve heavily around the verticals of financial services, developer toolsets, and broad enterprise use cases.

We also talk about what crypto related services will pave the way in the short term to medium term future, such as crypto asset management and custody solutions that hedge funds and professional investors inherently need.

Gary also shares his views and insights on how start-ups should approach this region and how they should set their expectations when starting in this new market.

Finally, we also talk about the regional banking system, how they should improve and change and why on earth we are still using paper to change small details in our bank accounts!

If you enjoyed this episode, do not forget to hit that subscribe button and do remember to rate and review the show. Every little helps!

Special Guest: Gary Sheynkman.

#Ep. 37: How are lawyers creating, building and using smart contracts?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 12 May 2019 11:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed and Nic speak with two amazing lawyers who are actively leveraging smart contracts for their current line and future line of work.

We have Mark Beer, President of the International Association for Court Administration and a lawyer turned tech entrepreneur Alessandro Palombo, CEO, and Co-founder of Jur joining us in episode 37 of Encrypted.

We talk extensively about what smart contracts really are, the roles they play in the future in both codifying principles and contracting machines, and how billions of people can benefit from this!

Yes, we also tackle the million dollar question: What will the roles of lawyers and law firms be in a smart contracting future world?

We hope you enjoy. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and make sure to rate and review the podcast as well!

Special Guests: Alessandro Palombo and Mark Beer.

#Ep. 36: What the Stake? All you need to know about Staking and PoS networks!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Thu, 02 May 2019 13:00:00 +0400

Staking. Generalised Mining. Proof of stake. What are all these???

In this episode, Ahmed speaks to Tim Ogilvie, CEO of Staked which recently raised $4.5 million from investors such as Coinbase and Pantera to build a staking as a service platform for institutional investors.

We cover the difference between proof of work and proof of stake, different implementations of proof of stake (POS, DPOS etc), the roles of staking services/node operators, opportunities it presents, and related regulatory concerns.

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Tim Ogilvie.

#Ep. 35: Building enterprise blockchain adoption in the Middle East with Jibrel Network

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:00:00 +0400

In this episode, we speak to Talal Tabbaa, Co-founder and COO of Jibrel Network. Ahmed also welcomes a new guest host on the podcast, Nicholas Watson Managing Director of Naseba.

We cover examples of winning, implementing and managing digitization of sukuks (Islamic bonds) and fiat. We also take some time to answer the question...What does Enterprise really mean? as well as looking at how to tackle the Middle Eastern enteprise space, especially when it comes to blockchain!

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Nicholas Watson and Talal Tabbaa.

#Ep. 34: What is a blockchain phone? A conversation with Phil Chen, HTC's Decentralised Chief Officer

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed speaks to Phil Chen, the Decentralised Chief Officer at HTC.

Ahmed first questions Phil about what his title actually means and Phil drills down into the idea of leaderless leaders, and how every person becomes their own leader.

Before talking about the Exodus phone, Phil delves into his entrepreneurial career, how he helped HTC become a global brand and how he got into the crypto space.

The pair go on to discuss the Exodus phone, key management systems, how HTC's Blockchain phone is different to its competitors and the importance of shipping products first!

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Phil Chen.

#Ep. 33: Revisiting the 2019 Global Blockchain Challenge in Dubai

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +0400

In this episode, we cover the SDO Global Blockchain Challenge which was showcased in the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai.

Out of the 700+ applications, only 20 finalists were flown to Dubai with a chance to pitch their ideas and where only three can be crowned winners do receive cash prizes.

We first speak with Karin Gabriel, a Project Lead at the Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA), who explains to us what the DFA is and its role within the Dubai Government, and also what the Global Blockchain Challenege is all about.

We then spoke with 6 of the finalists to learn more about what they’re doing and what their projects are! These include:
-TE-Food (Supply chain management for food traceability)
-Bluechain (Digitizing and optimising the industrial management process and operation)
-Quantstamp (Blockchain agnostic protocol which secures smart contracts)
-Ole Sports (Making football fairer and tokenising the aspects of the football experience)
-PO8 (Marine archelogy start-up that is tokenising underwater assets)
-Akita Blockchain Solutions (Building tangible prototypes and products based on blockchain)

We wish we could have sat down with all 20 start-ups, but the above 6 just showcases how diverse the finals were.

The competition took place on Wednesday 3rd April and the winners were announced during the Future Blockchain Summit -
Congratulations to:
Quantstamp (1st place)
iGrowChain (2nd place)
GrayBlock Power (3rd place).

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Karin Gabriel.

#Ep. 32: Encrypted presents Decrypt Hour!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:00:00 +0400

So our stats shows that 42% of our listeners are from the UAE. Well we have never met nor interacted with the majority of them, and so we decided to host our first meet-up.
This meet-up, however, is with a twist.

We did a live podcast to interact and engage with our community and the wider blockchain community in Dubai. We allowed the audience to pitch in their thoughts and questions at any point during the panel to allow for an interactive discussion.

The topics were also chosen by the community too! On the registration form, we allowed the attendees to pick three topics out of 5 we picked and the three that were chosen were:

Blockchain in the GCC
State and future of adoption
Blockchain start-up investments

This is our longest episode where we, as a community, discussed many different factors of our ecosystem and we hope you will enjoy this.

As always, please do not subscribe to our podcast. If you have, do not forget to rate and review the podcast!!

Special Guests: Dr. Marwan Alzarouni and Talal Tabbaa.

#Ep. 31: How Matic Network is solving the biggest problems in Blockchain today?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 15:30:00 +0400

In this episode Ahmed and Aniket speak to Sandeep Nailwal, COO of Matic Network.

Matic Network is a Layer 2 scaling solution for decentralised blockchain networks. The hosts explore why Matic exists, how they’re implementing Layer 2 solutions and what the platform is all about.

Sandeep in a nutshell explains how important it is to solve the biggest problems in the space; scalability and UX.

The Challenges

Current blockchain networks have a big problem in scaling due to its decentralised nature and that for mass adoption current blockchain networks will not be able to service millions of users.
When it comes to UX and usability of blockchain’s the biggest problems lie in the technical nature of using blockchain. The ultimate goal is that when users interact, they wouldn’t know that they are really interacting with blockchain networks. From a developer standpoint, they are also providing easy tools for developers to develop applications on top of Matic which would allow scalability for Dapps and ultimately lower fees as well.

Layer 1 and Layer 2
Sandeep goes into the differences between Layer 1 and Layer 2 in blockchain networks and how they behave respectively.

Sandeep explains that Layer 1 is all about economic considerations where there is a trade-off between security and scalability which is commonly seen in networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The higher the security the lower the scalability and thus inherently slow. Ahmed quotes Vitalik’s Scalability trilemma where if you had scalabilty, decentralisation and security, you can only choose two of these three. Most, if not all Layer 1 blockchain networks, they choose decentralisation and security.

