Web3 Academy: Exploring Utility In NFTs, DAOs, Crypto & The Metaverse

Is this the beginning of the parabolic move we've been waiting for? In this episode, Jay Hamilton is joined by Kevin Kelly (Delphi Digital) and Jesse Eckel (OpEx Ventures) to unpack why Bitcoin's all-time high might just be the opening act, not the finale. They get into the macro forces driving markets, global liquidity signals most investors are missing, and why the real fuel for this bull market might still be loading. ~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Ducoff, Head of Institutional Growth at the Solana Foundation, to unpack why Wall Street is betting on Solana… and not Ethereum. Visa. PayPal. BlackRock. Franklin Templeton. Fiserv. They're not just dipping their toes; they're building real products on Solana. But why? Is Solana's unified liquidity model the killer feature? Is Ethereum too fragmented and slow for finance at scale? And is the Genius Act the real spark that lit the institutional fire?~~~~~

The U.S. government just hit the shutdown switch. The debt spiral is accelerating. Gold is pumping. Bonds are dying. So… why is Bitcoin still lagging? And what does that mean heading into Q4? In today's episode, Jay sits down with macro expert and former Wall Street CFO Trajan King to unpack one of the most important setups in crypto right now.~~~~~

In this episode, Jamie Coutts, Chief Crypto Analyst at Real Vision, drops a masterclass on why the real top for Bitcoin and altcoins could come in 2026, not 2025. We dive into the macro forces, liquidity flows, and onchain data that most investors completely overlook. ~~~~~

Q4 is here, and the market's heating up. But while most investors are chasing memes and micro-caps, Slava Rubin is doing something completely different, and it might just crush the entire quarter. In this episode, Slava reveals the one crypto strategy he's using to navigate Q4 2025, and it's not what you'd expect. From avoiding token #641, to stacking asymmetric bets, to front-running the AI pre-IPO wave, this convo is packed with real insights, not recycled Twitter noise.~~~~~

In this episode, Jay Hamilton sits down with Milk Road Pro researcher Martin to break down the 6 crypto mega-trends that will dominate the next decade and what that means for your portfolio. From fintechs turning into blockchains to Bitcoin miners becoming AI infrastructure giants… this one's not about chasing hype. It's about spotting the biggest asymmetric bets early.~~~~~

Crypto just suffered a brutal shakeout $1.6 billion in liquidations, ETH back under $4K, and Bitcoin stumbling… but is this really the top of the bull run? In this emergency episode, the full squad huddles together for a no-panic, no-BS breakdown of what's really going on in the market. While crypto Twitter melts down and influencers scream “cycle top!”, the team takes a step back to analyze the macro picture, liquidity flows, historical cycle patterns, and the real catalysts that could still be ahead. ~~~~~

Stocks are flying. Gold is ripping. Even meme coins are waking up. But crypto's king, Bitcoin, is still taking a nap. In today's episode, Scott Melker joins us to unpack why crypto is lagging behind in a macro environment that should be rocket fuel. Is the Fed totally neutered? Has the four-year cycle broken? And are we entering a new era where AI, ETFs, and Perp DEXs reshape the game?~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with William Quigley, co-founder of Tether and WAX, to unpack why he thinks the Bitcoin cycle is broken, why DATs are a terrible idea, and how smart investors should actually plan their entries and exits. Quigley has over 40 years of investing experience, and he's not here to sugarcoat anything. If you're blindly riding the bull market without a plan, you're exactly who this episode is for.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Avichal Garg (Co-Founder of Electric Capital) to unpack why Ethereum is entering its breakout moment, how DATs are fueling this trend, and what happens when $5 trillion of stablecoin demand hits the blockchain. From Wall Street's quiet ETH allocation to the hidden yield machines being built in DeFi, this episode covers the flywheels, risks, and asymmetric opportunities that most crypto investors are sleeping on.~~~~~

In this episode, Coinbase's Head of Research, David Duong, returns to the show and drops some massive insight bombs. He breaks down why the macro backdrop is setting up perfectly, why institutions could front-run retail, and why most traders are completely misreading the cycle. From Fed rate cuts to DAT fatigue, from Bitcoin NAV compression to the real reason $7T in cash might soon flood into risk assets, this one's a full-on macro + crypto masterclass. ~~~~~

In today's episode, macro expert Michael Nadeau joins us to break down what the first 25bps cut of 2025 really means, not just for the stock market, but for Bitcoin, ETH, altcoins, and everything in between.We've got bullish macro tailwinds, tight credit spreads, strong retail sales… and yet? Crypto feels stuck in the mud.Has the market already priced in the pivot, or are we just warming up for a parabolic Q4? ~~~~~

