Minnesota Representative and House Whip Tom Emmer joins the show once again to talk about the policy sea change in Washington and recent legislative successes. In this episode: The House passes Emmer’s anti-CBDC bill Trump’s embrace of crypto and what that means Why some Democrats and the White House have changed their tone on crypto Congress votes to repeal SAB121 in defiance of Biden’s veto threat Is the influence of the progressives in DC waning with regards to crypto? Will Biden follow through on his SAB121 overturn veto threat? FDIC chair Marty Gruenberg’s planned resignation and what that means Whip Emmer’s thoughts on stablecoin legislation The SEC’s reversal on the Ethereum ETF The importance of the FIT21 act and its prospects in the Senate Whip Emmer’s legislative expectations over the remainder of 2024 Whip Emmer's prior OTB episodes:  Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on FTX, the SEC, and the House Crypto agenda for 2023 (EP.382) Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on MMT, CBDCs, and crypto policy for 2022 (EP.276) 

Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode: The Senate votes to repeal SAB121 Which Democrats defied Biden on SAB121? Chuck Schumer breaks with Warren Paul Ryan’s pro-stablecoin comments on Bloomberg CME is launching a spot crypto exchange The State of Wisconsin owns over $100m of Bitcoin ETFs Pump.fun exploited MEV exploiters arrested by the DoJ What’s up with Roaring Kitty? Content mentioned in this episode: Matt Hougan, Who’s Buying Bitcoin ETFs (According to 13F Filings) David Morris, What President Biden’s Crypto Politics Might Really Be About Rep Mike Flood and Wiley Nickel, It’s time to overturn SAB 121 Sponsor notes: Bitcoin’s Halving Aftermath In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 259, we analyze the impact of Runes and miner revenues in Bitcoin's post-halving landscape

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  The SAB121 repeal bill passes the House with 21 Democrat votes Biden threatens to veto SAB121 repeal Trump endorses crypto Is Gensler a liability for Biden? A scandal deepens at the FDIC Senator Warren defends the embattled FDIC chair Robinhood gets a Wells Notice from the SEC Is FTX really offering over 100% recovery to creditors? We review the Ohio State commencement speech Greyscale withdraws their Ethereum ETF application Content mentioned in this episode: Nic on Medium, Five Perspectives on Stablecoins Wyatt on Medium, Monad & Stablecoins Sponsor notes: The Usage & Evolution of Decentralized Exchanges (DEX’s) In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 258, we explore activity across Ethereum decentralized exchanges (DEXs)

Will Peck, Head of Digital Assets at WisdomTree re-joins the show. In this episode we discuss: WisdomTree’s journey in digital assets and the firm’s strategy in the area. Views on the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. Will’s views on tokenization and how the firm is approaching this category. WisdomTree’s New York Trust Charter and the opportunities that the license opens up. The evolving stablecoin landscape. Views on evolving regulatory landscape. To learn more about WisdomTree visit their digital assets page.

Matt and Nic are back for more news and deals. In this episode:  Matt get’s 2nd in Jeopardy at ETH Boston We reminisce over Nic’s 2020 holiday quiz Ian Cain’s Senate candidacy in MA CZ get 4 months in prison The significance of ‘4’ Did CZ deserve his sentence? Roger Ver arrested for tax fraud Tough week of outflows from the ETFs The chilling effects of the DoJ Samourai case Coinbase reports earnings Content mentioned: Nic’s 2020 Bitcoin Esoterica Compendium Sponsor notes: Measuring Exchange Quality & ‘Fake Volume’ Trusted Exchange Framework In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 257, we delve into our framework to assess exchange quality in digital asset markets

Ian Cain, republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state of Massachusetts against Elizabeth Warren joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Ian’s personal background and path to politics. How he became interested in emerging / blockchain technology. Qubic Labs and fostering a startup ecosystem in Massachusetts. The on-chain municipal bond project in Quincy, MA. The key issues that MA voters care about. Elizabeth Warren’s posture on crypto and whether the “anti-crypto army” is a real thing or a political stunt. Stablecoins Digital asset market infrastructure and why it is important to prioritize this effort. Ian’s message for Massachusetts voters. Links: To support Ian Cain please visit www.cainforus.com To learn more about Qubic Labs visit www.qubiclabs.com Qubic’s Impact Report More on the Quincy Municipal Bond effort.

