Human Protocol

About Human Protocol

The personal side of building big things. Where builders talk about the messy parts of creating the future. Hosted by Simona Pop.

Publisher

Simona Pop

Category

business · society & culture · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Apr 2026

Latest episode

21 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Inbox Zero & The Meaning of Life: Dennison Bertram | FREE - PI

   Dennison Bertram joins The Human Protocol Podcast in a conversation that moves from his pre-crypto life in robotics, political science, Prague, fashion, and creative technology into the early days of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The episode matters because it traces how one founder’s worldview was shaped by post-communist Europe, 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and years of building in crypto. In this episode, Dennison shares why he left robotics, how Prague changed his life, and what it felt like to start one of the first Bitcoin exchanges in the Czech Republic. The conversation also turns into a sharp and funny critique of bureaucracy, digital busywork, and the modern internet... Key topics: - Dennison’s path from Carnegie Mellon robotics to political science, and why the late 1990s tech environment felt inhospitable for a Black student - The impact of September 11 on American politics, privacy norms, and the rising influence of ideology over expertise - Why Prague and the Czech Republic became a turning point, both personally and professionally - How post-communist transition created both opportunity and trauma, especially around freedom, rules, and social instability - His move into photography, fashion, and creative technology, including early blogging and helping brands adapt to the internet - Reading the Bitcoin white paper, starting an early Bitcoin exchange in the Czech Republic, and learning the hard way about regulation and startup building - Why Bitcoin and early crypto resonated after the financial crisis and the collapse of trust in traditional systems - Early NFT thinking on Bitcoin, the energy of the Ethereum era, and why crypto felt more experimental then than now - His current philosophy that computers should do computer work, while humans should focus on human things - How family, kids, and mortality shifted his view of time, risk, money, and what actually matters

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   The Anonymous Alchemist: Scoopy Trooples | Alchemix

   This episode follows Scoopy Trooples’ path from a stable career in education into crypto, DeFi, and eventually co-founding Alchemix. He shares how teaching shaped his communication style, why anonymity matters, how the project scaled quickly and what the stress, internal conflict, and recovery looked like on the other side. Together, we discuss the human cost of building in crypto, lessons learned about team structure and security, and how making wellness a priority changed both his work and his life. Key topics: Leaving teaching: Working 60 to 70 hours a week eventually left him feeling trapped and burned out. Finding a new path: Discovering Bitcoin in 2016 gave him a financial cushion to leave teaching and reconsider what he wanted to do next. Learning to build: After exploring early Ethereum apps in 2018, he taught himself to code, including front-end, back-end, and Solidity. Starting Alchemix: A group of builders formed through DeFi Discord communities and launched the protocol in February 2021. Rapid growth and responsibility: Alchemix reached more than 500 million in TVL within about two months, bringing excitement—and intense pressure around security. What team conflict taught him: Scoopy reflects on disagreements over responsibilities and direction, co-founder departures, and why clear roles and accountability matter. Anonymity and safety: He explains why he protects his identity and family, especially given the risks facing people associated with crypto. Teaching as a leadership skill: His classroom experience helped him become a stronger communicator, planner, and public speaker. Burnout and recovery: Chronic pain, repeated attempts to return to work too quickly and how therapy, physical therapy, and training helped. The Curve hack: He describes the two-week effort to recover funds, the community support that helped, and the emotional toll that followed. What’s next for Alchemix: He previews a Base deployment, shorter redemption periods, and a product designed to support fixed yield and yield looping. A side project: Scoopy shares the idea behind Positive Sum Pepe’s, which he describes as a less extractive response to meme coin culture. Useful links: https://x.com/scupytrooples https://alchemix.fi/

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Riding Out: John Crain - SuperRare