Is Ethereum losing its crown to Solana? Is the Base token finally dropping? And are apps like Pump.fun and Hyperliquid becoming more important than the chains they run on? In today's episode, Blockworks' Head of Research Ryan Connor joins Jesse Eckel and Jay Hamilton to break down the real battle happening beneath the charts, where the future of crypto is being shaped by app-level innovation, not just Layer 1s.~~~~~

In this episode, we're joined by Nic from CoinBureau, one of the sharpest minds in crypto, to break down the exact playbook he's using for Q4 and beyond, including his Bitcoin price targets, altcoin rotation strategy, and why he's still holding SUI, ETH, and SOL. We talk ETFs, Fed rate cuts, liquidity waves, Hyperliquid's new stablecoin, and why most altcoins might get left behind this cycle.~~~~~

In this episode, we get into how ETH is transforming into the infrastructure layer for global finance, AI agents, and verifiable trust. Joined by two crypto heavyweights, Joseph Chalom (Co-CEO of SharpLink) and Sreeram Kannan (Founder & CEO of EigenLayer), we break down how DATs are accumulating billions in ETH, how they're restaking it for yield, and why ETH may be becoming the most important asset in the world.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Alexander Cutler (Aerodrome) and Merlin Egalité (Morpho Labs) to unpack how Coinbase is plugging into DeFi rails letting millions of users borrow, lend, and trade onchain without ever touching a MetaMask wallet. Here's the twist: Coinbase doesn't own Morpho or Aerodrome. Yet, they're routing billions in volume through them, buying governance tokens, and earning revenue as if they built them. This is the hidden playbook that could define the next DeFi boom.~~~~~

What if we told you there's a way to earn yield on ETH, tap public markets, and build a MicroStrategy-style ETH compounding machine, all without touching a hardware wallet? In today's episode, we sit down with Ethereum OG Andrew Keys and SPAC expert Andrejka Bernátová to reveal the “Ether Machine”, a next-gen Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) that could change how institutions invest in ETH forever.~~~~~

Everyone's chasing 100x memecoins… Meanwhile, Bitcoin is co-opting the entire global financial system, and almost no one sees it coming. In this episode, we sit down with David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc. and Nakamoto, to unpack the most misunderstood truth in crypto today: Bitcoin isn't boring, it's the most asymmetric bet of this generation.~~~~~

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we're joined by Sandy Kaul, Head of Digital Asset Innovation at Franklin Templeton, and a TradFi heavyweight with stints at Goldman Sachs, Citibank, JP Morgan, and more. Sandy isn't just throwing buzzwords. She's calling it like it is: “The next 5 years will bring more change to finance than the last 50.” From tokenized equities to AI-managed wallets, Sandy breaks down why the future of finance won't be account-based; it'll be wallet-based. And how crypto rails are about to absorb trillions in legacy assets.~~~~~

Is the legendary 4-year Bitcoin cycle still alive… or are we headed for something completely different?Today, we're joined by Frank Corva, Bitcoin Magazine's White House correspondent, fresh off a trip to Asia with front-row access to MetaPlanet's explosive rise, Bitcoin Asia's political shockwave, and the unexpected return of Japan as a BTC powerhouse. ~~~~~

Is Galaxy Digital the biggest sleeper play in crypto and AI? Duncan thinks so, and he's got the receipts. In this episode, we get into Duncan's full investment thesis: why he's faded altcoins, rotated into public market exposure, and is now massively long $GLXY, a crypto + AI hybrid stock with a power play you probably missed.~~~~~

In this episode, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart breaks down how the Ethereum ETF approval could be the Trojan Horse that unlocks a tidal wave of altcoin ETFs, think Solana, XRP, DOT, LINK, and more. But here's the twist: are the real gains hiding in public equities and digital asset treasuries (DATS) instead of tokens?~~~~~

In this episode, we're joined by Ryan Rasmussen, Head of Research at Bitwise, who breaks down their Bitcoin valuation model and why they think BTC could outperform every other asset class over the next decade. We're digging into why macro factors like U.S. debt, rate cuts, and global monetary chaos could make Bitcoin the go-to asset for institutions, retail, and even governments.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Alvin Hsia, the co-founder of Ventuals, a new trading platform built on Hyperliquid that lets you speculate on the valuations of pre-IPO giants using crypto perp markets. This isn't theory. It's live on testnet. It's racked up 16,000+ traders and $200M+ in volume in under a month. And it's changing the rules of access forever.~~~~~

In this episode, we bring on Dan McDermott, co-founder of The Chart Guys, to break down exactly what's happening with Bitcoin and Ethereum right now. Are we in for a blow-off top or a brutal correction? Will BTC crash below $95K, or are we on track for $150K? Is ETH still a strong long-term play, or is the narrative shifting?~~~~~

