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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
In this episode of Unchained, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev offers a rare glimpse into the company’s strategy. How did memes like Dogecoin become one of Robinhood’s biggest assets, onboarding millions of users? What drove its decision to embrace stablecoins, staking, and a dedicated crypto wallet—and what risks do these moves carry?
As Europe’s MiCA regulations set the stage for a global crypto framework, Vlad discusses how Robinhood is positioning itself for growth, the role of prediction markets, and why blockchain could dramatically lower costs for investors. He also shares personal insights from his own experiences with hyperinflation, revealing how stablecoins might safeguard wealth for millions around the world.
With crypto ETFs, regulatory shifts, and a new administration looming, here’s what he thinks is next for Robinhood—and the crypto industry.
Show highlights:
How Robinhood has been experiencing growth in the crypto retail market
The effect of election night and Robinhood’s event contracts on trading volumes
What Robinhood saw happened with the launch of spot ETFs in the U.S.
How the exchange was able to attract crypto investors
The role of MiCA in Robinhood allowing users to stake ETH and SOL
How the company aims to enhance the user experience with the Robinhood wallet
Why Robinhood decided to invest in Global Dollar Network, which has stablecoin USDG
What’s on Vlad’s crypto regulation wish list under the new administration and Congress
Whether the criteria to list crypto assets on Robinhood will change under a crypto-friendly Trump administration
Why Vlad is so excited about prediction markets
Why he sees blockchain technology as a tool that will ultimately help users
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Kelp DAO
Guest
Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood
Links
Unchained: Why Robinhood, a TradFi Hub, Is Growing Its Crypto Business Globally
Reuters: Robinhood's top attorney Gallagher rules out SEC chair role
Robinhood Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results
Robinhood to Acquire Bitstamp
Spot Bitcoin ETF Options: Why You 'Can't Overstate' Their Importance
The Legend Awakens: Introducing Robinhood Legend, Futures Trading, and Index Options
Finimize: Robinhood, Kraken, And Partners Launch New Stablecoin USDG -
Decrypt: Robinhood Launches US Presidential Election Prediction Market—For Americans Only
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:43 Robinhood’s growth in the crypto retail market
05:05 Election night’s surprising impact on trading volumes
07:11 What Robinhood observed after U.S. spot ETF launches
11:56 How the platform attracted millions of crypto investors
16:49 MiCA’s role in enabling ETH and SOL staking on Robinhood
19:09 Enhancing user experience with the Robinhood wallet
21:32 Why Robinhood is betting on stablecoins
25:37 Vlad’s crypto regulation wish list from the new administration
30:05 Will Robinhood change its crypto listing criteria?
32:18 Vlad’s excitement about prediction markets
36:12 How blockchain could lower costs and empower users
41:21 News Recap
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. In this special end-of-year episode, they recap 2024's key moments and forecast what's ahead in 2025. The team debates Bitcoin's potential to hit $180K, the impact of AI on crypto security, and upcoming U.S. crypto legislation. They also predict the rise of viral blockchain games. Join the crew as they unpack these predictions and more, offering unique insights into what the new year might bring for crypto enthusiasts.
Show highlights
🔹 Bitcoin Hits New Highs: The crew debates Bitcoin's potential to reach $180K, with predictions of a significant rally and subsequent corrections.
🔹 AI Turns Crypto Scammer: A bold prediction that an AI system will become a crypto scammer makes waves, highlighting the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain security concerns.
🔹 Crypto Legislation Breakthroughs: Anticipation grows for groundbreaking crypto-specific legislation in 2025, reflecting a major shift in regulatory landscapes.
🔹 Consolidation in Crypto's Infrastructure: Predictions surface about mergers among AppChains and Layer 2 solutions due to economic pressures, signaling a major consolidation trend.
🔹 Viral Blockchain Games: The panel foresees blockchain-based games going viral, capturing mainstream attention and potentially becoming a cultural phenomenon.
🔹 DeFi's Continued Evolution: Discussions center around DeFi's comeback, its impact on the crypto market, and the evolving challenges it faces as it grows in popularity and complexity.
🔹 Surprising Crypto Predictions for 2025: The episode wraps up with each host sharing their most surprising predictions for the coming year, setting the stage for a dynamic and unpredictable future in crypto.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Disclosures
Timestamps -
00:00 Intro
03:00 Biggest Winner
8:30 Biggest Loser
14:04 Biggest Surprise
20:50 Best New Mechanism
27:03 Best Meme
31:02 Best/Worst Pivot
38:57 Biggest Flop
44:08 Comeback Story of 2024
48:42 Favorite TCB Guest
51:18 Predictions for 2025
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Bitcoin’s 2024 rally has been explosive, but is the next phase just beginning? In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts Noelle Acheson, Ram Ahluwalia, and Alex Kruger are joined by Ledn’s Mauricio di Bartolomeo to unpack the forces shaping the crypto market as the year comes to a close.
Mauricio explains how Ledn has grown amidst regulatory and economic shifts, and shares insights on why the “Trump put” is creating a new trading setup for crypto. The panel dissects the undercurrents behind Bitcoin’s surge, explores how MicroStrategy’s presence on the NASDAQ creates unique market dynamics, and debates how much higher BTC could climb. But they warn not to expect “buy” ratings on MSTR.
Plus, they dive into why Solana underperformed in recent weeks, how Bitcoin enables capital flight (and how they may be happening from China), and what 2025 could hold for crypto. Packed with data, opinions, and a few book recommendations (well, except from Alex), this episode offers sharp analysis as 2024, a pivotal year for crypto, wraps up.
Show highlights:
Mauricio’s background and how Venezuela’s regime led him to crypto
How Ledn works and how it’s seen substantial growth since the elections
What’s driving this wave of growth in the price of bitcoin
How much higher BTC will go and what the effects of the end-of-year portfolio rebalancing will be
What the risks are for the U.S. economy
How BTC is the easiest way to trade the Trump bump
Whether the Chinese macro matters for crypto
How MicroStrategy has become a Trojan horse
Why Alex likes XRP and ENA and why SOL has been underperforming recently
2024 wrap-up: what everyone was most surprised about
Book recommendations from everyone, except Alex, who’s only focused on shitcoins
Hosts:
Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter
Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard
Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida
Guest:
Mauricio di Bartolomeo, cofounder & CSO of Ledn
Links
Unchained:
Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High
MicroStrategy Joins Nasdaq-100, Expanding Bitcoin Exposure to Billions
Trump’s Crypto Project Spent Nearly $45M Onchain in 2 Weeks
FTX Distributions to Start in Under 2 Weeks
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:38 Mauricio’s journey from Venezuela to crypto
07:37 How Ledn thrived post-elections and saw major growth
15:16 Key drivers behind Bitcoin’s explosive rally
20:30 How high could BTC climb – and might year-end rebalancing affect the price?
