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CoinDesk


Generation Crypto is focused on how brands and marketers are exploring and building in the Web3 ecosystem to experiment in and potentially transform their businesses. Each week, our hosts Avery Akkineni of Vayner 3 and Sam Ewen from CoinDesk, will dive into how Fortune 500 brands and new start-ups alike are coming to the blockchain and utilizing new technologies, the creator economy and rewriting fandom/ownership to generate attention, gain customers and create value for their bottom line and those of their communities.


Gen C

From accountant to TikTok executive to "Sir Candle Man," Kudzi shares his insights on authentic content creation and the evolving creator economy.

In this episode, we sit down with Kudzi Chikumbu, former Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok turned creator, investor and advisor who helped shape the platform's early creator partnerships and brought it into modern awareness. Kudzi shares his unique journey from Zimbabwe to Silicon Valley and from accounting to becoming an influential voice in the creator economy. The conversation spans everything from the evolution of social media platforms to specific strategies for aspiring creators and Kudzi’s love for a good candle!

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Kudzi’s TwitterKudzi’s TikTokSir Candle Man’s TikTok
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building Authentic Communities in the Digital Age with Kudzi Chikumbu

Comic Con pioneer Gareb Shamus discusses the transformation of geek culture from niche to mainstream and reveals his latest venture in collectibles.

Gareb Shamus, Founder of Wizard Magazine and Co-Founder of Comic Con, shares the untold origin story of cosplay at conventions and how his magazine revolutionized comic collecting through price guides and industry coverage. Gareb discusses transforming Comic Con into a cultural phenomenon and introduces StarPics, his new company creating authenticated celebrity autograph cards using innovative security features.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Pudgy Penguins PENGU Token Debuts at $2.3B Market CapNVIDIA Unveils Its Most Affordable Generative AI SupercomputerGareb’s TwitterStarPics Website
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Wizard Magazine to Building a Comic Con Empire with Gareb Shamus

Gen C's first episode of 2025 features hosts Avery and Sam trading predictions about the future of entertainment, technology and sustainability, including bold forecasts about creator crossovers, AI personalization and the revival of dead brands.

In the first episode of the year, hosts Avery and Sam share their predictions for 2025 across various sectors including creator economy, AI, gaming, crypto and sustainability. They discuss predictions ranging from Kai Cenat getting a major movie deal and GTA VI becoming the biggest video game launch ever, to the rise of personalized AI and live shopping in the US. The episode concludes with discussions about reviving dead brands and the growing importance of carbon-neutral technology.

Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Year Ahead: 10 Bold Predictions for 2025

Former TikTok Head of Marketing Nick Tran shares how the traditional marketing playbook is evolving and why brands need to rethink their approach to connecting with modern consumers.

Nick Tran is a marketing innovator whose career spans leadership roles at Samsung, Hulu and most notably as Head of Marketing at TikTok during its explosive growth phase. In this episode, he discusses how TikTok revolutionized content consumption, why traditional brand marketing needs to evolve, and his perspectives on AI, organic social media and the future of marketing in 2025. Nick also shares anecdotes on how he became a Co-Executive Producer on Kanye West’s documentary Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Meta’s fact-checking changes are just what Trump’s FCC head asked forVayner Media x Ipsos ReportNick’s TwitterNick’s LinkedIn
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The New Rules of Brand Building with Nick Tran

DJ Skee joins us this week to talk about the evolution of marketing through product placement and the power of nostalgia in collecting.

DJ Skee is a multifaceted entrepreneur known for breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lorde and pioneering marketing strategies in music and tech. As the founder of The Realist, he's revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry through blockchain authentication and innovative collecting experiences. In this episode, Skee shares his journey from teenage hustler to cultural innovator, offering insights on everything from early influencer marketing to the future of digital collecting.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

DJ Skee’s TwitterThe Realist Website
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remixing the Future of Collectibles with DJ Skee

In this episode, we sit down with CEO, Connor Gaydos who spent $275 to acquire the abandoned Enron brand and is now working to transform one of America's most infamous corporate scandals into a symbol of redemption and innovation.

Connor Gaydos, co-creator of the viral "Birds Aren't Real" movement and now the CEO of Enron, joins ‘Gen C’ to discuss his surprising acquisition and the relaunch of one of America's most notorious corporate brands. In this conversation, Connor shares his vision for transforming Enron through a combination of earnest business ventures—including home nuclear reactors and logistics services—and unique marketing tactics.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Connor’s TwitterEnron’s Website
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Rebirth of Enron with Connor Gaydos

This episode touches on crypto marketing with Kraken's CMO Mayur Gupta who shares how technical expertise, brand values and customer trust can drive digital finance innovation.