In today's episode, we sit down with Andrew Forson, President of DeFi Technologies, to uncover how billions in institutional capital are flowing into crypto through products most retail investors don't even know exist. From AI-powered portfolios and yield-bearing crypto indexes to ETFs and ETPs trading across Europe, Andrew breaks down how the next phase of adoption is being built, not by traders, but by pension funds, asset managers, and sovereign wealth funds.~~~~~

In this episode, Jesse Eckel returns to unpack what could be ahead for markets in Q4 2025, and why this cycle might look different from anything we've seen before. We dig into the macro setup, the potential for September rate cuts, and how liquidity, regulation, and market psychology could shape the next few months. Jesse also shares how he's approaching allocation, exits, and what he's watching most closely heading into year-end.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Luongo, a Bitcoin OG and founder of Thesis and Mezo, to explore a radically different approach: how to unlock the value of your BTC without ever selling a single satoshi.Matt breaks down the next evolution of Bitcoin utility, borrowing, yield, and Bitcoin-backed stablecoins, and why the future of finance might look a lot more like hodling + yield than buy high, sell low.~~~~~

In this episode, we're joined by the legendary Julio Moreno, Head of Research at CryptoQuant, who breaks down why Bitcoin's current “pause” phase could be the calm before a Q4 storm. We get into onchain data, ETF flows, whale behavior, and why Ethereum may have already had its moment. If you're wondering whether altseason is around the corner or already behind us… ~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Urban, Head of Global Trading at Galaxy Digital, to unpack why institutions are flooding into crypto, what that means for price, and how it could reshape the market for good. From $1B Solana digital treasuries to the tokenization of every financial asset on Earth, Jason lays out a vision that's both massive in scope… and already underway.~~~~~

Brian Rudick, CSO at Upexi, joins the show to break down why institutions are stacking SOL, and why they might know something you don't. We get into the mechanics of Solana-based treasury companies, premium multiples, staking yields, locked token discounts, and the capital flywheel that's reshaping crypto investing.~~~~~

In today's episode, Wall Street veteran and crypto M&A expert Elliot Chun lays out a bold thesis: the Crypto Core, a group of emerging, publicly traded crypto-native companies, could outperform the Magnificent Seven over the next 10 years.~~~~~

In today's episode, Coinbase's Head of Research, David Duong, returns to break down what's actually going on under the hood of this market. From the Fed's next move to institutional ETH flows, Duong shares the key signals he's tracking, and why everything may hinge on September.~~~~~

In this episode, we explore why tokenized stocks could be the next trillion-dollar wave, and possibly an even bigger breakthrough than stablecoins. Jay sits down with Ian De Bode, Chief Strategy Officer at Ondo Finance, to uncover the explosive potential behind putting traditional equities like $AAPL and $TSLA onchain. From liquidity challenges and global investor access to DeFi-native trading of U.S. stocks, we're talking about how crypto is not just replacing money, it's coming for Wall Street.~~~~~

In this episode, The Tie CEO Joshua Frank joins us to break down why this market rally feels more like the 7th inning than the first. We're talking dry powder piles, the DAT (Digital Asset Treasury) explosion, and whether Ethereum's fundamentals are falling apart while price action screams higher.~~~~~

In today's episode, we sit down with Eric Jackson, founder of EMJ Capital and the mastermind behind some of the most legendary 100x trades in tech and crypto. Eric shares how he uses AI-powered strategies to spot asymmetric investment opportunities before the crowd, and breaks down 5 of his highest-conviction bets right now, including Ethereum, DeFi Technologies, and Open.~~~~~

In today's episode, we get into the heart of Bitcoin's bull run with Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, the guy whose charts institutions are watching. From MicroStrategy's high-stakes Bitcoin playbook to 150+ digital asset treasury companies now buying BTC daily, this episode breaks down the macro forces driving Bitcoin to potentially new all-time highs.~~~~~

In this episode, we're joined by crypto educator and investor Adam Stokes, who drops one of the most explosive takes on the 2025 bull cycle we've heard yet. From Bitcoin to $250K to why stablecoins are now backing the dollar, Adam breaks down the macro forces, altcoin winners, and institutional shifts that are rewriting the crypto playbook.~~~~~

Today, we unpack why ETH ETFs nearly matched BTC inflows in July and why digital asset treasuries (DATs) are hoovering up Ethereum like it's a Costco free sample day. Is this a real supply squeeze or just another hype cycle with better math? Avichal Garg (Electric Capital) joins to break down the MicroStrategy playbook, the premium-to-NAV trap, and how $7T parked in money markets + potential Fed cuts could turbo-charge crypto's next leg.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo, to reveal why this new law could be the biggest catalyst for crypto since Bitcoin ETFs… and the worst news banks have had in a century. Will stablecoins kill traditional banking? Could 4% on-chain interest spark a global run on deposits? And how might this law make the U.S. dollar the last fiat currency standing? ~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base and a core leader at Coinbase, to break down why Coinbase is going way beyond just being an exchange. From launching the Base App to powering the future of social media, stablecoins, creator coins, and global payments, Coinbase might just be building the next financial and social super app.~~~~~

