Author: CoinDesk

Base creator Jesse Pollak argues that much cheaper Layer 2 transactions, as well as other developments, will enable the creation of multitudes of specialized Layer 3s that are deeply connected to the onchain economy. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Ethereum’s long-awaited Dencun upgrade finally went live this week, and many L2s immediately saw their transaction fees fall dramatically, as was the intention. Among them was the Coinbase-incubated Base, which was created by Jesse Pollak. Pollak joined Unchained to discuss the impact Dencun was having on Base; how he thinks Layer 1s and Layer 2s will start to differ from one another and eventually spawn a multitude of specialized Layer 3s; his response to criticisms of the increasing use of Layer 2s, what he’s focusing on now, and why he supports using the word “onchain” over “crypto” or “web3.” 

Show highlights:

• The problem that Dencun is trying to solve
• The benefits of blobs and blobspace
• How Dencun has already reduced Base’s fees, but also increased its transactions
• How Jesse thinks Layer 1s and Layer 2s will start to become differentiated from each other
• The rise of Layer 3s
• How Jesse addresses criticisms of fragmentation and centralization arising from the increasing use of Layer 2s
• Why Jesse is particularly excited about two features of the Dencun upgrade—transient storage and increased composability between L1s and L2s
• What Jesse and the Base team are focusing on now
• Why Jesse thinks that “onchain” is a better word to describe the industry than “crypto”  or “blockchain” or “web3” 
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Guest | 

Jesse Pollak, creator of Base at Coinbase

Previous appearances:  The Chopping Block: All About That Base With Jesse Pollak 

Links |

Recent coverage on Unchained of the Dencun Upgrade and Base: 

Dencun Day One: Ethereum Layer 2 Networks See Drastic Drop in Transaction Fees

Ethereum Completes Milestone Dencun Upgrade, Which Should Substantially Reduce Fees

How Much Will the Dencun Upgrade Really Reduce Ethereum Layer 2 Fees By?

Why Base’s Creator Thinks Social Apps Will Be a ‘Huge Part’ of the Layer 2 Blockchain’s Success

CoinDesk: Debating Dencun: Will Ethereum's Big Update Help or Harm the Network?

Jesse’s tweets on Dencun

October 2022   |  January 2024  |  March 13, 2024 

Blobs / Proto-danksharding

EIP-4844 proposal

Blobs unleashed: Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade activates on mainnet 

Base says it will support EIP-4844 from 'day 1' following Dencun upgrade 

Ethereum stans are putting the Bee Movie on blobs for as little as $5

Superchain

Decentralizing Base with the OP Stack and Optimism 

Base’s Commitment to Decentralization with the Superchain 

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Unchained Podcast is Produced by Laura Shin Media, LLC.  Distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Michele Musso and Executive Producer is Jared Schwartz. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CoinDesk Indices presents notable data insights from the week, followed by additional analysis from an industry expert.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

The CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) functions as a benchmark for the performance of the digital asset market, delivering institutional quality information to digital asset investors. Subsets of the CoinDesk Market Index (CMI) are investible CoinDesk Crypto Sectors and the CoinDesk 20 Index, designed to measure the performance of the top digital assets. Today’s takeaways are provided by Tracy Stephens, senior index manager at CoinDesk Indices with additional analysis from David Attermann, senior portfolio manager at M31 Capital. For more on CoinDesk Indices, visit: coindeskmarkets.com.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MD15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and uses Wondercraft AI Voice. “Markets Daily” is executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced and edited by Eleanor Pahl, alongside Senior Booking Producer Melissa Montañez. All original music by Doc Blust and Colin Mealey.

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Charlie, Matt and Will jump back into our news roundup to go through this week’s Bitcoin mining hits, including mining profitability, rapper French Montana minting a music Ordinal and the Biden administration taking a second shot at a 30% tax on Bitcoin miners.

Follow along on your favorite podcast player of choice by clicking here.

It’s getting frothy out there! On this week’s news roundup, Charlie, Matt and Will go through this week’s hottest stories in Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining including a 4 megabyte music Ordinal (think music NFT but on Bitcoin) from rapper French Montana, among a host of other movements in the mining industry like the Biden admin’s renewed attempts to tax Bitcoin mining.

Published twice weekly, "The Mining Pod" interviews the best builders and operators in the Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining landscape. Subscribe to get notifications when we publish interviews Tuesday and a news show on Friday! 

Check out our other shows and content by going to Blockspace.media today.

Join our halving party in Denver, Colorado on April 20th! 

Follow our host on Twitter, @wsfoxley.

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Thank you to our sponsor, CleanSpark, America’s Bitcoin miner!

"The Mining Pod" is produced by Sunnyside Honey LLC and distributed by CoinDesk. Senior Producer is Damien Somerset.

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CryptoQuant Head of Research Julio Moreno joins "First Mover" to discuss the global impact of spot bitcoin ETFs' success in the U.S.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

CryptoQuant Head of Research Julio Moreno joins "First Mover" to discuss the success of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. and the potential impact of the products on other parts of the world. Plus, why Hong Kong is ahead in the race for a spot ether ETF approval due to the clear regulatory guidelines in the region.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry from the Bee Movie script on Ethereum to Robinhood's latest gains.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

"CoinDesk Daily" host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the biggest headlines impacting the crypto industry today, including developers posting the Bee Movie script on Ethereum, how Robinhood could benefit from the bullish crypto cycle, and the latest report from Franklin Templeton’s Digital Assets team on meme coins.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest price moves and insights with Helene Braun and guest John Lo, managing partner of digital assets at Recharge Capital.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

On "Markets Daily," host Helene Braun is joined by John Lo, managing partner of digital assets at Recharge Capital, to discuss Ethereum market volatility, outsized bitcoin funding rates, and DeFi's lagging growth behind the currency sector.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MD15. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

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This episode was hosted by Helene Braun. “Markets Daily” is executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced and edited by Eleanor Pahl, alongside Senior Booking Producer Melissa Montañez. All original music by Doc Blust and Colin Mealey.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

XION core contributor Burnt Banksy joins "First Mover" to discuss the launch of XION blockchain and why he set himself on fire for it.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

XION core contributor Burnt Banksy joins "First Mover" to discuss why he set himself on fire for the launch of the XION blockchain and the burning of a Banksy artwork back in 2021. Plus, how user-friendly products could simplify mainstream adoption of crypto technologies.

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the latest news in the crypto industry from bitcoin's price movements to Ethereum's "Dencun" upgrade.

To get the show every day, follow the podcast here.

"CoinDesk Daily" host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the biggest headlines impacting the crypto industry today, including bitcoin's (BTC) recent price movements as the spot BTC ETF products scored over $1 billion in net inflows on Tuesday. Plus, the Ethereum network went live successfully with its much-anticipated "Dencun" upgrade, and why a U.S. government study says no NFT-specific legislation is needed now.

-

Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Register now at consensus.coindesk.com.

-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie. “First Mover” is produced by Jennifer Sanasie and Melissa Montañez and edited by Victor Chen.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lyn Alden, Investment Strategist, explores different aspects of Bitcoin's value proposition and its potential impact on the global economy.

This episode is sponsored by Consensus 2024 

Now Available for pre-order | 

Michael Casey’s New Book with Frank H. McCourt, their forthcoming book: Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in the Digital Age

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In this week's installment of "Money Reimagined," hosts Michael Casey and Sheila Warren are joined by Lynn Alden, author of the book 'Broken Money,' and discuss Bitcoin's place in the global economy. 

Casey, Warren, and Alden discuss Bitcoin as a decentralized ledger, addressing the double spending problem and its disruptive impact on traditional banking. Their conversation emphasizes the importance of trust in financial systems and explores catalysts for wider Bitcoin acceptance. Topics include Bitcoin's value proposition, its role as a store of value, and the challenges faced in the legacy financial system.

Takeaways | 

• Bitcoin is a decentralized ledger that solves the double spend problem and acts as a global, immutable database.
• Bitcoin disrupts traditional banking by providing a decentralized alternative to centralized ledgers.
• The recognition and acceptance of Bitcoin by mainstream economists and institutions is a gradual process that requires time and critical mass.
• Bitcoin's importance in the global economy is demonstrated by its increasing market cap and its potential as an alternative ledger.
• Further acceptance of Bitcoin may be unlocked through the exhaustion of alternative ledgers and the stickiness of the asset. Bitcoin's value as a store of value is derived from its potential utility and the belief that it will be widely adopted in the future.
• Bitcoin's immutability and finality make it a trusted source of exchange and a potential arbiter of truth.
• Bitcoin's security is continuously tested and improved as it grows in size and adoption.
• Bitcoin has the potential to serve as a truth layer for various applications, such as contracts and identity verification.
• Bitcoin's disruptive potential poses challenges to the existing legacy financial system, which may resist its adoption.

Links | 

Lyn Alden 

Bernstein Is 'Now More Convinced' That Bitcoin Will Hit $150K After Massive Rally

Bitcoin Eyes $74K as BTC ETFs See Record $1B in Net Inflows

The World Economic Forum  

CoinDesk.com

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Consensus is where experts convene to talk about the ideas shaping our digital future. Join developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more in Austin, Texas from May 29-31. The tenth annual Consensus is curated by CoinDesk to feature the industry’s most sought-after speakers, unparalleled networking opportunities and unforgettable experiences. Take 15% off registration with the code MRP15. 

Register now at consensus.coindesk.com

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Money Reimagined has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “The News Tonight ” by Shimmer. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tim Beiko from the Ethereum Foundation, shares the Importance of the Dencun Upgrade, what are their concerns, and Ethereum's long-term scaling strategy.

This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund

Follow the show here for more.

In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, discuss the Ethereum Dencun upgrade, a significant upgrade for the Ethereum blockchain, with a special guest,  Ethereum Foundation's Tim Beiko.

The upgrade introduces ephemeral data storage, known as blobs, which will reduce storage costs for layer twos and roll-ups. The Dencun upgrade is technology-neutral and does not favor any specific layer2 solution. However, there are concerns about the potential fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem and the shift towards less secure chains. Overall, the upgrade is an important step towards Ethereum's long-term scaling plans. 

Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER 

Takeaways | 

• The Ethereum Decun upgrade introduces ephemeral data storage, known as blobs, which will reduce storage costs for layer twos and roll-ups.
• The upgrade is technology-neutral and does not favor any specific layer two solution.
• There are concerns about the potential fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem and the shift towards less secure chains.
• The Dencun upgrade is an important step towards Ethereum's long-term scaling plans.

EPISODE LINKS |  

Ethereum Finalizes 'Dencun' Upgrade, in Landmark Move to Reduce Data Fees 

Ethereum.org 

5 Things to Know About Ethereum's Latest, Greatest Upgrade: Dencun

From Our Sponsor: 

The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today.

Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org

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The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

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