In Layer 2, since you have Layer 1 to rely on which is security and decentralisation, then through cryptographic mechanisms you can get the same features on layer 2 as well as adding the scalability in layer 2 which is not included in layer 1.
Make sure to listen to the episode to hear how Matic network is building out this innovative Layer 2 solution they are creating.

Difference between Matic and others
Matic’s solution is highly inspired by the Plasma implementation that was put forward by Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Poon. Plasma is one of the first layer 2 frameworks out there in the market.

Here Sandeep explains how they are implementing layer 2 differently from Plasma, briefly explaining how they are implementing an account-based system rather than the UTXO system which is used by Plasma. Make sure to tune in to find out more!

Sandeep explains how Matic is different from competitors such as Loom Network and Skale.
He also goes into how they are improving developer experience since Matic is built on Ethereum, Ethereum developers are automatically Matic developers and thus it is easy to migrate to the layer 2 Matic is providing.

Crypto in India
Aniket who has been researching the Indian blockchain space is curious to see how Matic are operating in India given they are an Indian team.
Sandeep explains the structure of Matic and where they are based and states that their research team is based in India. He also goes to talk about the current regulatory landscape of crypto in India and believes that India will not ban crypto.

The Matic token and tokenomics
Ahmed asks about the token mechanism of Matic network and Sandeep answers that their token is a network token which is used to keep the network secure and to have the token in order to use the Matic network. Therefore, like most blockchain’s such as Bitocin and Ethereum and other protocol layers a native token is used for transaction fees. Additionally, Matic is a proof of stake system which requires a token to govern and secure the network thus a native asset is necessary to secure and incentivise network participants to keep honest, like how most blockchains currently are.
Thus, the token has two utilities: used for transaction fee and used for staking.

Is Matic doing an ICO?
Sandeep explains that they are looking to do an ICO and shares his plans on doing a large public sale on the back of recently completing a small private sale. They have an amazing announcement soon so do make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Sandeep nailwal.

#Ep. 30: Back to where it all started: Reflecting on 30 episodes

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:00:00 +0400

This episode was a real heart to heart.

Ahmed and Faisal reflect over their experience of running the Encrypted podcast covering what they learned when creating a podcast, their favourite episodes, the challenges they faced, revisiting why they are doing a podcast and sharing future plans of Encrypted.

Not your typical episode this time, but a good break and pause from the usual. Reflecting out loud has definitely renewed our purpose for delivering valuable content and making Encrypted what it Is today.

We hope you enjoy!!!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

#Ep. 29: Assessing blockchain for insurance with Takaful Emarat and Addenda

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0400

Episode 29 is here! Ahmed sits down with Walid Daniel Dib from Addenda and Vivek Bhalla from Takaful Emarat.

What is insurance and what challenges does the industry face?
Ahmed starts off by questioning the two guests about what we mean by insurance and the challenges that the industry faces. Vivek touches on the concept of how sharing should be closely related to this industry and how it is a social responsibility to share risk, a principle held at Takaful Emarat.
Being described as an industry still with a stone age mentality, main challenges include: very low digital processes, engagement with customers is low, and fundamentally it’s all manual process orientated.

Collaboration is also a key challenge that Walid pointed citing that insurance companies find It harder to come together and would rather sit on their heaps of data and not doing anything with it.

Can blockchain help? And if so, how?
Well of course blockchain would be able to help, and Walid and Vivek cite many examples, both theoretical and practical applications that are currently being deployed. Do tune in to find out more!

Going corporate!
Walid cites the importance of private chains and what they offer over public blockchains, particularly in a corporate environment. Fun fact, Walid used to be a bitcoin maximalist before going corporate!
Part of this conversation entertained many questions such as: how to maintain trust in networks operated by, let’s say, a group of insurance companies? Another question is then, who is responsible for authenticating all this data and how is it structured? Do insurance companies have to remove all their old systems away? Ah yes, the burning questions needed for innovation to really happen are explored too!

Ok, but why does this all matter? How will I, as an end user, see any change?
Ahmed then steers the conversation to see why this all really matters and what the implications are for both end users and insurance companies.

Walid and Vivek cite further examples, both within a typical insurance transaction (that is usually coordinated between many parties), and also enterprises currently developing proof of concepts in industries like trade finance.

With authenticated data processed seamlessly and less reliance on manual processes, the biggest implication for end users are the cost of premiums should significantly drop.

B3I
B3I is a blockchain Insurance Industry Initiative that provides insurance solutions on a blockchain platform offering opportunities for efficiency, growth and quality across the value chain to benefit all participants including end customers.
This industry initiative is what Takaful Emarat is a part of to help realise the innovation blockchain brings to the insurance industry.

Lets talk convergence
Ahmed asks how AI, IoT and blockchain are able to come together to be able to provide far better value than what each technology can provide on its own. Yes, there will be an inflection point soon! Listen in on what the guests had to say.

The relationship between a start-up and a traditional player
We can see how amazed Ahmed is to see how a traditional player within this stone age like insurance industry is working closely with Walid’s start-up, and helping to drive innovation.

Walid first starts off talking about his experience in the Fintech Hive, a leading fintech accelerator in Dubai, and how their talks with traditional insurance players surprised them as they saw local players being a bit more open compared to the international insurance firms with regional offices. Vivek and Walid both talk about their experiences working with and engaging the regulators and ultimately describing how their partnership formed and how their work is evolving!

Well what an episode that was, do make sure to tune in as we talked about the above and much more!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Vivek Bhalla and Walid Daniel Dib.

#Ep. 28: Behavioural Science, Transparency, and the role of Governments: A conversation with Maja Vujinovic, the Former CIO of Emerging Tech at GE

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 16:00:00 +0400

In our next instalment of Encrypted, episode 28 brings you an inspiring discussion with Maja Vujinovic, the CEO of OGroup and the former CIO of Emerging Technology at GE.

Maja first talks about the spark that caused her to go full time in blockchain after GE. The topics around deciphering data, what incentivizes behaviours, token economies, to name a few, were the topics that stimulated her interest and has ultimately led her to speak to global corporates about different ways you can incentivize behaviour for better business models.

Data, behavioural science and hype

Ahmed and Faisal start off the discussion with Maja about data to see what role it plays with blockchain networks and how that interacts with behavioural economics and science that is typically embedded in these networks.

Maja explains her story at GE in how she managed to convince upper management about the opportunities that well-built incentive models backed by the right data will help drive business growth and newer business models for the firm.

Transparency in large organisations – Yay or nay?

As Maja explains her experiences, this leads Ahmed to ask why do large corporates not like transparency? Maja spills the beans on what are in the minds of corporates and argues that in the real-world open source, for all its transparency, may actually not work.
Rather, it’s the rise of technology and rising customer expectations, transparency is being forced on the face of corporates and governments. This develops into a very interesting discussion about the philosophy behind transparency.