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: CIV's new stablecoin survey What happened with Runes? Lawsuit against the SEC’s dealer rule New capital gains tax proposal How would taxing unrealized gains work? Two SEC lawyers leave in connection with the DEBT Box scandal The founders of Samourai wallet are arrested and charged by the DoJ Morgan Stanley close to permitting Bitcoin ETF to be solicited by their brokers Hong Kong Bitcoin ETFs go live Block is building Bitcoin mining hardware Visa’s stablecoin analytics dashboard Bitcoin Sign Guy sells his sign TikTok ban reactions Choke Point 2.0 moves to fintechs Content mentioned in this episode: Visa’s stablecoin dashboard IMF, A Primer on Cross-Border Bitcoin Flows FDAS Q1 Signals Report Sponsor notes: Layer-1 Landscape In Coin Metrics' State of the Network issue 256, we explore the diverse landscape of Layer-1 blockchains

Chris Harmse, co-founder and VP of Revenue at BVNK joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Chris’ career and the path to founding BVNK. The origin story of BVNK and how the company has evolved over time. The key drivers behind the adoption of stablecoins. Segmenting the stablecoin market. Interest bearing stablecoins and the impact that this category will have on the overall market. Tokenized money funds and the future of securities settlement. How stablecoins will refactor the global FX market. The regulatory landscape and how stablecoin adoption is evolving in various regions. To learn more about BVNK visit their website.

In this episode we sit down with Alexei Zamyatin, the founder of  Build On Bitcoin (BOB). Topics covered:  Why EVM-compatibility is important for Bitcoin and Bitcoin L2s Merge mining and fostering adoption of Bitcoin L2’s Why now for the Bitcoin Renaissance BitVM, use cases, and unlocks for Bitcoin

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Dubai is underwater The Lummis Gillebrand stablecoin bill and its prospects Do stablecoins affect the US’ ability to make sanctions? Avraham Eisenberg has been found guilty for the Mango markets hack Stablecoins as proto CBDCs Do stablecoins disintermediate commercial banks?  What do the 13F filings tell us about ETF flows?  Sponsor notes: Bitcoin’s 4th Halving In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 255, we understand the significance of the Bitcoin halving, its impact on miners and potential effects on BTC’s price as the 4th Bitcoin halving nears. Content mentioned in this episode: Timothy Massad, Stablecoins and national security: Learning the lessons of Eurodollars

Cynthia Lo Bessette and Matt Horne of Fidelity Digital Asset Management join the show. In this episode we discuss: The history of digital asset innovation at Fidelity. The decision to operationalize a digital asset-management capability under Fidelity’s Asset Management business unit. The launch of the Fidelity Bitcoin ETF and the path to getting this product to market. How Bitcoin ETFs are currently being consumed and the distribution of these products to various investor types and platforms. How Fidelity is approaching the tokenization of real world assets. Broader views on the future of public blockchain assets and the types of opportunities for asset managers. Learn more about Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Our reactions to the CPI print The SEC announces its intention to sue Uniswap Sen Warren doesn’t like the stablecoin bill Howard Lutnick weighs in on stablecoins again Saylor’s core dev funding controversy Sponsor notes: An Introduction to the Solana Network In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 254, we provide a data-driven overview of the Solana blockchain, exploring its architecture, ecosystem, network usage and adoption metrics

Quinn Thompson, founder and CIO of Lekker Capital, joins the show. In this episode:  Launching Lekker Capital Quinn’s investment strategy with Lekker Using crypto instruments to take a view on macro trends The significance of the move in the 10year How unusual is it to cut rates when inflation is running hot Is inflation the lesser of two evils? Why an inflationary reset is the only way out of our fiscal position Is Bitcoin more analogous to gold or NASDAQ? What are memecoins telling us about the crypto cycle? Institutional participation in Bitcoin dampening volatility? Quinn’s views on the halving Will Microstrategy shares ever converge to the value of their BTC? Why it is often mechanically difficult to bring meme stocks back to earth Quinn’s views on GBTC selling and the US govt’s seized Silk Road coins Further reading:  Follow Quinn on Twitter Fortune on Lekker Capital

Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode: How risky is Eigenlayer? The SEC is asking for public comment on ETH ETFs Is the US government about to liquidate $2b worth of Silk Road Bitcoin? Goldman wealth management CIO doesn’t like Bitcoin WSJ is back with a Tether hitpiece Fed Governor Chris Waller says crypto is good for the dollar Nic and David Hoffman are fighting at Karate Combat at Consensus Sponsor notes: State of the Network’s Q1 2024 Wrap-Up In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 253, we take a data-driven look at the most important events that impacted the digital assets industry in Q1 2024.

