The Breakdown

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 states exerting more control over corporations and Big Tech. On the other is a process of de-nationification, where powers previously reserved for...

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 crypto trading The attack against Colonial Pipeline pushed ransomware fears to a new level. REvil, the same group b...

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 institutions are starting to participate and what barriers remain.  -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  http...

On this holiday edition of “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Jeff Dorman’s “Debunking 10 Digital Asset Bear Market Theses.” -- 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/aHR0cHM6Ly9ubHdjcnlwdG8ubGlic...

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  -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: h...

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 sustainable mining figures China’s expansive mining ban, including regions with hydroelectric power...

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 institutional trading habits In early 2020, institutional investors flowed into the crypto space nonstop,...

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 ominously “America on ‘FIRE:’ Will the Crypto Frenzy Lead to Financial Independence and Early Retirement or Financial Ruin?” Foster has...

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 bitcoin, fear not. Cathie Wood’s ARK is joining forces with 21 Shares to become the latest to apply to the U.S. Se...

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 regulation, where we’re likely to see a particular focus on leverage and derivatives. -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum,...

On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW reads Nic Carter’s latest essay for CoinDesk “Go West, Bitcoin! Unpacking the Great Hashrate Migration.” -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at https://nexo.io/ -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSDb Spotify: https://open.s...

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  -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at https://nexo.io/ -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple...

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 making bitcoin legal tender in the Central American nation. -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get s...

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 its earliest days. Join NLW in this episode of “The Breakdown” for a journey first through the winding history of McAfee, followed...

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 of the crypto market. Specifically, he looks at funding deals in NFTs, DeFi and institutional bitcoin, arguing that even if we do head into a bear market, that capital is likely to mean a return to bull mo...

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 and transitory in nature or here to stay? Foreign debt markets tapering off The Lightning Network and predictions for the success of El...

On this episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW takes a 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 “Mother of All Crashes” The “dot plot shock” and post-FOMC meeting confusion Accelerating China mining ban While in this in-between state, post-...

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.  -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get started at nexo.io -- Enjoying this content?   SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1438693620?at=1000lSD...

This week on “The Breakdown’s Weekly Recap” NLW covers: More institutional bitcoin news, including a new Morgan Stanley fund from NYDIG and FS Investments and a Goldman Sachs trading partnership with Galaxy Digital  A resurgence of “crypto is for criminals” FUD plus new China miner shutdowns in Sichuan  The latest debates around El Salvador’s bitcoin law  Rumblings of bitcoin in Nigeria, CFA count...

The idea of a multiyear supercycle is fading as shorter cycles take their place. In this episode, NLW and guest Larry Cermak, director of research at The Block, discuss the transformation of the supercycle timeline as the crypto space evolves. The discussion includes:   An analysis of the macro-narrative and the current “wait-and-see” mode   Shorter cycles taking hold as the crypto space matures T...

On today’s episode of “The Breakdown,” NLW first follows up on yesterday’s episode about the FOMC meeting and a potential future shift in Fed policy. As many expected, the Fed kept its short-term policy the same, but revised forward its estimates for when it will begin rate hikes to 2023.  The main discussion focuses on the latest from the Bitcoin Mining Council. Yesterday, MicroStrategy CEO Micha...

On today’s episode, NLW looks at the Federal Open Markets Committee briefing coming up this afternoon and discusses what it might signal in terms of future monetary policy. The discussion includes: How the Great Financial Crisis inspired “the largest monetary policy experiment in history” 2013’s “Taper Tantrum”  The return to GFC era policies during COVID-19 The insurgency of meme traders  Why inf...

The question of digital currencies is a question of power. On today’s episode, NLW explores that power in multiple dimensions: between states, between states and companies and within states with regard to their citizens. NLW looks at recent regulatory announcements, including: The SEC leaving crypto off its regulatory priorities list  A House hearing on the digital dollar -- Earn up to 12% APY on...

Just when it seemed like the “Economic Empowerment” narrative coming out of El Salvador was poised to overtake the inflation/digital gold narrative, one of that viewpoint’s strongest advocates was back on CNBC today. Hedge fund legend Paul Tudor Jones discussed why he doesn’t think inflation is transitory, why he recommends 5% in bitcoin and why the outcomes in the market will be based largely on...

This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” presents a reading of Human Rights Foundation CSO Alex Gladstein’s piece “Bitcoin Is a Trojan Horse for Freedom.”  NLW contextualizes the piece with this week’s landmark legislation out of El Salvador and the concerns some international observers have about that country’s president.  -- Earn up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD, EUR, GBP, Stablecoins & more. Get...