Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What happens when the future of AI is controlled by a few companies, and your access to it can be switched off, priced up, or locked behind a border? David and Daniil Liberman, the brothers behind Gonka, make the case for a radically different model: a community-governed, decentralized compute network built to keep AI open, verifiable, and available to everyone.
Join us for a sharp, accessible conversation that breaks down how Gonka works, why it matters, and why Tangem's upcoming integration is part of a much bigger shift toward self-custody in the AI era. If you've been wondering how AI and crypto actually overlap, or why GPUs, APIs, and decentralized infrastructure are suddenly central to the fight over who gets access to intelligence, this episode connects the dots.
You'll discover:
▷ Why Gonka compares decentralized AI compute to Bitcoin's role in money
▷ How thousands of server-grade machines and GPUs form a network that verifies its own results
▷ Why the team believes centralized cloud pricing is already working against users
▷ How hardware owners, developers, and everyday community members can participate
▷ Why the upcoming shift to AI ASICs could reshape compute efficiency over the next few years
David shares the original fear that pushed him and Daniil toward decentralization: if AI is controlled by a handful of corporations, the risks go far beyond pricing. Daniil expands on the technical design, from proof-of-work style verification to the protocol-level rules that prevent censorship, advertising, or unilateral control. Together, they explain why Gonka is not just another cloud alternative, but a decentralized data center built to evolve with the hardware of the future.
Perfect for AI builders, crypto-native listeners, infrastructure nerds, and anyone who suspects the next major internet battle will be fought over compute, ownership, and access. If you want to understand where decentralized AI is headed — and why it could matter to your work, your wallet, and your future — this is the one to hear.
Follow Gonka:
https://x.com/gonka_ai
Follow the Liberman brothers:
https://x.com/DaLiberman
—
Timecodes
0:00 - 1:27 Welcome and episode overview
1:28 - 2:01 Why AI compute is becoming a critical resource
2:02 - 4:14 The origins of Gonka and its decentralized mission
4:15 - 8:16 How AI and crypto work together
8:17 - 10:26 Decentralized AI explained through the Bitcoin comparison
10:27 - 12:52 The rising cost of AI and centralized cloud services
12:53 - 15:18 The founders' AI background and concerns about centralization
15:19 - 18:14 What Gonka is: a decentralized AI compute network
18:15 - 19:27 Open access, verification, and censorship resistance
19:28 - 22:56 Why Tangem and Gonka are partnering
22:57 - 26:04 How hardware providers, developers, and community members can participate
26:05 - 29:00 What decentralized AI needs to reach the mainstream
29:01 - 33:41 The rise of AI agents and API-based AI use
33:42 - 35:57 Can decentralized networks become centralized over time?
35:58 - 41:01 Scaling the network: GPUs, solar power, and edge compute
41:02 - 46:15 Decentralizing intelligence, knowledge, and future opportunity
46:16 - 52:10 Community questions: enterprise hardware and network quality
52:11 - 59:01 The roadmap: specialized chips and truly open AI models
59:02 - end Closing thoughts and how to get involved
"Tell Us About Yourself" is Tangem's official podcast, spotlighting innovators across crypto and tech. Hosted bi-monthly by the Tangem team - creators of the most intuitive cold wallet solution in the world.
📣 We want your feedback! Want to be featured on the podcast? Reach out: social@tangem.com
Get Tangem: shop.tangem.com/get_tangem
----------
X: https://x.com/tangem
Telegram: https://t.me/tangem
Help Center: tangem.com/help-center
Blog: tangem.com/blog
Academy: tangem.com/academy
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Tangem does not endorse or promote any specific products, services, or strategies mentioned in our discussions. Opinions shared by hosts and guests are their own, have not been independently verified, and should not be relied on to make decisions. Digital assets carry significant risk. Do your own research and understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Tangem and its contributors are not liable for any losses or damages arising from actions taken based on this content.
