On today's episode of Empire, Jason Yanowitz and Santiago Roel Santos are joined by Bryan Pellegrino, co-founder of LayerZero. LayerZero is an interoperability protocol that wants to connect every contract on every chain. This is a can't miss episode on blockchain bridges and the future of interoperability.
We discuss how LayerZero works, how Stargate enables seamless cross-chain swaps, the flaws of synthetic/wrapped assets, and why the future will be cross-chain.
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Links:
Bryan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrimordialAA
LayerZero Website: https://layerzero.network/
Stargate Website: https://stargate.finance/
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Follow me and Santiago on Twitter, @JasonYanowitz and @santiagoroel; let us know what you thought of the show!
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Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction
(01:21) Why Bryan Started LayerZero
(03:51) Why Now?
(05:27) Why Does Interoperability Matter?
(07:48) A Microscience vs Monolithic Structure
(10:48) How LayerZero Works
(18:43) The Apps Now Have Control
(22:33) The Adversarial Nature of Crypto
(28:08) Moving Fast and Breaking Things in Crypto
(31:54) Fundraising
(33:01) Bitmex Ad
(34:16) Security Is Table Stakes
(36:56) Where Are We In The Adoption Phase?
(36:43) The Multichain Future
(42:43) Where Is LayerZero's Activity Today?
(44:01) Should Wrapped Assets Exist?
(47:40) Yield Seeking Capital
(50:42) The Project Bryan Is Most Excited About Outside of LayerZero
(54:23) The Challenges of Being a Crypto Builder
(58:14) What Will The Team Focus On Next?
(1:00:19) Advice For Future Founders
(1:02:52) How To Get Involved
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Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.