Unchained

What started as another scammy memecoin launch has spiraled into one of Argentina’s biggest political scandals. The $LIBRA token, promoted by President Javier Milei and tied to Hayden Davis of Kelsier Ventures, is now at the center of multiple investigations—with allegations of bribery, insider trading, and political corruption. Some are calling it “CryptoGate.” Did Davis really have influence over Milei? Was the president’s sister involved in pay-to-play politics? Could Davis and Milei face legal action? This week, Danny Nelson, managing editor for data & tokens at CoinDesk, joins to reveal what his reporting uncovered, from secret deals to political fallout—and why this scandal could change how people see memecoins forever. Show highlights: 1:47 How Hayden Davis was bragging about his connection to the Argentine presidency 9:15 Why Karina Milei holds the keys to her brother 11:31 Whether Milei is trying to protect Davis 16:22 Whether Milei was an ignorant victim or a more knowledgeable participant in $LIBRA 18:46 What charges Davis could face in the U.S. 22:00 Why Danny thinks Jupiter is taking the right step 24:34 Whether a memecoin such as $LIBRA could be considered a security 29:32 What Davis should do with the $100 million in his possession 33:40 Whether memecoins are now dead 38:41 What the future of Pump.fun looks like Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle Guest Danny Nelson, Managing Editor for Data & Tokens at CoinDesk Links Previous coverage of Unchained on the LIBRA scandal: How the Libra Scandal Exposed Memecoin Insider Trading on the World Stage Bits + Bips: Could the LIBRA Scandal End the Memecoin Craze? Unchained: LIBRA Insider and Argentinian President Holding Secret Calls Meteora Co-Founder Resigns Amid LIBRA Scandal Are Memecoins Collapsing? These 8 Charts May Be Signaling Yes CoinDesk: Libra Token's Hayden Davis Bragged of Influence Over Argentina's Milei Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s post on memecoins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The $LIBRA token launch was a disaster—insider trading, price manipulation, and yet another memecoin scandal. But does this mean the memecoin era is over? This week, James Seyffart, Joe McCann, Ram Ahluwalia, and Noelle Acheson break down the fallout from the $LIBRA launch, what it means for Solana and the broader market, and whether the crypto community is finally waking up to the risks of insider-driven tokens. They also dig into macro trends impacting crypto—including whether institutions are secretly loading up on bitcoin, the role of DOGE in the broader market, and why some traders are starting to position for a bounce. Plus, what’s next for SOL after weeks of bleeding? Show highlights: 2:45 - How everyone was so surprised by the $LIBRA scandal 10:40 - Why the likes of Hayden Davis are admitting to fraud 12:47 - Why Joe thinks that Solana is not affected by these debacles 15:26 - What Davis should do with the $100M in his power 20:21 - Whether the memecoin cycle is over 25:48 - The irony of people who now want regulations 33:31 - How big institutions have been loading up on bitcoin ETFs 38:20 - Why the U.S. government should modernize its technology 44:39 - Whether DOGE will have a big impact on macro 51:24 - What the Fed will do in the near future 55:29 - Why ETH outperformed this week and why the broader market tanked 1:04:33 - Why Ram believes that Solana will have to get through the “psychological damage” Sponsors: Bitwise Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of Asymmetric Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter Links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was Argentina’s president used to pump a memecoin? The launch of $LIBRA has turned into a political and financial scandal, with accusations of insider trading, bribes, price manipulation, and government ties to crypto influencers. In this episode, Diogenes Casares, a crypto trader with deep connections in both memecoins and Argentina’s crypto scene, exposes what really happened behind the scenes. He details how a network of market makers, influencers, and political insiders orchestrated the launch, how the price was manipulated from the start, and why he believes the entire operation was illegal. Casares also explains the potential legal consequences for those involved, the impact on President Javier Milei’s administration, and what all this means for the future of Solana memecoins. Show highlights: 3:06 How Dio heard about the launch of an Argentina-related memecoin two weeks in advance 8:09 Whether Argentines were the ones who actually lost money on the coin 40:50 How Kelsier Ventures’ Hayden Davis crashed the price of the token 14:51 How the story is being perceived in Argentina 16:38 Why Dio believes Argentine President Javier Milei was naive 22:38 Who the insiders were and what role they played 26:56 Why Dio says that insider trading is illegal even in crypto 30:31 How some of the insiders are “pathological liars,” according to Dio 34:57 Why Dio doesn’t believe Jupiter’s statement and is skeptical about the Meteora founder’s statement 40:50 Why Dio says Davis’ “strategy” was actually price manipulation 44:32 What should be done with the $100 million that Davis holds 45:24 How Milei could suffer politically because of the situation 51:48 What Dio thinks about Dave Portnoy’s refund 57:09 How it was disappointing that this scandal happened in a place with so much crypto adoption 1:00:53 What’s next for Milei and whether he’ll go through impeachment Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! RockWallet Mantle Bitwise Guest: Diogenes Casares, a crypto trader from Argentina Links Unchained: Crypto Community Incensed by Insider Activity on