Crypto Curious

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious.This week we've got 3 big stories to cover - starting with a $387 million attack on Bitget, allegedly linked to North Korean hackers — but the really interesting part might be what Bitget did next, and the crisis playbook it had ready to go.Then, your stocks just went DeFi. Coinbase's tokenized shares are now being accepted as collateral on Aave, bringing traditional assets directly into the world of decentralised lending. And finally, Europe is switching on the digital euro. The ECB has activated its first live system, with a 2029 launch target — and potentially some pretty big implications for how Europeans pay, move and hold money. So, we've got a crypto heist, Wall Street moving deeper into DeFi, and the euro getting a digital upgrade.Let's get into it

Before we get into this week's stories… we need to talk about Bitcoin, because the group chats are ON FIRE.Bitcoin has smashed through $85,000, with both Bitcoin and Ethereum up around 10% this week — and technical traders are getting very excited about what that breakout could mean.But while the charts are doing their thing, Washington has been having a slightly different kind of week.The big US crypto bill failed in the Senate… and within 48 hours, the regulators basically said, "Fine, we'll do it ourselves."We've also got a new AI scam where 224 people were tricked into deploying wallet-draining smart contracts themselves — proving once again that in crypto, sometimes the biggest threat is the person holding the wallet.And finally, DeFi is building a new door for the institutions. Aave wants Wall Street to be able to borrow against Bitcoin while keeping that Bitcoin safely tucked away with a regulated custodian.Let's get into it

This week in crypto we've got hackers who stole $320 million in Bitcoin… then gave most of it back and asked for a $47 million thank-you payment.Yep. Apparently even crypto criminals are negotiating their bounties now.We've also got Jack Dorsey making the ultimate establishment move — Block has applied for a US banking charter to custody Bitcoin and stablecoins. Because apparently the road to decentralisation now goes through the banking regulator.And finally, the LAPTOP update we've been waiting for. Hunter Biden's memecoin launched, briefly rocketed to a $1.6 billion implied market cap… and then crashed 98% in its first hour. And the wallet trail behind it is raising a few eyebrows.So: polite hackers, Bitcoin banks and another celebrity memecoin spectacular.Let's get into it

It's never a dull week in crypto, folks.First up, Hunter Biden is launching a memecoin called LAPTOP — aimed squarely at people who've lost money on the Trump memecoin. And the timing is pretty extraordinary, because memecoin trading is roaring back, with Robinhood Chain posting record volumes.Then, Bitcoin miners are quitting Bitcoin for AI. Some of the biggest players in the industry are shutting down mining operations and turning their power-hungry warehouses over to AI — because apparently GPUs are now a better business than Bitcoin.And finally, El Salvador's Bitcoin mystery deepens. The IMF says the country's Bitcoin stash has continued growing thanks to private donations... from donors who, so far, nobody seems willing to name.Let's get into it

This week, we've got a very special guest joining us for this week's crypto news — Peter Stanhope, General Manager Australia at Nexo.Peter has spent almost a decade at IG Australia, co-founded superannuation startup GigSuper, ran Capital.com's Australian operations, jumped the fence into crypto with Banxa, and now heads up Nexo here in Australia — just as they've launched regulated crypto-backed credit lines Down Under.Welcome, Peter!So what have we got for you this week?First up, we're going inside Nexo with Peter to find out how a crypto platform went from a 2018 startup to more than 7 million customers — and what regulated crypto-backed lending actually looks like for Australians.Then, California has had enough of politician memecoins. Its legislature has unanimously voted to ban public officials from launching their own coins — because apparently this is a problem we now need laws for.And finally, we've got 4,000 goats, an insane wage law and a prediction market. A California goat-herding company has literally hedged the risk of a $240,000 wage bill by betting on whether the government will fix the law.Let's get into it.