What is the most important function of the government?

Maja proposes this above question stimulating a discussion on the responsibility that governments have with regards to their functions. There are clear use cases for the government to use blockchain to make their processes more efficient. Great! But now they have more coordinated data – uh oh, can we trust the governments to not abuse this data? Has blockchain brought power to those that it seeks to destroy? Tune in to this episode to hear what is being discussed!

Maja also touches on the topic of surveillance capitalism and explains that we have to think twice before building these tools otherwise we may see the wrong side of technology impacting humanity for the worse.

Touching upon centralisation, Ahmed talks about how decentralisation can only be realised in a slow fashion as we cannot have a full shift from centralisation to decentralisation overnight. Maja did not only agree but also explained her experiences at GE attested to this, explaining how their customers reacted to initial pilot projects that were launched.
Make sure to catch Maja talk about the other pilot projects and use cases she’s been involved with in the past!

Oh – and are the institutions really coming?

The trio deep dive into the aspect of what institutional money coming into crypto really means. Many people talk about it, but it’s never really explained properly. Is it heaps of money buying up bitcoin? Or is money going into specific blockchain funds? Or is it something else?

After Maja gives her thoughts on this, Faisal goes back to ask the question of whether or not we actually need humans to be their own banks, have specific applications, or have multi sig wallets because they are complicated, and humans are not used to it. Make sure to tune in this episode to hear Maja’s thoughts on this!

There is no killer app?!

As Maja toys with the idea that the killer app would be in gaming, she backtracks and says there is no killer app in the market. Faisal then poses the question of what do we need to see before a killer app comes along? Maja argues that Volume, true utility, deep purpose and underlying value are the 4 main traits before we see a real killer app.

Well what an episode that was, do make sure to tune in as we talked about the above and much more!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Maja Vujinovic.

#Ep. 27: Future of Crypto: World Government Summit Special

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 16:00:00 +0400

Ahmed is at the World Government Summit recording from a beautiful room that overlooks the beautiful Jumeirah Beach and the Madinah Jumeirah in all its glory.

And what an amazing line-up he have for this episode with two amazing guests, Lawrence Wintermeyer from Global Digital Finance and Martin Bartlam from DLA Piper.

Adult supervision

After initial introductions, Ahmed recalls with Lawrence the crypto panel that took place at the World Government Summit this time last year which comprised mostly of bitcoin maximalists. This is in complete contrast to this year’s crypto panel at the World Government Summit where panel members all comprised of regulators and lawyers. Interesting how much changes in one year!

Lawrence and Martin emphasise the aspect that the crypto market is reforming and it is a time of consolidation and building before another round of excitement will come to the market again.

Why reinvent the wheel?

Most commentators would ascertain that new regulation would need to be implemented before the industry would see mass adoption. Martin, however, disagrees putting forth the viewpoint that we already have an effective regulatory framework in place and instead the market would need new infrastructures such as regulated exchanges, effective KYC procedures and custody solutions to exist before we see real traction.

In an environment of seeing the next wave of infrastructure the two guests believe that regulators and lawyers are already up to speed with recent developments in the space and are preparing for the new wave of innovations coming in the next couple years.

Let’s have a new term for STOs

Ahmed takes a crack at killing the term security tokens and STOs and the guests have slightly mixed views about this. Check out the episode to hear more!

Conquer or Partner?

Ahmed moves the conversation to see whether or not the current incumbents are able to or will bypass the current innovators and use their mass resources to move to a truly digital platform.
The guests believe that the partnership model seems to be an approach that is common in the industry and that start-ups in the future will provide very niche services. Incumbents, they argue, have gone better in researching and collectively working together to find opportunities and actively contribute to the industry.

All the above and more was discussed in this week’s episode of Encrypted. But before the ending, the two guests talk about their biggest takeaways from the World Government Summit. So do make sure to check out this episode to hear their takeaways and what they have to say.

We really hope you enjoy this episode as we worked really hard to get this specific episode recorded and yes sorry about the echoes in this episode.

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Lawrence Wintermeyer and Martin Bartlam.

#Ep. 26: How blockchain is revolutionizing the real estate experience in Dubai

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal host Khalifa Alsuwaidi, CEO of Emirates Real Estate Solutions (ERES).

The episode starts with Khalifa introducing himself and his experiecne in the real estate sector and how ERES was founded and how it relates to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). He touches upon the strategic objectives of ERES and the engagement model with DLD.

History of blockchain in real estate

Khalifa then elaborates on how DLD and ERES began their exploration in blockchain and understanding how it could potnetially transform the real estate sector in Dubai. How they began their benchmarking process and worked closely with Smart Dubai and other government entities to put a clear roadmap for blockchain implementations.

The ecosystem & current implementations

Ahmed asks the guest to explain in more details the ecosystem of real estate. Khalifa explains all stakeholders involved in the ecosystem and how transactions are flowing; from developers to buyers to brokers to sellers and so on. He then explains how ERES developed the roadmap to design and implement solutions and products to cater for the needs of the market and different stakeholders and faciliate easier experiences. The guest also explains the main pillars and modules that are in the roadmap for ERES reaching 2020.

Moving forward

The hosts then touch upon 2019 and beyond plans of ERES and the main challeneges that are expected to be tackled moving forward. Khalifa explains challenges related to collaboration, capabilities and technical aspects.

As you can see, we talked about a lot of things and so all of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

#Ep. 25: The balance between ROI and Social Impact: A conversation with the Blockchain Founders Fund

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal are joined by Aly Madhavji, a Managing Partner at the Blockchain Founders Fund.

The episode starts off with Ahmed describing his experience at the Binance Fair in Singapore where he gives a few highlights and takeaways as well as a general landscape of the region.

Use cases and investments

The show then dives deep into Aly’s background and what the Blockchain Founders Fund actually is and what it does in the industry. Having an investment arm, incubation arm as well as a consulting arm, Aly reminds us all as to why blockchain is beneficial and cites many cross-border use cases.

Ahmed asks what type of companies the fund has already invested in and what are they looking to invest in going forward. With an interesting and diverse portfolio, this episode brings to light the unsung no-hype projects that are solving real problems and making real use cases.

2019 focus: Finding transformative solutions and UN Impact report

Aly also delves into their different focus points for 2019; one of which is contributing to the written publication of an Impact report for the United Nations. Having different stakeholders, in particular funds, contribute to social enterprise and social impact causes are crucial in moving the industry forward. Do make sure to listen in on what exactly this report is all about!

Investment criteria and the Lemonade video!

Faisal questions Aly on the Blockchain Founders Fund’s investment criteria and philosophy where he describes how their fund operates, their thoughts on tokens and the different brackets within their investment strategy. Listen in to how their fund tries to find the right balance between obtaining the highest ROI and making sure to have a social lens too.

