We were joined by Founder Adam Perlow and Developer Asher Manning of Zen, a public blockchain project focused on building a decentralized financial system. The core premise of Zen is that none of the public blockchain networks are focused on financial asset. Zen is aiming to fill that gap through a Bitcoin-like UTXO architecture that supports multiple asset and smart contracts to enforce complex ownership rules. We talked through their original design choices, their use of formal verification, connection to Bitcoin and vision for a fully decentralized financial system. Topics covered in this episode: Why existing public blockchains are ill-suited for financial instruments Why Zen chose to use a Bitcoin-like UTXO architecture How Zen uses formal verification to allow smart contracts without a virtual machine or needing gas How the Active Contract Set reduces the burden on the miners Walking through creating, trading and settling a call option on Zen How Zen allows payments to be settled in Bitcoin Getting data from the outside world with oracles Zen’s use of Proof-of-Work regulated by on-chain governance Episode links: Zen Protocol - A Financial Engine Zen Protocol - Whitepaper Zen Protocol - Deck Google Campus Presentation - YouTube Zen - Alpha Version Zen Protocol Founders Film - YouTube Oracles and Zen – Zen Protocol Zen’s contract lifecycle – Zen Protocol This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/212

Chaincode Labs Founder Alex Morcos joined us to discuss his journey, the role of the company in Bitcoin’s development and the views that drive his work. Topics covered in this episode: Alex’s background in high frequency trading as a founder of Hudson River Trading How Alex first learned about Bitcoin The vision of Chaincode Labs Why Bitcoin represents our only chance of creating digital gold Why Bitcoin’s resistance to change is one of its core features Why the NYA & SegWit2x approach was misguided How getting consensus around a hard fork blocksize increase could work Why Alex is not excited about the efforts to use blockchains in banks Episode links: Chain Code Labs, Inc Twitter Alex Morcos Why Bitcoin doesn’t need a solution – Alex Morcos – Medium No2x: Centralized Services – Alex Morcos – Medium No2x: Full Nodes – Alex Morcos – Medium This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/210