LIBRA Memecoin Promoted by Argentina’s President Coffeezilla interview: Argentina’s memecoin creator interview (LIBRA) Bribes, Insiders and a Manipulated President | What Really Happened with $LIBRA by Diogenes Casares Jupiter Exchange’s statement Meteora’s Ben Chow’s statement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crypto sentiment is extremely low, but is the market completely wrong? While X is flooded with doomsday takes, Jeff Dorman, CIO of Arca, argues that the real fundamentals of crypto are stronger than ever. In this episode, Jeff breaks down why investors are overlooking key signals—like growing regulatory clarity, the tokenization of real-world assets, and institutional interest—and how memecoins have hijacked the broader market narrative. He pushes back on claims that there are no fresh narratives and explains why the current climate reminds him of previous market mispricings that turned into massive opportunities. He also dives into the potential of tokenized assets, why crypto adoption is way ahead of where people think, and why he believes the industry keeps making the same mistakes when it comes to marketing its breakthroughs. Show highlights: 2:03 - How dishonest takes are flooding the crypto sentiment, according to Jeff 4:04 - Why he pushes back against the sentiment that there are no fresh narratives 6:13 - Whether memecoins are to blame for the poor market sentiment 13:17 - Why Jeff feels that the crypto investment thesis is still very strong 19:23 - Why Jeff says that the launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA was a good thing for the industry 26:55 - Why layer 1s are very hard to invest in 30:57 - Laura and Jeff’s disagreement about what would it take for a blockchain to win Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Somnia Network Guest Jeff Dorman, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder at Arca Previous appearance on Unchained: Crypto Prices Are Way Down. Is It Time to Buy the Dip? Links Unchained: Arca: “That’s Our Two Satoshis” - I’m Fed Up with the Misinformation by Jeff Dorman, CFA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode, we’re joined by Laura Shin, host of the Unchained Podcast, for a no-holds-barred discussion on the current state of the crypto landscape. We dive into Berachain’s shaky launch, dissecting its tokenomics, insider allocations, and why the hype didn’t hold. Then we uncover the rise of celebrity memecoin scams—how influencers are cashing in while their followers get rugged. Finally, we tackle the Ethereum vs. Solana debate: is Ethereum losing its edge, or is Solana’s growth just a speculative bubble? It’s an episode full of bold takes and sharp insights you won’t want to miss. Show highlights 🔹 Berachain’s Big Faceplant: Launched with $10B hype, now scraping $2.5B FDV. There are too many VCs and not enough vibes to keep it afloat. 🔹 Memecoin Madness: Celebs faking hacks to rug followers? The dark side of crypto grifts gets exposed. 🔹 Is Ethereum Lost? Once the king of culture, it is now weighed down by L2 sprawl and fading relevance. Has Solana stolen the spotlight? 🔹 Solana’s Winning the Youth Vote: Fast, fun, and flooded with memecoins—exactly what Gen Z craves. 🔹 Peak Memecoin Energy: When the scams get this blatant, are we hitting the top—or just getting started? 🔹 Cramer vs. Meme Lords: Who’s worse for your wallet—a clueless TV pundit or a shameless influencer? 🔹 Regulators, Where You At? Chasing good actors while real frauds run wild. Classic crypto chaos. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures ⭐️Laura Shin, Journalist, Author of ‘The Cryptopians,’ Founder and CEO of Unchained Disclosures Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:53 Berachain Launch and Community Sentiment 05:23 Market Sentiment and Crypto Cycles 18:03 Kanye West Leaks Scam Playbook 32:17 Cramer’s Curse vs. Portnoy’s Pump 39:23 Ethereum & Solana Drama 49:06 Ethereum's Existential Crisis (Again?) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crypto markets are at a crossroads. Is Ethereum primed for a short squeeze, or is its dominance fading? Are the SOL unlocks a real risk, or is the panic overblown? And did we already have an alt season without realizing it? In this episode, hosts James Seyffart, Alex Kruger and Ram Ahluwalia sit down with Sal Ternullo, managing partner at A100x Ventures, to break down the biggest questions facing traders today. They discuss whether Trump’s tariffs are impacting ETH, why the market might be misreading SOL’s unlocks, and how traders keep falling into the same traps—losing money despite crypto’s explosive gains. They also debate the real reason altcoins haven’t performed as expected, why memecoins might finally be dying off, and what the Growth Value Ratio reveals about the market’s future. Plus: the implications of Elon Musk’s bid for OpenAI, and whether Arweave’s AO can seriously challenge ICP. Show highlights: 3:33 - Why Ram likes what Trump is trying to accomplish with the tariffs 10:35 - Why ETH got hit so hard with the tariffs and whether there’s a squeeze coming 15:24 - Whether the market will see an alt season 21:47 - Why Sal believes that the SOL unlocks are not a big deal and why he’d like to see a shift away from memecoins 25:09 - Why Ram thinks that crypto markets don’t have a clear narrative in the near future 27:28 - Why Alex is concerned about the SOL unlocks 32:19 - What the growth value ratio is teaching us about the state of the markets 40:59 - How the potential Kanye West memecoins is another example of why Sal doesn’t like this space 46:39 - Whether Arweave’s new project AO can compete with ICP 48:04 - How Elon Musk is running so many projects, plus bidding for OpenAI 55:26 - James’ analysis on the