Byte-Sized Insight by Cointelegraph

2025 was a year of major shifts for crypto and not just in headlines, but in what actually matters for builders: fundamentals, real-world use cases and sustainable revenue. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we are joined by Leonard Dorlöchter, co-founder of peaq, to break down what quietly worked in 2025 and what the industry should be paying attention to in 2026. Leonard explains how DePIN b...

2025 marked a turning point for crypto not in price cycles or hype, but in how the industry is actually used, regulated and understood. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we’re joined by Matthias Bauer-Langgartner, Head of Policy for Europe at Chainalysis, to break down what really happened in crypto in 2025, using data, not headlines. We dig into how 2025 became the year of the stablecoin, ho...

The UK is taking a major step toward fully regulating crypto markets. This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the Financial Conduct Authority’s sweeping new consultation covering crypto exchanges, staking services, lending, and decentralized finance  and what it could mean for the future of the UK crypto industry. We’re joined by Perry Scott, Head of UK Policy at Kraken and Chair of the UK...

Europe was the first major region to roll out a comprehensive crypto framework, but now it’s rethinking how that framework is enforced. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the European Union’s proposal to centralize crypto supervision under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), a move that would shift oversight of crypto-asset service providers away from national r...

Texas just became the first US state to purchase and hold Bitcoin, and it did so during a market downturn, while many institutions and state treasuries were selling or backing away from crypto entirely.  In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down alongside Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, why Texas made a $5 million Bitcoin ETF purchase (with another $...

The crypto markets have been battered over the past several weeks with Bitcoin sinking from six-figure highs to the low-$80Ks, more than a trillion dollars wiped from crypto’s total market cap and record ETF outflows shaking investor sentiment. Unlike previous drawdowns triggered by blow-ups or bad actors, this downturn is different: It’s macro-driven, liquidity-driven and deeply tied to broader g...

Bitcoin plunged below $90,000 this week, hitting a six-month low and sending fear across the crypto community. Extreme bearish sentiment, weakening institutional demand and the breakdown of crucial technical levels have many wondering whether we’re entering a new long-term bear market. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, to help cut through the panic, we hear from journalist and Bitcoin educato...

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, news reporter Vince Quill breaks down one of the most innovative treasury strategies emerging in crypto today: Grant Cardone’s hybrid real estate-and-Bitcoin fund. As corporate Bitcoin treasuries expand and Web3 projects shift toward more active, onchain asset management, Cardone is experimenting with a model that fuses the stability of luxury multifamily real esta...

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we dive into one of crypto’s hottest conversations: the rise of AI-powered trading models and why specialized tools are outperforming general-purpose AIs like ChatGPT in simulated trading challenges. Beyond the headlines, we break down what investors should know before trusting bots with their capital. We speak with Brett Singer of Glassnode and Nodari Kolmakhidze...

Crypto’s growing presence in Washington is entering a new phase. Following a high-profile presidential pardon and a surge in political spending across the digital asset sector, questions are emerging about how influence, lobbying, and access are shaping the policy environment for Web3. With major industry players building substantial political war chests and even stablecoin issuers signaling plans...

October is shaping up to be a pivotal month for crypto ETFs, with 16 applications, many tied to altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Litecoin, awaiting final decisions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the new SEC-approved generic listing standards for exchange traded products could be a game changer for issuers.  In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we speak with Zach Pandl,...

Layer-1s are still the backbone of crypto, but in 2025 their role is evolving. With Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem booming, modular blockchains on the rise and real-world adoption gaining momentum through stablecoins and tokenized assets, the question is no longer just about scalability. It’s about utility, users and where the next wave of growth will come from. In this episode of Decentralize with Coint...

Europe’s landmark crypto law, the Markets in Crypto-Assets, promised a unified market across 27 member states. But less than a year into rollout, national regulators are already pushing back on its central feature: passporting. Is MiCA bringing the clarity Europe’s crypto industry needs or adding a new layer of uncertainty? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we hear from the head of compliance...

CBDCs are back in the spotlight as the US Congress returns from recess. Lawmakers have tucked a ban on the digital dollar into the must-pass defense bill, framing it as a fight over privacy and surveillance. But is a CBDC really an imminent threat or just a political talking point? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis sits down with Sheila Warren, CEO of the Project Liberty...

China is considering launching a yuan-backed stablecoin, a surprising pivot after years of cracking down on crypto and pushing the digital yuan. What’s driving this move, and what does it mean for global markets and US dollar dominance? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis speaks with Martin Chorzempa (Peterson Institute for International Economics) and Patrick Tan (ChainArg...

In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph, venture capital investor and Bitcoin advocate Tim Draper joins Cointelegraph reporter Vince Quill for a deep dive into the shifting tides of Bitcoin adoption. From the slow but inevitable embrace by institutions to the macroeconomic headwinds threatening the US dollar, Draper lays out why FOMO, regulatory clarity and technological freedom are con...

In this week’s Byte-Sized Insight, we explore the fast-growing world of crypto treasury companies: publicly traded firms using digital assets as strategic reserves. With billions in capital raised, these companies are giving investors new, regulated ways to gain exposure to not only Bitcoin (BTC) but assets like BNB and SOL.  Host Savannah Fortis speaks with David Namdar, CEO of BNB Network Compan...

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we dive into the groundbreaking passage of the GENIUS Act, examining its profound impacts on stablecoins and global crypto markets.  Joined by Fabian Dori, chief investment officer at Sygnum, we discuss how new US regulations are reshaping institutional confidence, redefining stablecoin use cases and prompting Europe to rethink its crypto strategies. Plus, we explo...

This week on Decentralize with Cointelegraph, we sit down with US Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the most vocal and informed advocates for digital assets and financial innovation on Capitol Hill. Senator Lummis discusses her unlikely entry into the crypto world, how Wyoming’s early leadership shaped federal policy and what she sees as the biggest legislative milestones from the recent “Crypto Week...

In this special interview, Shark Tank investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary joins Cointelegraph US Reporter Vince Quill for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of artificial intelligence, stablecoins and the battle for technological dominance between the US and China.  Mr. Wonderful shares why he refuses to back companies that aren’t integrating AI, explains how stablecoins could stabilize...

The US House of Representatives has declared July 14–18 “Crypto Week,” with lawmakers set to debate and potentially vote on three major crypto bills — the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down what’s at stake, who’s behind the legislative push and whether any of these bills stand a real chance of becoming law. We...

As the US races ahead with crypto legislation and capital inflows, Europe and the UK are betting on more even-paced regulatory clarity. But who’s actually leading the West’s crypto future? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we map the geopolitical landscape of digital assets across the US, UK and EU  and uncover the trade-offs between speed, certainty, and innovation. With commentary from Mark...

In times of crisis, markets may react but technology adapts. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we examine how crypto behaves under pressure.  First, Cointelegraph head of markets Ray Salmond and market analyst Marcel Pechman break down how digital assets react in times of war, political instability and macroeconomic uncertainty. Then, we shift focus from speculation to real-world utility. Fea...

The clock is ticking on meaningful crypto regulation in the US, and the consequences of continued inaction could be dire. In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph , reporter Vince Quill sits down with Marta Belcher, president of the Blockchain Association and the Filecoin Foundation, to explore the urgent need for legislative clarity before the 2026 midterm elections. Together, they diss...

Is Bitcoin still the decentralized money movement it set out to be — or has it been co-opted by politics and institutions?  In this week’s Byte-Sized Insight , Gareth Jenkinson travels to Las Vegas for Bitcoin 2025, where political figures, Bitcoin treasury companies, and institutional giants shared the stage. Featuring interviews with Metaplanet’s Dylan LeClair, Twenty One’s Jack Mallers and lege...