Weekly Roundup 02/03/23 (Ordinals frenzy, Charlie Munger, Tether truthers are back) (EP.394)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Nic’s Proof of Reserves for Policymakers
  • Charlie Munger attacks crypto
  • The academic Tether truthers are back
  • We unveil a new bad boy
  • New allegations about Celsius surface
  • The problem with exchange tokens
  • How do you retire a token?
  • The paradox of issuing tokens via an offshore foundation
  • SBF is allegedly tampering with witnesses
  • Did Sam really believe in EA?
  • We review Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto
  • Were the Maya really that bad?
  • What on earth is going on with Ordinals?
  • Are Bitcoin NFTs a DOS attack? 
  • A conflict of visions in Bitcoin reemerges 
  • Matt keeps tearing his shirts
  • VC dress codes 

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Julien Niset (Argent) on Improving Self Custody with Account Abstraction (EP.393)

We host Julien Niset, co-founder of Argent in this episode on account abstract and smart contract wallets. We cover:
  • Building the first smart contract wallet on Ethereum
  • Why smart contract wallets improve the non-custodial experience
  • Standardizing contract wallet implementations on L1s retroactively and on L2s natively
  • Comparing and contrasting contract wallets and MPC (multi-party computation) wallets
  • Capabilities (social recovery, gas abstraction, transaction batching) unlocked by smart contract wallets
Follow Julien Niset here. Learn more about Argent here
 

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Weekly Roundup 01/27/23 (Modulo Capital, PoR legislation, Tungsten mounts a comeback ) (EP.392)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Is there a socially optimal level of vigilantism 
  • What’s the deal with Modulo Capital? 
  • SBF’s mother and brothers are now in the crosshairs
  • Matt and Nic hash our VR vs AR
  • Ted Cruz asks cafeterias in the Capitol to accept bitcoin 
  • Texas introduces Proof of Reserve legislation 
  • What’s North Korea’s endgame with all their hacked crypto?
  • Tucker Carlson’s theory that the airline outage was due to Bitcoin randomware 
  • Matt’s Bell’s Palsy story
  • Roger Ver owes Genesis $20m 
  • Tungsten cubes are making a comeback
  • Our Super Bowl picks

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Maneesh Gandhi & Michael Liddy (Evanston Capital) on The Institutional Allocator Landscape (EP.391)

Maneesh Gandhi and Michael Liddy of Evanston Capital join the show. In this episode we discuss:

  • Evanston Capital’s history and thoughts on the blockchain ecosystem
  • Their views on the current market environment and how this crypto cycle compares to others
  • The evolution of the crypto venture landscape and how Evanston Capital thinks about crypto venture structures
  • Thoughts on the FTX collapse and its impact on the market
  • How institutional limited partners are thinking about the crypto/blockchain ecosystem
  • Potential areas of opportunity in the current market environment

To learn more about Evanston Capital visit www.evanstoncap.com

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Tony Scuderi (Imperii) on Crypto Banking and Advisory (EP.388)

Tony Scuderi, the founder of Imperii Partners joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

  • The investment banking landscape for crypto/blockchain companies.
  • How the fundraising environment is evolving in 2023.
  • The impact of FTX on the broader market.
  • How companies backed by FTX are taking action.
  • The M&A landscape.
  • Common pitfalls that founders make when selling their business.

To learn more about Imperii Partners visit imperiipartners.com

 

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Weekly Roundup 01/20/23 (DOJ takes down Bitzlato, loyalty point inflation, FTX US still solvent?) (EP.389)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • What’s going on with our merch?
  • Nic’s pitch for pickleball
  • What’s the deal with the leaked GTX pitch deck?
  • What happened at CoinFLEX?
  • Our conspiracy about GTX
  • What’s the latest with the FTX crime family
  • Will FTX or FTX.US be relaunched?
  • SBF says FTX.US is still solvent
  • DOJ takes down Bizlato
  • Genesis is exploring a bankruptcy process
  • Coinbase is pulling out of Japan
  • What was the deal with NEM?
  • What happened with Veritaseum
  • Corporate loyalty programs are getting debased
  • Peter Thiel liquidates his BTC

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Luuk Strijers (Deribit) on a New Model for Proof of Reserves (EP.387)

Deribit Chief Commercial Officer Luuk Strijers joins the show to talk about their new Proof of Reserve rollout. In this episode: 

