Byte-Sized Insight by Cointelegraph

2025 was a year of major shifts for crypto and not just in headlines, but in what actually matters for builders: fundamentals, real-world use cases and sustainable revenue. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we are joined by Leonard Dorlöchter, co-founder of peaq, to break down what quietly worked in 2025 and what the industry should be paying attention to in 2026. Leonard explains how DePIN began gaining real traction, why “fundamentals started mattering more,” and how the industry may be maturing while also losing sight of Web3’s original decentralization ethos. The conversation also explores the rise of AI agents and robotics, new standards for machine-to-machine coordination, and what it could look like when devices, machines and autonomous agents begin transacting onchain as part of a global machine economy. (1:58) Leonard introduces peaq and the “machine economy” (4:03) 2025 shift: fundamentals and real revenue start to matter (5:24) Web3 maturity vs. losing the decentralization ethos (7:33) Blockchain as neutral global infrastructure and governance layer (10:45) 2025 breakthroughs: physical AI and new standards for agents (12:18) Why machine coordination is moving onchain (13:31) Breaking down “machine economy” onchain vs offchain (14:01) Example: tokenized machines, peer-to-peer energy, shared ownership (17:51) Trust, reputation and efficiency in an open-machine economy (20:23) Real-world adoption: robot in production in Hong Kong, onchain rewards (22:06) 2026 outlook: robotics protocols, onchain goods/services, sovereign agents (25:12) Policy gap: regulation progress but not fully aligned with Web3 ethos (28:42) Why peaq partnered with VARA, machine economy free zone sandbox (30:12) Builder advice for 2026: validate value, traction and real revenue This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

2025 marked a turning point for crypto not in price cycles or hype, but in how the industry is actually used, regulated and understood. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we’re joined by Matthias Bauer-Langgartner, Head of Policy for Europe at Chainalysis, to break down what really happened in crypto in 2025, using data, not headlines. We dig into how 2025 became the year of the stablecoin, how stablecoins now dominate on-chain activity and crypto crime, why illicit crypto flows surged even as adoption went mainstream and how crypto crime has taken on a more geopolitical dimension. The conversation also goes into how regulators, particularly in Europe, have matured in their approach, what MiCA changed on the ground and what crypto companies should be preparing for as they head into 2026. You don’t want to miss it! (00:08) Welcome to Byte-Sized Insight + 2026 series kickoff (01:20) Introducing Matthias Bauer-Langgartner and Chainalysis (03:47) Where the global crypto industry stands in January 2026 (04:40) On-chain growth and the rise of stablecoins (05:58) Stablecoins overtake Bitcoin in transactional volume (09:02) Why regulators focus on stablecoins first (11:06) Institutional adoption and MiCA’s impact in Europe (13:18) Are European regulators more confident after 2025? (17:38) Who really has leverage in crypto now? (19:49) Crypto Crime Report 2025: record illicit flows (21:44) Nation-state crypto crime and sanctioned stablecoins (23:17) Why stablecoins dominate illicit activity and why that matters (28:15) Top policy, crime, and security trends for 2026 (32:10) Cybersecurity, DORA, and real-time on-chain monitoring (34:27) Advice for crypto companies entering Europe in 2026 This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