Let’s ban the term STO

As Aly is an advisor to Polymath, he talks about his thoughts and concerns in regards with security tokens and security token offerings.
He highlights the fundamental fact that the underlying does not change; where a company, or a project is not more valuable because it’s done an STO.

They also talk about the benefits of STOs as well as the challenges of implementing an STO now, where they cite that implementing a security token could in fact add extra layers in the process rather than making it more efficient.
The three also touch on crowdfunding, the decreasing popularity of public fundraising and more on this exciting topic!

As you can see, we talked about a lot of things and so all of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Source:
Lemonade Video!

Special Guest: Aly Madhavji 穆亚霖 .

#Ep. 24: Crypto Tales: The Success Story of Dubai's Bitoasis

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:00:00 +0400

In the 24th episode of Encrypted, Ahmed and Faisal were joined by a very special guest from the Middle Eastern bitcoin and blockchain community, Ola Doudin, CEO of Bitoasis.

Being the only exchange in the MENA region with on-ramp and off-ramp (i.e. exchange fiat for crypto and vice versa), Ola shares her background and past experiences before launching Bitoasis. We were impressed by it and we’re sure you will too!

First, we wanted to clear misconceptions and confusion around the ‘Virtual Currency’ ban in a policy paper that was issued by the UAE Central Bank in early 2017. With Bitoasis already being an established digital assets exchange, Ola explains how they reacted to this piece of news and how they made a clear path forward.

How can you get a crypto exchange license in the UAE?

This led the discussion to the subject of obtaining a crypto exchange license here in the UAE when there was no clear guidance or laws on running crypto asset exchanges. Ola explains their approach with licensing in the UAE, their approach with lawyers and regulators and most importantly, how they dealt with compliance. For those budding exchange entrepreneurs looking towards the MENA region, you’ll definitely learn a thing or two from Ola’s experience.

Oh and what about a bank account?

Getting bank accounts as a crypto company is not an easy task here in the UAE. Ola, however, has showcased to the region that it is doable. She explains the journey Bitoasis had with their banking relationships, the challenges they encountered and how they resolved them. Yes, relationships played a key role, but make sure to listen in to hear what else Bitoasis had up their sleeve to secure stable banking relationships for their exchange.

Ola emphasises that after the ADGM issued its exchange guidelines, regional banks have taken a more accommodating approach to banking crypto companies.

Regulatory and competitive landscape

Ola talks about her experiences engaging with regulators across the region and GCC stating that we are at a point where most crypto companies and exchanges have to classify themselves as a financial services companies and thus have to be regulated accordingly. Faisal tries to understand how Ola is trying to scale Bitoasis in the region as well as her thoughts on the regional crypto exchange competitive landscape as more exchanges are actively trying to set up shop in the UAE.

Bitoasis’ Demographics

Ola shares the demographics of Bitoasis’ platform; particularly the persona of their users and their most active regions. She also highlights that the main crypto communities are UAE, Saudi and Kuwait.

She also mentions that users are not only on the exchange to trade and invest but their users use their platform as a means of payment and micropayments through their wallet product.

Being a crypto entrepreneur in the Middle East – wait a female crypto entrepreneur

Here we try to understand Ola a bit more and how she persevered in a niche space during a time when blockchain and crypto was unheard of and typically rejected. Vision, their stakeholders, execution and being in the right city to experiment (want to hazard a guess where they experimented?) were the main factors behind their growth and success. This is an interesting part of the episode, so do make sure to tune in!

Decentralisation and data hacking

We diverted our discussion to data, how dangerous centralised data stores are for society and more specifically the paradigm shift that needs to occur to prevent incidents such as the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica case. Ola asks an interesting question: when a huge data leak happens, what is the role of government and public services?
We clearly see that it’s just a matter of time that these problems will be solved using blockchain. So if you like to hear about the philosophical side of blockchain and why it can solve the above problem, then you wouldn’t want to miss this one!

Building the infrastructure and what should be done in the region?

Ahmed asks Ola where does she see Bitoasis in 5 years time? Will they do an ICO, be an STO exchange etc?

‘Building the infrastructure; particularly the liquidity pool and education that’s needed to build an industry’ – was her answer. Very visionary and powerful!

Faisal follows up to hear Ola’s thoughts on what she thinks should be the government’s role to aid the industry and especially what should be done in the UAE and Dubai? Well, do tune in to find out.

As you can see, we talked about a lot of things and so all of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Ola Doudin.

#Ep. 23: An insight into Smart Dubai - What are they really doing in blockchain?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:00:00 +0400

Let’s face it, Dubai has sent ripples across the blockchain ecosystem upon the launch of its Dubai Blockchain strategy which was launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum in October 2016.

Ahmed sits down with Mohammed Al-Sharid, the Senior Project Manager for Business Development & Global Partnerships at the Smart Dubai Office, which is a government agency in the UAE tasked with making Dubai the happiest city on earth.

Mohammed gives a deep dive into how Smart Dubai are using their role as an implementor and orchestrator within the blockchain ecosystem to ensure Dubai becomes the first blockchain powered city by 2020.

Mohammed starts off the deep dive by talking about the 3 pillars that defines Dubai’s Blockchain strategy.

The First Pillar: Government Efficiency

Mohammed explains the 3 different elements (Use Cases, Blockchain Platform and Blockchain policy implementation) within the first pillar and how the three contribute to help the government of Dubai increase efficiency within their government departments. Make sure to listen to this episode to find out about these 3 elements, especially If you’re a start-up, policy implementor, and also interested in crypto. (Yes, a Crypto Positioning by Smart Dubai is cooking under the hood for 2019).

Mohammed also mentions a couple of uses that is being implemented currently.

The Second Pillar: Industry Creation

To achieve the 2020 vision, Smart Dubai have been running the Global Blockchain challenge for the past 2 years where they have received hundreds of applications across the world to tap into the growing innovation taking place globally. The Global Blockchain Challenge is back for 2019, where Dubai is calling all blockchain start-ups to apply to the Challenge. The 20 shortlisted winners will be competing in the Future Blockchain Summit organised by Smart Dubai which is taking place in April 2019. P.S. Application deadline is 30th January 2019. Details are below.

The second part of the Industry Creation is about helping to accelerate blockchain projects at the Dubai Future Accelerators program where start-ups work with government agencies for 12 weeks to build a proof of concept.

The Third Pillar: International Leadership

This pillar is about cross border collaborations to build Dubai as an international leader within the blockchain space. Listen in to hear how they are building bridges with other cities to build blockchain use cases.

As well as building Dubai as a hub, they are actively learning from different jurisdictions such as Malta and Crypto Valley in Switzerland.

Finally, listen into how one of the live blockchain use cases being built across several government departments in Dubai regarding payment reconciliation.

Global Blockchain Challenge Details
Link: Smart Dubai Global Blockchain Challenge
Applications are open until 30 January 2019, 11.59pm GMT +4.

