Bankless

This week, David and guest co-host Tom Schmidt (Dragonfly) unpack a deceptively quiet crypto market with Bitcoin dominance hitting 66% and altcoins eerily still. What meta could flip the trend? They dive into Circle's explosive 10x IPO, Robinhood's surprise crypto surge, and why Coinbase is finally catching up. Plus: the Kalshi vs. Polymarket drama, ICOs creeping back, and how meme coins might soon help you get a mortgage. Also: Vitalik's Layer 1 pivot, prediction markets heating up, and signs of a new retail cycle forming. Tom Schmidt & Chopping Block https://x.com/tomhschmidt https://x.com/_choppingblock https://x.com/dragonfly_xyz ------

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino returns to Bankless at a historic moment for stablecoins. With the Genius Act advancing in the U.S. Congress, Paolo discusses what regulatory clarity means for Tether, the future of USDT, and the company's plans to launch a domestic stablecoin. We explore the Circle IPO hype, Tether's eye-popping profits, its growing presence in the U.S. Treasuries and Bitcoin mining, and how grassroots distribution across emerging markets powers its dominance. Paolo also gives a glimpse into Tether's ambitions in AI, tokenized gold, and the battle to distribute the dollar where banks can't reach. ------

Welcome to the Weekly Rollup, where we cover this week in Crypto. We unpack the implications of the Genius Act's passage, which positions the U.S. to lead in digital assets and spurs optimism around stablecoins potentially hitting a $3.7 trillion valuation by 2030. Also: JP Morgan's surprising entry into the stablecoin market and Coinbase's launch of new products, including a Bitcoin cashback credit card. ———

Today, we discuss the recently passed Genius Bill with Senator Bill Hagerty, a key architect behind the legislation aimed at stabilizing the U.S. stablecoin market. Following a significant bipartisan Senate vote of 68-30, Sen. Hagerty shares insights on the evolving congressional perception of cryptocurrency, moving from skepticism to support. The bill seeks to foster a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while protecting users and maintaining America's leadership in financial technology. The episode also highlights the potential economic benefits of a strong stablecoin framework and addresses concerns regarding Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). ------

In this episode, Jeremie and Edouard Harris, co-founders of Gladstone AI and national security advisors, join us to break down the real score in the U.S.–China AI race. We unpack what it actually means to “win” in AI: from cutting-edge model development and compute infrastructure to data center vulnerabilities, state-sponsored espionage, and the rise of robotic warfare. The Harris brothers explain why energy is the hidden battleground, how supply chains have become strategic liabilities, and why export controls alone won't save us. This is not just a geopolitical showdown - it's a race for superintelligence, and the clock is ticking. ------

EigenLayer is back with a major announcement: EigenCloud. Sreeram Kannan and JT Rose unveil the first crypto-native cloud platform—a verifiable, programmable environment for building applications beyond the limits of traditional blockchains. We explore how EigenCloud packages modules like EigenDA, EigenVerify, and EigenCompute into a developer-friendly product that brings cloud-scale computation and crypto-grade trust guarantees together. From meme coins and AI agents to fully sovereign applications, we dig into what makes this launch a pivotal step for crypto infrastructure and why it might just reignite Ethereum's original ambitions. ------

In this deeply personal episode, Sahil Bloom joins Ryan Sean Adams to explore what it truly means to be wealthy and why so many high achievers get it wrong. After hitting burnout, Ryan stepped away from the grind to reassess his definition of success. What he found was a framework that reframed his entire life: the Five Types of Wealth. Together, they unpack why net worth alone is a poor scoreboard, how to avoid the trap of “never enough,” and what it means to build time, social, mental, physical, and financial wealth in harmony. This conversation is both a blueprint and a reboot, for anyone chasing more, and wondering why it still doesn't feel like enough. ------

This week, Ryan and David unpack Circle's stunning IPO debut, soaring to a $25B market cap and triggering Wall Street's stablecoin frenzy. They break down the landmark Genius Act vote, bringing unprecedented regulatory clarity to stablecoins, and dive into Stripe's latest crypto bet, acquiring wallet innovator Privy. Polymarket goes mainstream in an official integration with Twitter, while SEC Chair Paul Atkins embraces DeFi as fundamentally American. Plus, Gemini quietly files for IPO, Plasma's billion-dollar Tether chain ignites, and Trump unexpectedly endorses crypto at Coinbase. ------