I'm Blake, and Tracey is taking a break this week, but you're not stuck with just me. We've got two great co-hosts joining us.First, a returning favourite, seasoned digital asset investor Ben Ritchie is back on the show. And making his debut behind the mic, James Brannan.And before we get into it, a quick favour: we'd love you to take our two-minute listener survey. Your feedback genuinely helps us make the show better, and there's a link in the show notes.Now, Ben and James, you've picked quite a week to jump behind the mic.Bitcoin has absolutely ripped. After months of grinding sideways and down, it jumped 22% in a single week, going from around $64,000 to almost $80,000 — its best week since 2023.And this wasn't just one thing.The US Treasury started pumping more liquidity into the market. Trump invited one of crypto's biggest offshore exchanges to come into America. And the SEC just proposed its first crypto-specific fundraising framework in 90 years.So, what's actually going on? Let's get into it

This week on Crypto Curious, we're fresh off our 1 million download celebration - and what a week to get back to the news desk. Thank you again for all the love on the reunion episode; now the crypto world has served up one of the wildest news weeks of the year.

This is not a normal week...Because Crypto Curious has just hit 1 million downloads — and you can't have a celebration like that without getting the gang back together.So joining us this week is the one and only Craig Jackson, our original partner in crypto, who was here for more than half of the almost five years we've been making this show.

This week on Crypto Curious, we're also celebrating a milestone that's just around the corner. Next week's episode marks 1 million podcast downloads, and to celebrate we're bringing back our original co-host Craig for a special reunion episode. If you've been with us since the early days—or you're only just discovering the show—you won't want to miss it.But first, there's plenty happening this week.

This week feels less like a crypto podcast... and more like the script of a Netflix crime series.

Welcome back to Crypto Curious. Joining us in the studio this week is a very special guest, James Coombes, Chief Commercial Officer at Block Earner. James has helped lead one of Australia's biggest crypto success stories, with Block Earner launching Bitcoin-backed home loans, securing its Australian Credit Licence and taking home the 2026 Finnies Award for Excellence in Consumer Lending.

This week, we're looking at three stories that all ask the same question: who really controls the money?

The crypto industry has matured rapidly over the past few years, but what's next?This week on Crypto Curious, we sat down with Tamas Szabo, Group CEO of Pepperstone Crypto, to discuss the evolution of digital assets, where the market is heading, and what it will take for crypto to become part of everyday finance.Whether you're new to crypto or have been following the industry for years, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on where we're headed next.Let's get into it

I'm Blake, and Tracey is taking a well-earned break this week, but I'm joined by a very special guest co-host, Jonno Newman from TRM Labs.If you haven't come across TRM before, they're one of the world's leading blockchain intelligence firms, working with governments, law enforcement agencies and some of the biggest crypto businesses on the planet to investigate hacks, trace stolen funds and follow the money on-chain. Jonno, great to have you with us.And you've picked a fascinating week to jump in.

This week, we begin in Europe, where Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is being forced to wind down services across parts of the European Union after failing to meet the region's new MiCA licensing requirements. It's one of the clearest examples yet of regulators saying that even the biggest names in crypto have to play by a new set of rules.Then we turn to an unlikely showdown. Nearly one hundred Catholic bishops and faith leaders have publicly opposed a major piece of US crypto legislation, arguing it could make human trafficking and financial crime harder to combat. It's a fascinating debate that goes well beyond digital assets and asks a much bigger question: where should innovation end and public responsibility begin?And finally, Mark Zuckerberg is back. Meta is reportedly building its own prediction markets platform, setting its sights on companies like Polymarket and Kalshi. Whether it's politics, sport or global events, prediction markets are quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing areas of crypto—and now one of the world's biggest technology companies wants a seat at the table.Let's get into it.

This week, we're looking at three stories that all point to the same conclusion: crypto is becoming increasingly tied to the institutions it once claimed to replace.

Because tax time is upon us yet again, this week we are re-sharing this BONUS

This week, we're looking at a market that's sending two very different messages at the same time.

This week, we're looking at three stories that show just how quickly sentiment can change in this market.

This week feels like one of those episodes where you can genuinely feel the crypto industry shifting under the surface.

