Human Protocol

From Progress to Core: Pedro Gomes - WalletConnect

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 17:40:00 +0000

Main topics:

The evolution of Wallet Connect and navigating hype cycles
Protecting the core: essentials for sustainable infrastructure
How market dynamics influence product focus and decision-making
Balancing innovation and public goods vs business models
The significance of account abstraction and blockchain-level fixes
Leadership lessons: stepping back, seeking feedback, and measuring success
The future of blockchain user experience with localized wallets and stablecoins

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and the human side of crypto conversations
02:16 - Normalizing ups and downs in tech journeys
03:41 - Pedro’s early life before crypto and search for impact
04:43 - Disillusionment with science and turn to photography
06:08 - From photography to coding and e-commerce opportunities
07:48 - Transition into fintech and learning about regulation
10:33 - Discovering Bitcoin and crypto’s value over time
12:31 - The challenge of innovation within regulatory constraints
14:05 - Building Wallet Connect independently with community support
15:50 - Balancing market momentum with product focus
19:35 - The explosive growth of Wallet Connect during bull markets
24:06 - Moving from open source to a sustainable business model
26:47 - Diversification of Wallet Connect products and market noise
27:16 - Returning to focus: the importance of the core in turbulent times
30:40 - The influence of resource abundance and making better decisions
36:33 - Certification, localization, and wallets tailored to user needs
40:20 - Protecting the core as the blockchain space matures
44:24 - Interoperability at the blockchain layer — a crucial frontier
50:23 - The need for local stablecoins to unlock the next wave of wallets
54:42 - Inspiring impact and global lessons from different markets
57:46 - Ethereum’s decision-making process and the importance of product managers

Resources & Links:

Connect with Pedro:

Building with Resilience and Purpose: Amanda Cassatt - Serotonin

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:20:00 +0000

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and Amanda’s background in media and early tech experiences
02:15 - Transition from writing to understanding content on the internet
04:38 - Disruptive media business models and ad-driven economics
07:00 - Amanda’s entry into crypto via Ethereum meetups and community insights
09:45 - The excitement and technical complexity of blockchain at Ethereum meetups
11:10 - Amanda’s role in shaping Ethereum's marketing and her vision to elevate the ecosystem
13:35 - Leaving consensus and reflecting on lessons from media to crypto
16:10 - Building trust and changing internal communication strategies at Ethereum Foundation
17:50 - The emotional toll of marketing campaigns and real-world validation
19:45 - Confronting criticism and self-doubt during Ethereum’s price spike & campaign success
22:00 - Handling setbacks, personal resilience, and the importance of deadlines
23:40 - The mindset of trying, testing, and learning in uncertain environments
26:00 - Living with the unknown: embracing discomfort as growth
29:00 - The metaphors of muscle tearing and emotional growth; navigating discomfort
31:00 - Managing perceptions, misjudgments, and acting with internal authenticity
33:12 - The importance of flow, Wu Wei, and accepting reality as a foundation for leadership
36:00 - Maintaining patience and conviction aligned with external reality
42:00 - Building the Ethereum ecosystem through strategic marketing and community-building
44:20 - Starting Serotonin and avoiding VC reliance: a model of profitable growth
49:00 - The dangers of overhyped tech bubbles and lessons from NFT collapses
55:10 - Value creation versus hype: understanding true worth in digital assets
56:50 - The lasting impact of NFT technology and its nuanced applications
58:30 - The significance of adaptability and not overcommitting in volatile markets
59:45 - Inner confidence, humility, and moving with the natural flow of reality
62:00 - Authenticity in social media and the importance of true self-expression
66:00 - Keeping motivated amidst market pressure and innovation's pace
68:45 - Feedback, critique, and the value of community dialogue in building resilient ecosystems
70:00 - Ethereum’s potential as a bulwark against authoritarianism and systemic overreach
71:00 - Amanda’s broader philosophy: creating genuinely valuable work and focusing on the territory
73:20 - The gap between perceived value (map) and real value (territory) in finance and society
75:00 - Living in alignment with fundamental real-world values rather than abstractions
76:00 - The Borges story of the perfect map and the perils of losing touch with reality
77:00 - Final thoughts: embracing change, authenticity, and purpose-driven building

