FCAT Crypto Brief™

  Listen in as our hosts are joined by Bryan Pellegrino, CEO and Co-founder of LayerZero Labs, to explore the evolving infrastructure powering blockchain interoperability. From his unconventional journey—from poker pro to protocol architect—to the technical and economic implications of unified liquidity, Bryan shares his insights on tokenization, governance, and the future of agentic AI on-chain....

Last episode, we asked if crypto is mainstream. Now, with adoption surging and regulation taking shape, the focus shifts: how is crypto reshaping finance, policy, and global markets inside and out? Tune in as our hosts break down what “maturity” means in 2025, tracing crypto’s early roots in the late-augts, highlight insititutional and governmental initiatives, and why it could matter for everyone...

From end-user innovations to new legislation, crypto and the larger blockchain ecosystem have recently headlined numerous stories worldwide. However, as the industry wrestles with topics like utility, clarity, and untapped economic opportunities, the question still remains: is crypto mainstream?   In this episode, our hosts delve into crypto acceptance, adoption, and education — exploring what “ma...

In this special live edition — recorded during this year’s ETH Boston — our hosts unpack the latest developments in tokenization and the evolving role of real-world assets (RWAs) across crypto. From reflections on the event to deep-dives into key technical, economic, and end user implications, get a comprehensive look at how tokenization could impact financial markets and user experience into the...

As an asset, bitcoin has reached global recognition and widespread adoption — however, as a technology, it’s still often misunderstood. Listen in as our hosts are joined by Jack Blatchford of FCAT’s Blockchain Incubator to explore how the network has quietly progressed, utility has expanded, and development has flourished. Want to learn more? Check out the full report to help stay ahead of the cur...

Join our hosts as they dive into the world of crypto treasur y companies —explorin g how they work, their impact across both DeFi and traditional finance, and key considerations arou nd emergent models.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro   [1:30] News Rundown   [4:42] Key Concepts & Definitions   [7:54] Transaction Structures Overview   [22:55] Risks & Considerations   [29:02] Key Takeaways &a...

Join our hosts as they sit down with Stephen Patane, Vice President of Crypto and Digital Assets Policy at Fidelity Investments, to unpack the evolving landscape of U.S. crypto regulation. We’ll explore key provisions of recent legislation, how federal agencies are responding to these changes, and key takeaways for stakeholders across the DeFi landscape.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [2:00] Ether...

We’re celebrating 100 episodes of the Crypto Brief! Join our hosts as we take a look back at three years of headlines, innovations, and evolution on-chain—addressing some of the top trends and market factors that have emerged since we started back in 2022.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [2:17] News Roundup [8:01] New Approaches to Tokenization [15:02] The Evolution of Chains [20:00] Powering the F...

Historically, traditional and decentralized finance have remained fairly separate, but as these two worlds continue to converge, what are builders prioritizing across the financial landscape and what value might be unlocked by strategic integration? Listen in as the hosts are joined by Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, to discuss his work and vision for the future of blockchain. Learn about...

What’s next for crypto? How do experts track signals and develop new solutions? How do we drive innovation on-chain? The hosts are joined by Ari Juels, a Professor at Cornell Tech, Co-founder and Co-director of the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3), and Chief Scientist at Chainlink Labs — as well as FCAT researcher and Principal Blockchain Engineer Developer Kosala Yapa Mudiyanse...

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Join us on this special Q&A episode of the Crypto Brief as hosts Matt Allen and Jack Neureuter addres s the future of mining and the current state of crypto venture .   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:10] Biweekly News Roundup   [10:46] Proof of Work & the Evolving Role of Mining   [18:43] The Current State of Crypto Venture   [24:42] Recent Trends in Fund...