Etherealize is back with a bold new thesis: ETH is digital oil. In this episode, Vivek and Danny Ryan unpack their freshly released report, The Bull Case for ETH, which positions ether as the next great store of value—and a future global reserve asset for the digital economy. We explore ETH's misunderstood monetary design, its strategic role for institutions, and why Wall Street is waking up to Ethereum not just as a network, but as an investable asset. This is the case for ETH as the asymmetric opportunity of this generation. ------

Crypto markets are buzzing and institutional appetite is peaking. With Circle's IPO wildly oversubscribed and a new wave of companies racing to go public, we unpack what this means for the industry. Jon and Bread join us to break down the hype around crypto IPOs, why TradFi wants stablecoin exposure, and what it signals for projects like Solana, Ethereum, and Hyperliquid. We also debate value accrual, ETH vs BTC narratives, and whether apps or platforms will dominate the next phase of crypto. This is the IPO Era of crypto—let's dissect the winners and the delusions. ------

Jon Charbonneau and Ryan Berckmans join Bankless to debate Ethereum's future: is ETH undervalued, or has the market already spoken? We unpack whether Ethereum can rival Bitcoin as a store of value, if L2s will drive real value back to ETH, and whether Solana's momentum signals deeper trouble for Ethereum. Jon argues ETH has lost its lead and may never reclaim it. Ryan contends Ethereum's neutrality and institutional traction make it the inevitable hub for the onchain economy. This is the definitive conversation on where ETH stands—and where it's heading. ------

Joe Lubin returns to Bankless to break down his latest bold move—launching SBET, a publicly traded vehicle designed to accumulate and deploy Ether as a strategic treasury asset. We unpack whether Lubin is stepping into the Michael Saylor role for Ethereum, how SBET might outperform Bitcoin-backed models, and why ETH is poised for a monetary renaissance. From regulatory wins to Ethereum's evolving narrative on Wall Street, this episode explores how ETH can become a multi-trillion-dollar asset and a dominant store of value in the next economic supercycle. ------

This week, Ryan and David unpack Circle's explosive $20B IPO—crypto's second biggest—and what it signals about Wall Street's newfound love for stablecoins. They break down the confusing Trump wallet drama, where even Trump's own sons deny involvement, and explore why Pump.fun's rumored $4B token raise has the industry split. Ethereum enters “wartime mode” as the Foundation lays off staff and spins up a lean new R&D force called Protocol. Plus, Ray Dalio says “a bit of Bitcoin,” Trump's Big Beautiful Bill adds $2.4T to the deficit, and SBF is headed to Netflix. ------

Two visions for the future of AI clash in this debate between Daniel Kokotajlo and Arvind Narayanan. Is AI a revolutionary new species destined for runaway superintelligence, or just another step in humanity's technological evolution—like electricity or the internet? Daniel, a former OpenAI researcher and author of AI 2027, argues for a fast-approaching intelligence explosion. Arvind, a Princeton professor and co-author of AI Snake Oil, contends that AI is powerful but ultimately controllable and slow to reshape society. Moderated by Ryan and David, this conversation dives into the crux of capability vs. power, economic transformation, and the future of democratic agency in an AI-driven world. ------

Austin Adams, founder of Whetstone and creator of Doppler, joins to discuss the next evolution in token launches. We explore why the world needs more tokens—not fewer—and how Doppler enables creators, apps, and DAOs to build highly customized launchpads using modular tooling. We cover token market design, dynamic bonding curves to prevent sniping, and how this infrastructure could unlock more meaningful, value-connected tokens—from meme coins with DAOs to public market IPOs on-chain. ------

Mike Novogratz returns to Bankless to unpack Bitcoin's surge to new all-time highs and what it means in a world grappling with fiscal uncertainty. We dive into the unfolding bond market crisis, why the Genius Act marks a new chapter for stablecoins, the tokenization of traditional finance, and how Galaxy is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of crypto and AI. This is a front-row seat to the changing macro tides and crypto's place in the new financial order. ------

This week, Ryan and David break down the political storm brewing around crypto. From JD Vance's fiery speech at Bitcoin 2025 to the Trump meme coin dinner that triggered bipartisan backlash. They dive into Ethereum's biggest capital inflow yet, as a public company raises $425 million to buy and stake ETH, drawing comparisons to MicroStrategy. They also cover the court ruling that halted Trump-era tariffs, the Circle IPO finally moving forward, and early signs of a “Stablecoin Summer” as banks eye their own dollar-backed coins. Plus, the growing risks of copycat crypto acquisition vehicles, and why some say the next GBTC-style blowup could already be forming. ------

