Episoder
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Prediction markets are gaining mainstream traction, particularly with the upcoming US elections. In this episode, Nick Tomaino, founder of 1confirmation, which is an investor in Polymarket, explores how platforms like Polymarket identified the possibility that President Biden might drop out of the campaign before the mainstream media did. He talks about the journey of Polymarket, the challenges it faced, and how it overcame them to provide a credible platform for betting on political outcomes.
Finally, Nick explains why prediction markets are currently illegal in the U.S., the implications of the Supreme Court striking down Chevron deference, and what the future holds for prediction markets in the U.S.
Show highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:28 Why prediction markets like Polymarket finally gained mainstream traction, and how 1confirmation became an early investor
04:01 What challenges Polymarket faced in its journey to mainstream recognition, and how it managed to overcome them
07:22 How prediction markets contribute to bringing more truth to the world, particularly in the context of media narratives and social media algorithms
12:52 What challenges have arisen from conflicts in resolving prediction markets on Polymarket
19:00 How bets are created and how the wording and resolution of prediction markets is managed on Polymarket
21:56 How trading volumes affect the credibility of prediction markets on Polymarket
22:38The regulatory environment of prediction markets in the US and whether the elimination of Chevron deference by the Supreme Court will have a positive impact on these markets
28:35 Crypto News Recap
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, pop op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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PlayFi Labs
Guest
Nick Tomaino, Founder & General Partner at 1confirmation
Links
Recent news on Polymarket:
Unchained: Polymarket Hits Record Highs in Monthly Users and Trading Volume Due to Presidential Election
Crypto.news: Polymarket reverses Oracle decision on Barron Trump's involvement in DJT meme coin
Decrypt: Ethereum ETFs Approved by the SEC? Yes—But Don't Bet On It - Decrypt
Dune dashboard: Prediction Markets
Commentary:
Vitalik’s tweet: “Prediction markets and Community Notes are becoming the two flagship social epistemic technologies of the 2020s. Both truth-seeking and democratic, built around open public participation rather than pre-selected elites. I want to see many more things like this.”
Nick Tomaino’s tweet: “2024 will go down in history as the year prediction markets went mainstream.”
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra explore the latest trends in the crypto world. In this episode, special guest Laura Shin is sitting in for Tom to discuss the impact of prediction markets on politics and crypto. They explore how prediction markets like Polymarket affect public perception during the presidential election, contrasting their reliability against traditional journalism. The conversation also touches on the implications of prediction markets on insider trading, market manipulation, and the role of expert information. Additionally, they discuss the Supreme Court's overturning of the Chevron doctrine and its potential impact on regulatory shifts in the crypto industry. The episode provides an insightful analysis into how prediction markets could revolutionize journalism and the evolving landscape of crypto regulation.
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
🔹 Discussion on the recent presidential debate and its implications for prediction markets and the crypto industry.
🔹 Overview of the prediction market phenomenon and its growing importance in political forecasting.
🔹 Examination of the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Chevron Deference and its implications for crypto regulations.
🔹 Debate on whether the ruling will lead to more specific legislation from Congress or if it will hinder effective rulemaking.
🔹 Speculation on how different political figures might impact future crypto legislation and regulation.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Laura Shin, journalist, author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ founder and CEO of Unchained
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:50 Presidential Debate Chaos
04:25 Mainstream Media vs. Prediction Markets
16:48 Insiders in Prediction Markets
30:38 Prediction Markets vs. Sports Betting
38:58 Market Manipulation
50:22 Supreme Court Ruling & Chevron Deference
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Are Solana ETFs on the brink of approval? How might political outcomes influence this decision?
Join hosts James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and Joe McCann as they delve into the latest buzz around Solana’s potential spot ETFs, dissect the SEC's puzzling delay on Ethereum ETFs, and debate why Bitcoin’s recent performance has diverged from the NASDAQ.
They also discuss the U.S. presidential election, the event that Alex says was the “second most bizarre thing” he’s seen in his life, what the bond market seems to indicate about expectations for a Trump presidency, and how upcoming nonfarm payroll reports and potential rate might affect the markets.
Show highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:47 How political outcomes might influence the approval of spot Solana ETFs
04:16 Whether futures ETFs are 100% needed for an approval of spot crypto ETFs
09:26 The high premium on Grayscale's Solana Trust (GSOL)
13:50 How the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could impact the crypto industry
20:55 Why the SEC delayed the launch of the Ethereum ETF
24:53 How the upcoming nonfarm payroll report and potential rate cuts impact market volatility and the Federal Reserve's decisions
27:51 How the rise of populist candidates in France and changes in currency markets might affect the US dollar and the broader economic landscape
31:40 How Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana performed in Q2, and the surprising outperformance of BONK
34:45 Why Bitcoin's performance diverged from the Nasdaq's recent rally
45:48 How recent movements in long-term bond rates are linked to political changes, such as the rise of right-wing populism and concerns about fiscal responsibility
52:45 How FTX creditors could potentially influence market dynamics, and the irony in the US government using Coinbase as a custodian
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard
Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric
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The problem of low float, high fully diluted valuation (FDV) coins is one that is frequently discussed in crypto. But there’s another wrinkle: investors need to understand the unrealized gains of these coins to really understand the price.
In this episode, Jose Macedo of Delphi Digital and Ari Paul of Blocktower Capital explain the various metrics that reveal what a coin is really worth, why a wave of token unlocks that will be hitting the crypto markets in the next few years are not bullish, and whether there is a better way to design token unlocks for teams and insiders.
Plus, they cover whether venture capitalists are extractive to crypto, whether these games with circulating supply and FDV have caused investors to turn to memecoins, and why they believe the ICO era was better for retail investors.
