In this episode of the DeFi Podcast, we’re joined by Steven Gates (@STVNGTS), founder of GoGoPool, to explore why the “L2 thesis is crumbling” and how Avalanche’s L1 ecosystem is positioned to dominate crypto’s future.
Steven gives an insider’s look at GoGoPool’s infrastructure breakthroughs, including the $75M Beam node sale and the incredible achievement of onboarding 1,300 validators to Cocknet L1 with a one-click experience.
Alongside hosts Bill, JF, and Jared, we dive deep into the technical and economic challenges of launching L1s, and why established Web2 founders are increasingly choosing Avalanche over Ethereum L2s to build the financial backends for their businesses.
Steven shares his ambitious vision for making AVAX a top 3 cryptocurrency through massive L1 adoption and the “greatest onboarding event in the history of crypto.”
Key Topics:
🔺 Why Steven believes “the L2 thesis is crumbling”
🔺 The $75M Beam node sale and transition from POA to proof-of-stake
🔺 How GoGoPool simplified L1 validation to a one-click process
🔺 The real costs and timeline of launching an L1 ($1.7-2.5M over 18 months)
🔺 The hyper-financialization layer GoGoPool is building for Avalanche L1s
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:29 Guest Introduction: Steven Gates from Go-Go Pool
01:39 Gogo Pool’s Recent Activities and Achievements
02:32 Beam and Cock Net: Case Studies
11:21 The Future of L1 and L2 in Crypto
17:32 Challenges and Opportunities in Launching L1 Tokens
27:27 Challenges of Launching a Decentralized Chain
29:04 The Cost and Time of Launching an L1
30:02 Marketing and Fundraising Strategies
30:31 Unique Builders in the Avalanche Ecosystem
33:02 Real-World Use Cases for Blockchain
34:29 Exciting Future for Avalanche
34:56 Gogo Pool’s Vision and Developments
37:20 Avalanche’s Hub and Spoke Model
45:11 Crypto Market Trends and Challenges
53:11 Bitcoin and Long-Term Crypto Predictions
Follow the Pod
https://x.com/defipodcast
Follow the Guest
https://x.com/stvngts
https://x.com/GoGoPool_
Follow the Hosts
https://x.com/Bill_Tanyeri
https://x.com/JFSaine
https://x.com/m0xrrissey
Disclaimer: Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes financial advice. The hosts are investors in GoGoPool and clearly biased toward its success. Please consult a professional investment advisor and do your own research before making any financial decisions.
