DarkP

E165: @backpack - Your broker holds your stocks. Backpack lets you use them Armani Ferrante is the co-founder and CEO of Backpack, a regulated global crypto exchange built from the rubble of the FTX collapse. He spent years building the foundational infrastructure of Solana - wallets, DEXs, developer frameworks - before FTX wiped out 90% of Backpack's balance sheet. So he decided not to quit. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:32 Please Subscribe 1:56 Michel Foucault & The Panopticon Metaphor 5:25 Armani’s Philosophical View on Crypto 7:50 Who Is Armani Ferrante? 8:39 Partnerships: @JupiterExchange @KASTxyz 9:19 Armani’s Chip On The Shoulder 10:43 Getting Hired Twice At Alameda Research 13:46 Being Able To Work On Early Solana Projects 14:43 Leaving Alameda to Build Backpack 18:26 FTX Fomo? 23:32 Partnerships: @ethena @sumsub 24:34 How Armani & Backpack Got Affected By The FTX Collapse 32:37 The Solana Ecosystem Today 36:25 The MadLad Story 42:03 How Important Was The MadLad For Backpack? 43:40 What Crypto Should Be 49:36 Crypto Inflection Point 51:59 Partnerships: @Trezor @Bitwise @SuiNetwork 52:55 Explain Backpack To Your Uber Driver 57:36 Crypto Is A Test Bed 1:04:15 Why You Might Not Own the Stocks You think you Own 1:06:41 Unified Margin Accounts 1:15:20 Why Armani Moved to Tokyo 1:17:18 Why Backpack is best Positioned to Win in Japan 1:18:43 How to Bootstrap a Regulated Exchange 1:21:53 Closing Thoughts

@ProMint_X x.com/armaniferrante… A bit of context

Drift drainer laundered $270m funds through Backpack Trace shows that most part of the flow went through Backpack before moving out through Wormhole to an ETH address tied to Tornado flow. For a platform that is supposed to have KYC, this looks insane I think we probably won’t find out who it was through them Backpack already looked rotten after BP Now it also shows up in the laundering path of one of the biggest drains of the year

Zero fees on Solana Swaps - free Bridging - free Only on Backpack Wallet

@Qimeiluo @Backpack Thank you Qimei!! WAO

Hi all, today is my last day carrying the non-dev firefighter title with @Backpack, and will now be proudly transitioning to an all-in Backpack user and Mad Lads holder! In the past two years, I got so lucky to work with a team that allowed me to do things I had never done before. The team gave me 100% support and trust. They gave me space to make mistakes and applauded when I kicked ass. Before Backpack, I’d never imagined I could: - Work at a centralized crypto exchange and step into a BD role while also handling marketing and PR needs. - Finish my EMBA and take care of my mom through her cancer surgery to becoming cancer-free, all while working full-time. - Run an e-commerce platform and handle community VIP merchandise orders from over 20 countries across the globe. - Build and organize our own user community in Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan, and met over a 100 of them locally at their own towns and cities. -Recruit talented mods and community supporters, find them a place at Backpack, and watch them continue to thrive. From working at Backpack, I am confident that I understand crypto more deeply and better than ever. I understand real users’ needs across the globe. I appreciate how far the pioneers have pushed development and how much the advocates have laid the groundwork so people like me can talk about crypto with friends and family as it becomes truly mainstream. I am proud of myself and deeply thankful for all the opportunities and platforms Backpack granted me. I’m sure our paths will cross again. LFG!! Q

@SuperteamKZ something red is missing 🧐

When your wardrobe is 100% Solana…

@y_tolep @Backpack @armaniferrante @MadLads WAO

.@Backpack VIP Cocktail Night Really enjoyed getting a chance to talk with @armaniferrante in person. Such a great @MadLads gathering, pure energy and good vibes.

@ChogNFT @Backpack CWO

we’ve teamed up with @backpack to reward traders with $10K in $CHOG 🪂 the rules are simple: 🎒 download backpack 💜 create or import a monad wallet 💰 swap $20+ of $CHOG via the zero-fee swapper swap by december 5th to qualify.

@colinittoX @Backpack @MadLads @armaniferrante @Backpack_CN Let’s see 👀

I heard a rumor that @Backpack might be cooking up their own card. So… how about connecting your @MadLads and getting this kind of beauty printed right on the plastic? Imagine it: your Madlads — your art, your identity, your card. Not some soulless template, but a personal flex that speaks for you before the terminal even beeps. If Backpack really goes for it, they could drop a product that isn’t just “a card,” but a slice of Web3 culture you actually want to carry, show off, and brag about. The future of cards isn’t banks. It’s community.

@KRMAZ91 @solana @Backpack Auto drive-on 50x lev-on

Next level… trade @solana in your car using @Backpack 🙌🏆

@Backpack makes me sick @armaniferrante Use Backpack!

I’m Not Finished Yet @Backpack

@elonmusk @MadLads DAY!

Valentine’s Day

@crypto_davys @MadLads Cute doggo

Really appreciate our WAO community ❤️‍🩹

Education, Execution and Consistency is the key. Use @Backpack

Lads on TOPu Great day to be a lad. As always

Trading only on @Backpack with ma lad

Thank you for a beautiful test-drive, now we are only starting @sophon

Solid

It’s @Backpack summer

First try in animation