David Hoffman of Bankless and Bankless Ventures returns to the show. In this episode we discuss: What Bankless Ventures has been focusing on, including Bitcoin Layer Twos. Eigenlayer – what originally attracted David to the project.   The Eigenlayer value chain and the emerging categories of projects building in this ecosystem. Liquid Restaking Tokens, Actively Validated Services and how these primitives work in the Eigenlayer ecosystem. Views on risk management and leverage in the context of Eigenlayer. To learn more: Bankless Bankless Ventures Eigenlayer Risk FAQ  

Miller Whitehouse-Levine and Amanda Tuminelli of the DeFi Education Fund join the show. In this episode we discuss: Beba, an American apparel company based in Waco, TX and the DeFi Education fund have filed a complaint against the SEC, challenging the agency’s pattern of regulation via enforcement. The specific’s of Beba’s airdrop campaign. The Debt Box case and the pattern of behavior that the case highlights. The status of Congressional action on market structure, stablecoins and SAB 121. How the DeFi Education Fund prioritizes key initiatives. How to get involved in this case and support the broader mission of the organization.   To learn more about the Beba case: https://www.defieducationfund.org/post/it-s-our-time-def-goes-on-offense-against-the-sec   To learn more about the DeFi Education Fund: https://www.defieducationfund.org/  

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Was SBF’s 25-year sentence too lenient? Beba vs SEC Coinbase motion to dismiss is dismissed Coinbase notches a win vs the SEC over their Wallet product SDNY v Kucoin Ripple vs SEC Will MSTR ever converge to the fair value of their Bitcoin? North Korea allegedly hacks Blast’s Munchables farm How did Blast persuade the hackers to give the money back? What’s going on with ETH blobspace? Bitwise’s ETH vs ETH futs correlation analysis Content mentioned: Bitwise thread on ETH/futs correlation Sponsor notes: State of the Network’s Q1 2024 Mining Data Special In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 252, we zoom in on the impressive recovery of miner profitability amid improving market conditions

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Nic’s Columbia scandal Stablecoin growth ETH Foundation subpoena from the SEC ETH ETF prospects Blackrock releases their tokenized Treasury product with Securitize Are private blockchains obsolete? Fidelity amends their ETH ETF prospectus to add staking Japan's pension fund is learning about Bitcoin More GBTC outflows More bad boys Kyle Davies wants a debate Content mentioned:  Brian Armstrong, What is crypto good for, anyway? Bitwise, 12 Real-World Stories of How Millions of People Are Using Crypto Services Today Sponsor notes: Appraising Growth in Digital Asset Markets In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 251, we leverage market data and datonomy™ sector classification to understand recent shifts in digital asset markets.

Jeff Lunglhofer, the Chief Information Security Officer at Coinbase joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Jeff’s background and what attracted him to joining Coinbase. How Coinbase approaches cybersecurity risk. The impact of the Bitcoin ETF and the custodial business at Coinbase. How users should protect themselves via multi-factor authentication. Phishing and how to protect oneself from this attack vector. Passkeys and how this is improving the log-in flow at Coinbase. How Coinbase uses bug bounty programs. To learn more about cybersecurity at Coinbase visit coinbase.com/security

Matt and Nic are back for another week of ATHs. In this episode: ETH’s Dencun upgrade goes live Is ETH stuck between two different stakeholder groups? Is Traeger going to hold Bitcoin? Saylor is still buying Bitcoin Nigeria holds two Binance executives for a $10b ransom A UK judge in the COPA case has determined that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Why the COPA v CSW case matters Blackrock will buy Bitcoin ETFs in their global allocation fund Greyscale filed for a low-fee spinoff of GBTC, ticker BTC John Griffin of Griffin and Shams is back with another terrible paper A new paper alleges that crypto finances slavery Sponsor notes: Market Dynamics & Risks of Liquid Staking Tokens  In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 250, we explore the market dynamics and risks of liquid staking tokens (LST’s)

