Molly White's Citation Needed

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Keep up with the happenings in the tech world without all the boosterism. Cryptocurrency critic, technology researcher, and software engineer Molly White publishes Citation Needed, a newsletter that features weekly explainers of developments in the cryptocurrency industry, with summaries of the latest disasters featured on her well-known project Web3 is Going Just Great.

Molly White


    • Apr 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 23m AVG DURATION
    • 89 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Molly White's Citation Needed

    Issue 82 – E-moluments

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 28:08 Transcription Available


    As Celsius victims detail their devastation even under the weak crypto regulations of the past, the Trump administration continues to dismantle those same rules while he pumps his personal memecoin with promises of private access. Originally published on April 24, 2025.

    Trump's newest grift: Building a cryptocurrency empire while destroying its regulators

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 23:13 Transcription Available


    Inside the Trump family's sprawling crypto empire — from memecoins to mining — and how Trump is using presidential power to dismantle the regulators who could stop it. Originally published April 17, 2025.

    Issue 81 – Crypto crime is legal

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 22:07 Transcription Available


    Trump continues to dismantle crypto enforcement while expanding his personal crypto empire. Originally published on April 8, 2025.

    Issue 80 – Aimed at benefiting the digital assets industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 26:52 Transcription Available


    As the US government lays a very favorable groundwork for the crypto industry, Trump positions himself for maximum personal profit. Originally published on March 28, 2025.

    Issue 79 – Mundus sine Caesaribus

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 26:48 Transcription Available


    The crypto industry frees itself from the last remnants of SEC oversight, and Solana tries to appeal to its target demographic by bashing trans people. Originally published on March 20, 2025.

    “Wait, not like that”: Free and open access in the age of generative AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 13:30 Transcription Available


    The real threat isn't AI using open knowledge — it's AI companies killing the projects that make knowledge free. Originally published on March 14, 2025.

    Crypto reserves: no public good, no principles

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 10:58 Transcription Available


    The formerly anti-government bitcoin movement abandons its principles in favor of number-go-up, applauds federal plan to stockpile seized crypto with no clear benefit to national interest. Originally published on March 11, 2025.

    Issue 78 – President on brink of bailout for bitcoin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 32:59 Transcription Available


    Trump tries to breathe life back into the “Trump pump” while federal regulatory agencies wash their hands of any crypto industry oversight. Originally published on March 2, 2025.

    Issue 77 – Whenever presidents get involved, if they become angry, you don't want to be there

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 25:48 Transcription Available


    A major crypto scandal tarnishes the reputation of Solana bigwigs, crypto influencers, and Argentine President Javier Milei. “This is FTX type of shit,” said a crypto founder confronting Meteora's Ben Chow over alleged insider trading. Originally published on February 18, 2025.

    The crypto industry's debanking smokescreen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 34:32 Transcription Available


    Cryptocurrency companies have co-opted legitimate concerns about banking discrimination to fight regulation — and Congress is buying it. Originally published on February 14, 2025.

    Issue 76 – Tripartisan legislation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 30:09 Transcription Available


    Crypto exchanges face legal troubles, and Trump's crypto empire grows as regulations are slashed and enforcement is sidelined. Originally published on February 5, 2025.

    Trump's Project 2025 ghostwriters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 8:04 Transcription Available


    Exposed PDF metadata from the Office of Personnel Management reveals that Heritage Foundation-linked Trump devotees are writing policies at federal agencies. Originally published on January 27, 2025.

    Issue 75 – Absolutely preposterous

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 34:36 Transcription Available


    Trump horrifies even some of his crypto-steeped fans by launching a memecoin before his inauguration, and a flurry of activity from the new administration signals what's in store for the crypto world in the next four years. Originally published on January 24, 2025.

    No, Trump didn't make $50 billion from his memecoin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 20:00 Transcription Available


    Journalists' flawed math and ignorance of crypto markets turn tokens into fake fortunes. Originally published on January 20, 2025.

    Issue 74 – Stop asking me questions like “where does the yield come from”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 30:57 Transcription Available


    Regulators and lawmakers eagerly prepare to abdicate any last traces of interest in the wellbeing of everyday Americans as they suck up to the powerful billionaires who will soon be publicly calling the shots. Originally published on January 17, 2025.

    Issue 73 – Degen volunteer fire brigade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 23:56 Transcription Available


    Terra founder Do Kwon is finally extradited, the CFPB proposes crypto consumer protections, and Polymarket reaches new lows. Originally published on January 10, 2025.

