Blockworks
Empire
Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Quadrillions: Stablecoins: We’ve Only Just Begun | Mohamed Afifi 04.02.2026 47:40
In this episode, we break down the state of stablecoins and why they’ve been able to bridge the gap into TradFi’s mainstream. Who’s adopting stablecoins and why? How are stablecoins changing the financial and legislative landscape? And what does this mean for the future of the larger crypto landscape? -- Follow Canton: https://x.com/CantonNetwork Follow Mo: https://x.com/Mo_Bps Follow Eric: https...
Why BitGo Went Public | Mike Belshe 02.02.2026 1:19:17
This week, we’re joined by CEO and Co-founder of BitGo, Mike Belshe, to discuss BitGo’s IPO, their motivations for going public, and the IPO process. We dive into allocation decisions, key product growth areas, and views on regulation, crypto market structure, and future industry evolution. Enjoy! – Follow Mike: https://x.com/mikebelshe Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: http...
The Bull Case For DePIN, RWAs on Hyperliquid & The Onchain Endgame | Weekly Roundup 30.01.2026 1:18:22
This week, we break down the evolving DePIN thesis, from real revenue traction to infra financing, regulation, and why some networks are finally compounding at scale. We also discuss the boom in Hyperliquid RWAs, bringing money & companies onchain, 2026 IPOs, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Salvador: https://x.com/DAnconia_Crypto Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/Had...
Why Kraken Is Betting Big on Onchain Vaults | John Zettler & Sun Raghupathi 26.01.2026 1:03:22
This week, we’re joined by John Zettler, Director of Product at Kraken and Sun Raghupathi, Co-founder of Veda, to discuss their collaboration to bring onchain vaults to Kraken! We explore the growth of onchain vaults, how vaults package DeFi lending and yield strategies, vault mechanics, risk management, business models, comparisons to past yield products, and implications for DeFi adoption and fu...
AI Breaking Software Economics, CLARITY Bill, & Debating BitGo’s IPO | Weekly Roundup 23.01.2026 1:18:15
This week, we discuss Claude and the ongoing AI acceleration, AI’s impact on VC and SaaS, and the latest draft of the CLARITY Bill. We also dig into BitGo’s upcoming IPO, Polygon’s latest acquisitions, the Farcaster Sale, Larry Fink’s WEF comments, and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:...
Hivemind: Bitcoin Volatility, Perp DEX Trends, and Crypto Market Cycles 22.01.2026 1:04:34
This week, the Hivemind team discusses Bitcoin’s recent price action, macro and equity market influences, perp DEX activity, and their outlooks on Solana, Hyperliquid, Lighter, and PumpFun. They also cover privacy coins, equity perps, and market cycles. Enjoy! Thanks for tuning in! – Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jason: https://x.com/3xliquidated Follow Yan: https://x.com...
Quadrillions: How to Win the World | Chris Maurice 21.01.2026 48:18
In this episode, Chris Maurice, Co-founder & CEO of Yellow Card, joins us to explore how compliant crypto rails are reshaping everyday money movement across Africa. We dig into stablecoins as practical financial tools, the regulatory groundwork that makes them usable, and what it takes to build a pan-African fintech that can withstand FX volatility, fragmented payment systems, and shifting policy...
Inside Lighter’s Plan to Overtake Hyperliquid | Vladimir Novakovski 20.01.2026 54:21
This week, Lighter Founder & CEO Vladimir Novakovski discusses Lighter’s competitive edge over Hyperliquid, why he chose to be an L2 on Ethereum, and the role of their ZK innovations. We also touch on equity perps, Lighter’s partnership with Robinhood, and why Vlad chose to work in crypto. Enjoy! Follow Vlad: https://x.com/vnovakovski Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: http...
Claude Code, Stablecoin Adoption, and 2026 Trends | Weekly Roundup 16.01.2026 1:14:12
This week, we discuss the rise of AI tools like Claude Code, and their impact across the industry. We also cover Rain’s growth, supply and demand dynamics in crypto, capital raising, and crypto and AI trends in 2026. Enjoy! – Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod – Timesta...
Claude Opus 4.5’s Breakout Moment & Investing in 2026 with Qiao Wang 12.01.2026 57:51
This week, Qiao Wang joins the show to discuss how AI is transforming what it means to be an investor in 2026. We deep dive into Claude Opus 4.5 and its breakout moment, why Qiao got into the Google trade, constructing a portfolio for 2026, where to allocate time in the age of AI and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Qiao: https://x.com/QwQiao Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://...
Lighter’s Token Launch, Erebor Raises $350M & Walmart's Crypto Strategy 09.01.2026 49:26
We're back with our first weekly roundup of 2026! This week we discuss Lighter token launch, Walmart's crypto strategy with OnePay, Erebor's $350m raise, what to expect in 2026 & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle i...
Hivemind: Will 2026 Be Bullish & Crypto's Token vs Equity Problem 08.01.2026 1:04:29
This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current state of the markets and asks whether the start of 2026 will be bullish. We then dive into the ongoing token vs equity debate in crypto and explore the best way to structure ICOs. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jason: https://x.com/3xliquidated Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Yan: https://x.com/...
