Special Episode with Vlad Martynov

Co-founder of BR Capital and blockchain entrepreneur Vlad Martynov joins us for a special episode of the crypto.news show. In part 1, Martynov discusses his role within the Ethereum ecosystem, the future of venture capital in crypto, and how the current system of tokenomics is broken. He also expands on his role within the decentralized Zuzalu “network state” community and new regulatory climates in the US, Europe, Asia, and beyond. In part 2, Martynov conducts a one-on-one with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, in a crypto.news show exclusive. Turn on, tune in, Zuzalu out!

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Introduction

Dorian Batycka: Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the Crypto.News show with myself, your host, Dorian Batycki, and my co-host, Tony Noto.

Our guest is Vlad Martinov, founder of BR Capital, blockchain entrepreneur, and OG friend of our Ethereum overlord Vitalik Buterin. Welcome.

Vlad Martynov: Yeah, thanks a lot. Hello, everybody.

Dorian: Welcome to the show. There is a lot to talk about post-election, Ethereum, and venture capital in the crypto space. Perhaps let’s start by giving us a little bit of an introduction to yourself.

Vlad: My first startup I co-founded in the late 90s. After we built and sold our business to Microsoft, we developed one of the first SaaS-based CRM membership management system solutions for non-profit organizations.

I became close friends with Vitalik Buterin’s family. In 2012, I was introduced to Bitcoin. In 2014, Vitalik was working on Ethereum, and I was intrigued by the potential of this technology. I joined the Ethereum Foundation’s advisory board to educate the public and help scale the Ethereum movement.

Market Maturity

Tony Noto: Do you argue that the market is still not mature and there are too many scammers?

Vlad: I would disagree. The market has made huge progress. Technology and infrastructure have matured significantly, leading to lower transaction fees and higher speeds.

Future of Fundraising

Dorian: What about ICO versus DAOs for fundraising? Will we see a blended model?

Vlad: Yes, there will be hybrid models. Some projects will benefit from DAOs while others will lean towards ICOs. Traditional venture capital is now more prominent.

Tokenomics

Tony: Do you see a future based on issuing tokens or equity?

Vlad: I believe tokens will dominate, especially for real-world assets. Upcoming regulations will foster this trend.

Regulatory Climate

Dorian: How do you see different jurisdictions evolving in terms of crypto regulations?

Vlad: Over the last 10 years, many countries sought to ban crypto. However, the US’s positive stance encourages others to liberalize not just in Europe, but globally.

KYC Challenges

Dorian: Could zero-knowledge proof help with KYC?

Vlad: Yes, zero-knowledge proof can help verify user legitimacy without revealing personal data, bridging the gap between DeFi and traditional finance.

Entrepreneurial Insights

Vlad: Investors look for passionate founders who respect the fundamentals of business, even in crypto. Validating ideas before seeking funds is crucial.

Token Issuance Changes

Dorian: Are you seeing changes in token economics over time?

Vlad: Yes, there is a shift towards longer lock-up periods, and it’s crucial for the economics to reflect the project’s performance.

Dorian: Can you share insights from your conversations with Vitalik?

Vlad: We mainly discuss decentralized governance and direct democracy as well as the potential of network states.

Conclusion

Dorian: What is Zuzalu and its connection to the network state?

Vlad: Zuzalu is a community focusing on decentralized future innovations and practical implementations. It fosters discussions and collaborations on impactful projects.

Dorian: What are the risks associated with a decentralized network state?

Vlad: Security and hacking are pressing issues, but efforts are being made to mitigate these risks.

Dorian: Thank you, Vlad, for your insights. Looking forward to part two with Vitalik Buterin!

Vlad: Thank you very much!