25:22 Risks facing the U.S. economy heading into 2025
32:47 BTC as the go-to trade for the Trump bump
36:13 The significance of Chinese macro trends for crypto
47:32 MicroStrategy’s role as a Trojan horse for Bitcoin adoption
53:20 Why Alex likes XRP and ENA, but SOL is lagging
1:02:35 Biggest surprises from 2024’s crypto market
1:06:33 Book picks from everyone—except Alex, who’s all about shitcoins
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USDe shattered expectations in 2024, emerging as the largest decentralized stablecoin in circulation and a game changer for DeFi. Ethena’s founder, Guy Young, joins the show to reveal how the protocol surpassed long-established giants, generating billions in fees and setting new benchmarks for yield generation.
Guy also breaks down the mechanics behind Ethena’s innovative strategies, including “Aavethena,” a yield-boosting approach that’s changing how users interact with synthetic dollars. Plus, he addresses the risks: what happens when leverage goes too far, and how Ethena mitigates volatility at its core.
Will Ethena bridge DeFi and TradFi, leveraging the disconnect between crypto and traditional interest rates to tap into a $100 trillion fixed-income market?
Show highlights:
Why Guy was surprised to see the rapid rise of USDe
Why Guy is spending 80% of his time on bringing Ethena to TradFi
The launch of Ethena’s UStb
How regulation comes into play and the challenges in different jurisdictions
Whether USDe could launch in the U.S. with a friendlier administration
Why Ethena hasn’t needed to utilize the reserve fund
Why Guy believes Ethena has been able, at times, to surpass OG protocols like Ethereum and Uniswap in fees
How USDe is being used across the board in DeFi applications
What the “Aavethena” strategy is and how it generates yield for users
Whether USDe has brought considerable risks of liquidations
How allowing Pendle’s PT tokens on Aave could supercharge growth
How Ethena counters the centralization risks around exchanges
Why Guy thinks that Ethena’s cross-chain strategy has been “pretty poor”
How ENA has performed well despite airdrops not doing well in 2024
Why Guy believes this bull cycle is different
Why he’s expecting USDe to reach at least $15 billion in 2025
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Robinhood & Arbitrum
Guest:
Guy Young, Founder of Ethena Labs
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Ethena’s USDe Grew to $2 Billion in 7 Weeks. Is It Safe?
How Ethena’s USDe Challenges Traditional Stablecoin Models
Links
Unchained: Ethena’s USDe Becomes Third-Largest Stablecoin
UStB announcement
How BlackRock, the World's Largest Asset Manager, Took Crypto Mainstream
Blockworks Research thread on how USDe is used
Aavethena tweet by Guy Young
“androlloyd’s” tweet on the level of exposure USDe has
Unchained: Circuit Breakers: Is ERC-7265 the Solution dApps Were Waiting For?
Seraphim’s tweet on the Ethena endgame
Timestmaps:
00:00 Intro
01:52 The rapid rise of USDe and what surprised Guy about its ascent
05:11 Ethena’s growth plans for 2025
07:36 Ethena’s role in launching UStb
11:52 Regulatory challenges across different regions
16:24 Could a U.S. launch for USDe happen with a friendlier administration?
20:56 Why Ethena’s reserve fund hasn’t been tapped yet
22:22 How Ethena surpassed OG protocols, including Ethereum, Uniswap, etc., in fees
25:14 USDe’s growing role in DeFi applications
27:17 The “Aavethena” strategy and how it generates yield
30:38 Risks of liquidations tied to USDe
33:48 Supercharging growth with Pendle’s PT tokens on Aave
36:15 How Ethena mitigates centralization risks with exchanges
40:39 Guy’s thoughts on Ethena’s cross-chain strategy struggles
43:19 Why ENA has performed well despite airdrop fatigue
48:42 Why this bull cycle feels different
52:44 Guy’s target for 2025
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, the crew explores the resurgence of ICOs through Echo sales, diving into MegaEth’s record-breaking sale and the shifting meta of token launches. They also discuss Google’s quantum computing breakthrough with the Willow chip and its potential implications for cryptographic security in crypto. Tarun doubles down on his critique of Decentralized Science (DeSci), sparking a lively debate on its viability and accountability. Finally, the team unpacks Electric Capital’s developer report, highlighting Solana’s dominance in India and the global trends shaping crypto development.
Show highlights
🔹 ICOs and Echo Sales Resurgence:The crew debates the return of ICOs, now rebranded as Echo sales, and their impact on token launches. Is the shift from airdrops to pre-sales a sustainable new meta for crypto?
🔹 MegaEth’s Record-Breaking Sale on Echo: A detailed analysis of MegaEth's $4.2M Echo sale that sold out in seconds. With a $200M FDV, the sale sparked discussions about community involvement and valuation dynamics.
🔹 Airdrops vs. Echo Sales: The panel dissects the shift in sentiment around airdrops, questioning their fairness and efficiency compared to community presales. Are Echo sales the new paradigm for engaging retail investors?
🔹 Quantum Computing and Crypto’s Future: Google’s breakthrough with the Willow chip sparks a discussion on quantum computing’s implications for cryptocurrencies. Is public key cryptography under threat, or do we have time to adapt?
🔹 The Satoshi Dilemma: Speculations about Satoshi Nakamoto’s coins and what would happen if they were ever moved. Could quantum computing make those coins vulnerable?
🔹 Decentralized Science (DeSci) Debate: Tarun doubles down on his criticism of DeSci projects, arguing they lack accountability and meaningful use cases. The team explores whether DeSci can evolve into something impactful.
🔹 Electric Capital’s Developer Report: Reactions to Electric Capital’s 2024 developer report, highlighting Asia overtaking North America in crypto developer activity, Solana’s dominance in India, and the growing trend of multi-chain developers.
🔹 Developer Efficiency in Crypto: Despite the plateauing number of developers, crypto projects demonstrate incredible efficiency. Fewer hacks, more battle-hardened code, and a shift toward higher-quality deployment signal a maturing space.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:52 The Return of ICOs
07:29 Airdrops vs. Community Sales
19:27 Quantum Computing and Crypto
28:18 Bitcoin Addresses & Quantum Computing
32:24 DeSci Debate
42:56 Electric Capital Developer Report
51:35 Developer Efficiency in Crypto
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The 2024 Developer Report from Electric Capital reveals many shifting dynamics. For starters, for the first time in eight years, Ethereum was not the top chain for new developers—Solana was. Meanwhile, Asia has emerged as the leading hub for crypto development, taking the top spot from North America, which dropped to third.
In this episode, General Partner Maria Shen explores how Ethereum's Layer 2 solutions are bolstering its position despite fierce competition, why the Bitcoin developer ecosystem remains steadfast, and how emerging projects like EigenLayer are capturing builders’ attention.
