Author Archives: Thomas Bahamas

#92 – How Chris is Increasing Bandwidth and Reducing Latency (IBRL) On Solana with TitanDex

Key Points:

  • TitanDex is building a DEX aggregator that consolidates on-chain liquidity across Solana
  • Features meta-aggregation: aggregating other aggregators like Jupiter and Spider Swap
  • Achieves 81% win rate on price improvement with average 1% outperformance
  • Planning public launch in January 2025, currently in private beta
  • Led by team with 10+ years experience in traditional finance and crypto

Technical Infrastructure:

  • Uses mathematical optimization vs traditional pathfinding algorithms
  • Processes trades within 400ms block time
  • Implements MEV protection by default
  • Focuses on providing best execution without compromising on infrastructure

Roadmap & Features:

  • Initial focus on spot trading and core swap functionality
  • Future plans include:
    • Limit orders
    • DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging)
    • Portfolio swaps
    • Custom index creation
    • Long-term vision to become comprehensive “home of Solana DeFi”

Market Insights:

  • 80% of Solana trades go through DEX aggregators (vs 20% on Ethereum)
  • Lower fees enable more complex routing and better price execution
  • Recent increase in trading volume (40B monthly vs usual 25-30B)
  • Growing interest in “tail edge assets” (meme coins, newer tokens)

User Experience & Adoption:

  • Non-custodial solution focusing on best execution
  • Emphasis on transparent pricing and routing
  • Plans to add API access for systematic traders
  • Currently accepting waitlist signups at titandex.io

Interesting Stats:

  • Team seeing ~200 basis points of price improvement in some cases
  • Solana DEX aggregator volume reached 40 billion monthly
  • Core trading pair (SOL/USDC) volume decreased by half from Sept to Oct

The conversation also touched on broader market trends, regulatory environment, and the evolution of DeFi infrastructure on Solana.

#90 – Golfn on Solana With B Tuck

Episode Overview A deep dive into how Golf’n is bringing Web3 technology to the golf world, combining NFTs, community engagement, and real-world utility through their upcoming mobile app.

Key Topics Discussed

Golf’n Platform Overview

  • Developing a comprehensive golf app launching in early 2025
  • Community beta planned for Q4 2024
  • Combines traditional golf app features with Web3 elements
  • Free to use with points-based rewards system
  • Real-time scoring and course tracking capabilities
  • Interactive social features including live round tracking

NFT Collection & Tokenomics

  • Successfully launched and sold out Genesis NFT collection in Spring 2024
  • NFTs feature different rarity levels with varying XP multipliers
  • “Cashing” system allows users to soft-stake NFTs for points
  • Six different attributes affecting point multipliers:
    • Scorecard usage
    • Off-peak play bonuses
    • Camaraderie for playing with friends
    • Advanced analytics tracking
    • Fast play incentives
    • Additional specialized attributes

Community Features

  • Custom community creation within the app
  • Integration with existing NFT communities
  • Real-time round tracking and score sharing
  • Ability to watch friends’ progress during their rounds
  • Social engagement incentives

Business Model

  • Focus on B2B partnerships rather than user fees
  • Targeting equipment manufacturers, golf courses, and resorts
  • Strategic partnerships in development (to be announced)
  • Partnership with Axiom for token infrastructure

Technical Implementation

  • Built on Solana blockchain
  • Geofencing technology for course verification
  • Variable engagement levels to suit different player preferences
  • Integration with traditional golf statistics and scoring

Notable Quotes

“The golf demographic is like one of the most coveted demographics in marketing. Bar none.” – BTuck

“If you don’t have conviction, it’s really not an asset class that you want to be in.” – BTuck on crypto investing

Future Plans & Roadmap

  1. Community Beta Launch – Q4 2024
  2. Public Launch – Early 2025 (pre-Masters)
  3. Upcoming partnership announcements
  4. Raffles and rewards programs launching soon
  5. Integration with existing golf communities

Guest Background

  • Previously worked at NBC Universal/Golf Channel for 15+ years
  • Managing editor and producer for Golf Advisor
  • Joined Solana ecosystem in December 2021 with Marinade
  • Extensive experience in both traditional golf media and crypto

Additional Notes

  • Discussion of the intersection between golf and crypto communities
  • Insights into sustainable Web3 business models
  • Comparison with traditional golf apps and their limitations
  • Analysis of community-driven development in Web3

