Unchained: Big Ideas From The Worlds Of Blockchain And Cryptocurrency

With Bitcoin ETF options on the horizon, the crypto market is bracing for significant changes. In this episode, Joshua Lim, co-founder and CEO of Arbelos Markets, joins us to explain what the launch of Bitcoin ETF options means for the broader market. Could they unlock vast amounts of capital and set off a new altcoin boom? Josh also dives into the potential effects on Bitcoin volatility, DeFi lending, and even the onchain options markets. Plus, what could the 2024 U.S. presidential election mean for Bitcoin? Show highlights: What are options and why they are significant for bitcoin ETFs How they will affect the price of BTC When options will actually launch and what needs to be done How the launch of IBIT options could lower Bitcoin volatility and compress spreads Whether dominant players in derivatives will suffer from this launch How the launch of options could lead to an “altcoin boom” Why Josh thinks the SEC delayed its decision on ether ETF options How rising Bitcoin options interest could trigg

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and Joe McCann are joined by Sam Callahan of The NewsBlock to explore how macroeconomic factors and liquidity conditions are driving Bitcoin’s price. They dive into the Federal Reserve's recent rate cuts, the impact of Solana's token unlocks, and why many investors are concerned about a potential liquidity crunch. Plus, the panel discusses whether Bitcoin’s price is increasingly dependent on global M2 money supply, and how BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF options could impact the market.  Is Bitcoin simply a leveraged macro bet? And could Solana’s unlocks cause a price squeeze?  Show highlights: Alex and Joe’s takeaways from Token 2049 and Solana Breakpoint Why there’s so little attention on Bitcoin at these conferences The SOL vs. ETH trade debate Why Sam thinks that the Fed cut rates to help the Trea

The Fed just made its first rate cut in years, slashing 50 basis points off interest rates—but what does this mean for the crypto markets? With Bitcoin lagging behind traditional finance, and the looming U.S. elections, uncertainty is growing.  In this episode, Quinn Thompson of Lekker Capital and Travis Kling of Ikigai Asset Management break down the major factors influencing the markets: from Bitcoin’s sluggish summer and the unwinding of the Japan yen carry trade, to why the 2024 elections could be a pivotal moment for crypto. Are these the catalysts we’ve been waiting for, or should we brace for more turbulence ahead? Also, they cover which assets could benefit the most under a Trump administration, and why they believe SOL could have a negative catalyst in the near future. Show highlights: Why the Fed cut rates by 50 basis points and what the chances of a recession are in the U.S. Why Bitcoin has underperformed the broader TradFi markets this summer The risks of the unwinding of the Japan carry trade

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week the squad is live from Token2049 in Singapore and joined by special guests Mo Shaikh, CEO and Co-Founder of Aptos Labs, and Arthur Hayes, CIO at Maelstrom. In this episode, they tackle the buzz around Trump’s DeFi projects, the challenges of hosting Token2049 during F1, and the controversy surrounding Iggy Azalea’s cancelled debate. The conversation also covers the macro impact of potential Fed rate cuts, the role of celebrity coins, and the future of global crypto adoption. Don't miss this insightful live discussion in front of the Token2049 audience! Show highlights

This week, Republican Representatives Tom Emmer and Patrick McHenry sent a letter pressing SEC Chair Gary Gensler for clarity on how securities laws apply to airdrops. With billions of dollars worth of tokens airdropped this year alone, projects need clarity more than ever.  In this episode, Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer of the DeFi Education Fund, dissects the SEC’s stance on airdrops, why her organization believes the SEC has stretched the legal definition of “compensation” too far, and what Congress might ask Gensler in his upcoming hearing. Plus, she talks about how the SEC “regrets” any confusion it caused for using the term “crypto assets securities,” since the agency now admits that tokens themselves are not securities.   Show highlights: Why Amanda believes the SEC’s position on airdrops doesn’t make sense Why the DeFi Education Fund sued the SEC over the BEBA airdrop  How the SEC’s position on airdrops has been clear for a while, but is “wrong” according to Amanda Her take on users bypass

