The Scoop

Crypto custodian Anchorage emerged from stealth in January 2018, unveiling a new type of custody solution aimed at toppling incumbents like BitGo and Coinbase. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Blockchain Capital, the firm has locked down $57 million in venture capital to build out a faster alternative to cold storage solutions. Leading the firm's regulatory and policy efforts is Katie Biber, a le...

Blockchain.com is one of the oldest companies in the crypto world. Best known for its consumer wallet business, the firm has expanded into new verticals over the past year, launching an exchange, institutional lending, and over-the-counter trading businesses. On this episode of The Scoop, Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith joined The Block's Frank Chaparro to discuss: how the firm has leveraged its 40...

Facebook's Libra sent shockwaves through Washington D.C. when it was announced with much fanfare last summer. Indeed, it sparked a conversation among policymakers and legislators about the benefits of cryptocurrency, and stablecoins specifically, as well as broader questions about what money is and the implications of a Facebook rival to the U.S. dollar. Since this summer, a number of countries ha...

Launched in May 2019, crypto exchange FTX has showcased the breakneck growth of the burgeoning market for digital asset derivatives. The Binance-backed firm is known for its diversity of products, offering trading of futures tied to dozens of cryptocurrencies. Recently, following the lead of firms like Bakkt, CME, and Derebit, FTX launched options, a derivative product that offers the option trade...

When Tagomi came out of stealth mode in 2018, the need for a crypto prime broker was a commonplace talking point in the digital asset world. An independent broker, sitting in between the spine-tingling market and investors, would help lure larger asset managers to bitcoin, pundits said. Indeed, two years later even Tagomi has been disappointed by the lack of asset managers in the market and their...

JP Thieriot is the CEO of Uphold, a crypto broker that serves 184+ countries, across 30+ currencies (traditional and crypto) and commodities with frictionless foreign exchange and cross-border remittance for members around the world.  In this episode we explore: Competition in the crowded landscape of crypto brokerage The key distinctions between the U.S. and South America in regards to crypto uti...

Kristin Smith is the Executive Director of The Blockchain Association. In this episode Kristin sits down for her second time with Frank, Ryan, and Steven to discuss:  Where we stand after the Libra hearings and predictions on how this story will play out in 2020 The important differences between Republicans and Democrats in the manner they introduce crypto related legislation  The Blockchain Assoc...

Episode 34 of The Scoop was recorded with Frank Chaparro, Ryan Todd, and Horacio Barakat, V.P. of corporate strategy at Broadridge. Listen below, and subscribe to The Scoop on Apple ,  Spotify ,  Google Play ,  Stitcher , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Email feedback and revision requests to  podcast@theblockcrypto.com . In this episode Horacio sits down with Frank and Ryan to discuss:  The c...

Tom Jessop is the President of Fidelity Digital Assets. In this conversation Frank and Tom discuss: Fidelity's process in deciding between servicing institutions or retail The importance of custodians as a foundation for the digital assets market Why even the best technology may fail when there is no mature market structure Fidelity Digital Assets offering of execution services Why it is important...

Leo Zhang is Principal at Iterative Capital Management, an investment manager, cryptocurrency miner, and wholesale dealer. In this episode Leo joins Frank Chaparro and Matteo Liebowitz to discuss: The unseen impact Bitcoin miners have on the overall market The initial public offering of mining firm Canaan and new entrants to the market, like Layer1 The significance of rainy season in China and it'...

Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer of the Human Rights Foundation. Alex is a supporter of Bitcoin and it's important role in supporting human rights against oppressive regimes. In this Episode Frank and Alex discuss the important distinction between the moral and legal issues surrounding Virgil Griffith's recent arrest, Bitcoin's potential role in the modern urban protesting environment,...

Episode 30 of The Scoop was recorded on Skype with Frank Chaparro, Steven Zheng, and Andy Rachleff, Co-Founder of Wealthfront. Listen below, and subscribe to The Scoop on Apple ,  Spotify ,  Google Play ,  Stitcher , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Email feedback and revision requests to  podcast@theblockcrypto.com . In this episode of the Scoop, Andy discusses several topics with Frank and St...