Show highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:58 Why upcoming token unlocks are creating market jitters
10:22 How the ratio of unrealized gains to market cap influences token price movements
12:22 How some token projects manipulate their reported circulating supply
20:24 Whether and how everyday investors can uncover the truth about token projects
23:37 What secondary market trading says about the potential impact of upcoming token unlocks
34:50 Why Jose believes that the current token launch strategy, despite its flaws, is still favored by insiders and unlikely to change soon
41:02 Why some projects favor decisions that are more likely to result in short-term gains over long-term success
46:36 Why Jose believes that simple time-based token unlocks often work better than complex metrics, and how projects can balance funding with realistic success metrics
53:04 Why Ari believes the SEC's investigations into VCs for acting as securities dealers might be justified, and how these practices resemble pump-and-dump schemes
59:11 With numerous token unlocks looming, why the outlook is bearish for many projects, and what challenges they face in mitigating potential sell-offs
1:05:52 Why many crypto investors might end up holding the bag in the current cycle, despite plans to sell early and avoid losses
1:12:27 What the future role of VCs is in crypto, and how the influx of token unlocks and the rise of memecoins could shape the bull cycle
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guests:
Jose Macedo, founder at Delphi Labs
Ari Paul, CIO of Blocktower Capital
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Ari Paul on Why Bitcoin Is a Good Value Buy
Ari Paul of BlockTower Capital on the Crypto Downturn and Why It Could Change Direction
Links
High FDV and unlocks:
Unchained:
How ‘Fully Diluted Valuation’ Can Be a Very Dangerous Metric for Crypto Markets to Rely On
Who’s to Blame for the Underperformance of Low Float, High FDV Tokens?
80% of Tokens on Binance Are Down Since Listing Date: SwissBorg Researcher
Cobie newsletter: New launches (part 1) - private capture, phantom pricing
Rocknblock: Token vesting explainer
CoinDesk: 'Liquid Vesting' Is Oxymoronic Blockchain Feature That Lets Early Investors Sell Without Waiting
Jose’s thread that inspired the episode
Ari’s post responding to Jose’s thread
Token.unlocks.app: Token vesting tracker
Solutions:
Hack VC: Potential Solutions to Crypto's Unlock Problem
Colony Lab: Early-Stage Program & Liquid Vesting
Imran Khan’s tweet on Blast https://x.com/lmrankhan/status/1806040646433522149
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Ten and a half years after filing for bankruptcy, Mt. Gox is finally set to disburse 142,000 Bitcoin worth nearly $9 billion to creditors between July and October.
Market concern has been growing over the potential impact on Bitcoin prices, but Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy, explains why only a small fraction of those bitcoins will be sold. He also discusses the implications of this redistribution on the market, the potential success of Ethereum ETFs, and the chances of a Solana ETF approval.
Show highlights:
00:00 Intro
02:04 Why Alex estimates the amount of bitcoins that creditors sell will be a tiny fraction of the 142,000 to be repaid
13:35 What market shocks could arise from Mt. Gox creditors receiving billions in Bitcoin, and why he believes Bitcoin Cash is the real wild card
18:18 Whether Ethereum ETFs could be as successful as Bitcoin ETFs in attracting investors
23:06 Whether potential outflows from Grayscale's Ethereum Trust will dampen the excitement around Ethereum ETFs
25:07 How the combination of Mt. Gox repayments, Ethereum ETFs, and German and American government Bitcoin sales might affect crypto prices
27:32 The chances the SEC approves a spot Solana ETF
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guest
Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy
Previous appearance on Unchained: How Much Money Will Flow Into Bitcoin ETFs? Here’s One Projection
Links
Mt. Gox.
Unchained: Crypto Market Sees $300 Million Liquidated as Bitcoin Briefly Drops Below $59,000
CoinDesk: Mt. Gox to Begin Repayments in July
Governments selling:
Unchained: US Government Sends $241 Million in Bitcoin to Coinbase: Arkham
Cointelegraph: German gov’t offloads 900 Bitcoin, 400 BTC sent to Coinbase and Kraken
Solana ETF
Reuters: Investment manager VanEck files to list first spot Solana ETF in US |
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Last week, Consensys revealed that the SEC had concluded an investigation into Ethereum 2.0, referring to when Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake one.
In this episode, Laura Brookover, senior counsel & head of litigation and investigations at Consensys, and Sam Enzer, partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, explore the implications of this decision on Ether’s status as a commodity versus a security, and why the SEC dropped the pursuit, including whether the shifting political winds played a role. For instance, how much of the decision was influenced by the ETH ETF approvals, Democrats crossing party lines to vote for FIT21 and the repeal of SAB 121, and/or SEC crypto enforcement chief David Hirsch’s resignation?
In this discussion, they also explained why the closure doesn’t necessarily mean that staking, or restaking, is safe from the SEC. Plus, what’s the impact of this closure on the other big crypto cases, such as Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, and Ripple?
Show highlights:
02:13 How Consensys managed to get the SEC to reveal that it had concluded its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, and the significance of that move
08:14 The SEC's possible reasoning behind investigating Ethereum after it had switched to proof of stake
15:19 How uncommon is it for the SEC to send a letter concluding an investigation like the one into Ethereum
18:45 Whether recent events around crypto as an election issue, the ETH ETF approvals, votes for FIT21 and the repeal of SAB121, and David Hirsch’s resignation, might be connected to the decision to close this investigation
29:03 Whether the Biden administration has shifted its stance on crypto and whether Gensler should remain as chair
33:24 How the SEC might still go after staking
37:18 Whether restaking, such as pioneered by EigenLayer, is safe from regulatory actions
39:13 Why the SEC might be pursuing different judgments in various jurisdictions for MetaMask and Coinbase Wallet
44:24 What crucial evidence from the closed Ethereum 2.0 investigation could strengthen Coinbase's defense in its ongoing lawsuit
47:58 Why the SEC's aggressive stance on various crypto enforcement actions seems to remain unchanged despite closing the Ethereum 2.0 investigation
52:13 Why Sam and Laura believe Solana should not be considered a security, despite the SEC naming it as such in various crypto cases
58:13 How the SEC’s argument about an “ecosystem” is nonsensical, according to Laura Brookover
01:00:31 What the implications of the closed investigation are for the cases of Kraken and Ripple
01:04:58 What Sam and Laura B. are watching out for in terms of regulation and ongoing legal cases
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guests:
Laura Brookover, Senior Counsel & Head of Litigation and Investigations at Consensys
Previous appearance on Unchained: Consensys’s Lawsuit Against The SEC: Will It End Gensler's ‘Unlawful Power Grab’?
