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2025-03-19
45 minutes

Ep 45: DeFi’s Big Questions Answered

Finance
Use Cases
Fundamentals

About this episode

Is DeFi truly decentralized? Is it more than just finance? Join Yvette Valdez (Latham & Watkins), Diana Barrero Zalles (GBBC), Joe Cutler (Perkins Coie), and Lee Schneider (Ava Labs) as they discuss DeFi’s opportunities, risks, and more.

Learn more in the GBBC's DeFi report: https://www.gbbc.io/uploads/reports/gsmi50/DeFi-Stand-Alone.pdf

🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Guests

Diana Barrero Zalles

Diana Barrero Zalles

Head of Research and Sustainability, GBBC

Yvette Valdez

Yvette Valdez

Partner, Latham & Watkins

Joe Cutler

Joe Cutler

Partner, Perkins Coie

Lee A. Schneider

Lee A. Schneider

General Counsel, Ava Labs, Co-founder Owl Explains.

Sylvia Sanchez

Sylvia Sanchez

Project Manager at Ava Labs • Owl Explains Host

Hootenannies

Hootenannies are informal gatherings where folk musicians would jam in front of a crowd. In the same spirit, we like to bring together blockchain innovators, lawyers, technologists and policymakers for laid-back conversations on the regulatory landscape of Web3.

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Global Series Ep 2: VIETNAMESE - Blockchain Innovation and Policy in Vietnam

Owl Explains is going global! This episode is part of our Global Series, where we speak with regulators and innovators in their native language to bring local insights to a global audience. 🇻🇳 This episode is in Vietnamese, featuring Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung from Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC), diving into how Vietnam is embracing Web3 and blockchain technology. {And don't worry, we’ve provided an English transcription below so you can follow along.} Vietnam is stepping up its blockchain game with strong government support and forward-thinking policies! In this episode, we explore Vietnam’s Web3 strategy, including regulatory frameworks, innovation hubs, and startup growth. New policies, like regulatory sandboxes, are helping businesses test blockchain solutions while bridging the gap between innovation and compliance. Industries like banking, logistics, and healthcare are leading blockchain adoption, using it for identity verification, smart contracts, and data security. Vietnam is also learning from Singapore and the U.S., focusing on investment incentives and regulatory clarity to attract global blockchain companies. Plans for three financial hubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang signal the country’s push to facilitate digital asset transactions. With a growing developer ecosystem and increasing investor interest, Vietnam is on track to become a blockchain leader in Asia. Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Regulation