Quadrillions: The Crypto Capital of the World | Acting Chairman Pham 07.01.2026 35:23
In this episode, we’re joined by Acting Chairman Pham to discuss the CFTC’s “back to basics” regulatory approach, cooperation with the SEC, and the CFTC’s 12-month Crypto Sprint initiative. We dive into tokenized collateral, stablecoin regulation, global market harmonization, and strategies to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the ne...
Our 2026 Predictions 26.12.2025 1:30:45
Welcome to our final weekly roundup of the year! In this episode we reflect on our 2025 predictions before deep diving into our 2026 predictions. We discuss what to expect for stablecoins, prediction markets, the equity vs token debate & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitte...
The State of Crypto, 2026 Predictions & Espresso's Token Launch | Jill Gunter 22.12.2025 57:02
This week, Jill Gunter from Espresso joins the show to discuss the state of crypto today. We deep dive into how has crypto evolved, why privacy matters, predictions for 2026, will Espresso launch a token & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jill: https://x.com/jillgun Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Join the Empire Telegram: https://t.me/+CaCYvTOB4Eg1O...
Is 2025 Crypto's Dot-com Moment? | Weekly Roundup 19.12.2025 1:03:04
This week, we discuss whether 2025 marks crypto’s dot-com moment. We deep dive into how to allocate capital as crypto and fintech continue to merge, crypto’s token-vs-equity dilemma, Coinbase’s recent product releases, who wins the stablecoin race and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire:...
Hivemind: Crypto Is Dead with Dougie DeLuca 18.12.2025 48:38
This week, Dougie DeLuca joins the Hivemind team to discuss his recent piece "Crypto Is Dead". We deep dive into the shift that is happening within crypto as we head into 2026, why is sentiment so bad, where to allocate in 2026, where crypto has found PMF and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Dougie: https://x.com/DougieDeLuca Follow Jose: https://x.com/ZeMariaMacedo Follow Jason: https://x.com/3xliquidated...
Fundamentals Are The New King of Crypto | Smac & Noah Goldberg 15.12.2025 1:03:08
This week, Noah from Theia & Smac from Compound discuss why crypto’s next chapter won’t be powered by hype alone. They explain how valuations, narratives, fund structures, and real cash-flow durability are reshaping the industry, and why investors must adapt to a world where fundamentals finally matter. Enjoy! — Follow Noah: https://x.com/tradernoah Follow Smac: https://x.com/0xsmac Follow Jason:...
Tempo Testnet Goes Live, Burnout In Crypto, and Farcaster’s Pivot | Weekly Roundup 12.12.2025 1:03:10
This week, we discuss Polymarket data accuracy, VC involvement in portfolio companies, Paradigm’s Tempo testnet launch, reflections on burnout in crypto, and Farcaster’s pivot. Enjoy! – Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod —- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill...
Institutional Flows Will Overpower the 4-Year Cycle | Matt Hougan 08.12.2025 51:34
This week, CIO of Bitwise Matt Hougan joins the show to discuss fading the power of the four-year cycle, the accelerating wave of institutional adoption, and whether Strategy selling its Bitcoin is a real risk. Matt also weighs in on the Santi-Haseeb L1 debate, balancing token value with investment, and what he thinks drives the next phase of growth. Enjoy! — Follow Matt: https://x.com/Matt_Hougan...
Ethereum’s Valuation, Saylor’s Next Move, and Prediction Markets | Weekly Roundup 05.12.2025 1:19:19
This week, Santi and Rob discuss market volatility, MicroStrategy’s financial health, and Ethereum’s valuation. They also dive into current macro conditions, recent Tether FUD, and prediction markets. Enjoy! – Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod —- Zcash is encrypted Bit...
Hivemind: Have We Bottomed, Bitcoin's Quantum Threat & Hyperliquid Unlocks 04.12.2025 52:30
This week, the Hivemind team breaks down the current state of markets as Bitcoin looks to stabalize around $90k. We deep dive into the path forward for Microstategy, is quantum actually a threat to Bitcoin, the rise of AI agents, prediciton markets & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ceteris: https://x.com/ceterispar1bus Follow Jason: https://x.com/3xliquidated Follow Simon: https://x.com/simononchain Fo...
Quadrillions: Privacy or Perish | Eli Ben-Sasson, Shaul Kfir, & Eric Saraniecki 03.12.2025 50:18
In this episode, we discuss why privacy is critical for TradFi adoption, crypto’s privacy solutions today, and how privacy unlocks institutional adoption of crypto, ultimately bringing quadrillions onchain. -- Quadrillions brings together the voices defining the next era of finance. From institutional rails to stablecoins and privacy, the series dives into how traditional markets, crypto innovati...
Monad Founder: The Next Chapter For Monad | Keone Hon 01.12.2025 55:25
This week, Keone Hon joins the show to discuss the recent launch of Monad. We deep dive into Monad's ICO, launching on Coinbase, the state of airdrops in crypto today, do we need another L1, whether public vs corporate chains are competitors and more. Enjoy! -- Follow Keone: https://x.com/keoneHD Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Join the...
Klarna Launches A Stablecoin, Hyperliquid Perps & The Prediction Market Wars | Weekly Roundup 28.11.2025 1:30:40
This week, we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into Klarna's stablecoin launch, the state of crypto VC, Hyperliquid's launch of equity perps & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Referenced In The Show: Jeff Yass - https://w...
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