Welcome to Limitless. Today we're joined by Luke Drago and Rudolf, authors of the powerful essay series "The Intelligence Curse." Together, we explore a future where artificial general intelligence (AGI) threatens to upend the economic and social contracts that underpin modern civilization. Will AI empower us or make us obsolete? We unpack how labor-replacing AI could dismantle the very incentives that once gave rise to liberal democracies, social mobility, and human-centered innovation—and what it might take to build a future worth living in. ------

Is altseason finally here or just getting started? Michael Nadeau of the DeFi Report joins Ryan to break down the data behind a potential crypto rotation. We cover why ETH and select alts may be poised to outperform, how macro conditions are fueling risk-on sentiment, and why fundamentals—like protocol cash flows and MEV—matter more than ever. Michael also shares his current portfolio and reveals what he's buying right now. If you're positioning for what's next, this is your rotation signal. Michael Nadeau & The DeFi Report: https://x.com/JustDeauIt https://thedefireport.io/research/altseason-melt-up https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1g2H1VaAKHWB5trl1tRHRYc68lIqZ8tWnzcLnkasAVYk/edit?usp=sharing ---

How should we value L1 tokens in crypto? Today's guest, Jonah Weinstein of Skycatcher, introduces RSOV—“Realized Store of Value”—a new metric designed to fundamentally rethink how we evaluate Layer 1 assets like ETH, SOL, and BTC. In this episode, we explore why traditional models like DCF and REV fall short for monetary assets, how RSOV works, and why it may be a better way to understand crypto's total addressable market. Tune in for a fresh perspective that could change how you analyze L1s forever. ------

This week, Ryan and David unpack Bitcoin's explosive run to $111K and the macro chaos driving it—specifically, the U.S. Treasury's failed bond auction and what it signals for the dollar. They break down the Senate's landmark stablecoin bill (and Elizabeth Warren's meltdown), Ethereum's ZK miracle that could 100x Layer 1 throughput, and Texas launching its own state Bitcoin reserve. Plus, why Stanley Druckenmiller's portfolio strategy might justify going all-in on crypto—and whether alt season is finally on the horizon. ------

In this episode of the Bankless Podcast, hosts discuss Real Economic Value (REV). Triggered by Jon's exploration of how ETH and SOL prices correlate with REV, the team delves into REV's role as a value capture metric and demand signal for blockchain networks. We evaluate the implications for network valuations, debate the sustainability of relying on REV, and analyze competitive dynamics between Ethereum and Solana. The conversation concludes with musings on crypto investment risks and the evolving identity of digital currencies in relation to app utility. Jon Charbonneau: https://x.com/jon_charb Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy Andy8052: https://x.com/andy8052 —-

Arthur Hayes returns to Bankless for a wide-ranging macro and crypto conversation. We cover why ETH ripped, why the Trump administration might walk away from US treasuries as the global reserve asset, and why capital controls—not tariffs—could redefine the global economic order. Arthur lays out his full thesis on how a massive shift in global liquidity is unfolding, what it means for crypto, and why he's betting big on Bitcoin, gold, and “buying everything” as the money printers rev up again. ------

Ryan and David reunite on Bankless Takes with a big question: What must Ethereum do to win? Ryan champions a memetic and cultural shift, calling for ETH maximalism and nationalism to reignite belief in ETH as a monetary asset. David brings a product-driven roadmap, urging Ethereum to strengthen its L1 as the economic hub of the internet. Together, they explore a vision for a unified Ethereum that can scale, coordinate, and ultimately win. This isn't just a talk—it's a strategy session for Ethereum's future. ------

In this episode of the Bankless Roundtable, host David Hoffman is joined by crypto enthusiasts Zero X Bread Guy, John Charbonneau, and Andy8052 to discuss the recent surge in Ethereum's price, which skyrocketed nearly 50% this week. The panel analyzes the impact of the Believe app and Launchcoin on internet capital markets, Coinbase's entry into the S&P 500, and Robinhood's new Layer 2 solution. They explore the implications of these developments for investor confidence and market liquidity, alongside the rising interest in meme-based tokens. The conversation wraps up with thoughts on Ethereum vs. Solana and the importance of community engagement in the evolving crypto landscape. Jon Charbonneau: https://x.com/jon_charb Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy Andy8052: https://x.com/andy8052 —-