Sam Enzer, Partner at Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Previous appearances on Unchained:
The Real Reason Why the SEC Might Be Going After Ethereum
How 'a Criminal Choice' Got Sam Bankman-Fried a 25-Year Prison Sentence
Why the SEC’s Case Against Coinbase Is So Significant for Crypto
Why SBF’s Testimony So Far Has Likely Already Doomed Him
Another Bad Week for Sam Bankman-Fried in His Criminal Trial
Why These Lawyers Say It’s Over for SBF-But His Only Hail Mary Is to Testify
SBF Trial: How Sam Bankman-Fried’s Lawyers Might Try and Win His Case
SBF’s Lawyers Could Be Annoying the Judge How Might That Impact the Trial?
For more links visit UnchainedCrypto.com
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LayerZero’s token claims went live on Thursday, and as with every recent airdrop, there was plenty of controversy.
In this episode, Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder and CEO of LayerZero Labs, joined to discuss their ambitious anti-Sybil campaign and the subsequent token distribution. He delved into the challenges of ensuring genuine user participation, the decision to offer a self-report option for Sybil attackers, and the complexities imposed by industrial-grade farmers. Bryan shared what he would have done differently and why a mandatory donation to Protocol Guild was imposed.
Also, are airdrops dead? How can the industry improve this not-so-effective distribution method?
Show highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:23 Why LayerZero launched an anti-Sybil campaign with its airdrop, and what challenges they faced in ensuring genuine user participation
04:51 Why LayerZero offered a self-report option for Sybil attackers, and how this strategy revealed both the complexities and the creativity within the crypto community
10:16 How the anti-Sybil campaign uncovered over a million fraudulent accounts
14:34 What Bryan would have done differently in their campaign
17:18 What alternative methods, such as KYC and proof-of-humanity protocols, LayerZero could have used for their anti-Sybil campaign
18:35How LayerZero navigated the cat-and-mouse game with industrial airdrop farmers
23:08 Why they decided to impose a donation to Protocol Guild to claim the ZRO token
32:07 What caused the dramatic drop in LayerZero's activity post-announcement of their anti-Sybil campaign, and why the team is optimistic despite the decline
35:23 LayerZero's plans for future airdrops
38:40 What Bryan thinks the future holds for airdrops in crypto, and how the current broken system can be improved to achieve better distribution and user engagement
42:43 Crypto News Recap
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
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Guest
Bryan Pellegrino, cofounder and CEO of LayerZero Labs
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra explore the latest trends in the crypto world. In this episode, we dive into the impact of celebrity-endorsed memecoins, featuring discussions around Iggy Azalea's 'Mother' token, Waka Flocka Flame's 'Flocka' token, and other celebrities. We debate the broader implications of these phenomena on the crypto market, address criticisms of venture capital's role in crypto, and explore the seasonal nature of crypto trading. Tune in for an in-depth look at how pop culture intersects with cryptocurrency, shaping current market sentiment.
Show highlights
🔹 Seasonality in Crypto: Exploration of the historical seasonal trends in crypto markets and their implications.
🔹 Memecoins & Celebrities: Insightful discussion on the rise of celebrity-launched memecoins and their impact on the crypto world.
🔹 Market Cycles: Exploration of the different phases in market cycles and their effects on asset creation and liquidation.
🔹 VC Funding in Crypto: Examination of the role of venture capital in the crypto ecosystem and its impact on market dynamics.
🔹 VC vs. Liquid Funds: Debate on whether venture capital funds are beneficial or detrimental to the crypto markets.
🔹 Institutional and Retail Adoption: The importance of growing crypto usage among both institutions and retail investors.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:58 Market Sentiment
07:34 Celebrity Involvement in Crypto
16:00 Celebrity Coins vs Endorsements
25:24 Influencer Economy and Social Tokens
27:41 Legibility and Value of Memecoins
28:37 Crypto Influencers
31:07 VCs vs. Retail
36:50 Future of Crypto Markets
43:53 Institutional vs. Retail Adoption
50:45 Taking on Populist Takes
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A few weeks after its launch, Iggy Azalea's MOTHER memecoin is still in the spotlight. Host Joe McCann, who recently had dinner with her in New York, gives the inside scoop on how Iggy’s $MOTHER came to be, plus her plans.
Also, Joe says Iggy is so bullish on Solana because it’s fast and cheap… but James Seyffart counters… nothing can be fast, cheap, and good. Except ETFs.
Guests Phil Bonello and Kelly Greer delve into the role of venture capital in crypto, and more particularly into dynamics between liquid hedge funds and massive token generation events. And James tells a mind-blowing story about how one ETF and obscure SEC rules could cause whiplash to the prices of Apple and Nvidia stock over the next few months.
Plus, after SEC head enforcer David Hirsch resigned from the SEC this week, everyone gave their takes on why. Is Hirsch going to BlackRock, or was he scared about a potential lawsuit?
Show highlights:
00:51 The real story behind Iggy Azalea's MOTHER memecoin and the controversy between Joe and Haseeb Qureshi
07:26 Why Iggy is bullish on Solana, and whether MOTHER is a hopeful case for crypto, reflecting the evolving relationship between entertainment and Web3
12:35 Whether the market has already topped, given the involvement of celebrities in the industry
15:32 Whether VCs are extractive to the overall space, and how liquid funds and token unlocks impact the performance of assets
21:17 Why venture funds and hedge funds have different approaches to liquid crypto investments, and how memecoins are changing the game for allocators
33:18 Why there’s a 0% chance that SOL gets an ETF this year
34:19 What the recent macro trends point to, whether inflation going down is sustainable, and whether rate cuts are coming
43:32 Why Nvidia's rapid growth is about to trigger a multi-billion dollar rebalance in tech ETFs, and how both $NVDA’s and $AAPL’s stock prices might soon seesaw
54:35 The theories about why the SEC’s chief crypto enforcer David Hirsch resigned from the agency (hint: it might have to do with the election)
59:52 Why James believes Ethereum ETFs will launch on July 2 and what amount of inflows the ETH ETFs might garner, esp. considering potential ETHE outflows
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric
Guests:
Kelly Greer, Vice President of Trading at Galaxy
Philip Bonello, Founding Partner at Plaintext Capital
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The political landscape in the US is heating up with the November elections, and the crypto industry is watching closely.
In this episode, Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge, doesn’t mince words and explains why he believes Joe Biden is the best choice—even for the crypto voter—in the upcoming election, the significance of the Ethereum ETF approval, and how the industry has overcome significant regulatory hurdles.
Scaramucci also shares his insights on the future of Bitcoin ETFs, the role of younger generations in driving crypto policy, and why Solana might be the next big thing.
Show highlights:
02:05 Why Anthony believes there’s only one choice in this election: Joe Biden
07:03 Why he thinks the crypto industry “has already won”
16:27 Whether the crypto industry should trust Trump with his pro-crypto comments
17:20 Why Anthony is convinced that the Biden administration has stopped its anti-crypto stance, even with the veto of the SAB 121 repeal
21:26 Why Anthony believes crypto is becoming a bipartisan issue, and how younger generations are driving this change in Washington
28:05 What three key elements would ideally be included in crypto legislation to ensure clarity and industry involvement in regulation
30:49 What happened to SkyBridge after selling a stake to FTX, and how they are riding the industry's “upswing”
38:00 What developments in Bitcoin ETFs could signal its recognition as an asset class and drive institutional adoption
40:00 What led SkyBridge to abandon its Bitcoin ETF application
43:23 What Anthony thinks is the best pitch for a spot Ether ETF to TradFi, and how expected inflows compare to Bitcoin ETFs
49:11 Anthony’s praise of Laura’s book
51:55 Why Anthony believes a Solana ETF might be the next big thing in crypto, despite SEC scrutiny and the need for a futures market first
55:20 Why SkyBridge is actively seeking new acquisitions and partnering with Parcl, a Solana-based decentralized real estate trading app
59:44 What Anthony's bullish predictions for Bitcoin and Ethereum are in the current cycle
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guest:
Anthony Scaramucci, Founder and Managing Partner at SkyBridge
Links
Recent coverage of Unchained on the political scenario in the US:
How the U.S. Government Can Protect the Dollar Through Stablecoins
Why Many Democrats, Including the White House, Have Come Around on Crypto
Senator Cynthia Lummis on Why Crypto Now Has Bipartisan Support in Congress
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra explore the latest trends in the crypto world. In this episode, we dive into the impact of celebrity-endorsed memecoins, featuring Iggy Azalea's new coin 'Mother' and Andrew Tate's 'Daddy.' We discuss how these phenomena influence the broader crypto market, recent trends in airdrops, and the challenge of Sybil resistance. Additionally, we explore the permissionless nature of crypto and the trade-offs involved in fun and chaotic projects, including the explosive rise of 'Hamster Kombat.' Tune in for an in-depth look at how pop culture intersects with the core principles of cryptocurrency, shaping current market sentiment.
Show highlights
🔹 Crypto Market Sentiment: Discussion on the latest market trends and how inflation numbers are impacting the community.
🔹 Memecoins & Celebrities: Analysis of Iggy Azalea's $Mother and the phenomenon of celebrity-launched memecoins.
🔹 Emerging Memecoins: Insights into new memecoins, including issues with fake and hacked accounts.
🔹 Tap-to-Earn Games: Overview of the rapid growth of simple click-based games like Hamster Kombat.
🔹 Airdrop Controversies: Exploration of recent controversies, particularly involving zkSync and LayerZero, and challenges of Sybil attacks.
🔹 Future Airdrop Strategies: Discussion on the evolution and need for clear, ungameable metrics.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Disclosures
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Nathaniel Popper just published his latest book, "The Trolls of Wall Street," covering the Wall Street Bets phenomenon. Funnily enough, his book comes at a time when there are striking similarities with the current memecoin mania in crypto.
In this episode, Popper explores the rise of online investing communities like Wall Street Bets and their reflection of broader societal changes, particularly among young men.
He also touches on the parallels between the trolling culture of these communities and the rise of figures like Donald Trump, and delves into the hidden dangers and psychological influences of memes in modern investing.
Show highlights:
01:21 The rise of online money communities and the shift towards investing based on ideas rather than traditional financial fundamentals
04:06 How the changing roles of young men in society have influenced the growth of crypto and online financial communities
13:36 How Robinhood's design choices changed retail investing, sparking FOMO and controversy by making trading as easy as a swipe
18:04 The hidden dangers of memes in modern investing, and how they balance fostering community with driving speculation
22:56 Why Trump's ties to the crypto community highlight the mix of serious intent and trolling
30:07 Crypto News Recap
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Polkadot
Guest
Nathaniel Popper, author of The Trolls of Wall Street
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on memecoins:
Unchained: Why Memecoins Have Been 2024's Most Profitable Crypto Trade: Ansem and Kelxyz - Ep. 641
BRETT Becomes First Memecoin on Base to Reach $1 Billion in Market Cap
DWF Labs to Invest in Memecoins, Onchain Data Reveals LADYS Transactions
Celebrity Tokens Continue to Bleed With Some Memecoin Traders Losing Six-Figures
The book:
Blockworks: What do memecoins and meme stocks have in common?: A review of ‘The Trolls of Wall Street’
Fortune: Q&A with the author of ‘The Trolls of Wall Street’: Gambling, conspiracies, and the return of Roaring Kitty,
Meme culture
WSJ:
Meme Stocks Are Back, but Fund Investors Moved On
Meet the ‘Degen’ Traders Fueling the Latest Meme-Stock Mania
CoinDesk: In Defense of Meme Coins
What else could memecoins be? By Vitalik Buterin
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Robinhood has been in the spotlight for its $200 million acquisition of European crypto exchange Bitstamp. The TradFi app’s venture into crypto is paying off: its recent earnings showed that revenue is growing substantially, and the Bitstamp acquisition is just one way the company will grow the pie.