likelihood of various crypto ETFs being approved 1:03:01 - Why Alex thinks this is the perfect time to “be patient” in the markets Sponsor: Somnia Network Bitwise Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Guest: Sal Ternullo, Managing Partner at A100x Ventures Links Unchained: Grayscale Files for Cardano ETF Central African Republic launches memecoin Reuters: Trump raises tariffs on aluminum, steel imports in latest trade war salvo Elon Musk-led group makes $97 billion bid for control of OpenAI The Block: SEC delays decision on BlackRock's Ethereum ETF options trading until April 9 Kanye West, after disclosing he was offered $2 million to launch a token, asks to speak with Coinbase CEO 'concerning crypto' Kanye West quashes memecoin launch rumors, says coins 'prey on the fans' James’ and Eric Balchunas’ tweet on the odds of crypto ETFs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the ups and downs of the Ethereum ecosystem, two of its most influential builders—Aave’s Stani Kulechov and Sky’s Rune Christensen—remain bullish. In this episode, they discuss whether we’re witnessing a DeFi renaissance, the challenges of building on Ethereum vs. Solana, and why DeFi adoption isn’t growing as fast as some expected. They debate stablecoins, whether Solana is truly innovating, and how AI could transform DeFi by automating governance and risk management. They also respond to some hot takes—including whether Aave is falling behind Solana-based Kamino, and why Sky deployed its USDS stablecoin on Solana despite Rune’s long-standing Ethereum advocacy. Show highlights: 02:33 Whether Sky and Aave are experiencing a “DeFi renaissance” 11:49 How Stani and Rune are trying to appeal to a simpler audience 23:00 Whether developers overlook how easy it is to build DeFi on Ethereum 27:40 Why Stani believes there is not a lot of innovation in Solana 32:17 What would need to happen for Aave to be in Solana 33:27 Why Sky deployed USDS on Solana 40:30 Whether the Ethereum ecosystem should be worried about users going to other chains 49:19 Why Rune praises Solana’s culture 51:38 How USDS’s growth on Base happens organically, contrary to Solana 59:35 Why they believe that the combination of AI and DeFi will be so powerful Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle RockWallet Kelp DAO Guest: Stani Kulechov, Founder and CEO of Aave Previous appearances on Unchained: Stani Kulechov on Why Aave Is So Successful - Unchained The Chopping Block w/ Stani Kulechov: Operation Chokepoint 2.0, Ethereum Innovation Push, & Polymarket Whales - Unchained Rune Christensen, Co-founder of Sky Previous appearances on Unchained: Can Maker’s Rune Christensen Fix the Sad State of DAO Governance? Rune Christensen of MakerDAO Part 1: How to Keep a Crypto-Collateralized Stablecoin Afloat Rune Christensen of MakerDAO Part 2: How Dai Stayed at $1 While ETH Crashed From $1,400 to $85 The Chopping Block: How to Manage MakerDAO, With Hasu and Rune Rune Christensen of MakerDao on Its $15 Million From Andreessen Horowitz Why It’s so Hard to Keep Stablecoins Stable Links Aave 2030 roadmap Alex Svanevik of Nansen tweeted: “When Aave on Solana?” Qiao Wang of Alliance DAO commenting on why he recommends people build on Solana The First Non-EVM Deployment of Aave Protocol: Aave V3 on Aptos - General - Aptos Forum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sign up for our free regulatory newsletter! Silvergate Bank was once crypto’s most important banking partner, handling billions in deposits from the biggest players in the industry. Then, FTX collapsed—and everything changed. In this episode of Unchained, Mike Lempres, former chairman of Silvergate, talks about how Silvergate grew into a banking giant for crypto, why Washington suddenly turned against them—even after they survived the FTX crisis, and whether Operation Choke Point 2.0 was real. Plus, did short sellers and politicians work together to tank Silvergate’s stock? And what does the future look like for banks that want to serve crypto? This is part of the inside story of one of the biggest banking collapses in crypto history. Show highlights: 2:08 How Mike’s background in banking led him to work in crypto 4:10 Why banking has always been a challenge for crypto companies 5:14 How Silvergate Bank got involved so much with the industry and how it achieved “tremendous growth” 8:10 The “magic” of the Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN) 14:19 Why Mike believes Silvergate’s problem was not banking regulators, but D.C. politics 17:49 How everything changed after the FTX collapse 24:45 Whether SEN is a valuable asset for a bank to have 28:39 Why Mike believes that Operation Choke Point 2.0 is real 30:48 Whether short sellers worked with politicians to tank Silvergate 34:21 How Mike thinks that banks could service the crypto industry Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! RockWallet Somnia Network Quai Network Mantle Guest Mike Lempres, Former Chairman of Silvergate Bank Links Unchained: Why the new FDIC Leadership Isn’t Convinced Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Exists Regulators Are Limiting Banks Serving Crypto Clients. Does That Violate the Law? Rep. French Hill Says He’d Investigate Operation Choke Point 2.0 as Financial Services Chair Are Regulatory Failures to Blame for Crypto Banking Issues? Caitlin Long on Why Operation Choke Point 2.0 Has Bankers Nervous Ahead of Debanking Hearings, Industry Is Divided on Political Strategy Caitlin Long on Why the Fed’s Rejections of Custodia Bank Seem Politically Motivated How Will the FTX Collapse Affect Silvergate? A Bear and a Bull Debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode, we dissect the chaos triggered by Trump’s trade war, which sent Ethereum and alts into freefall while Bitcoin held strong. Why are alts struggling, and is this just a flight to quality—or something deeper? We also dive into the LA Vape Cabal phenomenon and its bizarre influence on memecoin culture, debate whether the SEC’s new leadership is truly a game-changer for crypto, and analyze Binance’s latest scandal. Plus, is the memecoin cycle really over, or is this just another phase in crypto’s endless casino? Show highlights 🔹 Trump’s Trade War Wrecks Crypto – Ethereum and alts nosedive as Trump’s surprise tariffs shake markets. Is this just macro panic or a deeper shift in investor sentiment? 