Podcasts

In this episode we chat with Mariana de la Roche, an expert in regulation, human rights and disruptive technologies, about Europe’s potential as a leader in Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). Mariana, founder of BlackVogel and board member of INATBA, offers us a unique perspective thanks to her global experience and her role in key working groups in Europe.

Mariana explains how Europe is positioned as a leader thanks to its comprehensive and flexible regulatory approach. Despite the challenges of implementing MiCA, there is a significant effort to ensure a safe environment for innovation and the adoption of disruptive technologies, not to mention the legal gaps that still need to be addressed.

On blockchain and AI, Mariana shares examples of how these technologies can be integrated to power services, and highlights how blockchain ensures data traceability and eliminates biases, improving the quality of AI applications.

Don’t miss this episode which is full of reflections on Europe’s role in the blockchain ecosystem, the future of decentralised technologies and the opportunities arising from technological convergence.

In this episode, we talk to Lambert Despaux, CEO of All Defi, about the fascinating world of decentralised finance (DeFi). Lambert shares how DeFi has evolved since its inception, becoming a robust and accessible alternative for investment and financial inclusion.

We explore the challenges users face in terms of usability and security, with a revealing statistic: 96% of people find current platforms too complex. Lambert shares All Defi’s experience in addressing this challenge: simplified processes, an intuitive interface, thorough audits and a focus on security to identify the most trusted protocols.

We also delve into the impact of regulation (or lack thereof), the integration of artificial intelligence into this ecosystem, and the need to create pathways that democratise access to the best financial products, without the traditional barriers of banks and with better returns.

Play and dive into the world of DeFi with this episode!

Ethereum’s evolution promises to redefine efficiency, accessibility and storage in the network. These changes reflect the dynamism of the blockchain ecosystem, driven both by technological advances and increasing competition.

To delve deeper into this exciting topic, we spoke to Íñigo García de la Mata, Blockchain Solutions Architect at Grant Thornton. Íñigo, who normally hosts the Capa 3 podcast, leaves the role of interviewer today to share his experience as a pioneer in this sector.

In this episode, Íñigo talks about:

• The layers of the blockchain ecosystem: from Layer 1, where blocks are created and value is democratically represented; through Layer 2, with use cases; to Layer 3, where people enter.
• The importance of Layer 0: the Internet as the basis of this whole ecosystem.
• Innovation and community: how collaborative networks and the multichain ecosystem are defining the future.
• Blockchain and AI: personal projects that combine digital identity with artificial intelligence and the vision towards a promising 2025.

From his beginnings discovering Bitcoin in 2012, to his current projects and his active participation in Alastria, Íñigo invites us to explore the evolution and future of this technology that continues to transform the world.

Also available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spOZnkoRHDM

Yael Oaknín, founder of Token City is the guest of this episode dedicated to tokenisation and how to apply it to democratise access to finance.

For Yael, tokenisation is the next generation of venture financing, as, among many of the benefits, it allows access to investment opportunities with smaller but also more liquid tickets.

In terms of regulation, he highlights how Europe, unlike the US, has developed the Pilot Regulation that allows it to act directly on the retail investment market, pending approval of licences. And, despite the fact that many entrepreneurs and players like her feel impatient with the progress of regulation, she believes that, without a doubt, the whole issue has advanced in step with the achievements made.

Yael stresses that we are at a key moment and one of the signs is that the big players in the ecosystem have already started with digital transformations, but the key to real momentum is market enablement.

In this episode we explore the evolution of loyalty programmes powered by Web3 with Paula Pascual, CEO and founder of Merge Madrid. Increasingly, customers – and especially Generation Z – want to get something more from brands: they want to feel part of a community. This is where Web3 offers a differential value because it facilitates the possibility of collaborative programmes, where customers enjoy benefits beyond a single brand’s own ecosystem, connecting different platforms. The global loyalty market is expected to double by 2027, exceeding 200 billion dollars.

A year after its entry into force, the Pilot Regime still has some unfinished business. In this episode, we speak with Mariona Pericas, a partner at finReg360, to assess this regulation’s progress. It aimed to explore and experiment ‘in real life’ with DLT technology and its potential to transform capital market infrastructures. Despite the absence of authorizations for market infrastructures or tokenized money in Spain, Mariona remains optimistic. ‘We have to try it out, get started, and then make necessary adjustments.

In this episode we have Luis Pastor as our special guest to talk about investing in Web 3.0 Startups. Luis is CEO of Tritemius, but he has also been with us at Alastria since the beginning and is currently vice-president of our associationLuis values the ‘winter’ past -of the crypto world and also of venture capital- as an opportunity: one that allows us to separate the wheat from the chaff. “We can identify the opportunities that will revolutionise the coming years in this particular technological paradigm of web3, thanks to favourable positions such as regulation, institutional adoption, more solid entrepreneurial projects and, from the investor’s point of view, fair price valuations”.

With 580 million active wallets and an adoption rate that would surpass the equivalent of the pre-internet years, the web3 industry opens up a window of opportunity for other businesses, particularly in gaming. 40% of the world’s population plays games and the gaming industry moves more than the film and music industries combined. In short, a sector that is seen as an enabler for mass adoption in the next 10 years.

What is halving? And staking? We talked to Javier García de la Torre, Binance’s country leader for Spain and Portugal, about these words and other questions related to the crypto universe. We also talk to Javier about the growing institutional interest in cryptocurrencies, driven by the arrival of ETFs in the United States and the MiCA regulation that provides security to investors. We discuss Binance’s strategic partnerships and other initiatives underway, as well as his vision for 2024, which includes the need for a technological evolution for the growth and mass adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

In this episode, we speak with Jorge Soriano, CEO of Criptan, discussing the lessons learned in the crypto world in 2023 and what appears to be on the horizon for 2024. According to Jorge, the maturity of the ecosystem, regulatory advancements, and the influx of institutional clients are driving the momentum toward mainstream adoption. We delve into Spain’s adoption, emphasize the significance of breaking entry barriers, and highlight the necessity of simplifying the complexities of this industry for greater accessibility. Additionally, explore Jorge Soriano’s personal journey and Criptan’s progression from their initial steps in the crypto world to securing financing rounds of 3.5 million euros.

Sustainable blockchain and blockchain for sustainability are the two perspectives we address in this episode with Aída Rodríguez, Transformation Director at Valora Consultores, and Marcos Carrera, Head of Blockchain & Web3 Iberia at Fujitsu.

We talk about how the evolution of technology has been accompanied by a reduction in energy costs and also how trust in blockchain allows, on one hand, the traceability and integrity of data with impact on value chains for measurement and reporting, and on the other hand, the development of other layers such as tokenization or regenerative finance that seek to build more sustainable value in sectors such as manufacturing and agri-food.