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Kris Kocic (cap.eth)

Merak

A Entrepreneurship , Business and Technology podcast

#79 in Entrepreneurship · 🇵🇰
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About the show

Fun conversations with people who build, wonder, and make things (happen). Mostly founders, operators, and investors, but also creatives, marketers, growth hackers, creators, scientists, innovators, and anyone living an interesting life and doing cool things. We go deep on tech, AI, crypto, startups, business, money, and the economy. And we wander into the rabbit holes of philosophy, poetry, the cosmos, and the harder questions about life and meaning.

Newest episodes

#4 Cinesius: Ambire wallet, Fixing Wallet UX, Privacy, AI Agents in Crypto & the Future of Wallets

1 hr 20 min

Takeaways: Balkan people stay tied to their rootsRemote work is pulling people back to villagesAmbire grew after years of quiet buildingSmart-account-only wallets scared users awayEIP-7702 brought smart account features to normal accountsHardware wallets are slow to support new standardsMetaMask still dominates the wallet marketUser interviews beat written feedbackConnecting the right wallet to apps is still brokenToken approvals should disappear with batchingAI agents in crypto are mostly developer experimentsAgent safety depends on strict permissionsIdentity is crypto’s unsolved problemBig companies win on distributionENS subnames are an easy branding win for walletsPrivacy in wallets is crucial and should be the defaultWallets are heading toward neobank featuresAccount portability matters for real self-custodyThe industry should cooperate, not fightChapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background02:59 Trends in Living Preferences05:46 The Rise of Embire Wallet12:11 Challenges in Crypto Wallet Development18:05 Personal Crypto Journeys and Experiences23:52 The Future of Wallets and User Experience29:09 Challenges in Wallet Adoption30:40 Revenue-Driven Development Priorities32:17 Integrating ENS and User Safety33:33 Agent Permissions and User Experience34:57 Current Use Cases for Agents36:39 The Future of Agentic Wallets39:08 Building for the Future of Agents41:31 Go-to-Market Strategies for Wallets43:02 Understanding User Demographics44:24 User Feedback and Iterative Development46:49 Addressing Wallet Connection Issues49:32 Token Approval Management51:33 Clear Signing and User Clarity52:37 Industry Terminology and User Understanding53:31 Exploring AI Integration in Wallets54:33 Skepticism Towards Autonomous Agents57:10 The Importance of Timing in Innovation58:39 The Quest for On-Chain Identity59:31 Navigating Identity Solutions in Blockchain01:01:16 The Importance of User Experience in Wallets01:03:03 Challenges in Implementing ENS and Subnames01:06:14 The Futu...

#3 Nick: UFO.fm, Radio Over Algorithms, Music on the Blockchain, & Building Independent Media

1 hr 15 min

We discuss the evolution of music consumption, the challenges faced by independent artists, and the innovative platform UFO that aims to reshape the music industry. We explore the importance of human curation in music discovery and the potential of blockchain technology to address longstanding issues in the music business like supporting artists. The conversation explores the influence of iconic musicians like Frank Zappa and Devo, the innovative business model behind UFO, and the importance of live radio in connecting artists and audiences. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Independent Media and Personal Identity03:04 The Evolution of Music Consumption06:01 Discovering New Music in the Digital Age08:58 Building UFO: A New Music Platform12:07 The Challenges of the Music Industry20:54 The Future of Music and Blockchain30:39 The Evolution of the Music Industry34:01 The Impact of Streaming on Music Consumption37:07 Quality vs. Quantity in Music Production41:17 The Dichotomy of Music Success51:23 Blockchain's Potential in the Music Industry57:45 The Influence of Frank Zappa and Devo01:01:23 UFO: Business Model and Strategy01:07:58 Connecting Artists and Audiences01:15:16 The Power of Live Radio01:20:49 Experimentation in Music and Media

#2 Thomas Clowes: 6-Figure Domains sales, AI world, .com’s still king, ENS, Web3 domains & identity

1 hr 56 min

The conversation explores the intersection of technology, personal experiences, and the implications of AI on society, with a focus on security, the evolution of domains, the impact of wealth on personal values and behavior, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in both web2 and web3 domains. The conversation delves into Thomas' journey in the domain industry, discussing his early experiences, the evolution of domain names, and the complexities surrounding new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), the evolution of web3 domains, and the implications of ENS (Ethereum Name Service) in the broader context of digital identity and blockchain technology. The conversation explores the implications of domain tokenization, particularly in the context of decentralized naming systems and the challenges of synchronizing data between traditional registrars and blockchain technology. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates02:47 Security in the Age of AI06:00 The Impact of AI on Society10:09 Wealth, Power, and Personal Values13:49 The Influence of Personal Experiences17:59 The Journey into Domain Names31:51 From Early Ventures to Domain Sales34:21 First Steps in Domain Industry38:00 Understanding Internet Infrastructure41:26 The Role of ICANN and Governance44:32 New gTLDs: Announcements and Implications52:47 Evaluating the Value of TLDs59:05 The Business of Domain Registration01:06:23 The Evolution of TLDs01:10:06 The Rise of Alternative TLDs01:17:01 Web3 Domains: A New Frontier01:18:51 Understanding the Value of Web3 Domains01:28:04 Challenges and Opportunities for ENS01:39:51 The Future of Digital Identity01:44:10 Innovative Use Cases in China01:45:47 The Flexibility of ENS Constitution01:49:31 Tokenization of Domains: Pros and Cons01:54:51 Synchronizing Web2 and Web3 Domains02:11:16 The Balance of Innovation and Caution

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All episodes

#4 Cinesius: Ambire wallet, Fixing Wallet UX, Privacy, AI Agents in Crypto & the Future of Wallets

1 hr 20 min

Takeaways: Balkan people stay tied to their rootsRemote work is pulling people back to villagesAmbire grew after years of quiet buildingSmart-account-only wallets scared users awayEIP-7702 brought smart account features to normal accountsHardware wallets are slow to support new standardsMetaMask still dominates the wallet marketUser interviews beat written feedbackConnecting the right wallet to apps is still brokenToken approvals should disappear with batchingAI agents in crypto are mostly developer experimentsAgent safety depends on strict permissionsIdentity is crypto’s unsolved problemBig companies win on distributionENS subnames are an easy branding win for walletsPrivacy in wallets is crucial and should be the defaultWallets are heading toward neobank featuresAccount portability matters for real self-custodyThe industry should cooperate, not fightChapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background02:59 Trends in Living Preferences05:46 The Rise of Embire Wallet12:11 Challenges in Crypto Wallet Development18:05 Personal Crypto Journeys and Experiences23:52 The Future of Wallets and User Experience29:09 Challenges in Wallet Adoption30:40 Revenue-Driven Development Priorities32:17 Integrating ENS and User Safety33:33 Agent Permissions and User Experience34:57 Current Use Cases for Agents36:39 The Future of Agentic Wallets39:08 Building for the Future of Agents41:31 Go-to-Market Strategies for Wallets43:02 Understanding User Demographics44:24 User Feedback and Iterative Development46:49 Addressing Wallet Connection Issues49:32 Token Approval Management51:33 Clear Signing and User Clarity52:37 Industry Terminology and User Understanding53:31 Exploring AI Integration in Wallets54:33 Skepticism Towards Autonomous Agents57:10 The Importance of Timing in Innovation58:39 The Quest for On-Chain Identity59:31 Navigating Identity Solutions in Blockchain01:01:16 The Importance of User Experience in Wallets01:03:03 Challenges in Implementing ENS and Subnames01:06:14 The Futu...