  • Why Deribit decided to do a PoR 
  • What were the considerations going into it? What made Deribit cautious about the procedure?
  • Which PoRs did Deribit look at for inspiration?
  • Has Deribit received client feedback from the procedure so far?
  • How does Deribit demonstrate asset ownership?
  • Unique among exchanges, Deribit was able to do a PoR for all of your assets, and on a daily basis. How did they manage this? 
  • Why Deribit chose to release the full list of liabilities 
  • How does Deribit achieve end user privacy given the full liability dump?
  • What data, if any, is leaked by the attestation?
  • Did you look at audit firms in terms of supervising the PoR? Why did you go the auditless approach?
  • Does Luuk anticipate moving to ZK proofs for liabilities eventually?
  • How can PoR be improved? 

Related episodes: 

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Dhruv Patel and Himanshu Sahay (Arch) on Building a New Alternative Lender (EP.390)

Arch cofounders Dhruv Patel and Himanshu Sahay 

  • Arch coming out of stealth
  • Key lessons learned from the crypto lending crisis
  • Arch’s differentiated offering within crypto and other alternative assets
  • Leveraging crypto rails to build a lender of the future
  • Using experience at top technology companies to build a superior consumer product

Learn more at Archlending.com and on Twitter

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Weekly Roundup 01/13/23 (Nexo raided, crypto charity boxing, DCG vs Gemini II) (EP.386)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • What’s happening with Proof of Reserves?
  • Will BTC and ETH have another fee crisis?
  • Nishad Singh has met with the SDNY in a proffer session
  • The SEC is investigating VC funds that invested in FTX
  • FTX debtors and the Bahamas announced a cooperation agreement
  • FTX announced that it has recovered over $5 billion in assets thus far
  • Gemini and DCG continue to face off
  • Cameron Winklevoss’ letter to DCG
  • Nexo is raided in Bulgaria for alleged money laundering
  • Robinhood is dropping support for Bitcoin SV
  • DCG is under investigation from the SEC
  • Mike Novogratz wants to punch disgraced crypto titans in the face
  • Crypto charity boxing
  • We review Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
  • SBF starts a Substack
  • Japanese retail sours on crypto
  • Should there be more charity boxing in crypto?
  • The state of crypto podcast sponsors

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Weekly Roundup 01/06/23 (DCG vs Gemini, SBF’s plea, India’s crypto framework) (EP.385)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • A call for on-chain archeology
  • Nic’s scuppered NYE plans
  • More news from the FTX crime family
  • Who is SBF’s mystery bail benefactor?
  • SBF pleads not guilty
  • SBF is prohibited from moving further FTX/Alameda assets
  • SBF had four meetings with White House staffers regarding pandemic preparedness
  • New inductees into the Bad Boys club
  • Nic’s pickleball confession
  • We revisit the 42 yard field goal challenge
  • The Bahamas regulators wrangle with Jon Ray regarding FTX assets
  • The SEC steps in to stop the voyager deal
  • The House fails to elect a speaker
  • NYDFS fines Coinbase $50m for deficient compliance
  • DCG and Gemini’s wrangle
  • India’s new crypto framework
  • What’s happening with the institutionalization of crypto?

Content mentioned in this episode:

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  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
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Weekly Roundup 12/30/22 (Avi Eisenberg arrest, weather affects the hashrate, our predictions for 2023) (EP.384)

Nic and Matt return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Galaxy acquires the Helios miner facility from Argo
  • Consolidating in the miner space 
  • A new bad boy bursts onto the scene 
  • Avraham Eisenberg is arrested in Puerto Rico 
  • Should it be illegal to exploit defi contracts, even if you reach an agreement with the DAO?
  • Craig Wright’s case against Peter McCormack
  • SBF is slated to enter a plea 
  • What’s the deal with IEX and FTX?
  • Nic’s Michael Lewis conspiracy
  • The FTX blockfolio acquisition was mostly financed with FTT
  • The cold snap causes Bitcoin hashrate to decline around 40% in a week 
  • Exchanges are unbundling custody and order matching 
  • Our predictions for 2023

Sponsor notes:

  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
  • Subscribe to the Coin Metrics State of the Network newsletter

 

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Weekly Roundup 12/23/22 (Caroline pleads, SBF is extradited, Visa’s autopayments) (EP.383)

Matt and Nic return for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Are stablecoins still a priority in DC?
  • The rise of the FUDfluencer
  • Sam agrees to be extradited
  • Did the SDNY wait for Sam to be extradited to release Caroline’s plea deal?
  • Alameda was siphoning FTX funds from day 1
  • What’s the deal with Modulo Capital?
  • Is Gerald Cotten back from the dead?
  • Does Flashboys need a new chapter?
  • What is going on with IEX?
  • How did Michael Lewis not figure out something was up at FTX?
  • Sen. Pat Toomey’s stablecoin legislation
  • Core Scientific files for bankruptcy
  • Why the mining shakeout might lead to consolidation
  • The Fed’s stablecoin blog
  • Visa’s autopayments for non-custodial wallets
  • Stablecoins are having a great year
  • Where are the remaining FTX execs?

Content mentioned: 

Sponsor notes:

  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
  • Subscribe to the Coin Metrics State of the Network newsletter

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Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on FTX, the SEC, and the House Crypto Agenda for 2023 (EP.382)

Minnesota Representative and newly elected House Whip Tom Emmer joins the show for a discussion of the FTX fallout, the House hearings, the SEC’s behavior throughout the process, and developments in the House looking ahead to 2023.

  • Rep. Emmer’s thoughts on the House hearing with John Ray
  • How the FTX collapse was about a failure of centralization
  • How the timing of the SBF arrest was not coincidental – and who had an incentive to stop SBF testifying
  • Why the Bahamian authorities may not have wanted SBF to testify
  • The meaning of Rep. Emmer’s march letter to Gensler and the SEC
  • Chairman Gensler’s role in the FTX scandal
  • Has Gensler been concealing his calendar from the public?
  • Gensler’s poor track record over the crypto crisis
  • Oddly close links between SEC Chair Gensler, FTX, and subsidiary exchange IEX
  • House Republicans will gain the subpoena authority in the next legislative session and what they will do with it
  • What are some of Emmer’s responsibilities in his new role as Majority Whip? The importance of Rep. McHenry taking charge of the House financial services committee
  • What are the prospects for stablecoin legislation?
  • McHenry’s likely crypto agenda for the new session
  • Rep. Emmer’s commitment to financial privacy
  • Senator Warren’s draft legislation and risks to the crypto ecosystem
  • The importance of Rep. Emmer’s Securities Clarity Act
  • Modernizing a securities regulation regime for crypto
  • How are Rep. Emmer’s colleagues reacting to the FTX crisis
  • The role of journalists in assessing the FTX situation

Content mentioned in the episode

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Weekly Roundup 12/16/22 (SBF Arrest, Binance’s ‘Bank run’, Gensler, FTX, and IEX) (EP.381)

Matt and Nic are back for another wild week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Is SBF currently interned in a top 5 prison on earth?
  • SBF is finally arrested
  • We enumerate the charges from the SEC, CFTC, and DOJ
  • What kind of sentence could Sam be looking at here?
  • The CFTC’s interesting argument for standing over FTX
  • SBF is charged is campaign finance violations Confirming that Alameda did have latency and other advantages trading on FTX
  • SBF’s parents face growing scrutiny
  • What’s the deal with Gensler’s calendar?
  • Gensler comes under more scrunity for his FTX/IEX meetings
  • Mr. John Ray is a new star of CT
  • We have a new possible category for bad boys
  • McCaffrey resigns from The Block after revealing loans from SBF
  • Elizabeth Warren proposed a hostile anti-crypto bill
  • Do Kwon is reportedly in Serbia
  • The DOJ is reportedly split over charging Binance
  • What’s the deal with the Binance ‘bank run’?

Sponsor notes:

  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
  • Subscribe to the Coin Metrics State of the Network newsletter

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Weekly Roundup 12/08/22 (FTX’s Venture Portfolio, SBF’s mining investment, BlockFi retrospective) (EP.380)

Matt and Nic return for another episode of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Brink Nation’s surprising fan club in Bali
  • We investigate FTX’s leaked private equity portfolio
  • FTX employees were raising LP money for funds from FTX
  • Why was FTX acting as a fund of funds?
  • What is modulo capital
  • The Michael Lewis – IEX – FTX troika
  • Why did FTX invest $1b+ in Genesis Digital Assets?
  • SBF’s possible incentive to invest heavily in a BTC miner
  • How FTX’s mining investment disadvantaged other BTC miners
  • Who has the size to buy up FTX’s private equity portfolio?
  • Sam and Caroline secure high powered attorneys
  • The Boston Globe’s Caroline Ellison article
  • We correct the record on BlockFi
  • Restating the core issues with 3AC
  • Democrats are criticizing Gensler for his inaction on FTX
  • What’s the deal with Sam’s subpoena?
  • What’s the deal with the Coindesk most influential
  • Does PoS make Ethereum a security?
  • What’s the deal with the Castle Island merch store?

Sponsor notes:

  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
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Robert Miller (Flashbots) on Decentralizing Block Building with SUAVE (EP.378)

In this episode, Ria is joined by Robert Miller, Steward at Flashbots, which is a research and development organization with the aim to reduce the negative externalities and risks posed by MEV, or maximal extractable value.

We cover:

  • The MEV supply chain and how it’s evolved as Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake
  • The new challenges and risk vectors that have emerged as a result of the transition, notably around decentralization and censorship resistance
  • The tools Flashbots has proposed and implemented in response, such as Flashbots Auction, MEV Geth, MEV Boost, and the open sourcing of these tools to foster a competitive market
  • The risk posed by exclusive order flow and cross domain MEV in centralizing block building
  • The latest endeavor of the organization to decentralize block building using a new network – SUAVE (the single unifying auction for value expression)

Research mentioned: 

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John Palmer (CBOE Digital) on Regulated Digital Asset Derivatives (EP.379)

John Palmer, the CEO of CBOE Digital joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

  • John’s career and the path that led him to CBOE Digital.
  • The history of CBOE Digital, including the acquisition of ErisX and the company’s recent funding round.
  • CBOE Digital’s product approach.
  • The regulatory landscape in the United States and how CBOE is positioned vs. offshore unregulated venues.
  • The impact of the FTX fraud on the broader market.
  • Upcoming product and company plans.

To learn more about CBOE Digital visit CBOEDigital.com

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Mahesh Ramakrishnan (Escape Velocity) on Decentralized Wireless (EP.376)

Mahesh Ramakrishnan of Escape Velocity joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

  • Mahesh’s career in traditional financial services and the path that led him to launching Escape Velocity.
  • The decentralized wireless market and how it is likely to evolve.
  • How tokenized protocols and USD stablecoins are likely to play a role in this evolution.
  • How incumbents are positioned in this emerging category.
  • Views on FTX and how that impacts the market more broadly.

To learn more about Escape Velocity visit www.EV3.xyz.  

 

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Weekly Roundup 12/01/22 (Is SBF playing the media, more Bad Boys, Binance’s Proof of Reserve) (EP.377)

Matt and Nic are back for another week of news and deals. In this episode: 

  • Tether collapse scenarios
  • The wrapped Bitcoin issue
  • Ria and others are named Forbes 30 under 30
  • Sam is still not in jail
  • Sam’s hidden media strategy
  • How Sam could be positioning himself for the case
  • Was FTX really a case of negligence or was it fraud?
  • Sam is muddying the waters
  • Sam Trubucco is our bad boy of the week
  • Should the US really annex the Bahamas?
  • Members of CT are running around Nassau looking for Sam
  • Should the US be pressuring the Bahamas for more action here?
  • Beto returns his FTX donation
  • The CFTC met with FTX 10 times
  • The SEC’s culpability in the FTX scandal
  • The Farmington Bank acquisition scandal
  • Did Sam Trubucco and Caroline really not know about the malfeasance?
  • SBF is throwing his former colleagues under the bus
  • Kyle Davies’ embarassing attempted comeback
  • What’s the fate of the charity boxing match?
  • Casa rolls out support for Ethereum
  • Binance rolls out a Proof of Reserve – but it has issues

Content mentioned: 

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  • Talos powers institutional access to the entire digital assets ecosystem via a single-point of entry. Connect directly to your preferred prime brokers, lenders, investors, custodians, exchanges, OTC desks and more, or meet them on Talos. Get started at Talos.com
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Mike Belshe (BitGo) on FTX and the impact on crypto market structure (EP.375)

Mike Belshe, co-founder and CEO of BitGo joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

  • Mike’s thoughts on FTX and the unfolding fraud case.
  • His views on crypto market structure and how it is likely to evolve in the face of the FTX collapse.
  • The regulatory landscape and the path forward for spot market regulation.
  • Views on the MPC custody landscape and advances in zero knowledge cryptography.

To learn more about BitGo visit bitgo.com

 

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