In today's episode, we flip the script and interview our own host, John Gillen, a former BlackRock investor turned crypto macro expert, to reveal the exact framework he uses to navigate markets, inflation, and crypto cycles. We break down why debt is the new money, how to spot where we are in the economic cycle, and where the smart money is moving. ~~~~~

In today's episode of The Milk Road Show, we're joined by the one and only Virtual Bacon, angel investor, developer, and crypto educator, to unpack what's really happening in this cycle. We dive into why altcoins are still stuck in the mud, the one signal he's watching before going all-in, and which underrated tokens he's quietly accumulating before the market wakes up.~~~~~

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Howell, the godfather of global liquidity, to decode the real risks lurking behind today's markets. Forget the noise about rate cuts or inflation targets; the real story is about monetary inflation, fiscal dominance, and a looming $40 trillion debt rollover that could flip the financial system upside down.~~~~~

In today's episode, Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem at Aptos Foundation, joins us to break down why this pullback is not the end… but possibly the beginning of something huge. We dive into why we're still mid-cycle, why the SEC's “Project Crypto” might be a bigger deal than the ETF approvals, and why the real builders are just getting started. If you're feeling shaky about your bags, this is your signal to zoom out.~~~~~

Can blockchain revolutionize a $1.6 trillion market—and no one's talking about it? In this episode, Jay sits down with Nick Santomauro, CMO at Figure Markets and former Global Growth Director at Binance, to unpack how tokenized private credit could quietly reshape the financial system.Nick explains how Figure has already put over $12 billion worth of home equity loans on-chain, and why that could be just the beginning. They dive into the impact of the Genius Act, the $6.6 trillion threat to traditional banks, and how retail investors can now access yields that were once reserved for institutions.If you've been waiting for a real-world crypto use case, this is it.In this episode you'll learn:- What tokenized private credit is, and why it matters- How Figure Markets has quietly become a leader in real-world asset tokenization- Why the Genius Act could trigger a massive capital shift out of the banking system- How DeFi is positioned to absorb that shift and offer new yield opportunities- What “Democratized Prime” is and how retail investors can access ~9% yield- The difference between traditional HELOCs and on-chain home equity loans- Why decentralized custody is crucial post-FTX- Nick's perspective on where crypto is headed over the next 6–12 months- The growing opportunity in tokenized debt vs tokenized equities~~~~~

The Fed held rates, but the real story is the growing divide inside the boardroom. Douglas Boneparth joins us to break down the macro drama, what it means for markets, and why discipline is beating alpha in 2025. We also dig into the White House's crypto report, the SEC's new ETF rules, and how long-term investors can actually win in this market.

The Fed just did nothing — again. No rate cut. But markets went haywire anyway. What's going on? Is Jerome Powell bluffing? Are gold bugs in denial? And why are traders like Tony Greer suddenly eyeing Bitcoin over precious metals?In today's episode of Milk Road Macro, we break down everything from the July FOMC meeting to the unseen forces driving the dollar, equities, crypto, and commodities. Legendary trader Tony Greer (ex-Goldman Sachs, founder of TG Macro) joins us to explain why Trump's pressure on rates, massive ETF inflows into Bitcoin, and gold's fake-out rally could define the second half of 2025.This is the kind of deep macro breakdown you won't get on CNBC. In this episode, you'll learn:

Is Ethereum about to break its all-time high?In this episode, Jay sits down with Jake Brukhman, CoinFund CEO to break down why the Ethereum supercycle is just getting started. They dive into ETH price predictions, institutional adoption, L2 scaling, and why the smart money is rotating back into ETH.

In this episode of Milk Road Macro, we dive into the Fed's next big move — and why most of the Board of Governors are flying blind on the biggest tech shift in a generation. Former Soros family office macro chief PDS joins to unpack how Trump's trade and immigration policies are clouding the Fed's view, why AI could be a major deflationary force, and how ignoring it may lead to policy missteps. We break down what the FOMC is focused on (and what they're missing), how AI is transforming the labor market in real time, and why the real risk might be not cutting rates fast enough.~~~~~

Think one wallet can tank Bitcoin? Think again.In today's episode, we're diving into one of the biggest BTC moves in recent history—an 80,000 BTC sell-off from a Satoshi-era wallet—and why the market barely flinched. Jay Hamilton is joined by Slava Rubin (Indiegogo founder & Ambition VC) to break down what it means for crypto's maturity and why it could be the beginning of a massive new wave of institutional adoption.But that's not all. Slava also reveals his $1 million Bitcoin prediction, the truth about Ethereum's comeback, why pre-IPO deals are the next big alpha leak, and how to spot which altcoins might survive the next 10 years.