Shaun Maguire, partner at Sequoia and former physicist turned investor, joins the Limitless Podcast to explore why we're on the verge of a technological renaissance. From AI and silicon photonics to humanoid robots and space infrastructure, Shaun makes the case that the next 20 years will make the internet boom look tame. We dive deep into why America needs 10 SpaceX-level companies, the return of hardware innovation, the energy constraints of the future, and how frontier technologies like Neuralink and Mars colonization might reshape civilization. ------

This week, Ryan and David unpack Ethereum's game-changing "Pectra" upgrade, doubling Layer 2 blob space and sparking fresh debates on L1 scaling. Meanwhile, Washington sets its sights on a $2 trillion stablecoin market, Apple's App Store monopoly cracks open to crypto, and Coinbase makes a historic acquisition of Deribit. Plus, Bitcoin breaks $100K and ETH $2k, are we officially back in bull territory? Find out on this week's Weekly Rollup.------

Welcome to the AI Rollup, from the Limitless Podcast. David, Ejaaz, and Josh break down the week's most important AI headlines, from OpenAI's $3B Windsurf acquisition and Google's full-stack AI play, to Visa and Mastercard preparing for agentic commerce. We explore the state of robotics, major interpretability challenges, and why the race to AGI may outpace our ability to understand it. Plus: AI ASMR, glow-up GPT, and why autonomous agents still kinda suck. Stay curious, this one's stacked.------

In this episode of the Bankless Roundtable, hosts BreadGuy, John Charbonneau, and Andy8052 tackle pivotal issues in the crypto world. They explore the disconnect between institutional bullishness and community despair, with Bread highlighting the plight of altcoin holders amid Bitcoin's dominance. The conversation turns to a scandal involving a token loan, revealing manipulation that undermines trust in the industry.Later, they discuss the upcoming Ethereum Pectra upgrade, emphasizing its potential to improve functionality while cautioning about implementation challenges. The hosts also dive into the meme coin phenomenon, navigating the ethical dilemmas of this niche. As they wrap up, the team reflects on the challenges and hope within the crypto community, encouraging thoughtful engagement in this dynamic market.Jon Charbonneau: https://x.com/jon_charb Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy Andy8052: https://x.com/andy8052---

Ethereum Foundation's new Co-Executive Directors, Tomasz Stanczak and Hsiao-Wei Wang, join Bankless to outline their vision for the future of Ethereum. We explore their backgrounds, the changing leadership at EF, and the roadmap ahead—from accelerating L1 scaling and improving UX to making Ethereum more dynamic and product-focused. This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Ethereum plans to stay resilient, decentralized, and mission-aligned in a fast-changing world. ------

This week, Ryan and David dive into crypto's dramatic new re-prioritization (pivot?) as Ethereum is shifting rapidly, prioritizing Layer 1 scaling in a move that has sparked intense community debate. Meanwhile, macro turmoil hits crypto with a looming tariff-driven recession and signs of American capital flight shaking global markets. Bitcoin tightens its grip on Washington, cementing itself as digital gold in the eyes of the Trump administration, and Worldcoin launches a U.S. rollout amid rising fears of an AI-driven dystopia. Plus, Sui surges on wild Pokémon rumors, Ripple's bold move to buy Circle gets rejected, and Monero rockets after a massive Bitcoin hack. Is crypto entering a new golden age, or are these the early tremors of deeper uncertainty? Find out on this week's must-watch Weekly Rollup. ------

This week on the AI Rollup, David, Ejaaz and Josh ride OpenAI's latest roller-coaster. The release of o3 is making waves for its native multi-modality while 4o gets a “genius-but-sycophantic” update and a rumored social network is in the works. They unpack the Reddit mind-hack experiment, an open-sourced natural-language coding agent, a 40-point jump in AI IQ, and more before asking: is it ethically okay for AI to cheat? David: https://x.com/TrustlessState Ejaaz: https://x.com/cryptopunk7213 Josh: https://x.com/Josh_Kale ------

