In this episode of the SwapSpace Huddle, we explore the intersections of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) with Vladimir Shapovalov, Head of Research at Cointelegraph. Vladimir shares his journey from biotech to crypto, the necessity of TradFi for DeFi’s security, and how tokenized real-world assets are reshaping the financial landscape. This episode dives into the technical and strategic considerations around DeFi's growth and offers insights for those curious about DeFi’s potential to integrate with existing financial systems.

• 00:00:33 - Host Turpal introduces the main topics: TradFi's influence on DeFi, security, and tokenization.

• 00:01:06 - Vladimir recounts his career journey from biotech into crypto research at Cointelegraph.

• 00:03:34 - Discussion on TradFi’s contributions to DeFi's early infrastructure and its ongoing relevance.

• 00:05:02 - Examination of DeFi’s potential to improve liquidity and attract institutional trust through TradFi partnerships.

• 00:06:39 - Key obstacles: security fragmentation in DeFi and the importance of thorough security audits.

• 00:09:17 - Vladimir addresses why TradFi entities hesitate to enter DeFi due to control concerns.

• 00:13:04 - Benefits of tokenized real-world assets (RWA) in DeFi, including liquidity enhancement and access for smaller investors.

• 00:15:55 - The role of stablecoin yields and crypto ETFs in introducing regulated investment vehicles.

• 00:17:37 - DeFi’s educational challenges: teaching users about staking, yields, and financial fundamentals.

• 00:21:54 - Insight into the user experience (UX) gap in crypto and its impact on Web3 adoption.

• 00:23:36 - Discussion on how familiar UX tools could encourage Web2 to Web3 transition.

• 00:30:01 - How Web3’s success depends on real-world utility and sustainable tokenomics.

• 00:33:38 - Cointelegraph’s mission to educate users on both TradFi and DeFi, bridging the knowledge gap.

• 00:35:30 - Overview of Cointelegraph’s research department and its role in advancing user understanding.

• 00:37:50 - Vladimir explains Cointelegraph's focus on creating balanced, well-researched content to demystify complex crypto topics for a broad audience.

• 00:40:18 - Discussion on Cointelegraph’s editorial practices, including the emphasis on analytical depth and unbiased news coverage.

• 00:42:23 - Vladimir highlights how Cointelegraph’s expert opinions and diverse content formats (like quizzes and AMAs) engage both beginners and seasoned crypto users.

• 00:44:10 - Insight into Cointelegraph’s partnerships with educational institutions to help onboard new talent into the crypto industry.

• 00:46:32 - The editorial team’s commitment to independence, transparency, and high standards in crypto reporting.

• 00:50:34 - Vladimir explains how Cointelegraph balances content for both beginner and advanced audiences.

• 00:53:29 - Closing thoughts from Vladimir on the crypto community’s responsibility to improve the market’s integrity and usability.

Tags: #crypto #bitcoin #blockchain #ethereum #defi #nft #cryptocurrency #podcastlife #podcastcommunity #podcastinterviews #finance #tradfi #Decentralization #Degen #Research