She also delves into the top crypto technologies that are fascinating devs, and how their usage and development activity differ across the globe.
Show highlights:
Maria’s top takeaways from the report
Whether the developer migration from the U.S. will stop under a friendlier regulatory environment
How Ethereum has maintained its dominance despite its high fees and the rise of Solana
What the steadiness of the Bitcoin developer ecosystem shows
Which other smaller ecosystems are growing the most
How ZK contract usage has been increasing over time
Why, despite what one could think, NFT minting activity is higher than ever
How stablecoin usage differs from token to token and also across countries
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Guest
Maria Shen, General Partner at Electric Capital
Previous appearance on Unchained: Why Crypto Developer Activity Continues to Grow Despite the Bear Market
Links
Unchained: A Big 2024 Crypto Trend: Solana Attracts More New Developers Than Ethereum
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:02 Key findings from Electric Capital’s Developer Report
08:28 Could a friendlier U.S. regulatory environment reverse the developer migration?
12:54 How Ethereum could stay dominant amid rising competition from Solana
17:48 Insights from the Bitcoin developer ecosystem
21:33 Emerging smaller ecosystems gaining traction
23:41 The steady growth in ZK contract usage
27:39 Why NFT minting activity is at an all-time high
32:31 How stablecoin usage varies across tokens, chains and countries
36:22 News Recap
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In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson are joined by Jamie Coutts to analyze Ethereum’s breakout and its improving fundamentals, how China’s “moderately loose” policy stance is changing the global liquidity landscape, and the pro-market implications of Paul Atkins leading the SEC.
They also explore Jerome Powell’s and Putin’s takes on Bitcoin, the controversial CBOE withdrawal of the Solana ETF filing, and the role of Bitcoin in geopolitics.
Show highlights:
How the employment data showed some mixed reactions in regard to next steps for the Fed
Whether China will start a new era of augmented liquidity
Why the U.S. dollar getting stronger is bad for crypto prices
How bitcoin is not a competitor to the U.S. dollar
The significance of David Sacks as Crypto & AI Czar
Why everyone believes that Atkins in the SEC is very positive for markets
Whether China will pivot and adopt friendlier crypto regulation
Putin’s remarks on the role of bitcoin
Why CBOE withdrew its SOL ETF filing
Jamie’s analysis on how liquidity affects prices and where we’ll see a top
Why Ram thinks that MSTR has peaked
Why Jamie believes that ETH will continue its momentum and perform better than the broader market
Why Microsoft and Amazon might adopt bitcoin on their balance sheet
Whether the breakthrough in quantum computing will disrupt Bitcoin
How Solana’s daily fees have grown to a significant percentage of the L1 landscape
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida
Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter
Guest:
Jamie Coutts, Chief Crypto Analyst at Real Vision
Links
China Rally:
China Politburo policy shift spurs surge in stocks, bonds | Reuters
China Eases Overall Monetary Policy Stance for First Time in 14 Years
Fed and Powell:
Decrypt: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Likens Bitcoin to Gold, Says It’s Not Dollar Rival
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:42 Mixed signals from employment data and the Fed’s next steps
07:33 China’s “moderately loose” policy and its liquidity impact
13:32 Why a stronger U.S. dollar spells trouble for crypto
23:49 Bitcoin’s role alongside the U.S. dollar, not against it
27:49 David Sacks as Crypto & AI Czar: What it means for the industry
29:40 Why Paul Atkins at the SEC is a win for markets
34:00 Whether China could adopt a pro-crypto stance
37:53 Putin’s surprising take on Bitcoin’s geopolitical role
41:39 What’s behind the SOL ETF filings
43:25 Jamie’s take on crypto’s potential upside
46:49 Why Ram believes MSTR may have peaked
49:59 Jamie’s bullish outlook on ETH outperforming the market
56:26 Could Microsoft and Amazon add Bitcoin to their balance sheets?
59:05 The quantum computing breakthrough
1:01:05 Solana’s fees climb significantly—what does it mean?
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With Paul Atkins as the incoming SEC Chair, David Sacks as the AI & Crypto Czar, and potential CFTC leadership changes, the Trump administration is signaling a major shift for crypto, AI, and financial regulation.
Guests Mike Selig and Jake Chervinsky break down what this means for token launches, enforcement actions, inter-agency collaboration, and the fate of Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Could this mark the end of the U.S.’s regulatory hostility toward innovation?
Show highlights:
02:18-What changes to expect under an Atkins-led SEC
08:58-Who could lead the SEC in the period between Gensler resigning and Atkins assuming
11:54-Whether the Democrats will nominate SEC Commissioner Crenshaw again
15:50-Elizabeth Warren's influence on the non-Republican SEC commissioner picks
23:39-Whether Atkins’ leadership at the SEC might shift crypto regulation away from aggressive enforcement
28:26-Whether Gensler’s recent promotion of people in enforcement roles will further his SEC’s regulation-by-enforcement strategy
38:52-Whether the SEC and Coinbase will reach a settlement
41:47-Why Mike and Jake think it’s not likely that the SEC will pursue litigation in the Ripple case
46:03-How the SEC might clarify securities laws around token sales, airdrops, and exemptions
55:14-Whether Atkins’ leadership could fast-track Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor
59:53-How the CFTC's potential lead on crypto regulation might redefine how it splits duties with the SEC
1:03:03-Whether it even makes sense to have two financial regulatory agencies
1:11:00-Who might lead the CFTC
1:13:59-Why Jake and Mike believe combining AI and crypto under one ‘czar’ makes sense
1:20:31-How the appointment of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary will affect the crypto industry
1:25:47-How the likely end to Operation Chokepoint 2.0 will create a “sea change”
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Robinhood & Arbitrum
Kelp DAO
Guests:
Mike Selig, Partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Previous appearance on Unchained: Is Gary Gensler on a Mission to Put Crypto Down for Good?
Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant
Previous appearances on Unchained:
The US vs. Crypto: Jake Chervinsky on Crypto's Legal and Regulatory Status
Why the SEC vs. Ripple Order Is Now About 2 Things: Coinbase and Congress
The Chopping Block: Jake Chervinsky on How the SEC Has Lost Credibility
All Things Crypto Regulation With Jake Chervinsky
Everything You Need to Know About the Looming Battle Over Privacy in Crypto
Can Crypto Be a Force in the Midterms? Yes, Say Kristin Smith and Jake Chervinsky
Links
Trump’s Office Picks:
Unchained:
Why Trump’s SEC Chair Pick, Paul Atkins, Is So Positive for Crypto
David Sacks as A.I. & Crypto Czar? Why the Industry Was Surprised
Trump Taps Paul Atkins for Next SEC Chair, Making Good on His Crypto Promises
Democratic SEC Commissioner Is Stepping Down, but That Doesn’t Mean Trump Will Get 2 Outright Picks
Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens
Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations
Congressional Results
John Reed Stark’s tweet:“current SEC Chair Gary Gensler is quietly working behind the scenes to lead the SEC from the grave”
Operation Chokepoint 2.0
Forbes: How ‘Debanking’ Tech And Crypto Companies Could Kill Businesses
Marc Andreessen and the CFPB: Debunking the Debanking Debunkers by Nic Carter
Unchained: Regulators Are Limiting Banks Serving Crypto Clients. Does That Violate the Law?
