In this episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy is joined in-studio for the very first time by Ido Bar-On — defense-tech investor, former CBO at XTEND, IDF reservist, and ex-VC at LOOL Ventures.

From scaling a startup to $40M in sales to deploying capital from a bomb shelter during the Iran attack, Ido shares a candid, deeply informed perspective on the intersection of defense, venture capital, and innovation in times of war. The conversation explores:

• Why now is a pivotal moment for defense-tech startups;

• The shifting role of VCs in backing military innovation;

• Risks and rewards of R&D-heavy government funding;

• AI’s real-world use in modern combat (yes, including Raspberry Pi-powered drones);

• And how Israel’s unique ecosystem is shaping the global defense landscape.

We also get personal — from growing up in Jerusalem to reflections on reserve duty, family, and the weight of living in a region where tech, war, and purpose collide.

Whether you're a founder, investor, or just defense-curious, this episode is packed with insight and edge.

In this rollercoaster episode of Beyond the Code, Yitzy Hammer sits down with Samuel Cardillo to uncover the jaw-dropping journey of a self-taught prodigy who went from selling computer viruses at age 9 to co-founding RTFKT, the NFT sneaker company acquired by Nike.

What starts with microphone troubles quickly spirals into a high-speed chronicle of early cybercrime, international arrests, military service in the IDF, intelligence ventures, and creating some of the most iconic digital fashion drops in Web3 history.

Samuel pulls no punches as he walks us through:

• His childhood hacking days and getting arrested at 14 after a televised DDoS stunt;

• The rise and grind of RTFKT, building CloneX with Takashi Murakami, and managing NFT chaos;

• What it really took to land the Nike acquisition—and the stress that came with it;His work in satellite intelligence and geospatial analytics via ShadowBreak;

• The surprising backstory of being married to a UAE princess and his unlikely reserve role in the L.A. Sheriff’s Department;

• Brutally honest political takes on Israel, Gaza, and Middle East diplomacy;

• Why storytelling, utility, and community—not just speculation—must define the next era of NFTs.

A fast-paced, unfiltered episode packed with wild stories, ethical questions, and deep tech reflections.

🔗 Follow Samuel:

• X: @samuelcardillo

• IG: @ledomain

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelcardillo/

This week on Beyond the Code, Yitzy sits down with one of the most outspoken minds in crypto law: Gabriel Shapiro. Known for his deep legal chops, unfiltered takes, and pioneering work at the intersection of smart contracts and governance, Gabe takes us through his journey—from tech M&A prodigy to crypto lawyer and decentralization maxi.

We dive into:

• Gabe’s early big law career and how Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp led him down the crypto rabbit hole;

• The real reason “decentralization” became crypto's favorite legal strategy;Why current DAO structures are flawed—and how MetaLex and the Borg concept aim to fix them;

• A deep look at on-chain legal engineering: how entities, trusts, and smart contracts can blend into a new governance paradigm;

• The emergence of $GOR, a meme coin inspired by Gabe himself;

• The state of crypto regulation in the U.S., Trump’s pivot on Bitcoin, and why Gabe’s bullish on the new market structure bill;

• Big law’s limitations in crypto and the rise of agile, crypto-native legal shops;

• Anonymity in crypto—how to build trust without a legal name;

And yes—we talk politics, Israel, identity, and whiskey.