In this episode, Akaki Mamageishvili from Off-Chain Labs discusses the relationship between Off-Chain Labs and Arbitrum, the governance structure of the Arbitrum DAO, and the various components of the Arbitrum ecosystem. He explains the significance of Layer 3 chains, interoperability, and the complexities of gas pricing mechanisms. The introduction of Time Boost is highlighted as a new feature aimed at improving transaction efficiency. Akaki also shares insights on the future of Layer 1s, the priorities of Off-Chain Labs, and the potential impact of new developments in the blockchain space.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Offchain Labs and Arbitrum00:57 Governance and Management of Arbitrum by DAO06:01 Exploring the Arbitrum Ecosystem10:48 Understanding Layer 3 and Arbitrum Orbit16:14 Interoperability in the Arbitrum Ecosystem18:24 Gas Pricing Mechanisms in Layer 2 and Layer 327:57 Optimistic Rollups vs. Validity Rollups30:52 Integrating ZK Proofs in Dispute Resolution33:17 Multi-Dimensional Gas Pricing Explained40:15 Understanding Time Boost Mechanism52:14 The Rise of New Layer Ones59:28 Current Priorities of Off-Chain Labs
In this conversation, Kofi, a senior data scientist at Base, discusses the evolution and functionality of smart wallets, particularly focusing on the ERC4337 standard and EIP 7702. He explains the advantages of smart wallets over traditional EOAs, including enhanced security, gas abstraction, and improved user experience. Kofi also addresses the challenges of adoption, the role of bundlers, and the implications of recent developments in the crypto space, including the rise of applications like World App and the unfortunate exploitation of the technology by malicious actors.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Kofi and His Background02:57 Understanding Smart Wallets08:44 Barriers to Smart Wallet Adoption12:55 Evolution of Smart Wallets Pre-202319:50 The Impact of ERC4337 on Smart Wallets29:52 Bundlers and Their Role in the Ecosystem39:59 Economies of Scale in Blockchain Transactions42:23 Understanding EIP 7702 and Smart Contracts49:40 The Implications of Upgrading EOAs to Smart Contracts52:29 Account Abstraction: Redefining User Experience in Crypto01:06:17 The Dark Side: Crime Enjoyer and Smart Contract Exploits01:07:30 World App: A Legitimate Use Case for Smart Accounts01:11:58 Barriers to Adoption: Why Smart Wallets Aren't Mainstream Yet
In this episode of the Canonical Pod, Fahad Saleh and Brad Bachu welcome Gordon Liao, Chief Economist at Circle. The conversation spans both stablecoins and Circle’s new Layer-1 blockchain, Arc, focusing especially on how stablecoins and Arc may move cryptofinance closer to mainstream adoption. The conversation begins with stablecoins, covering current use cases, the implications of recent regulatory developments (e.g., the Genius Act) and also the path to mainstream adoption. Thereafter, the conversation turns to Circle's new Layer-1 blockchain, Arc. Gordon particularly explains the technical design of Arc, highlighting three key differentiating factors and their economic significance.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Gordon Liao and His Background06:50 The Evolution and Future of Stablecoins13:27 Current Use Cases and Regulatory Landscape of Stablecoins18:47 The Impact of the Genius Act on Stablecoins24:01 Tokenization of Real-World Assets and Future Applications28:43 The Landscape of Stablecoins and Innovations Ahead35:18 The Role Local Stablecoins35:29 Introduction to Arc and Its Purpose36:21 Understanding Arc's Layer One Structure38:23 Adoption Challenges and Solutions in Blockchain40:38 Settlement Finality and Institutional Trust44:21 Governance and Validator Selection in Arc45:27 Why Build an L1 Instead of an L2?49:23 Privacy Features in Arc55:48 Regulatory Compliance and Privacy Concerns57:43 Censorship and Compliance Mechanisms01:01:59 Interoperability with Other Blockchains01:03:50 The Meaning Behind the Name 'Arc''
Summary
In this episode of the Canonical Pod, hosts Fahad Saleh and Brad Bachu engage with Lewis Cohen, a prominent crypto lawyer, to discuss the evolving landscape of crypto legislation in the United States. The conversation delves into the complexities of the market structure legislation currently being deliberated in Congress, The conversation especially provides insight regarding the Clarity Act (passed by the House of Representatives in July 2025), and contrasts it with the Senate's approach. Beyond discussing active legislation, the conversation provides various background content including the transition from state to federal regulation, the role of the SEC, and the implications of maturity and decentralization in crypto assets.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Crypto Legislation and Guest Introduction
02:35 Understanding Market Structure Legislation
06:46 Transition from State to Federal Regulation
11:25 The Role of the SEC in Crypto Regulation
13:14 Overview of the Clarity Act
19:48 House vs. Senate Approaches to Regulation
24:07 Defining Digital Assets and Securities
26:56 Understanding Layer Two and Digital Commodities
31:44 The Clarity Act: Definitions and Regulations
38:06 Maturity vs. Decentralization in Blockchain
46:42 Final Thoughts on Crypto Regulation
Summary
In this episode, Brad Bachu and Fahad Saleh discuss the recent developments in the Ethereum ecosystem with Barnabé Monnot, co-lead of research at the Ethereum Foundation. They delve into the Pectra upgrade, its implications for user experience, and the scaling roadmap for Ethereum. The conversation also covers the reorganization of the Ethereum Foundation, the importance of validator efficiency, and the upcoming Fusaka upgrade, which promises to significantly enhance blob capacity.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ethereum Upgrades
02:56 Understanding Ethereum's Scaling Roadmap
05:44 Ethereum Foundation's Reorganization and Priorities
08:50 The Pectra Upgrade Overview
11:41 User Experience Enhancements in Pectra
14:56 Smart Contract Upgradability Explained
17:55 The Role of Smart Contracts in User Security
20:45 Evaluating Smart Contract Safety
23:44 The Future of Smart Contracts and User Intermediaries
26:37 Scaling Layer 2 with Blobs
29:27 Economic Implications of Blob Usage
36:47 Gas Fees and Market Equilibrium
37:51 Rollup Strategies and Transaction Costs
39:02 Scaling Layer 1: Insights from Petra
40:24 Gas Limit Adjustments and Network Efficiency
43:39 Gas Pricing and Resource Management
46:24 Future Scaling Expectations and ZKVM
51:08 Optimizing Resource Usage in Ethereum
53:30 Validator Consolidation and Network Dynamics
01:03:33 Fusaka and Data Availability Sampling
01:07:12 The Vision of a World Running on Ethereum