Mayur Gupta, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Kraken, brings unique insight as a former developer turned marketing executive at one of crypto's longest-standing exchanges. In this episode, Mayur discusses the evolution of marketing in tech companies, the false dichotomy between brand and performance marketing and his vision for crypto adoption globally. 

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

The DeepSeek-R1 Effect and Web3-AIMayur’s Twitter
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: 
https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building Lasting Crypto Brands with Mayur Gupta

In this special Gen Z episode, artist and world builder Sam Spratt discusses his career, creative journey, and innovative use of technology in art. He shares insights from his early life and education, the development of his artistic style, and the impact of his project 'Luci,' including his newest chapter Masquerade.The conversation delves into his unique use of AI in the mask maker system, the blending of human and digital artistry, and the ethical considerations of creating art in a digital age. Spratt also touches on the dynamics of the crypto art world and his approach to integrating traditional artistic values with modern tools.

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

MasqueradeSam Spratt's Twitter
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 1,000 Hands of Sam Spratt

Christina Smedley of Lightspark, live from Consensus HK, to discuss how their technology enables cross-border payments without high fees and serves both developed and emerging markets.

Christina Smedley, who has previously worked at Amazon, PayPal, Facebook, and Robinhood, discusses her current role at Lightspark where she's helping to revolutionize payments through Bitcoin's Lightning Network. She explains Lightspark's Universal Money Address (UMA) solution that allows people to send money as easily as emails and talks about Spark, their open-source Layer 2 blockchain designed specifically for payments and stablecoin transactions. 

Links mentioned from the podcast: 

Lightspark WebsiteChristina’s Twitter 
Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • Friends, DeFi is having a moment — Uniswap Labs' web app and wallet connect you to the excitement. Swapping and bridging are simple, low cost, and lightning fast across 13 chains, including Base, Arbitrum and Unichain, the new Layer 2 network designed for DeFi. Thanks to deep liquidity on Uniswap Protocols, you get minimal price impact on every trade, now with even greater efficiency through Uniswap v4. Swap, send, on-ramp, off-ramp, and bridge into a bright future — get started at 
https://app.uniswap.org/ • .

-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to Build a Crypto Business with Christina Smedley of Lightspark

In this farewell episode, Avery and Sam reflect on her journey as co-host and share insights on the evolving digital landscape and what’s next for the pod. 

Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, records her final episode as co-host of the Gen C podcast after a two and a half year run spanning 112 episodes. They discuss the evolution of Web3 adoption among brands, from the initial NFT boom to today’s landscape and the valuable lessons learned during her time as co-host. 

Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
Avery Akkineni • , 
CoinDesk • , 
Vayner3
From our sponsor: 

 • Friends, DeFi is having a moment — Uniswap Labs' web app and wallet connect you to the excitement. Swapping and bridging are simple, low cost, and lightning fast across 13 chains, including Base, Arbitrum and Unichain, the new Layer 2 network designed for DeFi. Thanks to deep liquidity on Uniswap Protocols, you get minimal price impact on every trade, now with even greater efficiency through Uniswap v4. Swap, send, on-ramp, off-ramp, and bridge into a bright future — get started at 
https://app.uniswap.org/ • .

-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Avery’s Final Episode, The New Gen C

Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, joins Sam Ewen on an episode of "CoinDesk Spotlight" with a conversation about the transformative potential of AI and the journey that led him from computer science to digital art and the NFT ecosystem. Beeple shares insights into the evolution of his artwork, the role of technology in his creative process, and the impact of AI tools in pushing the boundaries of digital art.

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This content should not be construed or relied upon as investment advice. It is for entertainment and general information purposes.

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Ledn is the leading platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, offering a secure and transparent way to unlock liquidity without selling your Bitcoin. Ledn has issued over $9 billion in loans since 2018 and has never lost a single satoshi of client assets, earning a reputation as the name you can trust in the crypto space.Visit https://www.ledn.io/ to learn more.

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Timestamps:

01:31 NFT Ecosystem Insights

03:58 Journey into Digital Art

06:56 Exploring Blockchain and NFTs

13:12 Artistic Process and AI Integration

15:07 Balancing Commentary and Creativity

23:41 Daily Creative Practice

31:47 The Evolution of Craft in the Age of AI

36:54 The Impact of Financialization on Art

41:45 Reflecting on Past Works and Changing Perspectives

49:26 The Open Source Mentality and Its Benefits

53:27 • Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights

Watch this episode on video:

YouTubeCoinDesk
Follow us on Twitter: 

Sam Ewen • , 
CoinDesk
-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen. Executive produced by Uyen Truong.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beeple on AI, NFTs and Creativity | CoinDesk Spotlight Replay

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