Resources Mentioned

Contact Information

  • Platform: Golf’n
  • Timeline: Beta in Q4 2024, Full Launch Early 2025
  • Follow Golf’n’s social channels for updates on partnerships and launches

#88 – Jecy From All Domains on The Future of Digital Identity

Introduction to All Domains and Digital Identity

All Domains is bringing identity to Solana wallets

Domain names are alternative, human-readable wallet addresses

Domains are crucial for simplifying transactions and reducing errors

All Domains views domains as more than just wallet addresses; they’re digital identities

Comparison with Other Domain Services

Discussion of ENS (Ethereum Name Service) and its impact

Comparison with Bonfida’s .sol domains

All Domains’ approach: renewable domains vs. permanent ownership

Features and Partnerships

Integration with multiple blockchains (multi-chain approach)

Partnerships with various projects (e.g., Eclipse, Sonic, Monad)

Collaboration with Wormhole for cross-chain functionality

Use Cases and Future Potential

Domains as gamer tags and social media handles

Potential integration with payment systems and real-world applications

Discussion on the future of crypto payments and adoption

Unique Aspects of All Domains

Yield generation on certain domain types (e.g., .solana domains)

Custom domains for different communities and projects

Hybrid domains bridging Web2 and Web3

NFTs and Meme Coins

Brief discussion on the current state of NFTs

Mention of popular meme coins (e.g., Bonk, PopCat)

Personal Insights

Jesse’s experience involving her son in the Web3 space

Discussion on portfolio construction for kids in crypto

Balancing work, travel, and family in the Web3 industry

Breakpoint Conference Highlights

Impressive developments in Solana gaming

Increased involvement of traditional finance companies (e.g., PayPal)

Closing Thoughts

Importance of securing digital identities for the future

Encouragement for listeners to explore and adopt domain names

#89 – The Acceleration of Stablecoins and ISC with Eno

Episode Overview

I explore the future of stable assets with Eno, co-founder of ISC (International Stable Coin). The conversation spans from practical DeFi infrastructure to philosophical questions about the future of money.

Eno’s Market Insights

Stablecoin Ecosystem

  • Current total stablecoin market cap: ~$180B
    • Massive growth potential (global money supply ~$85-95T)
    • Not competing with USDC/USDT due to market size
  • Tron dominates stable transactions globally
    • 98% of Tron stables are USDT
    • Major presence in emerging markets
    • Strong OTC dealer network globally

Market Evolution & Infrastructure

  1. Exchange Integration Path
    • Tether’s success came from exchange-first approach
    • Ground-level OTC dealer relationships crucial
    • Mobile experience critical for adoption
  2. Regional Adoption Patterns
    • Most emerging markets prefer Tron USDT
    • Need better Solana on/off ramps globally
    • Local currency stablecoins could revolutionize regional payments

Future Market Predictions

  1. Stablecoin Development
    • Moving beyond USD-denominated assets
    • Need for local currency stablecoins
    • Potential for “hard money 2.0” through diversified asset backing
  2. Real World Assets (RWA)
    • Partnership with Etherfuse bringing bonds on-chain
    • Treasury bonds from multiple countries coming to blockchain
    • RWA market needs more liquidity before full integration

ISC’s Strategic Vision

Technical Architecture

  1. Asset Allocation (20% each):
    • Cash holdings
    • Gold reserves
    • US Treasury Bills
    • Global bonds
    • Global stocks
  2. Yield Generation
    • Currently achieving ~10% APY
    • Historical average: 5-6%
    • Modified all-weather portfolio for stability

Market Strategy

  1. Target Markets:
    • Web3 CFOs and treasury management
    • DeFi protocols needing yield on unused capital
    • Future: Countries without sovereign currencies
  2. Development Phases:
    • Phase 1: Solana DeFi integration
    • Phase 2: Emerging markets
    • Phase 3: Global adoption

Critical Market Observations

DeFi Integration

  1. Perps Markets
    • Integration potential with Jupiter Perps
    • Potential for yield on unused stable reserves
    • Better capital efficiency for protocols
  2. Infrastructure Needs
    • New DEX launching for correlated assets
    • Better liquidity management tools needed
    • Focus on reducing friction points