Unchained: Killed By Politics, Ex-Diem Boss Says of Meta’s Stablecoin
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, Laura Shin joins the crew to tackle a whirlwind of major market trends and policy shifts.They dive into Bitcoin’s historic leap to $100K, the unexpected "dino coin renaissance" with legacy tokens like XRP and ADA soaring, and the NFT market’s surprising revival. Ripple’s DeFi ecosystem and its place in the broader crypto landscape spark a spirited debate on "chain biases" and decentralization. On the policy front, the team unpacks Trump’s pro-crypto administration, featuring bold regulatory appointments that could redefine the industry. Plus, a look at the dynamics of memecoins, token launch strategies, and the future of ICOs versus airdrops.
Show highlights
🔹 Bitcoin Hits $100K: The crew celebrates Bitcoin crossing into six-figure territory, discussing market reactions and the volatility surrounding this milestone.
🔹 Dino Coin Renaissance: Legacy tokens like XRP, ADA, and HBAR are skyrocketing, signaling retail’s return and sparking debate about the sustainability of these "boomer coin" rallies.
🔹 Memecoin Mania: Memecoins as "crypto gaming 2.0" are dissected, with insights on their role in market dynamics and their surprising impact on Layer 1 ecosystems.
🔹 Ripple's DeFi Evolution: Robert shares his deep dive into Ripple’s AMM features and emerging DeFi capabilities, addressing "chain biases" and decentralization concerns.
🔹 Trump’s Crypto Revolution: The panel analyzes the implications of Trump’s pro-crypto administration, featuring key appointments like SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Crypto Czar David Sacks.
🔹 NFT Revival: A surprising rebound in NFT markets sees CryptoPunks, Bored Apes, and Pudgy Penguins soaring, with speculation on what's driving the renewed interest.
🔹 Regulatory Shifts Ahead: Predictions on how new SEC leadership might redefine crypto policy and the industry's hopes for a safer, more transparent regulatory environment.
🔹 ICOs vs. Airdrops: Exploring token launch strategies, the conversation evaluates the potential for a new wave of innovative fundraising models.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Laura Shin, journalist, author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ founder and CEO of Unchained
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:06 100K Bitcoin & Dino Coin Renaissance
04:11 Unit Bias and Retail Investors
12:05 XRP, Ripple & DeFi
24:53 Trump's Pro-Crypto Administration Picks
37:53 Does Laura Own Crypto?
41:18 Regulatory Surprises and Nominations
45:05 NFT Market Revival
51:41 Memecoins and Market Dynamics
56:48 Future of ICOs and Airdrops
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With the nomination of the pro-crypto Paul Atkins to be the next SEC chair, the crypto industry is potentially facing a 180 from the agency. As co-chair of The Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance initiative and a board member of Securitize, Atkins is not only pro-crypto, but also against the type of “regulation by enforcement” strategy of current Chair Gary Gensler.
In this episode, Cody Carbone, president at The Digital Chamber, explains why Atkins is likely to start reassessment of the agency’s lawsuits against crypto firms, why Trump might break with protocol to fill one of the commissioner seats that would typically be filled by a Democrat, and who he thinks might make for a good “crypto czar.”
Show highlights:
Why Cody that Atkins leading the SEC would be a massive transformational shift
What can be expected from Atkins given his prior experience
What crypto cases might be dropped under his leadership
Whether Atkins could provide rulemaking before Congress passes legislation
Cody’s hard criticism of Gary Gensler’s modus operandi
Why Cody thinks Trump could surprise people when it comes to replacing Democratic Cmr. Jaime Lizárraga
How long it could take for Congress to confirm Atkins
Why Cody believes that Atkins will support Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal
Whether the CFTC will be the primary regulator of the crypto industry in a Trump administration
Whether the U.S. will have a crypto czar and who it could be
What crypto legislation Cody thinks is likely to be passed in 2025
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
iYield
Guest
Cody Carbone, President at The Digital Chamber
Links
Trump’s Office Picks:
Unchained:
Trump Taps Paul Atkins for Next SEC Chair, Making Good on His Crypto Promises
Democratic SEC Commissioner Is Stepping Down, but That Doesn’t Mean Trump Will Get 2 Outright Picks
Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
Trump’s Plans for a ‘Crypto Czar’ and a Crypto Advisory Council: Here’s What We Know
A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens
Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations
Congressional Results
John Reed Stark’s tweet:“current SEC Chair Gary Gensler is quietly working behind the scenes to lead the SEC from the grave”
Buckley LLP Infobytes Blog: SEC commissioner proposes cryptocurrency safe harbor
Fox Business: Perianne Boring among contenders to lead agency involved with crypto in Trump admin
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:19 Why Cody believes Atkins would be a transformational SEC chair
03:13 Insights from Atkins’ past experience and what it means for crypto
07:19 SEC/crypto cases likely to be dropped under Atkins’ leadership
14:31 Potential for SEC rulemaking before Congress passes legislation
18:19 Cody’s critique of Gary Gensler’s regulatory approach
21:13 Why Trump might break with protocol to replace Democratic commissioner Jaime Lizárraga
23:27 Expected timeline for Congress to confirm Atkins
26:52 Support for Cmr. Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor proposal
28:18 An expanded role for the CFTC in crypto regulation?
31:37 Speculation on the potential for a U.S. crypto czar
35:03 Key crypto legislation to watch for in 2025
38:24 Crypto News Recap
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In this episode of Bits + Bips, hosts James Seyffart, Noelle Acheson, and Ram Ahluwalia are joined by Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, to discuss the surprising mainstream buzz around XRP’s latest rally, dubbed the “most hated rally in crypto.”
They also analyze the new Treasury Secretary’s ambitious economic plan and what it could mean for inflation, fiscal discipline, and market stability. Meanwhile, Ethereum struggles to reclaim its narrative as the go-to blockchain, even as its ETH/BTC ratio shows signs of life.
And in a moment that captures the personal side of crypto’s rise, the team reflects on Thanksgiving table conversations, where bitcoin and digital assets became unexpected stars.