Johann Kerbrat, general manager of Robinhood Crypto, came on the show to discuss the acquisition, Robinhood's plans for expanding its crypto business internationally and into the institutional market, the company's approach to listing crypto assets, how regulation has affected its business decisions, and its efforts to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance.
Show highlights:
02:14 How the acquisition of Bitstamp will reshape Robinhood
08:51 Whether Robinhood could list more coins and whether it’s considering more acquisitions
11:54 Whether the U.S.’s unclear crypto regulation influenced the decision to acquire Bitstamp and which other jurisdictions, besides the EU, Robinhood Crypto is eyeing
17:46 Why Johann was disappointed by the Wells notice Robinhood received from the SEC
20:47 Johann’s U.S. crypto regulation wish list and why Robinhood supports the FIT21 bill
24:09 Why Robinhood delisted ADA, MATIC, and SOL, and the process for listing or delisting a coin on the platform
29:49 Johann’s background in crypto and trajectory at Robinhood Crypto
31:35 How Robinhood is uniquely poised to help bring real-world assets and securities on-chain, and how it will handle offerings for institutional investors
37:48 The impact and importance of the introduction of spot bitcoin ETFs
44:26 Why Robinhood decided to offer staking, but only for Solana, not Ethereum
46:11 Whether there’s demand for crypto-native features in the Robinhood platform
48:26 Robinhood’s collaboration with Arbitrum and whether the company might build their own Layer 2
54:29 Johann’s take on the memecoin mania and whether Robinhood could list them
59:26 What Johann thinks about the political fight around crypto in the U.S.
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guest:
Johann Kerbrat, general manager of Robinhood Crypto
Links
Acquisition of Bitstamp:
Unchained: Q&A With Robinhood Crypto General Manager: Why the Crypto Giant Went to the EU
Fortune: Robinhood defies the SEC by forking over $200 million for a crypto exchange
DL News: Robinhood crypto head says Bitstamp will help lure wealthy investors
Robinhood’s crypto business:
Bloomberg: Robinhood (HOOD) Profit Beats Estimates as Crypto Revenue Surges
Robinhood Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
Regulatory actions:
Reuters: Robinhood Crypto gets Wells notice from US SEC
Robinhood Crypto Launches Staking in Europe with Localized Apps to Follow
Memecoin mania
Unchained:
Celebrity Tokens Continue to Bleed With Some Memecoin Traders Losing Six-Figures
Why Memecoins Have Been 2024's Most Profitable Crypto Trade: Ansem and Kelxyz
Ether ETFs:
Unchained:
Ethereum ETFs Likely Protect Ether From the SEC. But What About Staked ETH?
Why the SEC May Not Be Done in Its Legal Battles Over Ethereum
Kerbrat’s statement on ETFs
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Coinbase’s “onchain summer” has kicked off with the launch of its new smart wallet. This interview with Luke Youngblood, founding contributor to Moonwell, gives a peek at how it’s sweetening the pot for developers and users alike.
In this episode, Youngblood describes how smart wallets are different from traditional wallets, how they do away with past security issues, and the more minor potential risks that still do exist with smart wallets. He also gives details on the ways that Coinbase is trying to use its smart wallet to get users onchain: making it much easier to transact onchain directly from their Coinbase accounts, subsidizing gas costs for certain dapps, and making sure everything is web-accessible.
Plus, he explains why Moonwell chose Base, how it is branching out to non-crypto native DeFi users, such as populations that only have mobile phones and not desktop computers in geographies like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and how the DeFi lending protocol differentiates itself from bigger ones that have established a beachhead on Base.
Show highlights:
(00:00) Intro
(01:40) How smart wallets differ from traditional wallets and embedded wallets
(04:06) Why Luke is excited to be working with Coinbase smart wallet
(06:33) What happens if the user loses the device linked to their smart wallet
(08:12) How hard it would be for a hacker to try to get access to the assets in this smart wallet
(09:36) How Coinbase is initially paying for user gas fees on dapps like Moonwell and other launch partners
(12:02) How Coinbase’s Magic Stand feature enables users to transact onchain straight from their Coinbase accounts
(14:24) How Coinbase might keep paying gas fees for some dapps even after the initial launch period
(16:38) Why the smart wallet is also accessible via the web, and not just through an app
(19:50) Why Moonwell has focused on lending and borrowing
(18:03) Why Moonwell chose to build on Base as opposed to, say, Solana
(21:24) Moonwell’s plans to grow
(23:00) How having access to Coinbase’s user base changes Moonwell’s strategy for attracting users
(26:14) Crypto News Recap
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Guest
Luke Youngblood
Links
Previous coverage on Unchained:
Coinbase Smart Wallet: Coinbase Launches Its Smart Wallets, Dubbing It Crypto’s ‘IPhone Moment’
Wallets:
Why (Almost) Everyone in Ethereum Is So Excited About a Wallet-Related Proposal
What Are Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) in Ethereum?