Jon Charbonneau, Bread, and Andy8052 join David to break down Ethereum's bold pivot back to Layer 1 and what it means for the future of crypto. They also dive into the implications of scaling the L1 over rollups, the looming death of longtail L2s, and the shifting meta around value accrual, memecoins, and onchain activity. The crew also debates ETH's monetary identity, HyperLiquid's EVM ambitions, and whether Ethereum can reassert itself as crypto's dominant tech and cultural platform. Jon Charbonneau: https://x.com/jon_charb Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy Andy8052: https://x.com/andy8052 ------

Can Crypto disrupt the IP Market? In this episode, we dive deep with Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, on how their new token launch could unlock the $70 trillion intellectual property market. We explore the bold vision of making IP liquid, programmable, and globally accessible — and how crypto-native creators, DAOs, and even major studios could reshape how stories are owned and built. This might just be crypto's most ambitious attempt at disrupting the media yet. ------

Ethereum has achieved groundbreaking technological success, but has it failed to properly define ETH the asset? In this episode, Frax founder Sam Kazemian joins us to discuss what he believes is Ethereum's biggest mistake: confusing the ETH asset with Ethereum the technology. Sam argues that post-EIP-1559 and Proof of Stake, ETH unintentionally shifted toward a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation model, undermining its potential as a commodity-like store of value. We explore how the Ethereum community can reclaim a stronger narrative around ETH and why social consensus — not just tech — determines an asset's destiny. ------

This week, the one, the only, Ryan Sean Adams makes his return to the Weekly Rollup and crypto, after a 90-day crypto detox to find a radically changed landscape. Ryan and David break down crypto's shifting cycle, what Ryan missed, and Bitcoin's dramatic decoupling from equities as it earns a strategic reserve in the U.S. Treasury. Meanwhile, Ethereum faces an existential pivot as it tries to reclaim lost ground against Bitcoin and Solana. Plus, Zora sparks heated debate with “content coins” amid new regulatory wins—and new fears of political corruption. Did crypto lose its soul chasing mainstream adoption, or is this the messy price of progress? It's an essential Weekly Rollup you can't afford to miss.------

In this episode, we unpack Paradigm's groundbreaking 2025 report, “TradFi Tomorrow: DeFi and the Rise of Extensible Finance,” with Paradigm's Dan Robinson and Justin Slaughter. We explore the stunning stat that 66% of traditional financial institutions are actively engaged with DeFi—and what that really means. From tokenization and stablecoins to regulatory clarity and decentralized exchanges, this conversation dives deep into how Wall Street is already integrating with crypto. ------

Jon Charbonneau and Bread join David Hoffman to unpack Ethereum's pivotal moment—facing tough choices to re-focus on its Layer 1.They break down Ethereum's shift back toward prioritizing L1 growth, the delicate dance between Layer 1 and Layer 2 strategies, and why Ethereum must reclaim DeFi as its core strength. The conversation also explores the nuanced dynamics between Ethereum's cultural vision and technical roadmap, how Layer 2s fit into Ethereum's evolving ecosystem, and what this strategic recalibration means for Ethereum's future in a competitive crypto landscape.Jon Charbonneau: https://x.com/jon_charb Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy ------

Ethereum Foundation researchers Dankrad Feist and Ansgar Dietrichs join David Hoffman and Michael Ippolito to discuss Ethereum's identity crisis—and how it's turning the ship around.They break down Ethereum's cultural and organizational challenges, the pivot toward L1 growth, and the evolving role of the Ethereum Foundation under new leadership. The conversation covers the future of base and native rollups, L2 alignment, and why Ethereum's unique values still matter in a competitive landscape.------

This week, Bread joins David to unpack Ethereum's surprising pivot back to Layer 1, as insiders push for a more pragmatic roadmap and faster block times. MegaETH's 10ms testnet drops jaws and breaks dApps, while WalletConnect shocks the industry with a late-stage token launch. Meanwhile, Base stirs chaos with its “content coins,” OHM crashes $6B in hours, and Solana's token wars heat up. Is Ethereum finally finding its focus — or just reacting to the noise? It's a jam-packed Weekly Rollup you don't want to miss. Bread: https://x.com/0xBreadguy MegaETH: https://x.com/megaeth_labs Modern Market: https://x.com/modernmarket_ ------

OpenAI just rocked the week with a groundbreaking memory update, sparking debate over whether “soul data” is the real moat in AI. Google fires back with its Agent‑to‑Agent protocol and a Cursor‑killer. We riff on 1,000 AI agents unleashed in Minecraft, labs turning pets into humans, and how Dolphin AI somehow beat GTA 6 to market. Buckle up as David, Ejaaz, and Josh roll through the top five stories shaping the AI‑crypto frontier and what they mean for builders, traders, and the future of intelligence. David: https://x.com/TrustlessState Ejaaz: https://x.com/cryptopunk7213 Josh: https://x.com/Josh_Kale ------