   John Crain, co-founder of SuperRare, joins the Human Protocol to chat about his pre-crypto path through architecture, civil engineering, advertising, and startup life before finding his people in the Bitcoin and Ethereum world. We cover how SuperRare grew from an experiment in open protocols and digital art into a major platform, while also covering the emotional side of building through rejection, community criticism, layoffs, and burnout. Key topics - John’s non-linear path into crypto: He studied architecture and civil engineering, then moved into advertising before discovering Bitcoin meetups in New York. The 2008 crash pushed him toward Austrian economics and deeper questions about money, systems, and why things are built the way they are. - Finding his “people” in crypto: John describes the early Ethereum crowd as the first group of ambitious, technically strong people who also questioned existing systems. That mix of openness, curiosity, and “let’s poke holes in everything” was a major reason he stayed. - How Pixura became SuperRare: Pixura began as infrastructure for open standards like ERC-721 before the product direction crystallized. The team ran Pixura and SuperRare in parallel at first, then doubled down on SuperRare when organic community growth made the path obvious. - Why family became a strength: John, his brother Charles, and cousin Jonathan had already spent years tinkering together and even building failed projects before SuperRare. He says family dynamics helped because they were used to disagreeing hard without taking things personally. - The reality of rejection and self-doubt: SuperRare was rejected by about 120 VCs. The team had multiple moments of doubt, including a serious 2019 debate about whether to pivot into DeFi instead. - The first real breakout moment: October 2020 marked SuperRare’s first $1 million volume month. That was the moment John felt the platform might truly work, even though he kept warning the team not to overinterpret any single month. - Gatekeeping, curation, and community tension: SuperRare’s curated model drew criticism from people who wanted a more permissionless marketplace. - Managing community pressure and public scrutiny: We talk about the stress of waking up to countless messages, tags, and conflicts. His coping style was mostly endurance, exercise, surfing, coffee, and getting through one problem at a time. - The emotional weight of scale: During the NFT boom, huge amounts of money moved through the platform, and SuperRare had paid out roughly 280 million to artists. John shares how humbling it was to hear directly from artists whose lives were changed by sales on the platform. - Layoffs and ownership: He reflects on the pain of laying off 30 percent of the team in early 2023 and publicly taking responsibility. The experience sharpened his thinking about hiring, growth, and how quickly organizations can become too large for the market they’re in. - The biggest lesson: say no better. One of his most important growth areas has been learning to say no without guilt. He also now tries to reverse decisions by asking not just why something could work, but how it could fail. - What still motivates him: He remains excited by the idea that crypto can help artists, indie creators, game developers, podcasters, and other builders earn a living from what they make. For John, the long-term promise is less about speculation and more about expanding who can participate in the creator economy.

4. 

   13 Sept 2026

   Growing Up - Eva Beylin

   A wide ranging conversation about Eva's path from Toronto and management consulting into crypto, and how that journey changed alongside the industry itself. Eva shares how early experimentation, burnout and a growing sense of realism shaped both her career decisions and her view of the space.

5. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Be Less Worse: Richard Moore (ricmoo) - ethers.js

   Ric Moo, the creator of Ethers and Firefly, joins the Human Protocol Podcast to talk about his path from early software work in Canada to becoming one of the most influential open source builders in crypto. He shares how a failed Kickstarter, early Ethereum meetups, and a practical need for lighter tooling led to Ethers, then reflects on what it means to maintain critical infrastructure used by millions. This conversation also goes well beyond code. We discuss funding, open source sustainability, capture in crypto, AI’s impact on development, and the personal values that keep Rick grounded: be kind, be thankful, and touch grass. Key topics: - Ric shares his early career at Waterloo, Blackberry, Amazon, and a short-lived Kickstarter experiment that taught him how expensive fulfillment becomes once shipping and rewards are added. - How a hackathon side project and a chance visit to a Bitcoin meetup introduced him to the Ethereum community, including early conversations with Vitalik, Jeff Coleman, Anthony Di Iorio, and others. - Why he built Ethers: Web3.js felt too heavy, so he wanted a smaller, cleaner stack to power his own wallet and a lightweight JSON RPC style interface. - He recounts the early days of Ethereum development meetups, where people synced entire blockchains on laptops and deployed smart contracts live in the room. - The emotional and operational responsibility of maintaining a dependency used at massive scale, especially when releases can affect millions of downloads. - He warns about npm supply chain attacks, explains why he is cautious about publishing small changes, and describes defensive habits like isolating credentials and using bait wallets on sensitive machines. - The conversation turns to sustainability in crypto infrastructure, with Ric arguing that funding has increasingly shifted from grassroots public goods toward captured, VC aligned behavior. - A philosophy for fair systems: rules should keep changing enough that people cannot reliably min max them, because static systems get gamed. - How power concentrates, why most people are not the problem, and how asymmetric incentives let a small group distort entire systems. - Rick closes with his non negotiables: be kind, be grateful, and preserve the habit of treating even small living things with care.

6. 

   10 Aug 2026

   High Standards Build Resilient Ecosystems: Kartik Talwar - ETHGlobal

   In this episode, Kartik Talwar shares his journey from astrophysics to pioneering hackathons that have shaped the blockchain ecosystem. Discover how community-driven feedback, rapid iteration, and a long-term vision fuel innovation in fast-changing tech landscapes. Key Topics: Kartik's transition from physics to tech and what complex systems taught him about problem-solving. The influence of early-stage investments and Silicon Valley exposure on his perspective. How hackathons like ETH Global and Hack the North foster experimentation and real-world product development. The importance of feedback loops in improving developer tools, documentation, and protocols. Strategies for managing growth, including handling thousands of participants and scaling events. The role of open source collaboration versus siloed efforts in ecosystem success. How ongoing bear markets reinforce developer resilience and community value. The massive potential of infrastructure and tooling to enable new business models and startups. Insights into human behavior, competition, and long-term thinking shaping the crypto space.

7. 

   10 Aug 2026

   The Decentralization Revolution: Tech Needs Human Resilience - Jake Brukhman | CoinFund

   Dive into the fascinating journey of Jake Brukhman, a pioneer in the crypto space, tracing his roots from the Soviet Union to becoming a leading investor and technologist. This episode explores the evolution of blockchain technology, its cultural impact, and the future of decentralized AI and finance. In this episode: - Jake shares his early life in Russia and immigration to the U.S. in 1990 - The influence of his scientific family background on his tech career - His transition from finance to founding CoinFund amidst the ICO boom - Lessons learned from a decade of crypto investment and technological innovation - Perspectives on the maturation of crypto, AI, and the potential for decentralization - The importance of balancing technical innovation with commercialization - Insights on navigating bear markets and maintaining entrepreneurial resilience - The role of art and creativity in fostering innovation and mental well-being - Predictions for future breakthroughs in decentralized AI and blockchain applications - Advice for emerging entrepreneurs and investors in the evolving landscape

8. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Proof of Letting Go: The Story of POAP | Patricio Worthalter - POAP

   In this episode, Patricio engages in a candid conversation about POAP, sharing the highs, lows and ultimate closure of the project. His journey reveals profound insights about blockchain, community and the emotional weight of innovation in a rapidly changing industry. In this episode: A founder’s personal background and what drove him into crypto, including his experience with economic crises in Argentina. - How early exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum shaped his views and ambitions. - The emotional rollercoaster of building POAP, including the high-impact moments like Devcon Osaka and the pandemic lows. - The strategic constraints and ethical considerations in building a non-speculative, community-focused platform on Ethereum. - The social significance of POAP in creating a sense of belonging and preserving memories. - How the NFT bubble, market disillusionment, and societal narratives have led to the project's current maintenance mode. - Reflections on the broader crisis facing Ethereum and blockchain as a whole and contemplating long-term relevance. - The importance of knowing when to close a chapter gracefully and detach from legacy projects for new beginnings.

9. 

   2 Jul 2026

   From Progress to Core: Pedro Gomes - WalletConnect

   A Deep Dive with Pedro on Building Resilient Blockchain Infrastructure In this episode, Pedro shares a candid journey through the evolution of WalletConnect and the broader blockchain ecosystem. We explore the importance of protecting the core, balancing innovation with stability, and the future of interoperability in crypto. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an experienced developer, Pedro’s insights challenge us to think differently about tech, leadership, and market cycles.

10. 

    17 Jun 2026

    Building with Resilience and Purpose: Amanda Cassatt - Serotonin

    Join Amanda Cassatt as she shares her transformative journey from traditional media and early tech experiences to pioneering marketing for Ethereum and crypto ecosystems. Discover how resilience, authenticity, and living in alignment with reality have shaped her impactful career and mindset. In this episode, you will learn: - Amanda's early days interning at The New Yorker and her transition into tech and content digitization. - How understanding technology's intersection with content led her to a role at Huffington Post. - The disruptive business models in media and crypto, and their implications. Amanda’s approach to leadership, change management, and handling criticism. - The emotional journey of building Ethereum marketing strategies and overcoming doubts. - The importance of patience, adaptability, and living in sync with real-world constraints. - How Amanda navigated the NFT boom and bust, and lessons learned about value and hype. - The philosophy of Wu Wei in startups and living with the flow of reality. - The role of authenticity on social media and maintaining integrity at scale. - The significance of building in service of human progress, not just wealth.

11. 

    3 Jun 2026

    E.G. Galano - Infura

    The Journey of Building Ethereum Infrastructure and the Future of Web3 Innovation In this episode, EG shares over a decade of experience in blockchain infrastructure, the evolution of Ethereum-based services, lessons learned, and visions for a decentralized future. Discover the human side of high-stakes tech development, team resilience, and the importance of community-driven innovation.

12. 

    19 May 2026

    María Paula Fernández - Aave Labs

    From Argentina to Crypto Innovation: The Journey of a Community Builder and Industry Changemaker Join this insightful conversation as we explore the personal journey of a leading woman in crypto: her early days, community-building successes, industry challenges, and her inspiring vision for the future beyond blockchain. Main Topics: Her background in Argentina and the move to Berlin fueled by career and personal passion Transition from oil and gas to crypto, founding ETH Berlin, and community-driven initiatives The rise and fall of her project, lessons from industry crashes, and personal growth Navigating industry rejection as a generalist and finding her path within established companies Her evolving perspective on crypto, industry disillusionment, and the importance of meaningful contribution The potential of blockchain to transform finance and her plans for the future, including a vintage shop... The impact of motherhood on her life and her reflections on change and future inspirations

13. 

    28 Apr 2026

    Griff Green — Giveth

    Griff Green is a longtime Ethereum community organizer, co-founder of Giveth, and one of the key figures in the White Hat response to The DAO hack. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and explores his journey from chemical engineering to crypto, the early days of Ethereum, and the values that continue to drive his work today.

14. 

    14 Apr 2026

    Austin Griffith — Ethereum Foundation

    Austin Griffith is Head of Developer Growth at the Ethereum Foundation. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and Austin shares his journey from tinkering and building to becoming a key member of the Ethereum ecosystem. He discusses his projects like Burner Wallet, the impact of AI on blockchain development, and the importance of empathy and community in tech innovation.

15. 

    6 Apr 2026

    Stani Kulechov — Aave Labs

    Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave Labs. This episode was recorded live onstage at EthCC and explores his challenges, motivations, and lessons learned along the way. Stani describes the early days of Aave as filled with sleepless nights and intense stress. Each protocol iteration demanded extensive focus and collaboration from the entire team, as they worked tirelessly to address every detail and edge case. This phase was not just about coding, it was about ensuring that the platform could handle real-world financial transactions securely. Let’s talk about the personal side of building big things. Welcome to the show.

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2 ratings

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