In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Brian Smocovich, co-founder of PistachioFi, a blockchain finance mobile app designed to make DeFi more accessible. Together, they explore how Ethereum’s scaling journey has shaped product decisions, why L1 and L2 tradeoffs matter for consumer-facing apps, and how smart wallets may help reduce friction without sacrificing self-custody.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap introduced short-term complexity alongside long-term scaling benefits
  • How liquidity fragmentation and gas costs influence real user behavior
  • Why UX challenges like seed phrases, approvals, and gas remain barriers for non-technical users
  • How PistachioFi approaches mobile-first, gasless wallet design
  • Why cryptographic recovery can improve safety without custodial risk
  • How L1 and L2 architecture decisions affect consumer financial products
  • What gasless, cross-border transfers could mean for more accessible on-chain finance
  • And much more!

Brian Smocovich is the co-founder of PistachioFi, a smart wallet focused on making on-chain finance safer and easier for everyday users. Prior to building in crypto, Brian worked in financial advising and management consulting, where he developed a deep understanding of risk management, financial infrastructure, and user trust. His background continues to shape PistachioFi’s focus on security-first design, intuitive UX, and practical pathways for broader on-chain participation.

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