Daniele Sestagalli is the founder of Hey Anon, a decentralized artificial intelligence (AI) project focused on integrating AI with decentralized finance (DeFi) to expand access to financial tools. His work in blockchain technology includes contributions to DeFi protocols, decentralized governance models, and community-driven initiatives. ^{[9] [7]}

Education

Daniele Sestagalli was born in Italy and holds a background in engineering, with a focus on computer science, blockchain technology, and cryptography. ^[12][7]

Career

Sestagalli began engaging with decentralized finance (DeFi) through projects addressing yield optimization and liquidity provision on Ethereum-based platforms. By 2020, his focus shifted to decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), emphasizing community governance as a framework for decision-making.

In 2021, Sestagalli co-founded Popsicle Finance, a cross-chain protocol designed to optimize yields for liquidity providers across decentralized exchanges. The platform introduced strategies to mitigate impermanent loss, a common challenge in liquidity provision. In August 2021, Popsicle Finance experienced a security breach resulting in financial losses. Sestagalli publicly addressed the incident, outlining steps to address vulnerabilities.

Later in 2021, Sestagalli launched Wonderland, a decentralized reserve currency protocol on the Avalanche blockchain, and Abracadabra Money, a lending platform that allowed users to collateralize interest-bearing tokens. Wonderland operated as a DAO and attracted attention for its tokenomics, but faced scrutiny in early 2022 when a core contributor was linked to QuadrigaCX, a defunct cryptocurrency exchange. Sestagalli proposed dissolving the project, with the final decision delegated to a community vote.

Abracadabra Money became known for issuing Magic Internet Money (MIM), a decentralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. The protocol’s design enabled borrowing against yield-generating assets, a mechanism adopted by other DeFi platforms.

In 2023, Sestagalli introduced Hey Anon, a DeFi project combining AI with blockchain technology, referred to as DeFai (Decentralized Finance AI). The platform utilizes machine learning algorithms to automate trading and risk management processes, operating on the Metis blockchain. Hey Anon’s native token, WAGMI, experienced a rapid increase in market value following its release, discussions about the project have included analyses of algorithmic decision-making in volatile markets. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

Interviews

Daniele Sestagalli on DeFi #01

On November 18, 2021, Daniele Sestagalli engaged in a public discussion on the Avalanche YouTube channel with Luigi D’Onorio Demeo, Head of DeFi at Ava Labs. The conversation focused on Sestagalli’s projects within decentralized finance (DeFi), including Wonderland, Abracadabra Money, and Popsicle Finance, alongside technical aspects of blockchain interoperability. Sestagalli referenced Avalanche’s transaction speed, cost efficiency, and security features in the context of DeFi application development.

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Sestagalli introduced Frog Nation, a decentralized community associated with his projects, which he described as promoting cross-chain collaboration. During the interview, he stated, “Tribalism is the past, unity is the future,” and referenced Frog Nation’s OccupyDeFi initiative, which aimed to address centralized financial structures.

Regarding Wonderland, a reserve currency protocol on Avalanche, Sestagalli outlined its native token, TIME, and its backing by treasury assets. He compared the protocol’s adaptability to “the Minecraft of economics,” suggesting potential use cases in metaverse environments. The protocol’s mechanics, such as wrapping MEMO (a staked derivative of TIME), were described as methods to improve liquidity management.

In discussing Abracadabra Money, Sestagalli detailed the protocol’s decentralized stablecoin, Magic Internet Money (MIM), which is pegged to the US dollar. Collateralization occurs through “cauldrons,” allowing users to borrow against yield-generating assets like JLP tokens (liquidity pool shares). The design was presented as an approach to streamline lending processes using blockchain transparency.

Sestagalli also mentioned Popsicle Finance, a cross-chain yield optimization platform, and its strategies to reduce impermanent loss for liquidity providers. He noted Ethereum’s transaction fees as a limitation for DeFi accessibility.

The interview concluded with Sestagalli’s emphasis on cross-chain interoperability infrastructure, linking it to developments in gaming and metaverse applications. Avalanche’s technical features were cited in relation to experimental financial tools. ^[13]

Daniele Sestagalli on AI-Driven DeFi #02

On January 7, 2025, Daniele Sestagalli appeared on the YouTube channel rasmr to discuss Gemma, an AI-powered decentralized finance (DeFi) platform designed to optimize investment strategies. The conversation explored the technical and operational aspects of integrating artificial intelligence with DeFi protocols, as well as the challenges and goals associated with the project.

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Sestagalli outlined Gemma’s core functionality, which involves analyzing on-chain and off-chain user data to generate personalized investment strategies. The platform aims to automate complex, multi-step DeFi transactions, such as yield farming or collateralized lending, while allowing users to adjust risk parameters according to their preferences. He emphasized the technical challenges of developing AI models capable of securely executing these transactions, noting the importance of robust auditing mechanisms to prevent vulnerabilities.

A key feature of Gemma is its tokenomics model, which requires users to stake a small amount of the platform’s native token to access its full suite of tools. This approach is intended to encourage broad participation without excluding users with limited capital. Sestagalli also discussed plans to integrate Gemma with decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), enabling communities to tailor strategies to specific goals, such as treasury management or liquidity provisioning.

Reflecting on the evolution of DeFi, Sestagalli drew parallels between the early days of Ethereum protocols like Compound and Maker and the current state of Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. He positioned Gemma as a tool to reduce informational asymmetries in DeFi, contrasting it with exclusive “alpha bot” services that cater primarily to high-capital users.

The interview also touched on the infrastructure required to support Gemma’s AI models, including the development of data pipelines and the integration of both decentralized and centralized data sources. Sestagalli highlighted the importance of modular architecture to ensure compatibility with evolving blockchain ecosystems. ^[14]