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

Is the Bitcoin bottom already in, or does crypto have another leg lower before the next bull run? In this episode of the Milk Road Show, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan joins John Gillen to explain why Bitcoin's unusually quiet price action could actually be a bullish signal, and why institutional crypto adoption continues to accelerate despite the bear market. Matt breaks down why “bear markets die in apathy,” what Bitcoin's resistance to bad news could be telling investors, and whether waiting for a widely anticipated October bottom could be a mistake. He also explains how he thinks about buying Bitcoin today versus DCAing into a position. But the bigger story may be what's happening behind the scenes on Wall Street.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Solana network activity is surging, onchain trading continues to grow, and major infrastructure players are building for the next generation of crypto markets. So why hasn't the price of SOL reflected that growth? In this episode of The Milk Road Show, John Gillen sits down with Rebecca Rettig, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Jito Labs, to break down what's really happening across the Solana ecosystem, why network fundamentals and SOL price action may be disconnected, and how Jito is positioning itself for the future of onchain finance.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Milk Road Show, we sit down with Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, to break down why Bitcoin miners are increasingly becoming AI infrastructure and data center plays. Matthew explains why AI compute can generate significantly more value from electricity than Bitcoin mining, how VanEck values these companies, and why the recent selloff pushed him to double down on some of his highest-conviction positions.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Is Bitcoin quietly building the foundation for its next bull market? In today's episode of the Milk Road Show, we break down where Bitcoin sits in the current market cycle, why price action has been unusually quiet, and what could trigger the next major move. Is this just another bear market rally, or is Bitcoin forming a long-term bottom while most investors remain on the sidelines?~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Lincoln Murr, AI Product Lead at Coinbase, to explore why the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain could become the next major catalyst for the crypto industry. We dive into Coinbase's vision for agentic finance, where AI agents can trade, manage portfolios, make payments, and interact with onchain applications autonomously. ~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with the co-founders of Ethereum Institutional to discuss why Ethereum is making one of its biggest strategic shifts yet. Instead of waiting for institutions to come to crypto, Ethereum is building a dedicated organization to bring Wall Street onchain.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Is the Bitcoin bottom finally in? If so, which altcoins have the best chance of leading the next crypto bull market? In this episode, John Gillen sits down with Austin Arnold (Altcoin Daily) to break down exactly how he's positioning his portfolio for the next cycle. They discuss Bitcoin's bottoming process, the biggest crypto narratives to watch, and why only a handful of altcoins are likely to outperform.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Milk Road Show, we sit down with Nick Forster, Co-Founder & CEO of Derive, to explore why onchain options could become one of the biggest opportunities in crypto. We discuss why options are finally seeing mainstream adoption, how they compare to perpetual futures, and why tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and AI could dramatically expand the market over the coming years.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with DJ Ha Trang, to break down why she believes Solana is entering its “third leap”, a new phase that could push SOL to fresh all-time highs. Unlike previous cycles driven by NFTs or memecoins, this time the story is about real adoption. We dive into the data behind Solana's growing dominance in onchain trading, exploding stablecoin activity, tokenized stocks, RWAs, prediction markets, and why institutions are increasingly paying attention.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Milk Road Show, we sit down with Mike Silagadze, CEO of EtherFi, to explore why the future of crypto may have less to do with speculation and more to do with banking. EtherFi started as one of Ethereum's largest liquid staking protocols, but it's now evolving into a full crypto neobank, offering staking, spending, borrowing, and yield products built entirely onchain.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

