Transcript Ep. 332: Ukraine Has Received $150 Million in Crypto. Here’s How It Is Being Used

Laura Shin:

Hey, all. A few quick announcements before we begin. First, last Friday I mentioned I will be doing a reading and signing at Harvard, this coming Friday March 26. I was not aware that this is not an event open to the general public. So sorry about that. But they said I could have a few non-Harvard people there. If you’re located in Boston and interested in attending, email Hello@unchainedpodcast.com. Subject line, Harvard reading and we will give the few spots out available to the general public first come, first serve. The event, again, is Friday March 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. on the Harvard campus at HBS Aldrich 011. 

I’ll be interviewed about my book by NF Castles Michelle Choi and will also do a signing. I also mentioned that I will be moderating a panel the next day, but again that is only for Harvard students. 

Here are the other book events I have coming up, so if you want to see me or get your book signed, please mark your calendars for these dates. I will put all the details in the share notes and very soon we will be putting a section for tours on my website, LauraShin.com. Okay. Here’s the rest of the upcoming events. 

On Tuesday April 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. I will be doing a reading and signing hosted by the City of Miami Beach and Future Perfect Ventures at Sky Yard. Jalak Jobanputra, CEO of Future Perfect Ventures will be interviewing me. You need to RSVP by April 1, information in the show notes. 

On Saturday April 9 at 11 a.m. I will be on a panel at the Annapolis Book Festival. 

On Tuesday April 12, at a time TBD I will be at Startup Grinds global event in Redwood City, which is focused this year on Web3. 

Finally, I will be in conversation with author Jimmy Soni at the PBS Seattle Crosscut Festival, which takes place from May 4 to May 7. I will also be at the Oslo Freedom Forum, which takes place from May 23 to 25. Details on these events are TBD. And now, on to the show. 

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Unchained, your no-hype resource for all things crypto. I’m your host, Laura Shin, author of The Cryptopians. I started covering crypto six years ago, and as the senior editor at Forbes was the first mainstream media reporter to cover cryptocurrency full-time. This is the March 22, 2022 episode of Unchained. 

Buy, earn, and spend crypto on the Crypto.com app. New users can enjoy zero credit card fees on crypto purchases in the first 30 days. Download the Crypto.com app and get 25 dollars with the code Laura. Link in the description. 

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Welcome to a new world of crypto-friendly banking with Cross River Bank. Request your fiat on / off ramp solution now at Crossriver.com/crypto. Today’s topic is crypto efforts to support Ukraine. Here to discuss are George Kikvadze, Vice Chair of BitFury Group and Illia Polosukhin, Cofounder of NEAR Protocol. Welcome George and Illia. 

George Kikvadze:

Hi, Laura. Great to be back. 

Illia Polosukhin:

Thank you. 

Laura Shin:

Let’s just start with your background in crypto so people understand what your involvement was in crypto before we get to the main topic.