For more information about Smart Dubai, please click on this link Smart Dubai.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Mohammed AlSharid.

#Ep. 22: 4 Blockchain Trends and Observations for 2019

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 16:00:00 +0400

Happy New Year all!

Ahmed and Faisal sit together to open the 2019 year with 4 predictions and trends the duo expect to see in the new year.

The first trend is of course the rise of Security Tokens/Digital Securities and Security Token Offerings/Digital Security offerings (yes the industry has yet to properly set key terms and definitions, and so they are being used interchangeably). They explain what they are, why they are important and what we expect to see in this space.

The second trend is all about tech implementation. This revolves more around the simple fact that many big tech implementations such as Ethereum’s Casper, main nets of popular projects and the usability of layer 2 solutions are due to launch in 2019. This will showcase whether the complementary pieces that seeks to improve some of blockchain’s weaknesses will actually show some promise. It is a huge thing to look out for as the industry is depending on the tech advancements from these grand experiments.

The third is all about education and adoption. The duo believe there will be more education and adoption about the core tenets of the technology but also from the perceived benefits that this technology brings. Ahmed argues that we need to be comfortable as a society with fully automated and truly digital experiences before decentralisation seeks to take place.

Lastly, the pair touch on regional developments and what to expect from the UAE in terms of country wide regulation and how self-regulation is happening at a governmental level.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

AND

We have our feedback form abiut Encrypted, please do not forget to support us and fill it in! Tell us your thoughts about the show!

https://faisalalhawi.typeform.com/to/fxfOpk

Sources:
2019: The Year Digital Securities Offerings Become the New ICOs

Blockchain in 2019: Trends to watch

#Ep. 21: World War Regulation - A conversation with Simmons & Simmons

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 15:00:00 +0400

Ahmed is joined by two Partners from Simmons & Simmons law firm; George Morris a Partner in the London office and Raza Rizvi a Partner in the Dubai office.

Ahmed starts off by asking about Simmons and Simmons’ journey in the blockchain and crypto space. George explains how they started their journey by working with projects to help them navigate through the grey area that still very much exists till today.
He then discusses the risk-based approach when operating in a grey area and explains why having a lack of clear definitions makes the process more difficult.

The talk moves onto the different regulatory jurisdictions and how they are different from one another when wanting to conduct an ICO or any other crypto related activity. George also does a deep dive into the difference between ICOs and STOs and lays out the process for how STOs from an equity standpoint should be conducted. Yes, lots of free advice from a lawyer!

The conversation then moves onto regulatory arbitrage or World War Regulation as the three discuss what regulatory arbitrage is, why it exists and whether or not it actually aids and adds value to the industry. Raza also talks about the regulatory arbitrage happening in MENA and how that actually aids regulators to make collaborations.

Self-regulation is another topic that was discussed during this episode as George argues the case for self-regulation and cites current examples and themes. Finally, Ahmed tries to understand how Simmons & Simmons are planning to utilise smart contracts for the future.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: George Morris and Raza Rizvi.

#Ep. 20: What lessons did we learn in 2018?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 16:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal sit down with Samson Williams, Partner from Axes and Eggs, in episode 20 of Encrypted.

In this episode the trio do a 2018 recap looking at positives, negatives and lessons learnt from the industry.

Ahmed starts off with the lessons learnt from this bear market and what a 75% decline in bitcoin actually means. Samson uses examples from his education courses citing that ICOs and STOs are not businesses and how people still fall for selling low and buying high.

Samson and Faisal talks about their experiences dealing with banks and how cryptocurrencies should all be about seamless user experiences and a customer service battles. Samson argues that those launching cryptocurrencies, are in fact launching global payment systems.

Ahmed questions what 2018 use cases we have seen in blockchain and cites the lack of killer apps not in production as being a factor stagnating the industry. The topic of who’s winning in this market and regulation being put in place is seen as a positive element in this industry as well as citing IBMs hyperledger being the current leaders in deploying blockchain use cases.
The case for IBM vs Amazon is also explored as more bigger players are joining this industry.

Old lessons of building businesses are brought to surface as the MENA based souq.com example is highlighted as it took them 12 years before Amazon bought them out and thus the same thing should happen in the ICO space.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Samson Williams.

#Ep. 19: Is 2019 the year of enterprise blockchain?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0400

Faisal is finally back on this episode with Encrypted alongside Ahmed. They are joined by this week’s special guest; Chris Fernandez, CEO of Block Gemini, a blockchain focused developer shop based in the UAE.

The show kicks off with Chris explaining his background and the history of Block Gemini and its growth trajectory.
They go into speak about one of the major projects Block Gemini are working on, a supply chain solution that tracks the movement of goods in trucks across the UAE that is already in use and close to production stage.

Chris explains their enterprise blockchain solution approach when it comes to B2B relationships and B2G (business to government) relationships. He the discusses the trends in enterprise blockchain and his outlook for 2019.

The three then discuss what is needed for smart contracts and blockchain technology to fully realise its potential in enterprise level applications. The IP issue is also debated as it is seen as an impediment to adoption for when enterprises are collaborating on blockchain projects.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Chris Fernandez.

#Ep. 18: What a week of madness!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0400

On episode 18 of Encrypted, Ahmed and Aniket discuss recent developments that have been happening in the blockchain world!

Ahmed first starts off by talking about his experience at the Sora Summit in Macau and explains his takeaways from the investment focused event.

The two then go on to discuss the recent news of the week, starting off with the SEC going after ICOs that did not comply with SEC laws. The two projects in question, Airfox and Paragon, had to return millions to investors after the SEC managed to settle charges with these projects for not following security registrations laws. They talk about what this means for the future of ICOs, in particular the future of regulation in the states.

They move onto the second article which sheds light on a more progressive regulator; Switzerland, who have approved the world’s first crypto exchange traded fund. The two talk about its background, which cryptos it will be covering and what this means for the industry.

Finally, they move onto the last article which discusses the bitcoin cash hash wars. They explain what bitcoin cash is, its difference with bitcoin and what has been happening in the bitcoin cash camp and why there has been an internal conflict. it is seen that this conflict was the catalyst for the bloodbath in the crypto markets. Ahmed emphasises that this is a grand experiment which is interesting and progressive for the industry.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
SEC Orders Airfox and Paragon to Return Millions to Investors on ICO Registration Violations
Switzerland gives green light to first cryptocurrency ETP
Bitcoin Cash Hash War Continues as Billions are Wiped Off the Markets!

#Ep. 17: Non-Fungible Tokens...WTF?!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0400

The world is at the at the forefront of the token revolution. With the invention of non-fungible tokens, we have seen a lot of innovations and developments to find solutions to complex real-world problems.

In the episode, Ahmed sits down with Aniket, and they discuss the current happenings in the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) world.
The episode is centric towards explaining nonfungible tokens in a simple and easy to understand manner, highlighting the developments from the birth of NFTs till now.