Donald Trump is attempting something no leader has done before—unwind the global economic order. In this episode, Financial Times columnist and CNN analyst Rana Foroohar joins us to unpack Trump's economic strategy, the unraveling of Bretton Woods, and whether America is becoming an emerging market. From soaring bond yields to declining dollar strength, we explore what markets are signaling, how business leaders are reacting, and why this may mark the end of the neoliberal era. ------

Stablecoins are no longer a niche crypto curiosity—they're a full-blown financial revolution. In this episode, Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly, joins us to unpack the emerging stablecoin tech stack and why cross-border payments, savings, and financial infrastructure are being rebuilt from the ground up. From Circle and Tether to next-gen orchestration layers and stablecoin-native blockchains, we explore why this $200 trillion global opportunity is only 5% unlocked—and who stands to win the most.------

This week, Haseeb Qureshi joins us to break down Trump's explosive new tariffs that rocked global markets and triggered a full-blown trade war with China. Stocks whipsawed, recession odds spiked, and the world scrambled to the negotiation table — except China. Was it 3D chess or policy chaos? Plus, we explore the ripple effects on crypto markets, investor sentiment, and what this all means for the future of U.S. economic leadership. It's a jam-packed Weekly Rollup you don't want to miss.Follow Haseeb on X:https://x.com/hosseeb ------

Welcome to the AI Rollup, your weekly ride through the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence! This week, we're joined by frontier tech enthusiast Josh Kale to unpack the drama around Meta's controversial launch of Llama 4, scrutinized for potentially overstating its capabilities. We dive into “AI 2027,” a provocative roadmap predicting espionage, geopolitical turmoil, and runaway intelligence, and explore Shopify's bold move making AI usage mandatory for employees. Plus, we cover Claude Education's groundbreaking efforts to boost student performance with tailored AI tutors and a16z's massive $20 billion AI startup fund aiming to shape the industry's next era.------

We've got the team behind Etherealize on the show today—Vivek Raman and Danny Ryan—to discuss their mission to onboard institutions, governments, and capital markets to Ethereum.We explore how Ethereum is “open for business” with L2 scaling, modular architecture, and a maturing regulatory landscape. The Etherealize team breaks down their dual structure—a for-profit consulting and product arm alongside a nonprofit focused on R&D and policy—to drive institutional adoption.------

This week, Alex Thorn joins us to unpack Trump's shocking tariff announcement that sent markets plunging and investors scrambling. Circle files for its IPO, revealing surprising financials, while the FDIC gives banks the crypto green light. CoreWeave debuts with a blockbuster IPO, and Eric Trump dives deeper into Bitcoin mining. We cover all this chaos and more in this week's Weekly Rollup. Follow Alex on X & check out his Galaxy Brains podcast: https://x.com/intangiblecoinshttps://www.galaxy.com/insights/podcasts/galaxy-brains/ ------

AI heats up, markets shake, and the internet gets Ghbilified. OpenAI hits 1M users in 60 minutes, CoreWeave IPO rocks NASDAQ, and XAI acquires X. A new “world's best” model quietly drops—did Google just take the lead? Cursor raises at a $9.6B valuation as “vibecoding” enters the mainstream. Welcome back to another week of the AI Rollup. ------

Felipe Montealegre, co-founder of Thea Capital, joins us to unpack a new vision for global finance—what he calls the Internet Financial System. Felipe makes the case that today's financial world still runs on siloed, permissioned databases—slow, expensive, and riddled with gatekeepers. But blockchains and smart contracts offer something radically different: a unified, open system where capital can move efficiently across borders and property rights are stronger than ever. This episode is a must-listen for anyone wondering how crypto is building the financial infrastructure of the 21st century.------

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev returns to Bankless for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of tokenization, crypto regulation, and Robinhood's evolving product suite. Vlad lays out a bold vision for bringing tokenized assets like SpaceX and OpenAI equity to retail investors, discusses the role of prediction markets as "truth machines," and introduces Robinhood's latest products: Strategies, Cortex, and Banking. This one's a big glimpse into where TradFi and DeFi collide.------