An Introduction to ERC-4337 (Account Abstraction) Standard
Base:
How Ethereum’s Dencun Upgrade Could Lead to the Rise of Millions of Layer 3s
Dencun Day One: Ethereum Layer 2 Networks See Drastic Drop in Transaction Fees
Base Daily Transactions Spike to 2 Million Post Dencun Upgrade
Why Base’s Creator Thinks Social Apps Will Be a ‘Huge Part’ of the Layer 2 Blockchain’s Success
Base TVL Hits $4 Billion as Transactions Per Second Surpass Ethereum
3 Reasons Why Layer 2 Network Base Has More Than Doubled Its Total Value Locked This Year
Ethereum Layer 2s:
Ethereum L2 Networks Reach Record High of 7 Million Distinct Addresses
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In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and Joe McCann, along with guest Hal Press, founder of North Rock Digital, dive into the intricate challenges of pitching the ETH spot ETF to traditional finance and the Federal Reserve’s anticipated next steps. They discuss why Biden vetoed the repeal of SAB 121, and why that veto lends credence to an alternative theory as to why the SEC approved Ethereum ETFs.
Also, they talk about why the spot ETH ETFs are already turning out to be different from the Bitcoin ETFs, Hong Kong's (and perhaps China’s?) crypto ambitions, recent U.S. macroeconomic indicators, and whether or not Roaring Kitty’s recent antics with GME stock are illegal—and how he’s impacting memecoins.
Show highlights:
Why Biden vetoed the repeal of SAB 121 and whether it was priced in
The recent political change around crypto and the surprise Gen Z celebrity who could swing the U.S. presidential election
The impact of the Trump conviction on the crypto industry
Why ETF issuers were caught off guard with the spot ETH ETF approvals
Whether Bitcoin ETF buyers will rotate to Ethereum, and when the products will launch
How the ETH ETF will be pitched to TradFi
Why Alex thinks ETH/BTC will go up
How Hong Kong is trying to become the Wall Street of crypto, according to Joe
The recent macroeconomic indicators in the U.S. and their implications for crypto
The massive glitches in the NYSE that showed Berkshire Hathaway going down 99%
Whether what Roaring Kitty is doing with the GME stock is illegal
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard
Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric
Guest:
Hal Press, Founder of North Rock Digital
Links
Politics:
Unchained: President Biden Vetoes SAB121 Repeal
Unchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?
POLITICO: Crypto super PACs get $25M boost
Fortune: Coinbase donates $25 million to super PAC Fairshake days after Biden vetoes crypto custody bill
Ether ETFs:
Unchained:
Ethereum ETFs Likely Protect Ether From the SEC. But What About Staked ETH?
Why the SEC May Not Be Done in Its Legal Battles Over Ethereum
Why ETH Spot ETFs Could Benefit Stakers and Make Ethereum More Resilient
ETH ETFs Will Be Approved. But Could Grayscale Outflows Depress the Price of ETH?
Blockworks: What we learned from the latest ETH ETF filing dump
Hong Kong
Bloomberg: Hong Kong Says 11 Crypto Exchanges Are Closer to Getting Permits
Other recent events:
CNN Business: Berkshire Hathaway: NYSE says glitch that showed stock down 99.97% has been resolved
WSJ: E*Trade Considers Kicking Meme-Stock Leader Keith Gill Off Platform
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:59 Why Biden vetoed the repeal of SAB 121 and whether it was priced in
08:43 The recent political change around crypto and whether this particular Gen Z celeb could swing the U.S. presidential election
12:07 What the impact of the Trump conviction had in the crypto industry
15:38 Whether Bitcoin ETF buyers will rotate to Ethereum, and when the ETH ETFs will launch
25:53 How the ETH ETF will or should be pitched to TradFi
31:02 Why Alex thinks ETH/BTC will go up
32:48How Hong Kong is trying to become the Wall Street of crypto, according to Joe
36:27 The recent macroeconomic indicators in the U.S. and their implications for crypto
45:15 The massive glitches in the NYSE that showed Berkshire Hathaway going down 99%
49:26 Whether what Roaring Kitty is doing with the GME stock is illegal
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In this episode, Laura Shin speaks with former CFTC chairman Chris Giancarlo and former CFTC chief innovation officer Daniel Gorfine on the pressing need for the U.S. to safeguard the dollar. They explain why they believe the future of regulation is the government operating nodes on blockchains rather than regulating intermediaries, why even private USD stablecoins will want a USD central bank digital currency, and how China might export the technology behind the digital yuan—and its surveillance capabilities—to other countries. They also touch on how the upcoming U.S. elections could influence crypto policy, why stablecoins are more than just trading instruments, and what the U.S. must do to maintain its financial leadership.
Show highlights:
How governments should embrace blockchain technology to become better at its job, according to Chris
How the financial system needs to change for the younger generations
Whether the U.S. is losing ground in terms of innovation
Why Daniel thinks stablecoins are much more than a trading instrument for crypto
Why Daniel believes that the U.S. is making the regulation of stablecoins “far more complicated than it needs to be”
How Singapore is already giving licenses to USD stablecoin issuers
Whether the dollar should be trademarked to protect it
How Tether has become one of the most profitable companies per employee in history without being under U.S. jurisdiction
Who should be the next chair of the SEC and the need to regulate DeFi in order for it to become mainstream
Why Daniel thinks that some of the criticism of the FIT21 bill “doesn’t hold water”
Why Chris believes that China is lying about not intending to export the technology behind the digital yuan
Whether algorithmic stablecoins should be banned, as proposed in the Lummis-Gillibrand bill
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
First Bits + Bips episode: Bits + Bips: Does Macroeconomics Point to a Potential Crypto Supercycle?