🔹 Biggest Liquidation Day Ever? – Crypto saw its largest mass liquidation in history, with Bybit’s CEO estimating real losses closer to $8-10 billion—more than the FTX collapse. 🔹 LA Vape Cabal & Memecoin Mania – A bizarre Twitch-fueled trading cult is shaping the memecoin meta. Is this the future of crypto speculation, or just another fleeting grift? 🔹 The Great Altcoin Capitulation – Alts are bleeding while Bitcoin holds strong. Has the market finally given up on everything that isn't BTC? 🔹 Hester Peirce’s Crypto Reset – The SEC’s new approach could rewrite the rules for token issuers. Will the industry finally get the regulatory clarity it’s been begging for? 🔹 Binance Under Fire (Again) – CZ’s former empire faces backlash over insider listings, alleged bribes, and a wave of vaporware projects that tanked after launch. 🔹 Pump.fun = The New NFT Casino? – Memecoin speculation is bigger than 2021’s NFT boom. But is it sustainable, or is the exit liquidity running dry? 🔹 The Memecoin Endgame? – Some claim the bubble has burst, but if history tells us anything, a new wave of degens will always find a way to keep the casino open. 🔹 Bitcoin’s Macro Dominance – BTC’s macro story is unstoppable, with talk of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund investing in Bitcoin. Will the market ever rotate back to alts? Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly Disclosures Links Hester Peirce’s Blog Post – “The Journey Begins”: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/peirce-journey-begins-020425 David Sacks' Plan for Digital Assets Press Conference: https://youtu.be/LqTsyTuLSSI Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:08 Market Turmoil and Trade Wars 07:10 Bitcoin's Dominance & Altcoin Struggles 10:33 Memecoins & Market Sentiment 25:05 Cultural Phenomena in Crypto 33:54 The L.A. Vape Cabal 40:45 Millennials and Memecoins 44:51 Binance & the Chinese Community 50:45 Regulatory Developments in Crypto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to our newsletter! https://unchainedcrypto.beehiiv.com/subscribe Trump’s new wave of tariffs has reignited the debate: Are they good for the economy or a disaster waiting to happen? Some say tariffs will crush trade, boost inflation, and slow growth—but others argue they could weaken the dollar and send bitcoin soaring. On this episode of Bits + Bips, Jeff Park of Bitwise, along with James Seyffart, Alex Kruger and Noelle Acheson, battle it out over the real impact of Trump’s tariffs, whether they could spark a new Plaza Accord 2.0, and why ETH took a harder hit than BTC in the latest selloff. Plus, is Trump’s economic strategy really about making America great again—or just about keeping his own real estate empire afloat? Jeff makes a bold claim outlining Trump’s #1 goal—one that his personal wealth depends on. Show highlights: 2:38 - Why Jeff believes that people’s reaction to tariffs was bizarre 7:09 - Why Jeff is convinced that tariffs are good for bitcoin 10:18 - Why Alex is so against tariffs 21:37 - How tariffs actually affect consumers 27:36 - What’s Trump’s number one priority is, according to Jeff 36:26 - Whether inflation will eventually come back to previous levels 41:05 - Why ETH got hit the hardest on Sunday night 49:56 - Whether the ETH/BTC ratio has bottomed 51:03 - How Hyperliquid’s HYPE held up so strongly 53:02 - The significance of Tether adding USDT to the Lightning Network Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Guest: Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Previous appearance on Bits + Bips: The Real ‘Trump Trade’ & Why Trump's World Liberty Financial Was a Flop Links AP: Canada and Mexico agree with Trump to postpone tariffs by at least 30 days Eric Trump on X: "In my opinion, it’s a great time to add $ETH." Unchained: USDT Integrates With Bitcoin and Lightning Network ETH Crashes After Trump Imposes Tariffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pods, Fountain, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. The success of any blockchain isn’t just about scalability, security, or decentralization—it’s about attracting developers. The easier it is to build, the more innovation happens. Or at least, that’s the thesis of Movement Labs co-founder Rushi Manche and Olaf Carlson-Wee, CEO of Polychain Capital. In this episode of Unchained, Rushi explains why Move, originally developed by Meta, is a fundamentally better programming language for crypto than the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). He breaks down how Move’s unique approach to security and asset management improves developer experience and why the Movement Network is bringing Move to Ethereum as a layer 2 solution. Olaf shares his thoughts on how alternative programming environments like Move could challenge the dominance of the EVM, why Ethereum is at a critical moment, and how AI-powered financial agents could change how investments work. Show highlights: 2:32 What problems Move solves for crypto and how it got started 8:57 How the programming language is safer than others, specifically for crypto finance 21:00 What’s the thesis