Beyond the Code
Welcome to Beyond the Code, the podcast where we dive into the legal, regulatory, and ethical issues surrounding emerging technologies. Each week, we bring you in-depth conversations with industry experts, discussing the latest advancements in technology and their implications on society and the legal system. From artificial intelligence to blockchain, we'll be exploring all the hot topics in the field. Your host, Yitzy Hammer, a lawyer and tech enthusiast, is joined by a diverse group of experts, providing valuable insight into the complex and ever-evolving world of technology.
Episodes
In this episode, Yitzy sits down with Jake Chervinsky — currently Chief Legal Officer at Variant, and previously Chief Policy Officer at the Blockchain Association - one of the most recognizable voices in crypto law and policy.
From his early days as a litigator at Baker McKenzie to his transition into crypto Twitter threads, DeFi, and policy advocacy in Washington, Jake’s journey offers an insider’s look at how law, innovation, an...
In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy is joined in-studio for the very first time by Ido Bar-On — defense-tech investor, former CBO at XTEND, IDF reservist, and ex-VC at LOOL Ventures.
From scaling a startup to $40M in sales to deploying capital from a bomb shelter during the Iran attack, Ido shares a candid, deeply informed perspective on the intersection of defense, venture capital, and innovation in times of war. The conversa...
In this rollercoaster episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Samuel Cardillo to uncover the jaw-dropping journey of a self-taught prodigy who went from selling computer viruses at age 9 to co-founding RTFKT, the NFT sneaker company acquired by Nike.
What starts with microphone troubles quickly spirals into a high-speed chronicle of early cybercrime, international arrests, military service in the IDF, intelligence ve...
This week on Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with one of the most outspoken minds in crypto law: Gabriel Shapiro. Known for his deep legal chops, unfiltered takes, and pioneering work at the intersection of smart contracts and governance, Gabe takes us through his journey—from tech M&A prodigy to crypto lawyer and decentralization maxi.
We dive into:
Gabe’s early big law career and how Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp ...
In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Aaron Payas — partner at Hassans International Law Firm in Gibraltar, CFA charterholder, and former international footballer. From the early days of Gibraltar’s DLT licensing regime to holding a Bored Ape and co-leading one of the first fully SEC-approved token offerings, Aaron brings a unique blend of legal precision, mathematical logic, and personal passion to everything he...
In this episode of Beyond the Code, I’m joined once again by Justin Wales, Head of Legal for the Americas at Crypto.com and author of the Crypto Legal Handbook — now in its newly released second edition.
Justin and I dive into:
The real-world impact of the SEC's changing posture on crypto enforcement;
Why version 2 of the Crypto Legal Handbook is more than just a light update — and how it was rewritten to reflect today’s evolving ...
In this episode of Beyond the Code, I sit down with the brilliant and trailblazing Joni Pirovich — a lawyer, entrepreneur, and the mind behind Crystal, an AI-powered legal tool tailored for the crypto industry.
We trace Joni’s remarkable journey: from growing up on a mango farm in Australia to becoming one of the most forward-thinking crypto lawyers in the space. She shares how her passion for tax reform led her into international l...
In this unforgettable episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Bitcoin OG and serial entrepreneur Charlie Shrem for a raw, unfiltered journey through the birth of Bitcoin, the collapse of early crypto infrastructure, and the deeply personal trials that shaped one of the industry's most iconic—and controversial—figures.
Charlie opens up about how a small Israeli charity called Tikvot led him to Bitcoin, the early anarc...
What if your law firm felt more like an art studio than a courtroom?
In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Vivek Jayaram, founder of Jayaram Law and one of the most creative minds in the legal space. They go deep on how Vivek built a law firm that refuses to look or act like one, why authenticity and originality are at the heart of his practice, and how he went from Big Law burnout to representing the most interes...
In this wide-ranging conversation, Yitzy sits down with Dr. Shmuel Abramzon, Israel’s Chief Economist at the Ministry of Finance, to unpack his unique role at the intersection of policy, macroeconomics, and innovation.
They dive into the evolution of digital assets in Israel, what it really means to “regulate” crypto, and the story behind the Ministry’s landmark report on digital asset regulation.
Dr. Abramzon shares insights into ...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
In the last of the Building Blocks Conversations, Yitzy Hammer sat down with Adam Benayoun, managing partner at Collider, to unpack the highlights and aspirations emerging from Building Blocks 2025.
Adam recounts his journey from founding startups in France to stee...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy interviews Josh Schwartz, CEO and Co-Founder of FORDeFi, about bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems.
Josh shares his journey from Wall Street to Web3, and how ForDeFi is ta...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy interviews Ben Samocha, the founder of Crypto Jungle, discussing the evolution of the platform, its role in the Israeli blockchain community, and Ben's personal journey into the crypto space.
They explo...
Ever worry about what will happen to your bitcoin after you die?
On March 26, 2025, Collider. hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy sits down with Eyal Gruper, Co-Founder of Peaceful21, an innovative self-custody solution for bitcoin recovery and inheritance.
On March 26, 2025, Collider. hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy sits down with Iri Zohar, CEO and founder of Bring, a crypto cashback platform that allows users to earn cryptocurrency rewards while shopping. They discuss the unique features of Bring, its partnerships with va...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Eva Beylin, Board Member of Optimism and Former Director of The Graph Foundation.
They explored Eva's journey from management consulting to the crypto world, her experiences with N...
In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with Carlo D’Angelo, the "DeFi Defender," a veteran criminal defense lawyer turned crypto law expert. Carlo shares his fascinating journey—from his early days as a public defender in Florida to becoming a key figure in the crypto legal community. He dives into his current work defending "money mules" caught in crypto fraud schemes, shedding light on the human c...
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port, Yitzy Hammer chats with Asaf Naim, co-founder of Kirobo, a trailblazer in Web3 since 2018.
Asaf shares his journey from a taxation accountant to a self-taught programmer, sparked by a failed Bitcoin buy in 2011 and a client’s lost crypto key in 2018. Kirobo pioneered account abstraction with "smart transactions," introducing the first undo button for crypto transfers. Now, they’ve ...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview guests and speakers.
Live from Building Blocks at Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Lou Kerner, founder of Crypto Mondays.
Lou traces his journey from a Wall Street analyst to a social media pioneer, running BOLT (pre-MySpace) and nearly buying Facebook...
On March 26, 2025, Collider. VC hosted Building Blocks 2025, as part of ETH TLV. Our host, Yitzy Hammer was invited to come and interview key guests and speakers.
Gordon Einstein is a pioneering crypto lawyer and founder of Dubai’s Tech Tuesdays. Gordon shares his journey from Los Angeles to Dubai, sparked by a rediscovery of law through blockchain in 2014. He dives into the vibrant Dubai tech scene, the ethos behind Tech Tues...
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