Blockchain, AI, and the World We're Building

Join us as we speak with Dr. Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of the Metaverse Institute and co-chair of the UN International Telecommunication Union's metaverse task group, about the real-world challenges and opportunities at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and global development. From AI-generated deepfakes threatening heads of state to the tokenization of national government debt, Christina paints a compelling and grounded picture of where blockchain technology can deliver genuine impact, and what's at stake if we get it wrong.

Participants
Dr. Christina Yan Zhang
CEO, The Metaverse Institute
Alexander Moser
Head of Infrastructure, Cardano Foundation
Published June 18, 2026 in Podcast

Related resources

Why Enterprises Should Be Talking About Trust, Not Tech
Podcast

Why Enterprises Should Be Talking About Trust, Not Tech

In this episode, we speak with Ivan Branco, who leads information management, AI, and analytics for the Volvo Group's logistics operations in Belgium, about the real-world case for blockchain in enterprise manufacturing. The conversation covers why blockchain is still misunderstood in the boardroom and how to change that, the country of origin compliance problem and the costly fines it creates, Volvo's internal exploration of a proprietary cryptocurrency for supplier transactions, the fragmented blockchain landscape and how too many competing chains undermine trust, and why cultural change is the true barrier to adoption.

Listen now
What Market Makers Actually Do in Crypto and DeFi
Podcast

What Market Makers Actually Do in Crypto and DeFi

In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Mathai, Director at G20 Strategies, to unpack how market making works across crypto, DeFi, and traditional finance. Jonathan explains the role of market makers, how liquidity is created in both order book and AMM-based markets, and why uptime, slippage, and volume matter for healthy market structure. The conversation also explores yield generation, risk management, hedging strategies, and how market makers navigate volatility, MEV, and emerging tools like AI as crypto markets continue to mature.

Listen now
The Infrastructure Beneath the Next Economy
Podcast

The Infrastructure Beneath the Next Economy

In this episode, we speak with Douglas Heintzman, Chief Catalyst at the Blockchain Research Institute and CEO of Syncura, about how digital trust infrastructure is shaping the next phase of the global economy. The discussion explores how blockchain enables trusted data and transactions, and how identity, credentials, and payment systems connect to reduce friction across industries. The conversation also covers governance, interoperability, and how embedding trust at the infrastructure level can support more efficient processes and real-world adoption at scale.

Listen now