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
VaultCraft
Guests:
Chris Giancarlo, Former Chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, author of CryptoDad
Forbes: ‘Elizabeth Warren’s Anti-Crypto Wing Is A Shrinking Iceberg’, Says Former Top Regulator
FoxBusiness Interview: Elizabeth Warren and others have declared war on cryptocurrency: Chris Giancarlo
Op-ed in the FT Banking Risk & Regulation: Can CBDCs be made safe for democracy?
Daniel Gorfine, Founder & CEO of boutique advisory firm Gattaca Horizons, former Chief Innovation Officer at the U.S. CFTC, and adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center
Opinion: Stablecoin and other digital assets are falsely framed as a choice between personal privacy and national security. We can have both. - MarketWatch
Building digital infrastructure for the future of finance
Links
Stablecoins:
Stablecoins Are Defense Tech by Morgan Beller
Unchained:
Opinion: Regulated Dollar Stablecoins Created by a Proposed New Senate Bill Would be Crypto’s Ultimate Trojan Horse
Tether's Record $4.5 Billion Q1 Profit Highlights Its Dominance of the Stablecoin Industry
SAB 121
Unchained: President Biden Vetoes SAB121 Repeal
FIT21
Unchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?
Spot Ether ETFs
Unchained: Analysts Up Odds of Spot Ether ETF to 75% as Prometheum Launches Product That Treats ETH as a Security
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Robert Leshner, and Tarun Chitra explore the latest trends in crypto. This episode explores the buzz around LeBron James' potential memecoin, the recent approval of Ether ETFs, and Biden's shifting stance on crypto policy. We dissect the implications of Trump's pro-crypto promises and the FIT21 legislation. Tune in for a lively debate on celebrity coins, the market's reaction to regulatory changes, and the evolving landscape of political influence in the crypto space.
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
🔹 Celebrity Coins: In-depth discussion on the rise of celebrity-endorsed cryptocurrencies, focusing on LeBron James' potential memecoin and its market implications.
🔹 Ether ETF Approval: Examination of the recent Ether ETF approval, the political motivations behind it, and how it might impact the broader crypto market.
🔹 Biden's Crypto Policy: Analysis of Biden's evolving crypto stance, including recent outreach to the crypto industry and the potential effects on the upcoming elections.
🔹 Trump's Crypto Strategy: Debate on Trump's newfound pro-crypto stance, his promises to the crypto community, and the potential impact on his voter base.
🔹 FIT21 Legislation: Overview of the Financial Innovation and Technology in the 21st Century Act, its key provisions, and the potential for bipartisan support.
🔹 Political Influence in Crypto: Discussion on the increasing influence of politics in the crypto space, including the roles of key figures and the impact of regulatory developments.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
02:45 - ETF Approval
07:00 - How deep is this policy shift?
09:00 - FIT21
15:45 - Trump's Pro-Crypto Stance
24:40 - Caitlyn Jenner's Memecoin Launch
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
After some big wins for the crypto industry (and big losses for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), Jason Gottlieb, partner at Morrison Cohen, delves into how the upcoming US elections could reshape the SEC’s crypto agenda, the political pressures influencing SEC decisions, and the potential impact that a new SEC chair could have.
Gottlieb provides insights into ongoing court battles involving major crypto firms like Coinbase and explores the broader political implications of the Democrats' recent outreach to the crypto industry.
Show highlights:
How the sea change in Congress, the White House, and the Biden campaign affects the SEC’s stance on crypto
Whether the SEC's agenda on crypto has changed, following the sudden reversal on ETH ETFs
Whether the SEC is being pressured politically about crypto and how that could affect its actions between now and the election
How the ongoing legal crypto cases are affected by the SEC’s change of tune
What the implications of a possible new SEC chair would be
How the SEC’s credibility was damaged by the Debt Box case
Why Jason thinks Democrats are in an “uncomfortable position” but also believes there’s a lot of common ground with the Republicans with regard to crypto
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
iTrustCapital
Polkadot
VaultCraft
Guest
Jason Gottlieb, partner at Morrison Cohen
Previous appearances on Unchained:
The Department of Justice Goes After Its First NFT Insider Trading Case
‘Is ETH a Security?’ Why Gary Gensler Couldn’t Give Congress a Straight Answer
Links
Previous coverage on Unchained of the recent shift in the US political landscape:
Why Many Democrats, Including the White House, Have Come Around on Crypto
Senator Cynthia Lummis on Why Crypto Now Has Bipartisan Support in Congress
Bits + Bips: Is US Politics Driving the ETH ETF Approval?
Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on Thursday
Political turn and ongoing cases:
The Block: Biden campaign ramps up crypto industry outreach in surprising tone 'shift'
Unchained:
Ethereum ETFs Likely Protect Ether From the SEC. But What About Staked ETH?
Why the SEC May Not Be Done in Its Legal Battles Over Ethereum
SAB 121
Bloomberg: As Bitcoin Rallies, Banks Are Pushing US Regulators to Change Crypto Guidance
FIT21
Unchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?
Spot Ether ETFs
Unchained: Analysts Up Odds of Spot Ether ETF to 75% as Prometheum Launches Product That Treats ETH as a Security
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
02:55 The outlook for the SEC’s efforts after the seeming sea change from the Democrats
06:09 Whether the SEC's agenda has changed, after the sudden reversal on ETH ETFs
09:58 Whether the SEC is being pressured politically and whether that will influence its actions between now and the presidential election
15:30 How the ongoing legal crypto cases are affected by the SEC’s change of tune
19:51 What the implications of a new SEC chair would be on court cases winding slowly through the courts
23:52 How the SEC’s credibility was damaged by the Debt Box case
27:59 Why Jason thinks Democrats are in an “uncomfortable position” but also believes there’s a lot of common ground with the Republicans with regard to crypto
34:14 Weekly recap
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Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, joins Unchained to explore the dramatic shift by Democrats in the last few weeks on crypto. She explains why she believes the overturning of SAB 121 and the House vote for the FIT21 bill were both instrumental to the White House's changing view on crypto and may have played a role in the SEC’s surprising approval of spot ETH ETFs.