The UK is taking a major step toward fully regulating crypto markets. This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the Financial Conduct Authority’s sweeping new consultation covering crypto exchanges, staking services, lending, and decentralized finance and what it could mean for the future of the UK crypto industry. We’re joined by Perry Scott, Head of UK Policy at Kraken and Chair of the UK Cryptoasset Business Council, to unpack what’s actually new in the proposals, why the October 2027 timeline matters and whether regulatory clarity could make the UK more competitive globally. This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Europe was the first major region to roll out a comprehensive crypto framework, but now it’s rethinking how that framework is enforced. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down the European Union’s proposal to centralize crypto supervision under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), a move that would shift oversight of crypto-asset service providers away from national regulators and toward a single EU-level authority. To understand what’s happening on the ground, we speak with Dr. Lewin Boehnke, chief strategy officer at Crypto Finance Group, who offers a rare perspective from both Switzerland’s mature crypto market and the EU’s newly regulated one. He explains why MiCA’s overall approach makes sense, where technical details are slowing adoption and why centralizing supervision under ESMA could actually help reduce friction rather than create it. (1:55) Europe moves to centralize crypto oversight under ESMA (4:58) Why MiCA’s rollout has been slow, and why that’s not surprising (5:24) Switzerland’s head start on institutional crypto adoption (6:38) Why MiCA’s focus on regulating intermediaries makes sense (7:48) The MiCA Article 75.6 ambiguity slowing banks down (9:09) Why Europe’s quieter regulatory approach may be a long-term strength (10:13) Uneven MiCA enforcement across Germany, Luxembourg, and Malta (12:26) What Europe should prioritize in crypto regulation over the next year This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Texas just became the first US state to purchase and hold Bitcoin, and it did so during a market downturn, while many institutions and state treasuries were selling or backing away from crypto entirely. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we break down alongside Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, why Texas made a $5 million Bitcoin ETF purchase (with another $5 million earmarked for self-custodied BTC), how a years-long political history set the stage and what this move means for US crypto policy. Is Texas making a bold strategic play or taking on unnecessary risk? And could this be the spark that reignites the conversation around Bitcoin in public finance? (00:08) Texas becomes the first U.S. state to purchase and hold Bitcoin (00:33) Why Texas buying Bitcoin during a downturn matters (02:28) Texas’s long-term Bitcoin thesis and the significance of the timing (03:38) Greg Abbott’s early Bitcoin advocacy: 11 years before Texas’s buy (04:54) Abbott on Texas becoming a global hub for Bitcoin and blockchain (08:05) Why Texas is treating Bitcoin as a multi-decade strategic asset (09:34) How Texas’s Bitcoin purchase could influence other U.S. states and policymakers (11:13) Texas’s energy, finance, and demographic advantages in Bitcoin adoption (12:55) Closing insight: Texas and Bitcoin as long-term partners beyond market cycles This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

