Ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze joins as a Guest Host to discuss the controversies and issues surrounding the Starknet airdrop, the phased rollout of Soroban smart contracts on the Stellar blockchain and the concept of liquid restaking incentives and rewards. This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund Follow the show here for more. In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, explore the following stories: Starknet Airdrop Coverage  Starknet Token STRK begins trading at $5 after a mammoth airdrop. A Fully diluted value of STRK reached as high as $50 billion with an initial market cap of $3.64 billion. Stellar Starts 'Soroban' Smart Contracts The "Protocol 20" upgrade, which adds support for Ethereum-style smart contracts to the decade-old payments-focused blockchain, had been delayed by three weeks due to precautions after a bug was found. Liquid Restaking Landscape New liquid restaking platforms like Puffer and Ether.Fi have attracted billions of dollars in deposits, but they've birthed a speculative "points" frenzy that carries some risks. PROTOCOL VILLAGE GUEST HOST |   Mike Silagadze, CEO and Founder at Ether.fi - the first ETH staking protocol that allows stakers to maintain full control of their keys throughout the entire staking process, making it the only truly decentralized liquid staking platform. Takeaways |  - Controversies and issues often arise with airdrops, including eligibility criteria and token unlocks. -The introduction of smart contracts on established blockchains can rejuvenate the ecosystem and attract new users. -Liquid restaking is a natural extension of proof-of-stake blockchains and allows users to stake their assets while maintaining liquidity. -Points in liquid restaking protocols have sparked speculation and trading frenzy, but their future value is uncertain. -The explosive growth in the liquid restaking market may experience a correction in the future. The money printer being turned on again has led to a speculative frenzy in various markets, including crypto. -Restaking has become a focal point of speculation and value creation in the crypto space. -EtherFi aims to become a trusted brand for holding ETH and accessing DeFi, with plans to roll out integrated products over time. Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER  EPISODE LINKS |   Starknet Token STRK Begins Trading at $5 After Mammoth Airdrop STRK Tokens Claimed Hit 420M in a Day as On-Chain Metrics Soar Starknet’s STRK Drops 53% Amid Token Issuance Criticism Stellar Starts Phased Rollout of 'Soroban' Smart Contracts Liquid Restaking Tokens or 'LRTs' Revived Ethereum DeFi. Can the Hype Last? Liquid Restaking Protocol Puffer Rakes in $1B in Deposits in Just 3 Weeks As Crypto 'Points' Farming Grows, So Does Risk of Vague Promises Etherfi  Mike Silagadze - EtherFi | LinkedIn  - From Our Sponsor:  The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today. Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org - The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.