behind the Movement network 23:12 Why Movement chose to become an Ethereum L2 30:08 Where ETH is headed and what it needs to succeed 32:25 Why Rushi is so bearish on EVM layer 2s 34:59 Whether Ethereum is going through an existential crisis 37:47 Why Rushi believes that modularity will save Ethereum 39:28 How Movement differs from Aptos and Sui 41:36 The importance of developer experience in crypto’s growth 44:48 How tokens can signal the significance of content in social media 52:04 Why Olaf thinks we’ll soon see an explosive growth of financialized agents 57:19 Whether AI will replace VC investors and other jobs 1:01:38 What Rushi has to say about the Trump team buying MOVE 1:04:09 The significance of the U.S. making crypto a national priority Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsor! Mantle Guest: Rushi Manche, Co-founder of Movement Labs Olaf Carlson-Wee, CEO of Polychain Capital Previous appearances on Unchained: OG Olaf Carlson-Wee on Why His Crypto Thesis Is Stronger Than Ever Olaf Carlson-Wee: ‘If There Is a Money-Losing Exploit, the Money Is Gone’ Why The First Employee Of Coinbase Launched A Hedge Fund To the Moon and Back With Polychain’s Olaf Carlson-Wee Special Episode with CNBC’s Crypto Trader: Olaf Carlson-Wee on Why This Crypto Winter Is Different From Previous Ones All Things Cryptoeconomics, Pt. 1, With Olaf Carlson-Wee and Ryan Zurrer of Polychain Capital Links Unchained: Trump’s Crypto Project Bought MOVE Tokens as DOGE News Leaked How Solana Beat Out Ethereum to Nab New Crypto Developers in 2024 Chris Dixon on Why We Will Finally See New App Innovation in Crypto 2025 Will Be a Year of Crypto Competition. Can Ethereum Make a Comeback? With AI Agents Now Trading Crypto, What Does Their Future Look Like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode, we dive into Ethereum’s growing identity crisis as frustration mounts over the Ethereum Foundation’s leadership, vision, and sluggish innovation. Is Ethereum losing its edge while Solana, Base, and Tron take over? We also break down the Second Foundation drama, discuss Justin Sun’s wild L2 taxation proposal, and debate whether Ethereum needs a CTO-style overhaul to stay competitive. Plus, Vitalik Buterin’s unexpected embrace of the Milady NFT movement and what Gary Gensler’s exit from the SEC means for the future of crypto regulation. Show highlights 🔹 Ethereum Civil War? The Ethereum Foundation (EF) faces internal and external backlash as Vitalik defends its “WEF soy boy” ethos. Critics call for leadership changes, faster innovation, and a more aggressive growth strategy. 🔹 Second Foundation Fakeout: Rumors spread that Lido’s founder was launching a rival EF, briefly pumping ETH before being debunked. The buzz reignites calls for governance changes. 🔹 L2 Taxation Debate: Justin Sun proposes a 5B ETH tariff on rollups to fund buybacks, sparking debates on Ethereum’s fragmented ecosystem and lack of value accrual. 🔹 Vitalik Goes Milady: Ethereum’s co-founder embraces the Milady NFT subculture, changes his profile pic, and adopts the meme’s signature sign-off, fueling speculation about crypto’s shifting cultural landscape. 🔹 Ethereum’s Identity Crisis: With Solana, Base, and Tron dominating user adoption, is Ethereum too slow and academic to compete? Calls for an Ethereum “CTO” or more centralized execution grow louder. 🔹 Gensler’s Next Move: Gary Gensler exits the SEC and returns to MIT to teach AI & finance. Crypto celebrates his departure, while an AI-generated rap video mocks his legacy. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly Disclosures Links Hayden Adam’s Tweet: https://x.com/haydenzadams/status/1884134669265891433 Justin Sun’s EF Plan Tweet: https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/1881999625990836229 Scaling Ethereum L1 and L2s in 2025 and Beyond by Vitalik Buterin: https://vitalik.eth.limo/general/2025/01/23/l1l2future.html Zen and the Art of Shifting Mindsets in Technology: Aya Miyaguchi interview in Wired Magazine: https://wired.jp/article/the-next-innovators-4-aya-miyaguchi-en/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:47 Ethereum Foundation's Civil War 05:53 The Bronze Age Mentality 07:32 Community Criticism and Governance 10:03 Vitalik's New Persona: Embracing Milady 14:33 Future of Ethereum and L2s 37:39 L1 vs L2: Do People Really Care? 42:12 Ethereum's Strategy and Colonialism Analogy 46:10 The Role of the Ethereum Foundation 58:34 Gary Gensler's Move to MIT and His Legacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland in France sent shockwaves through the crypto community, raising urgent questions about security for high-profile crypto holders. How do you protect yourself when criminals are willing to go beyond digital attacks and resort to violence? In this episode of Unchained, Jameson Lopp, co-founder and Chief Security Officer of Casa, speaks about the growing trend of “wrench attacks”—physical assaults aimed at forcing crypto holders to transfer their assets. Lopp explains how these attacks are evolving, what makes someone a target, and which geographies are seeing the most attacks. Plus, he shares what behaviors put you most at risk, how criminals are getting more organized, and why relying on exchanges for security is not as safe as you think. If you hold significant crypto wealth, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Show highlights: 2:02 How a Ledger co-founder was kidnapped and how the situation was resolved 6:46 Who tends to be targeted and which geographies see the most physical attacks 14:15 The riskiest behaviors that are likely to lead to wrench attacks 16:01 How attackers decide who to target 20:37 How the attacks have been accelerating lately 22:16 How the Ledger team ensured the