They covered the applications of NFTs in gaming and other industries as well as current developments in the space around nonfungible tokens. They also shared some future trends and why NFTs can possibly be valuable in the future.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!
If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

#Ep. 16: What is all the buzz about Security Tokens?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +0400

Ahmed is at the World Blockchain Summit where he records episode 16!

He is joined by Loauy Al-Doory from Kambio Ventures and Saeed Al-Darmaki from Binary Financial to take a deep dive into the world of security tokens.

The three distil the concept of security tokens; what they are, how they operate, the problems it can solve and also its difference with utility tokens.

The taxonomy of security tokens is discussed as well as its similarity to traditional market offerings. Ahmed then starts the discussion regarding the customisation of security tokens and whether these will be breaking new ground compared to offerings from traditional markets.

Current market players operating in the space are explored as well as thoughts on the challenges we must solve which will allow security tokens to flourish and be accepted.
Louay also talks about the economics and multiplier effects and how they relate to security tokens.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Louay Al Doory and Saeed Al Darmaki.

#Ep. 15: What does a Star Wars convention have to do with the blockchain world?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 18:00:00 +0400

Ahmed sits down with Kris Bennet, also known as the Blockchain Beard Guy, who is on the road non-stop to educate the masses on blockchain.

Kris shares his experiences in educating people from different backgrounds about the technology, and his experiences in helping enterprises deploy blockchain solutions.

Ahmed digs a bit deeper to understand the notion of open and closed blockchains and how this fits in with private and public implementations. For example; Does a public closed blockchain make sense?

The two also talk about best approaches to identify a blockchain use case as well as dissecting the role blockchains will play as Kris argues its merely a tool that is analogous to the internet.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Kris Bennett.

#Ep. 14: What is the use case for blockchain in energy?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:00:00 +0400

Paul Massara, CEO of Electron, joins Ahmed for the 14th episode of Encrypted.

On today’s show, Ahmed explores an interesting application of blockchain technology: Energy!

Paul first talks about the challenges and pain-points that currently face the energy industry, before moving on to how these challenges can be solved.
Existing players in the blockchain market attempting to solve these challenges are explored as Paul explains the use cases within the energy sector in both the developed and developing markets.

He also takes us into a deep dive (in layman terms) into how Electron are utilising blockchain for energy, particularly in the digitalisation of assets.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guest: Paul Massara.

#Ep. 13: How does the App-Infrastructure cycle relate to the future of ICOs?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0400

In this episode, your hosts Ahmed and Faisal, discuss 3 interesting articles; first off is a thought leadership piece from USV around what is needed at this stage of the blockchain cycle and the overall tech cycle by looking at past trends: a killer app or well built infrastructure? The hosts have a couple of interesting points that goes inline with the article and other points which begs to differ.

Then, the hosts discuss the recent Venezuelan government move which forces citizens who wish to obtain a passport to pay using the controversial Venezuelan cryptocurrency: Petro. They explain what the Petro cryptocurrency is and they discuss the impact of such a move and how it affects the country’s citizens.

Finally, the hosts share and discuss the announcement of the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of regulating ICOs as securities. They exchange opinions on this direction and how it could foster or hinder the ecosystem’s advancement.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
The Myth of the Infrastructure Phase
Crypto Now the Only Way Isolated Venezuelans Can Buy Passports
ICOs Get a Green Light in the UAE

#Ep. 12: How is compliance shaping the blockchain and crypto industry?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:30:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal sit down with the Tarik Mohammed.

Firstly, Ahmed brings up the Wall Street Journal’s article of identifying that $90 million in suspected criminal proceeds that flowed through intermediaries such as Shapeshift over two years. The discussion goes into how Monero, and more specially how these private transactions work along with explaining concepts such as zero knowledge proofs and atomic swaps.
Tarek lists the issues that the industry faces with these types of private cryptocurrencies and how these challenges can still remain with the rise of decentralised exchanges.

The conversation delves into whether or not cryptocurrencies are actually used for criminal purposes and Tarek explains the ‘know your flow of funds’ concept which has become a rising theme in the regulatory space and how it impacts exchange and OTC businesses going forward. They also explain how the Journal categorised potential addresses that were associated with criminal purposes.

Ahmed then moves onto the next topic which started as a debate on a WhatsApp group and was related to the next article covered. This article is regarding how an employee in a bank tried for many years to implement private blockchain solutions and concluded that he has lost faith in private blockchains. Faisal explains his view as someone who is helping to implement blockchain solutions at a governmental level.

The three talk about how current blockchain implementations worldwide seem to force a blockchain solution, rather than finding an alternative and better solution for a particular problem. Tarek adds that data classifications and uniformity are critical in implementing blockchain solutions at an enterprise and government level and sees this as one of the biggest challenges.
The three explain the concept of central points of failure and how these risks are increased under private permissioned implementations. Faisal also compares the incremental innovations from the disruptive innovations under these different scenarios.

The next article they cover is about Zebpay, a large Indian cryptocurrency exchange, which has decided to stop its cryptocurrency exchange operations due to the central bank banning banks servicing cryptocurrency projects making it harder for them to continue their operations.

Ahmed argues that emerging markets like India should be leading in this space and support the ecosystem. Tarek explains his experiences with emerging market regulators and how they have a wait and see approach regarding regulations and thus is harder for them to lead in a new nascent industry.
He goes on to discuss how different exchanges globally have different approaches to implementing their businesses, as some favour a more professional regulatory approach versus others who would launch services straight away without any regulation as a means to capture more market share.
The bitcoin ATMs recently installed in Area 2071 in the Emirates Towers in Dubai also gets a shout out due to the Central Bank of the UAE only allowing registered customers to buy and sell up to 1000 AED ($200-300) worth of cryptos per day and Tarek argues this is a good first step for the local industry rather than indirectly banning innovation as with the case of the Central Bank of India.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
How Dirty Money Disappears Into the Black Hole of Cryptocurrency
How I Lost My Faith in Private Blockchains
‘Extremely Difficult’ Conditions: India’s Zebpay Shutters Crypto Exchange Over Central Bank Ban

Special Guest: Tarek Moahmmed.

#Ep. 11: Bad Ripple? And Crypto for women and Humanity!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal sit down with Irina Heaver, a technology lawyer based in Dubai.

First up they discuss XRP, a cryptocurrency created by Ripple, and its short ascension to number 2 in coinmarket cap and the conversation quickly goes into the concept of decentralisation as big question marks hang over Ripple’s centralised approach. The three go down the rabbit hole of historical references citing how there had to be incremental steps before real disruption took place.
They also touch on whether the pump in the price of XRP was down to speculators increasing the price.