Having worked for years on passing crypto legislation and as a lifelong Democrat, Sheila describes what kinds of arguments were persuasive to Democratic members of Congress, addresses some criticisms of the FIT21 bill, and gives her perspective on the debate about single-issue voters.
Show highlights:
The overall attitude toward crypto in Washington going into the House vote on SAB 121 on May 8
The bipartisan votes in the House and Senate to overturn SAB 121
Why, by the time of the Senate vote on FIT21, the White House had had a change of heart about crypto
Why, after the Senate vote to repeal SAB 121, the SEC approved the spot ETH ETFs
Why Sheila is so proud of the passage in the House of the FIT21 bill
How Sheila and CCI approached their discussions with Democrats and what arguments they found effective
Whether the industry has survived the negative image of SBF and FTX
The sea change in the White House between the SAB 121 vote and the FIT21 vote
A high-level description of the FIT21 bill
What kind of authority the bill would give the CFTC over crypto
What the implications of the bill are for launching tokens
FIT21’s approach to regulating DeFi and how the FIT21 bill is "kicking the can" on this topic
The overall political and legislation landscape and the next likely steps for crypto
Whether the ETF approval changes anything about the SEC’s investigation into Ethereum
What Sheila thinks about the 'crypto single-issue voter’ debate
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
VaultCraft
Guest:
Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation
Previous appearance on Unchained: Did FTX Ruin Crypto’s Image on Capitol Hill? Two DC Insiders Discuss
Links
Previous coverage on Unchained of the recent shift in the US political landscape:
Senator Cynthia Lummis on Why Crypto Now Has Bipartisan Support in Congress
Bits + Bips: Is US Politics Driving the ETH ETF Approval?
Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on Thursday
SAB 121
Bloomberg: As Bitcoin Rallies, Banks Are Pushing US Regulators to Change Crypto Guidance
FIT21
CCI: FIT21 Coalition Support Letter
Unchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?
Sheila’s op-ed on Fortune: The clock is ticking for Democrats on crypto
Spot Ether ETFs
Unchained: Analysts Up Odds of Spot Ether ETF to 75% as Prometheum Launches Product That Treats ETH as a Security
Ethereum Foundation investigation
Fortune Crypto: SEC probing crypto companies in Ethereum investigation as hopes for ETF dim
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
With crypto becoming more politicized than ever, US Senator from Wyoming Cynthia Lummis came on Unchained to talk about the recent regulatory action in Washington DC.
With crypto becoming more politicized than ever, U.S. Senator from Wyoming Cynthia Lummis came on Unchained to talk about the recent regulatory action in Washington, D.C.
She delves into what led to bipartisan support to repeal SAB 121, and how the strength of the vote there in both the House and Senate may have affected the about-face decision to approve spot ether ETFs. Sen. Lummis also explains why she disagrees with how Gary Gensler’s SEC is handling the industry, how to avoid the next TerraUSD, why she feels Wyoming-chartered Custodia Bank is not being treated fairly, the ban on a Chinese-owned, Wyoming-based Bitcoin mining firm, and what advice she would give to the crypto industry during this election year.
Show highlights:
Why the SAB 121 approval was bipartisan
Whether President Biden will veto the resolution
How it's a "mystery" to Sen. Lummis why the SEC had a change of heart about Ether ETFs
How the SEC's approach to regulating the industry "is not the American way"
Whether there is a bipartisan majority in favor of crypto in Congress
How bitcoin has come a long way in terms of adoption
Sen. Lummis' thoughts on how to regulate the stablecoin industry and avoid a Terra Luna situation
The differences between the Lummis-Gillibrand bill and FIT21
How Sen. Lummis feels about the denial of a master account for Custodia Bank
Whether there's a move against Bitcoin mining companies in the US, given the recent ban of an operation in Wyoming
What Sen. Lummis would advise for the industry to accomplish its goals
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
iTrustCapital
Polkadot
VaultCraft
Guest
Senator Cynthia Lummis on Why Crypto Now Has Bipartisan Support in Congress - Ep. 651, U.S. Senator from Wyoming
Links
Ether ETFs
Unchained:
Analysts Up Odds of Spot Ether ETF to 75% as Prometheum Launches Product That Treats ETH as a Security
Bits + Bips: Is US Politics Driving the ETH ETF Approval?
Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on Thursday
SAB 121
Bloomberg: As Bitcoin Rallies, Banks Are Pushing US Regulators to Change Crypto Guidance
FIT21:
Unchained: FIT21 Bill Heads to The Senate: Should We Really Be Excited?
Open cases:
Fortune: SEC sued over Ethereum, crypto firm asks court to state token is not a security
Unchained:
Gary Gensler’s Case Against Uniswap: Does the SEC Even Stand a Chance?
SEC Puts DeFi in Its Sights With Potential Uniswap Suit
Unchained:
SEC Investigating Ethereum Foundation Regarding Proof-of-Stake Transition: Report
The Real Reason Why the SEC Might Be Going After Ethereum
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:53) Why the SAB 121 approval was bipartisan
(04:52) Whether President Biden will veto the resolution
(08:40) How it's a "mystery" to Sen. Lummis why the SEC had a change of heart about Ether ETFs
(13:23) Why Senator Lummis believes there is a bipartisan majority in favor of crypto in Congress
(20:19) Sen. Lummis' thoughts on how to regulate the stablecoin industry and avoid a Terra Luna situation
(23:55) The differences between the Lummis-Gillibrand bill and FIT21
(28:59) How Sen. Lummis feels about the denial of a master account for Wyoming-special purpose depository institution Custodia Bank
(30:20) What she thinks about the Biden administration’s ban against a Wyoming-based, Chinese-owned Bitcoin mining company near a nuclear site
(33:44) What Sen. Lummis would advise for the industry to accomplish its goals
(35:04) Weekly Recap
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