kidnappers couldn’t access the ransom money 23:44 Jameson’s top tips on how crypto holders can stay safe 29:30 News Recap Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Mantle Polkadot Quai Network Guest Jameson Lopp, co-founder and Chief Security Officer of Casa Links Previous coverage of Unchained on crypto security: Here’s How to Protect Your Crypto and Seed Phrases From Natural Disasters Reuters: Kidnapped co-founder of French crypto firm Ledger had his hand mutilated Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From AI shaking up Big Tech to bitcoin’s role in the macro landscape, Jim Bianco delivers insights on the DeepSeek-triggered market selloff, memecoins, and the challenges facing traditional systems. In this episode, the macro strategist shares why DeepSeek’s AI model is reshaping competition, how crypto reserves might evolve, and what happens to MicroStrategy if bitcoin’s price takes a hit. Plus, hear his take on why stablecoins are a threat to banks, and why memecoins could be more than speculation. Show highlights: What of crypto attracted Jim so much 0:49 What of crypto attracted Jim so much 6:15 Why the DeepSeek new model was so disruptive 12:47 Whether the biggest loser is OpenAI, not all the Mag 7 16:14 Whether we’ll see a major macro response from U.S. companies and government 26:06 What will happen next with the price of bitcoin 28:54 What would happen to MSTR if bitcoin goes 30% lower 34:11 How Trump was able to move so fast since the inauguration 39:30 Why the Fed should not do QE, according to Jim 49:02 How memecoins could be designed to be much more than speculative assets 53:03 Why James hopes the SEC doesn’t approve all the memecoin ETF applications 58:06 Whether banks will start onboarding crypto companies 1:05:52 Why stablecoins poise an existential threat to the current banking system 1:11:19 Whether it’s a bad idea for the U.S. to acquire other cryptos that are not bitcoin 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: Jim Bianco, President and Macro Strategist at Bianco Research Links CNN Business: Trump announces a $500 billion AI infrastructure investment in the US Unchained: Tuttle Capital Files for 10 Leveraged Crypto ETFs CoinDesk: Nasdaq Files for In-Kind Redemptions for BlackRock Spot Bitcoin ETF Reuters: US, Colombia reach deal on deportations; tariff, sanctions put on hold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner of a16z crypto, joins Unchained to share why he believes crypto innovation is about to explode. From Ethereum’s potential to new crypto legislation, Chris delves into why the industry is poised for a major break out. He also discusses why the Biden administration’s “lawfare campaign” led to the memecoin craze, how AI and crypto together could transform technology, and why bad tech policy stifled the industry for years. Plus, he shares his take on the executive order signed by President Donald Trump and its significance for the industry. Show highlights: 2:51 Why Chris feels like the Biden administration was trying to destroy crypto 7:16 Chris’s take on the Trump announcements and executive orders 14:18 What Chris would like to see in upcoming crypto legislation 21:37 How he compares the intertwining of AI and crypto with mobile, cloud and social 26:24 Whether an investing AI agent like ai16z could ever compete with A16z 32:05 How technologies usually evolve exponentially and how the AI x crypto craze will evolve 39:21 Why Chris doesn’t think the debate about whether Ethereum L2s are ‘parasitic’ is important 47:24 Chris’s opinion on whether Vitalik should be doing more marketing for ETH 51:29 Why Chris thinks native rollups on Ethereum could be valuable and promising 55:43 What he believes is important to pitch blockchain to Wall Street 59:39 Chris’s vision for a future multichain world 1:04:20 How the Biden administration’s “lawfare campaign” enabled the memecoin craze in 2024 1:08:08 Why Chris says that Coinbase has been very innovative 1:14:11 Whether ICOs are a recipe for fraud and scams 1:17:39 What apps and innovations Chris is excited about 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 Somnia Network Guest: Chris Dixon, Founder and Managing Partner of a16z crypto Previous appearances on Unchained: A16z Crypto’s Chris Dixon on How Blockchains Can Save the Internet Chris Dixon on How Trust Is the Best Lego Links Unchained: President Trump Declares Crypto a National Priority in Executive Order 2024 Was Solana's Best Year Yet. Can It Sustain the Momentum in 2025? Chris’ tweet on the executive order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Chopping Block – where crypto insiders Haseeb Qureshi, and Tom Schmidt chop it up about the latest in crypto. This week, we're joined by special guest Peter Van Valkenburgh, Executive Director of Coin Center, to tackle one of the most pivotal moments in crypto policy. In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking Fifth Circuit ruling on Tornado Cash, unpack its implications for blockchain privacy, and discuss the challenges noncustodial developers like Roman Storm are facing. We also break down Trump’s crypto executive order, the SEC’s new direction under Hester Peirce, and speculate on what a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve might mean for the future. Show highlights 🔹 Crypto as a Public Good: Why open, permissionless technologies need protection—and how Coin Center defends them. 🔹 Tornado Cash Ruling: The Fifth Circuit overturns OFAC sanctions—what this means for blockchain privacy and freedoms. 🔹 Roman Storm Case: DOJ’s controversial crackdown on noncustodial developers and its implications for innovation. 🔹 Trump’s Crypto EO: Breaking down the ban on CBDCs and the push for U.S. leadership in digital assets. 