While much of the market is focused on memecoins, ETFs, and the next altcoin rally, Algorand has been building around two of the biggest long-term trends in technology: AI agents and quantum computing. In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Mark Vanlerberghe, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at the Algorand Foundation and former Google executive who helped scale Android, to discuss why Algorand believes it's building the blockchain infrastructure institutions and AI systems will need over the next decade.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, John Gillen sits down with Kam Benbrik, Head of Research at Bitwise Staking, to break down Bitwise's latest Staking Report and explain why the biggest bullish signal in crypto right now may have nothing to do with price. We discuss why staking demand keeps climbing, why blockchain fees are getting cheaper while usage explodes, how institutions are using staking to generate yield, and why the market may be underestimating what's happening across Ethereum, Solana, Hyperliquid, Avalanche, and other leading crypto ecosystems.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Josh Riezman, Chief Legal & Strategy Officer at GSR, one of the world's largest crypto market makers, to break down everything you need to know about the Clarity Act, crypto regulation, tokenization, and why Wall Street is preparing for an onchain future. We explain how the Clarity Act could provide long-awaited regulatory clarity for the crypto industry, why institutions have been waiting on the sidelines, and how this legislation could unlock the next wave of adoption from banks, asset managers, and traditional finance.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode of the Milk Road Show, John and LG break down the biggest catalysts that could determine where Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader crypto market head next. From this week's FOMC meeting and the latest developments around the Clarity Act to Robinhood's aggressive crypto strategy and growing institutional adoption, they discuss why the market may be on the verge of its next major move.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode, we break down why Bitcoin's recent price action may be a counter-trend rally rather than a full market cycle reversal, how ETF flow rates of change are signaling key inflection points, and why the DeFi sector is emerging as a sneaky outperformer. Jamie Coutts explains how protocols are finally addressing the token supply-side problem through improved tokenomics, why Bitcoin is fighting a two-front war for capital against gold and AI tech stocks, and how the rise of the agentic AI economy will become crypto's biggest structural tailwind in the years ahead.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode, we break down the launch of Ethlabs and its ambitious mission to position Ethereum and ETH as the root of the global economy. Ansgar Dietrichs, Barnabe Monnot, and Julian Ma explain how Ethlabs operates alongside the Ethereum Foundation as a new nonprofit R&D hub, why upcoming protocol improvements like fast confirmation rules and shorter slot times will dramatically boost network speed and UX, and how new Layer 2s - like Robinhood Chain - help drive massive user distribution and long-term value back to the ETH asset. ~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode, we sit down with CryptoQuant Head of Research Julio Moreno to analyze whether Ethereum has finally bottomed against Bitcoin - or if it is simply cheap. Julio breaks down five key metrics to determine where the market stands in its valuation cycle. He explains why speculative interest in ETH has been fully washed out, what improving ETF demand signals for an upcoming shift in relative strength, and why current Bitcoin price action reflects a seasonal bear market rally before late-stage capitulation settles.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode, we break down why institutional DeFi is hitting record adoption despite weak retail market sentiment, how fintech giants like Robinhood are integrating DeFi rails behind the scenes, and why the future of capital markets is moving entirely on-chain through tokenization and automated yield vaults.Sid Powell explains how Maple Finance reached nearly $2 billion in active loans during a bear market, why Maple's unique single-token structure aligns protocol revenues directly with SYRUP buybacks, and how neobanks and traditional asset managers will drive the next wave of global adoption.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Avichal Garg explains the critical difference between "missionary" and "mercenary" founders, why major networks like Ethereum, Solana, and Near still hold massive long-term value despite bear market conditions, and how bringing real-world assets on-chain creates unprecedented operational efficiencies and yield opportunities for global investors, unlocking trillions of dollars in market value.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Colin McCune, Head of Government Affairs at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), to break down the latest developments in Washington, why the Clarity Act matters for Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and crypto startups, and how U.S. regulation could shape the next phase of the bull market.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Has Bitcoin already found its bottom? Former Coinbase Head of Institutional Research David Duong joins the Milk Road Show to explain why the macro outlook for Bitcoin is becoming increasingly bullish. We break down why cooling inflation, the Federal Reserve's next moves, improving ETF flows, and shifting market sentiment could create a strong setup for Bitcoin in the months ahead. David also shares his thoughts on the AI trade, Robinhood's new blockchain, the Clarity Act, institutional adoption, and why he believes investors are focusing on the wrong headlines.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Milk Road Show, we sit down with William Quigley, co-founder of Tether and an early investor in Coinbase, Kraken, and dozens of other crypto projects, to discuss the biggest shifts happening in crypto today. We break down why Tether chose to leave Europe under MiCA, what the U.S. Clarity Act could mean for digital assets, why Big Tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Meta may eventually launch their own digital currencies, and whether regulation is strengthening or weakening the crypto ecosystem.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Matt Crosby, Director of Research & Analytics at Bitcoin Magazine Pro, to break down the latest Bitcoin onchain data, macro trends, ETF flows, and market cycles. Matt explains why a rare confluence of indicators, including MVRV, Realized Price, long-term holder cost basis, mining production costs, and global liquidity, suggests Bitcoin may be entering one of its most attractive buying opportunities since the 2022 bear market.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Nick Roberts-Huntley, CEO of Blueprint Finance, to unpack why Wall Street is quietly building the infrastructure that could power crypto's next major growth cycle. We discuss why Ethereum and Solana aren't necessarily competitors, how institutions are thinking about blockchain adoption, and why the biggest opportunity in crypto may be happening behind the scenes.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Nick Roberts-Huntley, CEO of Blueprint Finance, to unpack why Wall Street is quietly building the infrastructure that could power crypto's next major growth cycle. We discuss why Ethereum and Solana aren't necessarily competitors, how institutions are thinking about blockchain adoption, and why the biggest opportunity in crypto may be happening behind the scenes.~~~~~⁠⁠

