Sam MacPherson is CEO at Phoenix Labs, a service provider to Spark. In this episode, we explore how one of the top 5 largest DeFi protocols scaled to billions in liquidity onchain without a token, and why its upcoming SPK launch, RWA strategy, and “not a bank” campaign prove it’s just getting started. EDITOR'S NOTE: Since recording, liquidity deposited into Spark grew from $3.6B to $4B. ------ 🔗 Essential Show Links 🔗 ► Newsletter: https://the-edge.xyz ► Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DeFiDad ► Apple: https://tinyurl.com/edgepod ► Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/edgepodspotify ► Linktree: https://linktr.ee/edge_pod ► Follow DeFi Dad: https://x.com/DeFi_Dad ► Follow Nomatic: https://x.com/Nomaticcap ► Learn DeFi: http://defidad.com/ ------ The Edge Podcast Sponsor Resources 🪄 NEWTON | SIMPLER CRYPTO UX WITH VERIFIABLE AI AGENTS 🔮 PYTH NETWORK | SMARTER DATA FOR SMARTER CONTRACTS 🤙 FAIR | THE FIRST L1 BLOCKCHAIN TO ELIMINATE MEV AT CONSENSUS 📊 iYIELD | YOUR FINANCIAL PICTURE, SIMPLIFIED 🏦 MANTLE | INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF ONCHAIN FINANCE 🐡 PUFFER UNIFI | A BASED ROLLUP TO ETHEREUM WITH NATIVE YIELDS 🌔 MOONWELL | THE LEADING LENDING AND BORROWING APP ON BASE ⚙️ GEARBOX PROTOCOL | ONCHAIN LENDING REIMAGINED 🥞 SYRUPUSDC BY MAPLE | DEFI'S PREMIUM YIELD ASSET ------ Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 5:55 - Start at Maker 12:40 - Spark spinning out of Maker 17:07 - The Spark product suite 21:11 - Capacity to onramp another $20B 23:21 - Serious interest in yield from institutions 25:28 - Sponsor break 26:09 - Spark’s interest in lending to institutions like BlackRock 28:50 - Strategy for the stablecoin boom 31:19 - Web2 partners will offer access to Spark yields 32:26 - Spark’s interest in more RWAs 37:24 - Sponsor break 39:03 - Who decides where SLL will allocate capital? 44:25 - Spark is not a bank 49:11 - SPK TGE, Pendle campaign, and airdrop 51:46 - Rewarding legacy Spark users 52:44 - Sam’s vision for Spark 54:22 - Closing ------ 🔗 Guest Links 🔗 ► Spark website: https://spark.fi/ ► Spark Data Hub website: https://data.spark.fi/ ► Spark on X: https://x.com/sparkdotfinance ► Sam on X: https://x.com/hexonaut ------ All opinions expressed by hosts and podcast guests are solely their own opinions. Podcast guests and hosts may have positions in the assets or other matters discussed in this podcast. As of the recording, DeFi Dad and Nomatic are holding YT-USDS on Pendle, expiring August 13, 2025. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Do your own research. This is not a recommendation or endorsement to buy any token(s) related to any platform(s) discussed.