Show highlights:
Why the newly appointed Treasury Secretary might be the right person for the job
Whether the December rates cut is unnecessary
How Marc Andreessen brought Operation Chokepoint 2.0 to the spotlight
How Facebook’s project Libra would have benefited the US Dollar hegemony
Whether the U.S. Congress will pass stablecoin legislation in 2025
Why Ram believes Ryan Selkis would be a good Crypto Czar
How people have been asking more about bitcoin during Thanksgiving
Whether the XRP rally is a negative indicator
What James thinks about the filings for news ETFs, such as WisdomTree’s XRP
Why Alex thinks that ETH could continue its recent rally
The impact of MicroStrategy being added to the Nasdaq-100, aka the QQQ ETF
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida
Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter
Guest:
Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital
Links
Politics
Unchained:
Trump Taps Hedge Fund Manager Scott Bessent to Be Treasury Secretary
The Trump-Connected Brad Bondi Is A New SEC Chair Contender and Pro-Crypto
Investing: How Scott Bessent Plans to Reshape the US Economy with His 3-3-3 Rule
Macro
Investing: US manufacturing improves in November as orders rebound, input price gains slow
Operation Chokepoint 2.0
Forbes: How ‘Debanking’ Tech And Crypto Companies Could Kill Businesses
Marc Andreessen and the CFPB: Debunking the Debanking Debunkers by Nic Carter
Unchained: Regulators Are Limiting Banks Serving Crypto Clients. Does That Violate the Law?
Unchained: Killed By Politics, Ex-Diem Boss Says of Meta’s Stablecoin
XRP
Unchained:
XRP Becomes the Top Traded Token on Binance and Coinbase, Hits Almost 7-Year High
XRP Rallies 70% in a Week to Top Solana, Tether Market Cap
The Block: WisdomTree files with SEC for spot XRP ETF
Ethereum
Unchained: Ether Gains 19% Against Bitcoin in a Week After Months of Underperformance
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Why the new Treasury Secretary could reshape the economy
06:28 Is a December rate cut unnecessary?
15:18 How Marc Andreessen spotlighted Operation Chokepoint 2.0
19:54 The missed opportunity of Facebook’s Libra for USD dominance
26:48 Will stablecoin legislation finally pass in 2025?
31:28 Why Ram thinks Ryan Selkis should be the “Crypto Czar”
34:45 Bitcoin conversations taking over Thanksgiving dinner
39:48 Is the XRP rally a red flag for the market?
48:15 James’s take on new ETF filings like WisdomTree’s XRP
55:48 Why Alex believes ETH could extend its recent gains
1:01:37 What MicroStrategy’s NASDAQ addition means for crypto
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Last week, the crypto world celebrated a major legal victory when a federal appeals court struck down OFAC’s sanctions on Tornado Cash’s immutable smart contracts in a Coinbase-funded lawsuit. While this decision is a significant win for crypto, its implications go far beyond the industry—it challenges the very limits of U.S. sanctions authority on open-source code.
In this episode, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal and VP of Legal Leah Bressack discuss the case, the reasoning behind the court’s decision, and its broader implications, especially given that other cases are still in court. They address whether they think the government will appeal, how this ruling impacts other privacy tools and the other lawsuits, and why the case is a critical precedent for the intersection of code, law, and innovation.
Plus, what does this mean for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm?
Show highlights:
Why the decision was so significant, according to Paul
What reasons the judge used in the ruling
The basics of Tornado Cash and why OFAC sanctioned it in 2022
Why Coinbase decided to get involved in the case
Why a District Court had previously agreed with OFAC
Whether the government will appeal and what the implications of the case are outside of crypto
When users could start using the protocol
Whether users will be safe to use relayers, which add privacy
Why Paul believes that the 11th Circuit, where the Coin Center Tornado Cash lawsuit was filed, will not ignore this ruling from the 5th Circuit
Whether the judges were encouraging Congress to update IEEPA to make it possible for OFAC to sanction smart contracts
Whether there’s a risk that under new legislation OFAC could sanction smart contracts
How the case of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm could be impacted by this decision
Paul’s and Leah’s take on Balaji’s proposal to build privacy-preserving zero knowledge smart contracts on ZEthereum
Whether the judges’ opinion will have an impact on existing privacy projects
What types of sanctions and regulations the government can impose to prevent money laundering
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Robinhood & Arbitrum
Guests:
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Coinbase’s Top Lawyer Calls SEC Wells Notice a ‘Massive Overreach’ - Unchained
Just a Coincidence? Coinbase and Polygon Lawyers See Bad Omens in SEC Crackdown
Leah Bressack, VP of legal at Coinbase
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on Tornado Cash:
Did OFAC Overstep by Sanctioning Tornado Cash?
Tornado Cash Sanctioned. Did the Government Overstep Its Bounds?
Unchained: Treasury Overstepped With Tornado Cash Sanctions, Rules U.S. Appeals Court
Balaji’s tweet on Zatoshi and Zethereum
Bankless: Roman Storm Speaks - Tornado Cash Developer on What’s at Stake
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:39 Why this ruling is a major milestone for crypto
02:50 The judge’s key reasoning in striking down the sanctions
04:00 Why Tornado Cash was sanctioned in 2022
06:43 How Coinbase became involved in this landmark case
13:05 Why the District Court initially sided with OFAC
15:55 Whether the government will appeal, and what’s at stake beyond crypto
21:22 When Tornado Cash could be used again
25:07 Are users safe to use relayers for added privacy?
33:53 Why the 11th Circuit might uphold this ruling
38:28 Whether Congress is being nudged to rewrite sanctions laws
40:52 Could new legislation let OFAC target smart contracts again?
44:46 What this means for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm
48:34 Thoughts on Balaji’s idea for ZEthereum
50:53 How the ruling could influence other privacy projects
54:08 What sanctions might look like in the fight against money laundering
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, special guest Casey Caruso from Topology joins the crew to tackle the latest in crypto and tech. They explore the rise of AI memecoins like Freysa, blending gamified AI agents with blockchain mechanics, and the fallout from a major hack. The discussion also highlights Hyperliquid’s $1.9 billion airdrop and its no-VC funding model, signaling new trends in token launches. The crew critiques decentralized science (DeSci), questioning its accountability and funding models, with a spotlight on Pump.Science’s tokenized longevity experiments. Finally, they examine the success of Base’s incentive-light approach and the impact of frameworks like Eliza on crypto’s evolution. Tune in for a dynamic take on innovation, trends, and challenges shaping the crypto world.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Pandora, Castbox, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Show highlights
🔹 The Rise of AI Memecoins: Exploring the explosive trend of AI memecoins like Freysa, their gamification, and unique mechanics. The crew delves into how these coins combine on-chain activity with AI, creating a new layer of engagement and speculation.