Nic and Matt return for a week of blockbuster price action and new ATHs. In this episode:  ETF flows recap Warren favorite Katie Porter loses her primary in CA Super Tuesday recap  Are crypto PACs working?  Why the Ohio senate race matters for crypto  State AGs amicus brief in Kraken v SEC The WSJ is accused of defamation in their Tether coverage Were Signature and Silvergate wrongly accused?  Arizona state Senate considers adding Bitcoin to state reserves Saylor buys Bitcoin  SEC comissioners Pierce and Uyeda write an entertaining dissent in the Shapeshift case  Is Prometheum the SEC's patsy?  Nic reviews ETH Denver How priced in in the Halving?  Sponsor notes:  Following Flows V: Pool Cross-Pollination In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 249, we examine fund flows among mining pools and miners, revealing hidden connections to gauge mining decentralization Join the conversation on Farcaster

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: Funding rates in crypto Blockbuster ETF flows Bitcoin Renaissance BitVM opening the overton window Remembering PlusToken SBF is “too autistic” to go to jail The 3ac boys have another fake fundraise announcement Genesis reaches a settlement proposal The DOE’s demand for information from miners has been halted for now Should the Bahamas be a state Marathon is launching their own L2 Content mentioned in this episode: Alex Thorn, Why we aren’t Stopping Fidelity Digital Assets, Addressing Ethereum Risks Sponsor notes: In the Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 248, we provide an overview of the paper—Breaking BFT—and examine the importance of network security

Guy Young, the founder of Ethena, rejoins the show to give us an update on Ethena and to discuss the nature of crypto interest rates. In this episode: Reflections on the Ethena launch ETH funding rates versus ETH ETF expectations Funding rates on crypto native exchanges versus CME Why Ethena versus doing the cash and carry trade At what point does Ethena start to drive down funding rates The history of the cash and carry trade in crypto Did yield farming represent a real form of yield? Why is yield farming less viable today? The ultimate convergence between tradfi and crypto yields Where risk premia come from for Ethena versus the risk free rate ETH taking yields and their development Guy’s concerns about Eigenlayer and its effect on DeFi Interactions between real rates and crypto rates Stablecoin supply versus tradfi interest rates Crypto yields versus RWA supply The share of stablecoins that is speculative in nature Guy’s expectations for the medium term future of crypto rates

Crusoe CEO and Co-Founder Chase Lochmiller joins us for an episode sharing an update on improving the efficiency of power production with on-site digital infrastructure. In this episode: Solving the broken links between supply (flaring, renewables) and demand for energy (BTC, high performance compute) Engineering a portfolio of applications to pair with different sources of energy Aligning economic incentives with climate solutions New hardware coming online and the impact to AI inference and training Decentralized Airbnb for GPU networks – what works and what doesn’t Halvening impact on BTC Miners Crusoe’s climate impact

Nic and Matt are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Wireless outage in the US Russia's space weapons and Rods from God  Will the market like the cubes once again?  Brink nation farcaster update  Our ETH ETF skepticism Circle leaves Tron Revolving door between SEC and biglaw Whip Emmer's letter to the OMB The ECB's very bad, no good Bitcoin blog Reddit hold Bitcoin and ETH  SBF's photoshoot Latest on the 3AC boys The SEC's mysterious ETF correlation analysis Content mentioned in this episode:  ECB, ETF approval for bitcoin – the naked emperor’s new clothes Rep. Emmer letter to OMB over Bitcoin mining data request NYMAG, 'They are very comfortable lying' 3AC update Sponsor notes:  The Coin Metrics Team will be hosting a Data Challenge at ETH Denver! Learn more about the event & register for it here. At the Crossroads: Bitcoin ETFs & Coinbase In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 247, we zoom into the latest developments with Bitcoin ETFs and Coinbase Q4 2023 earnings

Matt and Nic are back with news and deals of the week. In this episode:  On The Brink is now on Farcaster The pitfalls of Web3 social The boys have problem with seed phrases Optimistic rollups on Bitcoin are now possible?  ETF flow updates GBTC and Mt Gox flows  Why the halving may not be bullish SEC vs Debt Box  Why we think an Ethereum ETF is unlikely SAB121 update The Treasury rebukes the WSJ's story on Hamas' use of crypto Can John Deaton unseat Elizabeth Warren?  Sponsor notes: Navigating the Avalanche: An Introduction to the Avalanche Network In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 246, we navigate Avalanche’s role in the digital asset ecosystem

