CoinDesk Podcasts

The Protocol

Exploring Crypto's Role in Times of Conflict | Israel's Crypto Scene, Smart Contracts Under BitVM, and More

Covering the influence of conflict on Israel's crypto sector, the evolution of smart contracts on Bitcoin, and a comp...
The Protocol
Listen on:

This episode is sponsored by the Algorand Foundation.

In this episode of "The Protocol," join our hosts, Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol newsletter, along with tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, as they delve into the ever-evolving realm of blockchain technology. Amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, they delve into the dynamic interplay between innovation and adversity. Additionally, they explore the contentious World Coin project, which employs iris scanning for biometric authentication, shedding light on the convergence of AI and blockchain technology. Sam Kessler provides insights from the Manhattan courthouse regarding the technical intricacies of the FTX collapse during the SBF trial. It becomes evident that the sector is undergoing a refining process in response to heightened scrutiny and legal deliberations following FTX's involvement.

EPISODE LINKS |

Israeli Crypto Firms Scramble to Deal With War, in Between the Sirens

Bitcoin Might Get Ethereum-Style Smart Contracts Under ‘BitVM’ Plan

The Tech Guru Behind Worldcoin: a Q&A With Tiago Sada

Chinese Bribes, Saudi Investors and Thai Prostitutes: Caroline Ellison Gives SBF Trial’s Most Shocking Testimony Yet

From our sponsor |

All the tools you need to build, test, and deploy on Algorand are now available in a single, simple package. Set up your dev environment in only 10 minutes and then get coding on the only blockchain with Unrivaled point-of-sale transaction speed Industry-leading uptimeConcierge-style developer support, at every step of your journey Download AlgoKit today.

Build today with AlgoKit


The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last.

Exploring Crypto's Role in Times of Conflict | Israel's Crypto Scene, Smart Contracts Under BitVM, and More