#3 Nick: UFO.fm, Radio Over Algorithms, Music on the Blockchain, & Building Independent Media

1 hr 15 min

We discuss the evolution of music consumption, the challenges faced by independent artists, and the innovative platform UFO that aims to reshape the music industry. We explore the importance of human curation in music discovery and the potential of blockchain technology to address longstanding issues in the music business like supporting artists. The conversation explores the influence of iconic musicians like Frank Zappa and Devo, the innovative business model behind UFO, and the importance of live radio in connecting artists and audiences. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Independent Media and Personal Identity03:04 The Evolution of Music Consumption06:01 Discovering New Music in the Digital Age08:58 Building UFO: A New Music Platform12:07 The Challenges of the Music Industry20:54 The Future of Music and Blockchain30:39 The Evolution of the Music Industry34:01 The Impact of Streaming on Music Consumption37:07 Quality vs. Quantity in Music Production41:17 The Dichotomy of Music Success51:23 Blockchain's Potential in the Music Industry57:45 The Influence of Frank Zappa and Devo01:01:23 UFO: Business Model and Strategy01:07:58 Connecting Artists and Audiences01:15:16 The Power of Live Radio01:20:49 Experimentation in Music and Media

#2 Thomas Clowes: 6-Figure Domains sales, AI world, .com’s still king, ENS, Web3 domains & identity

1 hr 56 min

The conversation explores the intersection of technology, personal experiences, and the implications of AI on society, with a focus on security, the evolution of domains, the impact of wealth on personal values and behavior, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in both web2 and web3 domains. The conversation delves into Thomas' journey in the domain industry, discussing his early experiences, the evolution of domain names, and the complexities surrounding new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), the evolution of web3 domains, and the implications of ENS (Ethereum Name Service) in the broader context of digital identity and blockchain technology. The conversation explores the implications of domain tokenization, particularly in the context of decentralized naming systems and the challenges of synchronizing data between traditional registrars and blockchain technology. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates02:47 Security in the Age of AI06:00 The Impact of AI on Society10:09 Wealth, Power, and Personal Values13:49 The Influence of Personal Experiences17:59 The Journey into Domain Names31:51 From Early Ventures to Domain Sales34:21 First Steps in Domain Industry38:00 Understanding Internet Infrastructure41:26 The Role of ICANN and Governance44:32 New gTLDs: Announcements and Implications52:47 Evaluating the Value of TLDs59:05 The Business of Domain Registration01:06:23 The Evolution of TLDs01:10:06 The Rise of Alternative TLDs01:17:01 Web3 Domains: A New Frontier01:18:51 Understanding the Value of Web3 Domains01:28:04 Challenges and Opportunities for ENS01:39:51 The Future of Digital Identity01:44:10 Innovative Use Cases in China01:45:47 The Flexibility of ENS Constitution01:49:31 Tokenization of Domains: Pros and Cons01:54:51 Synchronizing Web2 and Web3 Domains02:11:16 The Balance of Innovation and Caution

#1 Prem Makeig: The Verified Web, Agent NFTs, ENS and Ethereum, and and the 50x Rule

1 hr 17 min

The first episode of Merak, with Prem Makeig (premm.eth), founder and CEO of Unruggable, a longtime ENS DAO service provider, and, as it happens, a friend who's coming to my wedding. We open with his big idea: the verified web. Prem argues the term Gavin Wood coined needs an upgrade, because once agents start buying things online, every interaction is going to need a cryptographic proof. From there we get into the hard questions: what happens when proof-of-everything gets misused, whether cryptography is a double-edged sword we can never escape, and how ZK proofs could kill the New York broker system that charges you a month and a half's rent just to read your bank statements. Then we go deep on agent identity. His standards, ERC-8004 and ERC-8217, that bind AI agents to NFTs so ownership and control transfer together. His bet that the NFT stops being a jpeg and becomes an onchain identity, and the 721T primitive he's building to make that real. He also breaks down the 50X rule and the "2% is guaranteed" idea that keeps him shipping standard after standard, and the open-source ID Agents system he uses to run coding agents as teams he calls synthetic workers. We close on the AI optimism-versus-doom question, where Prem lands somewhere you might not expect: blockchains only exist because of the honest majority, and that's the best argument for betting on good people. Guest Premm on X: https://x.com/nxt3dUnruggable: https://unruggable.comID Agents: https://www.idagents.ai/Adapter8004: https://adapter8004.xyz/Prem's EthereumZuri.ch 2025 talk on the verified web: https://cfp.ducttape.events/ethereumzuri-ch-2025/speaker/QYZ3EP/Merak Website: https://www.merak.fm/

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