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  OPNX is very sadly shutting down  Is jail good for you?  GBTC outflows are declining Solicited versus unsolicited treatment of ETFs The Bitcoin L2 space is heating up The latest on COPA  We revisit the Satoshi is the NSA conspiracy  SAB121 stuff The DoE's Bitcoin mining data collection emergency What's happening with Farcaster?  Brink Nation joins Farcaster  Monero delisted from Binance  Solana outage this week Content mentioned:  Fidelity Digital Assets, Q4 2023 Signals Report Sponsor notes:  Ethereum’s Dencun Upgrade In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 245, we dive into the details of the Ethereum Dencun upgrade and highlight key indicators to monitor its success

Matt and Nic are back with another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Where is the FTX tungsten cube? FTX will make a 100% recovery for creditors FTX 2.0 is not happening The Genesis Digital Assets mystery Tether’s blockbuster quarter Chris Larsen hacked New legislative developments on SAB121 Bitcoin Season 2 is underway The Biden admin is requesting information from Bitcoin miners How anti-AI energy activism is revealing about the decel agenda The CSW v COPA case is nearing trial  We reflect on the terrible CSW era  Elizabeth Warren letter watch  The SEC withdraws their case against DebtBox in shame Content mentioned:  IEEE, Bezos Bucks? Get Ready for Corporate Digital Currency Sponsor notes:  Conducting the ETH Census In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 244, we highlight the complexities of calculating ETH’s total supply and share our method for arriving at an accurate figure

Matt and Nic are back with a celebratory 500th episode. In this episode:  ETFs are off to a rocky launch with the GBTC premium trade closing Bitwise launches real time transparency for their ETF holdings Fraud in the metals market versus Bitcoin The boys confront some fake news Is there light at the end of the tunnel for GBTC redemptions? Nic’s spat with Bloomberg The US is selling $130m of BTC seized from the Silk Road TFL declares bankruptcy The boys learn about a face amount certificate We answer your listener questions  Content mentioned: Bloomberg, Crypto fans lured by 20% stablecoin yiekds Sponsor notes: Tether’s Ascent: Breaking Down the Dominant Stablecoin's Growth In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 243, we explore Tether's impressive growth, adoption, nature of USDT usage and reserves through on-chain data

Bridge CEO and Co-Founder Zach Abrams joins us for an episode chronicling the explosion of stablecoin volume and how Bridge is building critical infrastructure. In this episode:  Zach’s origin story and how he arrived at building Bridge Bridge’s core products today and how clients use their APIs Future issuance of stablecoins Key global use cases for stablecoins today Evolution of the stablecoin market Building a crypto company in a bear market Learn more about Bridge

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Our plans for episode 500 Jamie Dimon thinks Satoshi might return and vanish the bitcoins or increase the 21m cap  Howard Lutnick goes to bat for Tether  Chevron doctrine is challenged in SCOTUS Dunking on Tether Truthers Coinbase vs SEC resumes  Coinhares acquires Valkyrie The relationship between GBTC and spot BTC BTC ETF rankings after 4 days of trading Coin Center declines to answer Elizabeth Warren Morgan Stanley on stablecoins (and did they plagiarize?) Will restaking cause an ETH fork? Sponsor notes:  A Short Guide to Bitcoin On-Chain Data for ETF Newcomers In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 242, we introduce or reacquaint some to the field of on-chain data, underscoring the properties that make bitcoin an intriguing asset

Matt and Nic are back for a historic week in the history of Bitcoin. In this episode: Spot ETF approved and starts trading Why day 1 flows might disappoint but longer term flows could materialize Day 1 price action review The GBTC conversion effect ETF scoreboard after one day of launch The SEC’s multiple SNAFUS in their ETF launch Gensler’s grudging approval and his questionable logic Commissioner Crenshaw’s dissent Gensler may have made a strategic mistake in his dissent Prospects for an ETH ETF What’s next for the Bloomberg ETF boys Did Bitcoin change tradfi Fidelity is harvesting goodwill ETF fee review Sponsor notes Market Structure on the Cusp of Spot Bitcoin ETFs In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 241, we explore digital asset market structure on the cusp of spot Bitcoin ETFs