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, the squad is joined by special guest Mert Mumtaz, co-founder of Helius. In this episode, the crew dives into the growing rivalry between SVM and EVM, the surge of VC investments in the Solana ecosystem, and the fierce debate over rollups. They also explore the rise and fall of memecoins, Solana’s infrastructure evolution, and the future for high-performance blockchains. Tune in for a high-energy discussion on the cutting edge of crypto! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Show highlights

World Liberty Financial (WLF), the Trump-backed DeFi project, launched this Monday.  In this episode, crypto security expert Ogle discusses his role as an advisor to WLF. He dives into why he joined the project, what makes it unique, and how Trump’s involvement could bridge the gap for many who are new to the space.  Plus, Ogle shares his thoughts on the security challenges WLF might face and the project's potential to rival major players in the market. He also touches on his new L1 blockchain Glue, and why he thinks it will provide a better user experience than what is out in crypto today. Show highlights: 2:05 Ogle’s background and how he came up with a standard for dealing with crypto hacks 10:28 Where crypto hackers are usually from 13:21 Why he does security work for free 16:57 Why Ogle is advising the Trump family’s DeFi project, World Liberty Financial 22:30 Why some in the crypto community are skeptical of WLF 26:39 His thoughts on how to prevent a crypto hack of a high-profile project 32:52 Wh

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news in crypto. This week the squad is joined by special guest Jason Choi, co-founder of Tangent. In this episode the crew tackles the overvaluation of crypto projects by VCs, Friend.Tech’s 96% token crash, and the ethics of early token launches They also explore how airdrop farming skews user metrics, the volatility of memecoins, and whether VCs are extracting more value from crypto than they contribute. Tune in for insights into the ever-evolving crypto landscape! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Show highlights

On Thursday, Coinbase unveiled cbBTC, a tokenized version of Bitcoin on its Base layer 2 and Ethereum. This launch follows the recent BitGo controversy about the custody arrangement for Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) now involving Justin Sun, sparking concerns within the crypto community. In this episode, Will Robinson, Coinbase’s VP of engineering, discusses the strategic importance of cbBTC, how it differs from other wrapped Bitcoin products, and what this means for the future of Bitcoin within DeFi ecosystems.  Will Coinbase’s reputation as a "trusted custodian" be enough to make cbBTC the go-to choice for Bitcoin in DeFi, or will the industry remain skeptical? 01:54 Why Coinbase launched cbBTC and how it aims to bring Bitcoin into the world of DeFi 04:05 What happens behind the scenes when users mint cbBTC 05:21 What sets cbBTC apart from other wrapped Bitcoin options, according to Will 06:32 Whether Coinbase will expand cbBTC to other layer 2s and where users can already use it on major DeFi platforms 08:45

As crypto markets continue to struggle, experts weigh in on whether the capitulation phase is finally over and what lies ahead. In this episode, hosts James Seyffart and Joe McCann, along with guest Noelle Acheson, delve into the recent market downturn, the potential for a recession in 2025, and why Bitcoin's divergence from gold is puzzling analysts. They also explore the impacts of upcoming rate cuts, the lingering effects of fiscal dominance, and whether Ethereum ETFs are living up to the hype. Show highlights: Why crypto has been down so bad recently despite the macro cycle The three factors weighing on the bitcoin price for the moment, according to Noelle The chances of a recession in the U.S. in 2025 and how much the Fed might cut rates Why the current rate-cutting cycle is unusual, with markets expecting far more cuts than usual, and how a potential spike in inflation could complicate the Fed's response Why the K-shaped economy endures, driven by the U.S. government's reliance on capital gains tax