    Elon Musk and the right's war on Wikipedia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 32:31 Transcription Available


    The world's richest man has joined a growing chorus of right-wing voices attacking Wikipedia as part of an intensifying campaign against free and open access information. Originally published on January 2, 2025.

    Not just one bad apple: FTX's practices were business as usual in crypto

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 40:29 Transcription Available


    Adversary cases from the FTX collapse further expose how crypto companies do business: with secret acquisitions of “grey area” businesses, buying influence, and creative accounting. Originally published on December 30, 2024.

    Issue 72 – A seat at the table

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 40:13 Transcription Available


    The SEC is still busy even though it may soon be undermined, crypto industry capture of government continues to worsen, and several media outlets botch their crypto reporting at a time it's needed most. Originally published on December 23, 2024.

    Issue 71 – (Crypto) banks are not your friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 35:28 Transcription Available


    Celsius' Alex Mashinsky pleads guilty to fraud, some Tornado Cash sanctions are overturned, and billionaires complain about “debanking”. Originally published on December 5, 2024.

    The Cryptocurrency Industry's Unprecedented Election Spending

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 38:14 Transcription Available


    The cryptocurrency industry spent almost $200 million to influence the outcomes of the 2024 United States elections. This unprecedented degree of corporate spending from a relatively small industry had a major effect — but probably not in the way you think.Let's talk about where the money came from, where it went, what the cryptocurrency industry's goals are in politics, and what to do now.This is an audio version of my original video.

    Issue 70 – The Cryptocurrency States of America

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 38:12 Transcription Available


    Crypto's efforts to buy the 2024 elections paid off, and we're in for a bumpy ride. Originally posted on November 15, 2024.

    Wind the clock

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 16:03 Transcription Available


    A message to those asking “what do I do now?” Originally published on November 8, 2024.

    Issue 69 – Nice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 42:38 Transcription Available


    Coinbase threatens me that continuing to report on their activities would be “.... unwise”. Also, election spending hits a fever pitch, with several new crypto PACs coming out of the woodwork. Originally published on November 2, 2024.

    I am my own legal department: the promise and peril of “just go independent”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 12:47 Transcription Available


    Independent publishing is one important facet of the media ecosystem, and while I love it, I know it is not the path for everyone. Originally published on October 26, 2024.

    Guilty or coerced? Ryan Salame's last interviews before prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 28:21 Transcription Available


    Unpacking my conversation with FTX executive Ryan Salame, where we discussed his claims that he's innocent of the charges for which he's now serving seven and a half years in prison. Originally published on October 21, 2024.

    Issue 68 – Opportunity agenda

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 46:47 Transcription Available


    Harris shouts out crypto in her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men”, one crypto exec leaves prison as another enters, and Stand With Crypto bets on the favorites. Originally published on October 16, 2024.

    Fighting for our web

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 23:21 Transcription Available


    Earlier this year, I gave a talk at the XOXO festival in Portland, Oregon about the very important fight for our web, and how we can all play a part in it. Here's a recording of that talk.

    Caroline Ellison: A woman with agency or a helpless pawn?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 11:08 Transcription Available


    Why did the former Alameda Research CEO receive only two years imprisonment for her role in the FTX collapse? Originally published on October 2, 2024.

    POSSE: Reclaiming social media in a fragmented world

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 9:27 Transcription Available


    A simple technique offers the best of both worlds: total control over your own work, while still maintaining a presence on third-party platforms. Originally published on September 27, 2024.

    Issue 67 – Bug out bitcoin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 27:10 Transcription Available


    Crypto resurfaces on the campaign trail and the FTX fallout continues to unfold. Also, merch! Originally published on September 23, 2024.

    Issue 66 – Pretensions to relevance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 26:00 Transcription Available


    FTX fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried says he wants a do-over just as Celsius fraudster Alex Mashinsky goes to trial, and some more ill-received blockchain games suggest “GameFi” has an uncertain future. Originally published on September 17, 2024.

    Big publishers think libraries are the enemy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 25:44 Transcription Available


    The recent Second Circuit decision in Hachette v. Internet Archive is only the latest battle in the war on libraries and the freedom to read. Originally published on September 12, 2024.

    Issue 65 – World Liberty Fiasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 36:32 Transcription Available


    Even the most pro-Trump crypto faithful think Trump's new crypto scheme is a terrible idea. Also, an FTX crypto executive earns some benefit of the doubt, a lawsuit accuses “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli of disrespecting the Wu-Tang Clan, and there's a hamburglary.Originally published on September 6, 2024.

    Polling: Are Democratic voters really “increasingly gravitating towards crypto”?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 44:15 Transcription Available


    Paradigm has polled some Democratic voters about crypto and released a summary of their results. How does it stack up to other industry polls, which are often heavily manipulated to paint a deceptively rosy picture? Originally published on August 30, 2024.