The crypto markets have been battered over the past several weeks with Bitcoin sinking from six-figure highs to the low-$80Ks, more than a trillion dollars wiped from crypto’s total market cap and record ETF outflows shaking investor sentiment. Unlike previous drawdowns triggered by blow-ups or bad actors, this downturn is different: It’s macro-driven, liquidity-driven and deeply tied to broader global markets. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight we hear from the author of “Crypto is Macro Now,” Noelle Acheson; co-founder and CEO of LO:TECH, Tim Meggs; and author of “The Crypto Trader,” Glen Goodman, to help break down the forces behind the volatility and offer clear, grounded perspective for navigating the turbulence. (0:24) Bitcoin plunges from $120K to $80K and the market wipes out $1.2 trillion (1:08) Why this downturn feels different from past crashes (2:55) Noelle Acheson explains why the dip is “a blip” and liquidity-driven (3:52) How macro sentiment, not crypto-specific issues, is driving this correction (4:59) Why this drawdown isn’t systemic like 2017 or 2022 (6:03) Bitcoin dominance drops during the downturn and why that’s never happened before (7:38) Noelle breaks down “short-term noise vs. long-term debasement thesis” (10:28) Tim Meggs: Why this drawdown is slow, measured, and institution-driven (12:05) Inside the market: What liquidity providers look for during stress (13:22) Signs of stabilization and why healthy corrections matter (15:41) Glen Goodman: How institutional money changed the structure of crypto cycles (20:34) Why today’s downturn lacks a narrative and why that weakens crypto rallies (23:04) Survival rules: managing leverage, mental resilience & “reduce to the sleeping point” This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Bitcoin plunged below $90,000 this week, hitting a six-month low and sending fear across the crypto community. Extreme bearish sentiment, weakening institutional demand and the breakdown of crucial technical levels have many wondering whether we’re entering a new long-term bear market. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, to help cut through the panic, we hear from journalist and Bitcoin educator Natalie Brunell, whose new book, “Bitcoin Is For Everyone,” argues that the real fear shouldn’t be Bitcoin’s volatility but the flaws in the financial system we’re all forced to participate in. Brunell explains why inflation is misunderstood, why Bitcoin’s scarcity and decentralization matter, how time preference shapes behavior and why Bitcoin is ultimately a human rights technology. Should we actually be afraid of Bitcoin right now, or are we missing the bigger picture? And is Bitcoin still for everyone? (00:00) Introduction and breaking down of Bitcoin’s six-month low (02:52) Natalie Brunell’s background and early experiences (04:11) Discovering Bitcoin; questioning the financial system (05:34) Inflation, monetary expansion and debasement, explained (07:06) Why Bitcoin makes sense long-term (08:20) Scarcity, decentralization and fiat flaws (10:17) Time preference and behavioral impacts (13:42) Financial literacy and why Bitcoin feels intimidating (18:58) Political money and centralized control risks (22:31) Why you’re not too late for Bitcoin’s upside (24:05) Inflation illusions and distorted asset prices (26:09) Bitcoin’s global accessibility and empowerment This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, news reporter Vince Quill breaks down one of the most innovative treasury strategies emerging in crypto today: Grant Cardone’s hybrid real estate-and-Bitcoin fund. As corporate Bitcoin treasuries expand and Web3 projects shift toward more active, onchain asset management, Cardone is experimenting with a model that fuses the stability of luxury multifamily real estate with the upside of a sizable BTC position. Vince sits down with Cardone to explore why he believes combining cash-flowing physical assets with Bitcoin creates a more resilient, scalable treasury structure. Cardone outlines how his Boca Raton project fits into the broader evolution of corporate and Web3 treasuries. Could this be the model for the next phase of treasury management, or a niche experiment? This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we dive into one of crypto’s hottest conversations: the rise of AI-powered trading models and why specialized tools are outperforming general-purpose AIs like ChatGPT in simulated trading challenges. Beyond the headlines, we break down what investors should know before trusting bots with their capital. We speak with Brett Singer of Glassnode and Nodari Kolmakhidze of Stoic.AI/Cindicator, two experts working directly with the data and models driving today’s AI trading systems. (1:34) Why AI trading is everywhere & key questions for investors (2:40) How funds use AI to build quantitative trading strategies (4:18) Real-time on-chain data querying with MCP server (5:55) AI bots as portfolio managers & why most fail to beat the market (7:27) Specialized vs. general-purpose AI traders in crypto (7:58) Specialized trading AIs outperform because markets are complex (9:18) AI bots aren’t money printers (11:01) Reality check: Backtests vs. real markets and execution limits (12:58) Why AI still needs human judgment and transparency This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Crypto’s growing presence in Washington is entering a new phase. Following a high-profile presidential pardon and a surge in political spending across the digital asset sector, questions are emerging about how influence, lobbying, and access are shaping the policy environment for Web3. With major industry players building substantial political war chests and even stablecoin issuers signaling plans to participate directly in U.S. elections, crypto’s role in the political arena is shifting fast. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we speak with Brendan Glavin, Director of Insights at OpenSecrets, to break down the rapid rise of crypto lobbying, what recent developments tell us about the industry's strategy in Washington, and what increased political engagement could mean for regulation, market dynamics, and the future of decentralization in the United States. (01:48) Background: Timeline of the pardon, legal context, industry response (03:36) Political backlash: Maxine Waters & Elizabeth Warren respond (04:03) NYT report clip: Binance, Trump ties & World Liberty Financial financing (04:49) White House response: Karoline Leavitt on prosecution & crypto climate (05:42) Context: Trump’s pro-crypto platform and regulatory shift (06:28) Guest introduction: Brendan Glavin of OpenSecrets (08:18) Why crypto began lobbying in Washington (10:16) Binance-linked lobbying for executive relief & Trump ties (11:16) Power concentration concerns: who gets access in crypto politics? (13:54) Risks to small builders, decentralization, policy fairness This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