Ethereum's Layer 2 solutions are booming, but are they inadvertently holding back the value of ETH itself? In this episode, Justin Bons and Ryan Berckmans engage in a heated debate over whether L2s are enhancing Ethereum's ecosystem or siphoning off its potential. They discuss the impact of L2s on decentralization, network effects, and whether Ethereum L1 can scale on its own or if the base layer and the rollups now have different incentives. Has Ethereum scaled appropriately for future usage, or was scaling via L2s the wrong roadmap for Ethereum? Show highlights: 02:43 How Ethereum's rollup-centric roadmap consists of a decentralized Layer 1 (L1) for security with Layer 2 (L2) providing more transaction throughput 04:53 Why Justin is so critical about how L2s centralize Ethereum 14:53 Why, according to Ryan, Layer 2 solutions aren't parasitic to Ethereum but instead enhance its network effects, decentralization, and long-term value 25:35 Why Justin criticizes Ryan’s reliance on "trust me, bro" arguments,

The SEC and CFTC’s recent actions against Uniswap and Galois Capital could mark a turning point in crypto regulation. With both firms settling on relatively low fines, are we witnessing regulators establish precedent for a broader crackdown on the industry?  In this episode, Larry Florio, general counsel at 1kx, delves into the implications of these settlements, the frustrations asset managers face with regulatory compliance, and whether the SEC’s approach could push the crypto industry into a corner. Will these actions set a precedent for more aggressive enforcement ahead? Show highlights: Why the SEC's action against Galois Capital highlights a shift in language, focusing on tokens "offered and sold as securities" What a qualified custodian is and why the SEC's action against Galois punishes them for using FTX, which could have fit one definition of a qualified custodian if it hadn’t been perpetrating a fraud How the SEC demands crypto fund managers comply with regulations on qualified custodians while a

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the boys tackle the buzz around World Liberty Financial, a controversial DeFi project linked to Donald Trump, and its ties to a previously hacked protocol. They explore the motivations behind the Trump family's involvement in crypto, questioning the legitimacy and future of the project. The conversation pivots to memecoins, with debates around the sustainability of the memecoin market and the growing influence of platforms like Pump.fun. We explore the thought-provoking discussion on the evolution of financial games in crypto, where both strategies and the game's rules can change dynamically. The squad also reflects on broader crypto market trends, touching on AI-driven markets, decentralized finance, and the shifting regulatory landscape. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox,

As the 2024 elections draw near, Bitcoin and crypto have become hot topics on the political stage. In this episode, Trey Walsh, host of The Progressive Bitcoiner podcast, and Jason Maier, author of “A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin,” explain why they believe progressive values align with Bitcoin. They discuss how Bitcoin can be a tool for social justice and financial inclusion, challenge misconceptions about its environmental impact, and debate whether making Bitcoin a presidential issue in 2024 was premature.  With Elizabeth Warren attacking crypto and the unfriendly environment for the industry under the Biden administration, the guests also highlight that there’s a slight change in the Democratic party, though they are not certain that the Harris campaign will adopt a pro-Bitcoin stance. Show highlights: How Trey and Jason became Bitcoiners What progressivism means to Trey and Jason, highlighting Bitcoin's alignment with social justice and financial inclusion, beyond its typical libertarian associations

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. In this episode, the squad is joined by Rebecca Rettig, Polygon’s Chief Legal & Policy Officer, to dissect the SEC's impact on the crypto landscape, particularly focusing on OpenSea's Wells notice and impending legal challenges.  They discuss the arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, analyzing the political and cybersecurity ramifications. The conversation shifts to the internal frictions within the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin's criticism of DeFi, reflecting the community's mixed reactions. The broader implications for the crypto industry, privacy, and regulatory clarity are highlighted with special insights from guest Rebecca Rettig, who adds depth on the legal and historical context. Wrapping up, they anticipate future challenges and emphasize staying informed. Show highlights