Imagine a world where blockchain platforms can be fast, secure, and scalable all at once. Sounds too good to be true? Welcome to the Blockchain Trilemma, the ultimate tradeoff that’s long challenged developers and users alike. In this episode, we’re diving straight into the strategic drivers and decisions that have shaped two of the most popular blockchain networks: Ethereum and Solana. Join us as...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team is joined by Senior Manager of Bitcoin Mining at FCAT, Kevin Kelly, to discuss Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade and what it might mean for users.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:46] Biweekly News Roundup [4:23] Pectra Upgrade: Features Deepdive [22:14] About Blobs [26:26] Ethereum at a Cr...

Listen in as our hosts address the question of business expansion in crypto. On this episode, the team discusses recent M&A activity, strategic investments, and what organizations might consider as they seek to expand their offerings and market share. Tune in to learn how these moves will impact the future of DeFi.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [01:22] Crypto Brief news update [07:02] Recent...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team discusses recent crypto M&A events and how companies are approaching questions around IPO and funding.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:48] Recent M&A Events [8:36] Updates on Tether     A quick note to our audience: starting today, the Crypto Brief will be moving to a biweekly caden...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team discusses new verified pools, the launch of a new EVM-compatible network, and acquisitions that could help converge DeFi with TradFi.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:45] The Recent Development of New Verified Pools [15:23] The Launch of a New EVM-compatible Network [27:00] An Acquisition Th...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team discusses a reversal of the IRS’s DeFi broker rule, Mesh’s Series B funding, a perpetual futures liquidation event, and a recent sandwich attack.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [1:30 ] IRS DeFi Broker Rule Overturned [5:16] Mesh Secures Series B Funding [10:30] Hyperliquid Liquidation Event [...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team discusses recent updates on DeFi governance and crypto reserve strategies in the U.S. and El Salvador.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [01:50] Executive Order to create a strategic bitcoin reserve and digital asset stockpile [15:12] The Future of Bitcoin Reserves in El Salvador [25:07] Updates...

Listen in as we explore another big week in crypto. On this episode, our hosts dive into the Bybit hack — what happened, how the company has reacted, and what this means for the broader industry.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [3:05] Background on the Bybit hack [14:46] How Bybit is responding [19:22] Broader crypto industry implications       Stay connected with us beyond the podcast by following...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this episode of the Crypto Brief, the team discusses the first SEC-registered interest-bearing stablecoin, a new public testnet, and how regulators are refocusing their efforts to protect investors.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [ 0 : 57 ] The first SEC-registered, interest-bearing stablecoin [ 11 : 12 ] New public testnet launch [ 2...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this week’s Crypto Brief, the team discusses recent SEC filings, Uniswap’s Unichain release, and an update on the recent Ethereum Pectra upgrade.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [4:10] New product filings [12:47] Pectra upgrade [24:10] Unichain debut       Stay connected with us beyond the podcast by following FCAT on Twitter , Instagr...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this week’s Crypto Brief, the team explores recent boosts to gas limits, new products enabling the tokenization of traditional asset types, and how scaling innovations are driving a potential “Bitcoin renaissance.”   Episode Topics:       [0:00] Intro [2:52] Increased Gas Limit & Implications [7:15] Tokenization of Traditional Ass...

Listen in as our hosts dive into another big week in crypto. On this week’s Crypto Brief, the team explores recent regulatory shifts, new staking offerings, international interest in crypto reserves , and how user experience improvements — augmented by meme coins — are ushering in new user activity .   Episode Topics:       [0:00] Intro   [3:23] A Discussion of SAB 121   [9:55] New Staking Offerin...

Listen in as our hosts dive into the latest crypto developments with Charlie Spears and Will Foxley from Blockspace Media. Hear key takeaways from this year's OP_NEXT conference and get expert insights into regulatory updates, community trends, and the future of AI in crypto.   Episode Topics: [0:00] Intro [2:32] Blockspace Media [4:00] Revisiting OP_Next [8:45] What’s Next for OP_Next? [12:17] Ma...

Listen in as hosts Jason Ward and Parth Gargava explore emerging trends at the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Joined by Max Wadington and David Shapiro, they cover critical regulatory updates, personal experience leveraging AI agents in the crypto space, opportunities for agentic AI to improve user experience, and what the industry may need to watch out for to avoid ex...