Next, Ahmed delves into the blockchain uses cases that help to serve humanity! He talks about how Palestinians are using bitcoin to facilitate transactions cross border and how this serves as a pretty common use case for countries that do not have the required financial infrastructure that developed economies typically enjoy. Irina, very passionate about this subject, talks about how lucky they are of being able to participate in the international economy. The three then discuss the differences of bitcoin use cases between countries like Palestine and Venezuela. The challenges of using cryptocurrencies in these developing economies are also talked about as on ramp and off ramp are still huge issues faced by the local people.

Irina also touches on a project called AIAR which uses both AI and blockchain to actually help the lives of refugees globally.

Ahmed then starts a topic on women in blockchain as Irina is a huge advocate for women in tech. Reasons as to why there is underrepresentation in tech and blockchain more specifically is discussed. Irina talks about her initiatives of bringing more women into this space! Bro culture is also explored during this discussion and ways of combatting it is also laid out!

Lastly, we touch on the new and exciting news that Dubai Pay has been launched which is using blockchain technology. The reconciliation of transactions which typically takes 45 days to settle, now takes only a couple of seconds! FYI, this is one of the first Dubai Governmental projects that is now in live in production after months of testing and a year since its concept design.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
The Flippening: XRP Overtakes Ethereum as Second-Largest Cryptocurrency

Palestinians Are Using Bitcoin to Transact Across Borders Amid Conflict

Smart Dubai turns to blockchain to expedite government transactions

Special Guest: Irina Heaver.

#Ep. 10: Institutionalising Crypto and a Fintech Special!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:00:00 +0400

Ahmed has an exciting line up on this episode of Encrypted.

First up, Ahmed interviews the CEO of the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Richard Teng.

They talk about the 3-year-old financial free trade zone, Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), and how it differs itself as a financial and fintech hub for the region.

Richard explains the regulatory sandbox that was recently implemented at the ADGM, also known as the RegLab, and how it aims to facilitate innovation through providing a relaxed regulatory environment and a test bed for new fintech business models and start-ups.

Richard further explains the fintech bridges they have built with overseas regulatory sandboxes that are similar in nature with the aim of increasing fintech adoption globally and also helping to close the funding gap between investors and start-ups.

Delving into the blockchain and crypto landscape, Richard discusses how the ADGM are building a comprehensive framework for this new industry comprising of exchanges, ICOs, ETFs and more.

Ahmed then enquires about how traditional capital from family offices and sovereign wealth funds will start to invest and take positions into this new asset class.

Next up, Ahmed is joined by Austin Alexander from the CEO’s office of Kraken and Dan Donny, the CEO of Securrency.

Ahmed gets straight into why both guests view the Abu Dhabi Global Markets as an attractive jurisdiction for blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. It is noteworthy that being able to go into great detail with forward thinking regulators is seen as a unique attribute when compared to other regulatory authorities across the world.

The three then go into the evolution of institutional money flowing into crypto and discussing the potential of when Wall Street money sitting on the side-lines will actually help mature the markets. Dan addresses the challenges that need to be addressed before institutional money flows in.

The concept of self regulated organisations (SROs) are explored too as well as the feasibility of ETFs being potentially a minor factor in bringing in new capital and funds into this space.

Ahmed opens up the discussions on security tokens and how important they will be moving forward as well as exploring their potential use cases in our guests’ respective businesses.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Special Guests: Austin Alexander, Dan Doney, and Richard Teng.

#Ep. 09: Crypto Bloodbath and a DTEC Tour!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 13:00:00 +0400

Faisal sits down with Hans Christensen, VP of Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre, to talk all things blockchain and crypto.

Hans first introduces the pillars and model of DTEC and then explains how it aims to support the startup ecosystem when it comes to blockchain based projects. He also shares insights on a couple of blockchain use cases and projects that are undergoing and how Dtec aims to utilize this technology.

Then, Faisal and Hans discuss the news related to Coinbase discussing an crypto ETF in partnership with Blackrock and what this means to the investment domain.

Next, the story of Goldman Sachs swings on their crypto-focused arm is explored and how the news of that being abandoned heavily affected the market!

Finally, the host and guest shed light on IBM’s announcement on their new payment product in partnership with Stellar and how this benefits the banking ecosystem by having more and more competition and the technology in general.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
Coinbase Considers Launching Crypto ETF with Help of Wall Street’s BlackRock

Goldman Sachs CFO: Recent Reports About Crypto Trading Desk Are ‘Fake News’
Manipulation Game on the Cryptocurrency Market – September 6
IBM Debuts Stellar-Powered 'Blockchain World Wire' Payments System

Special Guest: Hans Christensen.

#Ep. 08: When VCs go eye to eye with Blockchain!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 20:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal sit down with Fares Ghandour, Partner at Wamda Capital which is a VC based in Dubai, to discuss the latest news, trends and the really interesting debates that circulate in the blockchain space.

Fares first introduces Wamda Capital and shares the investments they have made in the blockchain space as well as thoughts about regulation in the region and how regulation is being shaped by the blockchain start-ups they are investing in.

The three then start of the discussion on this week’s news starting with Japan’s approach to tackle illicit crypto activities, and how as a developed market it is increasingly active in regulating this industry. They also touch on how crypto is becoming less and less used for illicit purposes as it actually makes it easier to get caught using crypto for fraud!
We discuss a wide range of topics from this piece; from bitcoin maximalism, to working with regulators, and to a new generation of regulated exchanges implementing pieces of software that allows to track the origin of funds of cryptocurrencies and tokens.

In the next news article, Ahmed opens up the discussion about a crypto start up called Dfinity which just raised $102 million and what this means for investments going forward, particularly in a bear market.

Then we discuss the findings of one particular research showing that from the top 100 cryptocurrencies on coinmarketcap, only 36 projects have a working product with users. Fares shares a very interesting perspective from the VC angle and argues the importance of protocol development first before assessing working products.

Ahmed and Faisal also question the viability of the current VC model, and Fares shares how he thinks the VC model will change in the future.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Articles links:
Japanese Police to Fund Crypto Criminal Tracking Tool
Cryptocurrency Start-Up Dfinity Raises $102 Million to Build Internet Computer
Cryptocurrencies in the top 100 with working products
Mount Gox bitcoin theft flow of funds- you can toggle your mouse to track where the bitcoins went after they were stolen

Special Guest: Fares Ghandour.

#Ep. 07: How are new moves from China and the U.S. shaping the crypto industry?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Faisal sit down to discuss China’s crackdown on cryptocurrency activities as Wechat, China's biggest social media platform, clamps down on major crypto accounts along with other series of related events.

Next, the hosts discuss the US SEC’s rejection decision on 9 ETF proposal and the rebound on that decision along with its effects on the crypto market.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Sources:
China is now policing cryptocurrency by targeting WeChat accounts

SEC U-Turn on ETF Rejection — A Balancing Act for Adoption?