🔹 Freysa’s AI: A detailed look at how Freysa’s prize pool was jailbroken, the mechanics behind the attack, and what it reveals about the vulnerabilities of AI agents connected to smart contracts.
🔹 AI Agents and Crypto Innovation: An overview of AI-enabled agents and their crossover into crypto applications, with insights on current limitations, gamification trends, and how AI integrates with Web3 frameworks like Eliza.
🔹 Airdrop Trends and Hyperliquid: Breaking down Hyperliquid’s $1.9 billion airdrop, its innovative “no VC funding” model, and the market impact of launching into a bull market with a high float percentage.
🔹 The Decentralized Science Debate: Analyzing the potential and pitfalls of decentralized science (DeSci), including critiques of funding mechanisms, accountability, and the practicality of crowdfunding drug discovery through tokenized models.
🔹 Base’s Community-Led Success: Examining how Base has attracted top developers and projects without heavy incentive programs, reshaping the playbook for L1 and L2 ecosystems.
🔹 Pump.Science and Longevity Tokens: A closer look at Pump.Science’s tokenized longevity experiments, the mechanics of its funding model, and the aftermath of its private key leak.
🔹 Challenges of Token-Based Funding: Comparing decentralized incentive models for projects like DeSci with the successes and lessons learned from DeFi, highlighting the difficulty of creating effective accountability mechanisms.
🔹 The DAO Debate: Examining the viability of DAOs for deploying funds in high-stakes environments, with skepticism about their long-term effectiveness in innovation.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Guest:
⭐️Casey Caruso, Founder Topology
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:24 AI Memecoins & Freysa Challenge
07:07 Open Source Models & Security
21:15 Hyperliquid Airdrop
31:16 Blur vs. Blast Points
37:16 Decentralized Science (DeSci)
40:04 Criticisms of DeSci
48:18 Potential & Future of DeSci
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Farcaster-based social media app Anoncast has quickly grabbed the crypto community’s attention—especially after Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin jumped in.
The platform allows users to speak freely while ensuring no one—not even the platform itself—can trace their identity. And in its short week-and-a-half lifespan, it’s already generated thousands of posts.
In this lighter, Black Friday edition of Unchained, developer Kartik Patel joins to discuss how Anoncast works and why the platform has taken off so quickly. He shares insights on the challenges of maintaining anonymity in a connected world, how AI intersects with these developments, and what it was like to “nerd-snipe” Buterin.
Show highlights:
What sparked the rise of Anon and how it evolved into a ZK-powered anonymous posting platform
Kartik’s favorite casts and what he likes about the platform
Why the platform has evolved so quickly
How users can make casts
How Anoncast completely protects the anonymity of all posters
Kartik’s background in crypto and how he came to be involved in Anoncast
Why it felt like a “dream” when Vitalik Buterin bought the ANON memecoin
How AI is intersecting with this new era of social media
Why Anoncast moderates the posts
The new feature that was designed to give credit back to users
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Guest
Kartik Patel, developer of Anoncast
Links
Decrypt: Vitalik Buterin Buys Anon, Token Surged 350%—What's It All About?
Viral cast possibly about the Ethereum Foundation selling ETH
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:13 How Anoncast became a ZK-powered anonymous platform
05:02 Kartik’s favorite casts and why they stand out
06:44 Why Anoncast has caught on so quickly
07:32 How Anoncast technically enables anonymous posting
11:40 How anonymity is protected on Anoncast
13:28 Kartik’s story and future plans for app development
15:19 Vitalik Buterin’s surprising interaction with Anoncast
16:56 The role of AI in the new era of social media
20:03 Why Anoncast moderates the posts
21:45 A new feature so users can take credit
23:42 Crypto News Recap
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Ethereum has been left behind in this bull market. As rivals like Solana gain ground in metrics such as speed, cost, and developer mindshare, questions are being raised about whether Ethereum’s reliance on Layer 2 solutions is the right path forward—or if it needs a more fundamental redesign.
In this episode, Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, and Justin Drake, researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, discuss the trade-offs of native and based rollups, execution capacity, and Ethereum’s ability to maintain its dominance. They debate how Ethereum should address fragmentation across rollups, whether ETH has strayed from its ultrasound money narrative, and whether its deliberate pace of innovation could make it vulnerable in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Whose ideas will lead Ethereum out of this dark forest?
Show highlights:
03:10 Why Justin is so optimistic about pre confirmations and Ethereum scaling its throughput
06:15 Whether Ethereum could reach “maintenance mode” within 5 years
08:20 Whether Ethereum can solve the problem of fragmentation
20:21 The difference between based rollups and native rollups
25:29 Why Martin believes that Ethereum is not building for developers
34:21 What real-time proving is and why it is relevant
37:46 How programmable native rollups could have different business models from Ethereum but the same security
44:51 Why most assets on L2s might not actually be secured by Ethereum
50:24 Whether Ethereum’s consensus layer might see a “clean slate” redesign with the Beam Chain
58:59 Whether Ethereum’s slow pace of change could leave it vulnerable to competition
01:06:55 How Ethereum's shift to rollups and blob data has reshaped its ultrasound money narrative by transforming the primary sources of fee burn
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Robinhood & Arbitrum
iYield
Guests:
Martin Köppelmann, Co-founder and CEO of Gnosis
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Are Layer 2s Failing Ethereum? A New Proposal Advocates for Native L2s
Given the Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Is Ethereum Censorship Resistant?
Justin Drake, Researcher at the Ethereum Foundation
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Why MEV Will Always Be Controversial
Did the Merge Make Ethereum ‘the Most Secure Blockchain in the World’?
Can Bitcoin Be Secured Only by Transaction Fees? Two Researchers Sound Off
Is ETH on Its Way to Becoming Ultra-Sound Money? Yes, Says Justin Drake
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on Ethereum layer 2s:
ETH Is Down Bad, While Layer 2s Are Ripping. Are L2s Parasitic to Ethereum?
Are L2s ‘Parasitic’? Analysis Shows Ethereum Only Gets a Tiny Percentage of Fees
Are Solana’s ‘Network Extensions’ Just Like Ethereum’s Layer 2s But by a Different Name?
Ethereum Has Had a Banner Year in Most Areas. Except Price.
Should Ethereum Layer 2s Urgently Decentralize Their Sequencers?
Ethereum Scaling With L2s Has Damaged Its Tokenomics. Is It Possible to Fix It
Beam Chain:
Unchained: Ethereum Researcher Justin Drake Proposes Beam Chain Redesign, but Not All OGs Are Onboard
Bankless: You’re Not Bullish Enough! Ethereum Roadmap & Beamchain with Justin Drake
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On Tuesday, options on BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF, IBIT, launched, seeing $1.9 billion worth of those options changing hands on the first day.
The launch of these options could mark a turning point for crypto markets, with implications for liquidity, volatility, and institutional adoption.
Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, explains why these options are so significant, who they’re designed for, and how they could impact the broader ecosystem.
Plus, he offers some cautionary advice to bitcoiners, gives insight into whether spot ether etf options are on their way, and discusses the odds of SOL ETFs launching.
Show highlights:
What bitcoin ETF options are and why they are relevant for traders and investors
Whether options will reduce the volatility of BTC
Why Eric offers caution after seeing bitcoin surging so much recently
What Eric thinks about the possibility for Bitcoin ETF options to spark a “gamma squeeze”
What type of investors Eric thinks typically trade options
Whether regulators treat Bitcoin differently and with prejudice
What he would like to see from a new SEC
Why IBIT options will likely dominate the market, according to Eric
Why Eric was surprised that options on futures ETFs was so low compared to the spot ETFs
How the launch of options will affect Deribit, the main exchange for trading options
Whether options for ether spot ETFs are coming as well
His thoughts on the news that spot SOL ETFs may be moving to the next phase
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Mantle’s FBTC
Guest
Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg
Previous appearances on Unchained:
Why Spot Ether ETFs Are Now Likely to Be Approved on Thursday
How, in 7 Weeks, Bitcoin ETFs Reached Inflows That Took Gold ETFs 3 Years
Why Spot Bitcoin ETFs Are Likely to Finally Start Trading on Thursday
Will a Spot Bitcoin ETF Finally Get Approved?
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on bitcoin ETFs options:
Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto
Unchained: Bitcoin Hits New All Time High as IBIT’s First-Day Volume Nears $1.9 Billion
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:15 Why Bitcoin ETF options are a game-changer for traders
07:35 How options could impact Bitcoin’s volatility
11:38 Eric’s cautionary take after Bitcoin’s recent surge
13:13 Whether price rises will be due to gamma squeezes or a lack of resistance
16:04 Insights into the typical investors trading ETF options
16:58 Perceptions of bias against Bitcoin in traditional markets
18:53 What Eric hopes for under new SEC leadership
20:47 Why IBIT options might dominate the market
23:05 Comparison between futures and spot ETF options
25:20 What IBIT options mean for Deribit’s dominance
28:58 Are ether spot ETF options on the horizon?
29:25 What Eric thinks of the filings for SOL ETFs
32:37 News Recap
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Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, Tom Schmidt, Tarun Chitra, and Robert Leshner get together and give the industry insider's perspective on crypto. This week, special guest Vance Spencer of Framework Ventures joins the crew to explore Ethereum’s Beam Chain proposal, a bold yet contentious vision for Ethereum 3.0. With promises of quantum resistance, faster transactions, and decentralized staking, is this five-year roadmap a revolutionary leap or an unachievable ambition? The team dives into the tension between Layer 2s and Ethereum’s base chain, alongside Solana’s growing dominance as a UX benchmark. On the political front, the conversation breaks down Trump’s pro-crypto administration. From speculation around key cabinet picks to the potential establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve, they analyze what this new era could mean for regulation, innovation, and the broader market. Tune in for a lively discussion of the forces shaping Ethereum’s evolution and crypto’s role in America’s future.
Show highlights
🔹 Polymarket CEO Raided: The crew discusses the FBI’s raid on Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan following the election, raising questions about politically motivated actions and the future of prediction markets.
🔹 Trump’s Crypto Administration: Trump’s pro-crypto agenda, including cabinet picks and a proposed Bitcoin strategic reserve, signals a potential shift in U.S. crypto policy.
🔹 D.O.G.E. and Dogecoin: The Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, ignites a Dogecoin rally and highlights crypto’s rising cultural impact.
🔹 Bitcoin’s Surge: Bitcoin hits $94,000, sparking predictions of $250K or more during Trump’s presidency, while the crew debates whether a long-awaited altseason is imminent.
🔹 Ethereum’s Challenges: Ethereum’s Layer 2 friction and Solana’s growing UX dominance fuel concerns over Ethereum’s long-term competitiveness.
🔹 Solana and memecoins: Solana’s connection to memecoin markets strengthens its position as a key rival to Ethereum.
🔹 Crypto Regulation Outlook: The potential for sweeping pro-crypto legislation under Trump’s administration raises hopes for innovation but also risks overexuberance.
🔹 Ethereum 3.0 Skepticism: The Beam Chain proposal reflects Ethereum’s struggle to balance long-term visions with immediate market pressures, drawing comparisons to Solana’s rapid growth.
🔹 Future Price Predictions: Vance and the crew share bold price predictions for Bitcoin and Ethereum, exploring the political and technological forces driving market momentum.
Hosts
⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly
⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate
⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures
Guest:
⭐️Vance Spencer, Co-Founder Framework Ventures
Disclosures
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:36 Trump's Election and Market Reactions
03:14 Polymarket CEO FBI Raid
13:37 DOGE or the Department of Government Efficiency?
16:10 Memecoin Meta Update?
23:17 Trump's Pro-Crypto Administration
33:23 Market Sentiments and Predictions
42:00 Ethereum 3.0 and Beam Chain
52:17 Ethereum's Future and Competitors
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Bitcoin and SOL are flirting with all time highs, Ethereum is lagging behind, and the next six months could define the trajectory of crypto markets.
In this episode of Bits + Bips, James Seyffart, Alex Kruger, and guest David Grider unravel the key stories driving the space: What could a meeting between Trump and Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong mean for crypto policy? Could a new Treasury Secretary pick become the industry’s biggest ally? And is Ethereum’s underperformance hiding a major comeback?
Plus, what crypto categories might be winners in the near future.
Show highlights:
What the potential meeting of Trump with Brian Armstrong shows
Which pick for the Treasury Secretary position would be most positive for crypto
Whether Michael Saylor has been driving the bitcoin market
Whether rate cuts are coming in December and what impact it’s having on the markets
How tariffs are not as bad as people think, but massive deportation is, according to Alex
Why a potential Treasury General Account (TGA) rundown would be bullish for the markets
Whether traders will be taking profits at the $90,000 bitcoin level
How ETH has been underperforming and why David sees a silver lining
How the lack of institutional interest in ETH has changed dramatically since the election
Why David is so optimistic about restaking across different ecosystems
What the outlook for crypto regulation looks like in the near future and what will benefit the industry
Why James believes that we’ll have in-kind creations and redemptions for bitcoin ETFs under new SEC leadership
What the future trajectory of bitcoin’s price is and the role of a strategic bitcoin reserve
How different categories within crypto will perform in the markets
Hosts:
James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard
Guest:
David Grider, Partner at Finality Capital
Links
Trump and politics:
Unchained:
Donald Trump to Meet Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong: Report
Truth Social in Talks to Acquire Crypto Platform Bakkt
Who Might Trump Pick for S.E.C. Chair? This Is Who Jay Clayton Hopes to See
The Trump-Connected Brad Bondi Is a New SEC Chair Contender and Pro-Crypto
A Degen Administration? Why the Crypto Czar May Be Allowed to Own Tokens
Markets:
Unchained:
Spot Ether ETFs See Record $515 Million Weekly Inflows
Solana dApps See Massive Fees Amid Memecoin Frenzy
Bitcoin ETF options:
Unchained:
Bitcoin Hits New All Time High as IBIT’s First-Day Volume Nears $1.9 Billion
Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:31 What a Trump-Brian Armstrong meeting means for crypto
07:36 Who could be crypto’s biggest ally as Treasury Secretary
12:43 Is Michael Saylor driving bitcoin’s rally?