Matt Hougan, the CIO of Bitwise Asset Management joins the show. In this episode we discuss:  Spot Bitcoin ETFs are approved! The process to get to this point. The competitive landscape for the 11 products that were approved by the SEC on Wednesday.  BITB, the Bitwise spot product which is the low cost option in the market. How it works and when it will trade.  Bitwise’s plan to donate 10% of profits to The Human Rights Foundation, Brink and OpenSats The outlook for an evolving custody and trading market structure.  Ethereum ETFs in the near future? Learn more about Bitwise's BITB

Matthew Le Merle and Mitch Mechigian of Blockchain Coinvestors join the show. In this episode we discuss the Blockchain Coinvestors 2024 Predictions. To learn more about Blockchain Coinvestors: Website Webinar

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Matrixport’s bearish ETF take The DoJ drops campaign finance charges against SBF Goldman and JPM are authorized participants for the ETF Where will the fees settle out for the major Bitcoin ETFs Nic’s vanity license plate story Do we still believe in tungsten Sponsor notes:  Coin Metrics State of the Network’s 2024 Outlook In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 240, we offer our perspective on some of the biggest trends to watch in 2024 in the digital assets industry.

In this episode, we host Nitya Subramanian, founder and CEO of Capsule, which is building cross-application embedded wallet infrastructure. We discuss: Outstanding challenges with web3 onboarding How applications are integrating parts of the wallet experience How Capsule helps developers give their end users the key privileges Why interoperability is crypto's key superpower How Capsule simplifies the transaction signing process How Capsule's infrastructure is complimentary to smart contract wallets Learn more about Capsule here. Follow Nitya here.

Matt and Nic return for the last week of 2023. In this episode: South Shore bar pie Our 2024 resolutions Was Barry Silbert the main character Bitcoin miners had a good year ARK is selling their GBTC holdings The Cointucky Derby Will an ETH ETF be a fast follow? Will ETF sponsors sue the SEC over cash create for ETFs? Nic and Matt’s 2024 predictions for stablecoins, Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, and adoption Solana versus Ethereum debate ETH L2 gas usage and EIP4844 Is the BSA unconstitutional? Is 2024 the year the 3AC boys are finally apprehended? Sponsor notes Coin Metrics’ Best of State of the Network in 2023 In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 239, we reflect on a year full of riveting data and crucial events through the lens of the research team’s favorite issues from 2023

In this episode, we sit down with Jill Gunter, co-founder of Espresso, to discuss: Espresso's original mission and the challenges of building a privacy solution Shifting direction to focus on building infrastructure to help L2 rollups decentralize The role of a sequencer in a rollup and how Espresso intends to decentralize it Trading off centralized sequencer revenue for decentralization and permissionlessness Visit Espresso for more.    

Ryan Selkis, the co-founder and CEO of Messari joins the show. In this episode we discuss: The regulatory landscape and how the industry should be prioritizing policy initiatives. Grayscale, GBTC and the evolution of exchange traded products. The institutional market and the impact of a Bitcoin ETF. The many failures of the SEC with regards to crypto policy in the USA. Messari’s roadmap in 2024 To learn more visit messari.io and download the Crypto Theses 2024 report. Follow Ryan on X.  

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Matt’s tree crisis The Jamie Dimon Elizabeth Warren nexus Is there a really a revolving door between crypto and the government? Warren’s latest volley of letters Promethian gets authorization to start trading We recap the inscriptions frenzy A new Super PAC is raised The BVI issues a seizure of the 3AC assets Zooko steps away from Zcash Content mentioned in this episode: Messari’s Crypto Theses for 2024 Bitwise 2024 predictions Blockchain Coinvestors 2024 predictions Sponsor notes State of the Network’s 2023 Year in Review In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 238, we revisit major stories that shaped the digital asset industry in 2023 with a data-driven lens

Dan Tapiero, the founder and Managing Partner of 10T Holdings and 1RoundTable Partners joins this show. In this episode we discuss: The state of the crypto/blockchain markets since the FTX collapse. The impact of the Bitcoin ETF on fund flows in the industry. The market for growth and secondary investing. The LP landscape and how allocators are thinking about the sector. 1RT’s strategy and the categories that Dan is finding compelling. To learn more about 1RT visit their website and follow Dan on X.

