The Breakdown

On today’s episode, NLW catches up on the continued fallout of Crypto 2022, including: Scrutiny around wallet balances that suggest Binance has had commingled user funds and company reserves around B-tokens  The latest from the FTX bankruptcy, including accidental revelations around BlockFi A Celsius Network proposal for an asset-recovery token  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Ap...

On today’s episode, NLW examines recent interviews with Republican congressional leaders including Representatives Patrick McHenry, Tom Emmer, Warren Davidson and French Hill, around the state of crypto in Washington, D.C. NLW argues that the key plans and talking points are pretty clear when the interviews are looked at as a whole.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https:...

Today is a mining day on “The Breakdown” as NLW looks at: News of nuclear-powered bitcoin-mining coming to the U.S. A new report on the state of mining from Galaxy Digital  The impact of Kazakhstan’s miner exodus on the global bitcoin energy mix Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/sh...

On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at bitcoin’s impressive January rally and discusses what’s driving it. Specifically, he explores claims of market manipulation versus simple mean reversion. Finally, he looks at whether it is reflective of a broader macro shift as well.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000...

On today’s episode, NLW breaks down the latest news from the weekend, including: Signature Bank limiting services, and what it means for the industry as a whole U.S. government seizing $700 million of assets associated with Sam Bankman-Fried  Genesis first-day bankruptcy hearing information    (Genesis and CoinDesk are both subsidiaries of Digital Currency Group.) Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIB...

On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads: “Worldwide Grassroots Projects Can Lead Crypto Recovery” by Michael J. Casey “Remembering Hal Finney on the 14th Anniversary of the First Bitcoin Transaction” by Daniel Kuhn  - Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8...

On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the discussions around crypto and blockchain from the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland.  - Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 at Consensus 2023, happening April 26–28 in Austin, Texas. Come and immerse yourself in all that Web3, crypto, blockchain and the metaverse have to offer. Use code BREAKDOW...

After weeks, if not months, of speculation, Genesis has finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing more than $5.1 billion in liabilities. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the implications of the filing plus the battles to come. He also covers the FTX hearing on the suitability of representation by Sullivan & Cromwell.     Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  ht...

Yesterday, news outlets started reporting that a prepackaged bankruptcy for DCG subsidiary Genesis was close to completion. On today’s episode, NLW looks at the community’s reaction on whether this would be a good or bad thing for the space. He also reviews news that FTX bankruptcy CEO John J. Ray III is open to restarting the exchange.  (CoinDesk is an independent subsidiary of DCG.)  Enjoying th...

On today’s episode, NLW catches up on the latest on crypto crime and fall out, including: Disgraced 3AC founders’ attempt to build a new exchange with bankrupt CoinFLEX called GTX. Sam Bankman-Fried’s latest blog post arguing about how FTX.US assets should be considered by the bankruptcy committee.  The DoJ’s much anticipated announcement about an “international enforcement action” that turned out...

Bitcoin (and crypto more broadly) has been on a tear the last few days, but the question on everyone’s mind is: why? Is it a real, fundamentals-based movement? Does it reflect a changed macro setup for risk assets or just market structure and a short squeeze? Could it be a U.S. government conspiracy? (Tucker Carlson thinks so.) Is it, as so many fear, just one big bull trap? NLW breaks it down.  E...

On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads:   Why I Am Optimistic for Crypto - Stefan George  13 Narratives to Watch in 2013 - the DeFi Edge Aaron Swartz - Patrick Campbell    Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=ddSvD-HST2e_E7wgxcjtfQ Google: htt...

On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against Gemini and Genesis involving the Gemini Earn program. He also sums up the recent developments around FTX, including $5 billion of recovered funds and Sam Bankman-Fried’s new Substack.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at...

Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW catches up on some crypto cleanup stories from earlier in the week. He looks at community reactions to research uncovering that at times in 2020 and 2021 Binance peg BUSD was undercollateralized by as much as $1 billion, as well as to the latest fire and fury around Silvergate Bank.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/...

On today’s episode, NLW digs into December’s just-released CPI numbers. For the sixth month in a row, year-over-year inflation declined. For the first time in more than two years, month-over-month inflation declined. For many, this confirms a Federal Reserve shift back to raising rates by 25 basis points at the FOMC’s next meeting at the end of this month.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to th...

Crypto 2023 – like Crypto 2022, but angrier. This week, Gemini co-CEO Cameron Winklevoss accused Genesis, DCG and DCG CEO Barry Silbert of fraud in a major escalation of their fight over frozen funds. Silbert and DCG, CoinDesk’s parent, responded with their own letter and Q&A arguing that Genesis and DCG are fundamentally different entities. NLW covers the war of words and the community’s response...

On today’s episode, NLW looks at the latest communiques from Federal Reserve officials, including comments by Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly, as well as a speech on Tuesday by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The message is “higher for longer” even if the markets don’t agree.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podc...

On today’s episode, NLW catches up on: Why bitcoin’s price went up firmly above $17,000 The latest Binance concerns  Reports the Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department are investigating DCG’s internal transfers    (CoinDesk is an independent subsidiary of DCG.)    Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSD...

On this Long Reads Sunday, NLW reads: The worst of Bitcoin mining in 2022 by Zack Voell  What Will It Take for Bitcoin Mining Companies to Survive in 2023? By George Kaloudis  Bitcoin Mining: A Positive or Negative Indicator for the Future of Crypto? By Daniel Kuhn  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https:...

On the first Weekly Recap of 2023, NLW hones in on the political impasse in Washington D.C. and explores whether a divided Congress (and a divided Republican party within Congress) might be good for crypto in a year that politicians are feeling animosity towards the industry.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spot...

NLW profiles another brutal week in the crypto computation and cleanup following the disasters of 2022.    He examines:   Celsius ex-CEO Alex Mashinsky sued by NYAG 3AC subpoenaed via Twitter Silvergate laying off 40%  Genesis laying off 30%  And more  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify...

  In today's episode, NLW looks at the macro landscape that will set the tone for the markets in 2023. According to the minutes of the December Federal Open Markets Committee Meeting, released on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is concerned about investor enthusiasm regarding a theoretical future pivot undermining monetary policy tightening. Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple: ...

On today’s episode, NLW discusses Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX, including his bail hearing from December, the unusual request to keep his bail bond-backers private, and his not guilty plea from yesterday’s arraignment.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/538vuul1PuorUDwgkC8JWF?si=...

Bitcoin celebrates its birthday today! This is also the first Breakdown of the year. NLW discusses the news and events from the past couple weeks, including the arrest of Mango Markets exploiter Avraham Eisenberg as well as the escalating feud between Gemini and the Genesis/DCG leadership.  Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Circle and Kraken.   Today’s guest is Alex Gladstein, chief strategy officer at the Human Rights Foundation.   Find our guest on Twitter: @gladstein - Nexo is a security-first platform where you can buy, exchange and borrow against your crypto. The company ensures the safety of your funds and keeps innovating with products like the Nexo Wallet - a non-custodia...