Market Psychology & Non Financial Trading Advice

  1. Key Trading Principles:
    • “When you can brag about your portfolio, it’s time to sell”
    • Never update profit targets after reaching them
    • Screenshot rule: If you’re taking portfolio screenshots, sell
    • Beware of “moon bag” mentality
  2. Risk Management:
    • Full exits better than partial sells in crypto
    • Market timing is impossible
    • Focus on realized gains over potential gains

Future Outlook

Ideal Success Scenario (5 Years)

  • ISC as legal tender in countries without sovereign currency
  • Example: Zimbabwe’s currency situation
  • Alternative to failed fiat systems

Infrastructure Development

  1. Current Challenges:
    • Limited RWA liquidity
    • Need for better on/off ramps
    • Mobile user experience improvements
  2. Opportunities:
    • Growing institutional adoption
    • Expansion of RWA tokenization
    • Integration with traditional finance

Key Project Updates

  • New DEX development for correlated assets
  • Etherfuse partnership for bond tokenization
  • Focus on DeFi protocol integrations

Market Warnings

  • PayPal’s PYUSD incentive program results
  • Risks of chasing yields vs stable returns
  • Importance of sustainable growth over quick gains

Notable Quotes

“We’re not fighting for a small piece of the pie – we’re building for the future of global finance.” “The biggest lie of fiat is that it works for everybody – it only works for very few countries.” “Don’t update your profit targets – the pain of missing gains is less than the pain of losses.”

These insights reveal Eno’s deep understanding of both market mechanics and the philosophical implications of stable assets in global finance, while providing practical advice for market participants.

#91 – How AgriDex is Transforming Agricultural Trade on Solana with Omar Anwar

What is Agridex?

  • Digital marketplace built on Solana that offers instant, low-cost settlements for agricultural trades
  • Uses USDC for transactions with near-instantaneous settlement.
  • Reduces transaction costs from 12.4% to 5.8%
  • Reduces transaction time from 65 days to 40 days
  • B2B focused platform, not for retail users

Key Problem Being Solved

  • Example: Nigerian farmers paying 12.4% in transaction costs to move cocoa to Rotterdam
  • Costs include:
    • Sourcing
    • Legal bills
    • Crop certifications
    • Warehousing
    • Shipping
    • Physical inspection
    • Currency conversion (3-6% bank fees)
    • Currency volatility risks

How Agridex Works

  1. Onboarding Process:
    • Farmers join through existing supply chain partners or direct application
    • Required documentation for KYB/AML checks
    • Sustainability and crop-specific certifications needed
  2. Platform Features:
    • Built-in trust scores for sellers
    • Real-time crop pricing
    • Automated settlement through smart contracts
    • Integration with local currency partners for on/off ramping
  3. Transaction Process:
    • Uses Ricardian contracts (human and machine readable)
    • Smart contracts handle automatic settlement
    • Future plans to integrate IoT, AI, and ML for automation

Technical Implementation

  • Built on Solana blockchain
  • Uses USDC for settlements
  • Tokenizes the trade itself rather than the crops
  • Creates NFTs of contracts for immutable record-keeping
  • Partners help with currency conversion to local currencies

Business Development

  • Working with large launch partners like Paragate Group
  • Targeting higher levels in supply chain to reach more farmers
  • Focus on education and accessibility
  • Strong leadership team with agricultural and financial background
  • Planning Latin American expansion in future

Upcoming Developments

  • Token listing in November
  • Features DAO governance
  • Staking mechanism with environmental/agricultural development benefits
  • Platform moving from beta to full rollout in Q1 2025
  • Partnership with Solana Saga and Seeker
  • Running airdrop campaigns

Notable Partnership

  • Working with Bridge (recently acquired by Stripe for over $1B)
  • Demonstrates growing traditional finance acceptance of stablecoins

Legal Framework

  • Based in UK, benefiting from UK Electronic Trade Document Act 2023
  • Can use English High Court for dispute resolution
  • Provides trusted legal framework for international trades

Target Market Response

  • High crypto adoption in target markets (claimed 70%+ in Nigeria)
  • Farmers showing interest in digital solutions
  • Need for simple, intuitive interface that abstracts blockchain complexity
  • Focus on presenting as Web3 solution rather than crypto

Long-term Vision

  • Move toward fully decentralized DAO governance
  • Expand beyond current markets into Latin America
  • Become “Amazon of agricultural trading”
  • First transaction completed in July with South African olive oil