October is shaping up to be a pivotal month for crypto ETFs, with 16 applications, many tied to altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Litecoin, awaiting final decisions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the new SEC-approved generic listing standards for exchange traded products could be a game changer for issuers. In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we speak with Zach Pandl, Head of Research at Grayscale, and James Seyffart, ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to unpack what makes this round of filings different, how the SEC’s stance may be shifting and what the potential approvals could mean for both investors and the broader crypto market. (01:19) Why October 2025 is deemed “ETF Month” (02:41) Breaking down 19b-4 filings and looming SEC deadlines (03:48) The new generic listing standards that could fast-track crypto ETFs (04:52) How the SEC’s stance on crypto shifted after the Gensler era (05:32) Bipartisan support in Washington driving crypto regulation clarity (06:57) Key lessons from Grayscale’s ETF battles: putting investors first (08:11) Is there real demand for altcoin ETFs in today’s market? (08:29) Solana and XRP ETFs: futures market signals early appetite (09:17) Why basket and index ETFs could shape the future of crypto investing (10:03) Inside the next wave of crypto ETFs: simplified access for investors This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Layer-1s are still the backbone of crypto, but in 2025 their role is evolving. With Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem booming, modular blockchains on the rise and real-world adoption gaining momentum through stablecoins and tokenized assets, the question is no longer just about scalability. It’s about utility, users and where the next wave of growth will come from. In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph, we sit down with Algorand Foundation’s Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer Marc Vanlerberghe to explore the state of layer-1s today, the barriers to mainstream adoption, and the innovations that could define blockchain’s future. (01:08) Regulation and industry developments (03:12) The state of layer-1s vs. layer-2s in 2025 (06:40) Barriers to adoption and rethinking wallets (11:58) Tackling user growth and engagement (17:26) Roadmaps, strategies and industry alignment (23:20) Enterprise use cases and tokenization (29:16) Looking ahead: the future of crypto (32:12) Takeaways for retail and institutional users This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Europe’s landmark crypto law, the Markets in Crypto-Assets, promised a unified market across 27 member states. But less than a year into rollout, national regulators are already pushing back on its central feature: passporting. Is MiCA bringing the clarity Europe’s crypto industry needs or adding a new layer of uncertainty? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we hear from the head of compliance and European regulatory affairs at CoinShares and the executive director of the European Crypto Initiative about passporting, regulatory arbitrage and whether MiCA can truly keep Europe competitive on the global stage. (00:39) MiCA and the single-market promise (01:31) Member State pushback on passporting across the EU (02:51) Regulatory competition and arbitrage risks (04:32) The challenge of 27 having national authorities (07:17) Compliance pressure on smaller firms (10:23) Clarity and consistency as the real test for MiCA’s success (14:27) MiCA implementation still in progress (15:40) Europe’s leadership moment in crypto regulation (16:00) MiCA’s global ripple effects and the GENIUS Act This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. This episode is brought to you by Coinlocally — launching the Academy Learn-to-Earn platform, where crypto education turns into real ownership. Earn CLYC tokens as you learn and use them for governance, staking, or trading perks. Plus, trade Convert, Spot, Futures, Grid Bots, Copy Trading, and MT5 in one secure app with some of the lowest fees in the industry. Cointelegraph podcast listeners get early access to the Academy and a $50 trading bonus at coinlocally.com. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

CBDCs are back in the spotlight as the US Congress returns from recess. Lawmakers have tucked a ban on the digital dollar into the must-pass defense bill, framing it as a fight over privacy and surveillance. But is a CBDC really an imminent threat or just a political talking point? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis sits down with Sheila Warren, CEO of the Project Liberty Institute, to cut through the noise. From wholesale vs retail CBDCs to how other governments are moving ahead, Sheila explains where the US stands and whether stablecoins may already be filling the gap. [0:00] Intro: Congress back, CBDC debate heats up [3:07] Anti-CBDC bill and NDAA provision explained [5:20] Sheila on US vs global CBDC progress [8:08] Privacy concerns are design choices [10:33] Wholesale vs retail CBDCs [12:32] Why retail CBDCs aren’t realistic in the US [14:31] Stablecoins as “jet fuel” of the digital economy [15:45] Political fight: Banks vs crypto over rails [16:41] Real privacy risks beyond CBDCs [27:50] A future “Fed-adjacent” product? This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. This episode is brought to you by Coinlocally — the platform that brings crypto and forex together under one roof. Trade Convert, Spot, Futures, Grid Bots, Copy Trading, and MT5 in a single secure app, with some of the lowest fees in the industry. Cointelegraph podcast listeners get an exclusive $100 trading bonus at coinlocally.com by using the code CT0001. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

China is considering launching a yuan-backed stablecoin, a surprising pivot after years of cracking down on crypto and pushing the digital yuan. What’s driving this move, and what does it mean for global markets and US dollar dominance? In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis speaks with Martin Chorzempa (Peterson Institute for International Economics) and Patrick Tan (ChainArgos) to unpack the policy ambitions, market realities and trust challenges facing a Chinese stablecoin. From Hong Kong to Belt and Road nations, could Beijing’s latest experiment reshape the future of money, or is it destined to remain a symbolic play? (01:40) – Intro: China’s stablecoin push (03:04) – The digital yuan’s (CBDC) struggles (04:54) – Stablecoin potential in cross-border payments (07:33) – China’s offshore vs onshore yuan (08:45) – Can the yuan challenge dollar stablecoins? (10:55) – Why the dollar still dominates (12:29) – The trust problem for China’s stablecoin (17:33) – Stablecoins as geopolitical instruments in 2025 This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

In this episode of Decentralize with Cointelegraph, venture capital investor and Bitcoin advocate Tim Draper joins Cointelegraph reporter Vince Quill for a deep dive into the shifting tides of Bitcoin adoption. From the slow but inevitable embrace by institutions to the macroeconomic headwinds threatening the US dollar, Draper lays out why FOMO, regulatory clarity and technological freedom are converging to push Bitcoin into the mainstream. He also shares his take on whether Bitcoin’s famous four-year halving cycle still matters, or if bigger macro forces are now in play. Tune in to hear his takes! (01:00) Why institutions are moving into Bitcoin (02:59) Institutional FOMO and bank custody scramble (04:44) Is Bitcoin FOMO risky? Treasuries, El Salvador and “gunpowder” analogy (07:30) Retail still lagging; “dinosaur” risk for holdouts (08:35) How they buy: boardrooms, SPACs, MicroStrategy, Fidelity (10:17) Why Big Tech rejected BTC treasuries (11:19) “Irresponsible not to own Bitcoin” (12:10) Dollar vs Bitcoin: Inflation, satoshis, escape valve (15:34) Halving cycle damped: Macro drivers take over (17:07) Dollar extinction? Could BTC be a budget fix? This episode was hosted by Vince Quill and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

In this week’s Byte-Sized Insight, we explore the fast-growing world of crypto treasury companies: publicly traded firms using digital assets as strategic reserves. With billions in capital raised, these companies are giving investors new, regulated ways to gain exposure to not only Bitcoin (BTC) but assets like BNB and SOL. Host Savannah Fortis speaks with David Namdar, CEO of BNB Network Company (formerly CEA Industries), and Joseph Onorati, CEO of DeFi Development Corporation, to unpack why these vehicles are emerging now, how they work, and what they could mean for the future of institutional crypto adoption. (01:05) – Why crypto treasury companies matter now (03:02) – The MicroStrategy playbook (04:30) – Evolution beyond Bitcoin (06:05) – Why BNB? (08:42) – The big billion demand (10:47) – Enter DFDV: The Solana treasury company (12:42) – The Power of validator yield (16:07) – Who’s buying these stocks? (18:57) – The future of crypto treasury companies This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis with original music by Savannah Fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

This week on Byte-Sized Insight, we dive into the groundbreaking passage of the GENIUS Act, examining its profound impacts on stablecoins and global crypto markets. Joined by Fabian Dori, chief investment officer at Sygnum, we discuss how new US regulations are reshaping institutional confidence, redefining stablecoin use cases and prompting Europe to rethink its crypto strategies. Plus, we explore what’s fueling the stablecoin boom and why traditional banks are wary of crypto firms gaining banking licenses. (00:08) Introduction: Exploring the GENIUS Act (02:09) Fabian Dori on the significance of the GENIUS Act (03:23) Institutional adoption and the future of stablecoins (04:09) Controversy: The ban on yield-bearing stablecoins (04:51) How stablecoins differ from tokenized money-market funds (05:25) Europe’s response: Digital euro and regulatory pressures (07:40) How Sygnum navigates regulatory changes (08:26) Traditional banks push back on crypto licenses (09:55) What’s driving the stablecoin market boom? (11:39) Final thoughts: Stablecoins reshaping global finance. This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

This week on Decentralize with Cointelegraph, we sit down with US Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the most vocal and informed advocates for digital assets and financial innovation on Capitol Hill. Senator Lummis discusses her unlikely entry into the crypto world, how Wyoming’s early leadership shaped federal policy and what she sees as the biggest legislative milestones from the recent “Crypto Week” in Congress. From the passage of the GENIUS and CLARITY acts to her ongoing work on comprehensive market structure reform, Lummis explains how bipartisan cooperation is driving momentum for the first serious wave of US crypto regulation. We also explore how her RISE Act aims to prepare the US for a future shaped by AI. If you’ve been wondering whether the US is finally getting serious about crypto, tune in to hear from one of the industry’s most important allies in Washington. (00:57) How Senator Lummis discovered crypto and why it stuck (02:14) From Wyoming to Washington: Local innovation, national impact (03:57) Key wins from Congress’ landmark “Crypto Week” (06:19) Why crypto is gaining bipartisan momentum in D.C. (09:03) Inside the Senate’s new crypto market structure draft (10:57) What’s next for digital asset legislation in the Senate (12:57) Educating Congress: One-on-one crypto bootcamps (13:46) The RISE Act: Regulating AI with liability and transparency (16:18) Senator Lummis’ message to US crypto builders and innovators This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

In this special interview, Shark Tank investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary joins Cointelegraph US Reporter Vince Quill for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of artificial intelligence, stablecoins and the battle for technological dominance between the US and China. Mr. Wonderful shares why he refuses to back companies that aren’t integrating AI, explains how stablecoins could stabilize inflation globally and dives into his investments in Bitcoin mining and AI-powered infrastructure. Plus, O’Leary gives blunt advice to tech founders on why Washington, not Wall Street, is where the real power lies. (00:13) Why Kevin O’Leary refuses to invest in companies that don’t use AI (02:02) How AI cut 60% of production costs for O’Leary’s commercial (03:34) “Who’s running your AI stack?” (04:10) AI’s impact on insurance, banking and even the wine industry (06:37) “We’re in a technological war with China,” O’Leary explains the chip race (09:04) Why he's “violently” against U.S. tech sanctions on China (11:49) Stablecoins and USDC: “The biggest buyers of U.S. treasuries are now crypto firms” (13:18) How stablecoins could stabilize inflation in volatile economies (17:24) Lobbying for small business: “It’s all about job creation, not politics” (19:14) Why O’Leary invested in Bitcoin infrastructure instead of just the asset (24:49) AI and data centers are reshaping global energy demand (29:49) O’Leary’s #1 advice for tech founders This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis. Follow Cointelegraph on X @Cointelegraph. Check out Cointelegraph at cointelegraph.com. If you like what you heard, rate us and leave a review! The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.