E.G. Galano - Infura

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 14:06:30 +0000

Key Topics: EG's background in reliability engineering and early startup experiences in gaming and hospitality The founding story of Infura and its rapid growth alongside Ethereum adoption Challenges of infrastructure scaling, managing work-life balance, and building resilient systems amid explosive growth Transition from a single company focus to a decentralized infrastructure protocol Lessons on monetization, staying relevant, and balancing technical excellence with community value The evolution from core infrastructure to supporting multi-chain ecosystems and emerging primitives like NFTs and stablecoins The importance of humility, open-mindedness, and responsibility in crypto development The future: building a protocol for real-world asset trading and embracing the potential of AI and blockchain convergence Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: the human side of building blockchain infrastructure

00:20 - EG’s early career in gaming and reliability engineering
02:08 - The inception of Infura and initial challenges
04:22 - The shift in Ethereum growth and infrastructure reliance
07:24 - Managing work-life balance during rapid scaling
09:45 - Recognizing the significance of infrastructure dependency
12:25 - The ICO boom and monetization struggles
15:05 - Balancing community trust and product development
16:59 - Handling criticisms and system reliability concerns
19:14 - Passing the torch: transitioning Infura’s infrastructure responsibility
22:41 - Building a decentralized protocol for RPC and infrastructure commoditization
27:25 - Challenges of industry growth, competition, and resource allocation
31:00 - Reflections on supporting new chains and primitives
36:48 - Stepping away from Infura and future directions in Web3
42:38 - The importance of community, responsibility, and innovation
46:34 - Personal lessons: staying humble, open-minded, and dedicated
49:13 - Closing thoughts: gratitude, pragmatic ethos, and the next chapter

Resources & Links:
https://x.com/egalano
https://x.com/infura_io

Note: Insights emphasize the importance of community responsibility, the human experience behind infrastructure projects, and the ongoing evolution towards a more decentralized ecosystem.

María Paula Fernández - Aave Labs

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:35:00 +0000

Timestamps:

(00:07) - Welcome and introduction to the guest’s background

(01:10) - Her life before crypto in Argentina and move to Berlin

(03:00) - Early work in oil, gas, and polo magazines

(04:46) - Transition into NGO work with migrant children in Berlin

(08:00) - Discovery of blockchain through a young refugee's curiosity

(09:00) - Entry into Web3 Foundation and early industry efforts

(11:00) - Building ETH Berlin and community initiatives (Department of Decentralization)

(15:11) - The significance of ETH Berlin and industry events

(17:30) - Starting her own company focused on art and NFTs

(21:48) - The high-energy NFT boom and her cultural contributions

(22:23) - Reflections on industry recognition and her personal growth

(23:24) - The impact of market crashes on her project and industry disillusionment

(25:57) - Winding down her project, feelings about the industry’s state

(27:16) - Transition from industry expert to exploring new possibilities (vintage shop)

(41:56) - Changes over the past decade and her personal evolution

(42:47) - Managing social media presence and industry advocacy shifts

(45:10) - Future ambitions beyond crypto, including her vintage shop

(46:27) - What continues to inspire her about blockchain’s transformative potential

Resources & Links:

Ethereum Foundation

Golem - Decentralized Computing Network

ETH Berlin

Department of Decentralization

Aave

Connect with the Guest:

Twitter

Note: MP shares her story with sincerity and depth, highlighting her resilience, community focus, and desire to evolve both personally and within the industry.

Griff Green — Giveth

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Griff Green) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:24:36 +0000

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.

We talk about what happens when ideals meet reality. Griff shares how ethical conflicts in his engineering career, heartbreak over the Seattle SuperSonics, and a growing distrust of existing systems pushed him toward anarchism, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and eventually community coordination at the center of one of crypto’s defining crises.

Griff gives a firsthand account of The DAO hack, the White Hat group, and the strange intensity of becoming responsible for protecting a young ecosystem under pressure. But the deeper story is about trust, responsibility, and the belief that crypto can still help build economies around values that governments and spreadsheets fail to recognize.

Let’s talk about responsibility, values, and building something better. Welcome to the show.

Austin Griffith — Ethereum Foundation

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Austin Griffith, Nick Hollins) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:45:45 +0000

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.

We talk about finding acceptance in the crypto space. Feelings of imposter syndrome, real stories of impact, and reflections on finding balance between personal life and work. Exploring the meaning of cypherpunk ideals and open source. And how he's thinking about a changing landscape for developers and the impact of AI on entrepreneurship.

Stani Kulechov — Aave Labs

pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Stani Kulechov, Nick Hollins) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 15:03:24 +0000

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.

Have you ever wondered about the human side of being responsible for a DeFi protocol which gathers billions in assets? We hear about what it takes to stay focused and on track amongst all the noise and distractions. How things change over the years from being a young programmer to becoming a father and navigating the complexities of an industry which doesn't take days off.

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.