Can Blockchain Truly Revolutionize Telecommunications? In this episode of The Index , Alex Kehaya chats with Coco Tang, General Manager of Helium Mobile, about how blockchain is transforming the telecom industry. From Helium’s origins as an IoT network to its ambitious leap into mobile, Coco dives into the challenges, milestones, and practical blockchain applications. Helium Mobile stands out as the world’s first crypto carrier built on Solana, a high-performance blockchain. After migrating to S...
Jan 18, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Have you ever considered how many frontier models could exist if open source AI was monetizable? This is the core problem that Bagel solves, and co-founder Bidhan Roy is creating a way to make open source AI monetizable. In this episode of Everything Bagel , Alex Kehaya, and Bidhan dive into this groundbreaking vision and discuss a recent blog article highlighting innovative research from the Bagel team. Founders and developers will gain insight into a significant breakthrough in verifiable infe...
Jan 15, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 3
What if open-source AI Could Be Both Powerful and Profitable? In the first episode of Everything Bagel , Alex Kehaya sits down with Bidhan Roy, Founder & CEO of Bagel, a groundbreaking AI & Cryptography Research Lab that's making open-source AI monetizable. Bidhan discusses how Bagel's innovative AI model architecture empowers anyone to contribute to open-source AI development while ensuring fair compensation for their work. Utilizing novel cryptographic techniques, Bagel's fine-tuning t...
Jan 08, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
What if you could move assets seamlessly across multiple chains while prioritizing security and decentralization? This week on The Index, we join Omar Zaki, CEO of Mantis, for a deep dive into how trust-minimized transactions are reshaping blockchain interactions. This conversation explores how Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) and zero-knowledge (zk) technology are driving the future of interoperable, secure, and efficient blockchain ecosystems. Omar walks us through the collaborative ethos ...
Dec 27, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 123
What if your watch could predict your next illness before you even felt sick? This week on The Index , we welcome Jeffrey Schneider, former Program Manager at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), to discuss the future of wearable technology in defense and healthcare. Discover how a project originally designed to detect chemical threats evolved into a critical health monitoring tool, capable of predicting illnesses days before symptoms appear. Powered by AI and machine learning, this innovation und...
Dec 25, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 114
What is the future of open-source development and AI Superintelligence? This week on The Index , we sit down with Dr. Steven Waterhouse, Founder & CEO of Nazare Ventures, to explore the challenges and opportunities within decentralized AI frameworks. Join us as we venture into the world of AI infrastructure that’s pushing beyond traditional applications. Dr. Waterhouse will discuss the essential shift towards innovative models that move away from the typical AI tech stack, emphasizing decent...
Dec 20, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 112
What if you could access the power of Ethereum without the hassle of high fees, slow transactions, or rewriting your applications—all while leveraging Solana's blazing speed and efficiency? On this episode of The Index , we’re joined by Andrey Falaleev, CTO of Neon Labs, to explore how the Neon EVM and Solana Signature SDK are reshaping blockchain interoperability. Andrey shares how Neon Labs enables Ethereum dApps to integrate with the Solana ecosystem. Learn how this game-changing technology l...
Dec 13, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 111
What if the future of computing power wasn’t centralized but distributed across a global network? This week on The Index , we dive into the cutting-edge world of decentralized infrastructure with Kyle Okamoto, CTO of Aethir. Discover how Aethir’s revolutionary GPU cloud platform is reshaping both the AI and gaming landscapes, making enterprise-grade computing power secure, cost-effective, and accessible to innovators worldwide. Kyle’s passion for tackling big-picture challenges shines as he unpa...
Dec 06, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 107
Step into the intersection of gaming and cryptocurrency on The Index with Jacob C., the founder of HyperPlay . Ever wondered how gaming dApps are transforming financial systems for the unbanked? Jacob shares his journey from Bitcoin pioneer to Ethereum advocate, reflecting on his impactful role at MetaMask, where he helped grow the user base from 190,000 to over 30 million. Discover how decentralized applications are empowering users in regions with limited access to traditional banking, marking...
Nov 22, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 104
How is blockchain transforming financial access? In this episode of The Index , we sit down with Rennick Palley, Founding Partner at Stratos, a leading investment firm. We examine the current state of blockchain technology, exploring the psychological barriers and market volatility that shape its future. Rennick provides a firsthand look at the complexities of cross-chain transactions, highlighting how platforms like Solana deliver a smoother, faster alternative to traditional banking. We also d...
