The Breakdown

On today's episode, NLW digs into the macro landscape. Specifically he looks at how tightness in the labor market has justified continued Fed tightening, but why the numbers aren't telling as clear a story as they once were.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: h...

Today on The Breakdown, NLW looks at the latest assinine argument about crypto from Senator Elizabeth Warren, as well as digging into the finalized debt deal, MiCA and more. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: h...

China's crypto policies appear to be shifting. From bans on trading and mining in 2021 to this year encouraging state run banks to offer crypto companies in Hong Kong banking accounts, a change is in the air. On this episode, NLW looks at a recent Web 3 paper from Beijing and Hong Kong's new exchange rules.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouT...

Today on The Breakdown, NLW wraps up the macro story that has dominated discourse for the last month.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.co...

On this episode of Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads "DeSantis and the Growing Culture War Around Bitcoin" by Daniel Kuhn.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: ht...

Today on The Breakdown, NLW covers: Tornado Cash lawsuit and hack The latest in Ledger The Debt Ceiling debate nears a conclusion Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitt...

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign formally last night on a Twitter spaces with Elon Musk. During the conversation he discussed Bitcoin, including why he thinks it's important and why he'll protect it as president. On today's episode, NLW looks at Bitcoin's history with presidents and presidential candidates.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://...

One of the surprising twists of this crypto cycle is the US closing down to crypto and Hong Kong (and the Chinese powers behind it) opening back up. In this episode, NLW looks at Hong Kongs new crypto exchange rules as well as Coinbase's response to the SEC's response to its lawsuit.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube...

After FTX, the industry's guard is up when it comes to exchanges behaving badly. Reuters today published a piece saying that Binance had commingled user funds in 2020 and 2021. Binance strenuously denied the claims and called it just more FUD. Who has the right of it? The show also covers an update in the DCG case.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch...

On today's episode, NLW digs into the acrimonious debt ceiling debates, including the way in which crypto has recently become yet another partisan football.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.g...

Bitcoin has been experiencing much higher-than-normal fees of late, driven by Ordinal inscriptions and BRC-20 token memecoin mania. On this Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads two essays that explore how they're driving layer 2 development. Frogs, Fevers and Fees: Bitcoin’s New Governance Challenge - Michael Casey As Bitcoin Scales, We Need Better Custodial Solutions - George Kaloudis  Enjoying this cont...

On this edition of the weekly recap, NLW covers: Ledger turmoil Stablecoin reserve shifts Binance out in Australia  Binance total market share dips below 50% SEC says Filecoin is a security Judge rules Hinman emails can't be locked Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newslet...

Congressional Blockchain Caucus leaders Tom Emmer (R) and Darren Soto (D) have introduced the Securities Clarity Act, which is designed to ...well...give clarity on what tokens are securities and when. The crypto community has heralded it as simple, common sense, and potentially hugely positively impactful.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouT...

Oh the irony. For most of the last few years, the US political establishment has been concerned about the risk that stablecoins might have for the mainstream financial system. This year, however, it's been the mainstream financial system wreaking havoc on stablecoins. On today's episode, NLW discusses Circle's move from longer-dated Treasuries to repo agreements, as well as Tether's new Bitcoin pu...

Ledger announced a new program yesterday called "Ledger Recover" that has people feeling confused, betrayed, and angry. NLW explores what the uproar is about and what it says about the start of self-custody and self-sovereign values in the crypto industry.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecryp...

After ignoring a Coinbase request for rulemaking for 10 months, Coinbase sued the SEC, compelling a judge to compell the SEC to respond. In 36 pages of legalese, the SEC effectively said "we don't have to move any faster than we want and regulation by enforcement is fine."  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathan...

On today's episode, NLW looks at Binance's troubled history with the Great White North, and explores to what extent their exit from Canada is a story about Binance or a story about Canada. Also Quadriga CX is finally returning to creditors at 13c on the dollar.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemor...

Today on Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads Nic Carter's "The White House’s Bitcoin Mining Tax Undermines Itself"   Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twi...

Today on The Breakdown its FTX's Insane tax bill and why 2022 won't leave us alone. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.com/ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: ht...

On today's Breakdown, NLW catches up on:  A number of amicus briefs filed in support of Coinbase's lawsuit against the SEC The Chamber of Commerce joins the fight Reps McHenry and Huizenga pen another letter to SEC demanding information Brad Sherman blasts GBTC in letter to SEC  DCG-Genesis in mediation after deal falls apart Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/143869...

Another week, another crypto hearing, and this time the Democrats handed out talking points. NLW discusses how partisan the discourse around crypto and Bitcoin are becoming and assesses whether it is likely to be a winning political strategy.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto...

We got our report card today! Inflation surprised to the downside, coming in at 4.9%. NLW explores the reaction and why Powell still has three big barriers to getting his soft landing, including, notably, the debt ceiling negotiations.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the ne...

..it's not BRC20. (At least not yet). Nope, it's the SEC's custody rule which is yet another attempt at a de-facto crypto ban through legal wrangling. The crypto industry, however, is not having it.  Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscribeto the newsletter: https://breakdown.beehiiv.c...

A busy weekend around the crypto space. On today's episode, NLW covers: Tl;DR on BRC-20 Binance halting withdrawals and announcing support for Lightning DOJ targeting Binance around sanctions? NYAG introduces even more sweeping crypto legislation Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Subscrib...

On this week's Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads: Reviving Argentina's Economy: Dollarization and Bitcoin as Catalysts for Change - Carlos Cardenas  The Fall of Bitcoin in the Central African Republic: Why This Legal Tender Experiment Failed - Jonathan Buck Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nathanielwhittemorecrypto Su...