#Ep. 06: Encrypted Interviews: How are Dubai Economy using blockchain technology? A Discussion with Mohammed Shael

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:00:00 +0400

In this episode of Encrypted Interviews, Ahmed sits down with the CEO of Strategic Affairs of the Department of Economic Development of Dubai.

They discuss:
• How the Department’s current processes are inefficient
• How blockchain will help eliminate inefficiencies and why they need a blockchain
• Their successful pilot test with one free trade zone in Dubai

Mohammed delves into their Department’s blockchain journey and their approach to actually solve problems currently faced by investors and businessmen coming into the UAE.
As well as critically deconstructing the problem, Mohammed shared the grand plans for how their Department’s blockchain solution could not only be a solution used in the UAE but also shares their worldwide ambitions.

The crux of the conversation is all about digital identity and Mohammed discusses their ideas and implementations for how digital IDs can soon become a reality in the UAE utilising digital signatures.

All of the above and more will be on this episode of Encrypted Interviews!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other podcast platforms. And if you found it helpful or know someone who will, spread the knowledge and tell them to tune in!

Special Guest: Mohammed Shael Al Saadi.

#Ep. 05: What did we learn about India's Blockchain ecosystem?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 09:00:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed and Aniket sit down to discuss the Indian blockchain ecosystem as they attended the International Blockchain Congress in Hyderabad and Goa.

Aniket gives a general overview of the current market state in India as he touches upon, the current challenges and the ever delaying regulation regarding crypto-assets and exchanges.

Ahmed shares his experience about the conference, the interesting projects he met and also the panel he was invited to speak at along with the IT Director of the Government of Goa.

The duo also tries to answer what could lie ahead in India’s blockchain story?

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and do not forget to subscribe!

Sources:
Indian Crypto Regulation Ready by September: Official

#Ep. 04: ICE be Centralising, Binance be Decentralising

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:30:00 +0400

In this episode, Ahmed and Faisal touch on the SEC’s delay on deciding the way forward with a bitcoin ETF and the effects of that on the crypto market. The hosts discuss the response of this decision along with the view point of some domain leaders like Vitalil Buterin.

The Binance decentralised demo is covered too along with how decentralised exchanges function and how they are actually governed. This is also contrasted with the other side of the spectrum with the Intercontinental Exchange recently reporting that they will be launching a new Digital Asset Exchange called Bakkt in November of this year!

Finally, the hosts discuss Tezos’s research grant announcement as well as recent news on the Emerging Markets which also concerns exchanges!

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word!

Articles links:

SEC Postpones Decision on Bitcoin ETF Listing to September
Binance Unveils Demo of New Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange
Tezos Foundation to Issue Grants for Blockchain and Smart Contract Research

#Ep. 03: Encrypted Interviews - The development of the Dubai Blockchain Center with Dr. Marwan Al-Zarouni

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 16:30:00 +0400

Today Ahmed is joined by Dr. Marwan Al-Zarouni who gives a low down on the Dubai Blockchain Centre and generally what Dubai is up to in the blockchain space.

They discuss:
• His very interesting flippening moment (jargon for how someone got interested in bitcoin and blockchain)
• Advice on how to the enter the industry
• Different applications utilised by blockchain and the Dubai Blockchain Strategy

They also delve into how the Dubai Blockchain Center is helping Dubai become a global blockchain capital and how blockchain entrepreneurs can get support from the Center. Also, cryptocurrency regulation is a hot topic where they discuss how the UAE is fairing against the world, especially on the back of a new crypto OTC license that has recently been made available in the region allowing for regulated crypto OTC desks.

All of the above and more will be on this episode of Encrypted Interviews!

Additional resources:
Dubai Blockchain Center
Smart Dubai Blockchain Strategy

Special Guest: Dr. Marwan Alzarouni .

#Ep. 02: The Concept of Money and When can I pay using Cryptos?

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:00:00 +0400

In this episode we bring in our first special guest Amin El Kholy; who co-created the Fintech connector chapter in Dubai. Amin has great experience in fund management and the Fintech domain and is currently diving deeper in to how blockchain could change this industry.

In this episode, a couple of interesting topics are discussed:

Cryptocurrency becoming mainstream
The concept of decentralization
ICO failures and the next step
UAE SCA recognizing crypto as securities

Ahmed starts off with the first topic of cryptocurrencies being mainstream within 10 years according to research. The evolution of money and the 3 characteristics are explored along with where cryptocurrencies stand. The timeline of 10 years is also challenged in terms of how technology and humans will work together. Some existing platforms are explored and the hosts discuss what roles they play in helping cryptocurrencies become more mainstream.

Faisal explains the concept of decentralization and its importance is discussed. They also explore the required balance and the effect of decentralization on efficiency.

The next topic discussed is the failure rate of ICOs being almost 50% last year! Amin explains what he believes should be done with ICOs and how it compares to other domains. The role of regulation and its impact on the entire journey is also explored.

Lastly, the news of the UAE SCA officially recognizing digital assets as securities is evaluated from the point of view of the guest and hosts.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

If you liked what you heard, please do leave us a review on iTunes and the other platforms. Don’t forget to support us by spreading the word and do not forget to subscribe!

Sources:
Cryptocurrencies Will Become Mainstream in 10 Years, Says eToro and Imperial College Research

The Long Game in Crypto: Why Decentralization Matters

46% of Last Year’s ICOs Have Failed Already

Emirates SCA is looking to label cryptocurrencies as security (in Arabic only)

Special Guest: Amin El-Kholy.

#Ep. 01: Decrypting Encrypted and a Bitcoin 10 year anniversary special!

a_balaghi94@hotmail.co.uk (Ahmed Al-Balaghi) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 22:00:00 +0400

Ahmed and Aniket sit down to introduce the motivations behind the Encrypted podcast and discuss all things bitcoin on the back of its fast approaching 10-year anniversary!

If you are new to the space, they will help you to unwrap what bitcoin actually is by discussing the following:
• Why bitcoin exists and how it emerged
• 2 analogies to help you understand how bitcoin works
• Clearing misconceptions – Is bitcoin only used by criminals? Does bitcoin = blockchain? How many times has bitcoin been hacked?!!
• Breaking down private and public keys and wallets

They also discuss the incidents, both good and bad, in bitcoin’s 10-year history, including:
Crypto adoption rapidly increasing as blockiain.info, a free wallet provider, announces 25 million downloads of its wallet.
Bitcoin is legal in over 106 countries and legal tender in Japan, meaning people can use bitcoin as a currency to purchase goods.
The challenge of scaling bitcoin and how the community has responded so far. They will also be talking about the bitcoin fork which resulted in bitcoin cash’s existence and the implications of this.

All of the above and more will be on this week’s episode of Encrypted!

Sources:
Blockchain.info hits 25 million crypto wallets

Bitcoin legality

Still Don't Get Bitcoin? Here's an Explanation Even a Five-Year-Old Will Understand