Ep.71E Supra Approach: Joshua Tobkin’s Blockchain Vision

Joshua D. Tobkin, co-founder of Supra, shares his journey from early fascination with website development at age 12 to becoming a blockchain innovator. After experiences in online poker business and SaaS startups, Joshua entered the blockchain space in 2017, initially focused on scaling Ethereum before developing the foundation for what would become Supra.

Supra represents a new approach to blockchain architecture, described by Joshua as "Solana with Chainlink and Layer 0 all in one." The project's core value proposition is full vertical integration, combining a layer 1 blockchain with oracle price feeds and cross-chain communication in a single stack. This integrated approach aims to solve inefficiencies that exist when applications must interact with multiple separate networks for different services.

The technical innovations behind Supra include the "tribes and clans" architecture, which enables high throughput and low latency by using random subcommittees of nodes to verify data availability without requiring propagation to the entire network. Their Moonshot consensus mechanism achieves theoretical 500,000 TPS and finalizes blocks in 330 milliseconds, significantly faster than competitors like Solana.

Upcoming features for Supra include automation (similar to cron jobs in Web2) and auto-arbitrage mechanisms that address MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) issues while creating new revenue streams for both the network and dApps. Supra Containers offer an alternative to app chains by maintaining composability and shared liquidity while allowing applications to have their own governance and fee structures.

Joshua discusses Supra's challenging funding journey, explaining how they started with smaller investors and used introductions to reach higher-tier VCs while maintaining balanced investment from any single source. During crypto bear markets, Supra operated with only three months of runway for nearly two years, emphasizing the importance of persistence and continuous innovation.

Despite being less known than some competitors, Supra has achieved significant milestones, including 160 dApps currently using their services on other chains and 512,000 KYC-verified token holders from their airdrop program. Looking forward, Supra plans to expand in Asia through translated documentation, sponsoring developer-focused events, and increasing marketing efforts in the region, while continuing to focus on attracting developers who can build unique applications using Supra's integrated features.

Keyword:

Supra, Oracle, Layer 1, Tribe-Clan architecture, Moonshot, Vertical integration, Cross-chain communication, Supra Containers, SupraNova, HyperLoop, Automation, Auto-arbitrage, MEV resistance, Blockchain, Web3 infrastructure, Fundraising, Movement

00:11 Introduction to Joshua D. Topping, co-founder of Supra, and his early interest in technology beginning at age 12.

04:13 Joshua shares his experience running an online poker "rake back" business that helped him understand payment inefficiencies later addressed by blockchain.

08:38 In 2017, Joshua began focusing on scaling Ethereum before developing the ideas that would become Supra's foundation.

10:38 Supra is described as "Solana with Chainlink and Layer 0 all in one," offering full vertical integration of blockchain services.

13:27 Supra's development journey evolved from focusing on oracles for randomness to a comprehensive layer 1 solution with multiple integrated services.

17:17 Upcoming Supra features include automation and auto-arbitrage mechanisms that address MEV issues and create new revenue streams.

22:48 Supra's Moonshot consensus mechanism achieves theoretical 500,000 TPS and finalizes blocks in 330 milliseconds versus Solana's 10 seconds.

24:57 The "tribes and clans" architecture enables high throughput by using random subcommittees of nodes to verify data availability without full network propagation.

31:11 Supra Containers offer an alternative to app chains by maintaining composability and shared liquidity while allowing applications to have their own governance and fee structures.

36:23 Supra's cross-chain communication includes Supra Nova for secure layer-1 connections and Hyper Loop for layer-2 connectivity.

43:51 Supra's funding journey involved starting with smaller investors and using introductions to reach higher-tier VCs while maintaining balanced investment.

50:37 During crypto bear markets, Supra survived on three months of runway for nearly two years through persistence and continuous innovation.

55:56 Supra's user acquisition strategy focuses on attracting developers who can build unique applications using the platform's integrated features.

01:01:35 Supra currently has 160 dApps using their services and 512,000 KYC-verified token holders from their airdrop program.

01:09:42 Supra plans to expand in Asia through translated documentation, sponsoring developer events, and increased marketing efforts in the region.

Guest：

Joshua Tobkin (Twitter: @JoshuaTobkin)

Supra (Twitter: @SUPRA_Labs)

Host：

Vivienne (Twitter: @Vivienne_smile)

Zhiyang (Twitter @zhiyangxyz)

Twitter：@0x_cryptoria

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Disclaimer: All views expressed are solely the personal opinions of the hosts for sharing purposes and do not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risks. Before making any investment decisions, please conduct thorough research and consult relevant professionals. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein should be construed as financial or investment advice. All investments in cryptocurrencies involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.