In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Krista Lynch, Head of Capital Markets at Grayscale, to break down why crypto ETFs are entering a new phase of growth. We discuss Bitcoin ETF outflows, institutional adoption, financial advisor demand, staking ETFs, covered-call strategies, Hyperliquid, and why regulatory clarity could unlock the next wave of capital into crypto.~~~~~⁠⁠

In this episode, we break down why Strategy's recent Bitcoin sale barely moved the market, why institutional investors are becoming Bitcoin's new marginal buyer, and what Vanguard's move into digital assets signals for crypto's future. We also dive into the massive opportunity in DeFi, why Hyperliquid continues to outperform, and whether Ethereum is finally fixing one of its biggest weaknesses.~~~~~⁠

In this episode, we break down why Robinhood could become the ultimate financial super app, how prediction markets are emerging as a brand-new asset class, why tokenization matters more than most investors realize, and whether Robinhood is positioning itself to beat Coinbase in the race to own the next generation of retail finance.~~~~~

Is Ethereum entering its biggest growth phase yet? In this episode of The Milk Road Show, Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin and SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom explain why they believe Ethereum is entering a new era of institutional adoption, and why the market may be underestimating what's coming next.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Is Bittensor (TAO) the next major crypto opportunity, or just another AI narrative? In this episode of the Milk Road Show, we sit down with Karia Samaroo, Founder & CEO of XTOW and former founder of WonderFi, to break down why decentralized AI could reshape the future of artificial intelligence, and why he believes TAO could become the “Bitcoin of AI.”~~~~~⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart joins us to break down what's really happening behind the headlines. We dive into why institutional money is leaving Bitcoin ETFs, why Ethereum continues to underperform, and why Solana, XRP, and Hyperliquid ETFs are still attracting fresh capital despite the broader market weakness.~~~~~⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Roger Bayston, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, to discuss why institutional conviction in crypto is stronger than ever, even in a difficult market. While many investors are focused on Bitcoin's short-term price action, Wall Street is quietly investing in the infrastructure that could power the next decade of finance.~~~~~⁠⁠

John Gillen sat down with Ben Werkman (CIO of Strive) to break down what's really happening behind the recent selloff. They get into why Bitcoin treasury companies are being stress-tested for the first time, why preferred shares have traded below par, how Strive is managing risk differently, and why they're still accumulating Bitcoin despite the bear market. When everyone's questioning a trade at the same time, that's usually when you should be paying the closest attention.~~~~~⁠

In today's episode, we break down the hidden battle unfolding between governments, regulators, and digital assets, and why it could become Ethereum's biggest long-term tailwind. As Europe's MiCA regulations take effect, thousands of crypto companies could be forced to leave the EU, while governments race to control capital, stablecoins, and the future of onchain finance.~~~~~