Nov 15, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 105
What does it take to make financial tools truly accessible worldwide? Jackie Bona, CEO of Valora, joins The Index to share her inspiring journey from aspiring UN diplomat to a leader in the crypto space. In this episode, Jackie reveals how her Filipino-American heritage and time at Google shaped her mission to drive global impact through crypto. Explore how she’s leading Valora to simplify complex technologies for a global audience, especially in emerging markets, and discover the power of stabl...
Nov 08, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 103
What is the future of Solana Virtual Machines? In this episode of The Index , SOON Co-founder & CEO Joanna Zeng and Head of Developer Relations Nazreen M. share their entrepreneurial journey and their vision for Web3. The Solana Optimistic Network (SOON) is revolutionizing blockchain and DeFi with a decentralized platform focused on scalability, security, and interoperability. By offering tools and infrastructure to build a decoupled SVM stack, SOON enhances transaction efficiency for Web3 a...
Nov 01, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 104
What does it take to build the future of decentralized technologies? In this special episode of Everything SVM on The Index, recorded live at Solana Breakpoint 2024, Alex Kehaya and Omar Zaki dive into the world of building on the Solana ecosystem. Joined by blockchain pioneers Vijay Chetty, CEO of Eclipse Labs, and Joanna Zeng, CEO of Soon, they discuss the transformative role of open-source software in shaping decentralized technologies. This episode explores strategic integrations and innovat...
Oct 25, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 105
What is the future of Web3 gaming? Join Alex Kehaya on The Index Podcast as he chats with Tyson Loney, COO of Helika, a leading Web3 gaming and NFT analytics platform. In this episode, we explore Helika's role in Web3 gaming, providing analytics to help developers optimize player behavior and performance across blockchain games. Tyson shares how Helika's tools simplify multi-chain support, enabling studios to create data-driven experiences. We also dive into standout titles like Proof of Play an...
Oct 24, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 103
What’s the future of real estate investment? This week on The Index , host Alex Kehaya joins Darren Carvalho, co-CEO of MetaWealth, to explore how blockchain—specifically Solana—is reshaping the industry. With his background at Toronto Dominion Bank and Goldman Sachs, Darren shares how MetaWealth is using Solana’s fast, low-cost, and scalable blockchain to offer everyday investors fractional property ownership. Discover how Solana’s high-performance blockchain enables lightning-fast transactions...
Oct 14, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 103
What does it take to build a million-strong community with just a four-person team? In this special episode of The Index , featuring the recent live stream interview on Everything SVM, host Alex Kehaya joins Jack Levin, CEO of XEN, to explore the story behind XEN Crypto—a community-driven project designed to educate others about the power of economic freedom and the potential of the XEN token. Rooted in the first principles laid out by Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin Whitepaper, XEN aims to redefine ...
Oct 04, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 101
What does it take to build the next generation of DeFi on Solana? In this special episode of the Solana Startup Series, we sit down with Tristan Frizza, Founder of Zeta Markets, to explore the future of crypto trading. Tristan shares his journey from AI to blockchain, participating in Solana’s early hackathons, and the inspiration behind creating Zeta Markets—one of DeFi’s most compelling exchanges. Tristan takes us through the ins and outs of perpetual futures trading and explains why these ins...
Oct 02, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 100
What’s the future of Web3 gaming? Join us for a special episode of the Solana Startup Series on The Index . Today, we’re talking with Guido Pardini, CEO of Shaga, a revolutionary cloud gaming platform born from Solana Labs. Guido takes us on an inspiring journey from his teenage years in Italy, where he immersed himself in 3D printing and the maker movement, to his academic studies in computer science and electrical engineering in Milan. Discover how the 2009 financial crisis ignited his passion...
Sep 27, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 100
What does it take to build a successful startup in the blockchain space? Join us for a special episode of The Index podcast as part of the Solana Startup Series, featuring twin co-founders Tommy and Taylor Johnson. The two brothers share their startup journey in the crypto world, from Tommy’s early days in the blockchain scene in 2014 to their significant pivot to Solana in 2020. The Johnson brothers provide a detailed account of how they overcame initial hurdles, such as the lack of development...
Sep 23, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 99
What is the future of global payment solutions? In this special episode of The Index for the Solana Startup Series, we join Anthony Emezu, CEO & Co-founder of Espresso Cash. Anthony shares his entrepreneurial journey from working at prestigious media companies like ViacomCBS and Showtime Networks to building a groundbreaking mobile finance app. Learn how Espresso Cash, now available in the USA, Europe, and Nigeria, leverages crypto rails and stablecoins to deliver users a seamless, Venmo-lik...
