In this episode, we Interview Akhil Vajjhala, President of the NYU Blockchain & Fintech Organization, who explains to us how the concepts of decentralized identities (DIDs) and zero knowledge proofs (ZK Proofs) can be combined to create self-sovereign identities, improve the efficiency of KYC and AML regulations, and protect consumer privacy. There is a lot to unpack here so bear with us in this longer than usual episode. Email us at Blockchain@wm.edu for inquiries.

In this long anticipated episode, Marcel and Logan are joined by a prestigious local attorney, Daniel Payne, to discuss his experience practicing as a lawyer for crypto-based clients. By the end of this episode, we are confident that our listeners will dispel any misconceptions that this field is either too complex or peripheral to the law for a career choice. As Daniel demonstrates, there is no shortage of clients, work, or legal issues which are implicated by blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. We hope you enjoy the conversation and come back next week.

Marcel and Logan break down several of the prominent legal questions raised by the global revolution that is Web3 and blockchain technology. Each of these topics will receive their own episode in the future, but for now, just be aware that NO LAW IS SAFE! In the coming years, legal scholars, regulators, and legislators will need to fundamentally redefine not only the goals of our legal systems, but also the ways in which individuals and attorney's interact with them. Inclusivity, autonomy, accountability, decentralization, and democracy. These are the terms that define Web3, and our hope is that one day they may accurately reflect the power structures that comprise governments and legal institutions. Join us as we discuss securities regulation, attorney competence, data privacy, environmental law, humanitarian law, and much more as it applies to crypto and Web3!

In this episode, Marcel and Logan detail the fundamentals of decentralized finance (DeFi), and how it mirrors the same functionality of financial institutions, but in a way that preserves individual autonomy and returns all profits to the community. Unlike the legacy financial system which extracts profit vertically based on a hierarchy of class and capital, DeFi places every single individual at an equal playing field while also increasing efficiency and preventing monopolization, asymmetric information, or market frictions. Along with this revolutionary form of finance and individual autonomy, comes a plethora of legal concerns, many of which are clouded by politicized and poorly understood regulatory and legislative opinions. We are here to explain what the tech is, what it allows YOU to do, and how lawyers and regulators need to respond. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Marcel and Logan build on the foundation established in the introductory episode, and elaborate on the philosophical underpinnings of blockchain technology and Web3, as well as some technical particularities. Without this understanding, many may be left wondering "why does blockchain exist, what problems does it seek to solve?" Hopefully, that answer will be clear by the end of this episode. Thanks for listening!