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

• We review the Trump-Harris debate
• Matt’s new wildlife problems
• Nic’s birthday party
• Trump doubles down on World Liberty Financial
• The Castle Island stablecoins whitepaper is out!
• Our reactions to the emerging markets stablecoin report
• TZero gets approval to trade tokenized securities
• Coinbase’s cbBTC
• North Carolina bans CBDCs
• Something is happening to Friend Tech
• Circle is moving their HQ to NYC

Content mentioned:

• Castle Island, Visa, and BH Digital, Stablecoins: The Emerging Market Story

Sponsor notes:

• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto
• Coin Metrics state of the network: A Primer on Blockchain Network Health: Exploring key metrics to gauge network health and centralization in PoW and PoS blockchains

Check out this episode!

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

• SEC fiscal year ending in September
• How to get accurate transfer volume figures for stablecoins
• How much volume do stablecoins really settle?
• Do SEC rules stop registered venture firms from voting in governance or staking?
• CFTC settles with Uniswap
• Robinhood settles with the California DoJ
• Choke Point 2.0 is still happening
• What’s the latest with World Liberty Financial?
• John Deaton wins his primary in MA
• What’s the deal with Polymarket versus the polls?

Sponsor notes:

• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto
• Coin Metrics: An Update on Layer–1 Networks

Check out this episode!

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

• Has cryptodollarization occured?
• Tigran Gambaryan is still detained in Nigeria
• Durov of Telegram was detained in France
• Should major tech companies leave the EU?
• The SEC settles with Abra
• Sony is launching an ETH L2
• The mythical Harris reset
• VCs for Harris support Harris
• Trump’s weird World Liberty Financial DeFi thing is looking ominous

Sponsor notes:

• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto
• Coin Metrics Stablecoin Dashboard; State of Stablecoins: Sector Expansion & A Changing Interest Rate Environment

Check out this episode!

Scott Fletcher, founder of Intersection Growth Partners joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

• Scott’s professional background and the events that led him to launching Intersection Growth Partners.
• The Intersection Growth Partners business model and how they also became investors in a number of their clients’ businesses.
• The current state of the Executive Search market for digital asset/blockchain companies.
• How the best founders run structured recruiting and interview processes.
• What job candidates should be thinking about when evaluating digital asset / blockchain roles.
• The categories of roles that are the most in demand in today’s environment.
• The impact of legislation on the future of the industry.

To learn more about Intersection Growth Partners, visit their website.

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

• SALT Wyoming review
• Nic’s next fight 
• How Bitcoin miners have a procyclical effect on the Bitcoin price
• Hunting Hill is launching a credit fund seeded by Kraken
• Wyoming is launching a stable token in Q1 of 2025
• The SEC rejects CBOE’s filings for SOL ETFs
• Is Gensler actually being slated to run Treasury under Harris?
• Tether is launching a UAE Dirham stablecoin
• Our upcoming Emerging Markets Stablecoin Report
• Our Bozo of the Week
• Babylon is launching
• Ron Conway defects from Fairshake PAC
• Chuck Schumer is evolving on crypto
• Would a CBDC actually be private for users?

Sponsor notes: 

• Unwrapping Wrapped Assets & wBTC: In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 273, we understand wrapped bitcoin’s (wBTC) custody transition, BitGo’s business model and usage of WBTC in DeFi
• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto

Check out this episode!

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

• Fairshake is getting active in Senate Races
• What’s going on with the Harris pivot?
• Chuck Schumer promises crypto legislation by end of year
• What’s happening with WBTC?
• The SEC is subpoenaing VC funds over Uniswap
• Don Jr is launching a crypto project
• Will CBDCs destroy the stablecoin sector?
• Will stablecoins have to KYC all holders?

Sponsor notes:

• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto
• Futures Falter, Funding Flips: In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 272, we explore the robustness of decentralized systems and the stability of synthetic financial products within the crypto ecosystem.

Check out this episode!

Michael Bentley, Co-Founder & CEO of Euler joins the show to talk about crypto lending and the launch of Euler v2. In this episode: 

• The evolution of lending/borrowing in crypto/defi
• Euler’s history and the upcoming launch of Euler v2
• How crypto allows for market discovery of financial primitives
• Building programmable finance around blue chip and long tail assets alike

Check out this episode!

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

• What happened with the rate-based turmoil in Japan?
• VP Harris announces Tim Walz as her VP pick
• Ripple settles with the SEC for $125m
• Is Jump quitting crypto? (again)
• Are Plustoken ETH on the move?
• Does the Harris reset with crypto have legs?
• Does Trump’s promise to end Choke Point have legs?
• Adeyemo for treasury secretary?
• The Fed issues an enforcement action against Customers Bank, one of the most active pro-crypto banks
• Our Olympics recap
• Nic’s airsoft misadventures
• Austin Campbell’s thread on Customer’s bank

Sponsor notes:

• An Update on Crypto Markets & Coinbase Q2 2024 Earnings: In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 271, we provide an update on crypto markets amid the unfolding global market sell-off and break down Coinbase’s Q2 2024 earnings.
• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto

Check out this episode!

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

• We react to Trump’s speech on Bitcoin in Nashville
• Is Bitcoin a proxy for Trump’s electoral chances?
• Will there be a “crypto reset” from the Harris campaign?
• Lummis’ Bitcoin Act
• The US government moves some Bitcoin
• Should the US government hold on to the coins from the Bitfinex hack?
• Is the new Bitcoin law civil asset forfeiture?
• Tether’s big Q2
• Where are the Tether Truthers?
• Howard Lutnick’s claim about SBF and Tether
• Bitclout founder Nader Al Naji is charged by the SEC and SDNY
• California DMV partners up with the Avalanche network

Content mentioned:

• Adams, Ibert, and Liao, What Drives Crypto Asset Prices?

Sponsor notes:

• Withum’s Digital Currency and Blockchain Technology Team specializes in crypto-assets, offering accounting, tax and advisory solutions to fortify trust in a dynamic industry. Contact them today to get started. – withum.com/crypto

• The Story of Ethereum Staking So Far: In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 270, we uncover Ethereum’s staking ecosystem, from “The Merge” to “Shapella”, the rise of LSTs and beyond.

Check out this episode!

Luke Hoersten, the founder and CEO of Bitnomial joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

• Luke’s background and the path that led him to start Bitnomial.
• An overview of Bitnomial and the products that the firm has launched to date.
• Perspectives on the market participants that are engaging in the digital asset derivatives market today.
• The future of digital asset market structure in the United States.
• The regulatory landscape and what is potentially ahead for the industry.
• How Bitnomial’s licensing strategy is unlocking new product opportunities.

To learn more about Bitnomial visit their website.

Check out this episode!

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

• Nic recaps his Karate fight
• The Bitcoin Nashville conference
• Kamala’s crypto posture
• A new pension fund is buying Bitcoin
• Did we get a soft landing?

Content mentioned:

• BVNK, The decade of digital dollars

Sponsor notes:

• The Launch of Ether ETFs
• In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 269, we look into ETH ETF fees, Grayscale funds and demand & supply dynamics heading into Ether ETF Launch

Check out this episode!

Representative French Hill (R-AR) join the show. In this episode we discuss:

• Representative Hill’s perspective on the blockchain/digital asset ecosystem and why he initially became interested in this technology.
• The status of SAB 121 repeal.
• FIT 21 and the future of market structure clarity in the United States.
• The prospects of stablecoin legislation and the issues that are being discussed in Congress.
• Tigran Gambaryan’s unlawful detainment in Nigeria.

To learn more about Representative Hill’s efforts please visit his website.

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

• Nate Silver joins Polymarket
• JD Vance is Trump’s VP nominee
• Ethereum ETFs get the final go ahead
• Should crypto users be single issue voters?
• JD Vance’s crypto platform
• Does a Trump Vance admin imply a devaluation of the dollar?
• JD Vance and seed oils
• State Street is exploring their own stablecoin
• Possible SAB121 carveouts
• Germany is done selling their Bitcoin
• The CSW story is finally over
• Jamie Dimon for Treasury secretary?
• Trump is due to speak at Bitcoin Nashville
• Update on how voting works in Congress
• Was Trabs a whistleblower?