    Issue 64 – Pointing its arsenal at our friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 25:02 Transcription Available


    As parts of the crypto industry scramble to court the Harris administration with events like “Crypto4Harris”, others insist it is Harris who must “bend the knee”.Originally published on August 17, 2024.

    Sexism in Bitcoin: an interview with Lyn Alden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 48:47


    I'm joined by investment strategist and bitcoiner Lyn Alden to continue an earlier conversation about sexism in the bitcoin world.Links we discuss in this interview:DL News article on the gender breakdown of speakers at Bitcoin 2024Association for Women in Cryptocurrency (AWIC) "State of Inclusion" survey Pantera survey on gender and pay in the industry"Understanding Bitcoin Adoption in the United States: Politics, Demographics, & Sentiment" by Andrew Perkins and Troy CrossPeter McCormack's podcast, What Bitcoin DidLetter to the DNC by Democratic Congresspeople and candidatesA Progressive's Case for BitcoinProgressive Bitcoiner podcast

    Issue 63 – RobConf 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 36:40 Transcription Available


    Coinbase responds to campaign finance violation allegations, Trump panders to bitcoiners, and I talk about my chat with Lyn Alden about sexism in bitcoin.Originally published on August 7, 2024.

    Coinbase appears to have violated campaign finance laws with a $25 million super PAC donation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 11:13 Transcription Available


    Actively involved in contract negotiations with a federal government agency, Coinbase was likely prohibited from making its $25 million contribution to the Fairshake crypto super PAC in May 2024.Originally published on July 30, 2024.

    When did cryptocurrency policy become a voter issue?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 11:59 Transcription Available


    I don't believe that it has. In addition to all the spending, the cryptocurrency industry has been working overtime to sell a story: that there is a large contingent of voters who will be strongly factoring in candidates' crypto policy stances when they vote in the upcoming elections. The problem is, it's a story that does not seem to be well supported by data.Originally published on July 29, 2024.

    Issue 62 – Grassroots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 38:44 Transcription Available


    Coinbase's Stand With Crypto Alliance fudges the numbers, a (former) crypto industry CEO has a meltdown, and another exchange suffers a nine-figure hack. Originally published on July 23, 2024.

    Follow the Crypto

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 5:31 Transcription Available


    FollowTheCrypto.org: A new project to track cryptocurrency industry spending to influence 2024 elections in the United States. Originally published on July 12, 2024.

    Issue 61 – Soft war by the enemy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 25:21 Transcription Available


    How will recent Supreme Court decisions affect the crypto world? Also, more absurdity from the crypto lobby, and some new regulatory actions. Originally published on July 5, 2024.

    Issue 60 – Raging in favor of the machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 26:36 Transcription Available


    The crypto industry jumps on the Trump train. Originally published on June 24, 2024.

    Issue 59 – Hot damn, this is going to get interesting quickly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 26:45 Transcription Available


    Are US legislators warming to crypto? The SEC approves Ethereum ETPs, and a crypto bill gets through the House. Originally published on June 7, 2024.

    Cryptocurrency companies have raised over $115 million to influence US elections this cycle, and they're just getting started

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 12:20 Transcription Available


    As election season kicks into high gear, we need to watch how cryptocurrency companies are influencing US politics. Originally published on May 30, 2024.

    Privacy, human rights, and Tornado Cash

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 22:42 Transcription Available


    I am more worried about privacy than crypto crime. Originally published on May 23, 2024.

    Issue 58 – Threats to the stability and integrity of Ethereum

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2024 24:02 Transcription Available


    The Justice Department worries about the stability of Ethereum, DCG tries to bilk their subsidiary's creditors, and Biden threatens a crypto veto. Originally published on May 18, 2024.

    Issue 57 - I take deep breath and I get real high

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 30:25 Transcription Available


    Changpeng Zhao's sentencing, FOIA requests reveal past FBI investigations into Coinbase, and the SEC is on a Wells notice bender. Originally published May 7, 2024.

    We can have a different web

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 16:26 Transcription Available


    Many yearn for the "good old days" of the web. We could have those good old days back — or something even better — and if anything, it would be easier now than it ever was. Originally published on May 1, 2024.

    Issue 56 – What are you gonna do, arrest me?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 28:24 Transcription Available


    The Binance CEO's sentencing draws near, and prosecutors have been busy chasing down other crypto criminals. Also, lawmakers take another stab at stablecoin regulation. Originally published on April 25, 2024.

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