The Network Powering 100M+ Monthly Crypto Transactions

Welcome back to Talking Tokens.

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The latest Talking Tokens podcast 🎙️

For today’s episode I interviewed Jack O’Holleran, co-founder of SKALE Network, CEO of SKALE Labs and co-creator of FAIR.

Jack shares why MEV is a hidden tax on users, how FAIR — SKALE’s new Layer- 1 — aims to eliminate it at the consensus level, and how crypto infrastructure must evolve for an AI-driven future.

We also discuss the difference between SKALE and FAIR, why stablecoins and AI will become deeply intertwined, and how the dual-token model will reward SKALE holders as FAIR goes live. Jack also shares his vision for category-defining products and why the blockchain industry needs to move past hype and toward fundamentals.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Crypto’s future is stablecoin-native & MEV-free
1:02 – Jack’s journey: enterprise software to SKALE Labs
4:47 – Why SKALE scaled to 100M+ txs/mo
6:01 – What devs want: FAIR as L1 for DeFi & AI
7:16 – Why MEV is crypto’s invisible tax
9:01 – Encrypted mempools, front-running & Byte protocol
10:49 – How AI + stablecoins combine to enable real programmable money
13:11 – Why TradFi bans MEV, and crypto shouldn’t tolerate it
14:24 – The “spin” behind MEV as ‘real economic value’
15:58 – MEV-resistance as default — not opt-in
17:06 – Why stablecoins may rival AI in impact
21:00 – Will AI payments break traditional banking rails?
24:00 – Infra vs apps: where AI funding should go
26:00 – FAIR launch: already live in testnet
27:00 – The developer traction and feedback
29:00 – SKALE x FAIR: how the dual-token model works
31:00 – Why SKALE supply will deflate as FAIR grows
33:00 – Timing, launch strategy & market sentiment
35:00 – Jack’s take on crypto hype vs utility
36:00 – Final advice: always dig under the hood

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Money and people moves

1. Galaxy Ventures closed its Fund I at $175M for an oversubscribed amount

2. Jana Bertram has departed RARI Foundation after leading as its head of strategy

3. Strategy Continues Bitcoin Shopping Spree With $532 Million BTC Buy (Decrypt)

4. Aptos Labs CEO and co-founder Avery Ching joins CFTC Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee (The Block)

Talking points for the road

Crypto-focused headlines or research that caught my eye…and should catch yours, too.

1. Circle Valuation Is 'Outside Our Comfort Zone,' Initiate at Underweight: JPMorgan (CoinDesk)

2. Robinhood unveils L2, tokenized stocks and perpetual futures for EU users (Blockworks)

3. Bitcoin Soars, Altcoins Fade in $300 Billion Crypto Shakeout (Bloomberg)

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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.