The Breakdown

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.  March saw the U.S.’ highest year-over-year inflation print since 1981, coming in at 8.5%. NLW explores why the discussion around inflation is taking an even more pitched and aggressive turn and how the market responded to the March numbers.  - From cash to crypto in no time with Nexo. Invest in hot coins and swap between exclusive pairs fo...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    At the beginning of her tenure as Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen gave a number of indications that she was going to be a tough partner for crypto. In a speech last week, the industry got a glimpse of how much her tone had shifted. NLW explores how much this shift has to do with the Biden administration’s Executive Order on crypto as we...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    According to the Biden administration, more than 100 countries worldwide are working on central bank digital currencies. On today’s episode, NLW does a survey of the places that are farthest along and looks at the great power competition between China, Europe and the U.S. around CBDCs.  - From cash to crypto in no time with Nexo. Invest...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” features two essays on the strategic imperative of bitcoin mining.   Crypto Mining, the Energy Crisis, and the End of ESG - Nic Carter Why Bitcoin Mining Is a Matter of National Security - Ben Caselin  - From cash to crypto in no time with Nexo. Invest in hot coins and swap between exclusive pairs for cash...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at the latest news regarding Russia’s economy. Vladimir Putin is trying to leverage energy exports to prop up the ruble. But can he really make Europe and the rest of the world pay with rubles? And if he does, what are the implications for the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency?  - F...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Laura Shin is the host of “Unchained,” one of the best known and longest running crypto podcasts. She is also the author of the new book “The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze.” In today’s episode, she and NLW discuss the early days of Ethereum, including her theory on who was behind...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    One of crypto’s biggest allies in the Senate, Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), has just released a discussion draft of a bill that would clarify stablecoin legislation. On today’s episode, NLW breaks down what the bill includes and why some in the crypto space are calling it a major step forward for financial privacy.  - From cash to crypto in no tim...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.  JPMorgan has launched two new monthly research reports on the crypto industry, including one on markets and one focused on bitcoin mining. In today’s episode, NLW breaks down the inaugural editions of each, and argues that they are another suggestion of the “post-narrative” phase of crypto institutionalization.  - From cash to crypto in no...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    On today’s episode, NLW explores the seeming about-face by the British government on crypto. He first explores the recent tension around a March 31 registration deadline imposed by the country’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that has left many British crypto companies looking abroad. Then, he looks at news yesterday of a major push b...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Elon Musk has been talking about Twitter a lot lately. He did a poll asking whether it should make its algorithm open source (80% said “yes”). Another poll asked if Twitter lived up to the principles of free speech, and over 70% of more than 2 million respondents said no. With the announcement today that Musk had purchased a 9.2% stake i...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads:   On the EU Giving Up - Punk6529  Crypto Should Disrupt Current Anti-Money Laundering Practices, Not Adopt Them - Boaz Sobrado  - From cash to crypto in no time with Nexo. Invest in hot coins and swap between exclusive pairs for cash back, earn up to 17% interest on your idle crypto asse...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Today on the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at two old bitcoin FUDs that came roaring back with a vengeance. The “crypto is for criminals” narrative was built into the assumption that led the European Parliament to vote in favor of advancing strict new anti-money laundering (AML) rules with regard to crypto wallets. Meanwhile, Greenpeace, fun...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW is joined by Espresso Systems co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jill Gunter. She is also an investor with Slow Ventures and the former co-founder of the Open Money Initiative. In this discussion, they cover: The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on crypto and the global money system  The evolution o...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.   The EU Parliament today voted to advance new anti-money laundering (AML) rules that would require European crypto asset service providers to collect and verify information about the beneficial owners of all self-hosted (or “unhosted,” to use their terms) wallet owners. The crypto industry sees this as a fundamental threat to decentralized...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US. Since 1955, every U.S. recession has been preceded by the inversion of the U.S. Treasury yield curve, meaning that short-dated notes had higher yields than long-dated bonds. Only one time during that period was this a false indicator. On today’s episode, NLW explores yesterday’s yield curve inversion and the market’s interpretation of what...

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: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M=   Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8   Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Break...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.   On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the news that long-time Bitcoin advocate Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) is now working with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on what aspires to be comprehensive crypto legislation. The addition of Gillibrand into the mix underscores the growing bipartisan support for Bitcoin and crypto. Ad...

  On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads two macro-themed Twitter threads.   Sam Bankman-Fried: Post-Modern Monetary Theory Lyn Alden: The problem with leverage   - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on your idle assets or borrow cash against them at industry-leading rates. Get started today at nexo.io to receive up to a $100 welc...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    On this edition of the “Weekly Recap,” NLW looks at recent comments from the leader of the world’s largest asset manager on Ukraine and digital currencies, as well as other important updates from the crypto industry, including India’s passing of a finance bill with crypto taxation and El Salvador’s delay of their bitcoin bond.  - Take yo...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    NLW explores how the global monetary order is shifting. Specifically, he looks at Putin’s demand that Russian energy now be paid for in rubles, as well as the growing discussion between Saudi Arabia and China to price Saudi oil in the yuan.  - Take your crypto to the next level with Nexo. Invest and swap instantly, earn up to 20% APR on...

his episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.  On today’s episode, NLW takes a tour of recent macro sentiment, focusing on the shifting tone coming out of the U.S. Federal Reserve. In speeches and interviews this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell made it clear the central bank was prepared to raise rates 50 basis points at its next meeting if needed, and to do so at multiple meetings this y...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Today NLW looks at global crypto news, including: El Salvador’s bitcoin bond delay.  Florida Governor DeSantis’ comments about accepting crypto for taxes. New York moves forward with a mining moratorium.  India’s crypto tax policy to be passed in legislation this week. Thailand bans crypto for payments.  How bitcoin is being used by Ukra...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    Today on “The Breakdown,” NLW looks at the latest institutional moves into crypto, including an over-the-counter (OTC) transaction between Goldman Sachs (GS) and Galaxy (the first of its kind with a major U.S. bank), as well as reports that Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater hedge fund is soon to make an investment into a crypto fund. NLW also look...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.    As many in geopolitics and economics try to understand how the world global order is shifting in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions (see The Bretton Woods III Thesis), one battleground is the International Monetary Fund versus new forms of debt financing. On today’s episodes, NLW looks at: Why El Salvado...

This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, Arculus and FTX US.  On this edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads two threads from Alex Gladstein that summarize big-think discussions on the history and future of money. The first is a summary of Luke Gromen’s appearance on “The Grant Williams Podcast.” The second is a discussion of Lyn Alden’s essay “What is Money.”    Gladstein on Gromen - twitter.com/...