Sponsor notes:

• Charting the Course to Mt. Gox Repayments
• In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 268, we trace Mt. Gox’s journey, analyzing BTC wallet flows and liquidity in the wake of Mt. Gox repayments.

Check out this episode!

Chris Duffus, Founder & CEO of Fonbnk joins Wyatt in this episode. We cover:

• Stablecoin and crypto usage in emerging markets
• Popular and high-potential platforms in these markets
• Alternative forms of onramping and moving money
• Airtime as a form of digital value storage

More on Fonbnk

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

• Germany is still selling Bitcoin
• ETHcc chaos in Brussels
• Trump is speaking at Bitcoin Nashville
• The SAB121 overturn veto override did not pass
• The Republican party includes crypto in their official platform
• Polychain Eclipse drama
• Uniswap versus the SEC over their exchange act
• The SEC drops its investigation into Paxos
• Ro Khanna’s crypto summit
• Euros and Copa America developments

Sponsor notes:

• State of the Network’s Q2 2024 Wrap-Up
• In Coin Metrics State of the Network Issue 267, we take a data-driven look at the most important events that impacted the digital assets industry in Q2 2024.

Check out this episode!

Adam Levine, Head of Corporate Development and Partnerships at Fireblocks joins the show. In this episode we discuss:

• The history of Fireblocks and the evolution of MPC custody.
• The recent announcement of the Fireblocks Global Custodian Partner Program and the initial partners.
• The current state of tokenization and how Fireblocks is playing in that market.
• Stablecoins and how Fireblocks engages in this market segment.
• Views on the regulatory landscape.

To learn more about Fireblocks visit their website and learn about their Global Custodian Partner Program.

Check out this episode!

Leo Zhang, founder of Alkimiya, joins the show to talk about their Bitcoin fee exposure product. In this episode: 

• The evolution of Alkimiya
• Alkimiya’s current product approach
• Why solving Bitcoin transaction fee volatility matters
• How blockspace compares to conventional commodities
• What kind of market participants would want to long or short Bitcoin transaction fees?
• Avoiding manipulation in blockspace markets
• The decision to build on Base
• Reminiscing on the Ethereum gas token
• Building a fee product for Bitcoin as opposed to any other L1
• Leo’s long term views on Bitcoin fees
• Bitcoin season 2 and the cultural shift in Bitcoin
• Moderating views from maximalism to being a Bitcoin moderate
• The effect of Bitcoin L2s on fees
• Runes as a catalyst for Bitcoin fees
• The fee-transaction count feedback loop

About Alkimiya:

Alkimiya is a blockspace markets protocol that just released a novel mechanism for users to trade on Bitcoin transaction fees. Previously, users had no option but to accept fluctuating transaction fees. With Alkimiya, they can now profit from or hedge against these drastic swings.

Further reading: 

• • Infrastructure for Synthetic Blockspace

Check out this episode!

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

• Will Biden step down?
• The importance of prediction markets in elections
• Can you insider trade on prediction markets?
• What does the SCOTUS repeal of Chevron mean for crypto?
• SEC sues Consensys
• Stripe and Coinbase partnership
• Circle achieves MiCA compliance for USDC and EURC
• Will Euro stables ever be popular?
• Silvergate settles with the SEC, SF Fed, and California
• Why the Silvergate story remains a huge scandal
• Polkadot’s strange spending habits
• Bozo of the week
• Blackrock puts IBIT in their global allocation fund
• Matt’s SEC-fu
• The SEC’s new website
• Stoner Cats in retrospect

Sponsor notes:

• State of the Network’s Q2 2024 Mining Data Special
• In Coin Metrics’ State of the Network issue 266, we provide our quarterly update on Bitcoin mining

Check out this episode!