14:46 Whether December rate cuts will shake the markets
19:33 Tariffs vs. deportation: What’s worse for crypto?
26:03 Whether a Treasury General Account rundown would be bullish for markets
30:19 Whether traders will take profits at $90K Bitcoin
35:50 Why ether’s underperformance might hide a comeback
47:15 Whether institutional interest in ETH has turned around
51:49 Why David is bullish on restaking across ecosystems
54:09 What’s next for crypto regulation and industry growth
1:06:55 Whether new SEC leadership would greenlight better bitcoin ETF structures
1:09:10 Whether strategic Bitcoin reserves could drive its price higher
1:17:25 Which crypto categories could lead the next rally
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Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, has proposed that Ethereum should have native rollups—a vision aimed at addressing scalability and decentralization.
Köppelmann critiques the current state of layer 2 solutions, highlighting their limitations in fully inheriting Ethereum’s security and composability.
He proposes a bold alternative: 128 Ethereum-native rollups designed to expand block space, strengthen alignment with Ethereum’s core principles, and ensure long-term viability for developers and users.
Plus, Martin tackles the controversies: Are L2s parasitic? Could native rollups spell the end for existing solutions? And why should they rely on zero-knowledge proofs instead of Optimism?
Show highlights:
Whether the Ethereum scaling roadmap is accomplishing its goals
Why based rollups are not a full solution, according to Martin
What Martin proposes instead
Why Martin is proposing these rollups to be ZK-rollups instead of optimistic
Whether the proposed solution would focus on privacy
What it is about chain abstraction that Martin doesn’t like
How he envisions that these native rollups will solve many composability issues across L2s
Whether the community has embraced this proposal and how likely it is to be implemented
What would happen to current L2s if native rollups get implemented
Why despite being against the current state of L2s, Martin says that they are not parasitic to Ethereum
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Robinhood & Arbitrum
iYield
Guest:
Martin Köppelmann, Co-founder and CEO of Gnosis
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on Ethereum layer 2s:
ETH Is Down Bad, While Layer 2s Are Ripping. Are L2s Parasitic to Ethereum?
Are L2s ‘Parasitic’? Analysis Shows Ethereum Only Gets a Tiny Percentage of Fees
Are Solana’s ‘Network Extensions’ Just Like Ethereum’s Layer 2s But by a Different Name?
Ethereum Has Had a Banner Year in Most Areas. Except Price.
Should Ethereum Layer 2s Urgently Decentralize Their Sequencers?
Blockworks: Gnosis founder argues Ethereum needs native L2s
Martin’s tweet on USDC yields
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:47 Is Ethereum’s scaling roadmap meeting its goals?
04:07 Why Martin believes based rollups aren’t the full solution
08:11 Martin’s bold proposal for native rollups
12:07 Why ZK-rollups over optimistic rollups
15:56 Whether these rollups should also preserve privacy
17:11 Martin’s issue with chain abstraction
22:35 How native rollups could solve L2 composability problems
26:49 Has the community embraced Martin’s vision?
30:52 What happens to existing L2s if native rollups win
36:06 Whether Martin thinks L2s are parasitic to Ethereum
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BlackRock’s entry into crypto through its bitcoin ETF (and later on the spot ether ETF) has rewritten the record books, driving massive inflows and reshaping the narrative for institutional crypto adoption.
Robbie Mitchnick, head of digital assets at BlackRock, unpacks the story behind this monumental shift. He shares the journey from skepticism to success, how BlackRock’s ETF has changed the market, and the surprises even he didn’t expect.
Plus, he explains why he believes people mistake bitcoin for a risk-on asset, what the investment case is for Ethereum, and what’s next for crypto in 2025.
Show highlights:
01:31 What and who is driving this massive amount of activity in bitcoin trading
05:05 Why Robbie offers some caution about the future of digital asset regulation
08:35 What about crypto captivated Robbie
13:32Whether Robbie was the one who “orange pilled” BlackRock CEO Larry Fink
14:37 Why Robbie thinks that bitcoin is not a risk-on asset
18:08 The backstory of how BlackRock ended up filing for a spot bitcoin ETF
20:15 How inflows into ETFs surprised Robbie, even considering fairly optimistic projections
24:14 Why BlackRock’s clients always ask about bitcoin’s correlation with other assets
27:22 Robbie’s take on the critique that BlackRock could centralize a decentralized ecosystem
29:34 What his thesis is on stablecoins, payments, and tokenization
31:25 The reasons why Ethereum ETFs have not been as successful as bitcoin
34:14 How Robbie pitches the ether ETF to clients
35:26 Why BUIDL is built on Ethereum, a public blockchain, rather than on a private one
36:48 Why DeFi’s potential is “immense,” according to Robbie
41:56 How bitcoin ETF options will impact the behavior of investors
43:57 What features BlackRock would love to see under a new SEC regime
45:32 What it’ll take for regulators to approve staking in ether ETFs
46:33 Why Robbie is not sure which crypto ETFs might come next
48:16 Whether BlackRock will develop proof of reserves for its ETFs
52:21 Robbie’s outlook for the markets in 2025
Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com
Thank you to our sponsors!
Polkadot
Mantle’s FBTC
Guest:
Robbie Mitchnick, Head of Digital Assets for BlackRock
Links
Previous coverage of Unchained on Bitcoin ETFs:
Why Bitcoin ETF Options Could Unlock Massive Amounts of Capital for Crypto
How, in 7 Weeks, Bitcoin ETFs Reached Inflows That Took Gold ETFs 3 Years
Bitcoin’s Price Is Way Up. And $48 Trillion in Wealth Just Got Access
How Small Bitcoin ETF Issuers Will Compete With the Likes of BlackRock
Unchained: BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF Eclipses Firm’s Gold ETF in Net Assets
CNBC: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: I believe bitcoin is a legit financial instrument
CoinDesk: BlackRock Sees Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pensions Coming to Bitcoin ETFs
Forbes: A Trump U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve ‘Game-Changer’ Is Suddenly Hurtling Toward The Bitcoin Price
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