Brendon Sedo: Yield on Bitcoin? CoreDAO’s Vision for Institutional DeFi

Block by Block: A Show on Web3 Growth Marketing

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Summary

In this conversation, Brendan Sedo shares his path from a 15-year career in tech to his current role at CoreDAO. He dives into the platform’s mission to expand Bitcoin’s utility, particularly through products like LST Bitcoin that offer yield without compromising decentralization. Brendan highlights how customer development, institutional partnerships, and community building are central to CoreDAO’s growth. He also discusses how content marketing and hackathons play a vital role in educating users and attracting builders. Throughout, his long-term focus is clear: create a sustainable, user-friendly ecosystem that unlocks new layers of value for Bitcoin.

Takeaways

— Brendan Sedo brings 15+ years of tech experience, including a successful startup exit, to the crypto world.

— Customer development is a core focus, ensuring real-world problems are solved through user feedback.

— CoreDAO aims to expand Bitcoin’s utility, not just store its value.

— LST Bitcoin offers a low-risk yield product targeted at institutions.

— Institutions show growing interest in Bitcoin yield with manageable risk profiles.

— CoreDAO is building a two-sided network with both retail and institutional traction.

— Developer engagement is being fueled through upcoming hackathons.

— Content marketing is key to onboarding and educating users about Bitcoin, staking, and DeFi.

— CoreDAO’s vision is long-term, with an emphasis on sustainability and trust.

— The team is focused on creating a blockchain that balances innovation with accessibility.

Timeline

(00:00) Introduction to Brendan Sedo and CoreDAO

(03:58) Brendan’s journey into crypto and background in tech

(07:02) Lessons from customer development in the construction industry

(09:55) Applying user-centric development to crypto products

(12:43) CoreDAO’s mission to increase Bitcoin’s utility

(15:52) Sidechains vs Layer 2s: technical distinctions

(18:48) Intro to Bitcoin staking and the concept of yield

(21:55) Institutional approach to LST Bitcoin

(24:53) What institutions want: feedback and risk appetite

(27:46) Building a two-sided market: retail and institutions

(32:04) Launching with community involvement

(33:07) Gaming and new verticals on Core

(34:26) Hybrid consensus: Proof of Work + Stake

(36:57) Educating users through content marketing

(42:13) Hackathons as a strategy to attract developers

(46:04) Bitcoin’s next chapter: competition and opportunity

(50:30) Wallet UX and integrating user experience

(55:14) What’s next: growth, vision, and community

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Brendon Sedo and CoreDAO (00:00:00)

2. Brendan’s journey into crypto and background in tech (00:03:58)

3. Lessons from customer development in the construction industry (00:07:02)

4. Applying user-centric development to crypto products (00:09:55)

5. CoreDAO’s mission to increase Bitcoin’s utility (00:12:43)

6. Sidechains vs Layer 2s: technical distinctions (00:15:52)

7. Intro to Bitcoin staking and the concept of yield (00:18:48)

8. Institutional approach to LST Bitcoin (00:21:55)

9. What institutions want: feedback and risk appetite (00:24:53)

10. Building a two-sided market: retail and institutions (00:27:46)

11. Launching with community involvement (00:32:04)

12. Gaming and new verticals on Core (00:33:07)

13. Hybrid consensus: Proof of Work + Stake (00:34:26)

14. Educating users through content marketing (00:36:57)

15. Hackathons as a strategy to attract developers (00:42:13)

16. Bitcoin’s next chapter: competition and opportunity (00:46:04)

17. Wallet UX and integrating user experience (00:50:30)

18. What’s next: growth, vision, and community (00:55:14)