Max Boonen is the Founder & Director of B2C2, one of the world's largest OTC liquidity providers. In this conversation Frank and Max discuss: Why Max encourages competition amongst OTC liquidity providers Why Max thinks the institutional investors that matter may already be in the space The importance of accounting for regulatory and customary risk when entering a new market Why the majority o...

In this episode of The Scoop, Paolo Ardoino discusses several topics with Frank Chaparro and Larry Cermak, including: Bitfinex's failures in transparency and what they are doing today to be more transparent Paolo's thoughts on the research report suggesting Tether manipulated Bitcoin prices during the 2017 bull run Why Bitfinex saw success in raising capital for LEO  Plans to launch options which...

Bob Greifeld led Nasdaq as its CEO from 2003 to 2016, driving its evolution as a fledgling listing venue for many tiny tech companies into a diversified global financial technology company. He now sits on the board of two financial high frequency trading firms, including Virtu Financial, where he serves as Chairman. In this conversation, we discuss his new book, Market Movers, and dig into his sto...

Agatha Bacelar is a 27-year-old Brazilian-American running for Congress in California’s 12th district, a seat currently held by House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Agatha is not your typical Congressional candidate. With a degree from Stanford University and a professional background in blockchain, Agatha is aiming to make tech regulation an important conversation in politics. In this conversation, Agatha...

State Street, one of the largest custody banks in the world is yet to launch a service to store crypto assets but that doesn't mean the Boston based firm isn't making waves when it comes to digital assets. On this episode of The Scoop we spoke to Jay Biancamano, managing director of digital product development and innovation at the firm about the opportunity State Street sees in the market. The 25...

On this episode of The Scoop, Michael Sonnenshein talks about the largest Q3 that Grayscale has experienced in it's 6 year history, the increased participation of institutions in the space and the transference of traditional wealth that will be occurring over the next couple of decades -- a transference that will undoubtedly expand the scope and usage of digital currencies. 

While big players like Coinbase, Bakkt and Consensus make most of the headlines in Crypto and on Crypto Twitter there are some institutional players that have been quietly operating in the background for years in the Bitcoin market. One such player is Jump Trading and it's affiliate venture capital firm, Jump Capital. Jump Trading is one of the most active traders in the digital asset world and al...

Tom Lee is one of the great luminaries of crypto and finance Twitter. The former chief equity analyst at JP Morgan made headlines during the bitcoin boom of 2017 with his calls that the cryptocurrency would soar to it's price target of $25,000. Fast forward to today; Lee isn't making anymore price targets on bitcoin but he still makes calls on the market -- leading Fundstrat, a market research sho...

Union Square Ventures is one of the most prominent east coast VC firms and is also one of the most notable mainstream investors in the bitcoin market. On this episode of The Scoop USV partner Nick Grossman joined us to discuss the firm's approach to investing in the market -- he was recently promoted to partner to lead blockchain investments after 5 years with the firm. We spoke about Libra associ...

Galaxy Digital is one of the most well known brands in the market for digital currencies led by it's stalwart Mike Novogratz. The firm's origin story dates back to the bitcoin boom of 2017. Originally, Galaxy was to be a $500 million hedge fund which at the time reportedly lured the attention of family offices and other hedge fund managers. It also marked a striking comeback story for Novogratz wh...

Listen to a preview of next week's The Scoop episode where Frank chats with Mike Novogratz, the Founder, CEO and Chairman at Galaxy Digital.

Founded in 2013, Pantera Capital is one of the oldest investors in the nascent market for digital currencies. Having previously made headlines for it's eye-popping 25,000%+ returns in bitcoin back in the heyday of 2017 -- it might also be one of the most recognizable brands. On this episode of The Scoop, The Block welcomed Pantera Capital partner Paul Veradittakit to talk about the firm's history,...

Paxos wears many hats in the blockchain ecosystem. It offers one of the better known stable coins, $PAX. Operates a crypto currency exchange, that's itBit and the company provides products that help large firms use blockcain to improve their settlement systems. But at the heart of Paxos (according to CEO Charles Cascarilla) is to move the financial system onto the blockchain -- it's a move he says...