BASE and Beyond: Jesse Pollak on Pioneering the Next Wave of Crypto

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in the crypto space, with a spotlight on Base, Ethereum’s Layer 2 solution that’s rapidly gaining traction. This episode features a special guest, Jesse Pollak, who is about to celebrate his 7th anniversary at Coinbase. Jesse’s journey from leading retail operations to focusing on the development of Base has positioned him as a key figure in the crypto community. His unique insights into the evolution of Base and its significant role in the broader crypto market promise to make this a captivating discussion.

Base Unveiled: Jesse Pollak, renowned as Base Contributor #1, delves into the impressive journey of Base, highlighting its achievement of $1B in Total Value Locked (TVL) and the emerging applications finding success on the platform. He provides an insider’s look at upcoming technical enhancements, including the anticipated impact of EIP-4844 on transaction fees. Jesse also discusses how the launch of Coinbase Smart Wallets aims to revolutionize the onboarding process, enhancing UX and safety for users. Moreover, Jesse shares his personal experiences with Farcaster and gives us a sneak peek into the future developments planned for Base in 2024.

Market Update: Dive into a comprehensive market analysis with Greg and Ben, covering the latest trends in ETF flows and key dates crucial for understanding new product holdings. They explore the landscape for a potential ETH ETF and its implications for staking. The resurgence of retail interest is evident from Coinbase’s ascent in app store rankings, the profitability of holders, and the surprising uplift of meme coins. This segment promises to shed light on the current dynamics shaping the crypto market.

Economic Insights: David presents his latest findings on USDC and discusses essential economic data set to be released, which could significantly sway the direction of interest rates. This analysis is crucial for anyone looking to understand the macroeconomic factors influencing the crypto space.

DeFi and NFTs Spotlight: Sid brings attention to the notable increase in Total Value Locked across DeFi platforms and the remarkable rise in NFT values, with a special focus on CryptoPunks. Additionally, he addresses the current costs and efficiency of executing transactions on Base compared to Ethereum L1, highlighting Base’s potential to transform transaction experiences.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the cutting-edge developments in digital assets and blockchain technology. Engage with us as we unravel the complexities of Base, the crypto market’s current state, and the exciting possibilities on the horizon.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
03:00 Jesse Pollak on Base
36:10 Market Update: BTC makes new high
43:15 ETH insights
48:10 Memecoin mania
50:20 Macro matters
55:10 What's happening onchain