What happens when the future of AI is controlled by a few companies, and your access to it can be switched off, priced up, or locked behind a border? David and Daniil Liberman, the brothers behind Gonka, make the case for a radically different model: a community-governed, decentralized compute network built to keep AI open, verifiable, and available to everyone.
Join us for a sharp, accessible conversation that breaks down how Gonka works, why it matters, and why Tangem's upcoming integration is part of a much bigger shift toward self-custody in the AI era. If you've been wondering how AI and crypto actually overlap, or why GPUs, APIs, and decentralized infrastructure are suddenly central to the fight over who gets access to intelligence, this episode connects the dots.
You'll discover:
▷ Why Gonka compares decentralized AI compute to Bitcoin's role in money
▷ How thousands of server-grade machines and GPUs form a network that verifies its own results
▷ Why the team believes centralized cloud pricing is already working against users
▷ How hardware owners, developers, and everyday community members can participate
▷ Why the upcoming shift to AI ASICs could reshape compute efficiency over the next few years
David shares the original fear that pushed him and Daniil toward decentralization: if AI is controlled by a handful of corporations, the risks go far beyond pricing. Daniil expands on the technical design, from proof-of-work style verification to the protocol-level rules that prevent censorship, advertising, or unilateral control. Together, they explain why Gonka is not just another cloud alternative, but a decentralized data center built to evolve with the hardware of the future.
Perfect for AI builders, crypto-native listeners, infrastructure nerds, and anyone who suspects the next major internet battle will be fought over compute, ownership, and access. If you want to understand where decentralized AI is headed — and why it could matter to your work, your wallet, and your future — this is the one to hear.
Follow Gonka:
https://x.com/gonka_ai
Follow the Liberman brothers:
https://x.com/DaLiberman
—
Timecodes
0:00 - 1:27 Welcome and episode overview
1:28 - 2:01 Why AI compute is becoming a critical resource
2:02 - 4:14 The origins of Gonka and its decentralized mission
4:15 - 8:16 How AI and crypto work together
8:17 - 10:26 Decentralized AI explained through the Bitcoin comparison
10:27 - 12:52 The rising cost of AI and centralized cloud services
12:53 - 15:18 The founders' AI background and concerns about centralization
15:19 - 18:14 What Gonka is: a decentralized AI compute network
18:15 - 19:27 Open access, verification, and censorship resistance
19:28 - 22:56 Why Tangem and Gonka are partnering
22:57 - 26:04 How hardware providers, developers, and community members can participate
26:05 - 29:00 What decentralized AI needs to reach the mainstream
29:01 - 33:41 The rise of AI agents and API-based AI use
33:42 - 35:57 Can decentralized networks become centralized over time?
35:58 - 41:01 Scaling the network: GPUs, solar power, and edge compute
41:02 - 46:15 Decentralizing intelligence, knowledge, and future opportunity
46:16 - 52:10 Community questions: enterprise hardware and network quality
52:11 - 59:01 The roadmap: specialized chips and truly open AI models
59:02 - end Closing thoughts and how to get involved
"Tell Us About Yourself" is Tangem's official podcast, spotlighting innovators across crypto and tech. Hosted bi-monthly by the Tangem team - creators of the most intuitive cold wallet solution in the world.
📣 We want your feedback! Want to be featured on the podcast? Reach out: social@tangem.com
Get Tangem: shop.tangem.com/get_tangem
----------
X: https://x.com/tangem
Telegram: https://t.me/tangem
Help Center: tangem.com/help-center
Blog: tangem.com/blog
Academy: tangem.com/academy
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Tangem does not endorse or promote any specific products, services, or strategies mentioned in our discussions. Opinions shared by hosts and guests are their own, have not been independently verified, and should not be relied on to make decisions. Digital assets carry significant risk. Do your own research and understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Tangem and its contributors are not liable for any losses or damages arising from actions taken based on this content.