🔹 SEC’s New Direction: Hester Peirce’s crypto task force and the future of enforcement and regulation. 🔹 CFTC vs. SEC: Will Congress resolve the jurisdiction battle over crypto markets? 🔹 Senate Banking’s Subcommittee: How Senator Lummis could lead a new era of crypto-friendly policy. 🔹 Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Speculating on what a U.S. Bitcoin reserve might look like. 🔹 2025 Regulatory Outlook: How shifting policies could redefine crypto’s future. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly Guest: ⭐️Peter Van Valkenburgh, Executive Director of Coin Center Disclosures Timestamps - 00:00 Intro 01:34 Coin Center & Crypto as a Public Good 05:04 Crypto Policy Shifts & Trump's Executive Order 16:11 Senate Banking Digital Assets Subcommittee 20:20 SEC Crypto Task Force 32:10 Hester Peirce's Safe Harbor Proposal 35:43 Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Expectations and Realities 41:12 Tornado Cash & OFAC Sanctions 45:28 Legal Implications for Noncustodial Developers 57:51 Future of Crypto Regulation & Coin Center's Role Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ethereum has had a tough year, losing ground to Solana in price performance, developer activity and as the home to the latest crypto trends. Yet, Vivek Raman, founder and CEO of Etherealize, is doubling down on Ethereum’s future. In this episode, Vivek explains how Etherealize, a “marketing arm for the ETH ecosystem,” was in the works long before the current criticisms of the Ethereum Foundation’s marketing, and how it got funding from Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin and the foundation. He discusses why he believes layer 2 solutions make Ethereum a better fit for Wall Street than Solana. Plus, Vivek shares his thoughts on Ethereum’s value accrual, the state of its ecosystem, and how Etherealize plans to bridge the gap between Wall Street and Web3. Show highlights: 2:50 Why Vivek thinks that it’s an opportune time to launch Etherealize 7:32 How the project has been in the works for longer than people might think 13:28 How Etherealize secured funding from Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation 15:11 Why Vivek says they got “lucky” with the timing of the announcement 19:03 How Vivek plans to drive the narrative of ETH as an asset 22:17 Why he believes corporations will launch their own L2s on Ethereum 29:13 How he pitches Ethereum to TradFi 31:42 Why Vivek believes Ethereum is better suited for Wall Street than Solana 34:08 What he has to say about L2s being centralized 38:24 News Recap Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com Thank you to our sponsors! Quai Network Polkadot Guest Vivek Raman, founder and CEO of Etherealize Links Etheralize’s announcement Unchained: Lido Founder Says No ‘Second Foundation’ Exists Yet 2024 Was Solana's Best Year Yet. Can It Sustain the Momentum in 2025? 2025 Will Be a Year of Crypto Competition. Can ETH Make a Comeback? Ethereum Foundation to Fund New DeFi MultiSig Wallet With 50,000 ETH The Block: Vitalik Buterin details 'large changes' to Ethereum Foundation leadership amid calls for new leadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode, we dive into one of the wildest weeks in crypto history, unpacking the unprecedented launch of Trump’s memecoin and its explosive $70 billion valuation. We discuss how it broke every record imaginable, the fallout from Melania’s token, and the chaos it unleashed across the Solana network. From the ethics of a sitting president launching a coin to the implications for retail investors and the future of memecoins, we’re covering it all. Plus, we debate whether this marks a new chapter for crypto adoption or a troubling precedent for political grift. Stay tuned for this jam-packed emergency episode! Show highlights 🔹 Trump’s Memecoin Craze: Breaking down the historic launch of $Trump, its unprecedented $70B valuation, and how it shattered every record in crypto history. 🔹 Melania’s Memecoin Fallout: What went wrong with the $Melania token launch? Exploring its disastrous impact on the market and $Trump coin’s rapid crash. 🔹 DeFi’s Ultimate Stress Test: How Solana infrastructure held up against unprecedented volumes, Moonshot’s rise to the top, and why this reshaped the memecoin landscape. 🔹 Retail FOMO vs. Institutional Doubts: Examining retail’s overwhelming rush to $Trump coin and why some insiders remain skeptical of its long-term implications. 🔹 Crypto Meets Politics: The ethics and implications of a sitting president launching a memecoin—and how it could distort the future of crypto regulation and perception. 🔹 The Memecoin Economy Evolves: Could Trump and Melania coins signify the end—or a new era—of memecoins? A debate on the future of speculative tokens. 🔹 Solana’s Big Moment: Why Trump coin positioned Solana as the go-to chain for memecoins, and how it outperformed competitors during this chaos. 🔹 On-Chain Innovation or Grift? Is this a turning point for crypto adoption, or just the latest example of right-wing opportunism? The crew debates the broader implications. 