The podcast on Modular. Exploring a refreshed vision for building in crypto.
Expansion is a podcast exploring the intersection of modular blockchain design and...
Inside the Cosmos Hub's Great Reset | Zaki Manian & Barry Plunkett
In this episode, we dive deep into Skip Protocol's acquisition by the Cosmos Hub and what it means for the future of ecosystem. Barry and Zaki join to discuss the evolution of Cosmos, the challenges of blockchain standardization, and Skip's vision for unifying the ecosystem. They then discuss the implications of IBC Eureka, the launch of Commonware, and broader industry trends around execution environments and settlement layers. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Zaki: https://x.com/zmanian
Follow Barry: https://x.com/BPIV400
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Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:17) Skip Protocol Acquired by Cosmos Hub
(06:42) Cosmos Hub Origin Story
(12:01) Role of Cosmos Hub & Skip
(29:22) Goals of Cosmos Hub
(34:44) Avalanche vs Cosmos
(44:06) Impact of IBC Eureka
(50:08) Movement & VM Diversity
(56:55) Network Effects of Execution vs Settlement
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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1:00:52
The Case for Application Specific Sequencing | Ben Livshits & Terry Chung
In this episode, we dive deep into the architecture and philosophy behind Eclipse with CTO Ben Lipschitz and Head of Strategy Terry. The conversation explores why applications need control over their own sequencing, challenging the traditional model where validators capture all the value. Learn about Eclipse's unique position bridging Ethereum and Solana ecosystems, their approach to local fee markets, and why the future of L2s may depend more on user/liquidity networks than settlement assurances. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Terry: https://x.com/0xtaetaehoho
Follow Ben: https://x.com/convoluted_code
Follow Nick: https://x.com/nickwh8te
Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1
Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:51) Network Effects of Settlement vs Execution
(18:12) Who has Leverage?
(25:03) Application Specific Sequencing
(38:55) L1 or L2 MEV Split
(49:06) How do L1s Impact L2s
(54:39) Selecting an L1
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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1:00:03
Exploring the Hidden Costs of Decentralization and Bitcoin's ZK Revival | Roundup
In this episode, we dive into deep into the emerging landscape of Bitcoin L2s as it crosses $100k. With Uma Roy of Succint and Jill Gunter of Espress Systems joining us, we explore ZK's impact on crypto's scaling future. To close out we debate Ethereum's strategic direction and the complex relationship between L1s and L2s as Solana continues gaining adoption. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Uma:https://x.com/pumatheuma
Follow Jill: https://x.com/jillrgunter
Follow Nick: https://x.com/nickwh8te
Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1
Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
--
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:48) $100k Bitcoin Sentiment
(05:55) Bitcoin L2 Horizon
(10:01) Modularity in Bitcoin
(15:48) Over Indexing Decentralization
(28:59) Succient Decentralized Prover Network
(43:43) Competing with Intents Model
(48:13) State of Ethereum
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:48) $100k Bitcoin Sentiment
(05:55) Bitcoin L2 Horizon
(10:01) Modularity in Bitcoin
(15:48) Over Indexing Decentralization
(28:59) Succient Decentralized Prover Network
(43:43) Competing with Intents Model
(48:13) State of Ethereum
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1:03:18
Gelato's Vision for Abundant Blockspace & Sovereign Rollups | Luis Schliesske
In this episode, Luis, founder of Gelato and Abundance, presents a compelling argument for sovereign rollups while challenging composability. We explore how traditional L2 bridge designs may be holding back scalability, diving deep into Abundance's achievement of 1 giga gas throughput through a sovereign rollup approach. Luis makes the controversial case that liquidity fragmentation is a "skill issue" rather than a technical problem, and examines why the future of scaling may not require the complex bridge architecture common in today's L2s. We close out by diving into the evolving relationship between rollup frameworks and RaaS providers. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Luis: https://x.com/luis_0x
Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1
Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
--
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:39) Abundance Overview
(08:26) What is Actually a Rollup?
(12:17) Benefits of Sovereign Rollup
(30:19) Giga Gas Production Ready
(33:47) Abundant Blockspace Thesis
(41:05) Rollup Framework Business Model
(47:29) Benefit of Interop
(54:51) RaaS vs Framework
(1:02:14) Convergence of Solutions
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
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1:14:14
The Value of Verification and Rethinking Bitcoin's Block Size War | Mustafa Al-Bassam, Celestia
In this episode, Celestia co-founder Mustafa Al-Bassam dives deep into how lazy bridging and data availability sampling are rethinking crypto's scalability. Starting with the historical context of Bitcoin's block size wars, Mustafa explains how Celestia's architecture finally resolves the tension between bigger blocks and decentralization. The conversation explores the trade-offs between modular and integrated blockchain designs, the role of ZK proofs in scaling, and why light nodes may be more crucial than validators for true decentralization. Thanks for tuning in!
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Follow Mustafa: https://x.com/musalbas
Follow Mike: https://x.com/MikeIppolito_
Follow Expansion: https://x.com/ExpansionPod_
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@expansionpod
Subscribe on Apple: http://apple.co/4bGKYYM
Subscribe on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3Vaubq1
Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/
--
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Modular vs Integrated Tradeoffs
05:33 L1 Bottlenecks
21:25 Time to Finality Constraint
35:11 1 GB Block Roadmap
47:31 Unbundling Consensus & Verification
53:52 Checks and Balances
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Disclaimer
Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.
Nothing said on Expansion 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. Rex, Jon, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
The podcast on Modular. Exploring a refreshed vision for building in crypto.
Expansion is a podcast exploring the intersection of modular blockchain design and abundant blockspace.
We’ll bring on the leading voices from the modular ecosystem to discuss blockchain design, specialization, applications, and the possibilities that cheap, secure blockspace unlocks.