CoinDesk Podcast Network

While the European Central Bank accelerates its digital euro project, one Fed official throws cold water on U.S. CBDC plans. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW analyzes a stablecoin-focused speech from Randal Quarles, vice chair of the Federal Reserve, starting with a primer on developing trends related to the topic, including: CBDC discussion, investigatio...

One early bitcoin investor with a traditional background is less concerned about any upcoming bubble. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW analyzes value investor turned bitcoin bull Bill Miller’s contrarian take on a possible upcoming market bubble. Miller’s background lies in traditional markets, with a massive portion of his portfolio grounded in strategic...

 Some argue bitcoin wealth is exhausting the world’s productive potential. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. In this episode, NLW focuses on: Inflation measures, impacts and who’s to blame News out of Paraguay concerning pro-bitcoin legislation A recent “Wall Street Journal” survey of economists revealed they expect higher inflation rates to persist for years to come. “Money Week” ran an op-ed p...

A reading of an excerpt of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s recent letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler and a responding essay. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads an excerpt from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s questions to SEC Chairman Gensler about crypto and crypto exchanges. NLW then reads an essay responding to Warren’s recent discussions of the topic from M...

Circle and Robinhood are both coming to public markets, but will they re-excite those markets when it comes to crypto? This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this edition of “The Breakdown’s Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at how Wall Street momentum in crypto rose last year only to fade this year. With Circle coming to markets via a SPAC merger and Robinhood going public, is there a chance those events...

President Biden’s decisive action to promote competition in the U.S. reflects a decreasing public approval of Big Tech. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW analyzes President Joe Biden’s “Factsheet: Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy,” including: The shift in public sentiment against Big Tech The order’s implications to the tech...

With so many strong opinions about the mechanisms behind GBTC and BTC plays, the answer is elusive. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. NLW explores the debate surrounding the GBTC unlock’s bearish or bullish nature on this episode of “The Breakdown,” including:  Historical impacts of market structure on prices GBTC’s influence on markets as its premium attracted investors Analysis of the GBTC unl...

The context for news about states fighting crypto is a larger set of historical and geopolitical forces. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW explores what he calls “the shifting tectonic plates of the global social order.” On one side, he argues, are the forces of de-globalization, with nations turning inward and focusing on economic sovereignty. Part of that is state...

REvil, the ransomware group behind the Colonial Pipeline attack, strikes again. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this extended-brief style episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW discusses recent news, FUD and policy in the world of crypto, including: The ransomware group behind the Colonial Pipeline attack strikes again An increasing list of regulatory actions against Binance The China crackdown on...

A conversation with the Circle CEO about the prospects for traditional finance to move into DeFi. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. This conversation was originally released as a sponsored content webinar from Circle and CoinDesk. NLW decided to release it on his podcast of his own volition and was not paid to do so. The conversation covers why institutions are becoming interested in DeFi, which...

A reading of Jeff Dorman’s recent FUD-busting newsletter. This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this holiday edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Jeff Dorman’s “Debunking 10 Digital Asset Bear Market Theses.” - NYDIG, the institutional-grade platform for Bitcoin, is making it possible for thousands of banks who have trusted relationships with hundreds of millions of customers, to offer Bitco...

Recapping this week’s congressional hearing and more on “The Weekly Recap.” This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. On this edition of “The Breakdown’s Weekly Recap," NLW looks at: Why this week’s congressional hearing suggests elected officials are taking crypto more seriously  A slate of CBDC news from around the world The beginning of a new macro narrative for Ethereum and DeFi - NYDIG, the institu...

But how much do people trust the Council’s methodology?  This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the latest in the highly dynamic, fast-evolving world of bitcoin mining, including: China’s mining ban and the “Great Western Hashrate Migration” Bitcoin’s built-in hashrate fluctuation mitigation, the “difficulty adjustment” The Bitcoin Mining Council’s newest sustai...

A fresh wave of institutional investors poses new risks to crypto.  This episode is sponsored by NYDIG. In this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW discusses a fresh wave of investors and their potential disruptions to markets, including: Two new major hedge funds, Point72 and Soros Fund Inevitable short-term investors as part of market maturation Troublesome possibility of regulation forming around i...

U.S. hearing on crypto indicates policymakers’ increasing intention to regulate the crypto market. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io. An interview with a congressman followed by a congressional hearing on crypto signal policymakers are moving to the next phase of talks about regulating crypto. Troubling comments in Congressman Bill Foster’s interview with Axios Upcoming committee hearing titled...

A rapidly changing landscape is leading to insecurity on a broad scale. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io. Highlights from today’s Breakdown: The latest legal challenges around the Bitcoin white paper  A barrage of institutional bitcoin news  What the S&P 500 hitting all-time highs has to do with the crypto markets For those worried there was a loss of momentum around institutions entering bitc...

What recent intrigue around Binance tells us about the state of global regulation. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. Today on the Brief Indian investment in crypto soars The first Mexican bank to accept bitcoin?  Tether FUD from the FED?  In our main discussion, NLW looks at recent regulatory action from the U.K., Canada and Japan. He argues that we’re entering a new phase of global...

A recent essay dives into China’s motivations for its recent bitcoin mining ban. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Nic Carter’s latest essay for CoinDesk “Go West, Bitcoin! Unpacking the Great Hashrate Migration.” - Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 6.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between...

18 million more Americans will soon be able to buy, sell and hold bitcoin directly from their bank accounts.  This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. On this edition of “The Breakdown’s Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at: Two more massive fundraises  A set of positive regulatory news  A new partnership that will bring bitcoin directly to bank accounts and credit unions around America  - Nexo.io ...

President Nayib Bukele launches what some are calling the most important airdrop in history.  This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. Last night was one for the history books. As Elon Musk was making weird, stupid jokes about bitcoiners, the president of El Salvador was live on YouTube discussing what amounts to a $117 million BTC airdrop to citizens as a part of the recently passed law m...

An unignorable icon’s passing marks the end of an important early age in crypto. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. The passing of an icon in crypto necessitates reflection. John McAfee was at times reviled, and at the same time, deadly serious and a prophet, sometimes a clown. The many facets to his personality mirror the roller-coaster history of crypto, a Wild West of finance in i...

$100 million for NFTs from Fox. $230 million for a new DeFi funding DAO. $380 million for Ledger. If this is a bear market, it’s going to be well funded.  This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. Today on "The Breakdown," NLW looks at the contrast between growing bear market sentiment versus a sustained set of high-profile eight and nine figure financing rounds across multiple dimensions o...

One of the top minds in macro explores the key debates shaping the economic landscape. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Circle. Lyn Alden, investment researcher and strategist with a keen eye on both crypto and traditional markets, joins NLW on today’s “The Breakdown.” Listen for a conversation about the state of the market and projections for the future including: Inflation: base effects...

People’s Bank of China pushes banks to cut ties to virtual currency traders in latest crypto crackdown. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io. On this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW takes a brief look at the most recent crypto news before taking a deeper dive into the latest step in the de-Chinafication of bitcoin. MicroStrategy going “all-in” on bitcoin Michael Burry’s warnings on Twitter of the...

A reading from a financial history expert. This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io and Bitstamp. On this week’s Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads “How the Civil War Shapes the Future of Stablecoins” by Franklin Noll, and discusses the recent debates around stablecoins and CBDCs. - Nexo.io lets you borrow against your crypto at 6.9% APR, earn up to 12% on your idle assets, and exchange instantly between 10...