🔹 Adversarial Predictions: What happens when other world leaders witness Trump’s success? The panel speculates on who could be next in the memecoin race. Hosts ⭐️Haseeb Qureshi, Managing Partner at Dragonfly ⭐️Robert Leshner, CEO & Co-founder of Superstate ⭐️Tarun Chitra, Managing Partner at Robot Ventures ⭐️Tom Schmidt, General Partner at Dragonfly Disclosures Timestamps - 00:00 Intro 02:23 The Crypto Ball 07:11 Trump's Memecoin: $TRUMP 13:21 Market Reactions & Infrastructure Challenges 26:25 Melania Token: $MELANIA 38:52 Solana's User Surge, Start of Ethereum Civil War? 45:12 Speculation: Crypto's Killer Use Case 49:59 Partisan Divide in Crypto 54:22 Trump's Crypto Strategy 01:07:32 Crypto's Social and Political Implications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Trump’s memecoin launch had everyone talking—and scrambling for Phantom wallets. But was it a strategic masterstroke or just another speculative frenzy? On this episode of Bits + Bips, the hosts unpack the wild moments of the Crypto Ball, where $TRUMP made its surprise debut. They discuss how Bitcoin maxis were forced to embrace Solana wallets, why Multicoin Capital emerged as the biggest winner, and whether the memecoin launch signals a local market top. Plus, they debate whether Trump’s crypto-friendly stance could shape policy in 2025, why Litecoin might beat Solana to a spot ETF, and what Trump’s inauguration speech reveals about his crypto game plan. Show highlights: 0:58 What Ram can tell us about his experience at the Crypto Ball 3:39 How Ram was so surprised when the $TRUMP coin dropped in the middle of the event 7:51 What will happen with the 80% of $TRUMP that Trump holds 8:51 Why Ram believes Multicoin Capital was the biggest winner of $TRUMP dropping 10:14 Whether the coin was “gift or grift” 17:07 How the $Melania coin was the Trumps shooting themselves in the foot 19:37 How the launch of the coin is a “major win” for Solana 22:49 Whether ETH can have a comeback as the “TradFi chain” 35:28 How the market would react to the lack of a strategic bitcoin reserve mention 43:28 What executive orders Trump could deliver for the crypto industry 48:47 Alex’s experience with the pump and dump of a fake Barron Trump memecoin 53:41 What was notable from Trump’s inauguration speech 56:28 Whether rate cuts in December were a mistake and whether more are coming 1:05:51 Why James believes that Litecoin has more chances than Solana for a spot ETF 1:08:41 Whether the launch of $TRUMP will mark a local top for the markets Hosts: James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter Links Saylor’s parody account’s tweet recounted by Alex Meme recounted by Noelle Vitalik on changing the EF leadership Josh Stark’s tweet on how the EF “uses Ethereum” Paper on DeFi that Alex talked about: Christopher J Waller: Centralized and decentralized finance - substitutes or complements? Polymarket: Will Trump create Bitcoin reserve in first 100 days? Unchained: Trump Appoints Crypto-Friendly Mark Uyeda as Acting SEC Chair Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Goes on Token Buying Spree Trump Picks Pham as Acting CFTC Chair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crypto world was shaken this weekend when Donald Trump and Melania Trump launched their own memecoins, ahead of Trump’s inauguration as president. Financial analyst Lyn Alden joins Laura to explain why she’s not a fan of memecoins, neutral on a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve, and doubtful the U.S. can disrupt itself even as Bitcoin, crypto and blockchain technology hold the possibilities of upending the geopolitical world order. Discussing everything from rising tariffs to reshoring strategies, Lyn offers a sharp analysis of the U.S. fiscal and monetary outlook and explains why she believes fiscal policy now overshadows monetary policy. Plus, hear her take on the TikTok ban debate, her skepticism that Bitcoin’s future security could be at risk as the block subsidy decreases, and her Bitcoin projection for 2025. Show highlights: 2:13 Why Lyn is not supportive of the launch of Trump’s and Melania’s memecoins 10:01 Whether Trump should airdrop his memecoin to U.S. citizens 11:47 Why a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve sparks debate over its potential to devalue the dollar, reshape trade deficits, and challenge the global reserve currency system 25:09 How bitcoin’s rise as a neutral reserve asset could shape a multi-polar world 27:23 Why she thinks addressing U.S. fiscal issues may require the reshoring of industry and rethinking the dollar system 31:22Why Lyn thinks rising tariffs could disrupt global trade, but might also make the government less able to rely on taxation in a world of portable capital and growing privacy tools 35:16 Whether DOGE will be bearish for bitcoin 39:39 Why Lyn feels that Scott Bessent’s “3-3-3 Plan” faces challenges 42:29 Why fiscal policy now overshadows monetary policy, according to Lyn 48:21 What the TikTok ban debate reveals to Lyn about government control and the push for decentralized social media 52:31 Lyn’s take on MSTR’s plan to increase the number of shares 54:56 Lyn’s view on OP_CAT and bitcoin soft forks 57:20 Why Lyn doesn’t think that declining subsidies pose a problem for bitcoin’s security 1:05:59 Why Lyn doesn’t see value in other sectors of crypto, such as DeFi, aside from Bitcoin and stablecoins 1:09:15 Lyn’s projection for the price of bitcoin 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! Somnia Network Polkadot Guest: Lyn Alden, founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy Previous appearances on Unchained: Does Maximalism Help or Hurt Bitcoin? Lyn Alden and Udi Wertheimer Debate How Will Inflation Impact Crypto? Is Ethereum a Good Investment? Why Bitcoin Now: Meltem Demirors and Lyn Alden on the Perfect Conditions for Bitcoin Links Trump’s announcement of a memecoin Unchained: TRUMP Memecoin Soars Then Sinks as MELANIA Launches Balaji’s tweet on the proposal of airdropping $TRUMP Unchained: A Bitcoin Strategic Reserve for the U.S.? Senator Cynthia Lummis Reveals Her Bill Bloomberg: MicroStrategy May Soon Rival Amazon, Alphabet in Common Shares - Unchained: What Is the OP_CAT Bitcoin Improvement Proposal? - Unchained Unchained: Bitcoin Layer 2s Aim to Attract Ethereum-Like Dapps. Will They Succeed? - Ep.638 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices