Game of Nodes: The Validator Podcast

Hosted by Game of Nodes

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Aug 2025

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About the show

Independent validator teams discussing tech, governance, drama, and airdrops across Ethereum, Cosmos, Aptos, and everywhere else. Holistically wholesome since 2022. We stream LIVE whenever the mood strikes us. Follow us on Twitter and YouTube !

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60 recent

August 29, 20251 hr 22 min

Episode 147: We Are So Back, Baby

After a summer hiatus, the crew reunites to discuss what they've been up to while crypto conferences turned into sales pitches and bare metal providers started sliding into foundation Slack channels. The episode covers Schultzie's garage-relocated 500-watt home lab setup, the team's ongoing ISO and SOC 2 certification processes, and how Claude AI has revolutionized filling out those endless security questionnaires.Between stories of Barcelona pickpocketing (the idiot tax), London's best late-night bagels, and watching F1 movies with unimpressed children, the hosts tackle bigger questions about the future of permissionless systems. Are we heading toward a world of Visa-run stablecoins and permission-based everything? Can crypto maintain its cypherpunk ideals while institutions copy the tech and strip out the interesting parts?Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

June 11, 202555 min

Episode 146: Whispernode

Brendan from WhisperNode spills the tea on escaping validator life for Flipside's data world, plus Schultz flexes his $12K home data center complete with backup power that could survive the apocalypse. The crew dives deep into why CosmWasm is getting ghosted by new projects, whether AI agents need blockchain payment rails, and why Ethereum still runs the show despite being "boomer shit".Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

April 11, 202559 min

Episode 145: No Nullo

The crew navigates the ridiculous realities of validator life—from backordered Chinese servers and surprise tariffs to the art of running mainnet from your media center. Meanwhile, they spiral into AI-on-blockchain hypotheticals, failed token economics, and a crypto spin on the Christian Bale meltdown.Show LinksTrump names cryptocurrencies in strategic reserve - reutersFact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile - whitehouse.govDOJ ends crypto enforcement team, shifts focus to terrorism and fraud - cnbcDe-dollarization: Is the US dollar losing its dominance? - jpmorganChristian Bale Loses It - youtubePlease support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

March 28, 202559 min

Episode 144: PFC LFG

Independent validator PFC shares his deep dive into Kubernetes infrastructure and blockchain network dynamics, offering insights into running validators across multiple chains. From discussing the intricacies of THORChain's unique consensus model to exploring the challenges of managing distributed networks in k8s, we eventually ignore all that to talk about Australia.Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

March 14, 202557 min

Episode 143: Eric from Zellic

Join the crew as we unpack blockchain's wild side with Eric from Zellic, spilling insider secrets on security auditing and validator ops—tracing crypto's shift from "toys to tools". From Rhino logos to EthDenver conference vibes, this fortnightly episode delivers a fun, expert dive into crypto chaos you won't want to miss!Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

January 30, 202556 min

Episode 142: (Ir)Relevant As Ever

The crew takes a wild ride through the chaos of validator infrastructure, sparring over the best (and worst) ZFS strategies—because nothing screams "decentralization" like heated debates on server costs. Plus, a shocking revelation: just how deep does the Hetzner hoarding rabbit hole go?Show LinksThorchain Faces Insolvency, Halts Redemptions - bitcoin.comArmor - imdbConclave - imdbLandman - imdbPlease support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

January 23, 20251 hr 21 min

Episode 141: Skip is Dead, Long Live Skip

We welcome back the incredible @magmar from Skip Protocol Interchain Labs! We talk about the Skip acquisition, the future (and role) of the Cosmos Hub, IBC, ICS, the first 60 days, and just what in the hell they were thinking.Show LinksCosmos is expanding: Skip joins the Interchain Foundation - mediumWhat changes for Cosmos after Skip acquisition? - blockworksMarket-Protocol Fit - otherinter.netTrump pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht for online drug scheme - reutersPlease support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

January 22, 202553 min

Episode 140: GoN Awards Show 2024

Surviving bear markets and questionable life choices since 2022, this week's episode dives into validation woes, the magic of compound interest, and the unexpected joys of a hot bath and a good book.Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

December 19, 20241 hr 2 min

Episode 139: Christmas With A Vengeance

We close out 2024 talking through the Interchain Foundation's acquisition of Skip and what that means for the ICF, $ATOM holders, and the larger Cosmos ecosystem.From everyone at Game of Nodes, have a restful and happy Holiday Season and we'll see you in 2025 for the GoN end-of-year awards!Show LinksIn latest shakeup, Interchain Foundation acquires Skip to refocus Cosmos Hub at ecosystem's core - theblockGoldfinch - goldfinch.financePlease support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!

December 12, 202456 min

Episode 138: Got 99 Tokens but a BTC Ain't One

As we wind down 2024, the GoN crew talks bespoke AS (Autonomous System) monikers, shared storage, the flood of new testnets, the networks that are "almost" live, and if Santa will fill our stockings with shitcoins.Please support Game of Nodes and other great independent validators in the Cosmos. Make Needlecast, Kingnodes, RHINO, and Lavender.Five a part of your delegation strategy today!