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Ripple Co-Founder Chris Larsen is teaming up with climate activist groups such as the Greenpeace to launch the “Change the Code, Not the Climate” campaign, which aims to shift the consensus mechanism away from proof-of-work. Bitfarms' Ben Gagnon addresses bitcoin’s global energy consumption. Plus, a look into Bitfarms' quarterly revenue jump. 

Mar 29, 2022

Darren Lim, Research Analyst at blockchain analytics platform Nansen, discusses several noticeable blockchain transactions associated with Terraform Labs' plans to increase UST's bitcoin reserve to $3 billion. Plus, insights on how a bitcoin-backed stablecoin would function and why ETH transfers to Ukraine are spiking. 

Mar 25, 2022

Lunarcrush Founder & CEO Joe Vezzani discusses the impact of a Russian court's decision to ban Facebook and Instagram for “extremist activity” as the war in Ukraine continues. Plus, a conversation on why the Ukrainian government accepting cryptocurrency donations resonates deeply with the online crypto community. 

Mar 22, 2022

Timothy Massad, former CFTC chairman and current research fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, discusses the global economic implications of the Russia-Ukraine war and the repercussions that markets may face for isolating Russia’s economy. Massad discusses possible threats to the commodities markets, Putin’s ambitions to nationalize assets of western companies exiting Russia, and President Biden’s executive order on crypto oversight. 

Mar 11, 2022

ConsenSys shareholder and former employee Arthur Falls joins “First Mover” to share his side of the story as a group of shareholders for the Ethereum development company are waging a multibillion-dollar lawsuit claiming they were jilted on a deal between two ConsenSys entities that transferred control over popular wallet MetaMask and infrastructure provider Infura. Falls speaks on why shareholders believe the board breached fiduciary management duties. Plus, Falls shares his opinions on MetaMask accidentally blocking access to users in Venezuela while trying to comply with crypto sanctions amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Mar 7, 2022

Alona Shevchenko, Ukraine DAO founder and an activist, joins “First Mover” to discuss her crypto crowdfunding efforts to support Ukraine in war time, which has raised almost $7 million. Shevchenko explains how her experience with decentralized autonomous organizations led her to create the Ukraine DAO, their collaborative efforts with the Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive, and the value in the community network of DAOs. Plus, insights on the DAO’s LOVE token and Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin’s involvement with the project. 

Mar 4, 2022

Gitcoin Founder Kevin Owocki explains how cryptocurrency can be used for public good in the new book “Greenpilled," which was authored by (members of) Gitcoin DAO. Owocki sheds light on how the transparent element of crypto and blockchain can be used for social resources like UBI and non-state digital identities. Plus, a conversation about the crypto industry donating over $20 million to Ukraine and the country’s software developer community. 

Mar 2, 2022

Ukrainian lawyer Artem Afian, a former advisor to Ukrainian government's Ministry of Digital Transformation, joins “First Mover” to explain how his country is utilizing cryptocurrency in its fight against Russia. Afian speaks on Russian and Belarusian politicians turning to crypto amid global sanctions, Ukraine’s membership application to the European Union and Russia's pilot program with a digital ruble.

Mar 1, 2022

Chris Kline, Bitcoin IRA COO, joins “All About Bitcoin” as global markets react to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. With President Biden announcing new sanctions on Russia and the crypto market cap dipping to $1.5 trillion, Kline and CoinDesk’s Damanick Dantes evaluate what to expect next.

Feb 24, 2022

Michael Chobanian, the founder of Ukraine Crypto Exchange KUNA, joins “First Mover” to provide a firsthand perspective on the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Chobanian highlights a “slight panic” among the local population and a growing demand to exchange cash for crypto as fears of economic destabilization arise. Plus. he explains that in Ukraine, “Tether is more valuable than US Dollar” and uses the geopolitical crisis to make a case for decentralization. 

Feb 23, 2022