The SEC’s latest enforcement action is targeting NFTs, and OpenSea is in the crosshairs. In this episode, crypto lawyer Preston Byrne joins to unpack the implications of the SEC's Wells Notice to OpenSea and what it might mean for the platform and the broader NFT market. Could Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provide a unique defense for OpenSea? Preston also dives into other recent SEC moves, including cases against Stoner Cats, Impact Theory, and more.  Lastly, with the 2024 elections looming and political divides sharpening, is the SEC overreaching in its approach to crypto? Show highlights: Why Preston believes that the SEC will go after OpenSea for being an unregistered securities exchange What the Stoner Cats case was about and why it was not a strong enforcement action, according to Preston Why OpenSea's defense against the SEC may hinge on Section 230 protections for user-generated content, setting it apart from traditional exchanges like Coinbase or Binance How the clear-cut promises

In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and Joe McCann welcome venture capitalist Rennick Palley to explore the implications of Fed chair Jerome Powell's recent shift from focusing on inflation to employment, analyzing how it might influence crypto and global markets.  Palley also shares some incisive analysis for why he thinks blue-chip DeFi projects might be overvalued, and both McCann and Palley highlight why they are still bullish on memecoins. Finally, the gang discusses the growing political influence of the crypto industry, the potential impact of Kamala Harris presidential run on future regulations, and whether Justin Sun is using Tron as his “personal piggy bank.” Plus, what’s the latest with bitcoin ETF option applications, and what Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest means. Show highlights: 00:00 Intro 02:41 How Powell's speech signaled a shift from a focus on inflation to employment and what that means for crypto markets  10:25 Why the Fed's proactive stance on the labo

In this episode of Unchained, Keone Hon of Monad Labs, Jay Jog of Sei Labs, and Vijay Chetty of Eclipse Labs share insights on their distinct approaches to scalability and performance in high-throughput blockchains. They discuss the technical advantages of parallelized EVMs, the strategic decisions behind blockchain architecture, and the innovations driving the next generation of high-speed chains.  Show highlights: 00:00 Intro 02:02 How Monad got started and its mission from the very beginning 03:46 The features that enable Monad to be a high-throughput blockchain 07:32 Why Monad chose to make a new blockchain instead of an L2 08:36 Why Keone believes that Monad offers the best experience for developers and why he doesn’t like the ‘Ethereum killer’ description 15:48 Monad’s big venture capital raise and how they’ll use the money 17:30 Monad’s strong community  19:21 The next steps for Monad and whether we’ll see a token soon 20:02 What Sei is and the role of the GameStop saga in the creation of it

Pendle Finance, an innovative protocol that lets users trade yield, surged in popularity earlier this year but is now grappling with a downturn in usage.  In this episode, founder TN Lee shares insights into Pendle's approach, the factors behind its recent success, and the challenges it faces in recovering user engagement and TVL. Plus, since Pendle’s rise was driven by the points narrative, TN talks about how the protocol can keep growing.  Show highlights: 00:00 Intro 01:24 What Pendle is, how the idea for it was born, and how it works 05:06 Why Pendle has exploded this year, even though it launched years ago 12:01 Whether Pendle is an app for sophisticated traders and the most common strategies in the protocol 15:46 How users are able to leverage their earned points in several protocols 19:20 Besides market risks, what the risks are of trading in Pendle and how they try to mitigate them 20:57 Pendle’s recent significant drop in TVL and plans to recover 24:13 If the points narrative ends, will Pendl

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest news. This week, the boys discuss Ethereum's current standing in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, comparing it to the United States regarding capital concentration despite fewer users.  They also dive into the dynamics of prediction markets, focusing on Polymarket's role in predicting election outcomes. The conversation evolves into an analysis of potential changes to the Ethereum mainnet, driven by competition from Solana and other factors, including block time reductions and gas limit increases. The episode concludes with predictions about Ethereum's possible upgrades in the next six months and a bet among the hosts about the outcome. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. Show highlights