Solving Crypto's Biggest Problem: Chain Fragmentation

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The latest Talking Tokens podcast 🎙️

For the Thursday Talking Tokens episode, I welcomed Hart Lambur, co-founder of Across Protocol, back to the show to break down Across’s new big move: live, fast bridging between Solana, Ethereum, and major L2s.

Hart explains why true chain interoperability matters for all users and devs, how open intents and a “two-second bridge” are setting new speed standards, and why fragmentation, not maximalism, is the challenge stopping web3’s next phase of growth.

He also dives into why Across expanded to Solana, the real tradeoffs behind non-EVM integration, cost and speed advantages, and what cross-chain UX should look like in 2025. Hart also provides his candid take on rival bridges, open intents, the path toward unified standards, and why loving your team is the most important lesson in crypto.

This episode is sponsored by Across Protocol.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction: Hart Lambur, Across Protocol, and Ethereum to Solana fast bridge
03:08 – Why bridges matter: fragmentation, interoperability, and user experience
07:05 – Choosing Solana: user demand, technical lift, and why Solana came next
14:12 – Two-Second Bridge UX: Solving for speed, no more “wait a minute”
18:17 – What makes Across different: cost, hooks, and EVM vs Solana smart contracts
22:15 – The Open Intents Framework: past progress and future standards
27:28 – Fragmentation vs. unification: where the multi-chain UX breaks down
30:05 – What seamless cross-chain means for app builders and users
34:12 – Technical surprises and lessons from bridging EVM ↔ SVM
36:00 – Macro market trends, Bitcoin, stablecoins, and digital asset sovereignty
37:50 – Hart’s advice: Love your team, trust each other, and building for the long haul

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Money and people moves

The biggest updates regarding new hires or teams that raised capital, moved money or did a little bit of both.

1. Gemini’s Winklevoss Brothers Donate $21 Million in Bitcoin to a Trump-Friendly PAC (Bloomberg)

2. VanEck and Brevan Howard Digital lead $5 million round into startup Legion looking to revamp ICOs (The Block)

3. Wormhole wants to counter LayerZero’s $110M bid for Stargate (CoinTelegraph)

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Please note that this content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Any views shared should not be considered financial advice, nor should it be used to make investment decisions. Cryptocurrencies are high risk and you should consult a financial professional before making any financial decisions. Make sure you do your own research. We may have a direct or indirect financial interest in content mentioned in this newsletter.