In this episode, Ben Chan, CTO of BitGo, joins me for a conversation about the company, how to secure crypto assets, and the future of custody.

Mineful is a B2B payment solution that offers application developers an alternative to monetize their free tier users. With its payment framework, a user exchanges their spare computing power called hash power for a product’s premium service such as Spotify Premium. Mineful aggregates hash power, mines cryptocurrency, converts to fiat and then pays its clients a profit share.

I was recently the victim of identity theft, crypto ransomware, and a cybercrime. Hackers were able to break havoc onto my digital/personal life by stealing my mobile phone number through illegal SIM porting. I was not the first victim, and unfortunately, I will certainly not be the last. EXTRA PRECAUTION, replacing two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS with 2FA via 3rd party app + hardware security tokens, and pressuring companies to invest in advancing cryptography are the best ways to minimize the risk of getting hacked.

This is a good faith attempt to democratize access to knowledge and summarize much of my findings after spending 2+ years researching and meeting dozens of teams and investors at the edge of this fast-moving emerging industry. The following is a living document that summarizes my macro understanding and evolving thesis around cryptoassets and blockchain using visualizations, data, and strategic analysis intended as a research tool for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

The following post analyzes trends in the cryptocurrency market, reviews Coinbase’s competitive positioning / business model / risks / prospects, and provides recommendations for the company to capture additional value by leveraging concepts taught in Wharton’s Tech Strategy MBA course.

David Gogel (Wharton MBA ’18) talks with Charles Birnbaum (Wharton MBA ’11), Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), a venture capital fund with $4.5B under management that invests in startups from seed stage to growth.

David Gogel chats with Arthur Hayes, CEO and Co-Founder of BitMEX, aka the Bitcoin Mercantile Exchange, a cryptocurrency-based derivatives exchange based in Hong Kong. They discuss Arthur’s background, the launch of BitMEX, Bitcoin, Ethereum, derivatives trading, exchange business models, regulation, security, initial coin offerings, and the future state of cryptocurrencies. BitMEX handles on average $100 million dollars per day in the total value of products traded. The company is wholly owned by HDR Global Trading Limited, a Republic of Seychelles incorporated entity.

David Gogel (Wharton MBA ’18) talks with David Klein, CEO and Co-founder of CommonBond. David discusses a wide range of topics in FinTech, student lending, and entrepreneurship. He goes deep on CommonBond’s student loans products, business model, and future prospects. He discusses how the Wharton MBA experience helped him launch CommonBond. We also cover David’s views on the FinTech industry more broadly, blockchain, and advice for student entrepreneurs.

David Gogel chats with Daniel Schreiber, CEO and Co-Founder of Lemonade, an insurtech startup based in New York. The property and casualty insurance company offers fast and low cost homeowners and renters insurance powered by technology, honest culture, and a commitment to social good. The company just raised $34 million in series B financing and is backed by top Venture Capital firms including Sequoia, General Catalyst, and Google Ventures.

In late October, Wharton FinTech went on a company trek for the day to New York. We met with two Marketplace Lending (MPL) startups (Bread Finance, Bond Street) and two investors (JP Morgan Chase, Nyca Partners). The following post provides an overview of the MPL business model, growth opportunities, and emerging risks that were discussed over the course of those meetings.

I moved from New York to Tokyo for work in December 2014 with very limited Japanese. Many friends have asked me about my experiences and for advice on where to go, what to see, and of course, what to eat and drink. Part 3 covers Tokyo’s best bars, best cocktails, best clubs, best coffeeshops, best restaurants, best walking tours, and tips for traveling outside of Tokyo.

I moved from New York to Tokyo for work in December 2014 with very limited Japanese. Many friends have asked me about my experiences and for advice on where to go, what to see, and of course, what to eat and drink. Part 2 covers traditional Japan, cool & weird Japan, sports, matsuris, and national holidays.

I moved from New York to Tokyo for work in December 2014 with very limited Japanese. Many friends have asked me about my experiences and for advice on where to go, what to see, and of course, what to eat and drink. Part 1 covers Japan’s top 10, public policy, science & tech, transportation, and useful apps / websites.