Sep 20, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 97
What if you could completely transform your investment strategy with real-time, curated on-chain data? This week on The Index , host Alex Kehaya joins Alex Svanovic, co-founder and CEO of Nansen AI, to uncover how his innovative platform is reshaping the financial world by making blockchain data more transparent, efficient, and actionable. Alex S. shares his vision for a future where blockchain technology outpaces traditional banking, creating a more inclusive and forward-thinking financial ecos...
Sep 13, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 96
What will the future of AI governance and decentralized training look like? In this episode of The Index , host Alex Kehaya is joined by Alexander Joseph Long, Founder of Pluralis AI, to explore this pressing question. With a PhD in non-parametric external memory in deep learning and extensive experience at Amazon working on multimodal foundation models, Alexander offers a deep dive into the cutting-edge developments shaping the AI landscape. They unpack why decentralized training is more than j...
Sep 06, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 94
How can you manage cryptographic keys without risking security? Enter Riad S. Wahby, Co-founder and CEO of Cubist, who’s on a mission to make key management seamless and secure. In this episode of The Index , Riad shares his journey from working on zero-knowledge proofs and contributing to the Ethereum beacon chain to tackling one of the biggest challenges in crypto development. He introduces CubeSigner, a low-latency API designed to generate keys and sign transactions inside secure hardware, sa...
Aug 23, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 95
Why are developers choosing to build on the Solana Virtual Machine? In this week's episode of The Index , we explore this question with an exclusive conversation from a recent livestream hosted by Alex Kehaya, Co-founder & CEO of ABK Labs, and Omar Zaki, Co-founder & CEO of Mantis. They're joined by Terry Chung, Head of Strategy at Eclipse, and Alejo Pinto, Co-founder at Pontem, to discuss the benefits and challenges of building on the SVM ecosystem. Our expert panel explains why SVM cha...
Aug 09, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 94
What impact will AI have on business innovation? This week on The Index, host Alex Kehaya interviews business futurist Ajay Malik, CEO of Secomind.Ai and author of Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Networking. Ajay shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including his pioneering work at Google and Qualcomm, and his efforts in shaping the future of AI in business. Ajay explains the distinctions between classic AI and generative AI, highlighting how each addresses unique business chal...
Aug 02, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 93
What is the future of DeFi? This week on The Index, host Alex Kehaya joins Josh Reyes from Local Solana for a deep dive into the world of decentralized peer-to-peer exchanges and his previous ventures with OpenPeer and Minke; learn how his new company, Local Solana, is poised to revolutionize the crypto trading landscape with gasless transactions, community-driven dispute resolution, and a user-friendly interface that simplifies crypto trading for everyone, from emerging markets to Western count...
Jul 26, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Can AI-powered economic engines redefine the landscape of Web3 commerce? Find out on The Index as host Alex Kehaya joins Dr. John Ennis, CEO of NeoSwap, who takes us through his groundbreaking journey from mathematician to entrepreneur. Learn how NeoSwap's innovative approach to simultaneous buying and selling transforms traditional trading methods by addressing liquidity issues and enhancing efficiency, especially in the complex world of NFTs. Plus, get an inside look at their upcoming product,...
Jul 12, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 91
What is the future of AI education? Host Alex Kehaya joins Maria Laws, VP of Learning & Development at Ahura AI, to explore how AI is revolutionizing corporate learning. Maria shares her journey from being a high school science and dance teacher to becoming a leader in AI-driven education. Hear how Ahura AI is transforming corporate training and maintaining focus in an increasingly distracted world with its adaptive learning platform that is helping companies around the globe upskill their w...
Jul 05, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Can zero-knowledge proofs revolutionize the blockchain industry? This week on The Index, Alex Kehaya joins Brendan Farmer, Co-founder of Polygon, to discuss how Ethereum's scalability will change forever. Brendan shares his insights on the challenges of creating seamless interoperability across various virtual machines, such as EVM and SVM, and how zero-knowledge technology offers potential solutions. Brendan explains why unified liquidity, asset fungibility, and low-latency interoperability are...
Jun 22, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 89
How are blockchain companies evolving to meet the demands of a decentralized future? Join host Alex Kehaya on The Index as he talks with Yair Cleper, Co-founder & CEO of Lava Network. Yair shares his entrepreneurial journey into Web3 and discusses the vital role of the blockchain community in building decentralized protocols. Tune in to learn how Lava is transforming the blockchain landscape by empowering developers to rapidly establish a robust network of infrastructure providers. With its ...
Jun 14, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 88