Andreas Tsamados, the founder of Fileverse joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Andreas’ academic background and path that led him to starting Fileverse An overview of Fileverse and the ambitions of the project. Why a decentralized file sharing platform is necessary and better than a centralized option for certain customer types. SAFE multi-signs The state of decentralized file storage. Token models and how these could evolve over time. The Fileverse roadmap in the coming year. To learn more about Fileverse visit fileverse.io  

In this episode, we host Nick Neuman, CEO of Casa to discuss their recent stablecoin launch and: Casa’s value proposition How customers use Casa The decision to expand beyond Bitcoin to Ethereum The rationale behind supporting stablecoins Building custody tools for security versus convenience Nick’s views on experimentation on Bitcoin Further reading: Protect your stablecoins: Hold USDC and USDT with Casa

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode:  Coinbase’s positioning ahead of the ETF Cantor CEO Howard Lutnick acknowledges their Tether role Where do we stand on cash creation versus in-kind creation for the Bitcoin ETF? Coinbase launches an RWA hub in Abu Dhabi Kucoin settles with the state of New York Do Kwon is staying in Montenegro a bit longer Coinlist settles an OFAC violation FASB adopts (again?) fair value accounting for Bitcoin SBF’s lawyer said he was the “worst witness he’s ever seen” The status of Warren’s anti-ML crypto bill How potent will the crypto lobby be in 2024? Content mentioned in this episode: Charles Rettig, IRS Digital Assets Plan Would Be a Setback for Taxpayer Services Sponsor notes: Coin Metrics State of the Network’s Q4 2023 Mining Data Special In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 237, we spotlight crucial developments and data across the mining ecosystem

Itai Turbahn, the co-founder and CEO of Dynamic joins the show. In this episode we discuss: The mission of Dynamic and the how the company is enabling seamless web3 log in experiences. Breakout applications in the web3 category. An overview of Passkeys and the impact that this technology will have on both web2 and web3 log in experiences. Account abstraction and the innovation that is likely to emerge using this technology. Dynamic’s new embedded wallet offering. Itai announces Dynamic’s Series A round of financing from a16z, Founders Fund, Castle Island Ventures and others. To learn more about Dynamic visit dynamic.xyz  

Brian Foster, Global Head of Wholesale at Coinbase, joins the show. In this episode we discuss: Brian’s career and the path that led him to joining Coinbase. An overview of the Coinbase business model and how the company is segmented. The evolution of the Coinbase Institutional business. The Wholesale business at Coinbase and how the company is positioned with brokers, banks and ETF issuers. Views on the Bitcoin ETF proposals and how Coinbase is positioned in this market segment. The BlackRock partnership and how Coinbase and BlackRock are collaborating. Views on the evolution of the competitive landscape for Coinbase. BASE, RWAs and stablecoins. Learn more at coinbase.com

In this episode, we sit down with Rowan Stone who leads Business Development at Base – the layer-2 network on Ethereum launched by Coinbase earlier this year. Rowan expands on: The decision to build Base using Optimism's OP stack and the "Superchain" vision The vectors of centralization in L2 networks and the path to decentralization Early use cases on Base across DeFi, loyalty and the creator economy The role of business development in growing an L2 network

Matt and Nic return for deals and news of the week. In this episode:  Chainalysis Geography of Crypto adoption Jamie Dimon comes out against crypto – again Our vote for Time Person of the year The AICPA announces their stablecoin attestation framework Do Kwon is being extradited to the US Nubank is getting into crypto Rep McHenry is retiring Content mentioned in this episode: Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index It’s all a Game by Colleen Sullivan Sponsor notes: Coin Metrics STATE OF THE NETWORK—State of Stablecoins:Signs of Returning Liquidity In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 236, we look into stablecoin supply, usage, adoption and key trends in market evolution

Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis, joins the show to talk about their 2023 Geography of Crypto Adoption report. In this episode:  The difficulty of ascertaining reliable illicit finance data for crypto Why Chainalysis started publishing the Geography of Crypto report Why emerging markets dominate in terms of crypto adoption How Chainalysis devised their methodology What the variables in their index mean Potential sources of error or noise in the data How Chainalysis overlays internet traffic data with blockchain data to determine usage on a country by country basis Top countries on the index and changes from prior years Evidence for cryptodollarization What variables correlate with crypto adoption globally Countries with positive year/year growth in crypto adoption Content mentioned in this episode: Chainalysis, The 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index