Joining Blake and Tracey this week is a very special guest — Kate Cooper, CEO of OKX Australia. Kate's spent more than a decade across media, financial services, and digital assets, and has become one of the most respected voices in the Australian crypto industry.There's a lot to cover this week, so let's get straight into it:

I'm Blake, and this week we're joined by crypto educator and coach Will Wright — better known online as @cryptocoachwill — who's built a strong following helping everyday people actually understand this space, instead of just chasing headlines and memes.And honestly… this week feels like one of those moments where crypto starts looking a lot more mature than people expected.Bitcoin has just had its biggest week of the year, briefly touching $82,000 for the first time since January before cooling off again. We'll unpack what actually drove the move, why the rally stalled where it did, and whether this is the beginning of a bigger market shift… or just another short-term burst of optimism.Then we get into one of the more fascinating stories we've seen in a while. After last month's massive $292 million Kelp DAO exploit, the DeFi ecosystem has somehow managed to coordinate a $320 million rescue effort for affected Aave users — and the story now reportedly includes a bizarre legal twist involving North Korea.And finally, BlackRock is doubling down on blockchain in a very serious way. The world's largest asset manager has just filed for two brand new tokenised funds with the SEC, adding even more fuel to the rapidly growing real-world asset sector — a market that's already pushing past $30 billion.Let's get into it

This week… crypto feels like it's being pulled in three completely different directions at once.

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast brought to you by the Bamboo App - the easiest way to start investing small amounts in crypto!

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast!This week… it feels like crypto just stress-tested itself — and not everything held up.

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast!Trace is away this week, so we have Blake and Jonno Newman from TRM Labs on the mic.

This week, crypto didn't just move… it reacted.

This week's episode is all about power — who has it, who's fighting for it, and how it's reshaping the future of crypto. We

By the end of the weekend, we were back below $69K, all triggered by a single geopolitical curveball. A post from Donald Trump on Truth Social referencing Iran was enough to rattle global markets, and with a key deadline expiring today, the uncertainty isn't exactly behind us.But while prices were reacting in real time, regulators were doing something far more deliberate.In a move that could reshape the entire industry, the SEC and CFTC have, for the first time, formally identified 16 crypto assets — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and XRP — as commodities, not securities. It's the kind of clarity the market has been asking for… and it could change how institutions, products, and capital flow into this space from here.And then there's what's happening behind the scenes — because while headlines focus on price and policy, the Bitcoin network itself is under pressure.Mining difficulty just dropped nearly 8%, one of the biggest declines we've seen this year. At the same time, the average cost to mine a single Bitcoin is sitting around $88,000… while it's trading closer to $69,000. In simple terms: a lot of miners are operating at a loss right now.So today, we're unpacking all of it — the macro shock that moved the market, the regulatory shift that could define what comes next, and the growing stress signals under the surface.Let's get into it

This week feels like one of those moments where crypto takes another step toward the mainstream while still attracting just as much criticism as ever.

This week's episode is all about a shift in power, from institutions stepping further into crypto, to global markets reminding us why Bitcoin exists in the first place.

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.I'm Tracey, and as always, I'm joined by Blake. This week feels like a stress test for the entire space.

Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast, brought to you weekly by the Bamboo App.This week we're looking at how power in crypto is shifting, from social platforms to billionaire investors, to policymakers.

I'm Tracey, and this week feels like one of those defining moments where crypto shows its true colours.

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.We'll get straight into it - this week's episode is all about conviction — who really has it, who thinks they do, and what happens when the market pushes back.

On this week's Crypto Curious podcast, we break down three stories that say a lot about where the market is right now: speculation, security, and what's coming next.Here's what we cover:

Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast — brought to you by the Bamboo App.I'm Tracey, and this week we're looking at a set of stories that all point to one big shift: crypto adoption isn't coming from where people expected.

This week we're looking at a set of stories that all circle the same uncomfortable question: who really has the power in crypto right now?

Welcome to the Crypto Curious podcast, and our first episode for the year!I'm Tracey, and today Blake and I are unpacking a week that feels quietly important as we settle into 2026.

Welcome back to the Crypto Curious podcast - our final for 2025!Today's episode is a special one as our O.G crew is back together. I'm Tracey and joining me in the hot seat are Blake and Craig Jackson for our end-of-year wrap.We're looking back at the year that was in crypto, the all-time highs, the pullbacks, the memecoin madness, the slower but crucial progress on regulation, and what all of it meant for everyday investors using dollar cost averaging.We'll unpack the biggest themes that defined 2025, dig deeper into a few of the most important shifts, and then finish with our thoughts on what could matter most in 2026 and beyond.It's been a big year — so let's get into it

This week on Crypto Curious, Tracey and Blake are joined by special guest Michael Prendiville — CEO of JellyC and fresh off a DECA award recognising his contribution to the Australian crypto industry.Michael brings his trademark pragmatic, risk-aware lens to a big week of news: