# Fireside Chat I Kartik Talwar and Roham Gharegozlou I Pragma Cannes 2025

- Speakers: [Kartik Talwar](https://streameth.org/speakers/kartik-talwar)
- Channel: [ETHGlobal](https://streameth.org/ethglobal)
- Date: 2025-10-09
- Duration: 24:09
- Topics: crypto, blockchain, NFTs, Dapper Labs, Flow, Roham Gharegozlou, Kartik Talwar, CryptoKitties, NBA Top Shot, Disney, digital collectibles, regulatory clarity, mainstream adoption, AI, on-chain agents, composability, EVM equivalence, hackathons, developer ecosystem, digital ownership, AR/VR, entertainment, user experience, open standards, smart contracts, programmable assets, consumer crypto, partnerships, innovation
- Watch: https://streameth.org/watch/yt-yOMZbSxjMTg
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOMZbSxjMTg

## Description

In this fireside chat at Pragma Cannes 2025, Kartik Talwar interviews Roham Gharegozlou, CEO of Dapper Labs, about the evolution and mainstream adoption of consumer crypto, NFTs, and blockchain technology. They discuss the shift from early projects like CryptoKitties to mass adoption driven by partnerships with major brands such as NBA, NFL, and Disney, highlighting regulatory clarity and improved infrastructure as key enablers. Roham emphasizes the importance of abstracting blockchain complexity for users, true digital ownership, and composability.

The conversation explores the convergence of AI and crypto, with programmable on-chain agents and open data layers enabling new use cases. Hackathons and developer engagement are credited for ecosystem growth, especially with Flow’s EVM equivalence. Looking ahead, they predict a future where AI, AR/VR, and crypto create seamless, composable consumer experiences, with entertainment and co-creation at the forefront.

00:00 Introduction  
00:43 Crypto Adoption Waves & Early Days  
01:29 What’s Different Now: Regulation & Infrastructure  
02:32 Mainstream Adoption: Games, Entertainment, and Institutions  
03:28 Disney Partnership & Regulatory Clarity  
04:08 Comparing Crypto to Early Internet Adoption  
04:59 Brand Partnerships: NBA, NFL, Disney  
05:49 Changing Brand Perspectives on Crypto  
06:46 Digital Collectibles & Monetization Models  
07:32 Open Ecosystems & User Ownership  
08:51 Abstracting Blockchain for Mainstream Users  
09:42 Platform Risk & Open Standards  
11:25 Digital Identity & Interoperability  
12:21 Blockchain as Immortal Software  
12:47 AI and Crypto: Overlap & Opportunities  
13:30 On-Chain Agents & Programmability  
15:24 Smart Resources & Autonomous Agents  
16:53 Scheduled Callbacks & Flow Features  
18:02 Hackathons, Developer Ecosystem & EVM Equivalence  
19:47 AI, Security, and Developer Tools  
20:40 The Future of Consumer Crypto (5-Year Outlook)  
21:30 Entertainment, AI, and Seamless Interfaces  
22:24 Co-Creation, IP, and the Future of Experiences  
23:45 Closing Remarks

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🇫🇷 *Pragma Cannes*
Pragma Cannes 2025 was held on July 3rd at the Carlton Cannes in Cannes, France and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Cannes YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh6jZYPY5-YIBzvMtUT3ajjI

ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. 

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